Marion County Deputies have arrested a man wanted for child rape. Authorities in the east Tennessee had been looking for Joshua Luke Mitchell since last Sunday. Authorities believed he had fled the state, but Sheriff Bo Burnett says Mitchell was spotted by State Troopers Thursday evening on Highway 41. Burnett says Mitchell was arrested shortly before 7:30 p.m. behind the Riverside Catfish House after a short foot chase. Mitchell is accused of raping a four-year-old girl he was reportedly babysitting. He is a registered sex offender in Texas, North Carolina, and...

Family and friends of Chad Crabtree remembered the 17 year-old with candlelight ceremony outside Coffee County High School on Friday night. The very much loved Crabtree passed away due to leukemia that he was diagnosed with 2 years ago.  100’s were in attendance to share stories about Crabtree’s life. The Emcee for the night was Jacqueline Allen. Singers also performed: Leah West HS Student, Karen Wainwright Westwood Teacher sang Amazing Grace and members of the high school choir also paid tribute. A eulogy was given Kathey Allen Westwood Teacher and close friends of Chad. Funeral services were held yesterday...

Culinary Arts Students from Coffee County Central High School took part in an end of year “Practical Exam” luncheon at the Manchester Coffee County Conference Center on Thursday. Chefs Michael Osborne and Bart O’Dare are mentors for several of the students that participated in the meal. The Lunch featured a five course meal with: Fire Roasted Tomato Bisque Salad Maison in Pastry Ring Southwest Style Margarita Sorbet Italian Stuffed Breast of Chicken resting in Marinara Sauce with a Crispy Risotto Cake and Tuscan Grilled Vegetables Dessert: Oreo Mousse Pie with Dark Chocolate Ganache and White Chocolate Garnish The Student...

17-year-old Chad Crabtree has passed away. Crabtree loved by so many was a ninth-grader at Westwood Junior High in Manchester when he was diagnosed with leukemia. A candle lighting ceremony tomorrow at Coffee County High School beginning at 8pm. A Facebook page named “Cheering For Chad” was created over a year ago to leave messages of encourgement to Chad. The page was almost 4,ooo members strong. Many more notes were left yesterday for Chad’s family and...

A fire call came out around 3:30pm Thursday afternoon for a structure fire at 378 Lakeview St. in Manchester. There was some confusion as to whose fire it was, the City or the county. The City responded and Volunteer Departments were notified also. Upon arrival the out building behind the house was fully involved. The fire was extinguished, but it was a total loss. This fire will be under...

Despite fears of a shut-down by state fire marshals during their recent inspection of the Coffee County Jail, the results were apparently better than expected. In addition to the 20 men and five women that the Tennessee Department of Correction removed this week, Jail Administrator Capt. Pam Freeman told the county commission’s jail committee that General Sessions Judge Jere Ledsinger has approved the early release of nine local inmates incarcerated on misdemeanor charges, bringing the prison count down to 228, exceeding the jail’s official capacity by only 32 inmates. Despite overcrowding at the current 196-bed jail, with the population...

On Wednesday April the 18th at approximately 11:00am Franklin County Sheriff’s Office personnel conducted a search warrant at 5372 Rock Creek Rd. Estill Springs, TN. The search of the residence and the premises led to the discovery of approximately 3 ¼ lbs. of what was believed to be a schedule VI narcotic (marijuana) and various drug paraphernalia. Also seized was $460.00 in U.S. currency. There is an ongoing investigation concerning this matter and criminal charges are anticipated in the near...

A proposal that increases the penalty for drunken driving when a child under 18 is a passenger in the vehicle is headed to the governor for his consideration. Under present law, a person arrested for DUI with a child under 18 in the vehicle is sentenced to a mandatory minimum sentence of 30 days and a fine of $1,000. The proposal requires such incarceration be served consecutively with any sentence for convictions of DUI, vehicular assault, vehicular homicide, or aggravated vehicular...