A Bedford County woman is charged a second time for doctor shopping, or going to multiple providers to obtain prescriptions for controlled substances. The Office of Inspector General (OIG), with assistance from the Coffee County Sheriff’s Office arrested Sonya Marie Leverette, 31, of Shelbyville. She is charged in Coffee County with four counts of doctor shopping involving the painkillers Hydrocodone and a form of Codeine, using TennCare to pay for the clinical visits, the prescriptions or both. Leverette was first arrested in April, after an indictment in Bedford County, where she faced three counts of fraudulently using TennCare to...

As the subject of gun laws takes center stage in the wake of the Orlando massacre, Tennessee college campus police are beginning to process registrations for employees who wish to carry guns while at work. The law allowing for full-time employees to carry guns on campus takes effect July 1. While training is not mandatory, the University of Tennessee-Knoxville is offering a training class for people willing to attend, where they’ll hear a message from campus Police Chief Troy Lane. “We don’t consider these to be extra personnel for us in an active-shooter situation,” Lane said. “What we would...

Legislation to add those who unlawfully photograph a person for sexual gratification to the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation’s (TBI) Sex Offender Registry was recently highlighted by Governor Bill Haslam at a ceremony on Capitol Hill marking the signing of the new law. The measure, sponsored by State Representative Mike Sparks (R-Smyrna) and State Senator Jim Tracy (R-Shelbyville), allows a judge to require the defendant in a misdemeanor unlawful photography case to register as a sexual offender for up to ten years. This is in addition to the punishment already provided for the offense and requires that the judge take...

Carol Michelle ‘Keri’ Roper will spend 30 years behind bars after she pled guilty this week to 2nd degree murder. The 23 year-old woman was accused in the 2014 death of her newborn child. She will serve her time at 100 percent, meaning she will not be eligible for parole. A trial date for her husband Blaine Roper is set for Aug. 8, according to court officials. On Oct. 31, 2014, the Moore County Grand Jury indicted the Ropers, each with one count of conspiracy to commit first degree murder, one count of premeditated first degree murder and two...

On Monday afternoon at approximately 12:45pm Franklin County Sheriff’s Office personnel were able to locate and take into custody three individuals wanted for kidnapping and aggravated assault in Arkansas. The Sheriff’s Office received notification from authorities in Arkansas Friday evening and made contact with the fugitives Monday afternoon. Ricky Shetters, Jr. (4062 Rock Creek Rd. Estill Springs, TN) and Tammy Lynn Buss (349 Green St. Wichita, KA.) were taken into custody in the parking lot of Burger King in Winchester. A loaded .45 caliber pistol was located under the front passenger seat as the two suspects were apprehended. Approximately...

Tennessee’s ranking on overall child well-being slipped from 36 to 38, according to the Annie E. Casey Foundation’s 2016 KIDS COUNT® Data Book. The change was largely driven by worsening economic indicators. The KIDS COUNT Data Book ranks child well-being in states across four domains. Tennessee’s overall ranking at 38 was compiled from its rankings of 42 on Economic Well-Being, 36 on Education, 28 on Health and 39 on Family and Community. Each domain is made up of four indicators. Tennessee children continue to struggle financially. The state’s worst ranking, 42, was on the Economic Well-Being domain. More than...

Recently Machining Instructor Jeff Hinshaw was awarded another $10,000 grant for his machining classes at Coffee County High school. This is his second $10,000 award for the grant from the Gene Haas Foundation for his machining program. The awards are used to purchase lots of supporting items for his machining classes. Last year they built a moon buggy and competed in the rover challenge in Huntsville, Alabama and used the grant to assist in materials, tooling purchases and travel for the project. Hinshaw said, “I found these grants were available to assist in supporting the machining projects and education...