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CORREECTION Mix up in information released- Teenager Still Alive
A teenage boy who was injured after being struck on Feb. 28 by a train near Estill Springs is alive. Authorities said information released on Monday was mixed up with a March 3 incident in Estill Springs where another child had died. Estill Springs Police Chief Allen Rhodes confirmed that an infant had passed away due to injuries. He added he could not release any further information about the exact cause of death because it is under investigation. Chris Guess, Franklin County Sheriff’s Office public information officer, said the teenage boy had been taken off a ventilator at Erlanger...
State Attorney General says Lawyers Charging to Much
A group of lawyers seeking $2.3 million for their work overturning Tennessee’s ban on same-sex marriage are overbilling taxpayers, according to Tennessee Attorney General Herbert Slatery. He says they only deserve $1.1 million. The Tennessean reports that a court document unsealed last week shows Slatery arguing that lawyers who worked in other states involved in the historic civil rights case asked for less money. The filing from the state says the legal team “ballooned to 19 attorneys, billing a total of nearly 6,000 hours.” A U.S. District Judge will determine the amount of fees the lawyers should receive. The...
Tourism Up in Tennessee
State Officials say that a campaign to promote tourism in the state of Tennessee has generated more than $73 million in new state and local tax revenue. WPLN Radio reports that a newly released state Department of Tourism Development report says the “Made in Tennessee” campaign has generated 18 times the amount of money spent on it. The “Made in Tennessee” campaign, which was launched in 2014, focused on the state’s natural beauty, music and history. There was some controversy when it was first launched, because the ad agency behind it is based in Kansas City, Missouri. State officials...
DHS facing Scrutiny over meals for Hungry Children
A Department of Human Services program that provides meals to children at risk for hunger is under scrutiny over a lack of oversight. The Tennessean reports that a federal review issued last month found multiple instances of lax oversight by the DHS. The review also found there is a lack of adequate level of staffing to properly oversee the program. According to the review, the department currently has three open positions for department auditors who are supposed to review the program for waste, fraud and abuse. Lawmakers are now working on oversight measures for the DHS. State Sen. Jim...
03/14/16-Justice Center phone lines not working
Phone lines are not working at the Justice Center. Email system is working, should you need to contact those offices please go to the county website coffeecountytn.org for email...
Last Week’s Tullahoma Fire Claims Second Victim
A fire last week has claimed its second victim. Saniya Shanes, 14, was transported to Tennova Healthcare-Harton Hospital and then flown to Vanderbilt University Medical Center where she died Thursday afternoon around 5 p.m. The Tullahoma Fire Department answered a call to 409 Cumberland Avenue around 8:24 p.m. Tuesday night and observed smoke coming from the roof of the house. Firefighters quickly entered the house and found heavy smoke and charring of the inside. Neighbors alerted firefighters that occupants of the house might be inside, which caused the fire crews to do an interior search of the house. After...
Fire Crews Battle Two Interstate Truck Fires
Fire crews from Manchester Fire-Rescue, New Union and Summitville Volunteer departments responded to a tractor trailer fire on I-24 West at the 109 mile-marker on Thursday night. New Union VFD requested manpower and mutual aid response from Manchester Fire-Rescue. When crews arrived on scene, the tractor had separated itself from the trailer, and firemen attacked the trailer fire which was fully engulfed when crews arrived on the scene. The 18-wheeler was loaded with cotton. Manchester Fire Chief George Chambers says that all crews on the scene did a great job of controlling and extinguishing the fire. He added that...
Unemployment Rate Drops in Coffee County
County unemployment rates for January show the rates decreased in 82 counties, increased in 12 and remained the same in one county. Coffee County’s unemployment rate for January was 4.7 percent, a drop of a half a percentage point from the December rate of 5.2 percent. Warren County went down from 5.2 to 4.6 percent. Bedford County fell from a December rate of 5.7 percent to 5% in January. Franklin County also saw their unemployment rate fall from 4.9 percent to 4.6%. Grundy County dropped from 7.2 to 6.7 percent. Down in neighboring Moore County the rate dropped from...
