Bedford County authorities have recaptured an inmate who escaped from their jail on Tuesday night. The Bedford County Sheriff’s Department posted on Facebook on Tuesday night that Harley Caffee escaped and was captured early Thursday morning. He was originally arrested on burglary charges. He will now face charges for...

The parent companies of two of Shelbyville’s major employers are combining in a $13.2 billion deal. Newell Rubbermaid, which operates packaging and distribution centers on Railroad Avenue, is buying Jarden Corp. It was only two months ago that Jarden reached an agreement to buy Jostens, which has a plant on Union Street. The sale of Jostens to Jarden closed in November. Middle Tennessee Industrial Development Association (mtida.org), in its 2015 community data profile, lists Newell Rubbermaid as having 800 employees in Shelbyville and Jostens as having 375. Jostens has operated in Shelbyville since 1960, producing school diplomas and other...

Motlow State Community College continues to make headlines as one of the state’s top performing institution for the Tennessee Promise scholarship program. After leading all colleges in Tennessee in enrollment growth for the fall 2015 semester, Motlow recently topped all Tennessee community colleges in another important category. Of the 13 participating institutions in the state, Motlow had the highest percentage of students completing their community service requirement for the upcoming spring semester. Eighty-eight percent of the students enrolled in Tennessee Promise at Motlow completed the minimum of eight hours of community service required by the Dec. 1 deadline. When...

A woman and man have been arrested on charges of child abuse or neglect by Tullahoma Police. Kaitlin Danielle Taylor, 20, David Dewayne Ditto, 23, both of Silver Street were arrested on the charges. Ditto was charged with abusing a small child that was approximately 1-year-old. While Taylor was accused of not reporting that the child had been abused by her boyfriend. Investigator Harry Conway alleges that medical personnel determined that the child had injuries consistent with child abuse. The father took the child to the Mountain Medical Clinic in Monteagle for bruising. The clinic notified Franklin County Sheriff’s...

  The Tennessee Highway Patrol and the Governors Highway Safety Office began a new program in the summer and began the program in Coffee County on Tuesday. The THP, Coffee County Sheriff’s Department, Manchester Police, Tullahoma Police and other area law enforcement agencies joined together to highly encourage those who choose to drink during the holidays to not drive. Designate a sober driver or find an alternative way to your destination, like a taxi. The goal is to have a crash and injury free holiday season. The Tennessee Highway Patrol and local enforcement officials need your help by accomplishing...

Tennessee authorities announced Monday the fines for seat belt violations will more than double beginning Jan. 1, 2016. The fine for a first offense will be raised to $25 and a second and every offense after that will be $50. Officials hope the increase will be an effective additional tool to curb traffic fatalities. The Tennessee Highway Patrol will also be out in force during the holiday period to ensure travel safety. State troopers will focus their attention on traffic violations that place motorists in jeopardy, such as distracted driving, speeding, impaired driving and lack of seat belt usage....

Low oil prices should deliver cheaper prices at the pump this week. The average price for a gallon of gasoline is $2.02 nationwide and $1.81 in Tennessee. The national average is at its lowest price since 2009 and is near the $2 per gallon threshold. Retail averages have fallen for 32 of the past 36 days and today’s price of $2.015 per gallon is down 2 cents since last week. Drivers continue to benefit from noticeable yearly savings and are saving 57 cents per gallon versus this same date last year. The low price per gallon in Manchester this...

Authorities in Franklin County have announced that the accused shooter of Sienna Dusk Owens the 11-year-old girl who was found shot over the weekend is a 12 year-old classmate. According to police, North Middle School student Sienna Dusk Owens was shot in the back around 6:30 p.m. on Friday. Sienna was taken to Southern Tennessee Medical Center, where she was pronounced dead on arrival. The district attorney’s office will determine if charges will be filed. A visitation for Sienna will be held from 5 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at Moore-Cortner Funeral Home and funeral services will be held at...