The Tennessee Valley Authority and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service have reached a multi-agency agreement to provide continued funding for three federal fish hatcheries that have stocked waters in Georgia and Tennessee with millions of trout. The partnership includes the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency and the Georgia Department of Natural Resources. Since 2013, TVA has provided funding for trout production at three national fish hatcheries managed by the Service: Dale Hollow and Erwin in Tennessee, and Chattahoochee Forest in Georgia. The trout are then provided to the following tailwaters and reservoirs:  Apalachia (Hiwassee River), Blue Ridge, Boone, Cherokee,...

Tennessee Bureau of Investigation asks for the public’s help in locating Benjamin Jermaine Sowell. Sowell is wanted out of Columbia, Tenn. on several charges, including first degree murder. There is a $2,500 reward for information leading to his capture. If you know where he may be located, call 1-800-TBI-FIND or local law enforcement...

Franklin County Sheriff’s Office investigators are attempting to locate Chris Shearer (902 Cindy Hollow Road, Estill Springs). Mr. Shearer is wanted on charges that include evading arrest, theft from a motor vehicle, and various other vehicle burglaries. Anyone having any information regarding Mr. Shearer’s whereabouts is asked to contact Lt. George Dyer at...

On Wednesday October 13th, 2021 Franklin County Sheriff’s Office investigators, in conjunction with the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation and the Winchester Police Department executed a search warrant at 196 Lockmiller Road, Estill Springs, TN. The search resulted in Sheriff’s Office personnel finding what is believed to be a schedule 2 substance (methamphetamine) and what is believed to be a schedule 4 (pills) substance. Law enforcement also recovered an altered .22 rifle from the scene. Two males were taken into custody and transported to the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office. Daniel Joe James (196 Lockmiller Rd.) was charged with Possession of...

Coffee County Sheriff’s Department is asking for public assistance to help solve an alleged theft that happened in Lakewood Park. According to CCSD, on Oct. 11 a blue, Chevrolet Colorado pickup truck was involved in a theft. Anyone with information on who owns the vehicle should contact Sgt. James Sherrill at 931-570-4404. The truck is four-door and blue in color. See a photo...

By Joyce Prusak, Executive Director of Coffee County Children’s Advocacy Center To prevent child abuse and to ensure children would let you know if someone tries to talk with them or touch them in an inappropriate way, it’s important to have honest conversations with your children and to build trusting relationships.   Tell your children their private parts are special and ask them to let you know if anyone tries to touch their private parts. Use proper names (vagina, penis) for private parts. We teach children the proper words for nose and ears, so, why should their private parts be...

Anyone wanting to burn leaves or brush in the state of Tennessee must have a burn permit, beginning on Friday, Oct. 15. Burn permits will be required from Oct. 15 through May 15. This is standard practice every year from the Tennessee Department of Agriculture Tennessee Division of Forestry. For residents inside the city limits of Manchester and Tullahoma, burn permits should be acquired through city fire departments. County residents should get permits through the Tennessee Division of Forestry by clicking here. https://www.tn.gov/tnwildlandfire/prevention/safe-debris-burning/permits.html The following tips should be followed when it is safe to conduct a debris burn: Check...

Coffee County School System has announced that all remaining 1 p.m. dismissal days for this school year have been converted to full days of school – this will affect about 5 days of the school calendar. This change applies to every school in the county school system – Deerfield, New Union, East Coffee, North Coffee, Hillsboro, Hickerson, Koss, Coffee Middle School, Raider Academy and Central High School. This change does not apply to Manchester City Schools, which operate on their own schedule. According to the system, this change was made “so that we will have additional days to use...