At least 128,000 children in Tennessee have been cut from the state’s low-income health insurance programs over the past two years. The Tennessean reports that one in every eight children in TennCare were unenrolled between December 2016 and this January. State officials say the purge is due to the programs dropping children who no longer qualify or whose families didn’t respond to mandatory renewal forms. TennCare officials say “many” were unenrolled over a lack of paperwork but couldn’t say exactly how many. Advocates say the purge was caused by TennCare procedural errors, but program officials deny that. The newspaper...

On Saturday afternoon at approximately 2:30pm, the Hickerson Station Volunteer Fire Dept was called to the Short Springs Natural Area for a large fire in the woods. The Tullahoma Fire Dept, made the request and was that was already on location. Upon arrival, it was determined that the fire was in a very remote area that would require access to be made by hiking a long distance on foot through terrain with very steep hills. The State Forestry Dept. was able to make access to some areas of the fire with a dozer, but there were still many areas...

Not another robocall! We’ve all felt that way. Wondering what to do about robocalls? We all get them, including IRS imposters, Medicare scams and others. The robovoice might also claim to be a utility, a government agency, or even a foreign consulate. Don’t believe them. Kati Daffan, an attorney at the Federal Trade Commission has some advice; http://www.thunder1320.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/Robocall-Federal-Trade-Commission.mp3 If you answer the phone and hear a recorded message instead of a live person, it’s a robocall. If the recording is a sales message and you haven’t given your written permission to get calls from the company on the other...

On Monday, April 8, the Tennessee Highway Safety Office (THSO) will join various state and local partners to launch Operation Incognito (OI) statewide. The OI campaign was developed last year to evolve Tennessee’s statewide distracted driving enforcement and education initiative, known as “the bus tour.” OI will also promote National Work Zone Awareness Week, which occurs April 8 – 12. “The primary focus of Operation Incognito is to reduce distracted driving, serious injury crashes, and fatalities,” said THSO Director Vic Donoho. “A secondary focus will promote awareness for high-risk construction zones across Tennessee. As distracted driving crashes continue to...

The first ever “Anglers for Advocacy” fishing tournament will be held on Saturday April 13 at Barton Springs boat ramp on Normandy Lake. This tournament is being held to benefit the Coffee County Children’s Advocacy Center. The tournament is open to all fishermen for an entry fee of $50. Fishing will start at daylight. Teams can be 1, 2 or 3 anglers, but if you use a 3rd member you must have at least an angler in high school, junior or under the age of 18. There will be a 5 fish limit (any combination), smallmouth bass must be...

The Coffee County Sheriff’s Department reports that sometime during the month of March someone had approximately $4,000 in golf clubs stolen out of a vehicle at Willowbrook Golf Course. Any information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person responsible, will receive a reward of $500 dollars. The subject is believed to be well educated on golfing or may have even worked at a golf course before. The responsible person might possibly live in one of the surrounding counties. The subject is a white male with a slender build. If you have any information, please contact Investigator Brandon...