A Murfreesboro woman who was part of a human trafficking case managed to escape her captors Thanksgiving Day. Now police are wondering could there be more victims. Last week a woman escaped her perpetrators by jumping out of a bathroom window in Murfreesboro and running to the Thornton’s on Old Fort Boulevard where she called her mother and then police. The 29-year old victim told police she had been sold, traded and swapped for money and drugs in the Bradyville and Readyville areas of Rutherford County, as well as Grundy County, and in Kentucky. According to a police report,...

County health departments across the state of Tennessee are giving out free flu shots on Dec. 5. The state health department says the annual flu epidemic is expected to last many more weeks. Flu can be deadly, and the annual vaccination is still the best protection against it. Health Commissioner John Dreyzehner (DRYZ’-nur) says in a news release that the vaccine can keep you from becoming ill. He says it can also protect those around you who could catch the disease from you. No appointments are needed during the free flu shot event. Shots are available at all county...

Medical oxygen is a necessity for those suffering from respiratory illnesses, but, tragically, medical oxygen has been present in several home fires that resulted in the deaths of Tennesseans in 2018. State fire data shows medical oxygen was present in 9% of the fatal fires that have occurred so far in 2018 (eight out of 89 total fatalities). In October 2018 alone, medical oxygen was present in one-third of fatal home fires (two out of six fire fatalities). As winter approaches and people spend more time indoors, the Tennessee State Fire Marshal’s Office (SFMO) urges consumers using medical oxygen...

The 20th annual Manchester Rotary Club Christmas choir concert is this Friday and Saturday, November 30 and December 1st in the sanctuary of Trinity Baptist Church, located at 1513 McArthur Street in Manchester. Dana M. Brooks, Minister of music at Manchester First United Methodist Church is the director of the production. Longtime director Evans Baird is retiring. Brooks tells us about this year’s production: http://www.thunder1320.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/Rotary-concert-Dana-clip.mp3 “It is my esteemed honor to direct the 40-voice choir this year and I’m privileged to be a part of this Manchester tradition! The choir will be singing many of your traditional favorite songs...

Coffee County commissioners voted to make a settlement offer to a former employee who said she was wrongfully terminated from her job in 2010. She took the county to court over her losing her job and now a financial settlement is in the works. On May 27, 2010, Melinda Keeling was fired from the Coffee County codes department. At that time, Glenn Darden was the department director and David Pennington served as a county mayor. According to County Attorney Bob Huskey, Keeling was laid off because there was not enough work to justify keeping her position. After a trial...

On Thursday (Sept. 13, 2018) almost 7 years after being arrested Shannon Eugene Amos, now 46, was convicted for having sex with the teenager who worked in his Tullahoma business. Amos was found guilty after a 7-day trial. That’s when this case began to change. According to Coffee County District Attorney Craig Northcott, Amos was convicted by a jury for Aggravated Statutory Rape, Statutory Rape by Authority Figure, and Sexual Battery by Authority Figure. Judge Venessa Jackson denied the prosecution’s request to revoke bond pending sentencing, but the D.A.’s office filed a written motion for her to reconsider. Instead...

A preliminary date has been set for 66 year-old Charles Bean of Overton Co. for Dec. 11 in Warren County. Bean appeared in General Sessions Court Tuesday and told Judge Bill Locke he has retained the services of attorney Brett Knight from Cookeville. Bean is being charged with 2 counts of attempted criminal homicide, 2 counts for aggravated assault and one count of evading arrest from an incident that occurred on Nov. 19 when he reportedly burned down his own barn and garage in Overton Co. and had threatened to kill his son-in-law, who lived in Warren County. When...