Education Commissioner Candice McQueen on Wednesday released a new report to provide insight on the landscape of school safety in Tennessee. For the first time, the department is releasing information on trends found in the strengths and challenges in school security seen across districts. This new report allows the state to increase awareness, prompt further conversations, and spur future action. While Tennessee has made several efforts in recent years to promote student safety and prepare schools for potential threats, Governor Haslam took further action in March 2018 by convening a School Safety Working Group that recommended a statewide review...

Lincoln County Sheriff deputies have arrested a juvenile after investigating a threat made to Lincoln County High School on Wednesday. In a post on Facebook, the sheriff said, “The Sheriff’s Department has been working throughout the night after being made aware of a potential threat at the Lincoln County High School.” The Sheriff added that the threat was investigated and found “there is no current threat.” A juvenile has been arrested and charged with filing a false report. The school district posted about the investigation on Facebook and said it will issue an “all-call” to Lincoln County High School...

Grundy County Sheriff Clint Shrum confirms an inmate has passed away at the Grundy County Detention Center. Robert Dean Argo (62), of Monteagle, was speaking to corrections officers around 5:10 p.m. on Tuesday. Sheriff Shrum said, “Mr. Argo had asked for some milk. When corrections officers returned a few minutes later they found him slumped over and unresponsive.”. Argo was transported to Emerald Hodgson Hospital in Sewanee, TN by ambulance where he was pronounced dead. Sheriff Shrum stated the District Attorney’s Office has been notified. An autopsy has been...

Motlow State Community College and Tennessee College of Applied Technology (TCAT) Shelbyville recently entered into an articulation agreement that facilitates students transferring from TCAT Shelbyville to Motlow. An articulation agreement is a formal agreement to transfer credits from one educational institution or system to another. By design, an articulation arrangement assures that courses students complete will not have to be repeated at the institution to which they are transferring. “The collaborative efforts of Motlow State Community College and TCAT Shelbyville will provide support for our community of learners to take further advantage of credential attainment,” said Dr. Michael Torrence,...

It took 73 years, but a Veterans Day parade was held November 11 in the local area. In 1945 Franklin County saluted veterans with a parade and this past Sunday another parade took place again. Military equipment, marching bands from three counties, including Coffee County along with cheerleaders, flag girls, dignitaries, public safety officers and floats took over the streets of downtown Winchester. Vehicles carrying veterans from four wars led by grand marshals from World War II. One of those being from Manchester, World War II veteran and Prisoner of War (POW) Ed Reader. Ray Cobb, a Legionnaire and...