Two Coffee County elementary schools have helped the Coffee County Sheriff’s Department. School leaders and students at Hickerson and Deerfield elementary schools started their “Community Service Learning Project” raising pennies for K-9 bullet proof vests for the two dogs at the sheriff’s department. As the project progressed students began bringing in other amounts of change and the schools also received anonymous donations. Hickerson raised just over $600 and Deerfield was able to generate over $900. The vests were given to handlers Deputy Larry McKelvey and Deputy Jennifer Curbow for their K-9’s Yoshi and Max. McKelvey and Curbow stated they...

As part of National Preparedness Month, the Tennessee Office of Homeland Security recognized some of Tennessee’s most courageous and dedicated first responders on Monday Sept. 11, 2017, at Governor Bill Haslam’s Executive Residence. Coffee County Sheriff’s Department Corporal Wendell Bowen and Deputy Wade Bassett were honored during the “Three Stars of Tennessee Awards”. You may remember that on Monday June 19, 2017 there was shooting inside Coffee County Justice Center. An inmate was in the courthouse for a hearing on charges of domestic-related kidnapping, evading arrest and other charges. The man attacked Bassett as the deputy was escorting the...

Gas prices have begun to plateau for the first time in more than 15 days despite Hurricane/Tropical Storm Irma making landfall in the southeast. Holding steady for five days at $2.67, the national gas price average is just three cents more expensive compared to last week. Tennessee’s average increased to $2.59 – 4 cents higher than this time last week. “Tennessee drivers should see gas prices begin to plateau soon,” said Stephanie Milani, Tennessee Public Affairs Director, AAA – The Auto Club Group. “However, wholesale prices were volatile last week reacting to the predictions of Hurricane Irma, so drivers...

An audit has found that the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency has not updated the state’s endangered species list in 16 years, even though it is required to do so every two years. Comptroller Justin Wilson’s office said in the audit released Tuesday that the state is also running afoul of an agreement with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to annually submit additions and deletions from the list of threatened species. The audit finds that the failure to update the list since 2000 could put more species at risk of becoming extinct and could cause Tennessee to lose federal...

On Friday September 8th, 2017 Manchester Police officers executed a search warrant at 1351 Rock Road in Morrison. Upon arrival, Jerry Ralph McLean age 50 of Summitville Rd Manchester and Randall Cowan Baker age 57 of Rock Rd Morrison were allegedly found to be in possession of approximately 3.5 grams of a white crystal substance believed to be methamphetamine. According to the arrest warrant, police also found a black pouch containing 4 separate plastic bags that contained approximately 37 grams of the same crystal substance, set of digital scales and several other pieces of drug paraphernalia. Also, allegedly found...

John Vanderveer was sentenced for his part in selling e-cigarettes to inmates, including the Rutherford County Adult Detention Center in Murfreesboro. The uncle of former Sheriff Robert Arnold was sentenced by a federal judge Monday to serve 12 months and one day in a federal prison and pay more than 52-thousand in restitution for obstruction of justice. Vanderveer, who handled sales in the company, admitted during his plea that he formed the Georgia company, JailCigs, LLC, in October 2013 with Arnold and former sheriff’s office Chief Administrative Deputy Joe Russell to sell e-cigarettes to Rutherford County jail inmates and...

In recognition of National Public Lands Day, Tennessee State Parks and State Natural Areas invite the public to take part in ranger-led hikes, volunteer projects and interpretive programs at all 56 state parks on Saturday, Sept. 30. “As the Volunteer State, we hope all Tennesseans will consider joining us in caring for the beautiful lands we get to call home,” said TDEC Deputy Commissioner for Parks and Conservation Brock Hill. National Public Lands Day (NPLD) began in 1994 with just three federal agencies and 700 volunteers. Now in its 24th year, NPLD is the nation’s largest, single-day volunteer effort...