Latest Headlines
State “Operation SOS” Begins
The Tennessee Highway Patrol and the Tennessee Department of Transportation are working together to make drivers aware of the state’s Move Over law. The new campaign is called “Operation SOS”, Safety on the Smart Ways, and came about after 3 TDOT workers were killed within 12 months. Drivers are to move over to give space for workers on and along the highways. Last week, troopers followed TDOT help trucks throughout Nashville and pulled over drivers who violated the move over law. Between 5:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m., troopers issued 41 move over citations, one texting and driving citation, and...
Tenn. Mental-Health Care Availability Could Be at Risk
While the fate of the Affordable Care Act hangs in limbo, one sector of the population is particularly vulnerable to changes in the health care system. Over the last eight years, access to mental health care for those who need it has increased through availability of coverage and safeguards to ensure access to that care. Jeff Fladen with the National Alliance on Mental Illness in Tennessee said reducing accessibility for folks who need mental health services also greatly affects their ability to remain self-sufficient. “They’re getting insurance now through the exchanges and if a lot of people lose insurance...
Coffee County Authorities Arrest Fugitive from Justice
Last week Coffee County Sheriff Investigator James Sherrill received information from Capt. Frank Watkins that Stacy Sibley Stewart, 36, could be found at a residence on Thornberry Road in Normandy. The investigator learned that the man was wanted on warrants from Coffee Warren and Bedford Counties, as well as Coles County, Illinois. Watkins had received information that Stewart was in possession of a large amount of meth. So they asked him if they could search and he gave permission to do so. Deputy Brandon Reed allegedly found approximately a gram of methamphetamine in a bedroom. Stewart was charged with...
Shelbyville Man Arrested for Allegedly Stealing items from a Tullahoma Business
We have a follow-up to a story we reported a few weeks ago about a man that allegedly had stolen money and product from a Tullahoma business. Gary Wayne Dodson, 37, of Tate Avenue, Shelbyville was arrested by Tullahoma Police last week on charges of theft over a $1,000 in connection with the theft from the business. He was arrested by Tullahoma Police Investigator Johnny Gore after he allegedly took on five different occasions, a total $921 from the money bag from Express Lube and Car Wash located on North Jackson Street. He is also accused of taking $200...
Traffic Fatalities Down in Coffee County
The Tennessee Highway Patrol Chattanooga district announced this week that they were the only district out of eight to report less traffic fatalities in 2016 than in 2015. Lt. John Harmon says that in the twelve county district (that includes Coffee County) there were sixteen less traffic fatalities. Coffee County went down from fourteen to twelve. In nearby counties, Franklin County went down from nine to six and Grundy County went up from zero to two. Harmon added the THP success is due in part to the “Drive to Zero” campaign. Each trooper’s goal is to have zero fatalities...
McMinnville Man Charged with Criminal Homicide
A joint investigation by Special Agents with the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, the McMinnville Police Department and the 31st Judicial District Attorney General’s Office has resulted in the arrest of a McMinnville man charged with a homicide that occurred earlier this month. At the request of the DA, TBI Special Agents joined the McMinnville Police Department and investigators with the District Attorney’s Office in investigating the death of 55 year-old Barry Cole. His body was discovered inside an outbuilding at 100 Lind Street. During the course of the investigation, information was obtained that led law enforcement officers to Wesley...
Scammer Shutdown in Coffee County
Around one month ago a person using the name of Nicholas Christopher Douglas contacted the Coffee County mayor’s office about the possibility of creating a volunteer fire department in Beechgrove. Coffee County Mayor Garry Cordell contacted the sheriff’s department and Coffee County Emergency Management about the legitimacy and credentials of Douglas. The man apparently was contacting other states and Tennessee counties about starting a volunteer department their particular area, using Beechgrove as an already established department. Douglas has contacted Coffee County government to set up meetings with officials, but has never shown up. Allegedly Douglas has a long criminal...
Murder Suspect appears in Court
We reported to you earlier this week that Connie King who was out of jail on house arrest after being charged with first degree murder in the Nov. 13, 2012 death of Thomas Colucci of Manchester was arrested again last week. Her hearing for her bond being revoked was set for this week, but was delayed Wednesday afternoon. The reason was her new attorney Josh Crain of Murfreesboro told Coffee County Circuit Court Judge Vanessa Jackson that he needed time to get up to speed on the case. When King was released Feb.24, 2015 on house arrest she was...
