It was a big day on Capitol Hill Thursday as Gov. Bill Haslam signed many new bills. One in particular deals with harsher punishment for people who take inappropriate pictures of others when they don’t know it. House Bill 1448, sponsored by Rep. Mike Sparks, changes an existing law that deals with cases like what sportscaster Erin Andrews went through. A man secretly recorded video of her through a peep hole while she was inside her Nashville hotel room. The new measure gives judges the authority to put anyone convicted of unlawful photography on the sex offender registry list...

First Vision Bank, with offices in Tullahoma, Manchester, and Franklin County, has announced employee promotions at all three branches, according to Mike Rowland, Bank President. Pat Jones has been certified as an Accredited ACH Professional and was recently promoted to Assistant Vice President and Deposits Operations Manager. Pat has been with First Vision Bank since 2008 and brings 19 years of banking experience with her. An Alabama native, Pat and her husband, DeWayne, have two children and two granddaughters. Pat’s hobbies include playing with her granddaughters, crocheting, fishing, and camping. Pat says she is grateful First Vision Bank gave...

As many as half a million Tennesseans are living with Alzheimer’s or caring for someone who is, but advocates say it’s been at least 10 years since a new drug has been approved by the Food and Drug Administration and released for public use. June is Alzheimer’s and Brain Awareness Month, and advocates are underscoring the importance of advancing the treatment of the disease. Kay Watson-Helton is director of communication and development for Alzheimer’s Tennessee. “We really haven’t had a new treatment come on the market in well over a decade,” she says. “And so that is something that...

Tennessee’s annual Free Fishing Day is this Saturday, June 11th when anyone may fish free without a license in the state’s public waters. The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency provides the annual free day in hopes of increasing interest in fishing. In addition, children ages 15 and younger may fish without a license beginning on Free Fishing Day through Friday, June 17th. Free Fishing Day and Week apply to Tennessee’s public waters, TWRA owned and operated lakes, and state park...

Police Chief Paul Blackwell with the Tullahoma Police Department recently received a Certificate of Leadership from the Tennessee Association of Chiefs of Police (TACP) in Nashville. He was recognized with a Level 4 Executive certification, the highest award given by the organization. The Executive Level certification is based upon an evaluation of an individual’s technical training, academic achievements, leadership and management experience, contributions to law enforcement within their region and the state of Tennessee, and their service to their community. Chief Blackwell is the 46th law enforcement executive to receive the Tennessee Association of Chiefs of Police Leadership Certificate...

Coffee County officials have applied for a federal grant of $500,000 from the Appalachian Regional Commission to assist financially in its efforts to extend water lines to the Bonnaroo site, according to Bryan Pennington, director of the City of Manchester Water and Sewer Department. The extension of the water lines will also improve the county’s infrastructure, according to Pennington. “The Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) application has been recommended for funding by the governor in the amount of $500,000,” said Pennington. The purpose of the project is to improve the City of Manchester’s infrastructure and help bring city water lines...