Recently in Manchester a mower and trailer separated from a truck and came to rest near Duck River Electric in Manchester. The victim did not realize the trailer separated from his truck, when he returned, the trailer and mower were gone. A witness stated a female (late 30’s – early 40’s, blonde, short curly hair) driving a GMC truck with paint missing stopped and told some Good Samaritans that it was hers’ and she needed help hooking it back up to her vehicle. The witnesses assisted and she left the area. If you have any information relating to this...

The Coffee County Health, Welfare and Recreation Committee has approved a resolution proposing the establishment of a $45 victim’s assistance fee. The proposed $45 fee will potentially be collected from individuals convicted or entering a plea of guilty to a crime that imposes a fine of over $500 and possible imprisonment. According to the director of the Coffee County Children’s Advocacy Center Joyce Pursak, the county would keep $3 from each of the fees assessed. Many counties already have been collecting this fee for years since. The state legislature passed the bill allowing for such a...

On Wednesday Coffee County Sheriff Steve Graves and members of his staff were in Nashville to receive the Certificate of Certification for the Coffee County Jail from the Tennessee Corrections Institute (TCI). Sheriff Graves says this is the first time for certification in 12 years. Graves says the new jail on County Jail Lane in Manchester, that was opened one year ago, met the required standards for the certification. Sheriff Graves said, “I’m very proud of my outstanding staff that has been working hard to have the jail become certified. This is a very difficult task, but with the...

Just as the first U.S. case of a superbug infection resistant to antibiotics is confirmed in Pennsylvania, a new report calls for a ban or restriction on using antibiotics in farm animals to curb the global spread of infections. Cameron Harsh, senior manager for organic and animal policy with the Center for Food Safety, explains continuously dosing animals creates stronger strains of bacteria, which makes antibiotics less effective at fighting infections in people. He says the report is a wake-up call for policymakers to reform common factory farming practices. “Producers can crowd animals, have higher stocking densities, and they’re...

On Wednesday morning on Thunder Radio’s Straight Talk program Coffee County Anti-Drug Coalition Director Kristina Clark, announced that she is giving up her position after nine years. Clark said that she wants to spend more time with her new baby. She gave birth to her first child in the fall. Prevention Coordinator Christina Merino will take over as executive director July 1, 2016. Clark will remain with the coalition in a consultation...

Tracy City Police are searching for two white males in connection with a shooting. 34 year old Cody Hill of Tracy City, told police that two men kicked in his door and demanded drugs at approximately 3 p.m. Monday. After Hill informed them there were no drugs in the home, the two men questioned him about prescription medications. Hill was shot in the leg, the men later tied him up before leaving with his prescription medications. Hill was then flown to Erlanger Medical Center in Chattanooga for treatment. The two men are described as white and in their late-20s...

Members of the U.S. Navy Blue Angels and U.S. Air Force F-22 Raptor Demonstration Team will visit MTSU this coming Friday (6/3/2016) in advance of this year’s Great Tennessee Airshow June 4th and 5th at the Smyrna-Rutherford County Airport. The special combined appearance by representatives of both groups, free and open to the public, will run from 8:30 to 10:30 Friday morning in the State Farm Lecture Hall at the MTSU’s Business and Aerospace Building. Interim University Provost Dr. Mark Byrnes said, “We’re honored to welcome the Blue Angels and Raptor teams to our campus. This terrific event, sponsored...

Smartphones and tablets make communicating easy in some ways and yet, experts warn there may be consequences for youngsters. A new poll from the American Speech-Language Hearing Association found the biggest concern of speech pathologists is that excessive technology use is replacing conversation and human interaction. Senior Director of Speech-Language Pathology at Cincinnati Children’s Dr. Ann Kummer explains that when kids are on devices, they’re not only missing out on verbal interaction, but also physical language. “What’s most important in communication development and also in the development of relationships, is direct communication,” says Kummer. “Which means that you look...