On Thursday Tullahoma Police Officer Phil Bratten arrested and charged Cory Michael Smith age 27 of Ovoca Rd Tullahoma with Evading arrest, Theft of property and Reckless endangerment. Tullahoma Police received a complaint of an individual walking down West Carroll Street that a man was brandishing a gun and threatening motorists with it. According to the arrest warrant the man was located on West Carroll and when approached by officers the subject took off running on foot, ignoring their directions to stop and attempting to evade arrest. Smith allegedly was observed throwing an item behind an out building at...

If you suspect fraud, waste and abuse in county government; employees, citizens and public officials can now report it through an online fraud-reporting form. The form can be accessed through the county’s website where you’ll find a link to the State of Tennessee’s website and reports are confidential. Coffee County government has approximately 30 different departments and the online form will provide an easier and confidential way for suspected cases of fraud to be reported and investigated. To access the form, go to Coffee County’s website: http://www.coffeecountytn.org/. Click on the “Departments” tab and choose “Accounts & Budgets” from the...

May is Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month. It’s definitely needed, as motorcycle fatalities nationwide were up 10 percent in 2015 as compared to 2014. The Governors Highway Safety Association estimates the final total to be 5,010, only the third time in history the death toll has topped 5,000. In 2014 the toll was 4,548. In Tennessee, motorcycle deaths were up by three in 2015, totaling 123. Drivers of other motor vehicles should always be aware and looking out for motorcyclists around them and, of course, obey all traffic...

The Tullahoma Fire Department is partnering with The American Red Cross, Lowe’s Home Improvement Stores, and 1-800-BoardUp to canvass neighborhoods and ensure homes in the Tullahoma area have working smoke alarms. “This year we have had six structure fires within the first four months compared to eleven structure fires total in 2015. “Several instances this year there have been no working smoke alarms to alert the occupants at the home,” said Fire Chief, Richard Shasteen. “There is no reason why our residents should put themselves in danger.” The Tullahoma Fire Department will be in the Tullahoma neighborhoods starting in June....

The Education and Workforce Committee voted this week to back the bill that some Republicans have backed. The bill would have fewer students receiving free and reduced-price meals at school. The legislation would allow a trial period of so-called block grants for school meals in three states — meaning those states would no longer receive unlimited federal dollars for students who qualify for the free and reduced-price lunches, and states wouldn’t have to follow most federal nutrition standards. The legislation, which the full House will consider, would also roll back some healthier school nutrition rules championed by first lady...

Maj. Gen. Terry “Max” Haston, Tennessee’s Adjutant General, declared that the opening exercise for Tennessee Maneuvers 2016, the Guard’s largest statewide disaster drill in history, was “a complete success.” From May 13-16, more than 600 Soldiers and 20 units from Tullahoma’s 30th Troop Command completed a series of grueling disaster preparedness exercises throughout Middle Tennessee testing the Guard’s ability to provide military assistance in the event of a catastrophic emergency. Soldiers worked alongside many state and local emergency agencies designed to test the abilities of all...

A Manchester resident had a number of charges lodged against her. Janice Rena Castillo, 35, of Murfreesboro Highway Manchester was charged with assault, aggravated assault, disorderly conduct, resisting arrest and criminal impersonation by Manchester Police Officer Daryn Gadeken and correction officers at the jail. According to warrants, she was arrested after she was found to have the odor of an intoxicant and slurred speech. The warrant alleges that when the officer attempted to arrest her she attempted to resist and had to be restrained. She was also accused of providing a false name to the officer who learned her...