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WZTV FOX 17 - Top Stories
FRANKLIN COUNTY, Tenn. - Officials say they saw a 300% increase in alcohol-related traffic fatalities last year. They'll be out in full force starting Friday, during one of the busiest weekends of the year for drunk driving arrests. Franklin County law enforcement is joining forces with the Governor's Highway Safety Office for what they're calling a weekend of focused enforcement to keep drunk drivers off the road Super Bowl weekend. You might not see them, but they'll be out there patrolling Franklin County highways this Super Bowl weekend. They say they'd rather arrest a drunk driver than to have to deliver a devastating message to an innocent family after it's too late.
"Delivering a death message to somebody who's been killed in an impaired driving crash is probably the toughest thing a law enforcement officer can do," says the Governor's Highway Safety Office's Clint Shrum.
Shrum says Franklin County saw a 300% increase in alcohol-related traffic fatalities in 2012 from the year before, and saw the highest total fatalities since 2007.
"We've seen a spike and we're just trying to figure out what's causing it and we're going to take action," says Shrum.
Shrum says 27% of the county's 12 traffic fatalities last year were alcohol-related. That's why they're planning to strengthen their efforts to find drunk drivers Super Bowl weekend and get them off the roads.
"I love it and I wish they would do it more often," says Deborah Bell.
Bell and her daughter Wendy don't work in law enforcement, but say they're joining their cause.
"Police are not everywhere at every moment," says Bell. "We have to step up and do what's right for everyone, I believe."
They plan to be on the lookout for weaving cars this weekend and report any drunk drivers to the police.
"My mom could be out there on the road," says Bell. "My daughter could be out there on the road. I'm not taking that chance."
The Governor's Highway Safety Office says this year has already seen 2 traffic fatalities in Franklin County. They believe one of them may have been alcohol related.
"Delivering a death message to somebody who's been killed in an impaired driving crash is probably the toughest thing a law enforcement officer can do," says the Governor's Highway Safety Office's Clint Shrum.
Shrum says Franklin County saw a 300% increase in alcohol-related traffic fatalities in 2012 from the year before, and saw the highest total fatalities since 2007.
"We've seen a spike and we're just trying to figure out what's causing it and we're going to take action," says Shrum.
Shrum says 27% of the county's 12 traffic fatalities last year were alcohol-related. That's why they're planning to strengthen their efforts to find drunk drivers Super Bowl weekend and get them off the roads.
"I love it and I wish they would do it more often," says Deborah Bell.
Bell and her daughter Wendy don't work in law enforcement, but say they're joining their cause.
"Police are not everywhere at every moment," says Bell. "We have to step up and do what's right for everyone, I believe."
They plan to be on the lookout for weaving cars this weekend and report any drunk drivers to the police.
"My mom could be out there on the road," says Bell. "My daughter could be out there on the road. I'm not taking that chance."
The Governor's Highway Safety Office says this year has already seen 2 traffic fatalities in Franklin County. They believe one of them may have been alcohol related.
Thursday, January 31 2013, 09:40 PM CST
Tennessee News
Courthouse in line for repairs, updates
May 25, 2013 15:50 GMT
MANCHESTER, Tenn. (AP) -- Officials in Coffee County are looking to update their historic courthouse instead of replacing the 141-year-old structure.
After all, they said the building is in pretty good shape. As far as repairs, it just needs some new paint and molding, as well as work to repair some water damage. But county maintenance director Robert Gilliam says the entire structure needs updating in order to make it last until the next century.
Gilliam and County Mayor David Pennington told the Chattanooga Times Free Press (http://bit.ly/19ivpQ6 ) that officials have taken care to maintain the building and it hasn't had any major renovations in decades.
Historical society spokeswoman Joanna Lewis said the group is trying to come up with fundraising ideas for the project.
Information from: Chattanooga Times Free Press, http://www.timesfreepress.com
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