An investigation that was initiated by the Marshall County Sheriff’s Office and the Cornersville Police Department on Monday (March 11, 2013) night of this week led to the seizure of approximately an ounce of marijuana from a Cornersville resident, according to Sheriff Norman Dalton. That investigation began when Captain Bart Fagan of the Marshall County Sheriff’s Department and Officer Mark Chandler of the Cornersville Police Department conducted a “knock and talk,” with a resident of Cornersville. The resident allowed them to enter his home and turned over approximately an ounce of marijuana. As that investigation continued, law enforcement officers from those agencies along with agents of the 17th Judicial District Drug Task Force stopped a vehicle being operated by Earl Anderson who resides at 3116 Rich Drive in Lewisburg. At the time that Anderson’s vehicle was stopped, officers detected a strong odor of marijuana emitting from Anderson’s vehicle. A subsequent search of that vehicle resulted in the seizure of approximately 2 ounces of high grade marijuana, according to Director Tim Lane of the 17th Drug Task Force. Anderson was arrested at the scene of the stop and agents of the 17th Drug Task Foerce secured a search warrant for Anderson’s residence. The search warrant was executed by officers and deputies from the Marshall County Sheriff’s Department, the Cornersville Police Department, the Lewisburg Police Department, and agents of the 17th Drug Task Force. That search resulted in an elaborate marijuana grow operation being found in the garage area of the residence and twenty plants. There were also three large Ziploc bags found in the residence that contained approximately 1.1 pounds of processed marijuana along with approximately 7 pounds of unprocessed marijuana. All of this was seized and the grow operation was completely dismantled by the officers. Anderson was charged with Possession of Schedule VI Drug for Resale and was incarcerated in the Marshall County Jail on a $3000 Bond. This is another example of law enforcement agencies working towards a common goal of removing illegal drugs from the streets of our county, according to Sheriff Dalton. This investigation continues by law enforcement and additional arrest(s) are anticipated.

 Report Details Suicide Trends Across State; TSPN Response 

The Tennessee Suicide Prevention Network (TSPN) has published its Status of Suicide in Tennessee 2013 report, detailing suicide trends and prevention efforts in Tennessee.  The current report includes a summary of suicide trends within Tennessee, both overall and for various subgroups.

In 2011, the latest year for which state-specific figures are available, Tennessee’s age-adjusted suicide rate was 14.6 per 100,000 people, translating into 938 reported suicide deaths. This rate and number are down from previous years but are still above the national average of 12.4 per 100,000 as reported for the year 2010 by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Rates among teens and older adults, both groups traditionally at high suicide risk, remain stable.  White males aged 35-64 account for the largest share of suicide deaths, and suicide rates are higher for white males across the lifespan. 

Attention is also given to the nature of non-fatal versus fatal attempts and common suicide methods—almost two-thirds of all suicides in Tennessee involve a firearm.

All over the state, TSPN offers presentations and training sessions for schools, churches, and civic groups and partnerships with state departments and other non-profits. TSPN also networks with and faith-based groups to implement suicide prevention strategies; debriefs schools and other institutions affected by suicide death; and promotes awareness and educational events across the state of Tennessee.

 “We hope that the Status of Suicide in Tennessee 2013 report will inspire everyone to join us in the ongoing effort to make zero suicides not just an objective, but a reality for the people of our state.”

Status of Suicide in Tennessee 2013 will be published online via the TSPN website (www.tspn.org). TTY line: 1-800-799-4TTY (4889) For non-emergency information on suicide prevention, contact the Tennessee Suicide Prevention Network at (615) 297-1077 or tspn@tspn.org.

Nashville, Tenn. – The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation positively identified the female murder victim found shot and burned in Coffee County as Connie Lou Brown (DOB 02/18/1962) of McMinnville. She has no fixed street address. At this time, no arrests have been made in the case. We appreciate the media’s help in this case. 

At approximately 12:35 p.m. on Saturday (March 9, 2013) the Coffee County Sheriff’s Office responded to a call of a body being discovered near the Summitville Cave. Deputies discovered a white female who had been badly burned and believed to have been murdered and her body dumped.

Nashville, Tenn. – The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation and Shelbyville Police Department over the weekend charged a Shelbyville man in a foiled murder-for-hire scheme after he solicited another individual to kill his wife and a prospective business partner.

David Lee Claxton, 59, of 2189 Warner Bridge Road, was charged with attempted first degree murder and solicitation of first degree murder on Saturday, and booked into the Bedford County Jail without bond early Sunday. TBI’s investigation revealed that Claxton attempted to hire someone to kill Johnny Overstreet, 52, a potential business partner who he had a arranged business deal involving a large sum of money to take the money for himself. He also planned to have his wife, Vickie Claxton, 57, killed to collect life insurance money. The amount of the money is unknown. Claxton took more substantial steps in planning to have Overstreet killed resulting in the attempted first degree murder charge. Claxton was arrested while a search warrant was being executed on his residence as part of the investigation.

TBI was requested by the 17th District Attorney General and Shelbyville Police Department to investigate. Claxton is scheduled to appear in court on March 26, 2013.

 

    Construction is now complete on a concrete helipad for the Air Evac Lifeteam helicopter based in Lewisburg. The helipad was a joint effort among the Belfast Volunteer Fire Department, the Belfast Lions , First National Bank, Belfast Presbyterian Church and Beech Construction, which donated the labor for the new helipad. It is the third concrete helipad in Marshall County.

      “This pad will help Air Evac Lifeteam and the citizens of Marshall County by providing a safe, well lit, pre-designated landing area,” said Air Evac Lifeteam Program Director Jon Guthrie. “Sites like this are the best way for Air Evac Lifeteam crews to land safely to minimize the hazards that go along with an aircraft landing.”

      The helipad project took approximately six months to complete. The Belfast Lions Club donated the land on which to build the helipad. Belfast Fire Chief Ricky Cozart said the helipad would be an asset in the Belfast community.

      “When it saves the first life, it will be worth all of the planning and hard work that has gone into it,” Cozart said.

      The Lewisburg Air Evac Lifeteam crew began operations in May 1999, and serves hospitals and communities within a 70-mile radius. Crews, which include a pilot, nurse and paramedic, can fly directly to the scenes of medical emergencies or make hospital transfers. Air Evac operates more than 110 bases in 15 states throughout the central United States.

      For more information about Air Evac Lifeteam, call 1-800-793-0010 or visit www.lifeteam.net. For membership information, please call David Copeland at 931-637-5304.