Tagged: rutherford county

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. (WMOT)  --  Six of the 18 Tennessee schools honored this week for academic gains are located here in the Mid-State. Two are located in Rutherford County.

Principal Barbara Sales of Murfreesboro’s Hobgood Elementary and Principal Andra Helton of Rutherford County’s Thurman Francis Elementary picked up “Value-Added Achievement Awards” for their schools on Monday.

The awards are based on data tracked by the Tennessee Department of Education and indicate schools that show significant improvement in test scores year-over-year.

Hobgood Principal Barbara Sales said a dedicated staff and faculty is the key to her school’s success.

MURFREESBORO, Tenn (AP) — Murfreesboro Police Officer Kristy Inglish has testified that the former Middle Tennessee State University student accused of killing her roommate during a fight never complained of any injury.

Shanterrica Madden has claimed self-defense, saying she was being beaten up when she stabbed Tina Stewart with a knife that she found on Stewart's bed.

The Daily News Journal reports Inglish drove Madden to the police station on the night of the stabbing, March 2, 2011.

The fight came after Stewart, a Lady Raiders basketball player, called apartment management to complain that Madden was smoking marijuana. Testimony showed Stewart was afraid of failing a drug test and losing her basketball scholarship.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP/WMOT) — The Tennessee House has passed Gov. Bill Haslam's bill to require mandatory jail time for people with repeat domestic violence convictions.

The chamber voted 98-1 to approve the bill. The lone vote against the measure came from Democratic Rep. Eddie Bass of Prospect.  Bass says the bill shouldn’t be passed until the state agrees to pay local governments the entire increased costs of putting more abusers in jail.

However, the director of the Murfreesboro domestic violence program, Deborah Johnson, says Rep. Bass should also consider the possible savings.

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. (WMOT)  --  Online retail giant Amazon.com held the official ground breaking Thursday for a new fulfillment center in Murfreesboro.

Construction is already well underway on the million square foot warehouse on Joe B. Jackson Parkway.  Amazon says the facility will eventually employ 1300 people.

In comments during the ceremony, Amazon spokesman Mark Mazano promised the online retailer will eventually invest a total of 350 million dollars in Tennessee and employ about 3500 people.  

Rutherford County Mayor Ernest Burgess was one of several local dignitaries on hand to welcome Amazon.

NASHVILLE, Tenn (AP/WMOT) — An exit poll of voters in Tennessee's presidential primary showed Rick Santorum beat Mitt Romney thanks to strong support among born-again Christians — about three-quarters of those who went to the polls on Tuesday.

Santorum also led Romney 3 to 1 among those who said it mattered a "great deal" that a candidate shared their religious beliefs.

Mary Cecil, a retiree voting in Sevierville, said she was concerned about the economy, but the deciding factor in casting her vote for Santorum was: "I would like to have a true Christian in the White House."