Wednesday, December 20th

From the Tennova Healthcare Cleveland News Desk, here is your news for Wednesday, December 20th, on Mix 104-1 and Talk 101-3 The Buzz.

Topping our news today, from the Cleveland Daily Banner…

The Tennessee Comptroller’s Office confirmed today to the Cleveland Daily Banner the allegations by certain members of the County Commission made against Sheriff Eric Watson and the Bradley County Sheriff’s Office concerning improper financial activities have been found to be “baseless or incorrect.”

In its yearly audit, the Comptroller’s Office issued no findings against the Sheriff’s office.

Also in news today…

On Tuesday evening, a Domino’s Pizza delivery vehicle was stolen from 245 Gaut Street NE. While the owner was making a delivery, an unknown subject jumped into the vehicle and took off towards Inman Street. The vehicle was located three minutes later at 420 2nd Street NE. As of news time, there are no suspects.

From WRCB Channel 3…

New evidence was laid out Tuesday against the driver in the Woodmore bus crash that shows Johnthony Walker may have been distracted shortly before the crash that killed six elementary school students.

Hamilton County District Attorney Neal Pinkston said there is proof to indicate that Mr. Walker received a phone call right before the crash and apparently the phone was still operable during that time.

During the hearing, Pinkston said a call log from Walker’s cell phone shows a call on Walker’s phone at 3:17 pm on November 21, 2016 and the call lasted for three minutes and 51 seconds. He said the Hamilton County 911 call log shows the first 911 call came in around 3:20 pm that same day.

Walker’s attorney spent the morning laying out what evidence in the case she believes should be thrown out, like pictures taken of the scene and during autopsies.

She wants her client’s driving history and prior complains thrown out too.

She believes 1400 pages of data from Walker’s cell phone are not needed.

But the state disagrees, saying attorneys have evidence Walker answered his phone moments before the crash.

New information that proves Walker caused the crash.

That decision will be up to a jury, which will be chosen from Clarksville and sequestered in Chattanooga for the trial.

The trial is set for February 27th, 2018.

From the Chattanoogan…

Stan Massey, a maintenance supervisor in Cleveland, is one of three lucky Tennesseans who are celebrating the holidays with an extra twinkle this week after winning $1 million, each playing Tennessee Lottery instant games.

Two of the lucky three won by entering non-winning tickets into a “Play It Again!” drawing, while the third won on the second of two tickets she purchased at E-Z Stop Food Mart in Alcoa.

The Play It Again! winners, Stan Massey and Andy Patel, a restaurant worker from Decherd—arrived at the Lottery’s headquarters Monday nearly simultaneously to claim their million-dollar prizes. President and CEO Rebecca Hargrove was on hand to give out checks and share some laughs.

To “Play it Again”, players simply visit tnvipsuite.com and become a VIP Players Suite member (free). Once registered, players can scan non-winning instant tickets with the TN Lottery phone app or enter online. By entering tickets, VIP Members also receive points to enter drawings for a variety of merchandise, travel packages, and more.

This has been your local and state news. You can get news anytime by visiting our website, mymix1041.com. From the Tennova Healthcare Cleveland News Desk, this is Jeremy Gault reporting.