Cannon Co. Murder Trial Delayed

A Cannon County man's murder trial has been delayed indefinitely because lawyers say his I-Q may be too low for prosecutors to pursue the death penalty. Fifty-one-year-old Roger Michael (Groundhog) Todd faces trial for the March 2002 murder of Jeffery Bell, whose torso was found in a well on Todd's property in rural Cannon County. Other body parts were found scattered around the property. District Attorney Bill Whitesell is seeking the death penalty because of the torture and mutilation. Circuit Court Judge J.S. (Steve) Daniel granted a continuance yesterday after defense lawyers said testing showed Todd's I-Q is in the 70 to 80 range. State law prohibits prosecutors from pursuing the death penalty against defendants with an I-Q of 70 or below.


Local Government will Stay Open Friday


While federal offices will close Friday for the state funeral of former President Ronald Regan, local governments and schools will maintain a regular schedule. The Post Office will be closed Friday, and no mail deliveries will be made. Gov. Phil Bredesen says state offices will be open Friday on a regular basis. Motlow College will remain open. Coffee County government will not close for the national event. City halls in Tullahoma and Manchester will operate on a regular basis Friday. All area banks will also be open. Bredesen has ordered state government offices to display flags at half-mast for 30 days in memory of the former president.

Ouster Proceedings Considered in Sequatchie Co.

Prosecutors say they are considering ouster proceedings against Sequatchie County Mayor Connie Easterly. 12th District Attorney General Mike Taylor says and ouster suit against the elected official could be filed by the end of this month. Taylor says he's been discussing the lawsuit with Easterly and her attorney, but declines to provide details. In January, Sequatchie County Commissioners voted 15-1 to seek an ouster move against Easterly. The vote came after months of turmoil over issues concerning a state audit of county funds, employee personnel policies, payment of the county's health insurance and the firing of the ambulance service director. The T-B-I spent several months investigating Easterly's office. Taylor says if she resigns her post, ouster proceedings will be dropped.


Federal Offer for Immigration Enforcement

State officials say government doesn't have the manpower to take up a federal offer for enforcement of immigration laws. A Washington program would train state troopers to enforce national immigration laws. But Safety Department Spokeswoman Beth Denton says troopers are already spread too thin, and there's no plan to add federal enforcement duties to the work roster. Denton says the Safety Department is instead working on merging the state's truck inspection program with the highway patrol. A 1996 law allows state police agencies to go after illegal immigrants only after officers receive specialized training from the immigration service. Hispanic groups oppose the effort. They say state and local police should not be expected to enforce federal immigration laws.


Middle Tennessee Bank Merger Approved

Another bank merger that will combine offices across middle Tennessee has been approved by shareholders. Owners of Regions Financial Corp. and Union Planters Corp. approved the deal yesterday, clearing a step in the regulatory process to merge the two companies. Birmingham--based Regions Bank will absorb Memphis--Headquartered Union Planters Bank by July 1st. Officials with the two banks say it will take about a year for the companies to convert to a common operating system. No decision has been reached concerning possible branch closures or staff reductions. Regions Bank has a branch in Tullahoma. Union Planters maintains a Murfreesboro office. The combined bank will have 23 branches in 20 middle Tennessee counties.


Mel Gibson's Film Distribution Company Sues Regal

Mel Gibson's film distribution company is suing Knoxville-based Regal Entertainment Group for 40 million dollars or more. Gibson's Icon Distribution claims the movie chain shortchanged the company on revenues from "The Passion of the Christ." Regal declined comment on the suit, which was filed Monday in Los Angeles Superior Court. Icon says Regal agreed to pay it 55 percent of receipts but reneged in May and offered only 34 percent. "The Passion of the Christ" is number seven on the all-time domestic box-office charts after taking in almost 370 million dollars. Regal operates locations across the state, including a multi-plex facility in Tullahoma.