COUNTY COMMISSIONERS VOTE TO LIMIT BOND ISSUES

Coffee County Commissioners will consider a move to limit future funding for new school construction during a regular session set for tonight in Manchester. The commission's Budget and Finance Panel voted to scale down a school construction bond issue earlier this year. Finance member Ted Frisby says it's wise to limit future bond issues because of the uncertain economy. The school board is now using borrowed money to build a new elementary school on the Coffee County--Cannon County line and renovate and expand Hillsboro Elementary. The board also wants to buy land in Manchester and build a new middle school. Many object to that effort, and commissioners approved a non-binding resolution asking the school board to seek an alternate site. School leaders insist the tract behind the C--CAP building is the best location in the county for a new school. The commission meeting starts at 6:00 P.M.

EIGHT INJURED IN THREE CAR CRASH

A three car crash in Tullahoma leaves eight injured. The chain reaction wreck snarled traffic along Hogan and North Atlantic Streets for some time late Monday afternoon. Tullahoma Police and fire crews were called to the scene around 5:30 P.M. A Ford Taurus, a van and pickup truck were involved in the wreck. One person was airlifted to Nashville for treatment. Seven others were treated at the scene or transported to Harton Regional Medical Center. A spokesman for the Tullahoma Police Department says a citation was issued for failure to yield. Investigators say a driver of one of the vehicles apparently ran a stop sign for traffic at the Hogan Street -- Atlantic Street intersection, causing the crash.

TEMA DISASTER DRILL FOCUSES ON COMMUNICATION

The Tennessee Emergency Management Agency is having drills this week on improving communications among local, state, and federal agencies during a major disaster. There will be a series of classroom sessions Tuesday and then a full-scale exercise tomorrow at the Tennessee Fire and Codes Enforcement Academy near Deason in Bedford County. TEMA says first responders from 13 counties and 11 state agencies are scheduled to participate in the Wednesday drill. Those involved will operate equipment from more than 18 communications vehicles or mobile command platforms. This is the second such exercise. The first was at Paris Landing State Park last month.

SPECIALTY TAGS TO HELP FINANCE TRAIL WORK

Supporters of the Appalachian Trail are pushing efforts in Tennessee and Georgia to establish specialty car tags to help finance trail work by the Appalachian Trail Conservancy. Leanna Joyner, a spokeswoman for the Conservancy, says the group is approaching a 1,000 plate goal in each state. Both Tennessee and Georgia require that minimum before a specialty car tag is offered. More than 700 have signed up for the trail tag in Tennessee. About 660 have applied for the plate in Georgia. The group faces an April 1st deadline to qualify the specialty plates for production this year. In Tennessee, the General Assembly approves all specialty plates. The state now offers more than 90 special tags representing colleges and universities, military and conservation groups and other interests. The Appalachian Trail runs from Maine to Georgia, touching parts of fourteen states.

U.T. RESIDENCE SEQUOYAH PLACE UP FOR SALE

The official residence of the University of Tennessee President is up for sale. The Georgian--style Knoxville mansion brought controversy to then U.T. President John Shumaker, after he spent more than $500,000 to renovate the house, including some $4,800 for an outdoor grill. Shumaker resigned in 2003 after only eighteen months on the job. Critics say the lavish spending plan was out-of-line as the university struggled with annual budget shortfalls. U.T. says it's spending $180,000 annually to maintain the now-vacant house. Known as "Sequoyah Place" the offering includes the 11,400 square foot house, a 3.4 acre lot, tennis court, boat house and garden. Former U.T. President Andy Holt moved into the house in 1960. Five U.T. Presidents or Chancellors have called it home. Former President John Petersen moved out last June.

SENATE PASSES DRUG MIMIC PROPOSAL 32 - 0

The Senate has unanimously approved legislation that makes it illegal to produce or distribute, in Tennessee, any substance that mimics the effects of marijuana or cocaine. The proposal, sponsored by Democratic Senator Reginald Tate of Memphis, passed 32-0 on Monday. In the case of marijuana, the product is known as K2 and is commonly sold as incense. Produced in China and Korea, the mixture of herbs and spices is sprayed with a synthetic compound chemically similar to the psychoactive ingredient in marijuana. Users roll it up in joints or inhale it from pipes, just like the real thing. Though banned in most of Europe, K2's key ingredients are not regulated in the United States. The companion bill is awaiting a vote in the House Judiciary Criminal Practice subcommittee.