Man, 41, arrested on drug charges
PAINT ROCK, Ala. - An Alabama man with an outstanding warrant for felony assault has been arrested during a traffic stop.
Larry Baugh, 41, of Paint Rock, had been sought for several months, Jackson County Sheriff's Office Chief Deputy Rocky Harnen said in a news release.
On Tuesday, a deputy pulled Baugh over and found chemicals used to make methamphetamine, prescription pills and drug paraphernalia, Harnen said.
Baugh was charged with second-degree assault, possession of precursor chemicals, unlawful manufacturing of controlled substances, unlawful possession of controlled substances and possession of drug paraphernalia, Harnen said.
He was taken to the Jackson County Jail, where he remains without bond.
State lifts sewer moratorium
MONTEAGLE, Tenn. - Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation Commissioner Bob Martineau announced that a seven-year sewer connection moratorium for Monteagle has been lifted after major improvements to the town's wastewater treatment plant and collection system.
The announcement also cited the town's ability to meet the requirements of an agreed order issued in January 2005.
"Mayor [Marilyn] Nixon and the entire town of Monteagle should be commended for the community's cooperative spirit in proactively addressing its wastewater challenges, while positioning their town for long-term economic growth," Martineau said in a news release.
Registration rumor called hoax
MONTGOMERY, Ala. - Alabama Secretary of State Beth Chapman said email messages and Facebook posts are claiming people need to reregister to vote in the upcoming election if they haven't voted since 2008.
Chapman said the messages aren't true. She said voters' names still will be on the voter lists regardless of whether they voted in past elections.
Judge's lawyers seek dismissals
KNOXVILLE - Attorneys for former Knox County Criminal Court Judge Richard Baumgartner have filed motions seeking to get federal charges against him thrown out.
The defense motions were filed Monday in U.S. District Court.
Baumgartner earlier pleaded guilty to state charges of official misconduct after it came to light that he was addicted to prescription painkillers he was buying from a graduate of a drug court he helped found.
The Knoxville News Sentinel reported the new motions are aimed at heading off a scheduled Oct. 23 trial on seven counts that charge that Baumgartner did not report the commission of a felony.