Man arrested after explosions and other news from around the Chattanooga area

Man arrested after explosions

ATHENS, Tenn. - Police in Southeast Tennessee arrested an Illinois man after fireworks were ignited in two stores.

Athens police told the Daily Post-Athenian that they were called to a grocery store and doughnut shop after the explosions Wednesday morning. One of the fireworks exploded and struck a grocery delivery driver in the leg.

Authorities arrested 39-year-old William Busche, of St. Charles, Ill., after they saw him setting off more fireworks outside a convenience store.

The police report said the man claimed the Lord told him to blow up the businesses.

Busche remained in jail Friday on charges of assault, vandalism and disorderly conduct.


FBI asks help with robberies

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - The FBI is asking for help finding a man who robbed two banks in North Alabama.

Agents said a man entered the Peoples Bank in Guntersville on Aug. 2 and gave a teller a note demanding money. The bandit claimed to have a gun.

The FBI said a similar holdup occurred six days later at a Traditions Bank near Priceville. A man of roughly the same description entered the bank and handed a teller a note claiming he had a gun.


Guard members head to Bahrain

TULLAHOMA, Tenn. - Military officials in Nashville said 39 soldiers of the Tennessee National Guard's 1175th Transportation Company, based in Tullahoma, will depart the armory there this morning for training at Camp Shelby in Mississippi.

After training there, the soldiers will be deployed to Bahrain for nine months in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.


Teen dies days after lightning hit

PANAMA CITY BEACH, Fla. - An Alabama teenager struck by lightning as his stepfather carried him on a Florida Panhandle beach has died.

Fourteen-year-old Tristan Barger and James Keith Brown, of Chelsea, Ala., were struck by lightning Monday as they were trying to return to their boat anchored off Shell Island.

Brown was pronounced dead at the scene. Tristan was taken to a hospital in Pensacola.

The News Herald reports that Tristan's family said he died Wednesday night.

Authorities said Brown was carrying the teen on his back because Tristan had a cast on a broken ankle.

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