Dancing the Night Away Man Faces Sex Charges After Online Investigation by PAIGE STANAGE HERALD-CITIZEN
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CHS VOLLEYBALL DOMINATES LA. B1 Herald-CitizenTHURSDAY,Herald-Citizen SEPTEMBER 26, 2019 | COOKEVILLE, TENNESSEE 117TH YEAR | NO. 200 75 CENTS Monterey may get social media policy BY JIM HERRIN of a social media policy for social media. than that, though, does it?” if you had set up the page that HERALD-CITIZEN the town and its employees “She explained that when asked Alderman Nathan was, for instance, Starlett and elected offi cials. you get on social media, if Walker. Wessels’ vice mayor page, you Some members of the “Ella is fresh off a training you put stuff on there, even “According to Elisha, it could never delete a comment Monterey Board of Mayor and session in Franklin, Tennes- on your personal account, does,” Dishman replied. “She from it,” she said. “You could Aldermen were surprised see, where this was a hot top- and you mention anything said that if anybody wanted never delete a comment that this month to learn that their ic,” said Mayor Bill Wiggins with the city, then it’s (subject to take it court, they would you yourself had made or private Facebook pages might when the agenda item came to) the public records law,” probably win.” delete a comment that anyone be considered public records up. Dishman said. “If another Alderman Starlett Wessels else had made.” and subjected to the parame- Dishman told board mem- board member comments attended the same training “Even if it violates the ters of Tennessee’s Sunshine bers that Elisha Hodge, a on (a post), it also could be session. policy of being threatening or Law. legal consultant for the Mu- in violation of the Sunshine “One thing I noticed that obscene?” asked Walker. That’s what City Hall Of- nicipal Technical Advisory Law because you’re making she said that I found very in- “She said you never could,” fi ce Manager Ella Dishman Service (MTAS), explained recommendations outside of a teresting was if you did any- Dishman responded. “And if reported to them as they dis- some of the pitfalls of elected public (meeting).” thing on social media, even if cussed the potential adoption offi cials having a presence on “It doesn’t get more public it were your personal page, or SEE MONTEREY, PAGE A2 Dancing the night away Man faces sex charges after online investigation BY PAIGE STANAGE HERALD-CITIZEN A Silver Point man is charged with sex off enses after allegedly soliciting a law enforcement agent posing as a child last week. Phillip Carlen Loftis, 53, of Hickey Road solicited a Geor- gia Bureau of Investigation agent who was posing as a 13-year-old child in an online chatroom, according to the LoftisLfi arrest warrant. “Phillip Loftis solicited a GBI agent posing as a 13-year-old child by electronic means,” the warrant states. “Subject (Loftis) exposed his genitals’ on an BEN WHEELER | HERALD-CITIZEN online chat application to an offi cer pos- The One World Multicultural Evening at Tennessee Tech featured world dances for attendees to learn. ing as a minor child. During the chat, the The event featured lessons on Salsa and East African dances Wednesday in the Roaden University defendant (Loftis) conducted a conversation Center. that included having sexual contact with the minor child.” Loftis is charged with solicitation of a minor and sexual exploitation of a minor by Tech Chorale headed to Europe, electronic means; bond is $7,500. fundraising for 52-student group Woman BY BEN WHEELER al presented an idea to HERALD-CITIZEN Zamer, who had been brandishes struggling fi nding a place Tennessee Tech Cho- to take students, and he rale singers are planning jumped at the chance. a trip to Austria and “We were talking about machete Hungary in May to sing a bunch of places and BY PAIGE STANAGE at the site of Ludwig van none of them were really HERALD-CITIZEN Beethoven’s funeral, but resonating with me unfortunately some of until I went to the na- A Cookeville woman is accused of bran- the students are strug- tional (American Choral dishing a machete during an altercation gling to foot the bill. Director’s Association) with her boyfriend Wednesday. That’s where Georgia conference,” Zamer said. Mary Ann Wilmoth, 46, of Cypress Ave- Gross and her fellow “I heard a choir from nue, obtained a machete and brandished it students came in. The Capital University from in an alleged attempt to attack her boy- senior singer decided to BEN WHEELER | HERALD-CITIZEN Ohio that had a special friend, according to the arrest warrant. take charge and, along Tennessee Tech Chorale is raising money concert and all they did She is charged with aggravated assault; with other students, put for their trip to Austria and Hungary to help was perform this one bond is $25,000. together a Go Fund Me members who can’t aff ord the cost. Senior singer piece of music called A In other recent arrests: account to try to help al- Georgia Gross, left, and Dr. Craig Zamer are Silence Haunts Me.” Mark Nunley, 54, of Seven Springs Road, leviate some of the fi nan- hoping to cover the cost so all 52 students can The piece is about the Cookeville; arrested by the Cookeville cial burden for students. make their way abroad. life of Beethoven, and Police Department for driving under the Director of Choral Ac- on the trip, the choir infl uence; bond is $1,000. tivities and music profes- those opportunities for them every year. It has will sing the piece in the Lindsay Lowery, 30, of Georgia Drive, sor Dr. Craig Zamer said my students because they been four years since our church where Beetho- Crossville; arrested by the Tennessee High- he tries to provide the were so important to trip to England, Wales ven’s funeral was held way Patrol for giving false information in opportunity of traveling me,” Zamer said. “I do it and Ireland, so students 200 years after he was an accident report; bond is $1,000. abroad and perform to every four years because, like Georgia have not had born. Jared Massa, 47, of West Broad Street, students during their number one, it’s always an opportunity to travel While the university Cookeville; arrested by the Putnam County four years at the school. expensive to travel so I’m abroad with me.” Sheriff ’s Offi ce for vandalism and resisting “I wanted to provide not going to throw this on Perform Internation- SEE CHORALE, PAGE A2 arrest; bond is $3,000. herald-citizen.com INDEX 2 sections | 14 pages OBITUARIES Page A3, A5 DEAR ABBY A6 COMICS A7 OPINION A4 John Zauner Sr., Gainesboro Mandy Carmack, Allardt Robert Watson, Baxter CALENDAR A3 CROSSWORD A7 SPORTS B1 Azalea Sullivan, Cookeville William Smith, Moss Tyler Bates, Cookeville CLASSIFIED B2 LIVING A6 SUDOKU A7 Colleen Kennedy, Hilham Floyd Brown, Baxter Alyjah Gomez, Cookeville A2 HERALD-CITIZEN FROM PAGE 1 THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 2019 herald-citizen.com 0LOTTERY0 Wednesday Cash 3 Evening 4-7-7, Sum: 18 Midday 7-3-2, Sum: 12 Morning 6-7-1, Sum: 14 Cash 4 Evening 6-9-6-0, Sum: 21 Midday 1-8-5-0, Sum: 14 Morning 8-7-5-1, Sum: 21 Cash4Life 06-34-36-48-55, Ball: 1 Lotto America 10-24-40-42-49, Star Ball: 9, ASB: 3 Est. jackpot: $3.05 million Powerball 37-43-44-45-53, Power- ball: 25, Power Play: 3 Est. jackpot: $40 million Tennessee Cash 02-06-09-14-26, Bonus: 5 Est. jackpot: $1.32 million 0READER SERVICES0 PAIGE STANAGE | HERALD-CITIZEN Address: 1300 Neal St. Cookeville, TN 38501 Police Athletic League donation Mailing Address: The Upper Cumberland Blue Knights donated $1,000 to the Police Athletic League Tuesday. Nadine Shera with PAL said $500 is dedicated to the after school program, and $500 goes to the Ralph Walker scholarship, which is a scholarship to P.O. Box 2729 encourage disadvantaged youth to seek a college education and financially assist such students at Tennessee Tech. Back, Cookeville TN 38502 from left are Shaquawana Wester; Kathy Smith, PAL board member; Henry Amir Khanian, PAL board member; Brian Gregg, UC Blue Knights vice president; Al Lustig, UC Blue Knights secretary; Cookeville Police Chief Randy Evans; Steve Price, Phone: 931-526-9715 UC Blue Knights president; Mike Robichaud, UC Blue Knights member; Harold Morphew, UC Blue Knights past president; Fax: 931-526-1209 Christopher Sherrill; “Padre” Skip Ritter, UC Blue Knights chaplain; Nadine Shera; and Whitney Nielsen. Sitting at the table are Ariana McCloud, Destini Ward, Destiny Brown, Yamaree Carter, Aldo Alanis, Cameron Gonzolas, Timothy Ward, Sylvia News Lett and Cassidy Steinwinder. [email protected] Sports [email protected] Advertising [email protected] CHORALE: Fundraising to Living [email protected] help all members go to Europe Circulation [email protected] FROM PAGE A1 Business News [email protected] Church News provided help for the trip, there was still a bill for [email protected] each student, over $2,000 according to Zamer. Of the School News 52 singers in Chorale, there were roughly 15 stu- [email protected] dents who said that they may not be able to pay to Classified Ads make the trip. [email protected] “One of the downsides of going abroad is that these trips are not cheap,” Zamer said. “For a trip Letter Guidelines that we’re taking, which is about 11 days — it’s ex- All letters to the editor must be pensive. I’ve been fortunate when President Oldham signed and include the writer’s came into the university, I invited him to one of our name, address and phone concerts — the Festival of Voices — and there I an- Nick Patel, Blake Walker and Tyler Bagwell, all with Happy Hour number.