Missing man's body found and other news from the areas around Chattanooga

Friday, January 1, 1904

Missing man's body found

WINCHESTER, Tenn. - The body of an Alabama man who may have been electrocuted by faulty wiring on a dock was found Thursday night, according to authorities.

The victim was identified as William A. Nolan, 39, of 1523 13th St. in Tuscaloosa, Ala., Franklin County Sheriff's Office spokesman Sgt. Chris Guess said in a news release.

Deputies spoke with the man's mother-in-law a little before 7 p.m. CDT Thursday, Guess said. She told deputies Nolan had been jogging and told her when he returned that he was going to go for a swim at the boat dock near the house, he said.

The woman went looking for Nolan after about an hour and found only his clothes on the dock, Guess said. She contacted authorities, who began a search that ended around 8 p.m. CDT when they found Nolan's body under the dock, the release states.

Guess said the house "had been struck by lightning in the recent past" and investigators found faulty wiring from the house to the dock "causing the dock to be live with electricity."

An autopsy is planned.


Man charged on drug counts

DeKALB COUNTY, Ala. - DeKalb County sheriff's office investigators arrested a 65-year-old man Thursday on drug charges.

Tommy George Lowery was arrested after investigators searched his home on County Road 28 and found controlled substances including Klonopin, Zanax, Valium, methamphetamine and marijuana, according to Sheriff Jimmy Harris.

Lowery was charged with five counts of unlawful possession of a controlled substance, unlawful possession of marijuana second-degree and unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia.

Investigators initially approached Lowery while investigating burglaries in the Oak Hill area, Harris said.


Woman accused of TennCare fraud

DUNLAP, Tenn. - A Dunlap woman has been arrested and charged with TennCare fraud by "doctor shopping," or using program benefits to obtain prescription drugs from multiple physicians.

Christy L. Stewart, 32, is charged with seeking the painkiller hydrocodone, according to a news release from the Tennessee Office of Inspector General.

TennCare fraud is a Class E felony, carrying a sentence of up to two years in prison. District Attorney General J. Michael Taylor is prosecuting.


Grant to boost rural teachers' pay

NASHVILLE - Tennessee's Education Department has received a federal grant of more than $5.5 million to improve pay and provide more opportunities to teachers in high-poverty schools.

The U.S. Department of Education announced the award Thursday. It will serve school districts in Polk, Haywood and Lincoln counties.