Five men has been sentenced for their roles in a 2017 home invasion robbery and murder in Tipton County.

U.S. Attorney for West Tennessee Michael Dunavant says in January 2017, 21-year-old Willie Somerville, 21-year-old Armoni Hall, 21-year-old Eddie Poindexter, 24-year-old Christian Sherrill, and 32-year-old Darrell Owens participated in the robbery of drugs and drug proceed from the Covington home of Timothy Edwards.

During the robbery, Somerville opened fire, killing Edwards.

At sentencing, the Court determined that all five defendants had prior adult criminal convictions and/or juvenile delinquent histories. Further, the Court found that Somerville was a member and leader in the Kitchen Crips street gang, and that Hall, Poindexter, and Owens were also members of the Kitchen Crips gang in Covington.

Earlier this week, Somerville was sentenced to life imprisonment plus ten years; Poindexter was sentenced to 330 months imprisonment and 4 years supervised release; and Sherrill was sentenced to 330 months imprisonment and 4 years supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.

Hall and Owens were sentenced earlier this year.

Rising high school seniors from across the region are invited to attend UT Martin’s fourth-annual End of Summer Bash July 26th from 10:30 to 2:30 on the main campus.

Registration will begins that morning at 10:30 in the Boling University Center, and campus tours will follow an official welcome.

A party including refreshments, team and individual activities, and displays from various campus departments and social organizations will begin at 12:30 in the Student Recreation Center.

Those who have already attended a campus tour are welcome to arrive for the party at 12:30. Parking will be available in front of the Boling University Center and across the road near Pacer Pond.

For more information, visit utm.edu/summerbash, or contact the Office of Undergraduate Admissions at 731-881-7020 or [email protected]

A contractor plans to close James-Sanders Blvd on the north leg of the U.S. 60 Intersection in Paducah starting Monday as part of ongoing construction of the Double Crossover Diamond Interchange along US 60.

The contractor will be constructing a concrete traffic island at the intersection.

James-Sanders Boulevard is expected to remain closed to all traffic at this site for approximately one week.

This closure of the north leg of James-Sanders Blvd is near Michelson’s Jewelers, the Verizon Store, Starbuck’s, Jimmy John’s, and Five Guys.

The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet asks motorists to be aware of the work zone and to utilize safe driving habits when traveling through the work area.

Jim Smith Contracting, of Grand Rivers, Kentucky, is the prime contractor on the $9.1 million dollar highway improvement project.

Work on the Double Crossover Diamond interchange and other improvements are expected to be completed by November.

Near-record low unemployment continues across Tennessee, despite a slight increase to 3.4 percent last month.

June’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate is up a tenth of a percent when comparing it to May’s figure.

Total nonfarm employment increased by 9,600 jobs between May and June of this year.

In the past year, from June 2018 to June 2019, Tennessee saw nonfarm employment grow by 52,100 jobs in every corner of the state.

The unemployment rates and data for each of Tennessee’s 95 counties will be released next week.

A cast member on the Discovery Channel reality series, “Deadliest Catch,” has been sentenced to 51 months in federal prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm.

According to U.S. Attorney for West Tennessee Michael Dunavant, 43-year-old Jason “Tennessee” King, of Counce, Tennessee, in Hardin County, was sentenced in federal court in Jackson for his possession of a firearm as a convicted felon. King received a sentencing enhancement for also being in possession of over 14 pounds of marijuana.

According to information presented in court, in April 2017, authorities executed a search warrant and felony arrest warrant at King’s home in Counce and found multiple bags of marijuana totaling over 14 pounds hidden under the house. Also recovered was a fully loaded Smith & Wesson .38 caliber revolver in the kitchen drawer.

Because King had an extensive prior criminal history, he was sentenced to the maximum sentence within the guideline range for the offenses.

Along with the 51 month sentence, King was given three years supervised release.