The latest report on how well states are funding tobacco prevention and cessation efforts has Tennessee ranked in the back of the pack at 36th in the nation. According to the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, Tennessee will take in more than $400 million in tobacco revenue this year, while spending only $5 million to prevent children from starting and to help smokers quit. The group’s spokesman, John Schachter, says that’s less than 7 percent of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s recommendation. “There’s a lot of work to be done in Tennessee to be able to bring the youth smoking rate down and the adult smoking rate down and to be able to help people stop smoking and prevent kids from starting in the first place,” he stresses. In Tennessee, nearly one-in-six high school students and one-in-four adults are smokers with more than 11,000 related deaths each year. Nationwide, Schachter notes that states are collecting more than $25 billion this year from tobacco taxes and lawsuit settlement dollars, but are spending less than 2 percent of that on prevention and cessation programs. “And those numbers are indicative that those states are literally sacrificing the lives and health of kids,” he states. “And it’s something which doesn’t have to be the case.” Tobacco use is the leading cause of preventable death in the United States, killing nearly a 500,000 Americans each year.

The success of the first Tullahoma Citizen’s Police Academy (TCPA) in early 2014 was met with positive comments from the participants. Once again the department would like to extend an invitation to Tullahoma citizens to participate in the next session. The Tullahoma Police Department is currently accepting applications for the 2015 Citizen’s Police Academy (TCPA). The TCPA is being offered in order to maintain a strong partnership between the residents of Tullahoma and the Police Department in order to enhance the quality of life in our community. The TCPA will provide for an introduction to the operation of the Police Department and the resources and requirements necessary to provide a professional and proficient community service. The TCPA will focus on an interactive curriculum consisting of classroom instruction, discussion periods, mock scenarios, situational activities, and hands-on activities.
Applications for the TCPA will be taken through the month of January for the session that will begin March 24, 2015 and conclude May 26, 2015. The application and eligibility requirements and other information can be found at www.tullahomatn.gov, or pick up an application packet at the Police Department, 201 W. Grundy St.
Once the applications have been received, a total of eighteen (18) participants will be selected to attend. The participants will be notified by mail of their acceptance before the middle of February.
Upon notification, the participants will be required to submit a thirty dollar ($30) registration fee to cover materials. The TCPA will be held on Tuesday evenings for the ten week period from 5:30 pm to approximately 8:30 pm. The program will consist of a total of forty-four (44) hours of instruction and a participant must attend thirty-six (36) hours in order to graduate.
Completion of the TCPA does not certify participants as law enforcement officers. The purpose and intent of the TCPA is to provide residents with an opportunity to gain insight and knowledge as too the operations of the local law enforcement agency. Any questions about the TCPA can be directed to Chief Paul Blackwell at (931) 455-0530 or pblackwell@tullahomatn.gov.

Christmas night turnout to be not so merry for residents of Kingwood Arms apartments in Manchester. A fire was reported around 5:30pm Thursday and emergency personnel responded quickly to the scene. The sprinkler system activated to extinguish the small fire on the 5th floor of the complex on the McMinnville Hwy next to Raider Academy.
Manchester Fire Chief George DeShields says that no one was injured but Coffee County EMS provided oxygen to a few of the occupants that were evacuated.

Kingwood Arms management worked with others to find places to stay for those displaced.
There was a large amount water damage plus a couch and wall was burned.
Cigarette smoking may have started the fire but the cause is under investigation.
Manchester Fire & Rescue, Coffee County EMS, Manchester Police, Red Cross and the Coffee County Sheriff’s Department responded to the scene.

At 3:50pm Friday afternoon emergency crews were called to the scene of a crash with injuries on Wayside Road in Coffee County. A local woman said she was traveling east on Wayside Road as she approached a sharp curve and another car was traveling west. The female driver of the east bound car said she swerved to the left to avoid colliding with the other vehicle. She then went off the road, through a fence and into some trees.
Coffee County EMS personnel provided medical assistance to the woman and she turned down transport to an area hospital. She was only person in the vehicle. Her Pontiac car did receive damage after crashing into the fence and trees.
Coffee County Sheriff’s Department was in charge of the scene.

The American Red Cross announced the winner of the Battle of the Badges competition between Manchester Police, Manchester Fire Rescue, Coffee County Sheriff’s Department and Coffee County EMS. The Manchester Fire Rescue won this year’s competition by earning 20 of the forty five votes.
The Battle of the Badges blood drive was held December 11, 2014, that had the potential to save over 100 lives. The Battle of the Badges is a friendly competition to encourage community members to join local heroes and perform a heroic duty of their own by donating blood.
All presenting donors were asked to cast their vote for their favorite group. Although this battle was a very close one up until the last hour, this year’s winner, Manchester Fire Rescue will gain bragging rights and the Battle of the Badges trophy.
Manchester Fire Rescue’s Chief, George DeShields, stated that the MFD was happy to help our community and save lives! During an emergency or a blood drive, you can always count on each of the First Responders from Manchester Fire Rescue, Manchester Police Department, Coffee County Sheriff’s Department, and Coffee County EMS.
If you missed this year’s Battle of the Badges blood drive and would still like to donate blood with the Red Cross, call 1-800-RED CROSS (800-733-2767) or visit redcrossblood.org to schedule an appointment to donate. Give Something that Means Something this Holiday Season.