If you are looking for some fun Friday night (Oct. 18) – the Manchester Rec Department will have Hay Fever Harvest from 6-9 p.m. at the rec center. There will be a hay maze, pumpkin smashing, cornhole and Gaga and, best of all, it’s all free.

The rec center is located at 557 N. Woodland St.

 Newly released information from the Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development shows lower unemployment across the state in September.  The seasonally adjusted rate of 3.4 percent is 0.1 of a percentage point lower than the revised August rate of 3.5 percent.

In a year-to-year comparison, Tennessee’s statewide unemployment rate mirrored the rate from September 2018.

“Tennessee’s unemployment rate continues to hold steady and indicates a healthy state-wide economy,” said TDLWD Commissioner Jeff McCord. “Our business-friendly environment is fundamental to allowing employers the opportunity to succeed and create job opportunities for the people who call Tennessee home.”

Total nonfarm employment increased 3,700 jobs between August and September. The largest increases occurred in the leisure/hospitality sector, followed by the professional/business services, and other services sectors.

Over the last year, nonfarm employment across Tennessee increased by 48,200 jobs. The leisure/hospitality sector experienced the largest increase, with the professional/business services, and manufacturing sectors seeing the next largest increases in new jobs.

The September seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for the United States dropped to 3.5 percent, 0.2 of a percentage point lower that August’s revised rate of 3.7 percent. The national rate for September is 0.2 of a percentage point lower that it was in 2018.

The statewide unemployment rate is seasonally adjusted to eliminate the influences of weather, holidays, the opening and closing of schools, and other recurring seasonal events from an economic time series.

Tennesseans looking to improve their employment situation can access nearly 200,000 job openings, update their resumes, and sharpen their job interview skills by visiting the state’s workforce development website Jobs4TN.gov

The Coffee County Veterans Association (CCVA) will conduct the first ever Manchester Veterans Day Parade on Saturday, November 9th starting at 10 a.m.  with a very special parade line-up followed by a military veterans ceremony, and live music and entertainment directly following the parade.  

The parade will begin at the Coffee County Red Raider Academy and proceed down State Highway 55 terminating on the Manchester City Square.

The ceremony will be at the Manchester City Square immediately following the parade.

The Grand Marshall for the parade will be Mr. Edward Reader, a World War II Army Air Corps Veteran.  Reader’s B-17 Flying Fortress bomber was shot down and subsequently he was held as a Prisoner of War by the Germans in Romania following a bombing raid on the oil refineries at Ploiesti.  He is but one example of the countless courageous heroes and military veterans we take pause to celebrate this Veterans Day.  

Local vendors, businesses and civic organizations will also be on hand on the square at this event as our community celebrates the men and women in uniform who have served and currently serve in defending our nation, our freedoms, and our way of life.  

The Coffee County Veterans Association, which consists of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, Disabled American Veterans, and American Legion posts extends an especially warm welcome to all Coffee County residents and ask that you join us as we honor  and respect our military veterans.  

Registration is still open for anyone wishing to enter a float or vehicle in the parade. There is no cost to enter a float or vehicle in the parade.  Floats will be judged with cash prizes going to the top three winners.

Whether you’re considering entering your car in the parade to honor a special veteran in your life, or go all out with a float, the deadline to register is November 1st, 2019. Registration is also open for any vendors or organizations that would like to have a booth, with no registration fee, the registration deadline is November 1st.  To register or get further information, please visit www.vfwpost10904, or contact Fred Kasper at fekasper6812@gmail.com or Kimberly King at flygal46@yahoo.com. Registration forms are also below on the Thunder Radio website.

The Tullahoma Board of Mayor and Aldermen invite the public to a meeting to review the plans for the new Tullahoma Police Department. The come-and-go meeting will be Monday, October 21, 2019 from 2:00pm – 4:00pm at City Hall, 201 West Grundy Street.

Representatives of the Upland Design Group will be available for questions and have designs and sample materials.

The Coffee County School Board has received the Tennessee School Board Association Board of Distinction Award. 

The award recognizes the board for its efforts in Coffee County. The Board of Distinction status lasts for two years. Of the 141 school districts in Tennessee, only 32 school boards have the board of distinction honor.

Gas prices continue to creep up across the nation, hitting a national average of $2.65, which is 9 cents higher than a month ago.

While prices in Tennessee are well below the national average at $2.35 per gallon of regular unleaded, the average is up 8 cents over the past month in the state. In Coffee County, the average is $2.34, which is on par for the state average. Generally, Coffee County is a few cents below the state average.