Gas prices continue to drop across the Southeast region as motorists gear up for Thanksgiving travel. This is positive news for travelers who are paying less for a gallon of gas than they did this time last year. Here in the Coffee County the low price in Manchester is $3.14 and in Tullahoma it’s $3.06.
Although gas prices are on a downward trend, the cost for a barrel of oil increased slightly.
“Although oil prices inched up slightly, retail gas prices are expected to fall throughout the month,” said Jessica Brady of AAA.
A barrel of oil closed Friday at $86.07—$1.21 more than the week prior.
The national average price of regular unleaded gasoline is $3.44, 4 cents less than last week. Here in Tennessee the average of $3.18 dropping cents from last week.

Investigators believe a Franklin County man was overcome by smoke and could not escape a fire at his home.
Police told the Winchester Herald Chronicle that it appeared Roy Bethel Davis, Jr. died from smoke inhalation.
Firefighters discovered the man’s body after they knocked down the fire at his mobile home on Keith Springs Mountain Road Nov. 6.
Davis’ remains were transported to the state medical examiner’s office for an autopsy.

November marks the start of holiday shopping for countless Tennesseans and shoppers everywhere. Here is how consumers can keep gift cards’ policies from dumping snow on their holiday season.

• Check expiration dates and fees. In the state of Tennessee, expiration dates, fees and other terms must be clearly disclosed at the time of purchase. The expiration date and fee must be legibly printed on the gift card.
• Ask about restrictions. Some card issuers deduct a monthly fee from the card or apply inactivity fees, if a card has not been used for a period of time. These fees will reduce the value of the card. Some gift cards do not allow cash refunds for a remaining balance on a card. You will have to either forfeit the balance or buy additional items.
• Know what it will cost. Major shopping mall operators charge fees for gift cards. Gift cards issued by banks and credit card companies often expire and tend to add fees. Fees – including activation fees, transaction fees, maintenance fees and inactivity fees – can lessen a card’s value.
• Ask what to do if the card is stolen. Always keep a receipt. Because gift cards are not usually registered to an individual purchaser, they can be easily stolen. Some stores urge customers to access their website and register cards in case they’re stolen.
• Check on purchase exemptions. Ask if the card may be used at both a store’s physical location and the store’s website. Also ask if the card may be used at other locations, not just the specific store where the card was purchased.
• Get as much information as possible for the card’s recipient. Ask for a toll-free phone number, in case there are problems with the gift card. Ask if a website that provides gift card details is available.

Consumer Affairs (www.tn.gov/consumer/) is a division of the Department of Commerce and Insurance

Woman walks away after car split in half

A Chattanooga woman escaped serious injury Friday afternoon when a wheelbarrow fell off of a truck in front of her on I-24.
According to Tennessee Highway Patrolman Carl Seagroves, 30-year-old Paulette Russell of Chattanooga was traveling eastbound when at the 106 mile marker a wheelbarrow fell off of the truck in front of her. She swerved to miss it and went off the interstate; her Honda Civic then struck a tree on the driver’s side and flipped. The car was cut in half by the crash. When the trooper arrived Russell was walking around and was able to provide details of the crash. The truck that the wheelbarrow fell off of continued to travel down the interstate and has not been found. According to Trooper Seagroves, the usage of a seatbelt definitely saved the woman’s life. Russell was treated and released from a Manchester hospital.

A Boy Scout leader and Liberty School teacher has been charged with inappropriately touching a teenage boy.
Travis Scott Spivey, 43, was charged Tuesday with sexual battery by an authority figure, Detective Sgt. Brian Crews of the Shelbyville Police Department said Thursday.
The Shelbyville Times-Gazette reports the victim is not one of Spivey’s students or involved in current Boy Scout activity.
Spivey has been placed on administrative leave without pay from his teaching position.