Students participating in spring sports next year such as baseball, softball, track, and soccer may have to find their own transportation to “away” events, due to cost cutting measures by the county school system. Coffee County School and Transportation Department officials told the Budget and Finance Committee this week that they were requesting an additional $390,000 for the upcoming school year, primarily to purchase three new school buses and increased fuel cost despite the fact that the department is losing a total of eight buses now considered “too old” by state standards. The county finance director says the cost increase would cause an increase of approximately 9 cents on the county property tax.

Low water levels at area lakes

A recent drought report shows Tennessee as abnormally dry just ahead of a long stretch of dry weather expected this summer. According to the U.S. ArmyCorps of Engineers, many lakes in the Cumberland River Basin are at levels below normal and Percy Priest Lake is at its lowest level since 1986. Similar conditions brought severe drought to Tennessee in 2007 and 2008. In late 2007, Normandy Lake was 15 feet below normal. The lake is currently two feet below where it was in the spring of 2007. According to National Weather Service forecasters, June, July and August are expected to be hotter than normal. How much rain will fall remains an open-ended question. With levels nearing drought, area crops could be greatly impacted. A warmer, drier spring dried out much of the soil and when the weather is warm and dry too early for too long fewer people reap the benefits of homegrown goods.

Coffee County held a public meeting on Tuesday at the Coffee County Administrative Building Meeting in Manchester. The purpose of discussing the HOME Program. The County has been awarded a grant through the Tennessee Housing Development Agency (THDA) for the purpose of rehabilitating owner-occupied homes of low-income residents. Applications are available at Mayor Pennington’s office until June 15. Applications for the program are due no later than close of business on June 15, 2012. This project is funded under an agreement with Tennessee Housing Development Agency through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Things you should know before applying (other than the information requested in the packet): • Must be low income property owner. • Must have proof of ownership to include a deed in your name or a 99 year lease • Property taxes current and paid • If you have a mortgage approval from a company All of the items must accompany your application when it is turned in to the Mayor’s office.

Celebration Arena in Shelbyville

A recent report by the ABC News program Nightline prompted Pepsi to pull its sponsorship of the Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration in Shelbyville, Tennessee. The report focused on a practice known as “horse soring” where trainers use chemical or mechanical items such as kerosene and metal bolts to exaggerate the natural walking horse gait. The exaggerated gait, known as the “Big LIck” is prized in competitions. The U.S. Humane Society released video footage and held a press conference in Nashville showing undercover recordings of noted horse trainer Jackie McConnell soring a horse.

Tennessee is one of six states that will share in more than $181 million in federal health care grants. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services announced the grants Wednesday, saying Tennessee will receive $4.3 million to use in establishing Affordable Health Care Insurance Exchanges. The funds are part of the Affordable Care Act. The exchanges are designed as “one stop shops” to find and compare affordable, quality private health insurance options. Health and Human Services Secretary said in announcing the grants that in 2014, consumers in every state will have a marketplace where they can buy affordable insurance coverage.

The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency is stressing life jacket use as the boating season revs up. Ready, Set, Wear It Day is Saturday with a series of events statewide to encourage safe boating, including wearing personal floatation devices. The events come during national Safe Boating Week.