As families prepare to gather for Thanksgiving Day feasts this Thursday, November 22, the Tennessee State Fire Marshal’s Office reminds Tennesseans the recipe for holiday fire safety always includes add good cooking safety habits.
Thanksgiving is the No. 1 day of the year for home fires involving cooking equipment, with three times the average number of fires, according to the National Fire Protection Association. An estimated 2,000 Thanksgiving Day fires in residential buildings are reported to U.S. fire departments each year according to the U.S. Fire Administration. In Tennessee, 26 percent of reported home structure fires in 2017 involved cooking equipment. Those 1,672 fires resulted in 12 civilian fatalities, 43 civilian injuries, two firefighter injuries and over $6 million of direct property damage, according to the Tennessee Fire Incident Reporting System.
“Careless cooking can turn a relaxing family get-together into an emergency,” said State Fire Marshal and Commerce & Insurance Commissioner Julie Mix McPeak. “We’re urging Tennesseans to practice fire-safe behavior this Thanksgiving to protect themselves, their families, and their properties. We want everyone to have a safe and fire-free Thanksgiving this year!”
The SFMO offers these Thanksgiving fire-safety tips:
· Stay in the kitchen when you are frying, grilling or broiling. If you have to leave the room, even for a moment, turn off the burner.
· Use a kitchen timer when boiling, simmering, baking, or roasting to remind yourself to check the cooking often.
· Use caution with turkey fryers. It is recommended that consumers utilize the oil-free models that are available or seek commercial professionals to prepare this entrée.
· Turkey fryers must always be used outdoors and a safe distance from buildings and other flammable materials.
· Never use turkey fryers indoors or on a wooden deck.
· Make sure the fryer is used on a flat surface to prevent accidental tipping.
· Never leave a turkey fryer unattended. Most fryer units do not have thermostat controls. If you do not watch the fryer carefully, the oil will continue to heat until it catches fire.
· Never let children or pets near the fryer, even if it is not in use. The oil inside the cooking pot can remain dangerously hot for hours after use.
· To prevent spillover, do not overfill the fryer.
· Use well-insulated potholders or oven mitts when touching pot or lid handles. If possible, wear safety goggles to protect your eyes from oil splatter.
· Make sure the turkey is thawed and dry before cooking. Ice or water that mixes into the hot oil can cause flare-ups. The National Turkey Foundation recommends thawing the turkey in the refrigerator approximately 24 hours for every five pounds of weight.
· Keep an all-purpose fire extinguisher nearby. Never use water to extinguish a grease or oil fire. If the fire is manageable, use your all-purpose fire extinguisher. If the fire increases, immediately call the fire department by dialing 911.

Grundy County Sheriff Clint Shrum reports two people have been charged in at least two local thefts. Drake Hamby (30), of Coalmont, has been charged in a case of theft and vandalism at the Bethel Cemetery in Pelham. Kristina Patrick (34) has been charged with filing a false report regarding the same incident.
The grave is for Hunter Northcutt who passed away last year at the age of 15 from cancer.
Both have also been served with criminal summons in a Coalmont theft that occurred last month. Hamby is currently being held in the Marion County Jail on other charges.

Good news for everyone traveling this week for Thanksgiving. Oil prices hit a new low last week, further fueling the plunge at the gas pump. Gas prices in Tennessee dropped another 8 cents last week. At $2.42 per gallon, the state average is the lowest since March, and only 16 cents higher than this year’s lowest daily average price of $2.26 per gallon.
Thanksgiving gas prices in Tennessee will be slightly higher than last year. AAA is forecasting more than 1.2 million Tennesseans will travel for Thanksgiving. Of those, 95 percent will drive. By Thanksgiving Day, the state average should drop to $2.38 per gallon, which is only 8 cents more than last year’s holiday.
The national average price of a gallon of regular unleaded is $2.63.
The low price per gallon in Coffee County can be found in Manchester at $2.16 and the low price for gas in Tullahoma is $2.39 per gallon.

Officials at Motlow State Community College recently announced the commencement ceremony for the 2018-19 academic year will be at Middle Tennessee State University’s Murphy Center in Murfreesboro in May.
Motlow is one of the fastest growing colleges in Tennessee. There are just under 7,000 students currently enrolled at the College, attending campuses in Moore County, Smyrna, Fayetteville, and McMinnville, and teaching locations in Sparta and Shelbyville. Increased enrollment has led to an increase in graduates. In recent years, Motlow has held multiple commencements on its Moore County campus, including last year when three separate ceremonies were held.
“This facility allows us to all be together to celebrate our most important academic occasion,” said Dr. Michael Torrence, Motlow president. “We are grateful to Dr. Sidney McPhee and the MTSU administration for allowing us to use Murphy Center.”
The Motlow commencement ceremony is scheduled for Sunday, May 5, in the Murphy Center beginning at 2 p.m.
Students who plan to walk during the May ceremony are required to submit an Intent to Graduate form to the Admissions office as soon as possible, with the deadline for submission March 15, 2019.
“I encourage students to schedule an appointment with your advisor prior to the start of registration to get into the classes you know you need,” said Mae Sanders, Motlow admissions director. “With our growing enrollment, classes fill up quickly.”
Registration for students who plan to attend the spring semester began Nov. 5. New student applications for the spring semester are due by Jan. 8, 2019. Spring semester classes begin Jan. 14, 2019.

Over the next few days, drivers should expect to see an increased Tennessee Highway Patrol presence across the state.
As millions plan to hit the roads to spend Thanksgiving with family, THP wants to keep you safe.
But across Tennessee, the number of traffic fatalities is down. Beginning Wednesday, THP troopers will be strategically placed on the interstates in hopes of saving lives.
About a week ago, troopers launched Operation Incognito to catch people breaking traffic violations.
In the event that your car breaks down, or you get in an accident on the road, drivers can dial *THP which is *847 to request a trooper.

Thanksgiving travelers will not be delayed by construction on Tennessee roads during the busy travel holiday.
TDOT will halt all lane closure activity on interstates and state highways in anticipation of higher traffic volumes across the state. All construction-related lane closures will be stopped beginning at noon Wednesday through 6am Monday, Nov. 26th.
While all lane closure activity will be stopped, workers may be on site in some construction zones. Long-term lane closures will also remain in place on some construction zones for motorist’s safety. Motorists are reminded to obey the posted speed limit, especially in work zones.