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Candidate Forum is Tuesday Night (April 3, 2018)
The Manchester Times and Thunder Radio, will be hosting a political forum from 5:30-8:45 p.m. Tuesday, April 3 at The Church at 117, located at 117 East Fort St, Manchester.
Candidates for all county-wide races have been invited. Many candidates will be given four minutes of open microphone time to state their platform, qualifications and answer questions.
However, there will be two separate hour-long debates for county mayor candidates and sheriff candidates. Candidates for county mayor will be on stage from 6:05-7:05 p.m. for a debate-style format. Then, from 7:45-8:45 p.m., candidates for county sheriff will be on stage for a debate-style format. The event will be moderated by Times Publisher Josh Peterson along with Lucky Knott and Rob Clutter of Thunder Radio. The event will be broadcast live by Thunder Radio, AM-1320, FM-107.9, wmsrradio.com or on our free app.
The event is free to the candidates and is free to the public. Everyone is welcome to attend.
5:30-5:34 – Benton Bartlett, candidate for Road Superintendent (incumbent)
5:35-5:39 – Ronnie Dale Watts, candidate for Road Superintendent
5:40-5:44 – John Marchesoni, candidate for Trustee (incumbent)
5:45-5:49 – Robin Dunn, candidate for Trustee
5:50-5:54 – Heather Duncan, candidate for Circuit Court Clerk (incumbent)
5:55-5:59 – Natalie Brooke Dotson, candidate for Circuit Court Clerk
6:05-7:05 – Debate # 1 – County Mayor Candidates: Gary Cordell (incumbent), Mark Allen, Tim Brown, David Pennington, John Constantine
7:15-7:19 – Donna Toney, candidate for Register of Deeds (incumbent)
7:20-7:24 – Chris Elam, candidate for Register of Deeds
7:25-7:29 – Teresa Wright, candidate for Register of Deeds
7:30-7:34 – Teresa McFadden, candidate for County Clerk (incumbent)
7:35-7:39 – Jenna Amacher, candidate for County Clerk
7:45-8:45 – Debate #2 – Sheriff Candidates: Steve Graves (incumbent), Chad Partin, Larry Swan, Harry Conway
4/1/18 — Birthdays
Birthdays:
Ray Vaughn — Pizza Winner!
Anieken Cooley, 5
Terry Cargile, 37
Lindsey Harrell
Emily Smitty
February County Unemployment Rate Same as January
County unemployment figures for February show 69 Tennessee counties saw lower unemployment rates. The rate increased in five counties and stayed the same in 21 counties.
Coffee County and Franklin County’s unemployment rates for February were unchanged from the January rate of 3.6 percent.
Warren County’s unemployment rate for February was 3.9 percent, down from 4.1 percent in January.
Bedford County dropped from 3.8 percent to 3.6. Moore County went down slightly from 3 percent January to 2.8 in February.
Grundy County went from 5.0 to 4.6 percent. Cannon County went from 3.4 to 3.0 percent.
Williamson County had the lowest unemployment rate at 2.4 percent, while Houston County had the highest at 6.8 percent.
3/31/18 — Birthdays
Birthdays:
Jerry Davis — Pizza Winner!
Ralph Keele
Milton Harrell
David Jones
Reward Offered after Burglary in Grundy County
A reward is being offered to anyone with information leading to the arrest of a burglary suspect in Grundy County.
It happened last week at James Harold’s body shop in Palmer.
According to Grundy County Sheriff Clint Shrum, up to $20,000 worth of equipment was taken.
The family-owned shop is offering a $1,000 reward for information, arrest(s) and conviction in this case.
Call the Grundy County Sheriff’s office if you have any information: (931) 692-3860.
Gas Prices Continue to Climb
Spring has sprung, and with that comes higher gas prices. Tennessee motorists are now finding the most expensive gas prices of the year.
Tennessee gas prices increased a little more than a nickel during the past week, then held steady through the weekend. On average, prices at the pump climbed 16 cents in the last three weeks.
“Strong demand, tightening supplies, and record-high gasoline exports gave gas prices a boost last week,” said Mark Jenkins, spokesman, AAA – The Auto Club Group. “Pump prices seemed to have stalled over the weekend, but there is still potential for higher prices this spring. ”
Gas prices had the most expensive March in four years, averaging $2.35 for the entire month – an increase of 30 cents from March 2017. Now, motorists are spending nearly 40 cents per gallon more than this time last year. Sunday’s state average of $2.46 is the highest since October, when gas prices were recovering from the impacts of Hurricane Harvey.
The low price in Manchester as of Monday afternoon was $2.45 per gallon and in Tullahoma the low price was also $2.45.
Insurers make Significant Reductions of Opioid Drugs Prescribed
Photo credit:(frankieleon/flickr.com)
The Knoxville News Sentinel reports BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee in February reported a 6 percent decrease in the number of opioid prescriptions per plan member, per month.
Cigna announced recently that it has reduced opioid prescriptions overall by 25 percent – a year earlier than originally planned.
Cigna set the goal of reducing opioid prescriptions by 25 percent by 2019 because that would return consumers’ usage rates to pre-epidemic levels.
BlueCross BlueShield reported the 6 percent reduction for 2017 over 2016 in February.
BlueCross BlueShield corporate communications director Mary Danielson says that it includes a 10 percent reduction in morphine milligram equivalent doses per prescription and a 52 percent reduction in the number of claims for long-acting opioids.
Election Commission to meet on April 9
The Coffee County Election Commission will meet on Monday, April 9, 2018 at 4:00 PM in the Election Commission office in the Administrative Plaza at 1329 McArthur Street, Suite 6 in Manchester. The purpose of the meeting will be to certify the early voting machines for the May 1, 2018 primaries and to approve candidate petitions for the August 2, 2018 elections.
Remember early voting for the May 1 primaries runs April 11-26.
Dog Park Grant Money Available
Tennessee communities of all sizes can now apply for grants to build or improve dog parks in their areas.
The Boyd Foundation says it is taking applications for a Dog Park Dash Grant of up to $25,000 to build or improve community dog parks. One community will win $100,000 for being the most actively engaged in making Tennessee the most pet-friendly state. available
Over the next three years, the foundation will award $3 million in total grants for the building and enhancement of dog parks.
The deadline for this year’s application is June 20. Communities can apply at dogparkdash.com/apply
4/4/2018–Marie Bumpas
Marie Bumpas, age 60, of Woodbury passed away Saturday, March 31, 2018 at
St. Thomas Rutherford Hospital. She was a native of Madisonville, KY.
Survivors include her sisters, Carolene Dunkerson of Milton, Judy Dyer of
Murfreesboro, Kay Bumpas, and Faye Bumpas, both of Woodbury; Special
Friends, Betty Gilley of Woodbury and Michael, Kim, & Zoe Nichols of
Bradyville. Also surviving are 4 nephews, 2 nieces, and 13 great nieces &
nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents, John & Nellie Hughes Bumpas.
Marie was employed as a machine operator at Val Dor for many years and was a
member of the New Life Church in Manchester. She enjoyed crocheting and
going to gospel singings.
Funeral Services will be 10 AM Wednesday, April 4, 2018 in the Chapel of
Woodbury Funeral Home with Bro. Howard Carroll & Bro. David Siler
officiating. Interment will follow at Prater Cemetery. Visitation with the
family will be from 4 to 9 PM Tuesday, April 3, 2018 at the funeral home.
Pallbearers include James, Marty, Steven, & Brandon Dunkerson, Gary “Bubba”
Christensen, Michael & Jimmy Nichols.
Woodbury Funeral Home, 615-563-2311, www.woodburyfuneralhome.net