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TDOT will halt lane closures during Thanksgiving travel period
Thanksgiving travelers will not be delayed by construction on Tennessee roads during this 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 on Wednesday, November 24, 2021, through midnight on Sunday, November 28, 2021.
“Thanksgiving is typically the most traveled holiday of the year,” said TDOT Commissioner Joe Galbato. “Halting road work during this time will provide maximum capacity on our highways and help alleviate congestion, especially during the predicted peak travel days of Wednesday and Sunday. TDOT’s regional HELP Trucks will also be working throughout the holiday weekend to assist with incidents that may occur along the interstates.”
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 projects for motorists’ safety. Motorists are reminded to drive safely and obey the posted speeds, especially in work zones. Drivers convicted of speeding in work zones where workers are present face a fine of up to $500, plus court fees and possible increased insurance premiums.
AAA projects more than 53.4 million Americans will travel this Thanksgiving, up 13% from 2020. In Tennessee, the expectation is 1.2 million travelers.
Get the latest construction activity and live streaming SmartWay traffic cameras from your desktop or mobile device at www.TNSmartWay.com/Traffic. Travelers can also dial 511 from any landline or cellular phone for travel information or follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/TN511 for statewide travel. As always, drivers are reminded to use all motorist information tools wisely and Know Before You Go! by checking travel conditions before leaving for your destination. Drivers should never tweet, text, or talk on a cell phone while behind the wheel.
Falling oil prices could bring relief at the pump after Thanksgiving, AAA says
The Tennessee gas price average declined for the second week in a row, falling two cents over last week. The Tennessee Gas Price average is now $3.11 which is 4 cents cheaper than one month ago and $1.25 more than one year ago. However, gas prices during the Thanksgiving travel period are on pace to be the highest since 2013. But, that won’t stop the more than 48.3 million Americans planning to hit the roads this holiday.
The average price for a gallon of gasoline in Coffee County is currently $3.11 – which is right on par with the state average and 29 cents below the national average of $3.40.
“The price of crude oil accounts for about 50%–60% of what consumers pay at the pump, so a lower oil price should translate into better gasoline prices for drivers,” said Stephanie Milani, AAA – The Auto Club Group spokeswoman. “But until global oil production ramps back up to pre-pandemic levels, this recent dip in the price of crude may only be temporary.”
Quick Facts
- 26% of Tennessee gas stations have prices below $3.00
- The lowest 10% of pump prices are $2.90 for regular unleaded
- The highest 10% of pump prices are $3.40 for regular unleaded
- Tennessee remains the 9th least expensive market in the nation
National Gas Prices
After stubbornly staying above $80 a barrel since Labor Day, the price of crude oil tumbled this week into the mid-$70s. Fears of slowing economic activity in the U.S. and Europe due to a resurgence of COVID-19, along with reports that the Biden Administration is calling for a simultaneous release of stockpiled oil by large oil-consuming nations, including the U.S., China, Japan and South Korea, is putting downward pressure on crude prices. The national average price for a gallon of gas is $3.40, down a penny since last week.
According to new data from the Energy Information Administration (EIA), total domestic gasoline stocks decreased by 700,000 bbl to 212 million bbl last week. Gasoline demand also dropped slightly from 9.26 million b/d to 9.24 million b/d. The decrease in demand, alongside stocks, has helped to steady pump prices. However, gasoline prices will likely remain elevated as long as oil prices are near or above $75 per barrel.
Today’s national average of $3.40 is 3 cents more than a month ago and $1.29 more than a year ago, and 81 cents more than in 2019.
National Oil Market Dynamics
At the close of Friday’s formal trading session, WTI decreased by $2.91 to settle at $76.10. Crude prices declined at the end of last week as the dollar grew in strength and market concerns about crude demand increased over growing COVID infection rates in Europe and the U.S. If social restrictions are re-imposed to curb COVID transmission, crude demand will likely decline and prices will likely follow. Additionally, crude prices decreased last week despite EIA’s weekly report showing that total domestic crude supply decreased by 2.1 million bbl to 433 million bbl. When compared to the end of November 2020, current total domestic crude supply is nearly 12 percent lower than last year.
Motorists can find current gas prices along their route with the free AAA Mobile app for iPhone, iPad and Android. The app can also be used to map a route, find discounts, book a hotel and access AAA roadside assistance. Learn more at AAA.com/mobile.
Birthdays- November 22
Dorothy Freeze- 92- Pizza Winner!
Birthdays- November 21
Abe Norman- 21- Pizza Winner!
Macin Stacy- 21
Tatsy Miller Webb
Payton Jones- 14
Birthdays- November 20
Dena Cole- Pizza Winner!
Sadie Jane Burks
Mrs. Sadie Jane Burks, age 91, of the Gossburg Community, Beech Grove, TN, passed from this life on Friday, November 19, 2021, at Autumn Oaks Assisted Living Center, Manchester, TN. Mrs. Burks was born in Coffee Co., TN, to her late parents, Lonnie Alton Reed and Dollie Ann Spry Reed. Mrs. Burks started working for PCA in 1951 when she was 21
years old, working there for around 50 years until retirement. She was a member of the Gossburg Community Church. She loved anything to do with flowers and the outdoors. Mrs. Burks also had a green thumb and could grow
just about anything. She also loved doing yard work and also loved to quilt. Mrs. Burks always made sure everything was neat and clean and always had to make sure everything was just right. In addition to her parents, she
was preceded in death by her husband, Lonnie Burks; siblings, Nellie Reed Ewell, Ethel Reed Stacy, George Reed, JL Reed; nephews, Marlin Reed, Martin Reed, and Morris Ewell. Mrs. Burks is survived by children, Barbara (Rennie) Bell, Lanny Burks, and David Burks; grandchildren, Andrew Burks and Chris Bell; great grandchildren, Logan, Riley, and Landon Burks and Tori and Sydney Bell; nephews, Buford Stacy, Jerry and Larry Reed; niece, Vicky Bush. Visitation with the family will be held Tuesday, November 23, 2021, from 10:00am until 1:00pm at Central Funeral Home in Manchester, TN. Funeral services will immediately follow visitation at 1:00pm in the chapel of Central Funeral Home with Bro. Chip Sekulich officiating. Burial will follow in Rose Hill Memorial Gardens in Tullahoma, TN. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. Central Funeral Home is serving the family, 931-723-7774, centralfuneralhome.com
Raider XC runner reaches finals for “Mullet of the Year” award
Coffee County Central Red Raider cross country runner Landon Kenney has reached the final round for the inaugural “Mullet of the Year” award.
Kenney advanced past the semi-final round and is now up against one other person for the Tennessee Runner Mile Split “Mullet of the Year” award.
You can vote for Landon by clicking here
Red Cross offers Thanksgiving cooking safety tips
As Thanksgiving approaches, it’s a time to prepare the holiday feast and brush up on home fire safety. Plus, as the COVID-19 pandemic continues to affect communities, planning your celebrations may be a little different this year.
“Home fires are a real threat to the Tennesseans over the Thanksgiving holiday,” said Joel Sullivan, Regional Executive Director for the American Red Cross Tennessee Region. “In particular, cooking fires are the number one cause of home fires and year after year Thanksgiving is the peak day for these tragedies. We at the Red Cross are urging families to follow cooking safety steps to help prevent your holiday celebrations from going up in smoke.”
House fires are one of the most common disasters the Red Cross responds to, and many fires start in the kitchen more than any other room. According to the U.S. Fire Administration, unattended cooking causes nearly 90 percent of all kitchen fires. Cooking fires are the number one cause of home fires and home fire injuries
To help keep you and your loved ones safe this Thanksgiving, the American Red Cross offers these safety tips:
1. Keep an eye on what you fry. Never leave cooking food unattended. If you must leave the kitchen, even for a short period of time, turn off the stove.
2. Move items that can burn away from the stove. This includes dishtowels, bags, boxes, paper and curtains. Also keep children and pets at least three feet away.
3. Avoid wearing loose clothing or dangling sleeves while cooking.
4. When frying food, turn the burner off if you see smoke or if the grease starts to boil. Carefully remove the pan from the burner.
5. Keep a pan lid or a cookie sheet nearby. Use it to cover the pan if it catches on fire. This will put out the fire. Leave the pan covered until it is completely cooled.
6. Turn pot handles to the back of the stove, so no one bumps them or pulls them over.
7. Use a timer to remind yourself that the stove or oven is on. Check the kitchen before going to bed or leaving home to ensure all stoves, ovens and small appliances are turned off.
8. Celebrating with the people you live with is the safest choice. If you do celebrate with people who don’t live with you, gatherings and activities held outdoors are safer than indoor gatherings.
9. Do not attend or host a holiday gathering if you are sick or have symptoms of COVID-19.
You can also help keep your family safe by testing your smoke alarms monthly and practicing your home fire escape plan until everyone can get out in less than two minutes — the amount of time you may have to get out of a burning home before it’s too late.
Woodbury man among those arrested in human trafficking operation
Four men, including one from nearby Woodbury, have been arrested and charged with “Felony Promoting Prostitution.” The arrests occurred during an undercover operation this past Thursday by Human Trafficking detectives with the Metro Nashville Police Department.
The four men who were arrested:
• Michael Swales, 49, of Nashville
• William Joy, 46, of Goodlettsville
• Stetson Brown, 25, of Nashville
• Darin Slater, 37, of Woodbury
During the operation, undercover detectives responded to internet sex ads. The four men arrested allegedly drove the women to hotels in the Rosa Parks Boulevard and Vantage Way area – reportedly to meet with clients. However, those alleged clients were undercover officers.
Advocates from End Slavery Tennessee, Thistle Farms, and the Nashville Anti-Human Trafficking Coalition provided immediate assistance to the women encountered during this operation.
Additionally, William Joy was charged with felon in possession of a handgun, cocaine possession, and gun possession during the commission of a felony.
10 Red Raider football players pick up postseason honors
Coffee County Central’s football program had 10 players to earn Region 3-6A honors – headlined by three position players of the year.
Red Raider senior quarterback Connor Shemwell was named Region Quarterback of the Year. Meanwhile, two players who will return picked up big honors. Junior running back Konor Heaton was named Region Running Back of the Year after a 1,398 yard campaign with 10 rushing TDs; junior tight end Jahlin Osbourne was named Tight End of the Year.
Named to the Region 3-6A All-Region team are senior defensive end Derrick Scott, sophomore middle linebacker Jake Barlow, senior wide receiver Kelby Walker, junior center Darryn Strickland, freshman defensive back Cole Pippenger, junior linebacker Tristan Galy and junior Wide Receiver Travis Martin.
Coffee County’s Red Raiders finished the regular season 5-5 overall, ending the season with a first-round playoff loss to Riverdale High School. The Raiders lose 7 seniors and will return 10 starters on defense and 6 on offense.