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City presented with $500,000 grant for ball field lights
Officials with the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation were in Manchester Monday for a ceremony to present the City of Manchester with $500,000 in grant funding.
A ceremonial check presentation was held at Fred Deadman Park, with Manchester Mayor Marilyn Howard on hand, along with aldermen Bill Nickels, Mark Messick and Roxanne Patton, as well as multiple members of the Manchester Recreation Commission.
The $500,000 grant will be matched with an additional $500,000 by the City of Manchester for a massive overhaul of the lighting at both Fred Deadman and Dave King Parks.
The grant will provide LED lighting and replace wooden light poles with metal poles for the T-Ball Field, Fast Pitch Field and Babe Ruth Field at Fred Deadman Park, as well as Field 6, 7 and 8 at Dave King Park.
School board seats can now be partisan races
School board candidates in Tennessee are now able to run partisan races after Governor Bill Lee signed legislation into law Friday allowing for it.
The measure passed the state legislature during an October special session.
The bill does not require partisan elections, but instead makes the partisan election optional for each county. County leaders have indicated to Thunder Radio News that school board races in Coffee County will become partisan races. This will take effect for the 2022 elections.
TN Comptroller office launches COVID-19 exemption site for Tennessee entities
The Tennessee Comptroller’s Office has launched a new webpage that will allow Tennessee businesses, governmental entities, or schools to seek an exemption from House Bill No. 9077/Senate Bill No. 9014, which was signed into law on Friday, November 12.
The new law prohibits most Tennessee businesses from imposing a vaccine mandate unless they receive an exemption from the Comptroller’s Office.
An exemption may be granted by the Comptroller if an applicant can demonstrate that compliance with Chapter 2 or 6 of the new law would result in a loss of federal funding and an exemption is necessary to conform to a federally awarded or amended contract, subcontract, or postsecondary grant.
Exemptions granted by the Comptroller are not permanent and may be renewed for no more than one calendar year.
The Comptroller’s Office invites qualifying entities to begin submitting a notice for exemption by visiting comptroller.tn.gov/covidexemption. This webpage also includes program Guidelines and some frequently asked questions.
Applicants with questions about the exemption process can contact exempt@cot.tn.gov.
If you suspect fraud, waste, or abuse of public money in Tennessee, call the Comptroller’s toll-free hotline at 800.232.5454, or file a report online at: tncot.cc/fraud. Follow us on twitter @TNCOT and Instagram @tncot
Motlow offers COVID exception to academic fresh start
Undergraduate students who have experienced academic difficulty can make a fresh start when returning to Motlow after an extended absence. Academic Fresh Start, a plan of academic forgiveness, now has a COVID Fresh Start exception to policy in place.
“This is a needed benefit for students who experience academic difficulties due to COVID and we applaud the Tennessee Board of Regents for making this option available,” said Charle Coffey, interim executive vice president for Student Success and Academic Affairs at Motlow.
Formerly, under the Tennessee Board of Regents (TBR) policy 2.03.01.01, students were required to have been separated from all collegiate institutions for at least four years (eight semesters) to qualify.
As a result of institutional responses to COVID-19 and the need to provide students flexibility, TBR institutions now offer COVID Fresh Start to students who attended during the period of Spring 2020 through Summer 2021. Under the exception, a student who was enrolled in one of the following semesters: Spring 2020, Summer 2020, Fall 2020, Spring 2021 or Summer 2021, and was not successful, resulting in a missed semester, can request COVID Fresh Start beginning with the Spring 2022 term.
Under COVID Fresh Start, courses taken and previously failed will be excluded from the calculation of the GPA. There are no other changes to the criteria for Academic Fresh Start. Neither Academic nor COVID Fresh Start impact financial aid funding.
A student must have a separation from the institution in order to qualify, the exception just removes the four years of separation required. According to TBR, during Spring 2020 through Summer 2021, all lives were touched in some way or another by COVID. Therefore, documentation is not required to justify student need.
If a student was attending at any point from Spring 2020 through Summer 2021 and stopped or withdrew, they can request COVID Fresh Start for only those semesters where grades of “F” were earned (or “D” when a “C” or better is required for the major.)
Students who missed a semester must initiate the request for COVID Fresh Start for academic forgiveness by contacting admissions@mscc.edu. Just as Academic Fresh Start will exclude transfer credits, COVID Fresh Start will operate the same as long as there was separation from all collegiate institutions and the other parameters are met.
For more information about Academic Fresh Start qualifications, to see the TBR Exception to Policy memo, or to review the COVID Fresh Start Q and A, go to mscc.edu/admissions/academic-fresh-start.
Tennessee’s Community Colleges is a system of 13 colleges offering a high-quality, affordable, convenient, and personal education to prepare students to achieve their educational and career goals in two years or less. The system offers associate degree and certificate programs, workforce development programs, and transfer pathways to four-year degrees. For more information, please visit us online at tbr.edu or visit Motlow at mscc.edu.
Tennessee gas prices drop for 2nd straight week
Gas prices across Tennessee continue to stabilize, decreasing nearly two cents, on average, over last week. The Tennessee Gas Price average is now $3.13 which is 9 cents more expensive than one month ago and $1.26 more than one year ago.
“A slight dip in gas demand, possibly due to seasonal driving habit changes, is contributing to some price relief at the pump,” said Megan Cooper, spokeswoman, AAA – The Auto Club Group. “Unfortunately, the ongoing tight supply of crude oil will likely keep gas prices fluctuating, instead of dropping, for some time.”
The average price per gallon of regular unleaded in Coffee County is $3.12, which is a penny below the state average and 29 cents below the national average, which stands at $3.41.
Quick Facts
- 18% of Tennessee gas stations have prices below $3.00
- The lowest 10% of pump prices are $2.92 for regular unleaded
- The highest 10% of pump prices are $3.38 for regular unleaded
National Gas Prices
Consumers caught a little break as the national average price for a gallon of gas leveled off at $3.41, down a penny since last week. Since October 30, the national average has fallen on nine different days, after having risen steadily each of the previous 31 days.
According to new data from the Energy Information Administration (EIA), total domestic gasoline stocks decreased by 1.6 million bbl to 212.7 million bbl last week. Gasoline demand dropped from 9.5 million b/d to 9.26 million b/d. This drop coupled with an increase in the domestic crude oil supply caused downward pressure on prices. However, pump prices will likely remain elevated for consumers as long as oil prices are above $80 per barrel.
Today’s national average of $3.41 is 11 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 80 cents to settle at $80.79. Crude prices decreased slightly last week as inflation fears weighed on the market. Additionally, prices also fell after EIA reported that the total domestic crude supply increased by 1 million bbl to 435.1 million bbl last week. However, according to EIA’s data, the total domestic crude supply is still down 11 percent compared to the previous year at this time, helping to keep elevated price pressure on crude. For this week, crude prices could decrease again if EIA’s next weekly report shows another crude inventory increase.
TAX TIPS TUESDAY: Required minimum distributions
H&R Block Presents – REQUIRED MINIMUM DISTRIBUTIONS
By Rosalyn Partin, Manchester H&R Block
If you are age 72 (or 70 ½ if you were born before July 1, 1949), you are required to withdraw a minimum amount each year from your retirement plan investments (excluding Roth IRAs). Your Required Minimum Distribution (RMD) amount for 2021 depends on the balance in your retirement accounts as of the end of 2020 and your life expectancy (as determined by the IRS). Your RMD can be withdrawn in multiple payments throughout the year or in one lump sum payment. If you have multiple accounts, you are allowed to take your RMD amount from any account or a combination of accounts, as long as you take out the total amount required by the end of the calendar year.
The RMD was waived for calendar year 2020 due to COVID, but withdrawals are required for calendar year 2021.
If you fail to take your Required Minimum Distribution or you withdraw less than what you are required, a 50% excise tax is imposed on the amount not withdrawn. This excise tax is assessed on the individual for the year of the shortfall and reported on your tax return.
If you haven’t already taken your Required Minimum Distribution, you should contact your investment advisor or retirement plan holder soon to make sure you meet the RMD rules by the end of the year.
If you have questions about retirement plans and your Required Minimum Distribution, please call your local H&R Block office. In Manchester TN call 931-728-9462. H&R Block Has Your Back!
Jack Mike Azevedo
Jack Mike Azevedo, age 72, of Tullahoma passed this life Friday, October
29, 2021. He was born March 31, 1949 in Hollister, Missouri to the Alvardo
J. and June E. Turner Azevedo.
No services are available at this time.
He is survived by his parents and loving wife, Carla Shields.
Online condolences may be made at www.davesculbertsonfuneralhome.com.
BASKETBALL: CMS Lady Raiders take 3rd in Rockvale tournament
Despite missing three starters and only dressing six players, the Coffee County Middle Lady Raiders reached the semi-finals of the Rockvale tournament Saturday before losing for the first time this season.
The Lady Raiders lost to Ocoee Middle 36-31. CMS was led by Ella Arnold with 11 and Hayleigh Harris with 6.
CMS went on to beat MTCS 44-35 in the third-place game behind 22 from Ella Arnold and 15 from Kaysen Morgan.
Arnold was named to the All-Tournament Team.
Coffee Middle gets back into action Monday, Nov. 15, with a conference game at Warren County.
Franklin County teacher charged with assault
Franklin County authorities have charged a 33-year old special education teacher.
According to the Franklin County Sheriff’s Department, Matthew Fesmire, 33, was arrested on assault charges in connection to incidents involving students. He has posted $10,000 bond. His first court appearance is Dec. 6.
More information will be posted when it is available.
Christmas Parade registration deadline is this week
Registration is now open for the annual Manchester Christmas Parade – themed “Christmas Through the Ages.”
The 2021 Christmas parade will be held on its normal day – the first Saturday after Thanksgiving, which is Saturday, Nov. 27. Parade lineup begins at 5 p.m. with festivities starting at 6:30 p.m. The annual downtown tree lighting will take place at the conclusion of the parade.
Registration for entries is now open and the deadline to register your parade entry is Friday, Nov. 19. Grand Marshal’s for the 2021 parade will be Ray and Jane Marcrom. A photo of the parade route is below.
Click here for a link to the parade entry packet.
