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Manchester City Schools Covid-19 dashboard
Manchester City Schools has added a Covid-19 Dashboard to the district webpage to communicate current Covid-19 cases in the district. The Covid-19 Dashboard can be found by visiting Manchester City Schools website. Click on the “Community” tab and the dashboard is the first option. The dashboard will be updated each day school is in session.
To view the dashboard directly, follow this link: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/12w8NgHEcSBLF0o7GavpERVrYWI2WbfDcX2SYpAeAqXk/edit#gid=0
Coffee County CAC partners with artist Troy Freeman for child abuse awareness
Coffee County Children’s Advocacy Center has partnered with artist Troy Freeman, who will paint a mural on the Waite Street Bridge over the greenway near the Bark-Aroo Dog Park at the Manchester soccer fields. Freeman will work on the mural Aug. 27-29. The Coffee County CAC invites the community to celebrate the artwork, which aims to raise awareness of child abuse, with a free event Aug. 28 at the soccer fields. Aug. 28 will be filled with activities for children and families. Free canvases will be provided for children to decorate, and the completed artworks will be exhibited at the Manchester Arts Center. Children who return completed canvases to the office of Coffee County CAC before Sept. 9 will receive goodie bags provided by KidsVille Playground. On Aug. 28, vendors will offer arts and crafts and baked goods and food trucks will provide delicious food for purchase. Walk the greenway, chat with vendors, purchase some goods and meet Freeman, who will be painting the mural. Witness colors transforming the bridge into a meaningful and beautiful art piece. Coffee County Emergency Medical Services, Manchester Police Department and Manchester Fire and Rescue will display vehicles for children to explore during the event, as well.
Freeman has more than 20 years of experience. He has completed numerous projects across the country. One of the projects he is involved with in Tennessee is Everywhere You Look, UT mural project. The University of Tennessee launched the endeavor and plans to install a mural in every county of Tennessee. Freeman is looking forward to visiting Coffee County and using his talent to raise awareness of child abuse.

“Any time I can use my work to bring awareness to such a great cause, I am going to do everything I can to make that happen,” Freeman said. “If this mural helps even a single child, it will have been more than worth it. I look forward to talking with, meeting, and working with the kids and the community on this project and hope that it has a long lasting positive impact for everyone involved.”
Joyce Prusak, director of Coffee County CAC, said Freeman is “incredibly talented and his creativity will help protect children.”
“We are excited Troy will be part of this project, dubbed Join Our Quest to End Child Abuse,” Prusak said. “Troy has joined our quest, and we hope his talent encourages more people to join us and ensure every child has a happy and safe childhood.”

Schedule for Saturday, Aug. 28
8 a.m.-4 p.m. – Farmers market and craft vendors will offer arts and crafts and baked goods on the greenway. 321 Dogs will offer delicious food for purchase at the Manchester soccer field parking lot.
9-11 a.m. – Manchester Police Department, Manchester Fire and Rescue, Coffee County Emergency Medical Services set up trucks and cars in the parking lot for children to explore.
9-11 a.m. – Coffee County CAC booth will distribute information and art kits for children. Coffee County CAC is providing free canvases and markers for the first 200 children and asking them to return completed canvases to the Coffee County CAC’s office before Sept. 9. The artworks will be displayed at the Manchester Arts Center Sept. 10-11, and each child will receive a bag with goodies from KidsVille Playground. There will also be prizes for the top five, including free one-day passes for KidsVille Playground.
9-11 a.m. – United Way of Highway 55 members will be on hand to provide information about resources in the community.
11 a.m.-8 p.m. – El Oro Verde food truck will set up in Manchester soccer field parking lot, offering tasty Mexican street food.
3-6 p.m. – Ray Ray’s Smokehouse will set up in parking lot, offering BBQ. This project is completed thanks to grants from the Tennessee Arts Commission and Manchester Tourism Committee.
Free vaccination clinic at Tullahoma High School on Thursday
The Coffee County Health Department will be conducting a free vaccine clinic this Thursday from 3:45-5 p.m. at the front entrance of Tullahoma High School.
Tdap will be available, as well as the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine for any person 12 years or older. The COVID vaccines are for those who are needing either the first or second dose. Children who are receiving a vaccination will need to be accompanied by their parents or legal guardians. Consent forms will be signed on-site.
Kathy Lynn Smith
Ms. Kathy Lynn Smith, age 55, of Estill Springs, TN, passed from this life on Saturday, August 21, 2021, at her residence.
Visitation with the family will be on Saturday, August 28, 2021, from 4:00pm until 8:00pm at Central Funeral Home in Manchester, TN. Funeral services will be conducted on Sunday, August 29, 2021, at 2:00pm in the chapel of Central Funeral Home. Burial will follow in New Brick Church of Christ Cemetery.
Ms. Smith was born in Livingston, TN, to her late parents Bobby and Betty Bryant Smith. She loved anything to do with food, going to church and gospel singing, and always knew what she wanted when she wanted it. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by a brother, Lonnie Smith.
Ms. Smith is survived by boyfriend, Glenn Samson and brother, James (Patricia) Smith.
Central Funeral Home is serving the family, 931-723-7774, centralfuneralhome.com
Coffee County Schools look to hire more substitutes for the 2021-2022 school year
The Coffee County School System is in need of substitutes this year. For certified instructors, pay is $75 a day, and for non-certified instructors the pay is $60 a day.
You must be 18 or older to apply for this position.
Follow the link for the application: https://coffeecounty.tedk12.com/hire/ViewJob.aspx?JobID=6
You must print and fill out the employment packet and bring the completed packet to the Central Office.
If you have any questions, you are asked to call the Central Office at 931-723-5150.
Greater Manchester Economic Development Board to host work session
The Greater Manchester Economic Development Board will host a “Town Hall Work Session on Economic Development.” This will take place on Monday, August 30th, at 5:30 pm in the Board Room at City Hall.
Anyone is welcome to attend and submit their input.
Motlow State releases important deadlines for TN Promise
Motlow State Community College is proud to be a participating college for Tennessee Promise! This is a statewide program that allows graduating high school students and home school seniors in Tennessee the opportunity to earn a degree or certificate from a Tennessee community or technical college regardless of financial status.
For those students graduating in the class of 2022, here are some essential dates for ensuring your TN Promise scholarship eligibility:
-November 1, 2021: Deadline to complete the TN Promise application – The application for the class of 2022 is available now at TSAC Student Portal.
-February 1, 2022: Deadline to complete the FAFSA – File the 2022-23 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The 2022-2023 FAFSA application opens October 1, 2021.
-Fall 2021/Spring 2022: You will need to attend a mandatory meeting coordinated by TN Achieves. Details about the mandatory meeting requirements will be provided to applicants following the application deadline in the fall. You can also follow up with your guidance counselor or visit tnAchieves.org for more information about this meeting.
-March 2022: Apply to Motlow State Community College.
-July 1, 2022: Deadline to complete and submit eight hours of community service.
Community Service hours can be submitted by visiting tnAchieves.org. Community service must be completed on or after November 2, 2021 in order to be considered.
For additional information about Tennessee Promise at Motlow visit
VOLLEYBALL: Lady Raiders roll to 3-0 district win
Coffee County’s Lady Raider volleyball team went on the road and made quick work of Shelbyville Tuesday afternoon, winning in straight sets for a 3-0 district win.
CHS picked up wins of 25-14, 25-17 and 25-18 to improve to 4-4 on the season.
Zowee Dillard and Anna Johnson teamed up to lead CHS in kills with 6 apiece. Gia Perez added 5 kills. Lauren Brandt finished with 8 assists and Kiya Ferrell 6. As a team, CHS served up 16 aces with 7 different players with at least one ace.
Birthdays- August 24
Jim Lemmons- Pizza Winner!
Roger Cater- 72
Billie Jean Wood
Funeral services for Ms. Billie Jean Wood, age 92 of Manchester, will be
conducted at 2 PM on Saturday, August 28, 2021, at Manchester Funeral Home
with pastor John Daniel officiating. Burial will follow in the Forest Mill
Cemetery. Visitation with the family will be held on Saturday from 12 Noon
until time of service. Ms. Wood passed away on Sunday, August 22, after an
extended illness.
Ms. Billie Jean Wood was born on August 6, 1929, in Hillsboro, TN to the
late William Forrest and Delia Warren Parker. She was a member of the
Forest Mill Baptist Church. Ms. Wood had a special love for children and
was considered a “true giver” to family, friends, and neighbors. She also
loved gardening.
In addition to her parents, Ms. Wood is preceded in death by her husband of
over 50 years, Leighton Kenneth Wood; brothers, William Forest Parker, Jr.,
Bryan Lee Parker, and J.W. Parker; sisters, Cleo Shipley, Florence Rust,
and Virginia Gertrude Parker. She is survived by her sons, Leighton W. Wood
and his wife, Penny, Ronald K. Wood and his wife, Barbara, and Bobby D.
Wood, and his wife, Anita; 14 grandchildren, Heather Black, Hilaire Fisher,
Tiffany Sin, Joey Wood, Josh Wood, Teagan Forster, Luke Wood, Cassidy Wood,
Cammi Wood, Andy Wood, Janet Galyen, Ashton Wood, Dwight Wood, Sarah Wood;
19 great grandchildren; many nieces and nephews, and a host of friends.
Manchester Funeral Home is honored to serve the Wood family.