Author's posts
Tennessee now 8th least expensive market in nation for gas
The Tennessee gas price average held steady for the second week in a row. The Tennessee Gas Price average remains $2.88 which is two cents more than one month ago and 95 cents more than one year ago.
The lowest price found in Manchester as of Monday was $2.83.
“Crude oil prices declined last week after recent news of OPEC and its oil producing allies plan to gradually increase oil production beginning in August,” said Megan Cooper, spokesperson, AAA – The Auto Club Group. “Initial reports did lead to a reduction in crude oil pricing, but it’s unclear at this point where the crude market will go from here. For now, drivers can likely enjoy a break from rising prices at the pump.”
Quick Facts
· 92% of Tennessee gas stations have prices below $3.00
· The lowest 10% of pump prices are $2.69 for regular unleaded
· The highest 10% of pump prices are $3.14 for regular unleaded
· Tennessee moved to the 8th least expensive market in the nation
National Gas Prices
Since Memorial Day weekend, the national gas price average has increased 13 cents to $3.17. That is 98 cents more than a year ago, but 41 cents cheaper than this time in July 2014, when the national average was last above $3/gallon.
One of the primary reasons for more expensive gas prices this summer is high crude oil prices. However, last week crude prices fluctuated from a high of $75/bbl down to $71/bbl. News from the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) over the weekend, that they have reached a deal to increase production in August, could give crude oil prices the potential to drop under $70/bbl. Regardless, AAA expects higher pump prices to be the norm throughout the summer.
While gas demand dipped to 9.28 million b/d, in the Energy Information Administration’s (EIA) latest report, the rate is strong for summer. The EIA report also shows gasoline stocks increased by 1 million bbl to 236.5 million. The jump in supply and drop in demand mitigated fluctuation to the national gas price average, which had a two-cent increase on the week. During the last seven days, 25 state averages increased by at least two cents, with 11 of those seeing jumps of a nickel or more.
National Oil Market Dynamics
At the close of Friday’s formal trading session, WTI increased by 16 cents to settle at $71.81. Although prices fluctuated at the end of the day because of a stronger dollar, crude prices declined on the week due to supply concerns and tension between Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates that prevented OPEC and its allies from reaching a deal to increase crude production. However, under the compromise, which media reports confirmed over the weekend, OPEC will increase daily crude production by 400,000 barrels in August. The increase is expected to help lower crude prices, assuming it is not met with higher demand. Crude prices could decline this week in anticipation of the production increase.
TAX TIPS TUESDAY: Time for your mid-year checkup
By Rosalyn Partin, Manchester H&R Block
With over half of 2021 behind us, now’s the perfect time for tax planning.
All too often taxpayers wait until time to file their taxes to think about the outcome, and many times they are met with unwanted results. Having half the year to review and about half the year to forecast, taxpayers can have a good idea of how the year is shaping up and also have enough time to make changes that could make tax filing less painful. Tracking possible tax benefits, estimating income, evaluating withholding, updating financial and household information with IRS and the health insurance marketplace can help maximize your tax outcome when you file next year.
What are some events that might affect your tax return and make planning ahead a great idea?
- Has your marital status changed this year?
- Have you added any dependents or have any of your dependents moved out of your house and are now on their own?
- Did you retire or withdraw money from your retirement account?
- Did you change jobs or add a part-time job?
- Has your income increased or decreased substantially?
- Did you start a business, farm, or buy or sell rental property?
Consider scheduling an appointment for a mid-year check-up, especially if you have had any of these life changes. Planning ahead can take the stress out of tax time.
If you have questions and would like help from the Tax Professionals at H&R Block, please call your local H&R Block office. In Manchester TN call 931-728-9462. H&R Block Has Your Back!
James “Jim” Stewart
James “Jim” Stewart of Fayetteville, passed this life on Saturday, July 17, 2021 at the age of 81. The family will welcome friends for visitation in honor of his memory on Tuesday, July 20 from 4:00pm until 7:00pm at Lynchburg Funeral Home.
Jim was a long-time educator; he served as principal at Moore County High School, assistant principal at Franklin County High School, and as principal at Lincoln County High School, among other teaching/coaching/administrative positions. He will be missed by all who knew and loved him, especially his family.
For online guest registry please visit, www.lynchburgfuneralhome.com
LYNCHBURG FUNERAL HOME IS IN CHARGE OF ARRANGEMENTS.
Hollis Fay Roland Smith
Hollis Fay Roland Smith, 76, passed away Friday, July 16, 2021 at Life Care Columbia after a long battle with Parkinson’s disease and dementia.
Funeral Services will be conducted at Lynchburg Funeral Home on Thursday, July 22 at 11:00 am, with her nephew, Tom Harrison, officiating. Burial will be at Lois Cemetery. The family will visit with friends on Wednesday, July 21 at Lynchburg Funeral Home from 4:00pm until 8:00pm.
Hollis is survived by her husband of 59 years, Tony Smith; sons, Allen (Jennifer) Smith and Chad (Amanda) Smith; grandson, Trenton (Jennifer) Smith; granddaughter, Saranda (Jason) Sanders; great grandsons, Hunter and Holden Smith; great granddaughter, Summer Smith; sisters, Marine Ables, Hazel Lamb, Glenda Fraser, Judy Pittenger, and Pauline Moorehead; one brother, Calvin Roland; several nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Elvin and Ethel Roland of Huntland, TN and one sister, Martha Marshall.
Hollis graduated from Huntland High School, where she played basketball for the Huntland Hornets, when women’s basketball was played 3 on 3. She met her future husband, Tony, at a basketball game at the old Huntland High School gym. They were married on July 3, 1962 and celebrated their 59th Anniversary this past July. She retired from the Tennessee Children’s Home after 40 plus years. She retired in 2010 to be able to travel, raise her flowers, and do what she loved best—going to auctions, estate sales, and collecting antiques of various forms, shapes, and sizes. She volunteered at the Lincoln County Archives after her retirement and was a member of the Daughters of the Confederacy. She was a faithful member of the W. 7th Street Church of Christ for the past 30 years, until the Covid pandemic forced her to remain home due to her frail condition. She fought a brave battle as was her nature not to ever give up.
During her younger years, she worked hard on her Daddy’s produce farm. She would get up early before going to school and help milk cows. After school, and during the summer, she worked in the field chopping, then picking cotton in the fall, digging potatoes, gathering watermelon and cantaloupe, and helping her Daddy take the produce to the farmers market to sell.
“Goodbyes are only for those who love with their eyes, because those who love with their heart and soul, there is no such thing as goodbyes.”
For online guest registry please visit, www.lynchburgfuneralhome.com
LYNCHBURG FUNERAL HOME IS IN CHARGE OF ARRANGEMENTS.
Jerry Jackson Payne
Mr. Jerry Jackson Payne, age 85, of Manchester, TN,
passed from this life on Saturday, July 17, 2021, in Manchester, TN. Mr.
Payne was born in Chattanooga, TN, to his late parents Jack and Louise
Payne. He was a 1953 graduate of Chattanooga High School and then went to
serve in the United States Army as a paratrooper of the 508th Airborne
Regimental Combat Team from 1953 until 1956. After serving our country, he
went to the University of Chattanooga and graduated in 1959. Mr. Payne was
a long time employee of Arnold Engineering Development Center (AEDC) from
1962 until 1996. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by
his first wife, Connie Janey and his second wife, Elizabeth Payne. Mr.
Payne is survived by sons, Bruce and Bryan Payne; daughter, Kathy Payne;
sister, Shirley Downs; several nieces and nephews. Visitation with the
family will be held on Thursday July 22, 2021, from 4:00pm until 7:00pm at
Central Funeral Home in Manchester, TN. Private burial will be held at a
later date. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the
Coffee County Humane Society. Central Funeral Home is serving the family,
931-723-7774, centralfuneralhome.com
Tennessee unemployment rate drops slightly in June
Tennessee’s economic recovery continued in June as the statewide unemployment rate decreased to 4.9%, according to the latest data by the Department of Labor and Workforce Development (TDLWD).
The state’s new rate is 0.1 of a percentage point lower than May’s statistic of 5%. Tennessee’s unemployment rate has been at 5.1%, or lower, for the last six months. In March 2020, the last month before COVID-19 business closures impacted the economy, Tennessee’s unemployment rate was 4%.
One year ago, Tennessee’s statewide unemployment rate stood at 9.3%, which is 4.4 percentage points higher than the June 2021 rate.
Tennessee employers helped thousands of individuals return to the workforce in June. Total nonfarm employment increased by 22,100 jobs across the state. The largest number of new hires occurred in the local government sector. The accommodation/food services and administrative/support/waste services sectors accounted for the next highest number of hires.
Between June 2020 and June 2021, employers added 153,400 Tennesseans to their payrolls. The professional/business services sector was responsible for the largest portion of that job growth, followed by the leisure/hospitality and trade/transportation/utilities sectors.
The national unemployment rate did increase slightly in June, up 0.1 of a percentage point to 5.9%. In a year-to-year comparison, the United States unemployment rate was down 5.2 percentage points from the previous year.
TDLWD produces a complete analysis of the state’s unemployment data, including labor force estimates, which you can find here (https://www.us13.list-manage.com/track/click?u=166478db53c066a7d114ea462&id=ef83eff1fa&e=29851e7b63) .
The state is ready to help job seekers become work-ready. The new website, www.TNWorkReady.com, is a one-stop resource for all of Tennessee’s workforce development resources.
Job seekers can find more than 255,000 open positions posted on www.Jobs4TN.gov that cover every skill level and are in every corner of the state.
No disruption to vaccines for children program, TDH says
The Tennessee Department of Health assures families across Tennessee that information and access to vaccinations for children through state health departments continues and there has been no disruption to these services.
While misinformation has been circulated regarding the status of these resources, parents who need information regarding routine childhood immunizations can find resources here. Parents seeking the COVID-19 vaccine for children 12+ can find additional information here.
“There has been no disruption to the childhood immunization program or access to the COVID-19 vaccine while the department has evaluated annual marketing efforts intended for parents,” said Tennessee Department of Health commissioner Lisa Piercey, MD, MBA, FAAP. “The Tennessee Department of Health not only supports immunizations but continues to provide valuable information and access to parents who are seeking vaccinations for their children. We are proud of the efforts of our staff across the state and will continue to promote vaccination and the vaccination work of our partners.”
Tennessee has a long history of being one of the top performing programs in the country when it comes to childhood immunizations and this is due in large part to the efforts of rural and metro health departments across the state. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) data on vaccination coverage:
• Tennessee ranked among the top 10 states for MMR vaccination coverage among kindergarteners during the 2019-2020 school year
• For more than a decade, Tennessee has had above 90 percent coverage of kindergarten students receiving childhood immunizations including DTaP, MMR, Polio, Chicken Pox, and Hepatitis B.
Additionally, based on an annual census survey of immunization status of Tennessee kindergarten students, 95.3 percent of 2020-2021 kindergarten students in the state were fully immunized.
“While we were concerned when childhood immunization rates temporarily dropped during the COVID-19 pandemic, we are glad that we are seeing vaccination rates begin to rebound. We will continue supporting parents who are working to get their families’ immunization schedules back on track,” Piercey said.
Tennessee sales tax holiday begins next weekend
Tennessee’s annual tax-free holiday is coming up, and some new items will be going tax-free this year. The Tennessee General Assembly has approved for gun safes and safety equipment to be included in this holiday, as well as food, ingredients, and prepared food, to be included in the tax-free holiday.
Tennessee’s traditional sales tax holiday on clothing, school supplies, and computers will begin at 12:01 a.m. on Friday, July 30th and will end at 11:59 p.m. on Sunday, August 1st.
The sales tax holiday on food, food ingredients, and prepared food will begin at 12:01 a.m. on Friday, July 30thand will end at 11:59 p.m. on Thursday, August 5th.
The sales tax holiday on gun safes and safety equipment began at 12:01 a.m. on July 1st and will end at 11:59 p.m. on June 30th, 2022.
For more information on the tax-free holiday, visit https://www.tn.gov/revenue/taxes/sales-and-use-tax/sales-tax-holiday.html
Bonnaroo tickets remain on sale at Thunder Radio; 2nd giveaway set for Friday
Tickets to the annual Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival remain on sale at the Thunder Radio box office from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.
The festival is sold out. However, as the official station of Radio Bonnaroo, Thunder Radio has an allotment of tickets available to Coffee County residents.
Price per ticket is $175 after convenience charges and fees, plus $15 shipping per order. Limit of 4 tickets per valid ID, must pay with a credit/debit card and purchaser must live within Coffee County.
Thunder Radio is teaming up with Fast Page Urgent Care in Manchester to give away two tickets this week! You can register at the Fast Pace Clinic on Hillsboro Blvd. any day this week or visit Friday when Thunder Radio will be broadcasting live and on location from 11 a.m. until 1 p.m. Register for your chance to win two tickets and other prizes!
CHS volleyball to host playday Thursday
Coffee County Central High School’s volleyball team will be hosting a playday on Thursday, July 22 at Joe Frank Patch Memorial Gymnasium with 12 teams scheduled to participate.
For anyone wanting to catch a glimpse of the Lady Raider volleyball team, Coffee County is scheduled to play at 9 a.m. 10:30 a.m., noon and 4:30 p.m.
The CHS volleyball team is coming off a historic run in 2020, when the Lady Raiders finished one win shy of the state tournament.