Josh Peterson

The Dusty Elam Foundation recently went shopping to provide an exciting Christmas  for several Christmas angels.

This year the foundation was unable to host its annual Dusty Elam Memorial Fundraiser benefit due to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, despite the inability to host a fundraiser, the foundation was still able to provide for over 60 angels.

The Dusty Elam Foundation is accepting donations to help its mission. To donate, visit Melinda Ashburn or Jay Nogodula at Peoples Bank & Trust of Manchester or click here to donate with PayPal.

Beginning Thursday, December 10, 2020, all Bedford County Schools will transition to virtual learning through December 18, 2020, due to increasing student and staff cases of COVID-19 and mandatory quarantines.

All staff will report to work as normal during this virtual period. SACP will be closed during this virtual period and throughout the winter break. Cafeteria meal pick up information will be relayed soon.

The projected return to in-person classes is January 5, 2021.

Duck River Electric Membership Corporation (DREMC) is facilitating a $25,000 contribution to support local economies, with $12,500 being contributed by DREMC and a matching $12,500 donation provided by the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA).

Several chambers of commerce have been awarded funding as part of this total donation to benefit their local communities. These include the Maury County Alliance, the Franklin County Chamber, the Manchester Chamber and the Marshall County Chamber. Additional recipients will be announced soon.

Each of the chambers is being presented a portion of the total donated funds to support economic revitalization and job growth in their communities.

“DREMC is proud to support these chambers and the work they are doing to stimulate the economy during these challenging times,” said DREMC President and CEO Scott Spence. “The goal of this donation is to help existing businesses get the support they need to continue providing jobs, as well as to promote new business development, which creates even more jobs for the members we serve. This is one way by which DREMC can contribute to these efforts.”

This is the second COVID-19 relief contribution made by DREMC in 2020. In June, DREMC, with another matching contribution from TVA, made a $60,000 donation to their residential electric bill assistance program, Project HELP, which has supported hundreds of families facing financial instability.

Secretary of State Tre Hargett asks Tennesseans to report solicitations to register to vote or cast an absentee ballot in another state in which they do not reside to the Division of Elections’ toll-free fraud hotline at 1-877-850-4959.

Tennessee residents notified the Secretary of State’s Division of Elections that out-of-state organizations solicited them to register to vote and cast an absentee ballot in a state where run-off elections are still pending.

“Voting in a state where you are not entitled to vote is morally and legally wrong,” said Secretary Hargett. “I encourage the citizens of our great state to call our hotline if they receive a solicitation to participate in another state’s election so that we can help preserve the integrity of the vote in other states.”

To report any possible election fraud, call the Division of Elections’ toll-free hotline at 1-877-850-4959.

The Tennessee gas price average remains steady, increasing only a penny over last week. The Tennessee Gas Price average is now $1.90 which is four cents more than one month ago and 43 cents less than one year ago.

The average price for a gallon of regular unleaded in Coffee County is $1.95, which is 5 cents higher than the state average.

The national gas price average is $2.15.

“Gas prices were predicted to decrease following the holiday, but robust gains in crude oil prices and the OPEC decision to increase production next year led to a number of states seeing pump price jumps of 3 to 12 cents,” said Megan Cooper, spokesperson, AAA – The Auto Club Group. “In Tennessee, the change in pump prices was minimal at only a penny increase and prices remain relatively cheap at 43 cents lower than this time last year.”

Quick Facts

· 91% of Tennessee gas stations have prices below $2.00
· The lowest 10% of pump prices are $1.72 for regular unleaded
· The highest 10% of pump prices are $2.19 for regular unleaded
· Tennessee moved to the 8th least expensive market in the nation

Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC) leaders today lauded a year of significant strides in capital projects at Tennessee State Parks in 2020 despite the COVID-19 pandemic, with even greater expectations for the parks in 2021.

“This has been an extraordinary year for our state parks,” TDEC Commissioner David Salyers said. “We have seen major projects come to fruition across the state this year, and we want to express our gratitude to the Tennessee General Assembly for making it happen. The new facilities will benefit Tennesseans for many years to come.”

Capital projects in state parks this year represented overall investments totaling approximately $184 million, reflecting foresight and planning by the last two administrations and the commitment of the state legislature to fund needed facilities and upgrades.

“From remodeled lodges to new visitors centers and restaurants, it has been a remarkable year of achievement for our parks,” Jim Bryson, deputy commissioner for Parks and Conservation, said. “Tennesseans showed their great desire for the experience of our parks, and our parks have shown their long-term commitment to providing modern facilities to meet demand. We opened several facilities this year, and we have even more milestones to celebrate in the year to come.”

Tennessee State Parks this year opened facilities that included:

* A 117-room lodge at Montgomery Bell State Park in Burns, a $12.1 million investment expected to support 189 jobs. The economic impact of the construction is $29.1 million.
* An $11.7 million renovation of the lodge at Pickwick Landing State Park in Counce, expected to involve 183 jobs. The construction economic impact is $28.1 million.
* A $3 million visitors center at Fall Creek Falls State Park in Spencer, estimated to support 47 jobs. The economic impact of construction alone is $7.2 million.
* A new $2.8 million visitors center at Cummins Falls State Park in Cookeville, expected to support 43 jobs. The construction economic impact is $6.7 million.

Additionally, TDEC announced construction of a two-story visitors center and new 6,381-square-foot restaurant at Henry Horton State Park in Chapel Hill, an investment of $8.25 million. This construction will support 129 jobs with an economic impact of $19.8 million.

In the coming year, Fall Creek Falls State Park will see the opening of a new $40.4 million, 85-room lodge, expected to support 634 jobs with an economic impact of $97.2 million. Construction is under way at Paris Landing State Park in Buchanan on a new $43.9 million lodge, expected to support 689 jobs with an economic impact of $105.6 million. Both facilities have been greatly anticipated.

Tennessee State Parks offer recreational opportunities for people across the state, with 56 unique parks. The parks offer hiking, fishing, boating, picnicking, biking and camping as well as interpretive programs. Eight of the parks feature golf courses.

Hunting season is under way. And for the holidays, hunters can help families who have been economically hard-hit by the pandemic put food on the table by donating whole deer.

One in 7 Tennesseans struggles with food insecurity, and the COVID-19 recession is expected to worsen the situation for years to come. Matt Simcox heads the Hunters for the Hungry program at the Tennessee Wildlife Federation. He said donated meat is processed, packaged and given to local hunger-relief organizations.

“All of our meat stays in Tennessee, and we try to keep it in the county where it was harvested and donated so that hunters are truly helping their neighbors in need,” Simcox said.

Currently, hunters can drop off a whole deer at no cost to them at one of 60 processors statewide. A list of participating processors is available at tnwf.org/processors.

Simcox said venison is a healthy, lean protein. He said given the rise in demand, he hopes this year hunters will surpass last year’s collection numbers.

“Last year, we collected 2,848 whole deer, which in return provided 140,401 total pounds of venison that was donated,” he said. “That went out to feed over 561,000 meals to hungry Tennesseans.”

Simcox said the Tennessee Department of Human Services recently awarded Hunters for the Hungry $160,000 to aid food-insecure populations made more vulnerable by the pandemic. The funds are being used to cover processing fees for hunters and provide extra freezer space so processors can store all the donations they receive.

He said it’s easy for hunters to help their neighbors.

“I would like just to encourage all hunters, if you’re listening to this, there’s still time to go out and make someone’s holidays merry this year by donating a deer,” Simcox said. “Every deer that’s donated will provide around 168 servings of lean protein to those who need it the most.”

The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency reports hunters are harvesting more deer this year, and some officials say COVID-19-related closures have prompted more people to get out and hunt during the week.