Josh Peterson

Manchester Parks and Recreation Department announced Monday that it is closing bathrooms in public parks.

The department cites an “increase in cases of COVID-19” for the reasoning to close restrooms in Dave King Park, Fred Deadman Park and the Soccer Park. The restrooms will remain closed through February 1, according to the department.

Despite these closures, the Manchester Recreation Center remains open for business.

According to Tennessee Department of Health, there are 321 active cases of the COVID-19 virus in Coffee County as of Monday. This number is up 3 from the previous day.

Tennessee gas prices, on average, are nearly two cents cheaper heading into the Thanksgiving holiday. The Tennessee Gas Price average is now $1.85 which is nearly seven cents less than one month ago and nearly 46 cents less than one year ago.

The average price in Coffee County is one penny higher than the state average, at $1.86 per gallon of regular unleaded. The national average is $2.10.

“Typically, cheaper gas prices are an incentive for people to travel during a holiday weekend, but that is just not the case this year,” said Megan Cooper, spokeswoman, AAA – The Auto Club Group. “AAA forecasted a decrease in Thanksgiving travel year-over-year due to increasing COVID-19 positive case numbers, renewed quarantine guidelines and the latest CDC guidance. All of this has prompted Americans, who had plans to travel, to reconsider spending the holiday at home.”

Quick Facts

· 92% of Tennessee gas stations have prices below $2.00
· The lowest 10% of pump prices are $1.63 for regular unleaded
· The highest 10% of pump prices are $2.18 for regular unleaded
· Tennessee moved to the 7th least expensive market in the nation
· Tennesseans are likely to see the lowest Thanksgiving Day gas prices in 12 years

By Nadia Ramligan, Tenn. public news service

As eviction moratoriums let up at the start of the new year, more families are likely to experience homelessness.

People without stable housing are at higher risk of exposure to the coronavirus. And with the onset of cold weather, providers expect a spike in demand for shelter, food and outreach services.

Marybeth Shinn, a professor at Peabody College of Education and Human Development at Vanderbilt University, said while moratoriums imposed during the pandemic work to delay evictions, they do not prevent them.

She noted arrears for rent, utilities and fees continue to accumulate when the moratorium ends, and landlords can continue to charge fees for late payments.

“And utility bills keep ticking, and fees are accumulating for families,” Shinn explained. “So there are going to be a lot of families who are at risk of foreclosure.”

Shinn added housing affordability is at the heart of the problem.

Across Tennessee, there is a shortage of rental homes that are affordable, especially for households whose incomes are at or below the poverty line.

According to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, an estimated 12 million renter and homeowner households now pay more than 50% of their annual incomes for housing. And a family with one full-time worker earning the minimum wage cannot afford rent for a two-bedroom apartment anywhere in the U.S.

Shinn contended there are steps the federal government and incoming administration could take, including reinstating increased unemployment benefits to help people stay current on rent.

“The closest thing that we have to a silver bullet to end homelessness would really be an expansion of the housing choice voucher program,” Shinn proposed. “It’s expanded only from two million to 2.2 million units over the past 20 years. A bipartisan policy commission suggested that the program could expand to the point that everybody who needed it used it.”

She said research has shown for around 31 billion dollars annually, the U.S. could end homelessness.

Shin believes that’s an amount the nation can afford. She said unfortunately there are few resources for individuals that do need help, but some people may be able to get assistance through local nonprofit organizations.

“To access that in communities is to call 211. That will hook you into the organizations that might have resources there,” Shinn concluded.

As of January 2019, more than 7,000 Tennesseans experienced homelessness on any given day, according to federal data. Even more families lack stable housing and are staying in motels or with friends or family.

Public school data showed in 2018, around 17,000 students reported being unsheltered, living in a hotel or motel, or doubled up.

Motlow State has placed thermal temperature scanners at building entryways on each of its campuses. Each thermal scanner provides a non-contact fever inspection kiosk that provides detection of temperature, with or without a mask, in less than one second.

The thermal scanners are now provided as a supplemental aid to Motlow’s existing on-campus requirements (mscc.edu/healthy-motlow). Students, staff, and visitors are still required to submit a self-assessment health screening form before coming to any Motlow campus.

The scanners are simple to use. Walk towards the scanner and it will detect your presence. It will display your temperature on the screen and tell you if you are cleared to enter the building. If your temperature is 100.4 or above, you are not cleared to enter the building and you should leave campus immediately.

Motlow buildings with thermal scanners include:

Fayetteville – Main building and Sundquist Center
McMinnville – Main building and Automation & Robotics Training Center
Moore County – Marcum Technology Center, Simon Hall, Nisbett Center, and Ingram Administration
Smyrna – Arthur Walker, MaryLou Apple, and Hiatt-Spivey Center

 In a year when large holiday gatherings may not be possible, fire damage restoration
specialist Gene Walter of SERVPRO of Coffee/Franklin/Warren Counties
says a focus on family decorating traditions and more intimate
celebrations may take on extra significance.

“It’s as important to keep safety top of mind with a small family gathering as it is with a large
holiday party,” says Walter. “We all enjoy bringing the glow of the holiday season to our homes with Christmas trees or menorahs and candlelight, but these statistics from the U.S. Fire Administration show how easy it is for home decorating to turn into a home disaster.”

* The top three days for home candle fires are Christmas Day, New Year’s
Day and New Year’s Eve.

* More than half of the home decoration fires in December are started by
candles.

* A heat source too close to the Christmas tree causes one in every four
winter fires.

* On average, one of every 52 reported home Christmas tree fires
resulted in death.

In addition to exercising caution with candles and heat sources, it is
important to follow manufacturers’ guidelines for holiday lighting, says
Walter.

“According to the National Fire Protection Association, electrical distribution or lighting equipment was involved in 44% of home Christmas tree fires.2 Though Christmas tree fires may not be common, they can be devastating to more than the house itself. They can destroy irreplaceable photos, mementos, and family heirlooms and even cost lives,” says Walter. “To help keep your holidays bright and your home and family safe, use common sense with candles and tree placement, and follow these important home decorating guidelines.”

* Only use decorations that are flame-retardant or not flammable.
* Check holiday lights each year for frayed wires or excessive wear.
* Don’t link more than three strands of holiday lights.

“In a year when so many of the things we take for granted have changed,
we know people will still come together – in person or virtually – to
celebrate family and holiday traditions,” says Walter. “‘Stay safe’ has
become a common expression in the context of public health, but this
holiday season, we urge all Manchester-area home and business owners to
think about ‘staying safe’ in their homes as they prepare for and enjoy
the holiday season.”

SERVPRO is an industry leader and provider of fire and water cleanup and
restoration services. For more fire prevention and fire safety tips and
information about fire and water damage restoration services, please
visit www.servpro.com. For more information on SERVPRO of
Coffee/Franklin/Warren Counties, please contact Gene Walter at (931)
723-8088 or servpro9292@bellsouth.net.