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Manchester Police Dept. watching closely for seatbelts in November
As the Thanksgiving holiday approaches and more drivers hit the roads, Manchester Police Department is partnering with the Tennessee Highway Safety Office (THSO) to remind motorists to “Click It or Ticket.” From November 16 – 29, participating agencies across the state will increase seat belt enforcement as part of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s (NHTSA) nationwide mobilization.
“During the ‘Click It or Ticket’ campaign, we’ll be working with our fellow law enforcement officers across local and state lines to ensure the seat belt safety message gets out to all drivers and passengers,” said Chief Mark Yother. “By far, buckling up is the simplest thing you can do to limit injury or save your life during a crash. We see the results of not wearing a seat belt all the time. We see the loss of life and devastating injuries that could’ve been prevented with the simple click of a seat belt. That’s why buckling up is more than just a good idea—it’s the law.”
According to NHTSA, in 2018, there were 9,778 unbuckled passenger vehicle occupants killed in crashes in the United States. In that same year, 56 percent of passenger vehicle occupants killed at night (6 p.m.–5:59 a.m.) were not wearing their seat belts. That’s why one focus of the “Click It or Ticket” campaign is nighttime enforcement. Participating law enforcement agencies will be taking a no-excuses approach to seat belt law enforcement, writing citations day and night. In Manchester, TN, the maximum penalty for a seat belt violation is $30 for first offense, $60 for second or more.
For more information about seat belt safety or the THSO, visit www.tntrafficsafety.org
COVID-19 unemployment continues to fall in Tennessee
A total of 906,360 new unemployment claims have been filed in Tennessee since March 15th, which was ten days after the start of the COVID-19 Pandemic. The positive news is that the numbers of new unemployment claims being filed in Tennessee continues to go down.
The week ending on October 10, 2020 saw new jobless claims at 10,145. The following three weeks saw numbers drop to 9,800 one week and then 7,700 the next week – followed by 6,900 new unemployment claims filed on October 31, 2020.
Currently, 64,188 unemployment checks are being sent to jobless individuals in Tennessee who filed during the COVID Pandemic. Coffee County currently has 447 people receiving continued claims for unemployment.
More than 68% of Tennessee registered voters cast ballots
A record-breaking 3,045,401 Tennesseans, or over 68 percent of active and inactive registered voters, cast ballots in-person during early voting and on Election Day or absentee by-mail in the Nov. 3 presidential election.
Voter turnout and participation handily beat the previous record set during the 2008 presidential election when 2,618,238 cast their ballots.
“For months, our office has worked with election commissions and health officials across the state to ensure that in-person voting was clean, safe and secure,” said Secretary Hargett. “Traditionally, Tennesseans prefer to vote in-person. We’ve said it for months, and yet again, voters showed their confidence in the safety precautions in place and their preference to cast a ballot in-person by showing up in record numbers at the polls.”
Counties must submit certified election results to the Division of Elections by Monday, Nov. 23.
Unofficial election results are available on our website at elections.tn.gov (https://t.e2ma.net/click/qh85vmb/yvgckg/ynethyn).
“We would not have seen the record numbers of voters have such a smooth voting experience during a pandemic without the months and countless hours of planning by Tennessee’s 95 election commissions, administrators, and staff,” said Coordinator of Elections Mark Goins. “Thanks to the roughly 17,000 poll officials who stepped up to serve their communities and carry out all the planning to provide Tennesseans with a safe and secure in-person voting experience.”
Tennessee also broke the early and absentee by-mail turnout record during the two-week early voting period in this election. A comprehensive report of in-person and absentee by-mail turnout during early voting by county with comparisons to 2016 and 2012 is available on GoVoteTN.com (https://t.e2ma.net/click/qh85vmb/yvgckg/egfthyn).
FEATURE FRIDAY: November full of holiday-themed events in Manchester
As the holiday season officially opens, several area events have been planned in November to help brighten the holidays. From open houses to Christmas tree displays, there is something for everyone.
Christmas Open House
Beginning today (Friday) and continuing through Sunday, several businesses in downtown Manchester will host a Christmas Open House. Brightly decorated businesses opening their doors to shoppers include Common John Brewing Company, a craft brewery located at 210 Woodbury Highway; The Cracked Pot at 110 W. Main St.; Harvest Local Foods at 101 N. Irwin St.; High Cotton Vintage Home Furnishings at 213 N. Spring St.; Manchester Arts Center at 128 E. Main St.; The Mercantile/Sweet Simplicity at 100 W. Fort St.; Owen’s Provisions & Apparel at 104 W. Fort St.; Reese’s Genes Boutique at 201 Hillsboro Blvd.; Southern Diva at 119 S. Spring St.; Southern Healing Enterprises at 120 N. Spring St.; Soul Revival Boutique at 103 S. Main St.; and Sprout Children’s Shop at 108 S. Spring St. For more information, go to Downtown Manchester Movement on Facebook.
Manchester Arts Center
In addition to participating in the Christmas Open House, Manchester Arts Center is hosting the Ultimate oldies ‘70s and ‘80s Show Friday through Sunday. All tickets are $22. Also, “White Christmas The Musical,” presented by the Millennium Repertory Company, is set for Dec. 4-13. For more information, visit www.manchesterartscenter.com.
Veterans’ Chili Lunch
The Hillsboro Homecoming Association will host a veterans’ chili lunch for 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 14 at the Hillsboro Homecoming Association Pavilion, 7926 Hillsboro Highway. Sponsored by the association, the Hillsboro Volunteer Fire Department and the Coffee County Rescue Squad, all veterans will receive a free chili lunch.
2020 Manchester Christmas Parade
Will be at 6:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 28. A great way to continue the Thanksgiving weekend by bringing in the Christmas spirit. Parade starts at the intersection of Highway 41/55, travels north on US Highway 41 and then turns onto the downtown square on W. Main St.
2020 Trees of Christmas
Sponsored by the Dig N Dream Garden Club for nearly half a century, this year the Trees of Christmas display is sponsored by Manchester Parks and Rec. Dates are Nov. 30-Dec. 6 and on display will be over 30 trees that depict children’s Christmas dreams. Hours are noon to 6 p.m. Nov. 30; 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Dec. 1-4; 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Dec. 5; and noon to 5 p.m. on Dec. 6. The display is located at the Ada Wright Center, 328 N. Woodland St., Manchester.
Wobble Gobble 5K Run & Walk
The inaugural Wobble Gobble 5K Run and Walk is set for 8 a.m. Nov. 21 in downtown Tullahoma. Runners will begin and end at the Tullahoma Area Chamber of Commerce, 135 W. Lincoln, and will make their way through downtown Tullahoma. Free t-shirts for early registrants. For more information visit www.tullahoma.org.
Island of Misfit Crafts Show
Featured will be hand-tailored arts and crafts, prizes, giveaways, food and drinks, photos with Santa and a misfit toy treasure hunt for kids. The event is set for 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Nov. 21 at 5477 Old Manchester Highway, Tullahoma, and hosted by Oliver’s Wood and Fabric.
Foothills Crafts and Gift Shop Open House
Foothills Crafts will host a holiday open house on Nov. 14. Featured will be holiday crafts, jewelry, a book signing, hand-crafted face masks, doll clothing and much more. Foothills is located at 418 Woodbury Highway, Manchester.
TSSAA releases proposed region realignment for 2021-2023
The Tennessee Secondary School Athletic Association released its proposed region realignment overnight Wednesday, Nov. 4.
If the proposal is accepted and approved next week, Coffee County Central will be in completely new regions and districts for almost every sport – including football, where Coffee County will get away from most of the powerhouse Murfreesboro schools.
In football, Coffee County would be Region 3-6A with Cookeville High School, Lebanon High School, Shelbyville Central High School and Warren County High School. With only 4 region games, Coffee County will need to fill its schedule with six non-region opponents. Cookeville and Warren County are leftover from the region Coffee County competed in this year.
Meanwhile, in basketball, baseball and softball, Coffee County will be in a small four-team district with Franklin County, Shelbyville Central and Warren County in what will be District 6-4A. District 6 will be opposite of District 5 in Region 3 – meaning the region championship will against teams like Bradley Central, Cleveland, McMinn County, Oolteway, Rhea County, The Howard School and Walker Valley.
This takes Coffee County out of the same district as Tullahoma, but also gets Coffee County out of yearly trips to Lawrenceburg and Columbia for baseball, softball and basketball
In boys and girls soccer, Coffee County is District 6-AAA with Franklin County, Shelbyville and Warren County. Coffee County will be in District 6-AAA for Volleyball with Franklin County, Lincoln County, Shelbyville and Warren County.
If approved, these regions and districts will be good for 2021-2023, beginning with the fall sports season.
Prep Sports Schedule: Thursday, Nov. 5
Thursday prep sports schedule
Coffee Middle School girls and boys AT Cannon County – 6 p.m.
Westwood Middle School BOYS ONLY AT Harris – 6 p.m.
Braves’ Freeman named MVP finalist
Freddie Freeman could soon become the first Braves player to win a MVP Award this century.
Freeman, the Dodgers’ Mookie Betts and the Padres’ Manny Machado are the three finalists for the BBWAA National League MVP Award. The winner will be announced Nov. 12 on MLB Network at 6 p.m. ET.
The Braves finished a win shy of advancing to the World Series for the first time since 1999, when Chipper Jones was voted NL MVP, making him the most recent Braves player to win the award. Freeman has finished among the top 10 in MVP balloting four times, including three times within the past four seasons. His best finish came in 2018, when he ranked fourth.
Trump easily carries Coffee County, Tennessee
Regardless of what is happening with the presidential vote count at the National level, Coffee Countians turned out overwhelmingly for President Donald Trump.
According to unofficial results, Trump carried 73.63 percent of the Coffee County vote, or 17,863 votes. Joe Biden got 23.51 percent, or 5,704. Independent libertarian candidate Jo Jorgensen got 242 votes and Kanye West 219.
Trump performed better in Coffee County than across the state, but he still carried Tennessee easily. Trump picked up 60.73 percent of the vote in Tennessee, or about 1,849,467 votes. Biden picked up 37.41% of the votes, or about 1,139,289.
Manchester’s annual Trees of Christmas to open on Nov. 30
The annual Trees of Christmas 2020 will be presented by the Manchester Parks and Recreation Department. The Dig N Dream Garden Club has passed the torch to the parks and recreation department after 44 years heading up the event.
The theme for this year’s event is “Childhood Dreams of Christmas”. The Trees of Christmas will be held as scheduled, November 30-December 6th at the Ada Wright Center in Fred Deadman Park. This will be the 45th year for the event.
The Grand Opening of the 2020 Trees of Christmas, Monday, November the 30th at Noon. The Manchester Area Chamber of Commerce will be there for a ribbon cutting; as well as Manchester City Mayor Marilyn Howard, Coffee County Mayor Gary Cordell, Manchester City Vice Mayor Mark Messick, Sheriff Chad Partin and others.
CHS, CCRA won’t have semester exams due to loss of instruction time
Coffee County Central High School announced Tuesday that the school will not administer semester exams at the end of the first semester.
December 15-18, which were scheduled to be exam days, will now be regular school days for students.
The school cited COVID-19 related circumstances and the loss of teacher instructional time with students as the reason for bypassing the tests.
Coffee County Raider Academy will also not have first semester exams.