Josh Peterson

Before heading to the polls on Tuesday, Nov. 3., the Tennessee Secretary of State’s office wants voters to have the information they need to cast their ballot in a safe, clean and secure fashion.

On Election Day, polls open at various times. A list of when polls open in all 95 counties is available on sos.tn.gov. In Tennessee, all polls close at 8 p.m. EST/7 p.m. CST. In Coffee County, polls open at 8 a.m. in the morning and close when all other polls close, which is at 7 p.m. CST.

Tennesseans can access voter specific information like polling times, locations, sample ballots, election results and more with the GoVoteTN app or with the Website App at GoVoteTN.com. Download the GoVoteTN app for free in the App Store or Google Play.

Casting your ballot in the midmorning or midafternoon may shorten your time at the polls. Early morning, noon and 5 p.m. are peak times as people typically vote before work, after work or on their lunch breaks.

Frail, physically disabled or visibly pregnant voters should tell their election officials if they cannot wait in line to vote. The law allows these voters to move through the process faster.

To cast a ballot, voters need to bring valid photo identification. A Tennessee driver license or photo ID issued by the Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security, Tennessee state government or the federal government is acceptable even if it is expired. College student IDs are not acceptable. More information about what types of ID are acceptable can be found on sos.tn.gov or by calling toll free 1-877-850-4959.

State law requires polling locations and the area within a 100-foot boundary of the entrance to remain campaign-free zones. The display or distribution of campaign materials and the solicitation of votes for or against any person, party or question on the ballot within this area are prohibited. Voters wearing campaign-related clothing or paraphernalia will not be allowed within the 100-foot boundary.

While at your polling location, Tennesseans are encouraged to wear a face covering and maintain a six-foot distance from poll officials and other voters. Voters should expect to see signs with further safety instructions. All poll officials will wear face coverings and are trained in social distancing measures.

A video and written plan outlining the precautions being taking for in-person voting during COVID-19 is available on the Secretary of State’s website sos.tn.gov/elections.

On Election Day, voters are encouraged to report possible voter fraud or misinformation to the Division of Elections toll-free at 1-877-850-4959.

Manchester Police Department received a report of a SCAM attempt at a local business.

According to MPD, this potential scammer attempted to pay for services but their card was denied. At this point, the individual appeared to be on the phone with his credit card company. He told the employee at the business that his credit card company would assist them in bypassing his credit card limit and attempted to persuade the employee to change the settings on the machine.

It was later determined that this would have compromised the machine and given access to recent purchases if the employee would have listened to the scammer. Manchester Police Department is asking all businesses to be aware of this activity.

Registration forms to enter the 2020 Manchester Christmas Parade are now available through the Manchester Parks and Recreation Department (557 N. Woodland St.)

The parade – themed “Childhood Dreams of Christmas” – will be held at 6:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 28 and will continue along the route it has taken in previous years. The parade will begin at the intersection of State Highway 55 and US Highway 41, traveling North on 41 and then turning onto the downtown square at West Main St.

The Manchester Parks and Recreation Department has partnered with the local Good Samaritan and Storehouse Food Pantry to have a city wide food drive.

“We are encouraging parade participants to start their own food drives in order to donate the items the night of the Christmas parade.”

For more information on the food drive, contact Tiffany Clutter at 931-728-0273.

If you plan to enter the parade, application forms are due by Nov. 20. There is no fee.

Parade lineup will be at 5 p.m. on parade day. There will be first, second and third place cash prizes for large float and regular float entries.

The Tennessee gas price average continues to decline and has dropped four cents over last week. The Tennessee Gas Price average is now $1.87 which is seven cents less than one month ago and 43 cents less than one year ago.

Tennessee’s state gas price average has declined the past 20 consecutive days for a total discount of seven cents.
In Coffee County, the average price is $1.85, which is two cents below the Tennessee state average and 27 cents below the national average of $2.12.

“Tennessee drivers are seeing the cheapest prices at the pump since June,” said Megan Cooper, spokesperson, AAA – The Auto Club Group. “As we approach Election Day, drivers are paying, on average, 18 cents less than what they paid on Election Day 2016.”

Tennessee drivers found the lowest gas prices for the month of October in 16 years. The monthly average was $1.93 per gallon, which is 41 cents less than October 2019 and 72 cents less than what drivers paid in October 2018.

Quick Facts

· 91% 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 $2.21 for regular unleaded
· Tennessee remains the 9th least expensive market in the nation

The Manchester Board of Mayor and Alderman is scheduled to meet in a zoom meeting Tuesday, Nov. 3 at 6:30 p.m.

There are many items expected to be discussed, but among the two more controversial items will be the Manchester-Coffee County Conference Center and the appointment of someone to fill the vacant alderman seat currently on the board.

The city is expected to take on the issue of whether or not it wants to assume all responsibility of the operating losses of the Manchester-Coffee County Conference Center. This burden is currently split with the county with a soon-to-expire agreement. 

Also,  as Thunder Radio News reported to you Monday, 12 applicants have filed for the open alderman seat. These include: David Bradley, Eric Burch, Joe Pat Cope, Tammie Fuller, Terrence Hillsman, Joey Hobbs, Holly Jones, Eli Kidder, Elva Yvonne McCoin, Morgan Moser, Roxanne Patton and Daniel Stillings.

Whoever is appointed will hold the seat through August of 2022.