Josh Peterson

Story and Photo by Susan Campbell, Thunder Radio

The arrival of autumn and cooler weather is often accompanied by a multitude of outdoor festivals and events. While many events have been postponed or canceled this year due to the coronavirus pandemic, there are still ample opportunities to enjoy all that fall has to offer.

Here are a few area events scheduled for the upcoming weeks:

Manchester Old Timers Day
Old Timers Day began in 1963 as a sidewalk sale to entice shoppers to the downtown, and today that tradition continues on the first weekend in October each year. Events kick off at 4 p.m. Friday, Oct. 2 at the Courthouse Square and continues through 9 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 3. Activities include free bingo night, parades, musicians and dancers. The event is sponsored by Manchester Tourism and Community Development. Tickets and more information can be found at www.visitmanchestertn.com.

Trunk or Treat in Manchester
Sponsored by Premier Lawn Care, the event is set for 6-9 p.m. Oct. 30 in the parking lot of the former Southern Family Market on the Hillsboro Highway in Manchester. A sampling of events includes a costume contest, a best trunk award, a haunted house, food, music and much more. Anyone wishing to donate or participate can email Holly Peterson at hollyp.wmsr@gmail.com; or Brandon Imhoff at premierlawncare94@gmail.com.

Fall Festival in Wartrace
Beau Cheval in Wartrace will host a fall festival from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays through November. Activities include a u-pick pumpkin patch, art and craft vendors, hayrides, food and drinks, and a mini petting zoo. Beau Cheval is located at 6999 Highway 64E in Wartrace. Visit www.beauchevalwartrace.com for more information.

Grandaddy’s Farm
Every fall, Grandaddy’s Farm offers guests of all ages a chance to eat, play and shop on a 65-year-old working farm near Estill springs. Children can work their way through a corn maze, take a hayride, pick a pumpkin out of the patch and quench their appetites on tasty food. Granddaddy’s Farm is located at 454 Highland Ridge Road in Estill Springs. Hours at 1:30 to 6 p.m. Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays; 1:30 to 8 p.m. on Fridays; and 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Saturdays. For more information visit www.grandaddysfarm.com.

Antique Car Show
Auto enthusiasts won’t want to miss the 51st annual Tims Ford Region Antique Automobile Club of America (AACA) car show set for Oct. 17 at 117 College St. in Decherd. Sponsored by O’Reilly Auto Parts, the event includes door prizes, music, concessions and beautiful antique cars on display. For more information visit Tims Ford Region AACA on Facebook.

Holiday Open House
Foothills Crafts and Gift Shop will host a holiday open house from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Nov. 14 at the store, located at 418 Woodbury Highway in Manchester. On display will be holiday items made by area crafters and artists. Visit Foothills Crafts & Gift Shop on Facebook to learn more.

Benefit Art Show at MAC
The artwork of Manchester artist and alderman Bill Nickels will be display during a Nov. 20 fundraiser telethon to benefit the Manchester Art Center. Every supporter who donates $20 during the telethon will be entered into a drawing for a print. The show is being held in conjunction with the raffle and fundraiser, which is being held to offset a $20,000 deficit at the art center due to 2020’s canceled shows.

After Thanksgiving Day Hikes
For those wishing to work off some Thanksgiving Day calories and skip the Black Friday shopping, Old Stone Fort State Archaeological Park has scheduled an After Thanksgiving Day Hike for 1 p.m. on Nov. 27. Also, several guided hikes are scheduled for the South Cumberland State Park all throughout the month of October. Visit www.tnstateparks.com to learn more.

(PHOTO: Seasonal arts and crafts will be on display during the Holiday Open House set for Nov. 14 at Foothills Crafts and Gift Shop, 418 Woodbury Highway, Manchester. –Photo by Susan Campbell)

A court filing to seek temporary injunction against face covering requirements in the Coffee County Schools has been denied by Coffee County Circuit Court Judge Vanessa Jackson.

The filing was originally made by Heather Murchison on behalf of her son, a freshman student at Coffee County Raider Academy, against the Coffee County Board of Education and Director of Schools Dr. Charles Lawson.

In her ruling, Jackson noted: “Issuance of a preliminary injunction would not apply (to Murchison’s son) solely, but would in effect allow all students to ignore the mask policy, and thus create a greater risk of the spread of the virus to other students, faculty and parents, and possible closing of schools to in-person learning. The issuance of an injunction enjoining the enforcement of the [Coffee County School Board’s] mask policy will not serve the greater good and the public interest.”

The ruling also cited Tennessee Governor Bill Lee’s executive order allowing for local counties to make their own decisions regarding face coverings, a decision that Coffee County Mayor Gary Cordell said would be best decided by each individual school district.

The lawsuit for an injunction, filed by Murchison on behalf of her son, claimed that her son told school staff that wearing the mask was “against his religious beliefs, but admitted at the hearing that this was not true. He also indicated that he had a medical reason for refusing to wear the mask, but there was no evidence presented at the hearing to substantiate this claim.”

The court ruling also states that the student in question – the son of Murchison who Thunder Radio is not naming – received no disciplinary action for his refusal to wear a mask, but has been required to go to a room where he could  be social distanced from other students. This is the same room in which students serve in-school detention.

This story will be updated with more information.

Tullahoma Police Department officials are asking for the public’s help to identify a person of interest.

According to TPD, this person was allegedly observed taking property from a local business on Sept. 19. The person in question is a white female. You can see photos below.

Anyone with information should contact TPD detective Johnny Gore at 931-455-0530 ext. 131 or email jgore@tullahomatn.gov.

In a brief statement issued Tuesday afternoon, Coffee County Schools Director Dr. Charles Lawson announced that the school system will continue with a “4-1” schedule after students return from fall break.

This means students will continue to attend school in-person for four days and learn virtually on Fridays.

“This is the same schedule that was utilized between Labor Day and fall break in which students were in the buildings Monday through Thursday and had a distance-learning day on Friday. Parent-choice virtual students who receive approval for the second quarter will engage in virtual studies all five days,” Lawson said.

“The number of virtual learners combined with the ever-changing numbers of quarantined/isolated students will be monitored continually,” added Lawson. “When these numbers reach a level at which students can be brought back into the buildings five days per week, the district will provide that information through local media and social media outlets.”

Coffee County Schools fall break runs Oct. 5-9.

“The Manchester, Tennessee Veterans of Foreign Wars All-American Post 10904
announced that the Vietnam Veterans Events, scheduled for
mid-October, have been cancelled.

This year would have been the third year for Vietnam Veterans to be honored
with a special dinner, followed by a day of recognition and appreciation.
Originally scheduled for late March, circumstances compelled VFW to
reschedule events to October 8th for the dinner and October 10th for their
day at the fairgrounds. Out of an abundance of caution, however, and in
recognition of many Vietnam Veterans’ health concerns, the events for 2020
have been cancelled completely, organizers announced. 

Planned guest speaker Bill Robinson, the longest-held prisoner in the
Vietnam War, has graciously rescheduled his remarks to early 2021.

“VFW looks forward to honoring the service and sacrifice of our Vietnam Veterans when
conditions for such events are more favorable.

For more information and to stay current on the latest VFW news, visit their
website at www.vfwpost10904.com

In a brief statement issued Tuesday afternoon, Coffee County Schools Director Dr. Charles Lawson announced that the school system will continue with a “4-1” schedule after students return from fall break.

This means students will continue to attend school in-person for four days and learn virtually on Fridays.

“This is the same schedule that was utilized between Labor Day and fall break in which students were in the buildings Monday through Thursday and had a distance-learning day on Friday. Parent-choice virtual students who receive approval for the second quarter will engage in virtual studies all five days,” Lawson said.

“The number of virtual learners combined with the ever-changing numbers of quarantined/isolated students will be monitored continually,” added Lawson. “When these numbers reach a level at which students can be brought back into the buildings five days per week, the district will provide that information through local media and social media outlets.”

Coffee County Schools fall break runs Oct. 5-9.