Josh Peterson

The annual Patriot Day Ceremony was held on Manchester Square Friday,
September 11th, hosted by the Coffee County Veterans Association (CCVA).
Rather than single out individuals, local veterans organizations honored the
service and dedication of all local first responder departments.

The event included a commemoration honoring the victims of Sept 11th as well
as an art competition by Coffee County High School students. Students
submitted 104 entries for judging: of those, 36 were awarded First, Second
and Third Place in ten categories.

Approximately 300 attendees were present to show their gratitude to the
everyday heroes who live, work and play among us; and who work tirelessly to
protect us.

American Legion Gold Star Post 78 presented awards to Hickerson Station
Volunteer Fire Department and Manchester Police Department. The American
Legion Auxiliary awarded North Coffee Volunteer Fire Department.

DAV (Disabled American Veterans) Chapter 90 presented awards to New Union
Volunteer Fire Department and Tennessee Highway Patrol. DAV Auxiliary
awarded Summitville Volunteer Fire Department.

Marine Corps League Detachment 1128 presented awards to Coffee County EMS
and the Coffee County 911 Communications Center.

VFW (Veterans of Foreign Wars) All American Post 10904 presented awards to
Coffee County Sheriff’s Department, Hillsboro Volunteer Fire Department and
Manchester Fire Department. VFW Auxiliary awarded Coffee County Rescue
Squad.

Students were randomly assigned first responder units or military branches
and instructed to include several facts about their topic, or September 11,
2001 in general, in the artwork. All submissions were judged by school
faculty and CCVA members. Awards were determined for the top three students
in each topic. Winners are:

Army:

1. Resa Smith

2. Aaliyah Wieland

3. Sophia Burton

Navy:

1. Lindsey Smith

2. Jenna Pierce

3. Shalyn Veicht

Air Force:

1. Alex Hudson
2. Mariana Gonzalez
3. Reagan House

Marine Corps:

1. Rosy Rios
2. Keri Gault
3. Natalie Shawl

Coast Guard:

1. Tyler Imhoff
2. Leonardo Rivera
3. Kaylah Giesemann

Police:

1. Kiara Betke
2. Natividad Barrera
3. Zora Haney

Fire:

1. Zoe Mills
2. Annie Fletcher
3. Oliver Atkins

EMT:

1. Olivia Howell
2. Skyler Hill
3. Hope Colleran

9/11/2001:

1. Kelti Hamrick
2. Dominick Moore
3. Landen Booth

Honorable Mention:

Leonardo Rosales

Shiane Stephens

Savannah Blackburn

Ryleigh Montgomery

Trenton Scrivnor

Chaeli Perez

River Bradley

Lillian McGee

 Administrators at Unity Medical Center were notified on Tuesday, September 15, 2020 of a positive COVID-19 result
from Manchester Rural Health Clinic. A decision has been made to close the office for cleaning and to allow other
exposed employees to self-isolate and receive testing.

Unity is happy to provide free COVID testing to any patient that was treated at Manchester Rural Health Clinic on
Monday, September 14, 2020 or Tuesday, September 15, 2020, upon request.

“We are thankful that we were able to avoid having any positive results up until this point,” said Martha McCormick,
CEO. “We knew that this was inevitable due to the nature of this virus. I would like to commend the office staff and
administrators at Manchester Rural Health Clinic for isolating this so quickly.”

We recognize that these are uncertain times and you may have concerns about you, your family members, and friends
receiving medical care, even more so than normal. As always the health and safety of our patients, caregivers and
community is our top priority.

At Unity Medical Center, we remain diligent in our fight against coronavirus (COVID-19), and we want to provide you
with an update about the thoughtful and deliberate steps we’re taking to reopen our hospital and return to standard
operations during this ever-evolving pandemic.

Over the last few months we have become aware that many in our local and non-local communities have not sought
medical care for their urgent healthcare needs unrelated to COVID-19, due to fear and uncertainty about the safety of hospitals. We want to reassure you of the numerous additional protocols that we have implemented to ensure their
safety. We are here to take care of our community and we are well-equipped to handle any health concern they may
have.

Our facilities have maintained historically strict standards for infectious diseases while following updated guidance fromthe Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and we will continue to do so to ensure the safety of all. We have carefully prepared for the re-opening of many postponed services. We have introduced enhanced precautions to ensure a safe environment for health care delivery.

Coffee County District Attorney General Craig Northcott issued a statement Tuesday morning regarding the Sunday crime spree that left two people dead, several injured and hundreds more grieving and scared. Northcott praised area law enforcement for their work on the case.

The full statement from Northcott is below:

“As you know, Dangelo Dorsey went on a murderous rampage in Coffee County and many surrounding counties on September 13, 2020. However, we often focus on the murderer rather than the victims. This, in my opinion, is a crime in and of itself. Thus, I want to focus on the victims in this incident. Their lives matter. They deserve our attention and support.

“On Sunday, five (5) innocent individuals were shot. Two (2) people were murdered, another remains in critical condition and two (2) others were hospitalized to treat their injuries. At least ten (10) other victims were directly terrorized by this murderer’s conduct and their lives will be scarred forever. A young wife, pregnant with the couple’s first child, had to witness the slaying of her husband. This couple was taken hostage and held captive for several hours as this evil man attempted to escape. Many others, including young children, had a gun pointed at them as they were being threatened with death if they didn’t comply with this murderer’s demand for their vehicle. These victims justifiably thought their lives were going to end at the hands of a man intent on evil. Countless others’ lives mattered not to this murderer as he went on his rampage and, in fact, two (2) people were hit with bullets as they drove down I-24, which he fired aimlessly and without regard to life presumably to secure a vehicle to flee the scene.

“These citizens were simply going to church with their family, working and going about their daily routine. Evil intervened in their lives in the person of Dangello Dorsey. There is no adequate explanation for his cowardly and senseless actions other than the Truth of God’s Word which tells us in Jeremiah 17:9 that “The heart is more deceitful than all else and is desperately wicked; who can understand it?”.

“This situation was a fast moving and continuously changing one. This covered at least six (6) counties, involved dozens of law enforcement and first responder agencies and included not only the shootings above but at least three (3) armed carjackings and several other attempted armed carjackings. I am thankful for all of the agencies and individuals that contributed to bringing this rampage to an end. It was a complex investigation with many moving parts that were well coordinated due in large part to each agency working towards the same goal of protecting the citizens of this community. The following are agencies that I know assisted but I am sure that I will forget some and am unaware of the assistance that others quietly provided: Coffee Country Sheriff’s Department, Tennessee Highway Patrol, Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, Coffee County EMS, Coffee County EMA, Tullahoma Police Department, Manchester Police Department, Warren County Sheriff’s Department, Bedford County Sheriff’s Department, Marion County Sheriff’s Department, Rutherford County Sheriff’s Department, Cannon County Sheriff’s Department, Tennessee Department of Transportation, Rutherford County EMS, Manchester Fire Department, Rutherford County Fire Department, Kimball Police Department, Federal Bureau of Investigation, 12th Judicial Drug Task Force and all of the above mentioned counties’ 911 centers and dispatchers. I was humbled to watch the men and women in these agencies work together in their relentless effort to protect those whom were being held hostage and to protect the community as a whole by locating and apprehending this violent man. I would be remiss if I didn’t also acknowledge the key role that the investigators in my office played in this effort.

“Pray for all harmed in this but especially for the victims and their families for their physical and emotional healing. Pray that our community will heal from this. I looked into the eyes of some of those involved and saw the pain inflicted but also the resolve to overcome. I spoke with these survivors and heard the sense of loss of security but also their determination to not be defeated. I listened as seasoned officers became overwhelmed with emotion as they told me of the regret that they felt because they couldn’t stop the violence sooner so as to have spared any or all of the victims of the consequences of this murderer’s actions. Pray for these men and women as well as you rest assured that they did everything possible to protect this community during this attack.

“Ultimately, this rampage lasted approximately 6 ½ hours. It was ended in part by a concerned citizen observing the last vehicle for which law enforcement indicated we were to be on the lookout. He called 911 which led to the stopping of the vehicle after a short chase. After inflicting this harm on the community, this murderer stepped out of the vehicle that he wrecked and fatally shot himself. Two (2) lives were saved in part because this citizen was observant and assisted law enforcement in locating him, those lives being the young woman that was being held hostage in the vehicle and, barring a medical set back caused by this horrible ordeal, her and her husband’s unborn child.

“Please remember what is important in life and don’t forget that we need those willing to stand between us and the evil that is ever present in society. As always, thank you for your support and understanding in this difficult time.”

Coffee County Fair opens its gates next week.

The annual fair will look slightly different this year due to COVID-19 restrictions, with no pageants this year. However, midway rides will proceed as usual and entertainment will be available every night.

When it comes to midway rides, Monday will be fun night – tickets only for rides. Tuesday will be $20 hand stamp day from 6 p.m. until closing. Wednesday will be dollar a ride day. Thursday will be two for one rides. Friday will be $20 hand stamp during the day (10 a.m. until 5 p.m.) and Saturday will be 2 for $22 hand stamps.

In the grandstands, Duck River Dance will perform at 6 p.m. Monday, American Superstars at 7 p.m. Tuesday, By Faith at 7 p.m. Wednesday, talent show at 6:30 p.m Thursday and Rubiks Groove at 7 p.m. Friday night.
Tractor pulls will be Friday and Saturday night. See the complete fair book by clicking here.

By Nadia Ramlagan, public news service

The federal government has quietly changed a policy that could make it easier for some residents to sign up for health insurance. Previously, workers had only 60 days after losing their job-based health coverage to sign up for marketplace plans on <=”” a=”” style=”color: rgb(0, 102, 0); transition: color 0.3s ease 0s; text-decoration: underline;”>healthcare.gov.

Cheryl Fish-Parcham, director of access initiatives at Families USA, said now, anyone who lost coverage this year can check to see if they qualify for special enrollment. She added the Trump administration hasn’t given an explanation for the change, but it’s most likely related to the pandemic.

“I think at this point we are, more than anything, just grateful that it has finally opened,” Fish-Parcham said. “Because between February and May, 5.4 million Americans lost their job-based coverage and became uninsured.”

Before the pandemic, some 3.5 million Tennesseans received health insurance from their employer or through a spouse or parent – the largest source of coverage in the state. According to the Kaiser Family Foundation, as much as one-third of those who have lost job-based insurance could remain uninsured.

Because Tennessee has not expanded Medicaid, Fish-Parcham added, only households with very low incomes are eligible for Medicaid. But, she recommended individuals visit healthcare.gov, where they can check to see if they meet the requirements for a marketplace plan, available to people with modest and higher incomes.

“People who have a disability or who have a child should still click on that, see if you qualify for Medicaid or CHIP,” she said. “You might still qualify for enrollment in the marketplace. So certainly, seeing if you qualify for the special enrollment period is a good thing to check on.”

Research has shown Medicaid expansion would bring health coverage to more than 250,000 Tennesseans, particularly in rural areas.

Fish-Parcham added the pandemic has put a spotlight on the nation’s heavy reliance on employer-sponsored health insurance. She said Black and Hispanic households, who have been disproportionately affected by COVID-19 and who are the most likely to have lost income, are bearing the brunt of health care costs.

“Health insurance is important. It helps people afford their bills and get to the doctor,” she said. “And we know that’s important, both in COVID times and also for long-term problems.”

Current lack of access to coverage also could increase household medical debt. A new report shows medical debt affects the credit history of more than one in five Tennesseans, the eighth-highest rate in the country. The report’s authors say ballooning medical debt will likely hamper the state’s economic recovery from COVID-19.

Dog owners should circle their calendars for this Sunday, Sept. 20. The Manchester Recreation Complex and the Coffee County Humane Society will be hosting their annual Dog Day Pool Party.

The event is from 2-4 p.m. Sunday. Cost to enter is $5 per dog. You must provide current vaccination record and accidents must be cleaned by the owner. Aggressive dogs will be asked to leave.

Call the rec complex with questions at 931-728-0273.