Josh Peterson

The Tennessee gas price average holds steady for the second week at $1.94. The Tennessee Gas Price average is seven cents more than one month ago and 60 cents less than one year ago. The average price for a gallon of regular unleaded in Coffee County is on par with the state average at $1.94. The cheapest average in surrounding counties can be found in Rutherford County at $1.90.

“The Energy Information Administration’s (EIA) data shows gasoline demand and supply continue on a roller coaster ride,” said Megan Cooper, spokesperson, AAA – The Auto Club Group. “As motorists react to unfolding COVID-19 information, we are seeing driving behaviors related to filling-up ebb and flow.”

Quick Facts

– 90% of Tennessee gas stations still have prices below $2.00
– The lowest 10% of pump prices are $1.77 for regular unleaded
– The highest 10% of pump prices are $2.22 for regular unleaded
– Tennessee is the 9th least expensive market in the nation

A Tullahoma man is dead after an accidental drowning at Tims Ford Lake in Franklin County Saturday, July 11.

According to TWRA, officers responded just after noon to learn that a man jumped from a pontoon boat and was missing. A search for him yielded no results and was suspended at dark. Searchers found the body of Anderson Clark III, 48, of Tullahoma on Sunday, July 12 when the search resumed.

There are now 50 active cases of COVID-19 in Coffee County, according to the Tennessee Department of Health.
Since testing began in March, there have been 152 positive tests in Coffee County. Of these, 102 have recovered – leaving approximately 50 active cases.

Meanwhile, across the state there are approximately 27,019 active cases. Since testing began in March, there have been 64,737 confirmed cases. Of these, 36,996 have recovered. There have been 722 confirmed deaths. In total, there have been 3,284 hospitalizations in Tennessee.

Tests have also increased significantly – with 1,053,424 tests administered.

Thunder Radio is proud to announce the addition of Susan Campbell to launch our “Feature Friday” series of stories.

Feature Friday is a weekly series of feature and profile stories about individuals and organizations in and around Manchester and Coffee County that deserve recognition and coverage from Thunder Radio. The series is set to launch on July 31. 

“We have a goal of expanding our news and story coverage here at Thunder Radio to include more feature stories, profile stories and eventually expanding into more exclusive, enterprise reporting,” said Josh Peterson, vice president of Thunder Radio. “Susan has experience to help us with this first step and a writing style that will tell stories the way they should be told.

“There are many great things happening in Manchester and Coffee County that need to be recognized and that is what we are going to do,” added Peterson. “These stories will publish weekly on our website and our smartphone app where they will be available free of charge to our website audience.”

Campbell has decades of writing experience. She worked as a reporter at The Times in Gainesville, Ga., The Tullahoma News and the Sparta Expositor. She was also a columnist for the Times-Picayune in New Orleans, editor of the Manchester Times and The Tullahoma News and other various writing assignment. Her writing has garnered multiple awards.

“I’m thrilled to join the talented staff at Thunder Radio and look forward to sharing stories about people, places and things that are making a difference in our community,” explained Campbell.

“Feature Friday” will be a weekly feature segment for the www.thunder1320.com and the Thunder Radio social media networks.

Don’t forget that the deadline to file and pay your 2019 federal income taxes is Wednesday, July 15.

Earlier this year, the Internal Revenue Service postponed the tax filing deadline from the normal date of April 15 to July 15 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The deadline will not be extended further, meaning the deadline to pay without penalties and interest is July 15.

If you need an extension to prepare returns, you will need to file a Form 4868 by July 15 to receive a three-month automatic extension to file in October. However, filing an extension does not exempt you from payment, which will accrue interest and steep penalties after July 15.

Early voting for the Tennessee State and Federal Primary and County General Election begins Friday, July 17, and runs Monday to Saturday until Saturday, August 1. Election Day is Thursday, August 6.

“The safety of voters and poll officials are our top priority,” said Secretary of State Tre Hargett. “With social distancing measures and many other safety precautions in place for this election, I urge voters to take advantage of Tennessee’s generous early voting period.”

Early voting provides Tennesseans the opportunity to avoid Election Day crowds and can shorten your wait time. Early voting also offers the flexibility of evenings and Saturdays along with multiple polling locations in many counties.

During early voting and on Election Day, Tennesseans are encouraged to do their part. This includes wearing a face covering and maintaining a six-foot distance from poll officials and other voters. Voters should expect to see signs with further safety instructions at their polling locations. All poll officials will be wearing face coverings and will be trained to social distancing measures.

“County election commissions have been planning for a safe and secure election for months,” said Coordinator of Elections Mark Goins. As part of our commitment to safety, the state is providing masks, social distancing resources, gloves, gowns and face shields for poll officials.”

Tennesseans can find early voting and Election Day polling locations, view and mark sample ballots and much more with the GoVoteTN app or online at GoVoteTN.com. You can download the GoVoteTN app for free in the App Store or Google Play. Reviewing your sample ballot and deciding how you will vote will reduce your time at the polls.

Voters who have moved within the county or have had a name change since the last time they voted can update their registration online at GoVoteTN.com. By making sure your registration is up to date, you can shorten the time you will need to spend at your polling location.

Tennesseans voting early or on Election Day should remember to bring valid photo identification with them to the polls. A driver’s license or photo ID issued by the Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security, by Tennessee state government or by the federal government are acceptable even if they are expired. College student IDs are not acceptable.

More information about what types of ID are acceptable can be found on GoVoteTN.com or by calling the Division of Elections toll-free 1-877-850-4959.

The Thunder Radio political debate will be held at 6 p.m. Thursday, July 16.

Unlike past forums hosted by Thunder Radio where attendance in person was possible, due to COVID-19 concerns and limitations for crowds, this year Thunder Radio has decided it would be best to host the forum on the radio.
You can hear the debate at 107.9 FM and 1320 AM, as well as stream on www.thunder1320.com and on your smartphone with the Manchester Go smartphone app. Those with Facebook can watch via Facebook live.

Candidates for Manchester Mayor will be on the air taking questions from 6 -6:35 p.m. on July 16. Meanwhile, candidates for Manchester aldermen will follow. The phone lines will be open during the debate for the public to ask questions by calling 931-728-1320 or 931-728-3526.

A female convenience store clerk was wounded and the alleged assailant is dead after an altercation at a convenience store in Monteagle Saturday.

The store clerk at a Marathon service station was shot in the abdomen. She was transported to a Chattanooga hospital and reports have her listed in stable condition.

According to the Grundy County Herald, the assailant was located by law enforcement a few hundred yards away. He was deceased from what authorities believe is a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Identification is not yet available.

The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation has been asked to conduct an investigation into the incident.

The Manchester, Tennessee Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 10904 has again been awarded both AllState and the coveted All-American Post titles. They were awarded All-American Post for the second year in a row; and All-State Post for the third year in a row.

The VFW All-American Award goes to top posts globally and recognizes posts achieving the most for veterans, their families and the communities they serve. They are considered the best of the best.

Competing against 646 posts of similar size, a post must be in the top 25. Only 5 of the 91 VFW posts in Tennessee received the title. Scoring is based on a variety of criteria: including new membership enrollments, community involvement and service to local veterans. VFW Manchester finished in 12th place, putting them in the top half of award recipients.

VFW Post Commander, retired Navy Chief Kim King, said, “I’m proud and honored to work with veterans, and their families, who continue to serve our country and our community in a variety of ways. I feel truly blessed to be a part of an organization that provides so much, is 100% voluntary and achieves so much.”

For more information and to stay current on the latest local VFW news, click here.