A complete analysis of the January 2020 Tennessee labor situation is not currently available due to the March 3 tornado in Nashville. Once the Department’s offices reopen, the analysis will be posted online

The Tennessee gas price average has decreased by five cents this week amid concerns about the coronavirus and crude oil prices hitting a 4-year low. The Tennessee Gas Price average is now $2.16 which is three cents less than one month ago and 13 cents less than one year ago. Tennessee is the 10th least expensive market in the nation.

Locally in Manchester, gas prices could be found as low as $1.96 per gallon of regular unleaded on Monday afternoon.

“For the third week, U.S. gasoline stocks decreased while demand increased. Generally, growing demand amid declining stocks causes increases at the pump, but crude oil prices have dipped to four-year lows, signaling spring could be cheaper at the pump,” said Megan Cooper, spokesperson, AAA – The Auto Club Group.

National Gas Prices

The national gas price average is cheaper on the week (-5 cents), month (-5 cents) and year (-9 cents) – giving the vast majority of motorists savings at the pump. At $2.38, the national gas price average has not been this cheap since last February.

National Oil Market Dynamics

At the close of Friday’s formal trading session on the NYMEX, WTI decreased by $4.62 to settle at $41.28. Crude prices plunged at the end of last week after OPEC and other major crude producers, including Russia, failed to set a new production reduction agreement amid mounting global crude demand concerns caused by COVID-19. The rapid decline in crude prices has increased market concerns that an oil price war may breakout this week between major crude producers, contributing to further economic troubles worldwide as crude prices continue to drop dramatically. Moreover, the market continues to worry that the impact of COVID-19 will lead to a reduction in global economic growth and global travel, with crude demand expected to decrease. Until it appears that the international public health threat from the virus decreases, crude prices are likely to continue facing significant downward pressure.

Coffee County Children’s Advocacy Center is celebrating 15 years of helping children in our area and there will be a party – you are all invited.
The 15-year celebration Party with a Purpose will be held Thursday, April 2 at the Manchester-Coffee County Conference Center. Tickets are $50 per person, there will be silent auction and social hour beginning at 6 p.m. and dinner and live auction at 7 p.m. Following the auction there will be a DJ, games and more fun. All money raised goes to support the advocacy center and its mission of helping children in Coffee County. The advocacy center is a 501c3 organization.
For more information or to purchase tickets you can call 931-723-8888 to reserve your tickets, or click here for more info.

The full Coffee County commission is set to meet at 6 p.m. Tuesday, March 10 at the Coffee County Administrative Plaza, which is located at 1329 McArthur St. and everyone is welcome to attend the public meeting.

On the agenda are a few hot-button resolutions, including one resolution rejecting relocation of refugees in Coffee County, and another resolution declaring Coffee County a second amendment sanctuary county in Tennessee.

 BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS

COFFEE COUNTY ADMINISTRATIVE PLAZA

MARCH 10, 2020 @ 6:00 p.m.

A G E N D A  (#2)

 Sheriff Proclaims Commission Open for Business

Invocation

Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag

Roll Call

Approve agenda.

Public Comments

Review and approval of the minutes of previous meeting.

Resolution of Memorial, Sympathy and Commendation

Elections, Appointments and Confirmations

Notaries

Other

Unfinished Business

Planning Commission Appointments

New Business

Resolution 2020-05 – Resolution rejecting relocation of refugees in Coffee County.

Resolution 2020-07 – Resolution of the Governing Body of Coffee County, Tennessee declaring Coffee County, Tennessee, a Second Amendment Sanctuary County.

Resolution 2020-08 – A Resolution encouraging the support of legislation which directs TennCare to reimburse ground ambulance providers at a rate not less than the current Medicare fee schedule and adding funding to the 2020-2021 State Budget.

Other

*Report of standing committee and action thereon by the commission.

*Report of special committees and action thereon by the commission.

Statements & Announcements

Adjournment

(Above left, Manchester Police Department chief Mark Yother and assistant chief Adam Floied spent time assisting Cookeville Police Department over the weekend. Right photo, storm damage in Putnam County. Photos provided.)

Manchester Police Department has now sent officers to assist the Cookeville Police Department during day and night shifts, as that area recovers from a deadly EF-4 tornado that hit the area Tuesday morning, March 3, leaving 18 dead in Putnam County, and many more injured and displaced from their homes.

Manchester Police Chief Mark Yother and Assistant Chief Adam Floied were among those who traveled to Cookeville over the weekend, along with other officers, working 12 hour shifts.

Meanwhile, the Coffee County Sheriff’s Department continued to send crews to the area over the weekend and will do so this week in order to help secure damaged areas from loiters and assist with traffic control.

Duck River Electric sent crews to Wilson County last week to assist in the reconstruction of the electric service area there, which is reported to be the hardest hit service area in Middle Tennessee, with an estimated 300 poles broken.
If you want to donate items to tornado relief, there are multiple ways to do that right here in Manchester.

Unity Medical Center and Manchester Rotary Club have teamed up to coordinate multiple drop off locations and have extended the time to make drop offs.

Items sought are peanut butter crackers, granola bars, snack packs, pop tarts, juice boxes, water bottles, individual packs of food, Clorox wipes, Hand Sanitizer wipes, tarps, blankets, flash lights and hygiene items. You can drop off any of these items at Unity Medical Center, the Coffee County Board of Education, First National Bank of Manchester, or the Manchester Recreation Center. The last day to drop off items is Friday, March 13.

Also, you can take the following items to the Manchester Fire Department: grocery gift cards, kid friendly foods, batteries, diapers of all sizes, disposable wipes, baby formula, baby food and hygiene products. These items should be dropped off by the end of the day Tuesday, March 10.

All three area school systems – Coffee County Schools, Manchester City Schools and Tullahoma City Schools – released a joint statement Friday afternoon concerning the coronavirus and steps being taken to prevent any potential spread. The statement is as follows:

According to Centers for Disease Control, there is currently no vaccine to prevent Coronavirus disease. The best way to prevent illness is to avoid being exposed to this virus. It is important that we operate on a system of facts in cases such as this and not let fear or social media drive the discussion and decision-making process.

We are making concerted efforts with our custodial staffs each day to wipe down all furniture, door knobs and other areas with which students and teachers come in contact. It is also important for teachers and families to discuss basic hygiene practices with their students to prevent spread of germs in our schools. Here are some general helpful tips from the CDC we can utilize to help ensure personal health:

*Wash your hands often with soap and water. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand rub.
*If you are sick with flu symptoms, CDC recommends that you stay home for at least 24 hours after your fever is gone except to get medical care or for other necessities.
*Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth. Germs spread this way.
*Cough into the sleeve of your shirt or use tissues that are properly disposed of after use.
*Follow CDC’s recommendations for using a facemask.
*CDC does not recommend that people who are well wear a facemask to protect themselves from respiratory diseases, such as coronavirus.
*Facemasks should be used by people who show symptoms of coronavirus to help prevent the spread of the disease to others. The use of facemasks is also crucial for health workers and people who are taking care of someone in close settings.
We will continue to closely monitor the situation.

Manchester Parks and Recreation will soon begin installation of a new playground near the old Riverview School.
The new playground, which is designed for children 13 and older, is described by parks director Bonnie Gamble as “more of an obstacle course/American Ninja type of area.”

Gamble cited the need for a play area for older youth, who get bored with playground equipment for smaller children, which leads to that equipment not being used properly.

The cost of the project is $200,902, which is fully funded by a Diabetes Initiative Grant from the Tennessee Department of Health and will not use any local tax dollars. The Manchester Board of Mayor and Aldermen approved the contract with Recreational Concepts LLC for purchase and installation of the equipment at last week’s regularly scheduled board meeting.

The playground will also include artificial turf grass beneath the equipment. Gamble said installation date is currently set for late June.

Gamble said the project is the first step of developing the area near Riverview as a neighborhood park. The city received $450,000 in grant money that must be spent over three years.

(Below is a rendering of the equipment to be installed at Riverview school)

We have an expanded story that Thunder Radio News first brought to you last week, expanding on the desire for Duck River Electric Membership Corporation to upgrade the city of Manchester’s 1,500 plus streetlights to LED.
President and CEO Scott Spence and Electrical Engineer Chip Pinion reviewed the current plan and future options and benefits of LED lighting.

Manchester Mayor Lonnie Norman accepted DREMC’s request to discuss LEDs and hear a more detailed study of what the cost savings would be.

“We look forward to working with DREMC on evaluating how we can convert our current street lighting to energy-efficient LED lighting,” said Norman. “The City of Manchester is committed to helping the community become more energy-efficient.”

Last week, DREMC and the town of Normandy in Bedford County unofficially entered into an agreement to replace 39 streetlights with state-of-the-art LED fixtures. Normandy Mayor Charles Whitaker said, “It’s a no brainer,” after listening to the LED proposal.

During the presentation to Manchester aldermen on Tuesday, March 3, Pinion explained that LEDs are better quality “clean light” and are less wasteful as LEDs do not disperse light into the sky where it’s not needed.
“With our program, no upfront spending is required, and DREMC maintains inventory to make repairs as needed,” explained Pinion.

Pinion also noted, “DREMC will provide approved project designs to meet all lighting standards and requirements of the Tennessee Department of Transportation on state roads.”

“Commitment to community is a core value for DREMC,” shared Spence. “What’s best for our members in Manchester is what’s important to us; partnering with the Manchester Board of Aldermen on this LED lighting project helps fulfill this mission we both have of serving our community.”

Manchester officials invited DREMC to share more details of the LED lighting upgrade with the Manchester Board of Aldermen’s Street and Street Lighting Committee before action is taken to move forward with the project.

Manchester authorities are asking for the public’s help locating a runaway juvenile. On Friday, March 6, Abigail Raider did not return home from school. She was last seen wearing a neon shirt, dark blue jeans and white Air Force Ones Nike Shoes. She also wears black framed eyeglasses. According to Rader’s mom, she could be in the Smyrna area. Abigail Raider is a white female with brown eyes and brown hair, standing approximately 5’7” and weighing 120 pounds. You can see photos of her on our website. If you know any information regarding Abigail, contact the Manchester Police Department immediately at 931-728-9555.