Josh Peterson

Last week was the first for early voting in Coffee County for the March 3 primary – an election that includes presidential primary candidates. Locally, this election includes candidates for general sessions judge in Coffee County, a seat left vacant by the sudden passing of Judge Tim Brock in November of 2019.

Early voting began Wednesday, Feb. 12, and from Wednesday through Saturday, 890 voters cast their ballots in early voting, according to the Coffee County Election Commission. There are 32,075 registered voters in Coffee County.

Of those 890 voters, 680 voted in the Republican primary and 210 voted in the Democratic primary. Only those voting in the Republican primary will be able to select from one of the four judge candidates, as that is a Republican primary race. The winner of that primary will be the winner of the seat, as there are no  Democratic candidates.

Early voting continues through February 25, with election day on March 3. Those wishing to vote early can do so in Manchester at the Coffee County Election Commission office, located at 1329 McArthur St. Suite 6, from 8 am. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday or 8:30- noon on Saturday. Voters in Tullahoma can vote from 9 until 4:30 Monday through Friday or 9 a.m. until noon this Saturday, Feb. 22. If you wait until election day you will need to vote at your assigned precinct. Hours for voting on March 3 are 8 a.m. until 7 p.m.

For additional information, please contact the Coffee County Election Office at (931) 723-5103  

The 2020 Census is quickly approaching across the nation – and now is a good time to remind everyone about important dates regarding this year’s census and how it can be completed.

Beginning around the time frame of March 12-20, households will begin receiving official Census Bureau mail that includes detailed information on how to respond to the 2020 Census either online, by phone or by mail. It is important to note, according to Census officials, mail sent to your home will not be addressed directly to anyone individual, but instead will be addressed to the “household of” or “resident of.”

“This is the first Census where you can self respond online,” explained Tia Zanghi, partnership specialist with the Census. “We are hoping the more people self-respond online, the more accurate it will be.”

April 1 is Census Day nationwide. By this day, every home will have received an invitation to participate in the 2020 Census. Once your invitation arrives, you should respond for your home either online, by phone or by mail. Your official Census mail will include a code to use when you call or login online to complete your census. However, the code is not required, only your correct street address.

 “You will receive a postcard invitation … a very basic general letter,” explained Zanghi. “It has a unique code. You type that into the website and that’s how you can complete online. But you do not have to have that unique code. You can actually do it with just your address.”

Zanghi added that the invitation will have a phone number to call and complete the Census over the phone.

“After so long, you will receive the paper questionnaire through the mail if you haven’t yet completed online or over the phone,” Zanghi said.

Other dates of note:

March 30-April 1 – Census Bureau will count people who are experiencing homelessness over these three days. Census Bureau counts people in shelters, at soup kitchens and mobile food fans, on the streets and at non-sheltered, outdoor locations.

April  – Census takers begin visiting college students who live on campus, people living in senior centers and others who live with large groups.

May through July – Census takers will start visiting homes that have not responded to the 2020 Census through mail, online or over the phone to ensure everyone is accounted for.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, about $675 billion in federal money will be distributed based on the census data compiled, meaning ensuring a complete count in Coffee County is a top priority for local officials.

For those concerned with privacy, the U.S. Census is completely confidential and bound by Title 13.

Title 13 protects private information from being published and under the U.S. Code, census workers take a lifetime oath of confidentiality as well.

By law, census responses cannot be used by any of the following agencies: The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), The Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

Those who violate Title 13 can face a federal prison sentence of up to five years, a fine of $250,000, or both.

 “Your information is completely confidential,” reassured Zanghi. “It is protected by law. For 72 years your info is completely locked up. Whenever we submit this information to the president it will be in statistical form only”

Tullahoma Police Department is asking for the public’s help in identifying a person of interest. This male subject is a person of interest regarding an incident on Monday, Feb. 17. According to police, he was observed taking an Apple iPhone 8. If you have any information to the identify of this person, contact TPD detective Johnny Gore at 931-455-0530 ext. 133 or email jgore@tullahomatn.gov.

If you purchased a Harbor Breeze 48-inch Santa Ana Ceiling Fan from a Lowe’s Store or online at lowes.com between May 2014 through January 2016, that fan may be subject to a nationwide recall.

About 70,000 units were sold, according to United States Consumer Reports. The unit has been recalled because there are reports of the fan’s blade holders breaking and allowing the blade to be ejected from the fan.

There have been over 200 reports of the fan blade ejecting from the fan, including 10 reports of the fan blade striking consumers. This fan has two, dark walnut fan blades, brushed nickel blade arm holders and a frosted white glass globe.

For more information, call toll-free to 1-888-434-3797 between 7 a.m. and 4 p.m., email recall@fanimation.com or visit www.fanimation.com and click recalls.