Josh Peterson

A year-end spike in road trip travel due to the holidays helped to push the national average more expensive on the week – up four cents to $2.58. Compared to last month, the national average is the same price, but 31 cents more expensive than the end of 2018.

“The majority of states saw gas prices increase in the last week – some by as much as a nickel to a dime, but any spikes in gas prices that motorists are seeing will be short-lived,” said Jeanette Casselano, AAA spokesperson. “AAA expects gas prices to decrease following the holidays.”

In 2019, the national gas price average was $2.61, which is ten cents cheaper than the 2018 average of $2.71.

In Tennessee, average price for a gallon of regular unleaded is $2.32 as of Monday. That’s 31 cents higher than last year at this time. 

Average price in Coffee County is $2.27 as of Monday, but some local stations had prices as high as $2.49.

A Bedford County man has passed away after what appears to be a logging accident in Beersheba Springs Saturday. 

According to reports, Chris Wren, 52, was clearing property near Backbone Rd and a tree feel on him while he was cutting. The tree knocked Wren down an embankment. 

The Grundy County Sheriff’s Department is investigating. 

Wren was a captain with the Bedford County EMS since 2006.

With the upcoming new year comes a host of new laws in various states. But a new federal law actually took effect last week. 

Anyone under the age of 21 can no longer legally buy cigarettes, cigars or any other tobacco products in the United States. 

This new law was enacted last week by congress and also applies to electronic cigarettes and vaping products. 

This was part of a massive spending bill that passed congress and was signed by President Donald Trump on December 20. 

Before the move, roughly one-third of states already restricted tobacco sales to those 21 or older. In Tennessee, the legal age for purchase was 18. A spokesman with the FDA said the law is in effect immediately. 

Unemployment dropped in more than one-third of Tennessee’s 95 counties in November, according to newly released data from the Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development (TDLWD).

Rates decreased in 38 counties, remained the same in 24 counties, and unemployment increased in 33 counties during the month.

The new data shows there are 91 counties across the state with rates less than 5 percent and only four counties with rates greater than 5 percent.

In Coffee County, the rate for November was 3.1 percent, which is up slightly from the 2.9 percent reported in October and the 3.0 percent reported in November of 2018. 

Williamson County has the state’s lowest unemployment rate at 2.2 percent.

Davidson County has the second-lowest unemployment rate for the month at 2.3.

Cheatham and Rutherford counties both have a rate of 2.4 percent. 

Clay County experienced an increase in unemployment, giving the county the state’s highest unemployment rate. Its rate jumped from 5.2 percent in October to 5.9 percent in November.

Thunder Radio reported to you last week that Winchester Police were looking for runaway juvenile Jordan Harrington, age 17, who was reported missing from his home on Christmas day. Authorities reported Saturday that Harrington has been found safely. 

According to Tullahoma City officials, the new Tullahoma Police Department construction will total about $5.3 million. 

Nashville company American Constructors won the bid for the project and is expected to begin work on the new police department in January. 

Sportsmen and Businessmen’s Charitable Organization has awarded over $20,000 to local educators across Coffee County, Manchester City, and Tullahoma City Schools through its Educational Enrichment Grant opportunity. SBCO’s Educational Enrichment Grant encourages local educators to submit innovative, outside-the -box opportunities for their students and schools that may encompass STEM, literacy, physical activity, social/emotional, to fine arts or career readiness. “This year’s selected recipients, through a highly competitive grant application cycle, represents our continued interest in and support of the outstanding work educators do for their students and our community,” said Carter Sain, SBCO President. This year’s grant recipients are as follows:

Coffee County Schools:

Coffee County Central High School:

Archery in Physical Education – David Martin

Biology Classroom Library — Tish Jaco

Journalism Online Newspaper — Katie Duke

In Class Texts for Foreign Language — Kaya Knox

Coffee County Middle School:

Trauma-Informed Classroom Calm Corners — Lana Creek

After School STEM Club — Deb Wimberely

Deerfield Elementary School:

Trauma-Informed Classroom Calm Corners — Alisha Vaughn

East Coffee Elementary School:

Pebble Path Early Childhood Playground — Lindsey Tucker

STEAM Bins — Wendy Manning

Hickerson Elementary School:

STEM Collaborative — Angela Ridner

Hillsboro Elementary School:

Trauma-Informed Classroom Calm Corners — Connie Heatherly

STEM Classroom Kits — Donna Harryman

New Union Elementary School:

STEM Night Activities — Michele Howell

North Coffee Elementary School:

Literacy Manipulatives — Kerry Pearson

Manchester City Schools:

College Street Elementary School:

SkyDome Planetarium — Allison Beachboard

Westwood Elementary School:

Literacy Texts for 1st Grade — Kelley Felice

Literacy Classroom Libraries — Amanda Phillips & Kari Lawson

Light Table Manipulative Enhancement — Lesli Sherrill

Light Table Manipulative Enhancement — Hilary Statum

STEAM Activities — Michelle Husted

STEM Activities — Misty Crosslin & Megan Walling

Classroom Library — Wendi Patton

Westwood Middle School:

– Classroom Library — Laura Freeze

– Art Easels — Will Pannell

Tullahoma City Schools:

– Sensory Room — April Norris

Robert E. Lee Elementary School:

– Peace Corners — Mary Gilbert

Since 1984, the Sportsmen & Businessmen’s Charitable Organization (SBCO) has been serving the Coffee County community through various philanthropic efforts. Those efforts include financial assistance to those in need with health, medical, dental, vision, food, education, transportation, shelter, and other expenses. In addition, we have successfully implemented several programs directed at assisting the children in our community.

For questions regarding this program or learning more about how to support the organization, please contact us at (931) 728-5048 or via email sbco1986@gmail.com