Josh Peterson

If you are planning to travel for the Thanksgiving holiday, gas prices here in Tennessee are lower than last year at this time, if only slightly.

The average price per gallon of regular unleaded in Tennessee is $2.30 as of Sunday afternoon. That is 29 cents below the national average and 4 cents cheaper than the same month last year.

In Manchester, prices are even lower, with the lowest price at $2.22 for a gallon of regular unleaded as of Sunday afternoon. While prices aren’t much lower than last year, we can all be thankful they aren’t higher!

If you do plan to travel this week, be safe and enjoy the holiday!

Now is a good time to start planning your visit to the annual Trees of Christmas display in Manchester. The display, presented by the Dig N Dream Garden Club, begins next week and runs Dec. 2 through Dec. 8 and it is free to the public. This year’s theme for the trees is “color.” 

If you want to attend, hours are noon to 6 p.m. on Monday, Dec. 2, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 3 through Saturday, Dec. 7, and noon to 5 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 8. If you would like to schedule for a large group or a school tour, contact Judy Skelton at 931-728-4127. This is the 40th year for the Trees of Christmas. It is held at the Ada Wright Center at Fred Deadman Park off of N. Woodland St. in Manchester. 

Mon, December 2nd-Noon-6 PM

Tue, December 3rd-9 AM-6 PM

Wed, December 4th-9 AM-6 PM

Thu, December 5th-9 AM-6 PM

Fri, December 6th-9 AM-6 PM

Sat, December 7th-9 AM-6 PM

Sun, December 8th-Noon-5 PM

We have an update to a story we first brought to you on Thunder Radio Wednesday night regarding the human skull that authorities found in Manchester late Wednesday afternoon.

As of Thursday afternoon, the Manchester Police Department and  an anthropology team led by Dr. Hugh Berryman with MTSU had not found any additional human remains in the area that the skull was discovered, according to Coffee County District Attorney General Craig Northcott. 

On Wednesday afternoon at approximately 5 p.m., authorities were searching for someone in relation to a hit-and-run traffic incident. During a foot pursuit of that subject, Manchester Police Department ended up in a wooded area off of Skinner Flat Rd. Behind the old Pappy’s Restaurant (also know as the old Shoney’s building). While walking back to their cars after not apprehending the original suspect, officers stumbled upon what appeared to be a human skull. 

The scene was secured for the night and an anthropology team and state medical examiner’s office were on hand Thursday to thoroughly search the area. The Thursday search yielded no additional results.

“There was no obvious signs of cause of death but we are still awaiting a full review and report of the skull by the [Medical Examiner’s] office,” said Northcott.

Manchester Police Department is the primary agency handling the investigation. Assisting in the search were Tullahoma Police Department, Coffee County Sheriff’s Department, Coffee County Emergency Management Services, Medical Examiner’s Office, MTSU Anthropology and Tennessee Homeland Security.

According to Northcott, the search has ended.

“The skull has been taken to the medical examiner’s office with hopes of identifying the deceased,” added Northcott. “We will attempt to identify the remains through DNA and/or dental records from missing person reports in the area.”

Anyone with information should contact MPD chief investigator Brandon Tomberlin at btomberlin@cityofmanchestertn.com or 931-728-2099.

Manchester Police Department is searching for a woman who allegedly broke into a car last week, took a purse and then purchased prepaid Visa cards.

According to MPD, the female in question broke into the car at the Coffee County Funeral Chapel. The suspect then went to the Manchester Walgreens and two Dollar General stores inside the city limits and purchased prepaid Visa cards with the break-in victim’s debit card. According to MPD, the crime has totaled nearly $3,000 in damage and lost funds. 

According to MPD, the same suspect has committed similar crimes in other areas of the state, including Smyrna and Tullahoma, as well as northern Alabama. 

Anyone with information about this suspect is encouraged to call investigator Trey Adcock at 931-728-2099 ext. 1515. 

Manchester Police Department is seeking the public’s help to identify a subject who was allegedly involved in a shoplifting incident at the Manchester Walmart. 

This subject is a while female with what appears to be blonde hair, wearing glasses and driving a blue SUV.

Anyone with information about this female subject is encouraged to contact investigator Trey Adcock at 931-728-2099.

By Tennessee Public News Service

A school system in Tennessee is being sued for freedom of religion. Here is Nadia Ramlagan with Tennessee Public News service with that story:

The American Civil Liberties Union has filed a freedom of religion lawsuit on behalf of parents whose children attend Smith County public schools. 

The lawsuit alleges that school officials and teachers consistently incorporated Christian prayer into school events. 

Thomas Castelli, legal director of the ACLU of Tennessee, says if students choose to pray in school, that’s protected by the Constitution. The issue, he says, is when prayer or promotion of a single religion is mandated or encouraged by school authorities.

“The teachers were basically proselytizing to students by giving them individual Bible verses or by suggesting that they needed to turn their life over to Christ – things like that that would be considered proselytizing to students that would be considered inappropriate,” he states.

Castelli says the ACLU also will be filing a motion for a preliminary injunction asking Smith County school officials to stop the religious behavior while the court makes a decision. 

The Smith County School district maintains that it provides a welcoming environment for all students.

The two families that are plaintiffs in the case allege that school officials have allowed the distribution and display of Bibles during classes. The families also say Bible verses are posted in hallways, prayers are broadcast through loudspeakers at school sporting events, and a large cross is painted on the wall of a school athletic facility. 

Castelli says this type of religious promotion had been occurring for several years. 

“So this isn’t again, when something happened last week and we’re filing a lawsuit,” he explains. “This is really about just something that’s been going on for quite awhile that these parents and these children have been experiencing.”

Castelli points out that decisions about whether and how to practice religion should be left to families and faith communities, not the public school system.

“So I understand that a lot of people might look at this and say, ‘This is just our culture, this is just the way things are,’” he allows. “But I think the importance of the Constitution is that it protects everyone. “

Four high school students in the case say they are atheists.

Friday, Nov. 22 is the final day to register a float for the Manchester Annual Christmas Parade. You can find registration packets by clicking here. You can also visit the Manchester Recreation Center at 557 N. Woodland St. The annual parade is next Saturday, Nov. 30 at 6:30 p.m. There will be pre-parade entertainment on the downtown square beginning at 5 p.m. and a tree lighting at 7 p.m. 

Manchester Police Department is seeking the public’s help to identify a subject who was allegedly involved in a shoplifting incident at the Manchester Walmart.

Anyone with information about this female subject is encouraged to contact investigator Trey Adcock at 931-728-2099.

Manchester Police Department is searching for a woman who allegedly broke into a car last week, took a purse and then purchased prepaid Visa cards.

According to MPD, the female in question broke into the car at the Coffee County Funeral Chapel. The suspect then went to the Manchester Walgreens and two Dollar General stores inside the city limits and purchased prepaid Visa cards with the break-in victim’s debit card. According to MPD, the crime has totaled nearly $3,000 in damage and lost funds.

According to MPD, the same suspect has committed similar crimes in other areas of the state, including Smyrna and Tullahoma, as well as northern Alabama.

Anyone with information about this suspect is encouraged to call investigator Trey Adcock at 931-728-2099 ext. 1515.