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Tennessee unemployment remains at 3.4 percent
Tennessee’s unemployment rate held steady in October. The new rate of 3.4 percent matches the previous month’s rate, according to data from the Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development (TDLWD).
While Tennessee’s jobless rate remained the same between September and October, over the past year, Tennessee’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate experienced a slight uptick from 3.3 percent to 3.4 percent.
The current rate is still very close to the all-time low of 3.2 percent, which the state recorded earlier this year.
“Month after month, we continue to see Tennessee’s unemployment rate hold steady, very close to the all-time historic low, and that’s great news,” said TDLWD Commissioner Jeff McCord. “Even with unemployment at its current level, we are mindful that not all sectors are the same and will continue to work with individuals who need assistance in transitioning employment.”
Between October 2018 and October of this year, Tennessee’s nonfarm employment increased by 38,900 jobs. The most significant increases occurred in the leisure/hospitality, professional/business services, and trade/transportation/utilities sectors. County by county numbers will be available later this week.
Open enrollment for ACA underway; state approves rate decreases
The Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance (TDCI) reminds consumers that Open Enrollment for health insurance coverage in 2020 on the Federally Facilitated Marketplace (FFM) begins Friday, Nov. 1, 2019. Tennesseans have until December 15, 2019, to apply for or re-enroll in coverage for the 2020 calendar year.
Consumers are reminded that three of Tennessee’s five insurance carriers have expanded their coverage areas for 2020. Additionally, TDCI approved premium rate decreases for just the second time in the Affordable Care Act marketplace era.
Sixty five of Tennessee’s 95 counties will have more than one choice of federally facilitated plans. The primary option for Coffee County is Blue Cross Blue Shield of Tennessee. Those in Franklin and Grundy counties will also have choices of Celtic and Bright, while those in Rutherford County will be able to also have Cigna and Oscar plans to shop from in addition to BCBS.
Carriers and coverage areas on the individual market are as follows:
BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee. Statewide coverage includes adding the Memphis and Nashville areas.
Bright Health. Continuing coverage in Knoxville, Memphis and Nashville areas.
Celtic/Ambetter Insurance. Coverage expansion into Nashville and Knoxville areas with continuing coverage in Chattanooga and Memphis areas.
Cigna. Coverage expansion into Chattanooga and Jackson with continuing coverage in Knoxville, Nashville, Memphis, and Tri-Cities.
Oscar Health. Coverage continues in Nashville and Memphis.
Though rate decreases bring down premium prices in rating areas with more competition, an individual’s out-of-pocket premium costs depend on several factors, including the amount of federal funding for premium assistance (subsidies) available in the state. Consumers should contact licensed insurance agents or company representatives in considering 2020 plan coverage.
To assist consumers with enrollment or network questions, TDCI has posted copies of the carriers’ plans to our website, created a 2020 insurance carrier map as well as an informational video .
THS drama teacher resigns amid investigation
Tullahoma High School drama teacher Aaron Miller has resigned from his position amid an investigation launched by the school system at the end of October, according to a release sent by the school system Friday, Nov. 15.
“After a full and lengthy investigation by THS administration into parents and student concerns, Aaron Miller has agreed to resign his employment with the Tullahoma City Schools,” interim director of schools Scott Hargrove said in the statement.
Tullahoma Schools and Miller entered into a severance agreement on Friday, Nov. 15 with a backdated resignation date of Oct. 28. Miller will continue to receive pay through the end of 2019 and also receive a full release of any and all claims from Miller.
“I am required by Tennessee law to file a Director’s Report Regarding Licensed Teacher with the Tennessee Department of Education addressing Aaron Miller’s resignation and the investigation by THS staff,” Hargrove added.
It remains unclear what complaints sparked the investigation and what the nature of the investigation was.
Miller released a statement to The Tullahoma News Saturday, which reads:
I’d like to say that it was my honor to serve students as an educator in Tullahoma City Schools,” Miller’s statement reads. “My family and I love this community. Professionally, it is time I move forward in another direction. It was a difficult decision, but one that I felt was in the best interest of students, the school and myself. Teachers, Coaches and Administrators frequently move in our profession for career opportunities. My family and I will forever be grateful for the community support and we wish the students and faculty the very best moving froward. I would like to thank Mr. Hargrove, the administration, and the school board for the opportunity to teach here. I am looking forward to the next phase in my career.”
Former public works director files suit against Manchester
After serving as director of the Manchester Public Works Department for over 12 years, Brent Carter was demoted to work at the wastewater treatment plant in December of 2018.
Now Carter is suing the city of Manchester, saying he was given the option of being terminated or accepting a demotion by Mayor Lonnie Norman when he voiced concerns to aldermen that the mayor was pushing his public works department to purchase things from businesses with political connections to Mayor Norman.
“Due to pending litigation I am unable to comment on the specifics of the complaint,” Norman told Thunder Radio News in an emailed statement. “It is the city’s position that we will vigorously defend the allegations in the complaint.”
The lawsuit was filed in federal court by Carter and his attorney, Drew Justice on November 13. Gerald Ewell is the attorney for the city of Manchester.
In the lawsuit, Carter claims that once the mayor learned that Carter had purchased supplies at a business not connected with Norman, the mayor would call Carter and urge him to “buy local,” which, according to Carter, meant to make purchases at businesses that were politically connected to Norman and his friends and not at businesses that offered better pricing.
Carter also claims in his lawsuit that Norman threatened to fire him if he spoke with any aldermen about decisions, which is part of the basis for Carter’s litigation. Carter claims the city violated his first amendment and Tennessee Public Employee Political Freedom Act without due process. Carter’s suit claims that by threatening to fire him and then demoting him in retaliation for his acts of speaking to an elected official, the city of Manchester violated Carter’s PEPFA rights.
The PEPFA says that it shall be unlawful for a public employer to discipline or discriminate against employees who exercised his or her rights to communicate with an elected official.
Carter’s lawsuit claims that he eventually took his concerns to then alderman Cheryl Swan (who did not seek reelection in 2018). After bringing concerns to Swan in August of 2018, Carter was told in December of 2018 by Norman that Carter had the option of being demoted or fired. He moved to the wastewater department on Dec. 4. This in turn meant a $25,000 cut in pay.
Carter is seeking back pay, front pay, loss of retirement and health benefits, compensatory time off, punitive damages, attorney’s fees and treble damages.
As of the filing of the lawsuit, Carter remains employed with the city. He was first hired as public works director in 2006.
Probation officer arrested for allegedly having relationship with probationer
An investigation by Special Agents with the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation has resulted in the indictment and arrest of an Altamont woman on charges of official misconduct.
At the request of 12th District Attorney General J. Michael Taylor, on July 24th, TBI Agents began investigating Tara Van Hooser-Prater, a probation officer with the State of Tennessee. During the course of the investigation, Agents developed information that indicated that from May through July, Van Hooser-Prater had engaged in a sexual relationship with a probationer who was on active probation in Grundy County.
On November 12th, the Grundy County Grand Jury returned indictments charging Tara Deanna Van Hooser-Prater (DOB 02/21/1981) with two counts of Official Misconduct. Van Hooser-Prater was arrested on Wednesday and booked into the Grundy County Jail on a $7,500 bond.
H&R Block Student of the Week – Braxton White
Join us at Thunder Radio and Rosalyn Partin at the H&R Block and say congratulations to our student of the week – Braxton White.
Braxton is a junior at Coffee County Central High School in Mrs. Carney’s home room. He is the son of Baxter and Leslie White.
Braxton is a member of student government, Future Business Leaders of America and DECA. In his spare time, he enjoys hanging out with his friends.
He plans to pursue a career in the entertainment field, and would like to attend Lipscomb University.
Rosalyn Partin, owner of the Manchester H&R Block, has been inspired to recognize great kids in our community all through hockey season. What does hockey season have to do with our local students? Well, H&R Block gives each Student of the Week a set of Nashville Predators Hockey tickets, a commemorative plaque, as well as a special letter of recognition. Join H&R block and say congratulations to Braxton White!
Grundy Co. man charged with 2nd degree murder
An investigation by Special Agents with the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation and deputies with the Grundy County Sheriff’s Department has resulted in the indictment and arrest of a Coalmont man, on a charge of second degree murder.
At the request of 12th District Attorney General J. Michael Taylor, on February 10th, TBI Agents, along with Grundy County deputies, began investigating a homicide that occurred on Lockhart Town Road in Coalmont. Bradford Orion Meeks (DOB 07/21/1980) had been shot during an altercation, and was pronounced deceased at a regional hospital. During the course of the investigation, Agents developed information that identified George Byers, an acquaintance of the victim, as the individual responsible for the death of Mr. Meeks.
On November 12th, the Grundy County Grand Jury returned an indictment charging George David Byers, Jr., (DOB 01/28/1955) with one count of Second Degree Murder. Byers was arrested Wednesday, and booked into the Grundy County Jail on a $75,000 bond.
Tullahoma student hit by car on way to school
A 13-year old male student was crossing Ovoca Rd. on his way to School Monday morning in Tullahoma when he was hit by a vehicle. The unidentified student was flown to Vanderbilt Children’s Hospital for treatment of his injuries, which are not expected to be life threatening.
One lane of traffic was stopped at a traffic light, but traffic in the opposite direction was not stopped when the student apparently crossed the stopped cars and into the path of oncoming traffic.
Mobile food pantry is in Manchester Friday
Coffee County and Manchester City Schools are partnering together to host a Mobile Food Pantry for families in need on Friday, November 15th at First Baptist Church of Manchester. A Mobile Food Pantry is a large scale food distribution in which food items are delivered via Second Harvest Food Bank to a designated location for immediate distribution to those in need.
“We, Coffee County and Manchester City Schools, are excited to offer this opportunity for our families. By working together, this allows us to ensure we are serving every family in need,” said Taylor Rayfield, Coordinator of Family Resource for Coffee County Schools.
The Mobile Food Pantry will be held on Friday, November 15th at First Baptist Church of Manchester, 1006 Hillsboro Blvd., Manchester, Tennessee 37355. Doors open at 9 AM and is a first come, first serve opportunity. This program is for families who have a student enrolled in the Coffee County Schools or Manchester City Schools System.
For questions, contact Taylor Rayfield, Coordinator of Family Resource for Coffee County Schools at (931) 222-1066, or BJ Sylvia, Coordinator of Family Resource for Manchester City Schools at (931) 728-3412.
Grundy Co. commissioner charged with assault, domestic assault
A Grundy County Commissioner turned himself in on Tuesday, Nov. 12 at the Grundy County Jail after he was charged with domestic assault, aggravated assault and reckless endangerment in an incident that allegedly took place on Nov. 8. Commissioner Mike Cordell is free on $5,000 bond and is wearing a GPS monitor.
According to a report on file with the Grundy County Sheriff’s Department, Cordell allegedly got into an altercation with family members and a boyfriend of a family member. He allegedly choked someone, struck a family member in the face and knocked over a stroller with a two-month old baby inside.
It is the policy of Thunder Radio News to not release names of those who are victims of alleged domestic violence.