Josh Peterson

The first ever Exit 111 Festival is this week. The rock festival beings Friday and ends Sunday. This is a good time to remind everyone that both Manchester City and Coffee County Schools will both be closed Friday, Oct. 11. 

Both systems adjusted their schedules late, therefore schedules that came home with students to start the school year don’t reflect the change. 

For Manchester City Schools, Wednesday, May 20 will now be a full day of school and Thursday, May 21, will be early dismissal at 12:30 to make up for the unscheduled day off on Oct. 11. 

For the County School system, an in-service day that was scheduled for Nov. 1 will now be a regularly scheduled day of school to make up for the change. Just a reminder, both systems are closed on Friday, Oct. 11. 

The Exit 111 festival is the first major event held at Great Stage Park other than Bonnaroo. Headliners include Lynyrd Skynyrd, Def Leppard and Guns n’ Roses. 

The Manchester Police Department will soon have a pair of canine officers on patrol. 

Patrolman Daryn Gadeken will be the handler for canine Nalty. Meanwhile, patrolman Derek Bowles will be the handler for Storm. 

Both officers will undergo nearly three months of training with their new partners. They introduced the new canines to the Manchester Board of Mayor and Aldermen last week. 

Daryn Gadeken with Nalty, left, and Derek Bowles with Storm, right. (Photo provided)

The Tullahoma Board of Mayor and Aldermen have announced a meet and greet with new Tullahoma Police Chief Jason Williams. The event will be held from 5 until 5:30 p.m. Monday, Oct. 14 and Chief Williams will offer brief remarks to those in attendance at 5:30. Everyone is invited to attend the event at Tullahoma City Hall – at 201 W. Grundy St. in Tullahoma. 

The State of Tennessee has completed the sale of approximately $128 million of general obligations bonds at some of the lowest interest rates in the past several years.

Tennessee has one of the lowest debt levels of any state, and investors recognize its strong history of balanced budgeting and fiscal stability. Investors were willing to pay $20 million in premium to acquire Tennessee’s bonds.

The bond proceeds will be used to fund new capital projects such as renovations and repairs at a variety of state office and higher education buildings.

The debt offering was sold in two series of bonds, consisting of $100,105,000 of Series A tax-exempt bonds and $28,000,000 of Series B taxable bonds. The combined true interest cost of the bonds was 2.66%.

“Tennessee is one of just 13 states with a AAA credit rating from all three major credit rating agencies,” said Comptroller Justin P.  Wilson. “All Tennesseans should take pride in knowing the Governor and General Assembly are committed to fiscal responsibility. This approach  saves each of us money whenever we sell bonds.”

The annual Manchester Old Timer’s Day parade is Saturday at 10 a.m. But the festivities begin Friday night with a 7 p.m. performance by Beech Grove Bob on the downtown square. 

Saturday starts with 9 a.m. prayer and National Anthem, the “Small Town Hoedown, Big Town Fun” themed parade will begin at 10 a.m. it will run from the intersection of Highways 55 and 41, down Highway 41 north and turn onto the downtown square via Spring Street.

Other entertainment is slated through the day – Macy Tabor with Second Fret will play at 11 a.m. Amanda Wood at noon, The Rhythm Express Cloggers at 1 p.m. Duck River Dance at 2 p.m., Grace Baptist Church at 3 p.m., East of Nowhere at 4 p.m. and By Grace at 5 p.m.

There will also be plenty of free games and activities – free petting zoo, free train rides, a free digital scavenger hunt and a free ice cream eating contest, just a few of the activities on tap. There will also be craft vendors on hand.

TN Achieves has a goal of 9,000 mentors for the class of 2020 and has officially reached the halfway point, with 4,500 mentors signed up. 

If you would like to become a mentor for these students, you can sign up here. 

Cannon County Schools Officials received information on Wednesday Evening, September 25th, about a possible firearm brought to Woodland School on Wednesday, September 25th, 2019. Law Enforcement Officials investigated and have determined that NO actual gun was brought to Woodland School. However, the investigation is continuing and school policies will be adhered to and followed regarding this incident. The student has been suspended pending the investigation.

Director of Cannon County Schools, William F. Curtis stated, “Keeping OUR Students safe is Cannon County Schools top priority. We know these situations alarm parents/guardians, but we want to thank them and our students for continuing to be vigilant and for reporting any suspicious activity you see. Please talk with your children and please tell school officials (Teacher, Principal, Counselor, etc.) about these and other types of situations. Doing so is one of the best ways to assist us with maintaining a safe campus.”

WGNS Radio provided this news story for Thunder Radio.