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Gas prices expected to go up after Saudi Arabia attack
On the week, the national gas price average held steady at $2.56, but motorists can expect some volatility at the pump in the coming days and weeks. Over the weekend, Saudi Arabia experienced drone attacks on two major oil facilities – including the world’s largest, Abqaiq. The attacks have taken 5.7 million (crude) barrels per day off the market, accounting for about 6% of the global supply.
Prior to the attacks, global crude oil supply was very healthy, in fact sitting on a global glut of stocks. Regardless, initial market reaction to the attacks spiked crude oil prices. At the start of the work week, crude oil (West Texas Intermediate, WTI) is trading for $5/bbl more than on Friday’s closing, up to $61/bbl – a price point for crude not seen since May.
“Americans can expect local pump prices to start to increase this week. The jump could end up being as much as a quarter per gallon throughout this month,” said Jeanette Casselano, AAA spokesperson. “Whether this is a short or long term trend will be determined by the price of crude oil prices and how quickly the facilities in Saudi Arabia can recover and get back online.”
According to AAA, Tennessee saw a 5 cent average jump overnight from Monday to Tuesday. In Manchester, gas was hovering around $2.31 a gallon for regular unleaded as of midday Tuesday.
Wednesday is senior citizen day, dollar rides at Coffee County Fair
Wednesday is a busy day at the Coffee County Fair! As far as midway rides are concerned, it is dollar day from 6 p.m. until closing, so $1 for all rides. But there are plenty of other activities. Senior Citizen’s Program begins a 9 a.m. at the grandstands, the Antique Tractor Parade is at 10:30 a.m., the Antique Tractor Races will be at 1 p.m., the Nick’s Kids Show at 5, 7 and 8:30 p.m., and Refuge will play the grandstands at 7 p.m. and By Faith will play at 8 p.m. Go enjoy the 162nd annual fair – it’s only here until Saturday.
Carver resigns as Tullahoma Schools director; Hargrove to be interim
The Tullahoma City Schools accepted the resignation of director of schools John Carver Monday (Sept. 16) night, just about a year after the system decided to hire him.
The board unanimously voted to accept Carver’s resignation. School Board Chairman Pat Welsh made a sudden announcement Friday (Sept. 13) that the board was working to reach a separation agreement with Carver.
As part of his severance, Carver will receive his salary and benefits through the end of September, in addition to six months salary.
East Lincoln principal Scott Hargrove will take over as interim director of schools beginning at 9 a.m. Tuesday, Sept. 17 while the board works to find a full-time replacement.
Carver’s tenure with Tullahoma schools was brief. The school board announced the intent to hire him in August of 2018, and he took over from outgoing director Dan Lawson in November of 2018.
“The Board of Tullahoma City Schools announces today (Friday, Sept. 13) that we are currently in negotiation of a separation agreement with Director of Schools John Carver,” said Tullahoma School Board Chairman Pat Welsh in a statement released early Friday afternoon, Sept. 13. “TCS has a storied history of excellence in education. The Board will move forward in selecting an interim until the position can be filled.
“Meanwhile, the Board remains committed to providing a quality education for the children of our community. The Board holds the administrative team, teachers, and all support staff in the highest regard toward this goal.”
NOTE – An earlier version of this story stated that Carver would receive health benefits and salary through the end of September as part of severance. But it should have stated that he will receive those through the end of the month, in addition to six months salary. The story has been corrected to reflect the accurate information.
Coffee Co. Sheriff’s Dept. needs help identifying person of interest in burglaries
The Coffee County Sheriff’s Department is seeking the public’s help to identify a suspect who is wanted for questioning in relation to burglaries in the northern part of Coffee County.
Surveillance photos show the subject driving a 2000 model Nissan Xterra. According to the sheriff’s department, the driver appears to have a tattoo on his left hand and is possibly from the Murfreesboro area. Anyone with information is encouraged to contact CCSD Inv. Brandon Reed at 931-570-4191.
Coffee County Fair continues Tuesday night
The Coffee County Fair continues Tuesday night! If you plan on riding some rides, it is $20 handstamp day from 6 p.m. until closing. Also on Tuesday night will be the Nick’s Kids Show at 5, 7 and 8:30 p.m. the Wool and Wollies Show at 5 p.m., the Junior Sheep Show is at 6 p.m. and there are some more beauty pageants.
The Junior Miss Coffee County for 6-8 year olds Contest will be at 6 p.m. and the Junior Miss Coffee County for ages 9-12 will be at 7:30 p.m.
Vietnam vets to receive special ceremony at Fort Campbell this weekend
Vietnam veterans will receive a proper “welcome home” this Thursday, in a special ceremony at Fort Campbell Army base. Organizers say the event aims to celebrate and thank service members, many of whom were scorned when they first came home from the war decades ago.
Memphis resident and Vietnam veteran Harold Beaver is traveling to Fort Campbell to participate, and said this kind of commemoration is long overdue.
“When we got back to the states, people at that time, they were still, you know, spitting on us,” Beaver said. “They were doing things that just showed dishonor, because we were participating in an occupation or war that people here in the States didn’t approve of.”
The event is free, but organizers suggest arriving up to two hours before the 2 p.m. ceremony to allow time for processing through security and getting to the event location on base. More information is available at states.AARP.org/tennessee.
Stacy Pennington, outreach director at AARP Tennessee, said this veterans’ welcome home event is a first for Fort Campbell.
“So, at the hanger, Hanger 3, it will be really neat. At 2:00, they’ll have the Vietnam veterans behind a closed gate. They’ll open that gate and everybody will be inside the hanger. And we will give them a proper ‘welcome home’ – like we do currently when our current men and women come home from service now,” Pennington said.
Nearly 500,000 veterans live in Tennessee. Around 37% of them served in Vietnam, according to data from the Housing Assistance Council.
Beaver said seeing people make time to celebrate and welcome him and fellow veterans has affected him profoundly.
“It’s just heart-wrenching to see the support, and people waving, giving high-fives and saying, ‘Thank you for your service’ – something that didn’t happen 50 years ago,” Beaver said.
AARP also will host an evening Memorial Mile walk and candlelit ceremony to honor fallen heroes in Clarksville, on Saturday, September 21, as part of the Valor Run marathon.
County to pave Benson Rd. this week
A travel alert for those of you who frequent Benson Rd. In Coffee County, which connects Asbury Rd. and Buck Jones Rd. The Coffee County Highway Department will be paving Benson Rd. This week. if you do travel that area, be aware and travel with caution as there will be heavy equipment, trucks and men working in that area. Travel times could also be slightly delayed.
Tullahoma PD issues statement after tragic death of 12-year old
The Tullahoma community is mourning the loss of Marliana Noel “Marli” Tate, who passed away Monday, Sept. 9. She was a 12-year old, seventh-grade student at East Middle School.
Visitation with the family was held Thursday at Tullahoma Funeral Home.
The Tullahoma News reported that Tullahoma Director of Schools John Carver insinuated on Thursday that Tate’s death “potentially involved an internet challenged gone awry.”
“We don’t really know all the ins and outs about what happened, but we do know that it could have involved some kind of teenage internet challenge-type thing on YouTube or something,” The News cites Carver as saying. “It’s very tragic.”
The News went on to say that Carver declined further comment “out of respect for the family.”
The Tullahoma Police Department issued a statement Friday that appeared to be in response to Carver’s comments in the article. The statement, in its entirety reads:
“The Tullahoma Police Department would like to express our deepest condolences to the Tate family regarding the loss of their child.
“We are committed to determining factual conclusions to all situations affecting our community.
“On Monday September 9, 2019 we responded to a circumstance in which a young member of our community lost their life. This incident is currently being investigated. We can not comment further on this investigation and would ask that everyone respect the privacy of the Tate family during this difficult time. We understand that the community is concerned based upon the Tullahoma News article of today. Currently, we are not aware of any threats to our community via Youtube or any other social media sources on the internet. When the investigation is completed, a public service announcement will be made by the Tullahoma Police Department. If any concerns are determined we will also advise further.
Should anyone have pertinent information concerning this investigation please contact Detective Karl Pyrdom at 931-455-0530 or kpyrdom@tullahomatn.gov.”
The Tullahoma School System has made counselors available to students and teachers.
Marli Tate’s obituary information from Tullahoma Funeral Home is as follows:
She is survived by her parents, Brandon W. Tate of Tullahoma and Lindsey George of Shelbyville. Maternal grandparents are Dena George of Shelbyville and Johnny George of Manchester. Paternal grandparents are Robert A Tate of Tullahoma one Kimberly Tate of Manchester. Great grandparents are Roma and Mickey Deal and Teddy & Caroline Steele of Winchester and Delores Pope of Birmingham, AL. Marli is also survived by many other relatives aunts and uncles, cousins, and countless loving friends and neighbors. Marli was a generous and loving free spirit who will continue to give to others as an organ donor. She will forever be our bright and shining star.
Shelbyville police searching for suspects in home invasion
The Shelbyville Police Department is asking for the public’s help in locating two individuals wanted in connection with an armed home invasion.
Wanted are John Lewis Rippey, a while male last seen on foot in the area of Jack Pickle Rd. in Bedford County on Friday, Sept. 13.
Police are also searching for Julius Dominick Guinn, a black male. His location is unknown, according to Shelbyville PD.
Anyone with information should contact detective Nathan Everhart at 931-684-5811.
Tullahoma schools attempting to separate from director Carver
Tullahoma City School System is attempting to reach a separation with Director of Schools John Carver.
Carver’s tenure with Tullahoma schools has been brief. The school board announced the intent to hire him in August of 2018, and he took over from outgoing director Dan Lawson in November of 2018.
“The Board of Tullahoma City Schools announces today that we are currently in negotiation of a separation agreement with Director of Schools John Carver,” said Tullahoma School Board Chairman Pat Welsh in a statement released early Friday afternoon, Sept. 13. “TCS has a storied history of excellence in education. The Board will move forward in selecting an interim until the position can be filled.
“Meanwhile, the Board remains committed to providing a quality education for the children of our community. The Board holds the administrative team, teachers, and all support staff in the highest regard toward this goal.”
It was not immediately clear why the board is seeking to separate from Carver. More details will be posted as they are available.