Josh Peterson

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 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. 

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 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.

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 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.

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. 

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.”

Marli Tate

“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.”

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.

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.

John Lewis Rippey

Julius Dominick Guinn