Josh Peterson

Tragic news to report out of Nashville, as Metro Nashville Police Department officer John Anderson was killed in an on-duty vehicle accident in the early morning hours of July the 4th.

Anderson’s police car was hit by a vehicle operated by a 17-year-old driver. He was a four-year veteran and a very familiar face around Bridgestone Arena, working many Nashville predators games and other events. He leaves behind a girlfriend and an 18-month old son, according to department.

The Manchester Parks and Recreation Department’s Independence Day

Spectacular event is set for this Thursday, July 4 – make plans to attend an

evening of music, fun and, of course, fireworks!

The fireworks will be visible from multiple locations near the recreation

center, but the prime viewing experience will be at Rotary Park adjacent to

the rec center, located at 557 N. Woodland Street. Parking will be limited,

parking is also available at Fred Deadman Park and patrons can walk the

Little Duck River Greenway to the Rotary Park area.

Music begins at 7 p.m. with cover band Burning Las Vegas set to take the

stage at Rotary Amphitheater.Burning Las Vegas is an audio-visual dance

party that spans all genres, decades and ages. Fireworks will begin at

approximately 9 p.m. The event is free to the public, but there will be food

and beer vendors on hand selling concessions.

Also, before the fireworks, there will be an ice cream social

There will be some new events of note this year to check out. A bicycle

parade will start at 5:30 p.m. and will go around the square and down to the

amphitheater. Participants are encouraged to decorate their bikes for a

chance to win prizes. There will also be an ice cream social at 4:30 p.m. on

the courthouse lawn at the center of downtown Manchester..

Video of Burning Las Vegas (takes stage at Rotary Park 7 p.m. Thursday, July 4)

Photos of some of the fireworks shot at a Manchester July 4th celebration in 2015.

School may be out for the summer, but Coffee County Central High School has been well represented this week at the Future Business Leaders of America National Leadership Conference in San Antonio, Texas. 

Elizabeth Brown placed second in the nation in Introduction to Public Speaking at the national conference. Meanwhile, the team of Morgan Henley, Jack Beachboard and Bryson Hullett placed 10th in the nation for their business financial plan. Placing 8th in the nation for his Local Chapter Annual Business Report was Weston Hargrove. 

Coffee County FBLA has had national award recipients every consecutive year since 2011!!

Elizabeth Brown

From left, Bryson Hullett, Morgan Henley and Jack Beachboard.

Weston Hargrove

Coffee County’s fiscal budget for the new year is approved with no tax increases. The county pulled approximately $600,000 from its reserve fund to balance the budget and keep property taxes at the same levels. Part of the budget will include raises for corrections officers at the Coffee County Jail – moving wages for jailers from $12.22 to $14.28 per hour. Money to cover these raises comes from closing the jail workhouse. WMSR news will speak to sheriff Chad Partin about this next week.

The fiscal budget runs from July 1 through June 30.

Coffee County Sheriff Chad Partin

Photo provided by City of Tullahoma

If you want to see a fireworks display before July 4th, Tullahoma will host the city’s annual Independence Day celebration Wednesday.

The annual pyrotechnics show is put on by a national pyrotechnics company that has also presented shows around the world, including Nashville, the National Mall in Washington, D.C., and New York City. 

Gates will open at 3 p.m. and the event is free. Frazier McEwen Park and Grider Stadium, behind Tullahoma High School, will feature free music, games, a kids zone and food trucks. A fireworks display will cap the night. 

Vinyl Radio will be one of the headlining acts of the entertainment, 

Manchester’s Independence Day celebration will be Thursday, with music beginning at 7 p.m. at Rotary Park and fireworks at 9. 

The group 24/7 Wall Street released a report identifying the worst county to live in by state, and the report identifies Grundy County as the worst county to reside in Tennessee. 

Some of the identifying statistic are as follows:

*Over the past five years, Grundy County’s population has decreased by 2.9%, while Tennessee’s population has grown by 3.8%

*The poverty rate is 11% higher in Grundy County than the rest of Tennessee

*Compared to the rest of the state, about 15% fewer adults hold a bachelor’s degree.

*The life expectancy for someone living in Grundy County is 72.5 years, while the state average is 76.3 years. 

*The median household income in Grundy County is 31,919, well below the state median household income, which is 48,708. 

Only 73% of adults in Grundy County have a high school diploma, the lowest rate of any of Tennessee’s 95 counties. 

The group used US Census data in determining its information.

One of the newest Tennessee laws that took effect on July 1 is facing challenges. Three unidentified men filed a federal lawsuit against Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee over the law that prohibits convicted sex offenders from staying overnight in the presence of their children. The bill passed unanimously in April. 

Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee

The measure makes it a felony for anyone convicted of a sex offense against a child younger than 12 years old to reside, spend the night or be alone with the person’s own child. 

The three unnamed plaintiff’s are all fathers of minor children and are convicted sex offenders who have completed their sentence and treatment programs, the suit states. The victims in each case were under 12 years old. 

The men allege they would effectively lose their parental rights without a trial and due process, arguing the legislation violates the constitutions of the United States and Tennessee. 

The Tennessee Department of Transportation will suspend all construction-related lane closures on interstates and state routes beginning at 12:00 p.m. on Wednesday, July 3rd through 6:00 a.m. on Monday, July 8th to provide maximum roadway capacity for holiday travelers.

According to TDOT commissioner Clay Bright, it is estimated that 985,000 motorists will travel Tennessee’s interstates and state highways this Independence Day holiday. 

TDOT is suspending lane closures during the holiday travel times to help motorists reach their destinations safely without unnecessary delays. 

Motorists will still encounter some long term lane closures on construction projects.  While lane closure activity will be stopped, workers may be on site in construction zones and reduced speed limits in work zones will still be in effect. Drivers convicted of speeding through work zones where workers are present face a fine of $250 to $500, plus court fees and possible increased insurance premiums.

AAA projects a record breaking 48.9 million Americans will travel this Independence Day weekend, a 4.1% increase from last year. An estimated 985,000 Tennesseans will travel during the holiday, with an estimated 892,000 driving to their destinations.

From your desktop or mobile device, get the latest construction activity and live streaming SmartWay traffic cameras at www.TNSmartWay.com/Traffic. Travelers can also dial 511 from any land-line or cellular phone for travel information, or follow TDOT on Twitter at www.twitter.com/TN511 for statewide travel.  

And remember, if you are traveling this weekend it is now illegal to to use a handheld cell phone while operating a motor vehicle in Tennessee. 

Westwood Middle School’s band program received an unexpected windfall thanks to the Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival and fans of the musical group Phish. 

The all-volunteer, fan-run Mockingbird Foundation is celebrating the Phish tour by making unsolicited tour grants supporting music programs near each of the venues at which the band is performing. You may remember that Phish was one of the headliners for the Bonnaroo festival last month. 

The group sent a check for $1,500 to Westwood Middle School. It is the mockingbird’s 8th grant in Tennessee, and 403rd overall.

The Coffee County School Board voted to enter into contract negotiations with Dr. Charles Lawson to be the system’s next Director of Schools during a special called meeting Monday, July 1. 

Dr. Charles Lawson

Lawson is currently the principal at East Middle School in Tullahoma. The vote means the board will enter into negotiation and discuss during a work session Monday, July 8 at 3 p.m. 

If a contract is finalized, he would replace Dr. LaDonna McFall, who left the director position in early June to take a director’s position in Roane County. 

There were 16 candidates who applied for the director of schools position and five were interviewed. In addition to Lawson, Dr. Keith Cornelius, Kim Aaron, Scott Hargrove and Dr. John Ash were also interviewed. 

During Monday’s special called meeting, school board member Pat Barton made a motion to enter into contract negotiations with Lawson and Sandra Klonaris seconded the motion. Five members voted yes, they were Brett Henley, Gary Nester, Barton, Klonaris and Dr. Shannon Duncan. Esther Simms was the lone no vote. Freda Jones was absent from the meeting.

Joe Pedigo is currently serving as the interim director of schools.