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Tennessee gas prices fall 4 cents over past week
Tennessee gas prices are continuing their downward trend, falling four cents over the course of last week. This week marks five straight weeks of declines in Tennessee’s state gas price average . The Tennessee Gas Price average is now $3.85 which is nearly 22 cents less expensive than one month ago and $1.14 more than one year ago.
“Gas prices across Tennessee have been steadily declining for the last five weeks,” said Megan Cooper, spokeswoman, AAA – The Auto Club Group. “The oil market remains volatile and fluctuations in crude oil prices are expected this week. Concerns about increased global oil prices and the expected jump in gasoline demand leading into the summer travel season could cause pump price declines to slow this week.”
Gas price average in Coffee County is currently $3.80, according to AAA. That is 5 cents below the state average and 28 cents below the national average of $4.08. The highest gasoline prices in the nation remain out west – averaging $5.70 in California.
Quick Facts
· 89% of Tennessee gas stations have prices below $4.00
· The lowest 10% of pump prices are $3.56 for regular unleaded
· The highest 10% of pump prices are $4.18 for regular unleaded
National Gas Prices
The slide in gas prices slowed to a crawl over concerns about increased global oil prices and the return of seasonal domestic gas demands. The war in Ukraine and fear of less Russian oil entering the market caused the price of crude to creep back above $100 a barrel. Meanwhile, as more places in the U.S. see pump prices fall below $4 a gallon, demand is ticking back up. Domestically, the national average for a gallon of gas has fallen to $4.08.
According to new data from the Energy Information Administration (EIA), total domestic gasoline stocks decreased by 3.5 million bbl to 233.1 million bbl last week. Gasoline demand increased slightly from 8.5 million b/d to 8.73 million b/d. Although supply and demand factors would have typically supported elevated pump prices, the fluctuating oil price continues to be the main factor influencing prices at the pump. Pump prices will likely face downward pressure if oil prices remain near $100 per barrel.
Meanwhile, consumers will enjoy a tasty gas price–related treat courtesy of Krispy Kreme Doughnuts. For the next three Wednesdays, Krispy Kreme will lower the price of a dozen Original Glazed donuts to the national average that AAA reports each Monday. The offer runs through Wednesday, May 4^th. A dozen glazed doughnuts typically cost around $12. This Wednesday’s dozen should cost $4.08, not including sales tax, only in shop, drive-thru, and online pickup.
Today’s national average for a gallon of gas is $4.08, which is 19 cents less than a month ago, and $1.21 more than a year ago.
National Oil Market Dynamics
At the close of Thursday’s formal trading session, WTI increased by $2.70 to settle at $106.95. According to EIA’s weekly report, U.S. commercial crude oil inventories increased by 9.4 million barrels from the previous week to reach 421.8 million barrels. Despite reports of increased inventory, crude oil prices jumped last week as the European Union announced they are drafting plans to ban Russian oil imports, a move that could tighten global supply as member countries look for new sources for crude oil in an already tight market. Additionally, the most recent Oil Market Report from the International Energy Agency (IEA) forecasts that Russian oil output will shrink by about 1.5 million barrels per day this month as the result of financial and export sanctions. The crude oil market will likely remain volatile this week and could continue to fluctuate if concerns about supply persist.
NAS donates $1,000 to CHS STEM class
National Aerospace Solutions, LLC (NAS) provided a $1,000 donation to support STEM programs at Coffee County Central High School.
The funds will go towards purchasing new and replacement parts for 20 robotics kits, as well as competition super kits and software to build a robot for state competition. NAS is the Test Operations and Sustainment contractor at Arnold Engineering Development Complex at Arnold Air Force Base. NAS employs more than 1,600 highly skilled engineers, craft employees, and support personnel to provide test and evaluation for some of the world’s premier aerospace systems.
Lonnie Norman Coffee Early Head Start to hold grand opening April 27
The South Central Human Resource Agency has announced the grand opening and ribbon cutting for the new
Lonnie Norman Coffee Early Head Start facility.
This event will be held at 2:00 pm on Wednesday, April 27, at the new building located at 1206 Oakdale Street in Manchester. Tours of the facility will be available, along with light refreshments. This center is named in honor of the late Lonnie Norman, who was instrumental in the acquisition of the property for this much-needed facility.
Norman was longtime mayor of Manchester who passed away in 2020 during what he said would be his final term.
Early Head Start and Head Start programs provide comprehensive care for families with young children who live at or below the poverty level or are considered “at risk.” In addition to classroom activities geared towards preparing children for success in school, Early Head Start programs provide services such as parenting education, nutrition education, family support services, and more. For further information, contact Program Director Laure Hopper at 931-433-7182 Ext. 1182.
Manchester Rec Center to partially re-open Monday after storm damage; weight room to remain closed
Manchester Recreation Center will reopen at 5 a.m. Monday, April 18 after storms damaged the facility last week.
However, there will be limitations inside the building.
The upstairs fitness center that houses the weights and cardio machines will continue to e closed until further notice. All land and water aerobics will be held at their normally scheduled time and the upstairs walking track will be open.
The complex received substantial roof damage during Wednesday night’s storms (April 13, 2022).
According to Parks and Recreation Director AJ Fox, the wind peeled back a portion of the roof and scattered insulation, metal flashing, gutters and other materials across the property. The complex was closed Thursday, April 14 through Sunday, April 17th to assess and begin repairing damage.
Fox added that there is water damage in the upstairs wellness room.
“The corner of the roof by the indoor pool on the backside of the building … it started there and peeled it back like a bedsheet,” explained Fox.
The Manchester Recreation Complex is located at 557 N. Woodland St.
National Weather Service issued a tornado warning for Coffee County at about 8:30 p.m. Wednesday (April 13). NWS also reported straight line wind speeds in Coffee County of 60 miles per hour. Multiple reports have come in of downed trees and limbs across the area.
Snap Fitness in Manchester has announced it is waving enrollment fees for members of the recreation center for this upcoming week – they are also offering month-to-month no contract rates for members who need somewhere to workout while damage is being repaired.
Tennessee unemployment hits record low in March
Tennessee marked a milestone in March when statewide unemployment dropped to its lowest rate in history. Data from the Department of Labor and Workforce Development (TDLWD) showed the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate decreased to 3.2%, the lowest level ever recorded.
The decrease of 0.2 of a percentage point in March allowed the month to eclipse the previous all-time low rate of 3.3%, last recorded in August 2019. The latest rate is 1.7 percentage points lower than it was this time last year.
Tennessee reached this historic low just 23 months after it marked its all-time highest unemployment rate of 15.9% in April 2020, during the height of pandemic-related business closures across the state.
Total nonfarm employment increased by 8,100 jobs between February and March. The education and health services sector created the most jobs during the month. The professional and business services and the leisure and hospitality sectors were responsible for the next highest gains in employment.
Tennessee employers added 124,800 jobs over the last year. The largest increases occurred in the leisure and hospitality sector, followed by the trade, transportation, and utilities sector, and then the professional and business services sector.
Nationally, unemployment also dropped in March. The seasonally adjusted rate for the United States decreased by 0.2 of a percentage point to 3.6%. The rate is down 2.4 percentage points in a year-to-year comparison.
TDLWD has produced a complete analysis of the March 2022 seasonally adjusted unemployment data. That report is available here (https://www.us13.list-manage.com/track/click?u=166478db53c066a7d114ea462&id=30e2bf35bd&e=29851e7b63) .
While the state’s unemployment rate is at a historic low, there are still Tennesseans searching for meaningful employment. Employers have tens of thousands of jobs they need to find the right person to fill. TDLWD has the resources available to match job seekers with companies that are hiring. The journey to better employment starts at www.TNWorkReady.com.
Carol Sweeton
Carol Sweeton of Winchester passed this life on Tuesday, April 12, 2022 at
her residence, at the age of 73. A Graveside Memorial Service will be held
at 12:30 PM on April 30,2022 at Montgomery Cowen Cemetery in Cowan.
Carol, a native of Butterfly, Kentucky, was the daughter of the late Cecil
Couch and Martha Campbell Couch.
Ms. Sweeton is survived by her son, JR Sweeton of Winchester, TN; brother,
Eddie Couch of Scottsburg, Indiana; sisters, Gladys Combs of Talking Rock,
Georgia, Shirley Addison of Austin, Indiana, Poppy Jean Greco of Indiana,
Eva Green of Austin, Indiana and Gertrude Carey of Martin, Tennessee.
Online condolences may be made at www.davesculbertsonfuneralhome.com.
Daves-Culbertson Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Terry Ray Jernigan
Mr. Terry Ray Jernigan, age 69, of Manchester, TN,
passed from this life on Friday, April 15, 2022, in Tullahoma, TN.
Mr. Jernigan was born in Biloxi, MS, to his late father Ray Jernigan and
surviving mother Viva McCurry Jernigan. He worked with AT&T for 38 years as
a telephone lineman. Mr. Jernigan and his wife, Debbie, are both members of
Temple Baptist Church in Manchester, TN, where he was very involved in many
different ministries. He was active in the Temple Baptist Church Bus
Ministry for around 30 years. Mr. Jernigan was a devout Christian and loved
his church dearly. Mr. Jernigan also coached little league and Babe Ruth
baseball for 14 years and was an avid golfer. He was a devoted family man
and loved spending time with his family.
Mr. Jernigan is survived by his wife of 50 years, Debbie Swann Jernigan;
sons, Scott (Stephanie) Jernigan, Matt (Amanda) Jernigan, and Charlie
(Jamie) Jernigan; brothers, Jimmy (Nancy) Jernigan and Danny (Pam)
Jernigan; grandchildren, Olivia, Ryan, Emily, Landon, Jackson, Kaitlyn,
Hailey, Cayden, Ava, and Cooper; in-laws, Larry (Fay) Swann, Anniston, AL,
Richard (Sherry) Swann, Summittville, TN, Marie (Randy) Blurton,
Prattville, AL, and Terry (Hortencia) Swann, El Paso, TX; several close
friends, co-workers, nieces, and nephews.
Visitation with the family will be held Monday, April 18, 2022, from 4:00pm
until 8:00pm at Central Funeral Home in Manchester, TN. Funeral services
will be conducted on Tuesday, April 19, 2022, at 2:00pm at Temple Baptist
Church in Manchester, TN, with Greg Nash officiating, with a visitation
held from 1:00pm until time of service. Burial will follow at Rose Hill
Memorial Gardens in Tullahoma, TN.
Central Funeral Home is honored to serve the family, 931-723-7774,
centralfuneralhome.com
Charles Thomas Luna
Charles Thomas Luna of Tullahoma passed this life on Thursday, April 14 at
his residence at the age of 51, following a 12- and one-half year valiant
battle with brain cancer. He was born in Tullahoma on December 22, 1970 to
Bill R and Ruby H Luna. Charles graduated from Tullahoma High School in
1989 and received a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration
from Berry College in Mount Berry, GA in 1993.
Charles loved baseball from a young age and was able to follow his passion
into his sales career with Worth Sporting Goods throughout the Southern
United States. He cherished his family, close friends and friendships he
developed in college baseball and softball programs throughout the US.
In addition to his parents, Charles is survived by two sons, Andrew Holland
Luna of Tullahoma and Will Thomas Luna, USAF, Sheppard AFB, Texas; brother,
Scott Luna (Shea) of Lawrenceburg, KY; sister, Deborah Brandt of Tullahoma
and three nieces.
A memorial service will be conducted from the chapel of Daves-Culbertson
Funeral Home on Saturday, April 23, 2022 at 2 PM with Roy Allan Hopkins,
officiating. The family will receive friends from 1-2 PM.
In lieu of flowers, the family has requested memorial donations be made in
his honor to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St Jude Place,
Memphis, TN 38105-9959.
Online condolences may be made at www.davesculbertsonfuneralhome.com.
Daves-Culbertson Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
SOFTBALL: Lady Raiders fall short in high scoring contest with Walker Valley
Hitting and scoring runs was not a problem for the Coffee County Central Lady Raider softball team Friday afternoon.
Throwing and catching, however, was a problem.
Five Coffee County errors overshadowed a 10 run, 15 hit performance Friday in Manchester as the Lady Raiders dropped 14-10 non-district tilt against Walker Valley.
The Lady Raiders were only able to put together one clean inning – the fifth. The Lady Mustangs scored at least one run in every inning, including a 4-run top of the first that started with a Coffee County error and culminated in a grand slam off the bat of Sierra Brown before CHS could even record an out.
Coffee County fought back – but could never tie or regain the lead. The Lady Raiders blasted three home runs in the loss – one apiece from Channah Gannon, Kaitlyn Davis and freshman Paisley Campbell. Gannon and Davis’ home runs came off the bench – neither started as CHS worked in some different players in the Friday afternoon game.
THIS GAME WAS BROADCAST LIVE ON THUNDER RADIO WMSR. CLICK HERE TO LISTEN TO THE AUDIO REPLAY.
Campbell and Gannon also doubled and both knocked in three runs. Haidyn Campbell knocked in a pair of runs on a single.
Katelyn Anderson was hit with the loss. She started for CHS and allowed 7 runs (5 earned) on 8 hits over 3 innings. Gannon worked 4 innings in relief with a similar line – 7 runs (5 earned) on 7 hits. Only 10 of Walker Valley’s 14 runs were earned.
The loss drops Coffee County to 13-10 on the year. The Lady Raiders are scheduled to go to Siegel at 6:30 p.m. Monday in a rematch of last year’s Region 4-AAA Championship game. That game is scheduled to be broadcast live on Thunder Radio: 107.9 FM, 1320 AM, 106.7 FM, Manchester Go app and thunder1320.com
Riley Phillips 
Olivia Evans 
Channah Gannon 
Alivia Reel
Leonard Gary DeBruyn Sr.
Leonard Gary DeBruyn Sr., age 78, left this world on Thursday, April 14,
2022 surrounded by his loving family.
Leonard was born on January 16, 1944 in Rochester, NY to the late Addren
and Hazel Johnson DeBruyn. He was the youngest of 16 children.
Leonard is survived by his wife of 56 years, Barbara Ann DeBruyn. His two
children, Leonard (Mary) DeBruyn Jr. and Angel (Billy) Wright. His two
granddaughters, Brook (Dalton) Umbarger and Morgan (Andrew) Trejo, as well
as two great grandchildren, Hayes Umbarger and Lorelei Trejo.
Leonard is also survived by one sister, Virginia Bott as well as numerous
brother and sisters-in-law, nieces and nephews.
Leonard Spent 22 years in the United States Air Force. He was awarded 5
Commendation Medals and Meritorious Service Medal. He served two tours in
Thailand, one tour in the Philippines, one tour in Korea and one tour in
Japan.
After retirement, Leonard worked at Wilson Sporting Goods and Carrier
Corporation.
Leonard and Barbara enjoyed golfing and traveling together, spending time
with their family and living life to the fullest.
A Celebration of Life will be held at Daves-Culbertson Funeral Home,
Tullahoma, Tennessee on Monday, April 18, at 2 P.M. The family will receive
friends from 12 P.M until the service time. Internment will be held at
Bethel Cemetery in Pelham, TN with full Military Honors.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that you make a donation to your
favorite charity in Leonard’s name. His favorite charities were Wounded
Warriors and St. Judes.