Experts say they’re seeing an uptick in eating disorders fueled by social media consumption and more than a year of increased stress and isolation for many individuals. Nashville-based therapist Catherine Stutzner teaches Body Positive workshops for people wanting to learn how to foster a positive body image and intuitive eating. She says eating disorders can be triggered by anxiety, depression, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, and even by traumatic experiences.
With summer’s arrival, many Tennesseans are rededicating themselves to fitness. Stutzner advises being in tune with and listening to your body, eating when you’re hungry, stopping when you’re full, and avoiding dieting.
Personal trainer and Healthy Lifestyle Coach in Nashville Dani Dyer believes in starting each morning with positive affirmations, and encourages her clients to think outside the box when it comes to increasing movement throughout the day.
UnitedHealthcare Chief Medical Officer of Population Health Management Dr. Donna O’Shea says it’s important to re-establish routines that include the basics: good nutrition, exercise, and sufficient sleep. She adds that nationwide, many individuals are struggling with their relationship to food in response to the coronavirus crisis.
She also points to UnitedHealthcare’s ‘Step Up” campaign, where anyone can sign up to pledge to make their health a priority. For more information visit uhcstepup.com.
BOLO issued from Coffee County Sheriff’s Department
The Coffee County Sheriff’s Department issued a “be on the lookout” after two items were stolen from a home on Woodbury Highway near the Goose Pond Road area.
If you have any information, you are asked to contact Investigator Brandon Gullet at 931-728-3591. View the images of the stolen items below:
Tennessee gas price average stays steady; Coffee County even with state average and below national average
The Tennessee gas price average held steady over last week with today’s average the same as one week ago. The Tennessee Gas Price average is now $2.88 which is the same as one month ago and 94 cents more than one year ago. The Coffee County average is $2.88 which makes the County even with the state average for the second week in a row, and 26 cents below the national average.
“Peak summer driving season is in full-swing as Americans hit the road to explore and gas prices are not backing down,” said Megan Cooper, spokeswoman, AAA – The Auto Club Group. “Motorists are paying, on average, nearly a dollar more a gallon than last summer to fill up and close to 40 cents more than in 2019.”
Quick Facts
· 92% of Tennessee gas stations have prices below $3.00
· The lowest 10% of pump prices are $2.69 for regular unleaded
· The highest 10% of pump prices are $3.14 for regular unleaded
· Tennessee remains the 10th least expensive market in the nation
National Gas Prices
At 10 million b/d, gasoline demand reached a new Energy Information Administration (EIA) record last week, and that number only partially reflects Independence Day holiday weekend travel. The nearly 1 million b/d jump in demand drove down gasoline supplies by 6.1 million bbl to 235,000 million bbl and consequently pushed the national average pump price up to $3.14.
The price of crude oil, which fluctuated last week following OPEC’s failure to reach an agreement on production increases, continues to be a dominant factor in determining how high prices will go this summer. Last week ended with higher crude prices than the start, though still under $75/bbl. AAA believes those prices have the potential to increase this week, which will only lead to more expensive pump prices, especially amid robust demand.
On the week, about 25 state averages increased by at least two cents with a few seeing a jump of nine cents or more. State averages range from as low as $2.76 in Mississippi to as expensive as $4.31 in California.
As pump prices continue to increase, AAA members can save at the pump by joining the Fuel Rewards at Shell program via AAA.com . Members save 30 cents per gallon on their first fill-up when they join between now and August 31, 2021. As part of the Fuel Rewards program, AAA Members earn Gold Status ongoing and save five cents per gallon every day on each individual gas purchase of up to 20 gallons from participating Shell stations with no minimum fill ups.
National Oil Market Dynamics
At the close of Friday’s formal trading session, WTI increased by $1.62 cents to settle at $74.56. Crude prices declined early last week due to a stronger dollar and market concerns about excess crude supply. However, prices increased following the release of EIA’s report that showed total domestic crude inventories decreased by 6.9 million bbl to 445.5 million bbl. If EIA’s next weekly report shows another decline in total domestic crude inventories, prices could climb further this week.
Tax Tip Tuesday; how long to keep your tax records
If you’re like many Americans, paper piles up at home. You may have stacks upon stacks of old mail, bank statements, credit card statements, random printouts, and even copies of your personal tax records. So what can stay and what should go?
In most cases you should plan on keeping personal tax returns and any supporting documents for a period of at least 3 years following the date you filed or the due date of your return, whichever is later. So currently, if you filed by the due date, the tax periods of 2018, 2019, and 2020 should be retained. Supporting documents for those returns such as W2s, 1099s, documents supporting deductions, business records of income and expenses, and any other documents used to prepare your return should also be kept.
Keeping personal tax returns and their associated records for a three-year time period is tied to the IRS statute of limitations. Under the statute, you generally have the later of three years from the date the original return was due or two years from the date you paid the tax, to file a claim for refund. Likewise, the IRS generally has only three years from the filing date or due date of the return (whichever is later) to audit the return and assess additional tax.
There are some cases in which you may need to hang on to your personal records longer than three years. For instance, you should plan on keeping records related to property you own for three years after you dispose of the property. This includes real estate as well as stocks, equipment, and other assets.
Before getting too excited and throwing your old returns away, check to make sure you do not need to keep them for other purposes. Certain creditors and even some insurance companies may require you to keep records longer than the IRS.
If you do decide to get rid of tax documents, make sure you dispose of them securely, such as shredding them. Tax returns contain sensitive information that identity thieves love.
If you have questions and would like help from the Tax Professionals at H&R Block, please call your local H&R Block office. In Manchester TN call 931-728-9462. H&R Block Has Your Back!
District Attorney Craig Northcott releases statement
As many will recall, about two years ago, I was attacked for holding to and endeavoring to live every aspect of my life by the Truth of God’s Word as found in the Bible. This was done in an apparent attempt to discredit me following my appointment as special prosecutor to handle a couple of politically charged matters in Davidson County. A summary of the attack is that it was alleged that I am unfit to serve as District Attorney and to remain an attorney in Tennessee because I taught the Word of God regarding homosexuality from the pulpit of a church in Houston, Texas at a Bible conference primarily for pastors sponsored by a seminary as well as my expressing my theological belief regarding Islam while commenting on another individual’s Facebook post in my personal capacity. Amazingly, this simple exercising of my God-given, constitutionally protected rights so upset certain groups of people that I made local, national, and international news and I had to fight their efforts to have me disbarred for the last two years. Throughout that time, I promised many to keep them informed as the battle progressed and to notify them of the outcome. I could never remember all the people to whom I made that promise and this is my attempt to keep those promises.
I was required by the Disciplinary Counsel for the Board of Professional Responsibility (BPR) to respond to disciplinary complaints filed against me by the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) in New York City, a random individual who claimed he lived in Louisiana, the Freedom from Religion Foundation in Wisconsin and an attorney in Nashville that claimed to speak for over 300 other attorneys and law students. To my knowledge, none of the complainants have ever set foot in a criminal court in Coffee County since I have been District Attorney and none of these complainants alleged that I had mishandled a specific case or mistreated any defendant, victim, or witness because of their theological beliefs or sexual orientation. They simply alleged that my holding to, expressing, living my life by, and performing my job duties consistently with the Word of God made me unfit to be District Attorney and practice law. They each sought for me to be immediately stripped of my right to practice law and removed from office.
After several months of my fully and truthfully responding in writing to these allegations as well as being deposed, the BPR asked me to agree to be publicly censured for violating the rules of ethics in exchange for them not pursuing more harsh discipline up to disbarment. I refused to accept that punishment because I had done nothing wrong. In response, the BPR through the Office of Disciplinary Counsel filed a formal complaint against me initiating legal proceedings to obtain such discipline. After much legal wrangling, they attempted to rework their initial complaint because of the obvious lack of factual and legal support for their position and, more importantly, because their attempts were barred by constitutional protections of this State and Country. The revised allegations were equally lacking in legal and factual support. Remarkably, the BPR through the Office of Disciplinary Counsel never alleged the mishandling of a specific case and admitted under oath that, after more than a year of investigation, they could not find a single case that I or my office had mishandled.
After the investigation and discovery process was completed, my attorney filed a Motion for Summary Judgment in which I asserted that, even if the hearing panel takes the facts and law in the light most favorable to the BPR, there is no legal and/or factual basis to find that I violated a single Rule of Professional Conduct. A hearing was held on this motion in December 2020 and a ruling was issued in April 2021. In that ruling, the hearing panel granted my motion and dismissed the complaint against me. The time for the BPR to appeal that decision recently passed and they did not appeal. Accordingly, this matter is now over.
I thank my wife, kids, extended family, staff, friends, and everyone else who stood behind me throughout this. I appreciate your prayers and am humbled by your support more than you know and more than words can express. I had attorneys representing me through portions of this process: Brian Faughnan at the initial stages and Darrell Townsend for the concluding stages. I want to thank them as well for their excellent services and efforts on my behalf.
Over the last 2 years, I have been attacked personally for and pressured to disavow my closely held Christian beliefs under the threat of losing my law license. I knew what was at risk but also understood that my first duty is always to God. Thus, relying on His promises and knowing that Scripture tells us that we will be attacked for standing for His Truth, I was determined to not abandon my faith because a vocal and militant minority was upset because I express and endeavor to live by God’s mandates. God saw me through the battle and provided the resources needed to continue to resist these efforts. Accordingly, the glory is His.
Tencourage all my Christian brethren to stand firm against these attacks. (See 1 Corinthians 1:13-14). We must equip ourselves with the intake and consistent application of true Bible doctrine so that the schemes of the world will not overcome us. (See Ephesians 6:11-12). Be courageous and bold in the face of the growing assault against us in this country. (See James 1:12). God is good and faithful.
I look forward to continuing to serve this community as your District Attorney.
Sincerely,
Craig Northcott District Attorney
Tennessee ranks 16th least expensive for median home price
New data from the Case-Shiller Index reveals that the housing market is rising at a rate that hasn’t been seen in decades. While the year-over-year change in home prices hit a historic high in 2005, that housing boom was tame compared to 2021 when considering the speed at which prices have risen in the past year.
Home prices have been rising for over a decade; however, prices have been skyrocketing at near-record rates—13.2% in March 2021. Fueling the blazing housing market has been five main factors, according to a January 2021 analysis from Harvard University’s Joint Center for Housing Studies. These include a prolonged housing production shortfall since 2008; record-low mortgage rates; fewer homes for sale due to stay-at-home orders and pandemic concerns; a shift in family spending away from travel and entertainment toward housing; and an acceleration of second home purchase. These factors combined to spur housing price increases felt on national, state, and local levels.
As homebuyers face the prospect of increasing prices, they also have to deal with another sobering reality: new homes priced under $300,000—approximately what the median American household would be able to afford—are increasingly rare. New residential sales data from the U.S. Census Bureau indicates that the percentage of homes under $300,000 dipped to 35.4% in Q1 2021, a decrease of more than 46 percentage points from Q3 2002 when 82% of new homes on the market cost less than $300,000.
At the state level, homes are most expensive in Hawaii, where the median price is nearly $710,000, or about 150% higher than the national median price of $281,370. California is second at $654,629, which is also more than double the national median. Massachusetts and Washington are the third and fourth most expensive states, respectively, with home prices just under half a million dollars, according to data from Zillow.
At the opposite end of the spectrum, West Virginia’s median home price of $116,723 is the lowest in the nation and 58% lower than the national median. Other states in the South and Midwest, such as Mississippi, Arkansas, and Oklahoma, report similarly low prices alongside below-average year-over-year growth.
To determine the locations with the most expensive real estate, researchers at Inspection Support Network analyzed data from Zillow and the U.S. Census Bureau. The researchers calculated median home value using the most recent Zillow Home Value Index (ZHVI), and included the previous one-year change in home value, the forecasted future one-year change in home value, and median household income.
TENNESSEE HOMES
The analysis found that the median home price in Tennessee experienced a +11.8% change over the past year to $218,121, compared to the national median of $281,370. Out of all states, Tennessee has the 16th least expensive real estate.
Here is a summary of the data for Tennessee:
• Median home value: $218,121
• Difference from national median: -22.5%
• Previous one-year change in home value: +11.8%
• Projected one-year change in home value: N/A
• Median household income: $53,320
For reference, here are the statistics for the entire United States:
• Median home value: $281,370
• Difference from national median: N/A
• Previous one-year change in home value: +11.6%
• Projected one-year change in home value: +11.8%
• Median household income: $62,843
For more information, a detailed methodology, and complete results, you can find the original report on Inspection Support Network’s website: https://www.inspectionsupport.com/resources/cities-with-most-expensive-real-estate/
Bonnaroo bands still for sale at Thunder Radio
This is just a reminder that we still have Bonnaroo wrist bands for sale. After taxes and fees, each band comes out to $175 each. Car camping and General Admission parking is also available for additional costs.
Head over to the Thunder Radio studios at 1030 Oakdale Street in Manchester to purchase your tickets! Payments can be made with credit or debit card only. We are open Monday through Friday from 9 am to 5 pm.
Former mayor of the City of Decherd indicted
An investigation by the Tennessee Comptroller’s Office has resulted in the indictment of Mr. Robin B. Smith, the former mayor of the City of Decherd in Franklin County.
Investigators determined that Smith received $27,176 in unauthorized health insurance benefits from the city from January 2016 through July 2019.
In October 2015, Smith told the city administrator and the city bookkeeper that he qualified as a full-time employee and was thus eligible for health benefits. He later admitted to investigators that he needed health insurance, and he knew he was not eligible.
In July 2021, Robin B. Smith was indicted by the Franklin County Grand Jury on one count of theft over $10,000 and three counts of official misconduct.
“In a situation like this, state law requires the Board of Aldermen to approve medical insurance benefits by a majority vote,” said Comptroller Jason Mumpower. “The Board did not authorize providing medical benefits to elected officials until after these actions took place, and the city administrator failed to ensure that only eligible people received benefits.”
To view the investigative report, go to: https://comptroller.tn.gov/office-functions/investigations/find.html
If you suspect fraud, waste, or abuse of public money in Tennessee, call the Comptroller’s toll-free hotline at 800.232.5454, or file a report online at: tncot.cc/fraud. Follow us on twitter @TNCOT and Instagram @tncot
Child abuse costs for Tullahoma topped $2.7 million last month
By Joyce Prusak, executive director of Coffee County Children’s Advocacy Center
Costs related to child abuse for Tullahoma topped $2.7 million last month. The lifetime cost for each victim of child maltreatment is about $210,000. With 13 referrals from Tullahoma last month that translates into $2,730,000.
On July 6, I attended the first Public Planning Meeting, part of the Think Tullahoma 2040: Take-off to Tomorrow project. The project aims to update the City’s Comprehensive Plan to guide future developments over the next 20 years. A Comprehensive Plan is a visionary document, guiding decisions in economic development, housing, transportation, land use and other areas. Coffee County CAC is looking forward to engaging with Tullahoma City leaders to ensure that preparation for the future includes planning for children’s safety and health. Planning for the future must involve developments and activities focusing on children’s wellbeing.
With economic development being an investment in growing the economy and enhancing the prosperity and quality of life for all residents, it’s essential for Tullahoma City to invest in child abuse prevention. Child abuse prevention will enhance Tullahoma’s economic development and community development, making Tullahoma a better place to live and work.
Child abuse costs for Tullahoma topped $2.7 for a month
Costs related to child abuse for Tullahoma topped $2.7 million for last month. The lifetime cost for each victim of child maltreatment is about $210,000. With 13 referrals from Tullahoma last month that translates into $2,730,000.
According to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the total lifetime estimated financial costs associated with one year of confirmed cases of child maltreatment (physical abuse, sexual abuse, psychological abuse and neglect) is approximately $124 billion. The lifetime cost for each victim of child maltreatment who lived was about $210,000, which is more than other costly health conditions. The costs of each death due to child maltreatment are even higher. In Coffee County, in 2020, there were: 347 referrals received for services related to severe child abuse, including four investigations involving death of a child. If we apply the CDC numbers, the cost for the 347 children victims of child abuse in 2020 would translate into nearly $73 million.
Child abuse crosses all socioeconomic and educational levels, religions, and ethnic and cultural groups. Studies show that 14% of all men in prison and 36% of women in prison in USA were abused as children. Children who experience child abuse are nine times more likely to become involved in criminal activity. The savings related to reducing child abuse in Tullahoma will be millions of dollars. If Tullahoma City makes efforts to decrease the number of abused children, the City will decrease the number of people in jail. In Coffee County, the cost for housing an inmate in jail per day is about $40. The annual cost for housing an inmate is $15,000. The number of inmates has increased over the years. Coffee County increased jail capacity from about 270 to 400 inmates in 2015, and the new jail cost Coffee County taxpayers $22 million.
Most recent referrals have come from Tullahoma; Tullahoma has not invested in child abuse prevention
Most of the recent referrals have come from Tullahoma. If we compare the referrals from the county, Manchester and Tullahoma City, most referrals we have received recently are from Tullahoma. Just this past month, there were 32 referrals in Coffee County, with 12 children being 6 years of age or younger. Thirteen of the children were from Tullahoma, 10 from Manchester, and nine from the county. Since the center started operating in 2005, the center has had 1,251 cases from Tullahoma, out of total 4,004. Yet, Tullahoma City does not support the center financially. Every year, the county and Manchester City provide funds for child abuse prevention and intervention. Tullahoma City has not supported the center financially for 15 years. Coffee County CAC urges Tullahoma City to make child abuse prevention a priority for Tullahoma City. Tullahoma City can do that by providing funds to the center like Manchester City and Coffee County do. Coffee County CAC also provides free training. We urge Tullahoma City to encourage city employees and community members to learn about child abuse, which will help prevent it. The community can prevent child abuse together. As they plan for future development, we are asking Tullahoma City leaders to join us and help us end child abuse.
For more information, visit coffeecountycac.org.
TWRA announces no boating fatalities, 21 BUI arrests made over July 4th holiday weekend
The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency reports there were no boating-related fatalities and six statewide serious injury boating incidents over the July 4th holiday weekend which includes the annual Operation Dry Water.
The TWRA reported 21 boating under the influence (BUI) arrests over the holiday weekend which ran from July 2-5. The arrests were an increase from the 11 recorded in 2020. Thirteen of the BUI arrests came in TWRA Region II (Middle Tennessee area). In addition to the serious injury incidents, there were seven property damage incidents.
Operation Dry Water is a national weekend of awareness and enforcement campaign directed toward reducing alcohol and drug-related accidents and fatalities. Operation Dry Water is held with the Independence Day holiday to give boating under the influence (BUI) enforcement high visibility during the peak boating season.
The TWRA Boating and Law Enforcement Division compiled this year’s holiday statistics after receiving reports from the agency’s four regions.
