Category: News

A number of individuals are rushing to meet Thursday’s noon deadline for qualifying for the August elections. According to the election office, a number of candidates have picked up qualifying petitions and are returning them for the Manchester and Tullahoma city election as well as the Coffee County Board and Tullahoma school boards.
Anyone wanting to qualify may pick up papers at the election office in the county government plaza and return them by noon Thursday.

The national average for gas is expected soon to reach $4 a gallon as many of us struggle to fit that price into our budgets. Prices are nearing that in some areas of Coffee County.
On Tuesday night, gas stations in Tullahoma were selling gas as low as $3.69 a gallon and as high as $3.85. In Manchester the prices were as low as $3.79 and as high as around $4.04 a gallon.

Soles4Souls, a charity that gives used shoes to people in need, is currently taking place in Coffee County now through April-13. Every pair of shoes brought in can change one person’s life! Boxes are available at Coffee County Central High School and local churches for you to drop off your unwanted shoes. ANY KIND OF SHOE IS ACCEPTED. Please tie the laces together or rubber band them if they do not have laces. The school wants to collect at least 15,000 pairs. Even if you can only donate one pair that is fine! Ask around and see how many you can collect!

As families are beginning to make travel plans for the summer, TripAdvisor announced yesterday the top family-friendly hotels and resorts in the U.S. and world as voted on in the 2012 Travelers’ Choice Awards. In fact, 82% of travelers are planning to take a family trip this year, up two percent compared to 2011 and 66% said rising gas prices will not affect their travel plans.
To help travelers plan the perfect family vacation, TripAdvisor identified the top large hotels and resorts as well as the top small hotels and motels throughout the U.S. TripAdvisor says Pollace’s Family Vacation Resort, Catskill, NY was voted number 1 small hotel or motel and Comfort Suites Manchester in Manchester, Tenn. was voted number 17.

County non-seasonally adjusted unemployment rates for February 2012 show the rate decreased in 75 counties, increased in 10 counties, and remained the same in 10 counties.

Tennessee’s unemployment rate for February fell to 8.0 percent, down from the January revised rate of 8.2 percent. The national unemployment rate for February 2012 was 8.3 percent, unchanged from the January rate.

Williamson Co. had the lowest rate at 5.6% and Scott Co. the highest at 17.6.

Coffee Co. has the same as the state at 8% down .2.  Bedford Co. fell 9.8 to 9.6, Franklin Co. dropped .2 to 9.6%, Grundy went down 10.6 from 11%, Moore Co. went up from 7.7 to 8.1, Warren Co. goes down slightly to from 9.9 to 9.8 and Cannon Co. is now at 7.8 down 0.1.

A 50 year old Pennsylvania man fell to his death Saturday night on Sewanee Mountain in Franklin County. According to Franklin county Sheriff Tim Fuller, Eric Petrilla of Pennsylvania and his son had been sitting on what is known as The Rock that sits on the side of Highway 64 watching the sunset. According to the sheriff, he apparently stood up to look off the side of the mountain and fell some 50 feet to his death. Petrillla’s son attempted to catch him but was unable to do so. He was flown to Erlanger Medical Center where died. Petrilla had been staying in Sewanee with his brother Dr. Matt Petrilla.

An early morning traffic accident took the life of an Estill Springs man. According to the Tennessee Highway Patrolman Duane Stevens, Tracy Hedge, 45, of Old Tullahoma Road, Estill Springs was driving a 2009 Hyundai along Highway 130 when he apparently lost control of his vehicle in a curve near the intersection of Eastbrook Road. According to the trooper’s report, Hedge’s vehicle left the road went down an embankment and finally came to rest against several trees. The rescue truck from the Winchester Fire Department was summoned but the Jaws of Life was not needed to extract Hedge from the vehicle. Deputies from the Franklin County Sheriff’s department assisted the trooper at the crash scene.

Two area fast food restaurants recently were the victims of counterfeiters. According to Tullahoma Police reports, a white female driving a Chevrolet Cavalier passed a $5 bill at Captain D’s on March 26 at the drive through window. When the store clerk checked the bill and determined that it was counterfeit. The clerk then went back to the window and asked for another $5 bill and when she did the woman drove away. Also on March 26, seven $1 bills were passed at Sonic located on South Lincoln Street. A white female driving a gray four-door car passed the bill there. Tullahoma Police Detective Ty Brazier is investigating the incident.

Hillsboro Volunteer Fire Department in conjunction with Alto Oak Grove Volunteer Fire Department hosted the first tri county fire training weekend this past Saturday, March 31, at the Hillsboro Park. Following the motto “train like your life depends on it… because it does,” over 70 firefighters from Coffee, Franklin, and Grundy counties took part in a live fire training exercise. Training stations included sessions about ventilation tactics, fire attack, landing zones, interior search and rescue, and rehabilitation. Departments who attended include Alto-Oak Grove Volunteer Fire Department, Fourth District Volunteer Fire Department, Belvidere Volunteer Fire Department, Capitol Hill Volunteer Fire Department, Estill Springs Volunteer Fire Department, Cowan Fire Department, Decherd Fire Department, Pelham Valley Fire Department, Gruetli – Laager Fire Department, Palmer Volunteer Fire Department, Tracy City Volunteer Fire Department, Coalmont Fire Department, Altamont Volunteer Fire Department, Hillsboro Volunteer Fire Department, New Union Volunteer Fire Department, Hickerson Station Volunteer Fire Department, Summitville Volunteer Fire Department, AEDC Fire and Emergency Services, and Manchester Fire and Rescue. Participants will take their new skills and information to disperse to fellow firefighters at each of their respective departments.

The month just ended was the warmest March on record across Tennessee.
National Weather Service records shows that the temperatures were higher in each county during the month. Forecasters said the lack of strong cold fronts moving through the state helped maintain the warm temperatures.
April is starting off warm as well.