Category: News

Tennessee House Republican leadership last week presented legislation making Tennessee the 19th state in the nation to enact a constitutional right to carry law. House Bill 786 upholds freedoms granted to law-abiding citizens in the U.S. Constitution while also stiffening penalties for criminals who steal or illegally possess firearms.

This legislation includes several provisions that will make Tennessee communities safer by providing more severe punishments for firearm-related crime. House Bill 786 includes sentencing enhancements for theft of a firearm in a car, increases the minimum sentence for theft of a firearm from 30 to 180 days and increases unlawful possession of a firearm by violent felons and felony drug offenders. It also increases sentences for possession by a felon and unlawfully providing a handgun to a minor or allowing a minor to possess a firearm.

Currently, concealed carry permit holders have the right to carry a handgun, except in restricted areas. Law-abiding citizens without a carry permit may only carry a firearm in certain locations such as their home, car, or place of business. House Bill 786 would extend the constitutional right to carry a handgun without a permit to all law-abiding citizens 21 and older or 18 and older for active members of the military. Restricted areas include schools, colleges and universities, playgrounds, athletic events, government property signs posted prohibiting carry, places where judicial proceedings take place, parks, campgrounds and greenways. House Bill 786 moves to Criminal Justice Subcommittee for consideration on March 3.

The Tullahoma Police Department needs your assistance in identifying a person of interest regarding an incident on February 28 at approximately 12:15pm at a local business.

If you have any information to the identity of this person (photo below), please contact Detective Johnny Gore at 931-455-0530 ext.131, on TPD facebook page, or at jgore@tullahomatn.gov.

The Tennessee gas price average continues to climb, jumping nearly 10 cents since last week. The Tennessee Gas Price average is now $2.50 which is 27 cents more than one month ago and nearly 29 cents more than one year ago.

The average price per gallon in Coffee County is $2.46, which is 4 cents below the state average and 26 cents below the national average, which is $2.72.

“Last month’s pump price surge was primarily due to the winter storm that hit the gulf coast region,” said Megan Cooper, spokesperson, AAA – The Auto Club Group. “However, we also experienced tightening global fuel supply and market optimism that the COVID-19 vaccine could help boost gasoline demand in 2021. Continued volatility at the pump is expected in the coming months as refineries enter maintenance season to prepare for the switch to summer blend gasoline.”

Quick Facts

· 69% of Tennessee gas stations have prices below $2.50
· The lowest 10% of pump prices are $2.33 for regular unleaded
· The highest 10% of pump prices are $2.76 for regular unleaded
· Tennessee remains the 9th least expensive market in the nation

Last month, Tennessee gas prices averaged $2.32 a gallon. That’s 17 cents more expensive than the monthly average for January and the most expensive February at the pump since 2018 when the monthly average was $2.36. The state average has increased a total of 46 cents since January 1st.

National Gas Prices

Gas prices continue to increase, with the national average up nine cents on the week to $2.72. That is a 30 cent increase from the beginning of February, 28 cents more than a year ago and the most expensive daily national average since August 2019.

The latest price jumps are a direct result of February’s winter storm that took 26 U.S. refineries offline and pushed refinery utilization from an average of about 83% down to an atypical low of 68%, according to the Energy Information Administration (EIA). In its latest data, EIA also reported demand at 7.2 million b/d. Both utilization and demand rates have not been reported this low since last May.

AAA forecasts the national gas price average to hit at least $2.80 in March. For motorists, that means they can expect continued increases of at least 5–10 cents in local markets until refinery operations are stable.

Officials with the Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival have officially requested that the city of Manchester annex its property to officially become a part of the city of Manchester.

Currently, Great Stage Park (the location of the annual festival), is located in the county and not inside the city limits of Manchester.

Manchester Mayor Marilyn Howard told Thunder Radio News that negotiations are ongoing.

“As a board of Mayor and Aldermen we will do what is best for our city,” said Howard. “This process and negotiation is in the very early stages and has many moving parts and entities. We will work through this and report to the pubic what this would mean as we work through this process.”

There are public meetings that will be scheduled for April. Thunder Radio news will report more information as those hearings grow near.

Coffee County School System administered COVID-19 vaccines to all willing staff members at
Coffee County Central High School on February 25 and 26.

The district anticipates administering the second dose on March 25 and 26.

“The district appreciates the efforts of Tonya Garner (Coordinator of School
Health), the school nurses throughout the district, Deana Crosslin, and the
CNA students who have been instrumental in making this happen,” the system said in a statement. 

Return to normal learning

Coffee County Schools continues to adjust to the changing conditions
surrounding COVID-19. One of these adjustments is a return to in-person
instruction five days each week. The district is tentatively planning on
this shift in schedules following spring break. This means that all
students who are not virtual will report to school for five days each week
starting April 5 through April 9.

On December 4, 2020, the Tennessee Department of Health (TDOH) changed its
guidance for schools. TDOH recommends that parents and school staff
monitor students for symptoms of COVID, but taking temperatures of all
students entering the building is no longer recommended. Coffee County
Schools has continued this practice for three extra months after the TDOH
changed the guidance. Starting Monday, March 1, Coffee County Schools will
no longer take the temperature of all students who enter our schools.
Parents should continue to monitor their children for symptoms. As always,
school staff will be on hand to greet students upon arrival at the school
and any student who appears unwell will be monitored by the school nurse.
Coffee County Schools will continue to follow recommendations from the TDOH
and CDC in order to protect our students and staff from COVID-19

Two elderly adults with medical conditions who went missing from the Clarksville area last Tuesday were spotted driving on Interstate-24 near Manchester Thursday evening, according to Tennessee Bureau of Investigation. 

Daisy Roberts and Paul Elam have been returned to the Clarksville area.

Legislation protecting public roadways from mob violence began to move through the committee process last week in Nashville. House Bill 513 promotes law and order by increasing penalties for those who obstruct a roadway and creates new criminal offenses for those who participate in rioting.

House Bill 513 increases the penalty for obstructing a highway or other passage way to a Class E felony with a mandatory fine of $3,000. Currently, the offense carries a maximum $500 fine. It creates criminal immunity for a driver who unintentionally causes injury or death to a person illegally obstructing a roadway.

House Bill 513 also enhances penalties for violence committed during a riot. The bill defines a riot as a disturbance in a public place or penal institution involving three or more people who are participating in violent behavior, creating grave danger, substantial damage to property or serious bodily injury to others, obstructing law enforcement or a government function.

House Bill 513:
• Creates a Class A misdemeanor punishable by up to 11 months and 29 days in jail and a fine of up to $2,500 for a person who throws an object at another with the intent of harming the other person during a riot.
• Creates a Class E felony punishable by one to six years in prison for a person who throws an object at another and causes bodily injury while participating in a riot.
• Creates a Class A misdemeanor punishable by up to 11 months and 29 days in jail and a fine of up to $2,500 for a person participating in a riot who intentionally intimidates or harasses an individual in public who is not participating in a riot.
House Bill 513 will be presented in the Criminal Justice Committee for a vote on March 3.

Two elderly adults with medical conditions who went missing from the Clarksville area last Tuesday were spotted driving on Interstate-24 near Manchester Thursday evening.

On Wednesday, the Tennessee Department of Health announced state-specific visitation restrictions for long-term care facilities will end effective February 28, 2021. Facilities should use the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services guidance for safe operation and visitation with limited visitation restrictions no longer in place at the state level.

The Tennessee Department of Health recognizes the extraordinary challenges long-term care facilities, their residents and the family members and caregivers of these particularly vulnerable Tennesseans have faced during the COVID-19 pandemic. As a result of the federal long-term care facility pharmacy partnership, 100 percent of Tennessee’s nursing homes and skilled nursing facilities have completed both doses of COVID-19 vaccinations, and Tennessee’s assisted care living facilities and residential homes for the aged are projected to be completed this week.

“The health and safety of vulnerable Tennesseans, especially our long-term care residents, remains our top priority, and our comprehensive and persistent efforts to protect this population from COVID-19 have saved lives,” said Tennessee Health Commissioner Lisa Piercey, MD, MBA, FAAP. “Now that vaccinations at all long-term care facilities are nearing completion, we are ready to transition to a more sustainable approach of following these best practices for safe operation of long-term care facilities in Tennessee.”

Guidance for Visitation
The guidance issued by CMS provides reasonable ways a nursing home can safely facilitate in-person visits to address residents’ social and emotional needs. Certified Medicare and Medicaid facilities should continue to follow the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Visitation Guidance. Per this guidance, nursing homes may allow indoor visitation when there has been no new onset of COVID-19 cases in the last 14 days and the facility is not currently conducting outbreak testing.

Long-term care facilities licensed by the state, which include Tennessee assisted care living facilities, residential homes for the aged and any nursing home not certified by CMS, should reference industry best practices including CMS Visitation Guidance and review related laws and rules when developing their own facility-specific visitation policies and procedures.

The CMS guidance outlines how facilities may expand communal dining and other group activities, provided infection control policies are followed. Even as COVID-19 case counts decline, facilities should remain vigilant in monitoring for COVID-19 cases among residents and staff members through appropriate screening and testing. Facilities may test visitors, which is encouraged, but not required. Additional resources on infection control practices are available from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The following resources are available for long-term care facilities when updating and developing their visitation policies and procedures.

CMS Visitation Guidance:
www.cms.gov/files/document/qso-20-39-nh.pdf

CDC Infection Control Resources:
www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/hcp/infection-control-recommendations.html

The Tennessee Department of Transportation has completed a
year-long Statewide Aviation Economic Impact Study, finding Tennessee’s
public-use airports contribute $40 billion to the state’s economy and
support 220,936 jobs in Tennessee. There are 6 commercial service airports
and 72 general aviation airports in Tennessee.

The study analyzed the economic impacts at Tullahoma Airport and found the
airport contributes $21,000,000 to the state’s economy. The study analyzed
the economic impacts of on-airport activities, off-airport activities,
multiplier impacts, and freight/cargo. Examples of on-airport activities
include economic impacts from business tenants, airport construction
spending, and airport employment. Off-airport impacts include visitor
spending. Visitor spending at Tullahoma Airport generated $1,500,000 in
revenue to the state in 2019. Analysis found that on-airport impacts
generated 149 jobs, $7,500,000 in payroll, and $11,500,000 in business
revenue.

“I am very happy to see the economic impact the Airport contributes to
Tullahoma. I look forward to the Airport attracting more business and
employees for our area with the 100 – acre Airport Business Park,” said
Tullahoma Mayor Ray Knowis.

Tullahoma Airport falls in Region 2 of the state’s airports, which stretches
from the Kentucky border to the Georgia and Alabama line, with 24 counties
and 19 airports. Tullahoma Airport ranks 2nd behind Chattanooga’s Lovell
Field in Economic impact in Region 2.

This Economic Impact Study represents the 2019 annual economic impact of the
aviation system on the state’s economy. Therefore, the study is a good
representation of the annual economic impact of the aviation system during a
non-pandemic world.

Tennessee’s 78 public-use airports are critical components of the state’s
transportation network, linking and providing access to regional, national
and global transportation systems – TDOT Commissioner Clay Bright.

“A safe, secure, efficient and resilient aviation system is essential to our
state’s physical, economic, and social health. This report recognizes
aviation as a driver of the economy, including economic recovery,” said TN
Aeronautics Director, Michelle Frazier.

Tullahoma Airport is an asset to our local community and Tennessee’s $40
billion aviation industry. Airports serve as a catalyst for people to
conduct business, serve clients, and ship cargo. Having a well maintained
and diverse aviation system supports a robust economy.

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Thursday announced it is investing $42.3 million to help rural residents gain access to health care and educational opportunities. Rural areas are seeing higher infection and death rates related to COVID-19 due to several factors, including a much higher percentage of underlying conditions, difficulty accessing medical care, and lack of health insurance. The $42.3 million in awards includes $24 million provided through the CARES Act. In total, these investments will benefit 5 million rural residents. Tennessee Rural Development Acting State Director Dan Beasley is excited to announce that three projects will receive funding to expand its distance learning and telemedicine opportunities.

“The expansion of rural education and health care access significantly advances the quality of life for students and residents,” Beasley said. “Today’s investments will allow citizen’s in rural areas to benefit from telemedicine and distance learning opportunities that would otherwise not be available.”

A recent report by the Rural Policy Research Institute’s Center for Rural Health Policy Analysis found infection and death rates in rural America due to COVID-19 are 13.4 percent higher than in urban areas. A recent report from USDA’s Economic Research Service, USDA ERS – Rural Residents Appear to be More Vulnerable to Serious Infection or Death From Coronavirus COVID-19, underscored the challenges facing rural Americans amidst the COVID-19 pandemic with even greater detail. Due to a confluence of factors, including higher percentages of underlying conditions, lack of health insurance, and lower access to medical facilities/care than urban counterparts, ERS analysts found rural Americans are suffering more severe illness or death due to COVID-19.

In Tennessee:
• East Tennessee State University will use a $121,069 grant to establish a telemedicine system linking five clinics in Hancock, Johnson and Washington counties. The project will provide access to behavioral and substance misuse telehealth counseling. It will also provide primary care and specialty care telemedicine support for patients who are unable to travel to one of seven nurse-managed clinics in the three counties.

• Grundy County Department of Education will use a $274,768 grant to establish a distance learning program to assist students from grades Pre-Kindergarten to 12th Grade in Grundy County. Services and equipment will be provided to students at all seven schools in the district and will operate as hub/end-user sites. The schools are Coalmont Elementary School and Grundy County High School in Coalmont, North Elementary School in Altamont, Palmer Elementary School in Palmer, Pelham Elementary School in Pelham, Swiss Memorial Elementary School in Gruetli-Laager, and Tracy City Elementary School in Tracy City.

• Hardin County Regional Health Center will use a $296,352 grant to establish a telemedicine system for residents in Hardin, Wayne and McNairy counties. Six hub/end user sites will connect patients to primary care, behavioral health providers and to substance use disorder counselors. Portable telehealth units will link patients in their homes, students in school and people at other community settings to providers at hub sites. These telemedicine services are expected to improve patient safety by reducing their risk of exposure to COVID-19 and by encouraging social distancing.

To learn more about investment resources for rural areas, interested parties should contact their USDA Rural Development state office.