Category: News

Tennessee State Parks had an economic impact of $1.84 billion in Tennessee in 2020 and welcomed 34.7 million visits, according to a report done for the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation.

The report notes that local area spending by visitors has a substantial impact on local economies. The parks reached historic highs in camping, recording four of the top 10 months ever, and set a pace for future success with $184 million in investments in capital projects throughout the year. Those projects alone are expected to result in over $400 million in economic impact to the state.

The figures show that Tennessee State Parks are not only a great way for Tennesseans to get outdoors but are a significant driver of a healthy Tennessee economy as well.

One of Tennessee’s great state parks is located right here in Manchester, drawing visitors from all over the state and the country – Old Stone Fort State Archaeological Park. 

“Our state parks are a great source of pride for Tennesseans, and they have proven more important than ever during this challenging year,” Gov. Bill Lee said. “These important Tennessee treasures provide substantial economic activity in communities across our state, and we are grateful for the way they continue to prosper.”

“This study details extraordinary accomplishments by our state parks,” TDEC Commissioner David Salyers said. “It is a testament to the hard work and dedication of our parks staff, and Tennesseans should be proud of the way the parks responded to public demand. The last year has been trying for Tennesseans, but we are confident the reliance on our state parks throughout this period bodes well for the coming year and beyond.”

In total, the report found $1.7 billion in economic impact from operations and visitor spending; $126.7 million from capital projects; and $11.4 million from facilities and land management maintenance projects.

The report found:

• 14,514 total jobs supported by parks activity

• $110.3 million in state taxes reflected in parks activity, which is more than double what the state general fund contributes to state parks

• $22.1 million in local county taxes generated from parks activity

The report was conducted by Impact DataSource, an economic consulting firm based in Austin, Texas, the same firm used by the state’s Department of Economic and Community Development. It also relied on visitor spending data collected by the University of Tennessee Human Dimensions Research Lab. The report assesses the impact of the state’s operating expenditures, maintenance and capital expenditures, and parks visitors’ spending.

Coffee County residents who qualify for phase 1a1 or 1a2 of COVID-19 vaccinations (which includes those 75 and older, inpatient healthcare workers, staff of COVID testing, etc.) can now sign up to to be on a list and receive their COVID-19 vaccination through the health department online.

To sign up – click here. At the bottom of the page, check “sign up” and then click “submit and sign up” at the bottom of the page. At this point you will enter your information.

Currently, there are 582 slots that have been filled. The health department is supposed to offer vaccinations Mondays, Wednesday and Fridays at the Coffee County Fairgounds. However, that depends on availability. Testing is conducted on Tuesdays and Thursdays. 

Roadside trash in Coffee County has increased significantly over the past year – and Coffee County Sheriff Chad Partin says it is time for that to stop.

Over the past year Partin says that numerous areas in Coffee County have started seeing entire loads of garbage dumped by the roadside, in dead-end areas, in wooded lots and other various places. In the year 2020, the roadside pickup crew of trustees from the Coffee County Jail picked up 3,000 pounds of aluminum cans. That was with a 4-man crew – and that is not all.

“We have picked up numerous tires, scrap iron and tons of general household trash,” explained Partin. “I’m not talking about just a random bag falling off a truck or a few small items that blow out of the bed of a truck. I’m talking about entire loads just dumped by the side of the road.”

Partin said his crews have picked up old recliners, roofing shingles and drywall. Enough for an “entire remodel” he said.
Partin said he does not want to prosecute citizens – but it may come to that.

“I’m just asking everyone to show a little more respect and awareness and help us keep our community clean,” said Partin. “We have multiple convenience centers in this county to properly dispose of trash.”

Partin said his department is investing in cameras to place in certain hot-spot areas and offenders will be prosecuted.

Standard convenience center hours of operations are 6-11 a.m. and 2-6 p.m. Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays, and 1-5 p.m. on Sundays. These may vary around holidays.

Tires may be disposed of at 2180 Murfreesboro Highway on Thursdays from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. A Coffee County household can dispose of up to 8 tires per year at no charge. For m ore questions, contact the Rural Solid Waste office at 931-723-5139.

Convenience centers in Coffee County for trash disposal are located at the following places:
Beech Grove Convenience Center – 90 Oscar Crowell Rd.
Belmont Convenience Center – 4120 New Tullahoma Highway
Blanton’s Chapel Convenience Center – 4412 Powers Bridge Rd.
Hillsboro Convenience center – 416 Winchester Highway
Jones Convenience Center – 2050 Riley Creek Rd.
New Union Convenience Center – 177 Brandon Rd.
Ninth Model Convenience Center – 105 Fountain Grove Rd.
North Coffee Convenience Center – 75 Cantrell Ln.
Red Hill Convenience Center – 2922 Hillsboro Highway
Summitville Convenience Center – 90 School St.

The Grundy County Sheriff’s Department is asking for help identifying a truck and individuals inside after an alleged assault.

According to Grundy County Sheriff’s Department, late Saturday night a property owner in the Piegon Springs area caught two people trespassing on his property. When he approached the driver, the property owner was allegedly blindsided by another individual. The two trespassers allegedly knocked the property owner to the ground and assaulted him, resulting in seven stitches.

See photos of the truck in question below. It is believed that the two individuals were possibly “spotlighting deer.” 

Anyone with information about this incident should contact GCSD at 931-692-3466 ext. 5.

Pump prices are on the rise this week in Tennessee, jumping nine cents over last week. The Tennessee Gas Price average is now $2.13 which is 21 cents more than one month ago and 24 cents less than one year ago.

The average price in Coffee County is $2.14 – which is slightly higher than the state average.

“Gas prices are rising as supply tightens and crude oil gets more expensive. Decreasing demand is outweighed by these other factors at the moment,” said Megan Cooper, spokeswoman, AAA – The Auto Club Group. “Last week crude oil pushed to the highest price since before the pandemic. If crude prices remain high, Americans can expect to pay more at the pump this month.”

Quick Facts

· 15% of Tennessee gas stations have prices below $2.00
· The lowest 10% of pump prices are $1.96 for regular unleaded
· The highest 10% of pump prices are $2.40 for regular unleaded
· Tennessee remains the 10th least expensive market in the nation
· Tennessee ranks 5th in the nation’s top largest weekly increases

Vaccination appointment system expected to go live this week

Tennessee is expected to launch an online appointment system to sign up for COVID-19 vaccinations. Tennessee Department of Health said the appointment system is expected to go live this week – but further details haven’t been provided about an exact date

Different counties across the state are at different phases of vaccinations. In Coffee County, vaccinations for those ages 75 and older began last week at the Coffee County Fairgrounds. However, vaccination availability was extremely limited. Vaccinations are supposed to continue forward on Mondays, Wednesday and Fridays at the fairgrounds, with testing on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

Tennessee is dependent on vaccine supplies from the federal government. The federal government controls the maximum amount of vaccine doses that states receive, and Tennessee is requesting the maximum allotment at every opportunity.

Thunder Radio will continue to pass along updates as they are available.

School board meeting
The Coffee County Board of Education will meet at 4:30 p.m. Monday, Jan. 11 at the Board of Education office on McArthur St. in Manchester.

Full County Commission meeting
The full Coffee County Commission will hold a regular meeting at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 12. This will be a meeting held via conference call.

Manchester Board of Education to meet
The Manchester Board of Education will meet at 5 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 11. This will be an electronic meeting.

The Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development has been working throughout the weekend with its system vendor to implement the federal unemployment program extensions outlined in H.R. 133.

Claimants who exhausted their federal pandemic unemployment benefits prior to December 26, 2020, should have new benefit balances added to their PUA and PEUC claims.

If the claimant exhausted benefits on, or prior to December 26, they can attempt to complete a certification. If the claimant is unable to certify and the system prompts them to file a claim, they should proceed and complete the refiling process.

Claimants can go back and certify for missed weeks. They are required to provide work searches for each of the weeks they certify to receive unemployment benefits.

The Franklin County Sheriff’s Office is investigating the reported theft of a jet boat from a residence in Franklin County.

A report filed stated that the boat was taken from 52 Lockmiller Road Estill Springs, TN. The boat was allegedly taken between Wednesday January 6th, in the evening hours, and Thursday January 7th.

The boat is described as a 1982 Marlin Lunar Jet Boat, blue in color with black accents. The boat did have a light olive green cover with a blue tarp covering the entire boat. The engine is a 400 cubic inch small block with 700 horsepower.

The boat was also on a 2000’s model black in color master craft trailer. The estimated value is  $28,000.00. Anyone having any information regarding this matter is asked to contact Lt. George Dyer at the Franklin County Sheriff’s office at 931-308-9420 or 931-962-0123.