Category: News

This year, more than ever, families are likely eager to bring some holiday cheer to their lives. This could mean shopping (and doing so early) for a real Christmas tree. However, nothing will make you say “bah humbug” faster than losing the tree you just bought on the drive home and creating hazardous situations for other drivers. AAA is reminding drivers this holiday season to properly secure and transport their real Christmas trees so everyone can safely enjoy the holidays.

“Real Christmas trees can become dangerous projectiles if not properly secured,” said Megan Cooper, spokeswoman, AAA – The Auto Club Group. “Drivers who do not safely secure their Christmas tree risk damaging their vehicle and littering the roadway with dangerous debris.”

According to AAA:

· Previous research from AAA found that road debris – which could include objects like improperly secured Christmas trees that fly off cars, landing on the road or on other cars – caused more than 200,000 crashes during a four-year period, resulting in approximately 39,000 injuries and 500 deaths.

· Vehicle damage that results from an improperly secured Christmas tree, such as scratched paint, torn door seals, and distorted window frames, could cost up to $1,500 to repair.

· It’s best to transport a Christmas tree on top of a vehicle equipped with a roof rack, but a pickup truck, SUV, van or minivan can work just as well.

Tips to Safely Transport Your Tree:

Transporting a real Christmas tree is the same as hauling any other kind of large object. Making sure the tree is properly secured will help prevent vehicle damage and lessen the chance of it coming loose and creating a potential hazard for other drivers.

· Wrap & Cover It – once you’ve found the perfect tree, have the lot wrap it in netting before loading it. Loose branches can also be secured with rope or twine to help protect the tree from damage. Also, prior to loading the tree, cover the roof with an old blanket to prevent scratches to the paint and protect the car from any damage.

· Trunk First – place the tree on the roof rack or in the bed of the truck with the trunk facing the front of the car. If the vehicle does not have a roof rack and is large enough – place the tree inside.

· Secure It – tie down the tree at its bottom, center and top using strong rope or nylon ratchet straps. Avoid using the nylon offered by many tree lots. Use fixed vehicle tie-down points and loop the rope or strap around the tree trunk above a branch to prevent any side-to-side or front-to-rear movement

· Tug Test – once tied down, give the tree several strong tugs from various angles to make sure it is secured in place and will not come loose.

· Nice & Easy – drive slowly and take back roads if possible. Higher speeds can create significant airflow that can damage your tree or challenge even the best tie-down methods.

The Tennessee gas price average is trending higher this week after the Thanksgiving holiday. The Tennessee Gas Price average is now $1.89 which is four cents more expensive on the week, the same price as one month ago and nearly 42 cents less than one year ago.

Prices in Coffee County have jumped to $1.99, which is 10 cents more than the state average price for a gallon of regular unleaded. 

“Tennesseans who took a holiday road trip last week found the lowest Thanksgiving gas prices since 2015,” said Megan Cooper, spokesperson, AAA – The Auto Club Group. “Gas prices averaged $1.88 on Thanksgiving Day, the same as five years ago and 43 cents cheaper than last year’s holiday.”

Tennessee drivers found the lowest gas prices for the month of November in 17 years. The monthly average was $1.87 per gallon, which is 45 cents less than November 2019 and 58 cents less than what drivers paid in November 2018.

Quick Facts

· 92% of Tennessee gas stations have prices below $2.00
· The lowest 10% of pump prices are $1.70 for regular unleaded
· The highest 10% of pump prices are $2.18 for regular unleaded
· Tennessee moved to the 10th least expensive market in the nation

Authorities in Franklin County are asking the public’s help to locate runaway juvenile Brooklyn Blackburn. 

She is 15 years old and was last seen in the Mallord Cove Apartment area. 

Anyone with information is encouraged to contact the Franklin County Communication Center at 931-967-2331. 

The 45th annual Trees of Christmas Display at the Ada Wright Center opens on Monday, Nov. 30 and runs through Dec. 6.

Presented by the Manchester Parks and Recreation Department, this year’s tour will feature over 30 Christmas trees depicting dreams that delight children at Christmas time.

The Ada Wright Center is located at 328 North Woodland St. in Manchester – at the entrance to Fred Deadman Park.
Admission is free of charge. Hours for Trees of Christmas are as follows:

Monday, Nov. 30: Noon – 6 p.m.
Tuesday, Dec. 1 through Friday, Dec. 4: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Saturday, Dec. 5: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Sunday, Dec. 6: Noon to 5 p.m.

(Pictured above, one of the 30+ trees that will be at this year’s Trees of Christmas display. This tree presented by Thunder Radio). 

The Manchester Police Department has hired a new police officer.

Last week officer Travis Dickson was sworn in by Manchester Mayor Marilyn Howard and has begun his career.

Join us at Thunder Radio in saying congratulations to new officer Travis Dickson.

Pictured at left is Manchester Mayor Marilyn Howard and, at right, Travis Dickson. 

Even though economic activity is still below pre-pandemic peak levels, a report from Secretary of State Tre Hargett’s office shows signs of economic recovery.

The Tennessee Quarterly Business and Economic Indicators report for the third quarter of 2020 showed 16,470 new entity filings, representing a strong 42.2 percent increase over the same quarter in 2019. Initial filings have now seen positive year-over-year growth for 35 consecutive quarters.
“The pandemic made a significant impact on our economy, but Tennessee’s entrepreneurial spirit and business-friendly environment has seen some Tennesseans start their own businesses,” said Secretary Hargett.

Growth in new entity filings is generally a good indicator for employment, personal income and revenue growth in Tennessee. However, due to the pandemic, future economic growth will depend on public policy measures and the reactions of businesses and private consumers.

Shelby County saw the largest number of new entity filings and the highest rate of growth, with Davidson County a close second followed by Hamilton and Knox counties. Together, these four counties accounted for 56 percent of all new entity filings in Tennessee.

After spiking at 15.5 percent in April, Tennessee’s unemployment rate has trended downward, falling to 6.3 percent in September. By comparison, the national unemployment rate reached 14.7 percent in April and fell to 7.9 percent in September.

“Tennesseans’ business ingenuity has really shone through over the past half year or so,” said Dr. Bill Fox, the director of the Boyd Center for Business and Economic Research. “More than 16,000 new entity filings this quarter show that people across the state are embarking on new journeys like making masks, delivering food, providing enhanced cleaning services and more to make the best of the situation we are all in together.”

The Tennessee Quarterly Business and Economic Indicators report provides a snapshot of the state’s economy based on various key indicators, including new business data from the Secretary of State’s Division of Business Services. It’s published through a partnership with the University of Tennessee Knoxville’s Boyd Center for Business and Economic Research and the Secretary of State.

Weather forecasters have snuck a four-letter word into the forecast for late Monday: Snow.

According to the National Weather Service Sunday forecast, the plateau could see between 1 and 2 inches of snow Monday night and areas along I-65 and east (including Coffee County), could see a dusting up to a half an inch. Snow amounts depend on timing of colder temperatures and moisture.

Should there be closures or changes in schools or other area business, check thunder1320.com

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Many Tennessee counties experienced changes in their unemployment rates during October 2020, according to newly released data from the Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development (TDLWD).

Unemployment in 93 of Tennessee’s 95 counties increased in October. Davidson and Sevier counties saw their rates decrease during the month.

During October, two counties in the state had unemployment rates below 5%, 90 counties had rates of 5% or greater, and three counties recorded rates of 10% or higher.

In Coffee County, unemployment nudged up over a full percentage point and now stands at 6.6 percent. That is up 1.1% from the Sept. rate of 5.5%. There are currently 1,675 unemployed in Coffee County.

Williamson County had the state’s lowest unemployment in October with a rate of 4.6%, which is up 0.8 of a percentage point from its revised September rate of 3.8%

Shelby County recorded October’s highest jobless rate in Tennessee. At 11%, the county’s unemployment increased by 0.7 of a percentage point when compared to the previous month’s revised rate of 10.3%.
TDLWD has produced a report with a complete analysis of Tennessee’s October 2020 county unemployment data. You can find information for each county and statistical area here (https://www.us13.list-manage.com/track/click?u=166478db53c066a7d114ea462&id=8eac901acc&e=29851e7b63) .

Tennessee’s statewide unemployment rate increased during October. The preliminary, seasonally adjusted, statewide unemployment rate for October 2020 is 7.4%, an increase of 0.9 of a percentage point from September’s revised rate of 6.5%.

Nationally, unemployment decreased from September’s revised rate of 7.9% to 6.9% in October. The U.S. rate is 3.3 percentage points higher than it was in October 2019.

Tennessee employers are ready to help the state’s economy rebound by hiring individuals to meet their business needs. Jobs4TN.gov, Tennessee’s workforce development website, currently has over 240,000 open positions for workers of varying skill levels.

Jobs4TN.gov also offers online assistance with writing a resume that will catch the attention of employers, advice on how to engage and impress during job interviews, and details about potential job training opportunities.

There are more than 80 American Job Centers across Tennessee that are open for business and offering job seekers one-on-one personalized assistance. Career specialists are ready to work with individuals to devise a reemployment plan that will help them rejoin the state’s workforce.

All the assistance is free to anyone who needs help finding a new job or career path.

Commissioner Jeff Long of the Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security (TDSOHS) and Tennessee Highway Patrol (THP) Colonel Dereck R. Stewart announced the “Tennessee Challenge” traffic safety initiative. The “Tennessee Challenge” will increase traffic enforcement efforts on the busiest travel days of the Thanksgiving holiday. 

The THP has extended the challenge to our partnering agencies here in Tennessee to make our state safer over the Thanksgiving holiday weekend. The THP will have an increased presence on all interstates and all other highways. Troopers will be working 12-hour shifts: Wednesday, November 25, 2020 from 10:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. and Sunday, November 29, 2020 from 10:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.

“The loss of life is never easy, especially when that loss could have been avoided,” Colonel Dereck R. Stewart said. “The pain remains for a lifetime. That is why I am making a commitment to increase our trooper presence on all major Tennessee roadways. We encourage the public to make safe choices when traveling. Stay off your phone and don’t drive distracted, wear your seatbelt, and do not drive impaired.”

In 2019, over the Thanksgiving holiday weekend there were 15 fatal crashes resulting in 18 deaths. 16 of the people killed were motor vehicle occupants and three of the fatalities were alcohol related. During your travels across Tennessee, if you require highway assistance, please dial *847 (*THP). This will connect you to a THP dispatcher. A trooper will then be dispatched to your location.

Saturday is the day for the annual Manchester Christmas Parade.

The parade will begin at 6:30 p.m. and travel North on US 41 from the intersection of Highways 41 and 55, and then turn onto the downtown square using W. Main Street.

You will be able to watch the parade pass at any spot in those areas.

The annual parade is themed “Childhood Dreams of Christmas.” Bonnie Gamble is the grand marshal. See the full parade route below.