Category: News

Completed ballots may be mailed with a first-class stamp in the county you reside at the designated post office before 3 p.m. local time on Election Day, Nov. 3. A representative from the county election commission will pick up ballots directly from the designated post office to ensure they are received by the close of polls on Election Day.

Coffee county voters concerned about delays in mail delivery can speed the process up by mailing their completed absentee by-mail ballot at the post office located at 1601 Hillsboro Blvd, Manchester TN 37355, said Andy Farrar, Administrator of Elections

“The Postal Service is implementing extraordinary measures and resources to deliver for Tuesday’s General Election. We are working closely with local elections officials to offer ballot delivery on Election Day at 95 post offices across the state. While the 3 p.m. deadline is in place for ballots on November 3rd, other information about our locations, including retail hours is available at usps.com, under Find USPS Locations,” said USPS Tennessee District Manager Christopher L. Alexander.

“It is important that voters know that they can mail their absentee by-mail ballots in this manner. Every vote matters, and we want to make sure that every legal vote is counted,” said Coordinator of Elections Mark Goins

Coffee County voters can easily and securely track their absentee by-mail ballot’s status with the Secretary of State’s Absentee By-Mail Ballot Status Tracker tool: tnmap.tn.gov/voterlookup.

Tennesseans planning to vote early for the Presidential election have until this Thursday, Oct. 29 to cast their ballots. Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 3.

“We have seen high turnout numbers during early voting, and I urge Tennesseans to take advantage of these final days of early voting,” said Secretary of State Tre Hargett.

During early voting and on Election Day, Tennesseans are encouraged to wear a face covering and maintain a six-foot distance from poll officials and other voters. Voters should expect to see signs with further safety instructions at their polling locations. All poll officials will be wearing face coverings and will be trained in social distancing measures.

In Coffee County, those wishing to vote early can do so at the Coffee County Administrative Plaza in Manchester or at the CD Stamps building in Tullahoma.

Voters can find early voting and Election Day voting locations, view and mark sample ballots and much more with the GoVoteTN app (https://t.e2ma.net/click/adimumb/yvgckg/6phf5xn) or online at GoVoteTN.com (https://t.e2ma.net/click/adimumb/yvgckg/miif5xn). Download the free GoVoteTN app in the App Store or Google Play.

Tennesseans voting early or on Election Day should remember to bring valid photo identification with them to the polls. A driver’s license or photo ID issued by the Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security, by Tennessee state government or by the federal government are acceptable even if they are expired. College student IDs are not acceptable. More information about what types of ID are acceptable can be found on sos.tn.gov by calling toll free 1-877-850-4959.

To view early voting turnout vote totals by county (https://t.e2ma.net/click/adimumb/yvgckg/2ajf5xn) and a comparison of how this year (https://t.e2ma.net/click/adimumb/yvgckg/i3jf5xn), visit GoVoteTN.com.

For questions about early voting in Tennessee, go to GoVoteTN.com (https://t.e2ma.net/click/adimumb/yvgckg/a9mf5xn) or call the Division of Elections toll-free at 1-877-850-4959.

The United Way of Highway 55 believes that all our neighbors deserve a chance to succeed and live a vibrant life here at home. We support these areas that build a good quality of life and a strong community – Education, Income, Health, and Basic Essentials.

United Way prides itself on being a safe, effective outlet for donors to make a difference in their community. We raise funds from a variety of individuals and businesses, pooling donated resources, and organize fundraisers so we can make significant grants to nonprofit agencies in Coffee, Moore, and Warren Counties. We distribute funds strategically to our 16 partner local nonprofits four times a year. All donated dollars stay in those 3 counties supporting our nonprofits and community. The pandemic has hit our nonprofits hard and they need your support to continue their missions-that strengthen and help our neighbors in this community.

United Way of Highway 55 would like to thank The Robert & Jill Coon Foundation for donating $2,600 and Caterpillar Inc. for matching the donation totaling $5,200. Caterpillar is the world’s leading manufacturer of construction and mining equipment, diesel and natural gas engines, industrial gas turbines and diesel-electric locomotives. The company principally operates through three primary segments – Construction Industries, Resource Industries and Energy & Transportation – and provides financing and related services through its Financial Products segment. On behalf of United Way of Highway 55, we would like to thank all our donors that allow us to carry out our missions in our community.

For more information about United Way of Highway 55 go to http://highway55unitedway.org/ or visit our Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/Hwy55UnitedWay/ to stay up to date on local news and events! Go to our website to DONATE or set up an employee deduction/give program at your work. Contact Ashley Abraham at Director@Highway55UnitedWay.org. Thank you!

A former Winchester Police Department officer who was fired last week after an arrest in Manchester on charge of domestic violence has been arrested again.

Tristan Delacruz was originally arrested in Manchester on Oct. 20 for domestic assault. He posted $2,000 bond.

On Monday, Oct. 26, Delacruz is reported to have been arrested again – this time booked into the Franklin County Jail. This time Delacruz faces charges of domestic assault, two counts of interfering with an emergency call, two counts of vandalism, theft of property, false imprisonment and harassment. He was released on $50,000 bond.

Police quickly apprehended an escapee Tuesday after he escaped from transport officers at the Coffee County Justice Center on Hillsboro Blvd.

Terrance Moore was sentenced to the Coffee County Jail Tuesday for non-violent offenses. Just before Moore was loaded into the transport vehicle at the Coffee County Justice Center, authorities say he took off while in handcuffs.

A joint effort between the Coffee County Sheriff’s Department and Manchester Police Department led to Moore being taken back into custody near Ramsey Street and the nearby railroad tracks within about 20 minutes.

According to Frank Watkins with the Coffee County Sheriff’s Department, additional charges will be added relating to Moore’s escape.

In a letter to its members, Sportsmen and Businessmen’s Charitable Organization announced what many already assumed – that there will not be an annual fundraising event this year for the first time in decades due to COVID-19 pandemic.

However, the organization remains committed to serving the community and is asking for donations to continue to help aid in that mission.

“SBCO is still committed to helping those in our community by providing financial assistance to those in need,” SBCO president Carter Sain said in the letter. “It feels very unnatural for our volunteers to enter this fall without planning an SBCO event. Since SBCO continues to provide the same critical support to this community in 2020 and beyond, your donations are needed, requested and tax deductible 501c3.”

Anyone wishing to make contributions can direct your 2020 donations to SBCO PO Box 521 Manchester, TN. 37349

Manchester’s annual Christmas Parade will take place on schedule this year.

City officials told Thunder Radio news on Monday that the parade will continue with only minor adjustments to festivities.

Residents will be able to cap off their Thanksgiving weekend with this year’s parade – which will be held at 6:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 28 – the Saturday following Thanksgiving. This year’s theme is “Childhood Dreams of Christmas .”

The parade will go along its normal route – lining up on Highway 55 near Raider Academy, turning north on US Highway 41 and then making its way onto the square by turning onto West Main St.

Parade float entry forms will be available through the Manchester Parks and Recreation Department within the next couple of days. Thunder Radio will announce when those applications are available.

Tennesseans planning to vote early for the Presidential election have until this Thursday, Oct. 29 to cast their ballots. Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 3.

“We have seen high turnout numbers during early voting, and I urge Tennesseans to take advantage of these final days of early voting,” said Secretary of State Tre Hargett.

During early voting and on Election Day, Tennesseans are encouraged to wear a face covering and maintain a six-foot distance from poll officials and other voters. Voters should expect to see signs with further safety instructions at their polling locations. All poll officials will be wearing face coverings and will be trained in social distancing measures.
In Coffee County, those wishing to vote early can do so at the Coffee County Administrative Plaza in Manchester or at the CD Stamps building in Tullahoma.

Voters can find early voting and Election Day voting locations, view and mark sample ballots and much more with the GoVoteTN app (https://t.e2ma.net/click/adimumb/yvgckg/6phf5xn) or online at GoVoteTN.com (https://t.e2ma.net/click/adimumb/yvgckg/miif5xn). Download the free GoVoteTN app in the App Store or Google Play.

Tennesseans voting early or on Election Day should remember to bring valid photo identification with them to the polls. A driver’s license or photo ID issued by the Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security, by Tennessee state government or by the federal government are acceptable even if they are expired. College student IDs are not acceptable. More information about what types of ID are acceptable can be found on sos.tn.gov by calling toll free 1-877-850-4959.

To view early voting turnout vote totals by county (https://t.e2ma.net/click/adimumb/yvgckg/2ajf5xn) and a comparison of how this year (https://t.e2ma.net/click/adimumb/yvgckg/i3jf5xn), visit GoVoteTN.com.

For questions about early voting in Tennessee, go to GoVoteTN.com (https://t.e2ma.net/click/adimumb/yvgckg/a9mf5xn) or call the Division of Elections toll-free at 1-877-850-4959.

Tennessee gas prices fell, on average, by two cents over the last week. The Tennessee Gas Price average is now $1.91 which is nearly 2 cents less than one month ago and 40 cents less than one year ago.

The average price for a gallon of regular unleaded in Coffee County is three cents below the state average at $1.88.

“The U.S. has a very healthy level of gasoline stocks due to lower demand and that is keeping gas prices low,” said Megan Cooper, spokesperson, AAA – The Auto Club Group. “Tennessee’s state gas price average has declined the past 13 consecutive days, for a total discount of four cents.”

Quick Facts

· 90% 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 $2.23 for regular unleaded
· Tennessee remains the 9th least expensive market in the nation