Category: News

Students attending Coffee County Schools have until 4 p.m. July 24 to complete an application online if they plan to access virtual learning to start the school year amid COVID-19 pandemic. 

Students have the option of virtual learning or in-classroom learning. Students who choose virtual learning will be logging in and viewing classes at the same time they are taught at the school. The link to the application can be found by clicking here. 

Below is a letter from Director of Schools Dr. Charles Lawson:

“Coffee County Schools has a link to an application on the district’s website for parents to enroll
their students in the district’s new virtual path. The application has many details that need to be
read by the parent/guardian who is filling it out. This communication is simply to summarize the
requirements that are presented on the application. The application is due no later than Friday,
July 24 at 4:00 p.m.

“It currently appears that the program will have a synchronous delivery. This means that the
virtual student will have to log into the class at the same time that it is being delivered live in the
classroom. For grades 3-12, the work must be performed on a district-issued device and
monitoring software will allow the district to monitor the student’s actions and work for the
purpose of reporting attendance. Other monitoring software will accomplish this task for grades
K-2. The state of Tennessee requires confirmation that the virtual student is “present.”

“Coffee County Schools wants parents to be aware that students on the virtual option will face
the same time requirements as students in the schools. According to state law, those
requirements are 6 1/2 hours per day and 180 days per year. These hours must match the
same time that students are in classes in the schools. If a student is not present and active
within the virtual classroom during the scheduled class time, it will be considered an absence.
The district will be enforcing all attendance requirements on students in our buildings and
students enrolled in the virtual option. If a student utilizing the virtual option is excessively
absent, attendance within the building will be required.

“More detailed information will be provided on safety protocols that will be taking place on buses
and within the schools in the coming days. We will make every attempt to provide this
information in a timely manner to allow you to make an informed decision on what you feel is
best for your child.”

Claims for unemployment in Tennessee dipped last week, both in new claims and continued claims.

For the week ending July 11, there were 22,431 new claims of unemployment. This is down from the near 26,000 of new claims the prior week. Meanwhile, continuous claims fell by nearly 5,500, with 251,924 continued claims certified. The previous week saw 256,645 claims.

In Coffee County, there were 139 new claims last week, with 2,128 continued claims.

Early voting for the State and Federal Primary and County General election begins Friday, July 17, running Monday to Saturday until Saturday, Aug. 1. Election Day is Thursday, Aug. 6.

The voter registration deadline to participate in the August election was Tuesday, July 7.

“I encourage voters to take advantage of Tennessee’s generous early voting period. Early voting offers voters the flexibility to choose their location and time to cast a ballot,” said Secretary of State Tre Hargett. “Across Tennessee, county election commissions have been preparing to run a safe and secure election. You can help them reduce Election Day crowds by voting early.”

Tennesseans are encouraged to do their part during early voting and on Election Day. This includes wearing a face covering and maintaining 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 are trained in social distancing protocols.

Voters can find early voting and Election Day voting locations, view and mark sample ballots and much more with the GoVoteTN app or online at GoVoteTN.com. Download the GoVoteTN app for free in the App Store or Google Play.

State law requires polling locations and the area within a 100-foot boundary surrounding each entrance to remain campaign-free zones. This includes the display or distribution of campaign materials and the solicitation of votes for or against any person, party or question on the ballot in these areas.

Tennesseans voting early or on Election Day should remember to bring valid photo identification 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 here: What ID is required when voting? or by calling the Division of Elections toll-free number, 1-877-850-4959.

Locally in Coffee County, there will be  a Tullahoma municipal election for mayor and aldermen. There will also be a Manchester municipal election for Manchester mayor and three aldermen.  Voters here will also be selection a Tennessee State House rep in the 47th district. 

For the second time in a week the Manchester Police Department is warning the public of phone scams that have picked up in the area as of late, in particular a recurring scam involving someone appearing to be a law enforcement officer.

In this scam recently reported to MPD, the suspect tells the intended victim that they are a DEA agent and attempts to get that potential victim to send money to avoid arrest or other legal actions.

“There are no law enforcement agencies that will contact you and request money to be sent to them,” said MPD in a release. “We encourage you to not communicate during these phone calls – simply hang up the phone.”

We reported to you yesterday that Walmart announced a nationwide rule for its stores to require face coverings inside their stores – this includes the Manchester store. This goes into effect on Monday, July 20.

Following that announcement, other large retailers across the nation have followed suit, including Kroger, which has locations nearby in Tullahoma, McMinnville and Winchester. Kroger will require face coverings to shop beginning on Wednesday, July 22.

These rules despite no requirements by the Tennessee state government or the Coffee County government requiring masks.

The Thunder Radio political debate will be held at 6 p.m. Thursday, July 16. It can be heard live on Thunder Radio and watched on Facebook live by clicking here. 

Unlike past forums hosted by Thunder Radio where attendance in person was possible, due to COVID-19 concerns and limitations for crowds, this year Thunder Radio has decided it would be best to host the forum on the radio.
You can hear the debate at 107.9 FM and 1320 AM, as well as stream on www.thunder1320.com and on your smartphone with the Manchester Go smartphone app. Those with Facebook can watch via Facebook live.

Candidates for Manchester Mayor will be on the air taking questions from 6 -6:35 p.m. on July 16. Meanwhile, candidates for Manchester aldermen will follow. The phone lines will be open during the debate for the public to ask questions by calling 931-728-1320 or 931-728-3526.

National Aerospace Solutions, LLC (NAS) leadership was informed by the Air Engineering Metal Trades Council (AEMTC) tonight that a new 1-year extension to the existing Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) was ratified by its members for work at the Arnold Engineering Development Complex (AEDC). The AEMTC represents approximately 660 members through 11 local unions, who are vital to the mission at AEDC.

Negotiations led to an extension of the CBA that ensures mission continuity, provides stability to the workforce, and recognizes the AEMTC’s important contributions to AEDC, NAS, and the United States Air Force.

“The negotiating teams worked closely together to reach this agreement during an uncertain time,” said Dr. Rich Tighe, NAS General Manager. “I want to thank the AEMTC leadership for their professionalism during this process. This agreement will ensure the important work for our Nation at AEDC will continue in the same outstanding manner as it has for decades.”

If you shop at Walmart, you will soon be required to wear a mask.

Beginning on Monday, July 20, the national retailer has announced that all shoppers and associates will be required to wear face coverings to enter the store. This includes the Walmart store in Manchester, even though there is no mask mandate in Tennessee or Coffee County.

By Nadia Ramlagan, Tennessee Public News Service

Millions of jobs across the U.S. have vanished in the months since the coronavirus pandemic began, and many Tennesseans may have to gain new skills, or refresh the ones they have, to stay afloat.

New research from Lumina Foundation finds more workers in the state are completing industry certifications.

Carol Puryear, president of the Tennessee College of Applied Technology in Murfreesboro, says certifications are typically centered around associations and career clusters.

“You’ve got CompTIA, who works with the computer industry,” she points out. “You’ve got MSSC that works with the manufacturing folks. You’ve got NCCER. You’ve got all types of industries.”

Puryear adds that certifications typically take less time and money to earn than degrees, and can improve job prospects.

According to the Lumina Foundation report, about 45% of Tennesseans now hold some form of post-high school credential, compared to the national average of about 51%.

Puryear, who is also vice chancellor for economic and community development at the Tennessee Board of Regents, points out that many tech schools embed industry certifications into their programs.

“For instance, I have an automotive program, I have probably right at 50 students, and all of those students are going to also be working on their Auto Service Excellence, which is ASE certification — which are critical for them to get a job in the automotive industry when they graduate,” she points out.

Puryear stresses there are resources available for anyone who might not have the funds to pursue an industry certification.

“I have a saying that says, ‘The pink slip is not the end, it could be the beginning,'” she states. “And I encourage people to visit the American Job Centers across Tennessee, because those people have dollars that can help send people back to school.”

Black and Latino workers are among those most likely to have lost reliable income because of COVID-19. The Lumina Foundation report shows these groups also are less likely to have post-secondary education or qualifications.

In Tennessee, around 28% of Black residents and 20% of Latino residents have some form of higher education, compared to nearly 40% of white residents.

There are now 53 active cases of COVID-19 in Coffee County, according to numbers provided by the Tennessee Department of Health Wednesday.

Since testing began in March, there have been 162 confirmed cases. Of these, 109 have recovered – leaving 53 active cases.

Meanwhile, there are 27,829 active cases across the state. This number comes from 68,441 confirmed cases since testing began, with 39,857 recoveries. There have also been 755 confirmed deaths and 3,434 hospitalizations.
Nearly 26,000 new tests were added, with now 1,097,053 total tests performed. This means of everyone testing, about 6.24 percent are testing positive.