Unemployment dropped in more than one-third of Tennessee’s 95 counties in November, according to newly released data from the Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development (TDLWD).
Rates decreased in 38 counties, remained the same in 24 counties, and unemployment increased in 33 counties during the month.
The new data shows there are 91 counties across the state with rates less than 5 percent and only four counties with rates greater than 5 percent.
In Coffee County, the rate for November was 3.1 percent, which is up slightly from the 2.9 percent reported in October and the 3.0 percent reported in November of 2018.
Williamson County has the state’s lowest unemployment rate at 2.2 percent.
Davidson County has the second-lowest unemployment rate for the month at 2.3.
Cheatham and Rutherford counties both have a rate of 2.4 percent.
Clay County experienced an increase in unemployment, giving the county the state’s highest unemployment rate. Its rate jumped from 5.2 percent in October to 5.9 percent in November.
Thunder Radio reported to you last week that Winchester Police were looking for runaway juvenile Jordan Harrington, age 17, who was reported missing from his home on Christmas day. Authorities reported Saturday that Harrington has been found safely.
Sportsmen and Businessmen’s Charitable Organization has awarded over $20,000 to local educators across Coffee County, Manchester City, and Tullahoma City Schools through its Educational Enrichment Grant opportunity. SBCO’s Educational Enrichment Grant encourages local educators to submit innovative, outside-the -box opportunities for their students and schools that may encompass STEM, literacy, physical activity, social/emotional, to fine arts or career readiness. “This year’s selected recipients, through a highly competitive grant application cycle, represents our continued interest in and support of the outstanding work educators do for their students and our community,” said Carter Sain, SBCO President. This year’s grant recipients are as follows:
Coffee County Schools:
Coffee County Central High School:
Archery in Physical Education – David Martin
Biology Classroom Library — Tish Jaco
Journalism Online Newspaper — Katie Duke
In Class Texts for Foreign Language — Kaya Knox
Coffee County Middle School:
Trauma-Informed Classroom Calm Corners — Lana Creek
Light Table Manipulative Enhancement — Hilary Statum
STEAM Activities — Michelle Husted
STEM Activities — Misty Crosslin & Megan Walling
Classroom Library — Wendi Patton
Westwood Middle School:
– Classroom Library — Laura Freeze
– Art Easels — Will Pannell
Tullahoma City Schools:
– Sensory Room — April Norris
Robert E. Lee Elementary School:
– Peace Corners — Mary Gilbert
Since 1984, the Sportsmen & Businessmen’s Charitable Organization (SBCO) has been serving the Coffee County community through various philanthropic efforts. Those efforts include financial assistance to those in need with health, medical, dental, vision, food, education, transportation, shelter, and other expenses. In addition, we have successfully implemented several programs directed at assisting the children in our community.
For questions regarding this program or learning more about how to support the organization, please contact us at (931) 728-5048 or via email sbco1986@gmail.com
A report was filed with the Winchester Police Department on Christmas Day in reference to a runaway juvenile. According to Winchester Police Department, Jordan Harrington, 17, was missing from his home address. Jordan is a white male, approximately 5’6” and weighing 126 pounds with brown hair and brown eyes. Anyone with information is urged to contact the Winchester Police Department and detective Ryan Fuller at 931-967-3840.
The juvenile court in Davidson county is spearheading an effort to reduce the number of girls and gender-nonconforming young people who end up behind bars.
The court is emphasizing a trauma-informed approach, as part of the Initiative to End Girls’ Incarceration by the Vera Institute of Justice, which aims to meet its goal nationwide within the next decade.
Kathryn Sinback is a juvenile court administrator with the county who says girls tend to to be pulled into criminal activity perpetrated by boys, or are sexually exploited by gangs.
“In Davidson County, what we see is the majority of the girls who are system-involved are living in poverty, and largely African-American,” says Sinback. “We have seen some changes in the types of offenses that girls are charged with.”
According to the Vera Institute, girls make up 55% of children nationwide who are taken to court specifically for running away. Yet Sinback points out many girls run away from home to escape sexual abuse and an unstable home life.
She adds that nationwide, more than 80% of girls in the juvenile justice system have been sexually or physically abused.
Sinback says listening to girls is now a central focus of her work in Davidson County.
“But what we found is that, when you focus on what the youth need to be successful — what they feel that they need to be successful — you actually have outcomes that reduce the risk for the community, and that reduce the risk of that girl committing additional delinquent acts,” says Sinback.
Lindsay Rosenthal, project director for Vera’s Initiative to End Girls’ Incarceration, says most girls who end up in the system are there because communities haven’t been able to offer long-term solutions.
“You know, girls who are coming into the system are not a threat to public safety,” says Rosenthal. “Unfortunately, they’re all too often being confined in an attempt to protect their own safety.”
She adds that instead of arresting, prosecuting and confining girls, courts should work to provide them with positive resources to help them deal with trauma, such as mentors and home-based therapy.
The Coffee County Sheriff’s Department is asking for the public’s help locating a 2015 Chevrolet Camaro convertible, gray in color, that was stolen from the Gnat Hill Rd. Area of Coffee County in the past week. Anyone with information should call investigator James Sherrill at 931-570-4404.
The flu vaccine is now being offered at no charge to patients at Tennessee’s county health department clinics as long as supplies last. Seasonal influenza is now widespread across Tennessee, but it’s not too late to get a flu shot.
‘’I urge anyone who has not received a flu shot this flu season to get one as soon as possible,’’ said Tennessee Health Commissioner Lisa Piercey, MD, MBA, FAAP. ‘’It’s extremely important for young children, the elderly and pregnant women to receive a flu vaccine because they are at the most serious risk for illness or death from influenza.”
Vaccine supplies will vary from county to county, so contact your local health department for information on getting a flu vaccine. The Coffee County Health Department is located at 800 Park St. in Manchester and can be reached by phone at (931) 723-5134. To find a county health department near you, visit www.tn.gov/health/health-program-areas/localdepartments.html. In addition to health department clinics run by TDH across the state, free flu vaccine is also available now at the Shelby County Health Department in Memphis and the Metro Public Health Department in Nashville.
After getting the flu vaccine, it’s still important to wash your hands with soapy water or use alcohol-based hand sanitizers and cover coughs and sneezes with a sleeve or tissue to help prevent the spread of illness. People who are sick should stay home to recover and to prevent spreading illness to co-workers, friends and others.
The mission of the Tennessee Department of Health is to protect, promote and improve the health and prosperity of people in Tennessee. Learn more about TDH services and programs at www.tn.gov/health.
Manchester City Government offices remain closed Thursday in recognition of the Christmas holiday. Offices will re-open on Friday, Dec. 27. City offices will close again for one day next week – shutting down on Wednesday, January 1.
The Coffee County Emergency Management Agency, along with Tennessee EMA, recently hosted a Hazardous Materials Technician Level training class at the Coffee County Emergency Management and Homeland Security Office.
Firefighters from Manchester and Tullahoma Fire Departments in Coffee County, and the Murfreesboro Fire Department, along with TEMA personnel completed this two week, 80-hour course to certify first responders to properly respond to and mitigate hazardous materials incidents of all types.
When students graduate this class they will have completed roughly 150 hours of training in Hazardous Materials alone to get to this point.
As a result of this training the residents of Coffee County and Murfreesboro will have 17 additional Firefighters with the skills necessary to handle any type of Hazardous Material release within their respective jurisdictions.
A practical skills drill was conducted to allow the firefighters to practice scene communication, applying protective HAZMAT suits, conducting remediation of the incident, and decontamination after exiting the Hot Zone. All personnel graduated on Friday, Dec. 20.
