The Coffee County Anti-Drug coalition drug take-back program that was scheduled for Saturday has been cancelled due to the wet weather expected in the area.

The event was scheduled for Walgreens in Tullahoma and First Vision Bank in Manchester. However, anti-drug coalition executive director Mike Young wants to remind everyone that you can drop off unused pills anytime at the Tullahoma Police Department, Manchester Police Department or Coffee County Sheriff’s Department. 

Unemployment rates in nearly every Tennessee county, including distressed counties, declined during September, according to data released Thursday by the Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development (TDLWD).

Ninety counties experienced lower unemployment in September, while the rate remained the same in one county, and increased in four counties. The latest statistics show unemployment rates are less than 5 percent in 90 counties and 5 percent or greater in five counties.

In Coffee County, the unemployment rate is now 3.1%. That is slightly better than 3.3% in August and 3.4% in September of last year. 

Several of Tennessee’s distressed counties saw significant improvement in unemployment compared to their August statistics. Rates dropped in 12 of the state’s 15 distressed counties.

It is time for our first student of the week for the 2019-2020 school year, and we are proud to say congratulations to student of the week – Connor Fox!

Connor is a sophomore at Coffee County Central High School and is in Nicole Carney’s homeroom. His teachers applaud his work ethic, involvement and respectfulness. He is the son of Tim and Linda Fox.

Connor enjoys playing tennis, is a member of student government, he is an officer of the FBLA club and he enjoys to read in his free time. After high school, Connor would like to go into the medical field and pursue a career in oncology. As of now, he hopes to attend the University of Memphis.

Rosalyn Partin, owner of the Manchester H&R Block, has been inspired to recognize great kids in our community all through hockey season. What does hockey season have to do with our local students? Well, H&R Block gives each Student of the Week a set of Nashville Predators Hockey tickets, a commemorative plaque, as well as a special letter of recognition.

The scheduled campground improvements at Old Stone Fort State Archaeological Park have been delayed, therefore the campgrounds will remain open through December. However the campgrounds are now scheduled to be closed from January through July of 2020 while improvements are made. If you would like to reserve to camp, you can call 931-723-5073. 

There will be two locations for free flu shots in Coffee County next month.

On Nov. 19, you will be able to get a flu shot at no charge at the Coffee County Administrative Building at 1329 McArthur St. in Manchester. In Tullahoma, you can get a free flu shot on the same day – Nov. 19 – at the First United Methodist Church at 208 W. Lauderdale St. Times for free flu shots is 2:30-5:30 p.m. at both locations, provided by the Tennessee Department of Health

We are still a week away from Halloween. 

But that means it is just a little over a month away from the annual Manchester Christmas Parade. 

The annual parade – themed “Rockin Around the Christmas Tree”  – will be held at 6:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 30, followed by the Christmas Tree Lighting at 7:30 on the square next to the Coffee County Courthouse. 

Just a few reminders for all of you who plan to enter a float in the parade, which annually draws thousands in attendance. There is no entry fee. Christmas song-themed float entries should be registered by Nov. 22. The parade lineup begins at 5 pm. at Raider Academy. For more information, you can call AJ Fox at Manchester Recreation Department at 931-728-0273. There is a link to a parade packet by clicking here.

Coffee County Schools released honor rolls for each elementary school for the first nine weeks. Click the links below to read:

Hickerson Elementary School

New Union Elementary

East Coffee Elementary

Deerfield Elementary

North Coffee Elementary School

Hillsboro Elementary School

Manchester Mayor Lonnie Norman signed a pair of proclamations Wednesday. 

First, in conjunction with the Tennessee Department of Conservation and Governor Bill Lee, Norman signed a proclamation for Manchester to recognize “Imagine a Day Without Water” day. This is a national education campaign designed to bring people together to highlight how water is essential, invaluable and in need of investment. Imagine what your day would be like if you turned on the tap and there was no water, no water to drink, make coffee with, shower, flush the toilet or wash clothes. 

Secondly, Norman signed a proclamation recognizing Thursday, Oct. 24 as World Polio Day in Coffee County, asking citizens to join himself, the Manchester Rotary Club and Rotary International in the fight to officially eradicate polio, a cause that has been front and center for Rotary International for many years.