Category: News

State approves $3 million to invest in rural initiatives

To help strengthen and expand workforce development  

programs in Tennessee’s rural counties, the Tennessee Workforce  

Development Board recently approved a $3 million investment to support  

Governor Bill Lee’s rural initiatives.

The Rural Initiative Funding Opportunity Announcement (RIFOA) will  

make monies available to local workforce development boards over the  

next three years.

“Our hope is this investment will help to ensure workers in our rural  

counties have the opportunity and resources to enhance their economic  

circumstances through education and skill development,” said Deniece  

Thomas, Deputy Commissioner with the Tennessee Department of Labor and  

Workforce Development (TDLWD).

Tennessee’s distressed, at-risk, and rural counties face workforce  

challenges that do not exist in the state’s urban and metropolitan  

areas.

Often, local leaders in rural counties are forced to navigate  

workforce obstacles such as geography, demography and high demand for  

employees, but a low supply of a qualified workforce.

The goal of the RIFOA is to increase workforce funding in local  

workforce development areas that contain distressed and at-risk  

counties. New programs will create greater opportunity for residents  

in these counties to take part in skills training in high-demand  

growth sectors. These programs will also include work-based models  

such as on-the-job training.

“Members of the State Workforce Development Board come from every  

corner of Tennessee,” said board chairman Tim Berry. “They know  

firsthand the workforce development needs in the rural areas many of  

them call home. This additional funding will have a high impact on the  

communities that receive it.”

Expanded workforce development opportunities will originate from  

American Job Centers in selected counties to allow for easier access  

to programs and services.

Money for the RIFOA will come from the Governor’s reserve of Workforce  

Innovation and Opportunity (WIOA) funds. TDLWD will provide additional  

program guidance to the local workforce development boards deemed  

eligible to receive this funding

Coffee County Schools’ Student Support Services Department Receives Walmart Foundation Gran

Coffee County Schools’ Student Support Services Department has been awarded a $2,000 Wal-Mart Foundation Grant, which will be used to focus on our homeless student population. “This funding will be used to focus on ensuring the needs of our homeless population are met,” said Connie Sekulich, School Social Worker for Coffee County Schools.

Coffee County Schools is grateful for the continued partnership with Walmart and their support to our students and schools.

Pictured Left to right, Pebbles Martin, General Manager of Walmart of Manchester and Connie Sekulich, School Social Worker for Coffee County Schools.

Tennessee commemorates ratification of women’s suffrage

NASHVILLE – Bicentennial Capitol Mall State Park, the Tennessee State Museum, and the Tennessee State Library and Archives will mark the 99th anniversary of the ratification of the 19th Amendment, which ushered in women’s right to vote, with events August 16-17.

Votes for Women: Commemorating Women’s Suffrage will provide living history programs and hands-on activities for people of all ages, focusing on the right to vote and the women’s suffrage movement in Tennessee. Activities will take place 10 a.m.-4 p.m. at the park and the museum.

Historians will be at the Bicentennial Capitol Mall depicting different stories relating to the women’s suffrage movement. The free event will provide living history programs and hands-on activities for people of all ages.

After Congress passed the 19th Amendment in June 1919, it was sent to the states for ratification. Three-fourths of state legislatures needed to ratify the amendment for it to be adopted nationwide. On August 18, 1920, Tennessee became the 36th and final state needed to ratify the amendment. The vote concluded a century-long, hard-fought women’s suffrage movement.

Tennessee became known as the “Perfect 36” and is often acknowledged for securing the final passage. The Tennessee State Parks Run Club will host the Perfect 3.6 Race for Ratification, beginning at Bicentennial Capitol Mall State Park at 7 a.m. on Saturday, August 17. The event will include a one-mile course and a 3.6-mile course for participants of all skill levels and ages. Packet pickup will be 4 p.m.-6 p.m. on Friday, August 16. More information on the race can be found here.

Manchester City Schools to cancel school Oct. 11 due to Exit 111 Festival

The Manchester City School system is announcing calendar changes due to the upcoming Exit 111 festival, which will take place October 11-13 at Great Stage Park – also known as the home to Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival. 

The changes include the following. There will now be no school for city schools on Friday, Oct. 11. Wednesday, May 20 will now be a full day of school and Thursday, May 21, will be early dismissal at 12:30 p.m. The Last day of school will be Friday, May 22 with a 9 a.m. dismissal. This move corresponds with a move the county schools made earlier in the summer to cancel classes for Oct. 11. So, as of now, both county and city school systems will be closed on Oct. 11 while the festival is in town. 

Here is Manchester Director of Schools Dr. Joey Vaughn for more on this decision (click play to listen): 

Autopsy shows 2019 Bonnaroo death caused by accidental overdose

The autopsy released for Ryan Dunleavy, who passed away at the 2019 Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival in Manchester, reveals that he overdosed on drugs.

Dunleavy, 27, was found to have fentanyl, MDMA (otherwise known as ecstasy) and clozapine in his system, according to the report conducted by Davidson County Assistant Medical Examiner David Zimmerman. The report states that the death was accidental, according to The Tennessean.

Dunleavy was found the morning of Saturday, June 15 in the campground area by his father and authorities responded.

Bonnaroo officials released this statement at the time of the death in June: “The well-being of our patrons, staff, volunteers and artists is our primary concern, and we work diligently to ensure the safest festival possible. Earlier today, our medical team in Plaza 11 was asked to respond to a medical situation in a nearby campsite. The Bonnaroo Medical team and Coffee County Emergency Services were on the scene within minutes. A 27-year-old male patron camping with his father was unresponsive. The medical team administered CPR, and he was transported to the hospital. We understand that he had an underlying medical condition, and that, unfortunately, he has died. We have no further information at this time. Our thoughts and prayers go out to his family and friends.”

Dunleavy was from Williamson County, Tennessee.

New company to bring 200 jobs to Coffee County

EnableComp LLC, a Franklin, Tennessee- based company that processes complex medical insurance claims, submissions and appeals, will expand into Tullahoma, creating over 200 jobs in the next five years. State economic officials announced the deal Friday. 

The company will invest $1 million to open an office. It is the third Middle Tennessee office for the company. 

The facility is expected to open in September and there will be a career fair from 3-6 p.m. August 21st at Northgate Mall in Tullahoma. 

State prisoner escapee caught Sunday morning in West Tennessee

Watson was apprehended Sunday morning. (Photo provided by TBI)

Curtis Ray Watson, an escapee of the West Tennessee State Penitentiary in Henning last week was caught Sunday morning in the Henning area. He was on the run for five days. He was captured after home surveillance video caught him going through a couple’s outdoor refrigerator at their home.

Watson was serving a 15-year sentence for aggravated kidnapping. He escaped from prison during his daily lawn-mowing detail. Watson is suspected to have killed corrections officer Debra Johnson, who was 64.

City of Manchester Special called Street Department Meeting

August 22, 2019
5:30 PM
At the Street Department Office at 1210 Oakdale Street

The purpose of the meeting is to approve minutes from prior months meetings and discuss the sanitation contract.

Autopsy shows patron who died at 2019 Bonnaroo overdosed on drugs

The autopsy released for Ryan Dunleavy, who passed away at the 2019 Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival in Manchester, reveals that he overdosed on drugs.

Dunleavy, 27, was found to have fentanyl, MDMA (otherwise known as ecstasy) and clozapine in his system, according to the report conducted by Davidson County Assistant Medical Examiner David Zimmerman. The report states that the death was accidental, according to The Tennessean.

Dunleavy was found the morning of Saturday, June 15 in the campground area by his father and authorities responded.

Bonnaroo officials released this statement at the time of the death in June: “The well-being of our patrons, staff, volunteers and artists is our primary concern, and we work diligently to ensure the safest festival possible. Earlier today, our medical team in Plaza 11 was asked to respond to a medical situation in a nearby campsite. The Bonnaroo Medical team and Coffee County Emergency Services were on the scene within minutes. A 27-year-old male patron camping with his father was unresponsive. The medical team administered CPR, and he was transported to the hospital. We understand that he had an underlying medical condition, and that, unfortunately, he has died. We have no further information at this time. Our thoughts and prayers go out to his family and friends.”

Dunleavy was from Williamson County, Tennessee.

 

MPD answers 16,881 calls in 2018; DUI arrests double

Manchester’s Police Department has released its annual report for 2018.

A few numbers worth noting: The department answered 16,881 calls in 2018, that is down 4.2 percent from 2017. The department worked 402 traffic crashes in 2018, which was up 7.5%, DUI arrests doubled, with 88 arrests in 2018, up from 43 in 2017. Traffic citations were down 10.9 percent, with 3,314 issued in 2018.

Manchester Police Chief Mark Yother.

The investigation division cleared 915 of the 1,408 cases it took, which is 65%. That is up from the 59% of cases cleared in 2017 and 2016. The department made 1,390 arrests in 2018, which is virtually the same as 2017, when 1,394 arrests were made. Speeding citations reported are down 25% and seatbelt violation citations were down 50%. You can see the full report, including a breakdown of specific crimes by clicking here.