Manchester’s Parks and Recreation Center will have its annual Easter egg hunts in the coming weeks.
The underwater egg hunt will be at 10 a.m. Saturday, April 2 in the rec center pool. This is for ages 2-12 and there is no cost. Don’t forget to bring your water proof Easter egg basket. There is limited space for this event – preregister at the front desk, 557 N. Woodland St. in Manchester.
Outdoor Easter egg hunts will be April 16.
The egg hunt for ages 7 and under will be at 1 p.m. in Fred Deadman Park. There will be a night egg hunt for ages 8 and older at The Babe Ruth Field that begins at 8 p.m. These events are free.
Call the rec center at 931-728-0273 for more information.
Manchester community rallying to help businesses devastated by Monday fire. Here is how you can help
Multiple area businesses were destroyed by fire at the Woodland Plaza on Monday morning, March 21.
Businesses that were completely destroyed or incurred significant damage or losses include Most Awesome Cleaning Company, Reese’s Genes Boutique, Greg Green Photography and Toliver’s Warehouse space.
Other area businesses have immediately jumped into action and are offering multiple ways for the Manchester community to help those businesses affected get back onto their feet.
There will be a 5K run/walk at 1 p.m. Saturday April 9 with all sponsorship and registration proceeds going to the affected businesses. The 5K will start and end at the Coffee County Fairgrounds. Anyone who registers by March 28 will receive a shirt. Click here to register.
There will also be a silent auction and a food trucks set up at the registration area for the 5K at the fairgrounds (99 Lakeview Dr.) Anyone wishing to donate to the silent auction should contact Katy Bess at 931-952-8256.
Also on Saturday, April 9, a long list of businesses are volunteering to donate a portion of their proceeds for that day to businesses destroyed by fire.
So far, businesses that have agreed to participate include:
High Cotton
Sprout Children’s Shop
Southern Diva Boutique
Imhoff Trucking
Imhoff Landscape and Supply Yard
Suds & Bubbles
Sun Studio
Naturally Tranquil Spa
Middle TN Thermography
Higgins Lawn Care
Southern Sass Salon
Artsy Edibles by Kimberly
Jefferson’s
Common John Brewing Company
Nails by R
EZ Appliance Repair
Life Long Chiropractic & Wellness
All proceeds will be given directly to businesses destroyed by fire to help offset their disaster costs and loss of payroll.
Deadline to register to vote in May primary less than 2 weeks away
The upcoming primary is fast approaching.
The May 3 Coffee County Primary will have early voting April 13-28. The deadline to register to vote is fast approaching.
Anyone wishing to vote in the May 3 primary must be registered by Monday, April 4. You can register by visiting the Coffee County Election Commission on McArthur St. You can also register to vote from your computer – just click here. Early voting will be April 13 through April 28.
Thunder Radio will host its annual political forum at The Church at 117 from 6-8:30 p.m. on Thursday, April 7, where you can hear from many of the candidates in county-wide contested races. The forum will be broadcast live on Thunder Radio: 107.9 FM, 1320 AM, 106.7 FM.
Shelbyville Police Department needs your help identifying a person of interest
The Shelbyville Police Department is asking for the public’s help identifying the individual in these photos.
The pictured individual is a person of interest in a theft that took place at USA Cellular in Shelbyville. If you know this individual, please contact Det. Nathaniel Everhart at 931-684-5811 ext. 4433.
Tennessee lawmakers advancing bill to strengthen punishment for evading arrest in a vehicle
Republican legislation to make Tennessee roadways safer by increasing the punishment for those who flee law enforcement advanced out of the House Criminal Justice Committee last Wednesday.
House Bill 1886 would allow vehicles used to evade arrest to be seized by authorities and subject to forfeiture in accordance with existing state law.
“It’s important that we do everything we can to give law enforcement the tools they need to keep our streets and neighborhoods safe,” State Rep. John Gillespie, R-Memphis, said. “This legislation sends a strong message not to flee from police, and will hopefully make individuals think twice before doing so.”
Only Peace Officer Standards and Training-certified or state-commissioned law enforcement officers would be authorized to seize a vehicle, according to the bill. The Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security would be responsible for conducting the forfeiture proceeding of any seized property.
Evading arrest while operating a motor vehicle is already a Class E felony punishable by a minimum 30 days in jail, according to state law. Anyone found guilty of the offence is also required to have their driver’s license suspended for a minimum of six months. House Bill 1886 now moves to the Finance, Ways and Means Committee for consideration. More information about the legislation can be found here.
SBCO makes donations to Manchester, Coffee County and Tullahoma schools
The Sportsmen and Businessmen Charitable Organization donated to both Coffee County Schools Family Resource Center, Manchester City Schools Family Resource Center, and the Tullahoma City Schools Coordinated School Health..
“It is a mission of SBCO to support programs that directly assist the children in our community. We are proud to contribute to Coffee County Schools’ Family Resource Center’s ‘Invest in the Best’ program, Manchester City Schools’ Family Resource Center’s ‘WeCare’ program and Tullahoma City Schools’ Coordinated School Health Program. All are outstanding student support initiatives that continually address the barriers hindering student academic achievement,” said Carter Sain, SBCO President.
The Sportsmen and Businessmen Charitable Organization has been serving the Coffee County community for 38 years.
Alabama man, 58, jailed on statutory rape charges in Grundy County
An investigation by special agents with the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation has resulted in the indictment and arrest of an Alabama man on charges of statutory rape and sexual battery.
At the request of 12th Judicial District Attorney General J. Michael Taylor, on January 5th, TBI agents began investigating Danny Pitts on allegations of sexual misconduct with a minor in Grundy County. Working with detectives from the Hartselle (AL) Police Department, agents developed information that the sexual offenses occurred from August to November in 2019.
On March 14th, the Grundy County Grand Jury returned indictments charging Danny D. Pitts (age 58) with one count of Aggravated Statutory Rape, two counts of Sexual Battery by an Authority Figure, and one count of Statutory Rape by an Authority Figure. On Monday, Pitts surrendered himself to agents at the Grundy County Jail, where he was booked on a $50,000 bond. He has since bonded out.
Pitts is a former pastor of GracePoint Church in Decatur, Alabama. According to WHNT, Pitts was arrested in Morgan County, Alabama in November and charged with one count of first-degree sodomy and one count of second-degree sodomy.
Arrest made in Bedford County homicide
An investigation by special agents with the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation and deputies with the Bedford County Sheriff’s Office has resulted in the arrest of a Shelbyville man, who now faces a murder charge.
At the request of 17th Judicial District Attorney General Robert Carter, on March 15th, TBI agents joined Bedford County deputies in investigating a homicide, after a woman was found deceased in a home in the 31-hundred block of Sims Road. The woman was subsequently identified as Sarah Angelina Johnson (age 32). During the course of the investigation, agents and detectives identified Raymond Smith as the individual responsible for Sarah Johnson’s death.
On Monday, agents arrested Raymond Antonio Smith (age 45) and charged him with First Degree Murder. He was booked into the Bedford County Detention Center without bond.
Bedford County authorities on Tuesday, March 15, warned the public to be on the lookout for a black male with a slender build who was last seen in the area of Sims Rd.
Monday fire guts multiple Manchester businesses
Multiple businesses in Manchester were devastated by an early morning fire Monday, March 21, 2022.
The fire destroyed at least 4 businesses in the Woodland Plaza at the corner of US Highway 41 and Woodland Street near the downtown square. Other businesses in the plaza sustained some minor smoke and water damage, according to fire officials.
Firefighters responded at 6:15 a.m. to a fire alarm from Toliver’s Pawn Shop, which has a warehouse attached to that plaza. According to Manchester Fire Department Chief George Chambers, heavy smoke was showing when firefighters arrived and firefighters began to investigate. Billowing smoke could be seen for miles.
“They started investigating, opening doors and found fire,” said Chambers. “They started attacking it from three different sides and it got into the tar roof up there and those are dangerous buildings to be in when that happens.”
According to Chambers, 30 Manchester Fire Department firefighters were on scene to battle the blaze.
“We had several people off duty who came in,” said Chambers. “Manchester Police Department, EMS, EMA were also on scene and were of great assistance.”
Chambers added that it took approximately three and a half hours to contain the fire. He said no injuries were reported.
WATCH A VIDEO OF FIREFIGHTERS BATTLING MONDAY’S BLAZE ON FACEBOOK BY CLICKING HERE.
Multiple small, locally-owned businesses – including Reese’s Genes Boutique, Greg Green Photography and Most Awesome Cleaning Company were “completely gutted,” Chambers said. Toliver’s warehouse also sustained some damage.
Chambers said that TOP Rehab and other businesses North of that and on the back side of the building may have received minor water and smoke damage, but are intact.
Investigators with Manchester Fire Department, TBI and ATF will begin investigating the cause and origin of the fire on Tuesday, Chambers said.
Lee Greenwood, Gov. Bill Lee to be in Manchester for Tuesday ‘Helping a Hero’ groundbreaking
Tennessee governor Bill Lee, along with recording artist Lee Greenwood and other special guests will be on hand for a groundbreaking ceremony at Manchester Rotary Park Tuesday, March 22, to honor lance corporal Eric Frazier as part of ‘Helping a Hero.’
Frazier, a retired marine, had his hand shattered, jaw broken and lost both legs when his Humvee hit an IED in Iraq.
Frazier is a Bass Pro home recipient of Helping a Hero and in a few months will be moving into a fully accessible home.
The ceremony on Tuesday, March 22, will be held at Rotary Amphitheater with pre-show performances starting at 1:30 p.m. and ceremony beginning at 2:30 p.m. Everyone is welcome to attend and celebrate. Find Rotary Park next to the Manchester Rec Center at 557 N. Woodland St.
