Category: News

In Pursuant to Ordinance No. 1542 passed by the City of Manchester BOMA meeting on October 17, 2017, the speed limit on US 41/SR 2 from Woodland St to a point 1,100 ft. north of its intersection with Woodbury Hwy/ SR 53 has been be lowered to 35 miles per hour. This change is to accommodate areas of shared automobile and bicycle lanes along SR 2. The change took place on September 24, 2018.
Please drive safely and always be aware of bicyclist and pedestrians.

Here is an update on a story we have been following. What allegedly began as a domestic situation escalated into murder in Grundy County on Sunday afternoon. Four people were shot with a female dying from her injuries. Sheriff Clint Shrum has identified the third victim in the Sunday shooting in Altamont, TN as Christopher Gary Hurst age 38 of Bridgeport, Alabama. Hurst is an acquaintance of the deceased victim, Carolyn Nicole Powell.
Sheriff Shrum stated Mr. Hurst and Jerone Powell, the father of the deceased victim have undergone surgery at area hospitals. Powell is in critical condition. The suspect, John Wesley Smith, also had to be hospitalized. At last report he was listed in fair condition.
Grundy County authorities said Jerome Powell will not face charges because he was trying to protect the rest of his family, including six children who were inside the house.
The shooting happened in the front yard of Powell’s residence on Highway 56 in Altamont.
Smith is from Jasper in Marion County and has a lengthy criminal history. Sheriff Shrum has requested assistance from the District Attorney’s Office and the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation.

Gas prices edged lower last week. Sunday’s national average price of $2.85 per gallon was one-tenth of a cent less than the week before. However, the average American is still paying 27 cents per gallon more than this time last year.
Gas prices in Tennessee slipped a half-cent lower during the past week. Sunday’s state average of $2.58 is one cent less than a month ago. However, Tennessee motorists are still paying 6 cents more than this time last year.
AAA spokesman Mark Jenkins said even though oil prices rose last week, prices at the pump slipped lower because of declines in gasoline demand. He said combining the trend of lower demand with the recent switch to cheaper-to-produce winter blend gasoline could send prices lower this fall.
The low price for a gallon gas this week in Coffee County is $2.48 as of Tuesday evening, the same as last week in Manchester. The low price in Tullahoma is $2.49.

The Tennessee Department of Health is working with partner agencies to improve care for those living with dementia. One vital part of this effort is the ongoing work to reduce unnecessary use of antipsychotic medications among residents living with dementia within Tennessee nursing homes. As a result of these efforts, Tennessee nursing homes have successfully reduced antipsychotic medication use to a rate of 15.7 percent of residents, moving Tennessee up from 49th to 29th in the nation for improvement in this area.
In 2012, Tennessee nursing homes had the highest antipsychotic drug use rate in the Southeast at 30.1 percent of residents, with the national average being 23.8 percent. Tennessee nursing homes have now successfully reduced that rate to 15.7 percent, dropping below the regional average of 15.9 percent.

Motlow State Community College recently received approval from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) to offer 100 percent of degree programs taught at the Motlow Sparta (White County High School) site and the Tennessee Fire Service and Codes Academy in Bell Buckle, TN.
The College previously offered up to 49 percent of programs at each site. This 100 percent approval will benefit students attending Motlow at the two locations, especially high school and non-traditional students, and is consistent with the mission and strategic goals of the College.
The approval for the Tennessee Fire Service and Codes Academy in Bell Buckle, TN will provide a more centrally located facility within the College’s service area and will contribute to filling the need for skilled emergency medical services in the community. The target audiences for the programs at this site are students preparing to enter the workforce, current providers seeking elevation in licensure, and non-traditional students seeking employment opportunities.

Members of the Public Building Authority (PBA) voted at its recent meeting to amend the bylaws of the authority that oversees the financially troubled Manchester-Coffee County Conference Center (MCCCC).
The change now allows for three members from Manchester and the other four can be from anywhere in the county. Before the change the City of Manchester had two, two represented Tullahoma, two represented rural Coffee County, and one member was designated at-large.
The expenses at the center are covered equally by Manchester and Coffee County governments. The City of Tullahoma contributes no money for expenses of the center, but they do contribute to the overall tax base in the county.
One member of the PBA, Greg Sandlin, who is from Tullahoma is not happy about the change. He says that Tullahoma no longer has a guaranteed seat on that board.
In the last four years, the MCCCC has suffered operating losses of more than $1.5 million.

The Grundy County Sheriff’s Office reports a shooting took place in Altamont, TN late Sunday afternoon. An investigation is ongoing into the shooting that injured 3 people and killed one person.
What allegedly began as a domestic situation escalated when 38-year-old John Smith of Jasper, TN went into a home in Altamont and found his wife with another man.
Sheriff Clint Shrum says the man’s wife, 32-year-old Carolyn Powell and an unidentified man attempted to leave the home. Shrum added that they were reportedly shot by Smith. Powell died at the scene.
The woman’s father, 50-year-old Jerone Powell, who owns the home where the shooting took place was also allegedly shot by Smith. Mr. Powell apparently shot Smith, keeping him from continuing to fire.
Smith, is now in custody after receiving a gunshot wound to the head. Jerone Powell’s condition is unknown at this time.
The unidentified man was taken to the hospital. The sheriff added the man has life-threatening injuries.
Sheriff Shrum also said six children were home at the time of the shooting.
The Sheriff says his department is actively investigating and has called in the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation for assistance.

After weeks of training, the Tennessee Department of Corrections (TDOC) welcomed a new class of Correctional Officers into the workforce on Friday. The Tennessee Correction Academy in Tullahoma graduated 59 people from their Basic Correctional Officers Training program.
Shannon Green, Assistant Warden at Bledsoe County Correctional Complex gave the keynote address. Green took the time to encourage the new officers by reminding them to not give up, never stop learning and to honor the Tennessee Department of Correction’s oath.
Several officers were honored with special awards and one even received a college scholarship. The graduation is one of many set to take place throughout the rest of the year as TDOC continues to employee and empower officers as they build a career in corrections.