Category: News

Many Coffee Countians are taking part in the 2 weeks of early voting. Election Day August 2nd, but early voting continues through Saturday July 28, 2018. This the county general election, city elections and the state primary. You do not have to declare a party for the county election or city, but if you choose to vote in the state primary you must declare.
So far 3,419 ballots have been cast. 2,366 republicans, 1,019 democrats and 34 voters chose to not declare a party in the state primary, so they could only vote in the county and possibly city election if they are eligible. This is just over 11 percent of the registered voters in Coffee County.
Remember you do not have to declare a party for the county or city elections. Local races include: County Commissioners, County Mayor, Sheriff, Circuit Court Clerk, Register of Deeds, Trustee, Road Superintendent, County Clerk, County School Board, Constables and Road Commissioners.
Manchester voters will also select three Aldermen and three City School Board members. Tullahoma will elect 2 Aldermen and 2 School Board members.
State primary races include those of Governor, U-S Senator, U-S Representative and State Representative.
Early voting hours are today through Friday from 8am to 4:30pm and Saturday from 8:30am until noon at the Election Commission office in the Coffee County Administration Plaza in Manchester and in Tullahoma at the C.D. Stamps Center from 9am-4:30pm, Monday-Friday and Saturday 9am-noon. Early voting will ends this Saturday on July 28th. Election Day is August 2nd. All voters who vote early or on Election Day must present a government issued photo ID.

The Coffee County Election Commission will meet on Thursday, July 26, 2018 at 4:00 PM in the Election Commission office, Administrative Plaza, 1329 McArthur Street, Suite 6 in Manchester.
The purpose of the meeting will be to certify voting machines to be used in the August 2, 2018 elections.
FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:
Vernita Davis, Administrator of Elections at the Coffee County Election Commission 931-723-5103.

The Tennessee Department of Health is investigating a Hepatitis A outbreak in Nashville, Chattanooga and the Mid-Cumberland Region with nearly 100 cases statewide. This Hepatitis A outbreak is linked to a large, multi-state outbreak that has been going on since early 2017, primarily affecting recreational drug users and persons experiencing homelessness in other states including the nearby states of Kentucky, Indiana and West Virginia.
What is Hepatitis A?
Hepatitis A is a vaccine-preventable, communicable disease of the liver caused by the hepatitis A virus. It is usually transmitted person-to-person through the fecal-oral route or consumption of contaminated food or water.
At risk groups:
• Recreational drug users
• Men who have sex with men
• Individuals experiencing homelessness
“We expect to see more hepatitis A cases among unvaccinated people in the at-risk groups in the state,” said State Epidemiologist Tim Jones, MD. “TDH along with community partners including sheriff’s departments and other organizations that work with people in these high risk categories are making great strides to educate the public and have provided thousands of doses of vaccine so far to people most at risk of becoming infected in this outbreak.”
Preventing Hepatitis A
Steps to prevent infection with hepatitis A include washing hands with soap and water after using the bathroom, before eating and before preparing or serving food. Get vaccinated if you are at high risk for getting hepatitis A. The vaccine can protect you after a single dose.
Hepatitis A vaccine is covered by most insurance plans; people who wish to be vaccinated should check with their health care provider or pharmacist. Vaccine is also available through local public health departments, especially for adults in at risk groups. Individuals travelling to countries where hepatitis A is common are also recommended to receive vaccine from their health care provider or travel clinic.
Pediatric hepatitis A vaccine is recommended for all children and has been required for Kindergarten entry in Tennessee since 2011. Hepatitis A vaccine should be considered for any child who has not been vaccinated.
Vaccine Availability
There is no shortage of the hepatitis A vaccine and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is working with manufacturers and states to ensure they have enough vaccine to provide to people at risk for hepatitis A.
More information about hepatitis A and Tennessee’s response to this outbreak can be found at www.tn.gov/health/cedep/tennessee-hepatitis-a-outbreak.html.
The mission of the Tennessee Department of Health is to protect, promote and improve the health and prosperity of people in Tennessee. TDH has facilities in all 95 counties and provides direct services for more than one in five Tennesseans annually as well as indirect services for everyone in the state, including emergency response to health threats, licensure of health professionals, regulation of health care facilities and inspection of food service establishments. Learn more about TDH services and programs at www.tn.gov/health.

Motlow State Community College has strengthened its commitment to improving student success by becoming part of the Achieving the Dream (ATD) National Reform Network. ATD, the nonprofit leading a movement to ensure student success for colleges that champion educational equity, continues to expand its Network with the addition of 20 colleges in 2018.
“Achieving the Dream is an organization nationally known for serving as a catalyst in efforts supporting community colleges in their mission to increase student success,” said Dr. Michael Torrence, Motlow president.
Chosen by the Tennessee Board of Regents (TBR), Motlow represents one of the eight Tennessee community colleges joining ATD in 2018. The joining colleges increase the ATD Network to more than 200 institutions from 41 states, including the District of Columbia.

According to Coffee County Sheriff’s Department Investigator Brandon Reed, on Saturday July 14, 2018, a local person was injured in a robbery that occurred in Coffee County.
33 year-old Amber D. Chambers, 47 year-old Herman L. Williams and Herbert Isom age 39 allegedly made entry into the residence and held the victim against his will. Reed says in his report that while in the residence the subjects took numerous items and money that didn’t belong to them. The victim was allegedly assaulted by the three people while inside the home.
Williams and Isom were arrested earlier this week and Chambers was arrested early Thursday night and all three are were charged with Aggravated Robbery & Aggravated Burglary by Investigator Reed, with other charges pending.

An operation described by an investigator as the largest Shelbyville heroin bust in more than 20 years resulted in the confiscation of 230 grams with a street value of $40,000 worth of heroin and the arrests of two suspects last week.
According to the Shelbyville Times-Gazette, Director Timothy R. Lane of the 17th Judicial District Drug Task Force said the approximately 7 ounces of high grade heroin have a total street value of $39,200 and would be worth a lot more if cut before distribution.
Joshua’a Ramelle Vaughn, 26, of Nashville and Sean Dorian Shinn, 28, of Detroit, Michigan were arrested at Park Trail Apartments on Green Lane, the DTF said. Both are charged with possession of a schedule I drug (heroin) for resale, possession of firearms during the commission of a dangerous felony and possession of drug paraphernalia.
Bedford County Jail’s intake lists show Vaughn is being held on a blanket bond of $200,000 and Shinn on a $100,000 blanket bond.

Health officials are reminding parents about the requirements for vaccinations for students ahead of the upcoming school year.
If your child does not get his or her shots updated in time, they may not be allowed to attend school.
Kindergartners or children enrolling in Tennessee schools for the first time need to show proof of their immunizations records.
Many parents may not realize the requirement for incoming seventh graders is proof of tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis booster (also known as T-Dap) and a Varicella vaccine booster or proof of having had chicken pox.
Children with medical exemptions must provide their child’s school with documentation from their medical provider. Religious exemptions require a signed statement by the parent/guardian that vaccination(s) conflict with his or her religious tenets or practices.

Who has the best-looking patrol cruiser in the country? The Tennessee Highway Patrol says they do and they need your vote to win. The THP is competing to win the “Best Looking Cruiser Award.” The contest is sponsored by the American Association of State Troopers (AAST). State highway patrols and state police organizations from across the country are competing for the esteemed award.
For the competition, THP submitted a photo of one of its 2018 Ford Explorer Interceptor Sport Utility Vehicles with our new Bell 429 rescue helicopter hovering overhead.
The THP is asking all Tennesseans to login to Facebook and cast votes for the THP cruiser. Cast your vote for the “Best Looking Cruiser” now through July 25 by clicking “like” on the individual Tennessee photo. Only “likes” for individual cruisers will be counted.
The winner will be presented with the “Best Looking Cruiser Award” and featured on the cover of the AAST Best Looking Cruisers 2019 wall calendar. Voting ends at 5:00 p.m. on July 25th.

Fake $100 and $20 bills are popping up around Coffee County. The counterfeit bills have been passed at area businesses. The employees did not realize the bills were fake until a bank informed the businesses.
The Coffee County Sheriff’s Department is urging area businesses to be very cautious when accepting cash. Any person that is in the business of money exchange, such as stores, or street vendors should practice some basic precautions. Workers are encouraged to use a marking pen to check if the money is real. Business employees should check both sides of the bill and see if they look right, because sometimes it can be obvious the money is fake.
Some of the $100 fake bills have pink Chinese writing on them.
Contact police if anyone tries to pass the fake bills to you personally or your business.

Louisiana no longer has the highest average sales tax rate in the nation, but only barely.
Tennessee has narrowly edged out Louisiana for the top spot with an average state and local combined sales tax rate of 9.46 percent.
That’s according to the latest data available from the nonpartisan, conservative Tax Foundation, which shows Louisiana falls a hair behind at 9.45 percent.
Louisiana previously had the top average combined rate, but the state sales tax slightly declined July 1.
Louisiana’s state sales tax had been slated to decrease from 5 percent to 4 percent. But state lawmakers in their last special session renewed 0.45 percent of the expiring temporary tax to avert steep cuts to college campuses and government-financed programs. The state’s sales tax rate now is 4.45 percent.