You may have noticed some campaign signs starting to appear around town for the upcoming May 3 Coffee County primary.
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.
House bill would add protections for Tennessee churches
Tennessee House of Representatives last week passed legislation further protecting Tennesseans’ First Amendment right to hold religious services during a state of emergency, major disaster or natural disaster. The measure passed the House chamber with 73 Republicans voting in favor and 19 Democrats voting against it.
House Bill 1694 prohibits the state, a government entity or a public official from restricting worship services or activities during a state of emergency such as a pandemic or natural disaster.
The First Amendment guarantees the right of all citizens to freely practice their religion and to peacefully assemble at their chosen house of worship. Though Tennessee has not imposed any restrictions on religious services since the pandemic began, other states have. House Bill 1694 ensures the government will not infringe on those rights. The bill now awaits approval in the Senate Chamber. To read more about House Bill 1694, visit here.
Special needs fellowship event set for March 5
Organizers have announced that Light & Life – a special needs fellowship event – will be held in Manchester on March 5.
The event is for special needs young men and ladies age 14 and older.
There will be hair, makeup, music, dancing, karaoke, limo rides, food, photos and more fun.
The event is set for 5-8 p.m. at Forest Mill Church of Christ at 3388 McMinnville Highway. You can RSVP or direct questions to Jaime Daugherty at 931-273-5103 or email jaimemiddletnsurgical@gmail.com.
Brothers Implement fire ruled electrical, authorities say
A fire that caused significant damage at Brothers Implement Company in Hillsboro last week (Feb. 15, 2022) has been ruled an electrical fire.
Coffee County Sheriff’s Department investigator James Sherrill told Thunder Radio News that the fire was investigated and has been determined to be an electrical fire.
At the time of the fire, authorities would not rule out arson due to a rash of home and vehicle burglaries in the area at the exact same time as the fire.
Brothers Implement Company remains open for business. While the office areas were completely destroyed, firefighters were able to prevent the fire from reaching the shop area of the business.
Still need help with burglaries
Sheriff’s department officials say that they still need assistance solving a rash of burglaries that broke out on the evening of Tuesday, Feb. 15.
Homes, garages and vehicles were broken into on Hillsboro Highway starting at Old Airport Rd. and working toward Hillsboro.
“The investigation is ongoing and we are following leads, checking cameras,” stated Sherrill.
“If anyone has any information at all. Maybe you saw someone walking down the road in that time frame (between 5-8 p.m.) or saw suspicious vehicles, maybe parked on the side of the road, please call me directly.”
Tips can be called to Sherrill directly at 931-570-4404.
Ranked choice voting banned in Tennessee
Both chambers of the General Assembly this week approved legislation banning ranked choice or instant runoff voting in state and local elections.
Ranked choice voting is a voting method in which voters rank candidates by preference. The candidate with a majority of first-preference votes wins. If no candidate wins a majority of first-preference votes, then the candidate with the lowest preference is eliminated and their votes are redistributed among the remaining candidates.
“It is a confusing methodology of tabulating votes,” said House Bill 1868 sponsor State Rep. Kevin Vaughan, R-Collierville. “The counting method is confusing and complex, creates a lack of confidence in the vote totals and what we’ve heard from constituents is keep things simple and transparent.”
Instant runoff voting has been proven to increase voter confusion, decrease voter turnout and confidence and produce results that leave no candidate with a majority of total votes, according to lawmakers who support the bill.
House Bill 1868 heads to the governor’s desk for his signature. To read more about the bill visit here.
Tennessee gas prices tick up three more cents
he Tennessee gas price average continues to increase, rising three cents over last week, on average. The Tennessee Gas Price average is now $3.29 which is 25 cents more expensive than one month ago and 89 cents more than one year ago.
The average price in Coffee County has shot up to $3.30, which is a penny more expensive than the state average and 23 cents below the national average of $3.53.
“Gas prices are still rising across the state this week, however, at a much slower rate compared to last week,” said Megan Cooper, spokeswoman, AAA – The Auto Club Group. “Upward tension on gas prices from elevated crude oil prices, as well as ongoing geopolitical tensions between Russia and Ukraine will likely continue to push pump prices higher this week.”
Quick Facts
· 33% of Tennessee gas stations have prices below $3.25
· The lowest 10% of pump prices are $3.11 for regular unleaded
· The highest 10% of pump prices are $3.58 for regular unleaded
· Tennessee is the 10th least expensive market in the nation this week
National Gas Prices
Over last week the national average for a gallon of regular gasoline has increased by five cents to $3.53. According to new data from the Energy Information Administration (EIA), total domestic gasoline stocks decreased by 1.3 million bbl to 247.1 million bbl last week. On the other hand, gasoline demand decreased from 9.13 million b/d to 8.57 million b/d. Typically, a decrease in gas demand during winter would put downward pressure on pump prices, but elevated crude prices continue to push pump prices higher. Pump prices will likely rise if crude prices continue to climb.
National Oil Market Dynamics
At the close of Thursday’s formal trading session, WTI decreased by $1.90 to settle at $91.76. Although crude prices slipped Thursday due to increased market expectations that more oil could enter the global market if the U.S. and Iran complete a new nuclear agreement, and sanctions are lifted, the tension between Russia and Ukraine contributed to rising oil prices earlier in the week. Russia is a member of OPEC+, and any sanctions based on their actions toward Ukraine may cause it to withhold crude oil from the global market. Additionally, EIA reported that total domestic crude stocks increased by 1.1 million bbl last week to 411.5 million bbl. The current stock level is approximately 11 percent lower than mid-February 2021, contributing to pressure on domestic crude prices.
TAX TIPS: tracking your tax return and refund status
By Rosalyn Partin, H&R Block
A few days after you electronically file your tax return you can track it’s processing status. The IRS tracking system is updated once every 24 hours, usually at night. You can track your return by using the IRS website at IRS.GOV and clicking on the link for “Get Your Refund Status” or through the IRS app IRS2Go. You will need to input the social security number for the primary taxpayer, your filing status, and the amount of your refund as shown on your tax return. The refund tracker follows your tax return from receipt to completion. It tells you when your return has been received and accepted by IRS. When the processing is complete, the refund tracker will give you a personalized date for when your refund is scheduled to be deposited into your bank account or put in the mail.
If you check the status of your return and see a message that says to Take Action, you should follow the instructions in the message. It is possible that processing of your return will stop until you have contacted IRS with necessary information.
If you have questions or want to schedule an appointment, please call H&R Block in Manchester TN at 931-728-9462. H&R Block Has Your Back!
Woodbury man charged with bank robbery
A Woodbury man has been arrested in connection with several mid-state bank robberies. Clifton Knight, also known as the breeze, has been accused of hitting three banks in the area over a 5-week period.
This crime spree dates back to December, 2021 with the authorities saying he may have been involved in robbing banks between Murfreesboro and Knoxville.
Surveillance video shows the suspect at Suntrust Bank in Green Hills on January 4, 2022. He allegedly demanded one-hundred dollar bills as well as fifties.
A witness noticed his getaway car and took a picture of the license plate, ultimately leading investigators back to Knight, but not before he hit two more banks.
On February 4, 2022, surveillance photos from at Suntrust Bank in Hermitage showed him wearing the same denim vest, grey hoody sweatshirt, glasses and a black gaiter.
Four days later (2/8/2022), Knight was in surveillance pictures from Fifth-Third Bank on Donelson Pike. With that robbery, a witness followed the get away car and got a clear picture of the license tag. Yes, it was listed to 59-year old Clifton Knight of Woodbury.
Knight is now being held in Kentucky on federal charges in connection with these Middle Tennessee bank robberies.
-Thunder Radio news partner WGNS Radio provided this report.
Gov. Bill Lee to unveil new education funding formula Feb. 24
Gov. Bill Lee announced he will share legislation for the new student-based funding formula, known as the Tennessee Investment in Student Achievement formula (TISA), on Thursday, Feb. 24.
“After an extensive process with input from thousands of Tennesseans, we are on the cusp of achieving an updated approach to public education that prioritizes students and invests in the future of Tennessee,” said Gov. Lee. “I thank our partners in the General Assembly who have worked with us for months to improve the way we fund public schools, and I have every expectation that we will get this done during the current legislative session.”
The TISA will include the following components:
Student-based funding starts with a base funding amount for every public-school student.
Additional funding may then be allocated based on weights to address individual student needs.
Direct funding is another opportunity for students to receive additional funding allocations to support specific programs, like tutoring.
Outcome incentives are awarded based on student achievement to empower schools to help all students reach their full potential.
Tennessee Department of Education Commissioner Penny Schwinn on Wednesday appeared before members of the House Education Instruction Committee to answer questions about the proposed new funding formula ahead of its unveiling next week.
Schwinn noted that Tennessee is one of about nine states that still use a resource-based funding model for education. She added that moving to a student-based funding formula will help “ensure that students who need the resources and additional support receive the funding attached to them.”
The amount the state would spend on each student beyond the set base funding amount would “vary pretty significantly” with the new plan depending on each individual student’s specific needs, according to Schwinn.
“Those schools that have high concentrations of students who are economically disadvantaged, they will likely have additional funding on top of what they already get,” she added. “Very candidly, that tends to benefit our rural and urban communities the most.”
Once the new formula is released, school districts are expected to receive information regarding how much funding they would receive from the current Basic Education Program funding formula compared to the proposed new student-based formula.
To learn more about student-based funding, Tennessee’s recent public engagement process and subcommittee recommendations, and to access additional resources, visit the Department of Education’s website.
Local VFW recognizes award winners at community awards banquet
A capacity crowd was in attendance for the Veterans of Foreign Wars
All-American Post 10904 Community Awards banquet, held February 14 in the
Coffee County Veterans Building. Among those attending were Coffee County
Mayor Gary Cordell, VFW State Commander Brian Walker and several other
officers with VFW Department of Tennessee.
After an incredible meal prepared by VFW Post Chaplain Hans Hooker and his
wife, Post Auxiliary Member Virginia, Lloyd Smith performed the National
Anthem to open the ceremony.
Four new VFW Life Members were welcomed to the Post. Veterans Military
Support Appreciation Awards were presented to Beth Murphy of Hickerson
Elementary School; Jamie Harden of Harden Signs;
Betty Hamry and Amy Carter of United Daughters of the Confederacy, Calvin C.
Brewer Chapter 2505; and Peyton Garner of Cowan Elementary School.
This is the second year in a row that all three Teachers of the Year
selected at the Post level were also selected at the District level; one of
them was selected as the 8th State Teacher of the Year from Post 10904 in
just the last five years.
Kelli Cunningham of Cowan Elementary School was selected as the elementary
school Teacher of the Year, and Trudy Nash of Temple Baptist School the high
school Teacher of the Year, at both the Post and District levels. Will
Pannell of Westwood Middle School was selected as the Middle School Teacher
of the Year at the Post, District and State of Tennessee levels. He now
advances to the National level. Emily Ezell of Cowan Elementary School was
selected as VFW’s National Teacher of the Year in 2018.
In addition to the outstanding teachers in our area, several local students
won the annual VFW essay competitions. Katherine Clark, an 8th Grade student
at Temple Baptist School, topped 64 Patriot’s Pen essay competition
submissions. She read her essay aloud to those in attendance, who were so
inspired by her essay that she received a standing ovation.
Andrew Hetrick, a Senior at Coffee County Central High School, was awarded
First Place in the Voice of Democracy essay competition among the 16 entries
at the Post level; and First Place at the District level, where his
submission was judged the best among the winners from ten VFW Posts. He read
his essay aloud and also received a standing ovation. Recently awarded the
rank of Eagle Scout, Hetrick also received the VFW Post 10904 Scout of the
Year Award.
Lloyd Smith closed the event with “God Bless The USA” as attendees sang
along.
For more information and to stay current on the latest local VFW news, visit
our Facebook page and website at www.vfwpost10904.com
Will Pannell 
Trudy Nash 
Lloyd Smith 
Kelli Cunningham 
Katherine Clark 
Drew Hetrick
