Category: News

Two new laws concerning recreational boating will become effective July 1. It is hoped that they will help increase safety on Tennessee waters.
As of July 1, a requirement similar to the “Move Over” law on land will go into effect. As written, the new law will require boaters to slow to no wake speed within 100 feet of a law enforcement vessel that is displaying flashing blue lights.
Also effective July 1, there will no longer be an exemption from boating education for renters of watercraft.
Tennessee residents born after Jan. 1, 1989 are required to pass a boater education exam administered by an approved representative of the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency in order to operate any motorized vessel over 8.5 horsepower. Out of state residents born after Jan. 1, 1989 must show proof of successful completion of a National Association of State Boating Law Administrators approved boating safety course. Non-resident certification may be from their home state or any state issued course.

In a follow-up to our election story yesterday, we have more today. As a reminder, in the county general election you’ll be voting for county mayor, sheriff, county trustee, circuit court clerk, county clerk, register of deeds, road superintendent (all seats) and constables (all seats). City elections will also be held for Manchester and Tullahoma. (See yesterday’s news for more information on county and city elections.)
In the state primary for Governor: Republicans Diane Black, Randy Boyd, Beth Harwell, Bill Lee, Basil Marceaux Sr., Kay White; Democrats Karl Dean, Craig Fitzhugh and Mezianne Vale Payne.
U.S. Senate: Republicans Marsha Blackburn and Aaron L. Pettigrew; Democrats Phil Bredesen, Gary Davis and John Wolfe.
U.S. House of Representatives (sixth district): Republicans Bob Corlew, Judd Matheny, Christopher Brian Monday, John Rose, Lavern Vivio; Democrats Dawn Barlow, Christopher Martin Finley, Peter Heffernan and Merrilee Wineinger.
The TN House of Representatives (district 47): Republicans Rush Bricken and Ronnie Holden; Democrat Mike Winton.
State executive committeeman (district 16): Republican Jerry Anderson and Democrats Bobby E. Bush Jr., and Robin Smith.
State executive committeewoman (district 16): Republicans Amanda Angel and Joanne P. Davis; Democrats Rupa Blackwell and Betty Newman.
Early voting begins July 13 and ends on July 28 in Coffee County with Election Day is set for August 2. The state general election is in November.

BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
COFFEE COUNTY ADMINISTRATIVE PLAZA
JUNE 26, 2018 @ 6:00 p.m.
A G E N D A

1. Sheriff Proclaims Commission Open for Business

2. Invocation

3. Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag

4. Roll Call

5. Approve agenda.

6. Review and approval of the minutes of previous meeting.

7. Resolution of Memorial, Sympathy and Commendation
a. Resolution 2018-19 – Joanna Lewis (Deceased)
b. Resolution 2018-20 – Leona D. West
c. Other

8. Elections, Appointments and Confirmations
a. Notaries
b. Other

9. Unfinished Business

10. New Business
a. School Budget Amendments
b. Budget Amendments
c. Jail Medical Contract
d. Resolution 2018-21 – Resolution to approve the compensation for the appointment by the Juvenile Judge of a part-time Juvenile Magistrate.
e. Resolution 2018-22 – A Resolution making appropriation for the various funds, departments, institutions, offices and agencies of Coffee County, Tennessee for the Fiscal Year beginning July 1, 2018 and ending June 30, 2019.
f. Resolution 2018-23 – Resolution setting the Tax Levy in Coffee County, Tennessee for the Fiscal Year beginning July 1, 2018.
g. Other
*Report of standing committee and action thereon by the commission.
*Report of special committees and action thereon by the commission.

11. Statements & Announcements
12. Public Comments
13. Adjournment

All current and incoming Motlow State Community College Tennessee Promise students have until July 1 to complete and submit eight hours of community service in order to remain eligible for the Tennessee Promise scholarship.
Tennessee Promise is a last-dollar scholarship which allows recent high school graduates to attend a state community college or technical school tuition-free.
“There are numerous ways that students can complete their community service hours, including job shadowing, cleaning local, state, and recreational parks, or by volunteering at local non-profit organizations,” said Jonathan Graham, Tennessee Promise director at Motlow.
Students can visit the tnAchieves website, tnachieves.org, which lists a host of community service opportunities for students in their local region. Community service hours must be submitted to tnAchieves at tnachieves.org.
Students may also visit the Motlow Tennessee Promise webpage at tnpromise.mscc.edu for an up-to-date listing of community service opportunities in their area.
For further information regarding the Tennessee Promise program at Motlow State, contact Graham at jgraham@mscc.edu or 615-220-7839 or Debra Smith at dsmith@mscc.edu or 931-438-9766.

There’s a cloud hanging over solar power in Tennessee, according to analysis being released Thursday by the bipartisan group Tennesseans for Solar Choice.
The coalition includes the Tennessee Small Business Alliance, NAACP, Southern Alliance for Clean Energy and Tennessee Solar Energy Industries Association, known as TenneSEIA.
The coalition says the Tennessee Valley Authority is slated to install less solar power now than it has since 2011.
Gil Hough, TenneSEIA’s executive director, says the current structure for solar installation is unclear for residents and businesses.
“It seems like each of their programs or processes are broken right now, and it’s a little confusing exactly what’s going on, making it more challenging for people that want to go solar,” Hough states.
Year-to-date solar applications for residential and small business installations are down 73 percent from one year ago.
TVA has three programs – Green Power Providers and Distributed Solar Solutions, plus it accepts proposals for large-scale solar within its RFP program.
In a statement, TVA says it has more than 400 megawatts of solar currently available and is reviewing proposals to add up to 200 additional megawatts.
Stephen Smith, executive director of the Southern Alliance for Clean Energy, says the end result of a solar power decline will be felt in the state’s economy.
“Customers are not given choice to be able to put solar on their homes,” he points out. “It means that small businesses are not able to take advantage of solar to help lower their costs. And most importantly, it means we’re losing jobs and economic development opportunities.”
In comparison, other southern states such as neighboring North Carolina are initiating policies that advance solar.
Smith says the Volunteer State is being left behind.
“Solar power throughout the country and particularly in the Southeast is going like gangbusters,” he states. “There’s a tremendous solar development that’s happening, all across the southeast.
“Unfortunately, within the Tennessee Valley Authority region and their local power companies, it has come to a virtual standstill.”
Tennessee ranks 25th in the nation for installed solar power. North Carolina ranks second, and Georgia ranks eighth.

An extremely strong storm roared into Manchester on Friday afternoon around 1:30pm.
Damage was reported at many locations in the local area as the storm passed through.
Over 2,000 Duck River Electric Membership members lost power on Friday afternoon.

The National Weather Service reported it was likely straight-line winds and not a tornado.

DREMC’s reported three substation breakers went out, multiple trees were down, which left several spans of electric wire down and poles were leaning. Some areas lost electric for over 6 hours.
No injuries were reported, but lots of damage including a car that was crushed by a fallen tree in the Stacy Ann Mobile Home Park on the Old Tullahoma Hwy.
Coffee County Emergency Management Director Allen Lendley said that winds reached approximately 50 mph during the peak of the storm.

A female’s body was located on Wednesday by Tullahoma Police. A search and rescue crew from Metro Nashville helped to find the body not far from the Rock Creek Greenway. Though the body has not yet been identified, police said it could be the body of a woman who has been missing for several days.
Tullahoma Police reports that Debbie White was last seen walking in the area of North Collins Street near the D.W. Wilson Community Center, where her car remains parked, around 10:30 a.m. Saturday, June 16.
It is believed she was headed toward the Tullahoma greenway.
Tullahoma Police Investigator Tyler Hatfield is the lead investigator on the case and he says the body has been sent to the medical examiner’s office for a full autopsy to determine the identity and cause of death.