Category: News

Bonnaroo Works Fund (BWF), the charitable arm of the Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival, is now accepting online applications for the 2018 grant cycle. Committed to advancing art, education and environmental causes, the BWF focuses its grant awards on Tennessee organizations while also allocating financial support to several national nonprofits. The deadline for applications is May 18, and grants will be announced in July. The application process and distribution of funds is coordinated by the Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee, and applications can be found at https://www.cfmt.org/giving-and-investing/become-a-donor/give-to-a-fund/bonnaroo-works-fund/.
Established in 2009, BWF grants reflect the charitable commitment of festival founders, attendees, fans and partners, and since the festival’s inception, more than $7 million has been awarded to worthy causes by Bonnaroo Works Fund and Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival. Last year, BWF awarded more than $225,000 to deserving organizations, with more than 75 percent of grants distributed to Tennessee-based organizations.

Rain, rain and more rain. Heavy rains continued over Coffee County on Thursday bringing on flooding.
Many areas throughout the county had water flowing over the top of roadways on Thursday morning.
The Coffee County Rescue Squad was called out for a water rescue just after 7am Thursday morning. The incident took place on Lumley Stand Road when van with adults and children were stranded. Thankfully when Rescue Squad members arrived, the occupants were already out safely.
Thursday morning, Normandy Lake was at 10.46 feet (875.46) above full pool of 865.00 feet, Duck River was 2 feet above flood stage and Little Duck River has been flowing over its banks.
As of Thursday afternoon, around 4 inches of rain had fallen in Manchester since Wednesday morning with some areas of the county reporting slightly more.

The Manchester Public Works Department is warning drivers to expect longer drive times along US highway 41 (Hillsboro Blvd) due to road construction.
The new Americans with Disabilities Act compliant sidewalk ramps are being installed throughout this project at various intersections.
Due to the State Hwy Resurfacing Project on Hwy 41, the traffic lights through the city have been placed into manual mode, which means the wait time will be a little longer.
Rogers Group is scheduled to start the milling process on March 18th. The hours will be 7pm to 6am, Sunday through Thursday.
Please drive carefully and allow yourself extra time during this project.

Authorities have dropped all charges in connection with “Operation Candy Crush,” a sting that targeted Tennessee stores accused of selling candy and other products containing a form of marijuana.
District Attorney General Jennings H. Jones said in a Wednesday release that the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation has backed off its initial determinations. The TBI said investigators could not determine whether the oil in the products derived from marijuana or hemp.
Jones says the TBI had previously assured his office that the 23 Rutherford County stores were selling products infused with illegal controlled substances, which formed the basis for nuisance actions and the indictments of 21 people.
TBI spokesman Josh Devine said in a statement to WSMV-TV that the agency’s role in laboratory work was to objectively analyze evidence, not determine legality.

The Medical Cannabis Act has passed a House subcommittee with Speaker Beth Harwell casting the deciding vote.
It passed Tuesday with a vote of 4-3 in the House Criminal Justice Subcommittee.
SB1710 or the “Medical Cannabis Act” would allow people with specific medical conditions to have access to cannabis oil. It would not allow recreational use of marijuana.
People with cancer, Parkinson’s disease and PTSD, among other conditions, would be able to obtain the cannabis oil. Sen. Steve Dickerson sponsored the bill.
He estimated 65,000 Tennesseans would benefit from the bill. He said the bill has been revised and improved through the years, and he felt this version has the best chance of passing.
The bill will go before a full committee next.

Manchester Parks and Recreation will be having a Public Hearing on Monday, March 5, 2018 at 6pm. The meeting will take place at City Hall 200 West Fort St in Manchester. The Public Hearing concerns a local parks and recreation fund grant.
The Manchester Parks and Recreation Department is applying for a grant to assist in the funding of lighting two soccer fields and a restroom facility in the Manchester Sports Park.
Funds from the grant will also be used to add a special needs playground addition to the Hunter Gattis Memorial Playground at Fred Deadman Park.

Marcus Johnson age 35 of Murfreesboro was in a passenger in a vehicle that was stopped for a traffic violation on Hwy 55 in Coffee County late Tuesday night (Feb 27, 2018).
Troopers received permission to search the vehicle. Coffee County Deputy Jennifer Curbow and K-9 Max arrived at the scene and Max alerted on the vehicle. According to the arrest warrant, Trooper Adam Malone allegedly located a suitcase in the trunk of the vehicle that contained approximately 2 pounds of a white crystal-like substance that field tested positive for methamphetamine, approximately 200 Xanax bars, approximately 6 pounds of a green leafy like substance believed to be marijuana, and approximately 56 grams of a white powdery substance believed to be cocaine. Troopers also allegedly located plastic baggies and a set of digital scales with the drugs. Also, according to the arrest warrant, Trooper Malone states that Johnson, who was a passenger in the vehicle, admitted that all the items belonged to him.
Johnson was charged with 5 counts of manufacturing/delivering/selling/possession of a controlled substance.
His bond was set at $101,000. Johnson is scheduled for Coffee County Court on April 10, 2018.

At a recent Manchester Safety Committee meeting, Manchester Police Department Chief Mark Yother said that discussions have begun about adding a school resource officer (SRO) to his 2018-2019 budget.
Yother said if approved, Westwood Middle School would be the officer’s base location but would assisting the city’s two elementary schools.
You may remember that the public began asking about having an SRO for the city schools after a student brought an unloaded gun to Westwood Middle School in September (2017).
Chief Yother told WMSR News that the starting pay for an officer is just over $40,000, plus benefits. He said some other costs are involved such as the person’s uniform, training, car and other needed items or supplies and that would be an extra $24,000. The chief said those items are a one-time cost and some reoccurring.
Yother went on to say that the city schools and police department will need to come up with a plan to split the cost of the SRO in order for that person to be approved.