Category: News

Tennessee Department of Transportation crews have been working to repair highway potholes.
TDOT has received calls from law enforcement and citizens about the potholes and once crews locate them, they’ll choose a stretch of road and patch up the lanes as needed.
However, around this time of year crews must use a cold mix to fill the holes, which is only a temporary fix until asphalt can be used in the summer.
If the pothole is deep, it could cause some serious damage to your vehicle and those are the potholes TDOT tackles first.

This week, the Trump administration is working to get its remaining Cabinet members confirmed by the U.S. Senate, including his pick to lead the EPA.
Oklahoma’s attorney general, Scott Pruitt, has filed or joined several lawsuits to block EPA regulations, and that’s prompting groups such as Mom’s Clean Air Force to oppose his nomination.
Tennessee mom Lindsay Pace is the state’s field consultant for the group, who says she’s concerned for children if Pruitt were to undo progress made in improving the state’s air quality.
“I want them to have clean air to breathe when they’re playing outside in our beautiful state,” she said, “And I believe that Scott Pruitt is a dangerous and unprecedented choice to helm the EPA.”
This month Clean Air Moms Action, a project of the Environmental Defense Action Fund, is running ads in Tennessee and several other states criticizing Pruitt for questioning in a lawsuit whether mercury poses a public health hazard.
During his confirmation hearing last week, Pruitt says the Obama administration “overreached” when it came to environmental regulations and wants to see a state-driven approach to environmental regulation.
Pace says she got involved with improving air quality after she unknowingly took her newborn outside to the park on a “red alert action” day, signaling dangerous air quality.
“It made me realize that, while I can encourage my child to eat healthy foods and if necessary, buy her clean water to drink, I can’t buy her clean air to breathe when she’s playing outside,” she explained.
Votes from two-thirds of senators are needed to approve Pruitt’s nomination.

Al White Motors and WMSR (Thunder Radio) are teaming up to honor those who serve that thin blue line, our local law enforcement. Each month someone in law enforcement will be honored as a Hometown Hero.
Our hero this month is Tullahoma Officer Jess “Rocky” Ruehling. He has been with the Tullahoma Police Department since 2010 after serving at other departments before beginning in Tullahoma.
During his time with Tullahoma, Rocky has been assigned to the Patrol Division.
In November of 2015 Ruehling was appointed as the officer assigned to the Tullahoma Housing Authority. The THA assignment is crucial to the department’s service and partnership with the public housing within Tullahoma. Chief Paul Blackwell says Ruehling demonstrates a genuine concern for the welfare of others and does not hesitate to assist the THA staff and get involved in activities that benefit the housing authority residents.
Rocky has a passion for our youth and is involved as an “Adopt a Cop” at the Jack A. Farrar Elementary School.
We are continuing to ask for the public’s help for more hometown heroes. Go to our Facebook page or the Al White Ford Lincoln Mercury Facebook page to nominate a law enforcement official. Tell us why you think someone that serves Coffee County in law enforcement deserves to be chosen as a “Hometown Hero”. The man or woman that is selected each month will be recognized on WMSRradio.com and receive a nice surprise from Al White Motors.
Thank you to all that serve and protect us, our Hometown Heroes.

Around 8:05am Saturday morning Manchester Fire-Rescue was dispatched to a structure fire at Continental Apartments on Skinner Flat Road.
Fire personnel responded to the scene and discovered a fire in the first floor apartment on the south end of the G Apartment building. Fire crews made an attack on the fire and discovered that the fire had gotten into the walls, sub floor between the first and second floor, ceiling and attic area of the facility.
Fire crews did an excellent job stopping the fire at bay in the complex limiting the overall fire damage.
Off duty crews were recalled to assist in fighting the fire. Tullahoma Fire-Rescue also responded as mutual aid to the city providing coverage for the City of Manchester while Manchester crews were involved in the fire. Tullahoma Fire-Rescue crews did responded to a motor vehicle accident on Hwy 55 while crews were busy combating the apartment fire.
Manchester Police assisted greatly in ensuring occupants in the apartments were evacuated while fire crews were setting up to fight the fire.
Manchester Fire Chief George Chambers said this was a complete team effort between the Coffee County Communication Center, Coffee County EMS, Tullahoma Fire-Rescue, Manchester Police and Duck River Electric Corp.

It has come to the attention of Duck River Electric Membership that one of their members has been contacted by someone claiming to represent DREMC soliciting this member to sign up for bank draft. DREMC does not telemarket this service.
If you are interested in signing up for bank draft, please contact your local office.
See the upcoming February issue of The Tennessee Magazine for a full story on utility scammers and how to avoid falling prey to these callers.
If someone attempts to scam you, contact local authorities.

The Moore County Sheriff Department is requesting help in solving a vandalism case that involves the Friendship Methodist Church on Highway 129. The Moore County Sheriff Department is asking if any one may have seen a large truck or trailer with large piece of equipment on it in the church parking lot on the night of Monday Jan 16, 2017 to please contact them. If you have any information that can help authorities please call the Metro Moore County Sheriff’s Department 931-759-7323.

The number of flu cases are on the rise in Middle Tennessee.
According to the Tennessee Department of Health, over the past week more than 7,000 people have been treated for the flu at clinics across the state.
That number is up more than 1,000 from the first week of January.
The department of health also says 29 out of all 95 Tennessee counties have had at least one case of the flu. (WKRN-TV)

Gas prices have inched lower for nearly two consecutive weeks. The average price for a gallon of regular unleaded has declined for 12 days straight in Tennessee. During this streak, the average price has dropped 3 cents in Tennessee.
“Gas prices are taking their seasonal downward turn,” said Mark Jenkins, spokesman, AAA – The Auto Club Group. “Falling demand leads to oil and gasoline supply builds, which has pushed fuel prices lower. Gas prices should trend lower to finish the month, but begin a seasonal rise in February due to refinery maintenance season.”
The low price in Manchester this week is $2 per gallon and in Tullahoma the low price is $2.01.

The African American Heritage Committee will hold a Black History luncheon Feb. 16, 12 p.m., at the Arnold Lakeside Center where they will reflect on the 2017 Black History theme, The Crisis
of Black Education.
The 2017 theme, established by the Association for the Study of African American Life and History, focuses on the crucial role of education in the history of African Americans.
The luncheon speaker is Dr. Andrew Hugine Jr., president of Alabama A&M University, Huntsville, Alabama.
Reservations and cash or check payment for the luncheon must be made no later than Feb. 8. The cost of the luncheon is $16 for non-Services members and $15 for Services members. Make reservations by calling 454-5434 or 454-4342.