Registration is now open for the annual Manchester Christmas Parade – themed “Christmas Through the Ages.”
The 2021 Christmas parade will be held on its normal day – the first Saturday after Thanksgiving, which is Saturday, Nov. 27. Parade lineup begins at 5 p.m. with festivities starting at 6:30 p.m. The annual downtown tree lighting will take place at the conclusion of the parade.
Registration for entries is now open and the deadline to register your parade entry is Friday, Nov. 19. Grand Marshal’s for the 2021 parade will be Ray and Jane Marcrom. A photo of the parade route is below.
Click here for a link to the parade entry packet.
Imagination library accepting donations for ‘give the gift of books’ fundraiser
The Coffee County Imagination Library is teaming up with Fuel So Good in Tullahoma for a fundraiser – “Give the Gift of Books.”
Imagination Library board members will be at the coffee shop all day on Friday, Nov. 19 to accept donations. All throughout this week, when you visit Fuel So Good you can donate to the Imagination Library at the checkout counter.
Retired rec director Gamble receives TRPA Lifetime Member Award
Bonnie Gamble, who recently retired as Manchester Parks and Recreation Director, was honored by the Tennessee Recreation and Parks Association on Thursday with the Lifetime Member Award.
“We’ve been through a lot,” said Gamble, speaking to recreation department employees during her award presentation Thursday. “You all stuck by me, we worked together and we got there. This is as much for all of you.”
The Lifetime Member Award honors and recognizes individuals who have made numerous and/or significant long-term contributions within the parks and recreation profession. This prestigious award can be given to more than one nominee per year. Gamble is the only person to receive the honor this year.
Gamble retired in June after leading the Parks and Recreation department through significant progress over the past 20-plus years, including the construction of the recreation complex, Little Duck River Greenway and Manchester Soccer Park.
Gov. Lee set to sign COVID special session bill
Tennessee Governor Bill Lee said on Wednesday that he plans to sign a bill that recently passed a special session of the state legislature that involves the state’s handling of COVID-19.
The bill will mostly bar governments and businesses from requiring proof of COVID-19 vaccinations, and only allow public entities such as schools to require masks due to COVID-19 in dire public health scenarios.
State lawmakers say the bill is designed to combat possible federal regulations and mandates.
The bill also requires hospitals to allow at least one family member to stay with a COVID-19 patient facing an end-of-life situation.
Manchester Music Series event is Friday
Manchester-Coffee County Conference Center has announced the launch of a “Visit Manchester Music Series” with the first concert set for Friday, Nov. 12.
The headlining performance will be by national touring artist Tyler Braden. Also performing will be Matt Dillon, Logan Wheat and Stephanie Nash.
Tickets are now on sale now and can be purchased by clicking here. Tickets will also be available at the gate. Festivities begin at 5 p.m. Nov. 12.
Manchester police report multiple scams in the area
Manchester Police Department has issued a release concerning multiple scams and attempted scams in the area over the past few weeks – noting it is not unusual to see increased scam attempts around the holidays. Below is the full release from MPD:
The Manchester Police Department is receiving an uptick in reported scams and scam attempts. It is not unusual for this activity to increase around the Holiday Season. We are taking reports on numerous types of scam attempts, some of which have been successful. Generally, there is not a way to determine where the phone call and/or the money come from or is being sent to. Keep in mind, it is unlikely that your financial institution is going to accept any responsibility for you being scammed and or cashing/sending a fraudulent check. It is possible that the caller will request that you go to a local store and purchase gift cards or other type of cash cards – in return they want you to provide them with the numbers on the cards. All of the above are likely scams, and the chances of your money being returned is unlikely. Below is a list of type of scams that we are seeing reported:
- Callers posing as bondsmen needing money for a family member in jail.
- Callers posing as Law Enforcement and offering to handle arrest warrants via cash trade-off.
- Callers posing as a representative of the IRS needing money for unpaid taxes.
- Receiving fraudulent check in the mail; cashing it and sending a % of the money to a certain person.
- Conversations online that lead to a relationship in which the unknown person starts to request money.
The examples listed above are some common scams that we continue to see. Please remember, If it sounds too good to be true, it’s probably not true. Additionally, there are NO LAW ENFORCEMENT agencies that will request money over the phone. Don’t allow yourself to be a victim of any type of scams.
Suspect a SCAM? AARP’s Fraud Helpline can help. If you suspect you are being targeted by a scam, call AARP’s toll-free helpline: 877-908-3360. AARP is providing these fraud prevention resources to members and non-members. As always, you can reach out to the Manchester Police Department for advice or a report at 931-728-2099.
Reward offered after Mustang stolen from Winchester car lot
Area authorities are seeking information about the theft of a 2021 Ford Mustang from a car lot in Winchester.
According to Winchester Police Department, sometime during the overnight hours of Tuesday, Nov. 9 and the morning of Wednesday, Nov. 10, a 2021 Ford Mustang GT500 was taken from Russell Barnett Ford at 4055 Tullahoma Highway in Winchester.
The mustang is orange in color (see photo below). There is currently a $10,000 reward for recovery of the mustang. Anyone with information to aid in the investigation is encouraged to contact Winchester Police Department at 931-967-3840 or Crimestoppers at 931-962-INFO.
Manchester Music Series event is Friday
Manchester-Coffee County Conference Center has announced the launch of a “Visit Manchester Music Series” with the first concert set for Friday, Nov. 12.
The headlining performance will be by national touring artist Tyler Braden. Also performing will be Matt Dillon, Logan Wheat and Stephanie Nash.
Tickets are now on sale now and can be purchased by clicking here. Tickets will also be available at the gate. Festivities begin at 5 p.m. Nov. 12.
TBI agents investigating officer-involved shooting in Grundy County
At the request of 12th District Attorney General J. Michael Taylor, TBI special agents are investigating the circumstances leading to the death of a woman during an interaction with an officer from the Monteagle Police Department.
On Monday, Monteagle officers received a report of a person with a weapon in the area of a market on Highway 41 in Monteagle. A Monteagle officer responding to the scene encountered the woman with the firearm. Initial reports from the scene indicate that during the confrontation with the woman, identified as Angie McFarland (DOB 07/03/1971), she pointed the firearm at the officer. The officer fired, striking her, and she was pronounced deceased at the scene.
TBI agents are working to independently determine the series of events leading to the shooting, including collecting evidence and conducting interviews. Throughout the process, investigative findings will be shared with the District Attorney General for his further review and consideration. The TBI acts solely as fact-finders in its cases and does not determine whether the actions of an officer were justified in these types of matters. That decision rests with the District Attorney General requesting TBI’s involvement.
The TBI does not identify the officers involved in these types of incidents and instead, refers questions of that nature to the respective department to answer as it sees fit.
This Veterans Day, Tennessee Treasury wants to return unclaimed military medals to owners
This Veterans Day, the Tennessee Department of Treasury is asking for help in locating the owners of military medals held for safekeeping by the Division of Unclaimed Property.
In Tennessee, unclaimed property is usually money. However, if a military medal is found in an abandoned safe deposit box, the medal is turned over to the State Treasurer for safekeeping until it can be returned to the rightful owner.
Some examples of military medals currently held in Unclaimed Property for Tennesseans, include:
(https://t.e2ma.net/click/pf6iyh/5n7lps/92phjgb)
Purple Heart: A Purple Heart was found in a safe deposit box held by Victor Presnell, of Cane Ridge, including a letter indicating the medal was awarded to Pvt. Lawrence Presnell on April 23, 1945. This medal, when awarded in 1945, was for wounds received in action against the enemy in World War II.
(https://t.e2ma.net/click/pf6iyh/5n7lps/pvqhjgb)
Armed Forces Expeditionary Service: This medal, in holding for Arthur S. Fair or Gloria Ownes, of Milligan College, was awarded to military members who, after July 1, 1958, participated in a U.S. military operation and encountered foreign armed opposition. It can also be awarded to those who were in significant danger of hostile action by foreign forces.
(https://t.e2ma.net/click/pf6iyh/5n7lps/5nrhjgb)
European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign: This medal was awarded for qualifying U.S. military service within the European-African-Middle Eastern Theater of Operations between Dec. 7, 1941, and March 2, 1946. These medals are in holding for three Tennesseans – Charles Brown, of Knoxville; James C. Sanders, of Nashville; and Joseph R. Foster, of Nashville.
(https://t.e2ma.net/click/pf6iyh/5n7lps/lgshjgb)
WWII Victory Medal: The World War II Victory Medal was first issued as a service ribbon, and later established as a medal in 1946. It was awarded to any member of the U.S. armed services who served on active duty, or as a reservist, between Dec. 7, 1941 and Dec. 31, 1946. These medals are in holding for James C. Sanders, of Nashville, and Joseph R. Foster, of Nashville
The Treasury is asking for the public’s help in reuniting the owners with their medals. If you know any of these individuals or their families, please help us get these medals back to those who earned them. All unclaimed property, including medals in safekeeping, is listed at ClaimItTN.gov (https://t.e2ma.net/click/pf6iyh/5n7lps/18shjgb). Medals in holding are listed as “Tangible Property.”
“You cannot put a value on these priceless badges of sacrifices made by our military,” Treasurer David H. Lillard, Jr. said. “These medals belong in the hands of the families of these heroes.”
The Tennessee General Assembly established a law to protect military medals for veterans in May 2011. Identifying military medals as “any decoration or award that may be presented or awarded to a member of a unit of the Armed Forces or National Guard,” the law established a clear policy to turn over these medals to the Treasurer for safekeeping until they are claimed by the rightful owners or their heirs.
Medals currently in keeping include various World War II medals, Dog tags, military pins, and other insignia.
“The sacrifice of our service men and women is worthy of our highest honor,” said Tennessee Department of Veterans Services Commissioner Tommy Baker. “This program to reunite lost medals with the families of the service members who earned them is commendable and courageous just as those service members were when they put on the uniform. I am proud that our State has a process to reunite these medals with their rightful owners.”
During the week of Veterans Day, Nov. 11, the Department will also be using Facebook and Twitter to share the names of individuals who may have these medals to claim.
About the Unclaimed Property Program
Unclaimed property is money turned over to the Division by businesses and organizations that were unable to locate the rightful owner. This consumer protection program of the State Treasury works to reunite the millions of missing dollars turned over every year with its rightful owners.
The Unclaimed Property Division returned 52,584 claims, totaling $60 million, to the rightful owners during fiscal year 2021. There is currently over $1.2 billion waiting to be claimed.
Anyone can see if they are owed any missing money by searching their name at ClaimItTN.gov (https://t.e2ma.net/click/pf6iyh/5n7lps/h1thjgb) and may file a claim online if they find unclaimed property belonging to them. Treasury recommends searching for common misspellings of your name and previous addresses. In Tennessee, there is no time limit to claim unclaimed property. It is held for the rightful owner or their legal beneficiaries until it is claimed
