Category: News

Tennessee general fund tax collections are beating projections by nearly $700 million through the first nine months of the budget year.
The Legislature adjourned last month without taking most of the surplus tax collections into account, meaning that the bulk of the money will not be appropriated until lawmakers return into session next year.
Collections in April exceeded estimates by $166 million on the strength of an 8.5 percent increase in sales tax collections compared with the same month last year. Corporate taxes came in at $82 million more than expected.
The state’s Hall tax on income from stocks and bonds was $36 million above the budgeted estimate. Lawmakers passed a bill this year calling for the Hall tax to be phased out by 2022.

May is Mental Health Awareness Month and experts are reminding Tennesseans about the importance of checking in on the psychological health of themselves and their loved ones. One in five adults experiences some form of mental illness in a given year, according to the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI). While Tennessee has made some progress in treatment availability, Dr. Todd Peters, inpatient medical director at Vanderbilt Psychiatric Hospital, says making mental health care equally accessible is still an area that merits more focus. “I still think we have some work that can be done, as far as allowing for more comprehensive treatment services across the population,” says Peters. “Right now, there’s a little bit of disparity that exists between insurance groups, as far as what they will cover.” Late last month, Gov. Bill Haslam signed legislation allowing mental health counselors to deny treatment to patients depending on the counselor’s personal or religious beliefs. Opponents of the new law say it will minimize patient access to mental health care, particularly in rural communities. Young people in Tennessee also are affected by mental illness, with an estimated one in five experiencing a mental disorder during their lifetimes. Peters says many parents are afraid to ask pointed questions about their child’s mental state, but he encourages them to try. “They often feel very stuck and don’t know who to turn to,” he says. “And so, bringing it up and introducing the idea and asking about these questions is not going to plant that seed, it really is just going to help them, hopefully, better talk about it.” NAMI estimates mental illness costs the country almost $200 billion in lost earnings every year.

A new bill passed in the Tennessee General Assembly gives disabled veterans a property tax break.
The Tennessee Senate passed a new bill and, if signed into law by Gov. Bill Haslam, disabled veteran homeowners will receive a break when it’s time to pay the tax bill. The new bill will remove the annual income limit for property tax relief for disabled veterans.  Financial experts say the bill removes the income limitation for disabled veterans because prior to the new bill, if disabled veterans made over a certain amount, they were not able to get the property tax relief.

Over this past weekend, Manchester Fire-Rescue responded to a structural fire on West Coffee St. When crews arrived on scene they discovered a kitchen fire inside the residence. Crews attacked the fire quickly and were able to extinguish in a short amount of time.
Firemen performed salvage and overhaul operations and during overhaul operations discovered the fire had gotten into one of the walls adjacent to the kitchen. This secondary fire was extinguished and the scene was turned over to 1800 Board Up personnel.
Manchester Fire Chief George Chambers said as always this was a joint effort with his department, Manchester Police and Coffee County EMS all providing great assistance to personnel on the scene. No one was seriously injured during the incident, one person was transported for minor smoke inhalation issues

Police in Decherd are warning the public to be on the lookout for two men accused of trying to lure children into their SUV.
The reports are coming from the Cumberland Place apartment complex in Decherd.
Police Chief Ross Peterson said the men are offering up cash to children to help find a puppy.
Peterson is asking parents to report anything that seems out of place. He also said it’s important for parents to let their children know to speak up.
Peterson added now is the time to be extra vigilant.
Peterson said Monday afternoon, just outside the city limits, a man driving a red Chevy Blazer was taken into custody for questioning.
Peterson said the man was trying to lure an adult inside his truck.
Police are working to determine if that person is connected to the incidents with the children. (WSMV)

A $2 million project to expand the Beechcraft Heritage Museum at the Tullahoma airport is currently underway. The entrance to the museum is located off the Old Shelbyville highway. The project will double the museums existing Bonanza/Baron Exhibit to 36,000 square feet.
The fundraiser is being headed by Harold Bost who is matching the effort up to $1 million.
Ground will be broken for the expansion at the Beechcraft Party in October.

The average price of gasoline has jumped by 9 cents over the past two weeks to $2.27 a gallon for regular grade. The price at the pump has risen 50 cents over the past 12 weeks. In the Lower 48, the highest average price of regular gasoline was $2.83 per gallon in San Francisco. The lowest was $1.92 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The U.S. average diesel price is $2.28 per gallon, up 8 cents from two weeks ago. According to the price tracking web site Gas Buddy, the lowest price for a gallon of gasoline in Tullahoma is a $1.96 and Manchester is $2.01.

The Murfreesboro nonprofit Howard’s Hope is teaming with Tullahoma Parks and Recreation (TPR) to offer free swim lessons to non-swimmers of low-income families this summer. According to Howard’s Hope Director Steve Reeves, Howard’s Hope decided to partner with TPR after discovering there is a need for such a program in Tullahoma. According to the Tullahoma Aquatics and Center Coordinator, children who participate must be non-swimmers. “They have to be between ages seven and 12, cannot know how to swim,” she said. “These students will be in a class of their own. The program will be at the D.W. Wilson Center starting May 30. For more info call 455 1122.