Coffee County Election commission is exploring the idea of having fewer voting precincts for next year’s election.
During a November meeting, the commission gave direction to administrator of elections Andy Farrar to look at fewer precincts based on new districts that have been drawn by the Coffee County Commission. Currently, there are 23 precincts. The commission wants to explore having 18 precincts.
“With the way the county approved the new 9 districts, they want me to look at what we can do better and we will finalize a plan at the next meeting in December.”
Farrar cited Tullahoma as an example. Tullahoma currently has 9 precincts on elections day. Now that there are 3 districts – which are fewer districts but larger ones than before – the election commission is exploring the possibility of closing low-turnout precincts and combining them with others.
“Some of these precincts in the cities with low voter turnout, we could combine them or add a machine or two to another precincts with some added staff.”
Farrar explains that they are studying election-day turnout for the past 6 elections. By looking at total number of voters and the number of voters that can be handled per hour, per machine, the commission thinks that 18 precincts will be ideal. Currently, there are 23 precincts in Coffee County – 9 in Tullahoma, 4 in Manchester and 10 in the rural county.
Farrar adds that as more studying is done, the commission may settle on 19 or 20 precincts, or 16 or 17. Final plans should be in place by December before candidates begin picking up petitions for next year’s elections.
Franklin County officer wins prestigious TBI director award
Two dozen Tennessee law enforcement officers have become the newest graduates of the TBI State Academy, built as a professional and specialized training ground for public safety professionals who want to expand their education and training in the criminal justice field.
Modeled after the FBI’s National Academy, the TBI State Academy includes specialized coursework in the areas of leadership, constitutional law, communications intelligence, and crime scene and undercover investigations. Throughout the four-week course, attended learned advanced investigative techniques, science, and strategy; skills they can take back with them and immediately put into practice at their home agencies. Candidates were nominated by their department heads and were required to have five years of experience as a full-time commissioned officer of a Tennessee law enforcement agency.
Each year, one student is honored with the prestigious Director’s Award. The officer selected for that award is the individual with the highest cumulative scores in academic tests, physical fitness, shooting competition, leadership presentation, and case presentation. This year’s recipient is Investigator Sam Davidson, from the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office.
The Academy runs four days a week for four weeks and is held at Tennessee Fire Service and Codes Enforcement Academy in Bell Buckle. This was the tenth class to graduate from the TBI State Academy.
How to talk with your children about online safety
By Joyce Prusak, executive director of Coffee County Children’s Advocacy Center
Child safety online is crucial in today’s world where children spend significant amounts of time online (95% of teens have access to smartphones and 45% report being online almost constantly, according to the National Criminal Justice Training Center). We covered the importance of implementing tech rules in your household, including parental approvals, tech free times and zones and focusing on the behavior instead of the app in a previous article. The most essential aspect of keeping children safe (online and offline) is establishing a strong relationship and maintaining honest conversations built on transparency and trust.
Here are some tips to help you talk with your children about being safe online. You can adapt the focus of the topic depending on your children’s age and maturity level.
Elementary school aged children
If your children are in elementary school or younger, talk about online dangers, using concrete examples. Repetition is the key. Review and repeat concepts several times. Explain that an online predator is someone who may seek information and search for victims. Predators might want to obtain explicit photos, for example. Be concrete when you’re providing explanations and develop a common language with your child. Talk about online rules and manners. Explain what personal information is, providing examples. Explain to your children what information can be shared and what information should not be shared. Information topics your children should never share include address and phone number, town they live in, school they attend, school mascot (easily identifiable school information) and names of their teachers.
Middle school aged children
Earn the trust of your children who are middle school aged by speaking with them (not speaking at them). Have ongoing conversations, providing guidance. Offer real examples and don’t use scare tactics. Scare tactics don’t work and might lead to skepticism, with the child thinking, “This is not going to happen to me.” Cyberbullying and digital drama risks may now enter your child’s online world, and it’s important to define these terms and help your children develop a positive self-image.
High school students
While in this age group, some children may begin to look like adults, they are still children and their brains will not be developed until their mid-twenties. “Talk with them as adults, but be aware of their adolescent minds,” according to Christine Feller, who provides training for the National Criminal Justice Training Center (NCJTC).
Use concrete examples. Continue to build on conversations from past years. Encourage your children to consider consequences their posts and behavior online might have (positive and negative), when it comes to college applications, scholarships, job opportunities or military enlistment. Introduce your children to adult consequences of online issues. Talk with them about risks of online harassment and revenge porn.
This information was compiled with the help of NTJTC sources.
To learn more about child abuse prevention, visit coffeecountycac.org and follow Coffee County Children’s Advocacy Center on social media. The Coffee County CAC offers free child abuse prevention training, thanks to a grant awarded to the center.
Road construction on Interstate Drive slowing down traffic to Unity hospital
Currently, TDOT is in the process of a construction project which has brought Interstate Dr. down to one lane at times. According to Unity Medical Center officials, this has caused some issues with patients getting access to the Unity Medical Center facility at 481 Interstate Drive..
“If you are making your way to the facility and are experiencing an emergency please exit your vehicle and let the construction crew know the situation,” Unity officials said in a statement. “They will clear the way for you so that you may get to the facility. We are working with the construction crew to find a way around the situation. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause.”
You can check https://smartway.tn.gov/traffic for further information on road closures and traffic reports.
Mobile Food Pantry set for Nov. 12 in Manchester
Families who have a student enrolled in the Manchester City School System or the Coffee County School System can take advantage of a food pantry Nov. 12.
Coming up at 9 a.m. on Friday, Nov. 12, there will be a mobile food pantry conducted at First Baptist Church of Manchester – 1006 Hillsboro Blvd. in Manchester
This event is for families with children enrolled in these school districts. Items are first come, first served.
Tennessee Department of Health offering Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine to all eligible Tennesseans
Wednesday, the Tennessee Department of Health shared that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) approved the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine for children ages 5-11 years. While young children often have milder illness than adults, outbreaks in this age group are common, can disrupt home and family life, and can lead to spread in the general community, including those at high risk of severe disease.
“The approval of the COVID-19 vaccine for pediatric patients further bolsters our efforts to combat the spread of COVID-19 and continue to put an end to this pandemic,” said Tennessee Health Commissioner Lisa Piercey, MD, MBA, FAAP. “As a pediatrician and parent, I trust the science. This is an exciting opportunity to vaccinate our younger population and protect not only our children but also our loved ones and those with whom they have contact.”
It is anticipated this vaccine will be widely available across the state in the coming days as vaccine distribution ramps up throughout the country. Many local health departments in Tennessee will be able to vaccinate children ages 5-11 years beginning Thursday, November 4. Parents seeking the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine for their child should visit vaccines.gov for availability. When making an appointment, parents of individuals under the age of 18 should select a Pfizer vaccine appointment time. Parents can also call their local health department to check availability and schedule an appointment.
Individuals may also schedule an appointment with a local vaccine provider, including pharmacies, medical clinics, and other sites, by visiting vaccines.gov. For more information regarding vaccine recommendations for children and guidelines from the CDC, visit https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/recommendations/children-teens.html.
The mission of the Tennessee Department of Health is to protect, promote and improve the health and prosperity of people in Tennessee. Learn more about TDH services and programs at www.tn.gov/health.
Clocks ‘fall back’ this weekend
This weekend is the end of Daylight Savings Time in Tennessee. That means at 2 a.m. on Sunday morning, Nov. 7, your clocks need to “fall back” or be set back one hour.
The time change means dark will set in earlier in the evening, but there will be a little extra light in the mornings.
Clocks will remain on standard time until for a little over four months. We will “spring forward” again on Sunday morning, March 13, 2022.
School board races could add partisan flavor
Tennessee House Bill 9072 (Senate Bill 9009) has been sent to Governor Bill Lee’s desk for signature.
The bill would allow for candidates for school board to campaign as the nominee of a political party in a partisan race if the applicable county primary board of a political party elects to conduct school board elections on a partisan basis.
Currently, school board seats are not tied to any partisan race. This could mean school board races will move to the primary ballot before being placed on the general election ballot each race.
Below is a full summary of the bill:
Primary elections in which candidates nominated for school boards are to appear on the regular August election ballot will be held on the first Tuesday in May before the August election. In presidential election years, a political party primary for offices to be elected in the regular August election will be held on the same day as the presidential preference primary;
(2) Primary elections in which candidates nominated for school board are to appear on the regular November election ballot will be held concurrently with the regular August election; and
(3) Primary elections in which candidates nominated for school board are to appear on a ballot other than the regular August or regular November election ballot will be held on the first Tuesday in the third month before the election. If the first Tuesday of the third month falls on a legal holiday, the election will be held on the second Tuesday of the third month before the election.
This amendment further specifies that, if the date for a primary election falls within 90 days of an upcoming regular primary or general election being held in the jurisdiction, the commission or commissions may reset the date of the primary election to coincide with the regular primary or general election.
The full text of this amendment specifies the qualifying deadlines for primary elections to select candidates for school board.
AMENDMENT #5 incorporates the provisions of House Amendment #1 and makes the partisan election of school board members permissive rather than mandatory.
ON OCTOBER 29, 2021, THE SENATE SUBSTITUTED HOUSE BILL 9072 FOR SENATE BILL 9009, ADOPTED AMENDMENTS # 2 AND 3, AND PASSED HOUSE BILL 9072, AS AMENDED.
(3) Adds that, if a county executive committee timely filed a notice with the county election commission directing the commission to hold a May primary election in 2022, then within 30 days of the date that this bill becomes a law, the county executive committee may file a supplemental notice, in writing, to include school board offices to be elected in the regular August election within the county.
AMENDMENT #2 incorporates the provisions of House Amendment #5 with the following substantive changes and additions:
(1) Specifies that candidates for school board may campaign as the nominee or representative of a political party if the applicable county primary board of a political party elects to conduct school board elections on a partisan basis;
(2) Specifies that political parties may elect to nominate a candidate under party rules rather than by primary election; and
AMENDMENT #3 adds that, no later than 30 days after the date that this bill becomes a law, a county executive committee may direct, in writing, the county election commission to hold a primary for school board offices to be elected in the regular November 2022 election.
Free flu vaccines provided across Tennessee on Nov. 9
The Tennessee Department of Health is urging all Tennesseans who have not yet received a flu vaccine this flu season to get one as soon as possible. For the fourth consecutive year, Tennessee county health departments hold special “Fight Flu TN” flu vaccine events in every county on November 9 to increase the number of people vaccinated against influenza across Tennessee.
All Tennessee county health departments are holding Fight Flu TN clinics on November 9. No appointments are needed to receive a flu vaccine during these events. Event hours and details will vary from county to county. Find a map of Fight Flu TN locations and contact information online at www.tn.gov/health/fightflu.
TDH and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend a yearly flu vaccine for everyone ages six months and older. Pregnant women, infants, the elderly, and people with certain medical conditions are at the highest risk of severe complications from the flu. Typical flu symptoms include fever, cough, congestion, and body aches, and they will recover on their own after about a week. If you suspect you or someone in your family has the flu, call your
health care provider for advice.
“This flu season, I encourage all eligible Tennesseans to make it a priority to get their flu vaccine,” said Tennessee Department of Health Commissioner Lisa Piercey, MD, MBA, FAAP.
“As we prepare to gather together for the holidays, I hope all Tennesseans are considering vaccinations to protect themselves and their family from serious illness, whether that is flu or COVID-19.”
The flu virus is highly contagious. To prevent the spread of the flu virus to others, ensure you follow recommended precautions such as proper hygiene, including handwashing, covering your coughs or sneezes with a tissue or your elbow, and staying at home if you are sick.
Individuals may receive both the flu vaccine and the COVID-19 vaccine at the same time. For more information on seasonal flu and COVID-19, visit https://www.cdc.gov/flu/season/faq-fluseason-2021-2022.htm.
Learn more about preventing seasonal flu at www.cdc.gov/flu/consumer/index.html
Grand Marshal named for Manchester Christmas Parade; registration now open
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 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.
