Category: News

The Bonnaroo Works Fund, the charitable arm of the Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival, recently partnered with the Manchester Recreation Complex to create a mural that reflects the Bonnaroo Works Fund’s continued mission of making communities healthier through the arts, education and environmental sustainability.
The recently completed mural overlooks the outdoor pool area of the complex and can be enjoyed by Manchester residents as they drive past.
According to Nina Miller, Bonnaroo Works Fund director, the mural fills a community need and underscores the Bonnaroo Works Fund’s mission of advancing the arts.
The building hadn’t been painted since opening over ten years ago, said Miller. It was an easy decision for the Bonnaroo Works Fund to jump in and help reinvigorate this key community resource. The mural not only gives Manchester citizens something beautiful and entertaining to enjoy, it also celebrates the importance of art and the Bonnaroo partners ongoing commitment to its home community.”
The mural was painted by Nashville artist Bryan Deese in partnership with Beautify Earth, an organization committed to enlivening blank spaces, empowering artists and instilling pride in communities. It was created over the course of two weeks and depicts some of Bonnaroo’s most colorful and iconic touchstones from the farm, such as the arch, clock tower and fountain.
We have had an exciting response from the community, said Manchester Parks and Recreation Director Bonnie Gamble. The mural grabs your attention, energizes the area and is a source of colorful inspiration for the children of Manchester.
The Manchester Recreation Complex, located at 557 N. Woodland St., is a vital facility in Coffee County that provides affordable, quality programs and facilities that unite the community.
The completion of the mural is just one of last year’s Bonnaroo Works Fund projects. In 2015, the Bonnaroo Works Fund provided close to $300,000 in support to more than 50 organizations advancing the arts, education and environmental causes.

Pressure is mounting for Hamilton County school officials to publicly show action is underway to handle the assault of a 15-year-old student.
The Chattanooga Times Free Press reports an Ooltewah High School freshman was hospitalized on Dec. 22. Three of his basketball teammates were arrested and later charged with aggravated rape and aggravated assault.
District officials haven’t spoken publicly about the investigation. Meanwhile, a group of more than 120 Ooltewah High School alumni are asking for an outside authority to investigate the incident.
Assistant Superintendent Lee McDade says an investigation into the assault is ongoing, and Ooltewah will handle the discipline in this case.
The school board is scheduled to meet Wednesday. They will first meet in a closed executive session, and then in a public meeting to act on and discuss the situation.

Two Franklin County teens were arrested Friday night, Jan. 1, after they allegedly called in a bomb threat to the Tullahoma Wal-Mart Store on North Jackson Street.
According to a report by Tullahoma Police Officer William Pyrdom, a store employee received a call around 10 p.m. New Year’s night telling her that there was a bomb in the building. The caller then hung up.
Dispatchers with the Coffee County Communication Center contacted Verizon officials who advised that the call originated in Franklin County. A Franklin County Sheriff’s deputy went to the residence and spoke with the teens. The two allegedly admitted to making the call.
The Franklin County deputy took the two to the Franklin/Coffee County line and turned them over to Pyrdom who transported them to the Coffee County Jail. They were charged with making a bomb threat and cited into Coffee County Juvenile Court.

A traffic violation lead Bedford County deputies to arrest all four passengers in a vehicle with multiple charges, the seizure of two loaded handguns (with one being reported as stolen), $1,181 in cash, and approximately 45 grams of crack cocaine.
Deputy Chris Morton of the BCSO stopped a vehicle on North Cannon Blvd. Saturday evening for running a red light. The driver of the vehicle was identified as Nathaniel Markeith Key and was arrested for driving on revoked license. After further investigation, Key was also charged with criminal conspiracy to distribute a schedule II drug.
Passenger, Austin Dayante Riley was arrested and charged with unlawful possession of a weapon while being a convicted felon and criminal conspiracy to distribute a schedule II drug and was also arrested on a felony warrant out of Davidson County.
Passenger Kendrick Devon Akins was charged with criminal impersonation, introduction of contraband to a penal institution, criminal conspiracy to distribute a schedule II drug, unlawful possession of a weapon while being a convicted felon, possession of schedule II drug for resell, and theft of property (possession of stolen property) because the firearm he was in possession of was stolen.
Passenger Demond Dewayne Beverly was arrested and charged with criminal conspiracy to distribute a schedule II drug.
All four occupants were convicted felons from Davidson County.

Losing weight is the number one New Year’s resolution, according to the Statistic Brain Research Institute. But it’s estimated only eight percent of those who make resolutions this time of year will succeed in achieving their goals. Dr. Katherine Brown, a spokesperson for the American Heart Association, says it’s important to take small, achievable steps to get healthy, instead of embarking on a big diet and facing the inevitable “yo-yo” effects of losing and regaining that weight. “One of the number one things relative to getting healthy in the New Year, is just remembering that consistency is the key,” says Brown. “And to develop an accountability partner, someone that you can check in with.” While weight loss is often the goal, Brown says getting heart-healthy should be the motivation. The American Heart Association says heart disease is the number one killer in Tennessee, and the state ranks seventh in the country for a high rate of cardiovascular disease. Brown says it’s important to establish healthy eating habits you can live with, and increase your amount of physical activity, all with the long-term in mind. “If you just say ‘weight loss,’ it means it’s lost and it can be found again,” says Brown. “Versus looking at making an absolute lifestyle change.” The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services recommends getting at least 150 minutes of moderate aerobic activity per week, but the American Heart Association says only 38 percent of Tennesseans achieve that goal.

Farmers interesting in selling products at farmers markets will have a chance to learn more about marketing at workshops in Tennessee this winter.
In addition to marketing, other topics will include social media and email, grants and microloans, recordkeeping, requirements for basic types of food that can be made and sold at farmers markets and an overview of new food safety regulations.
The workshops will be taught by University of Tennessee Extension specialists.
To attend, preregister five days in advance online at https://tiny.utk.edu/FMBOOT2016. The fee is $20, and lunch will be provided.
Workshops will be held Jan. 28 in White Pine, Jan. 29 in Athens, Feb. 22 in Lebanon, Feb. 24 in Winchester, March 2 in Trenton and March 3 in Centerville.

Tennessee drivers who renew their licenses this year won’t have to go through the process again for eight years.
The Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security says the change from five years includes all classifications of driver licenses and identification licenses, including commercial driver licenses and motorcycle licenses.
The change is the result of legislation proposed last year to improve customer traffic flow at driver services centers and takes effect today. (Jan. 4, 2016)