Category: News

Now that Halloween is over, winter weather is the main focus for the Tennessee Department of Transportation.
WBIR-TV in Knoxville reports that although TDOT said it prepares for the snowy season year-round, it said it’s ready to hit the roads as soon as winter storms strike.
TDOT has a fleet of about 215 salt trucks, 215 snow plows and 31 salt bins, which together carry a total of nearly 70,000 tons of salt.
TDOT expects to spend a little more than last season which ended up being just under $20 million.
Meteorologists said they expect above normal precipitation, whether it be rain or snow, because of the milder temperatures and cloud cover.
They said they cannot rule out the possibility of ice storms like last year.

In yet another state-ranking index, the Volunteer State lands in a less-than-desirable spot as the fourth fattest state in the U.S.
Using data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the study reveals more than three-quarters of American adults today are either overweight or obese.
And for the first time in history, the number of obese people has surpassed that of the overweight.
WalletHub analysts compared the 50 states and the District of Columbia across 12 key metrics to pinpoint where the weight problem is most prevalent and encourage Americans to re-evaluate their lifestyles.
With the holidays approaching, there’s time to make some lifestyle, eating and exercise changes to turn the tide for next year.
The Top Five Fattest States:
#1 Mississippi
#2 Louisiana
#3 West Virginia
#4 Tennessee
#5 South Carolina

Manchester’s Veteran’s Day Ceremony will be held on the Square in Manchester on Wednesday, November 11th at 11am. This year’s ceremony will include entertainment by Charlie Allen, Samantha Watters, Macy Tabor, the Westwood Middle School Band, a bag pipe player and more.
The Veteran’s Day Ceremony is held every year in Manchester in order to honor those men and women who have served and are currently serving our country. Commemorative Swords will be bestowed upon selected veterans to honor them for their sacrifice and wreaths will be placed at memorial stones to honor those who gave the ultimate sacrifice of their own life during their time of service to our country.
To make a donation to the Veterans Day event, simply drop by one of the two First National Bank locations in Manchester and ask to make a deposit into the Veteran’s Day Fund.

A new non-profit group has been formed to accept donations for a new animal shelter. The Coffee County Animal Welfare Partnership for Tomorrow is a new 501c3 under the Manchester – Coffee County Partnership for Tomorrow umbrella.
A donation to the group will go directly to the fundraising efforts. Before a donation went into the county general fund.
The goal is to build a complex on property owned by either Manchester or Coffee County for up to 50 dogs.
Donations can be made at the Coffee County Animal Control office at 156 Freedom Dr. in Manchester. The shelter can be reached at 723-2730.
You can also donate money at Coffee Café in downtown Manchester, or the mayor’s office in the Coffee County Administrative Plaza, located at 1321 McArthur St., Manchester.
Make checks out to Coffee County Animal Welfare.
Animal control now has new hours to make adoptions easier and more accessible. Monday from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m., Tuesday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Flu season is knocking on Tennessee’s door, and with the illness impacting and even killing people each year in the Volunteer State, doctors are reminding residents about the importance of getting the vaccine early. According to the CDC, the incidences of influenza so far this year have been low, but that will change as the season continues and more and more people are around each other at holiday gatherings. Dr. John Hale, a family practitioner in Union City and president of the Tennessee Medical Association, says the illness also has an economic impact. “They get the flu and they’re out for four or five days having used up their sick time,” he says. “It can have an effect on people from that standpoint as well.” Residents can get a flu vaccine from a general practitioner, at health clinics or even at some pharmacies. Although the CDC and other major medical groups recommend those over the age of six months get a flu vaccine, some opt against it because of concerns the flu shot may not be effective, or because of additives in vaccines like a mercury-based preservative. The flu vaccine administered by nasal spray is preservative-free. Developers also say they’ve adjusted the vaccine so it is more effective against flu strains expected to impact the population this year. According to Hale, even after a patient receives the vaccine, it’s important for them to continue practicing good health habits to protect themselves and others. “Just common sense approaches, certainly practicing good hand hygiene, washing hands, using hand sanitizer, trying to avoid touching a lot of things,” he says. “Those are all good ways to prevent you from getting the flu, especially for people who can’t get the flu shot.” Young children, pregnant women and older Tennesseans are at increased risk from the flu. Last year, nine Tennessee children died from flu-related complications.

Motlow College faculty, staff and administration joined community members from across the area recently for a ‘Pink Out’ to raise awareness of breast cancer and other types of cancer, featuring a ceremony and supporting ‘Walk for Ward’. Dr. Ward Harder, has taught at Motlow for 40 years and was recently diagnosed with cancer. The ceremony also included a reception following the walk. The event was sponsored by the Student Government Association, Phi Theta Kappa, the Offices of Disability and Testing Services and the Office of Student and Campus Relations.

Tennessee needs at least $42.3 billion of public infrastructure improvements during the five-year period of 2013-2018 according to a new report by the Tennessee Advisory Commission on Intergovernmental Relations (TACIR). The need for public infrastructure improvements as reported by state and local officials is up $4.1 billion (10.7%) compared with the year before, mainly because bridges with remedial needs exceeding $50,000 are now treated as immediate needs, consistent with all other project types in the inventory regardless of when funds will be available to repair or upgrade them. Without those bridge projects, the total cost would have increased by only $369 million (1.0%).
The report says Coffee County needs $301 million in public infrastructure improvements. The local cost would be $109,591,734.
The category requiring the most improvement in Coffee County and statewide is transportation and utilities.
Coffee County is looking at $166.7 million worth of transportation infrastructure upgrades, which is around 55 percent of Coffee County’s total improvement costs.
The county alone maintains 637.28 miles of road. This does not include roads maintained by Tullahoma and Manchester cities.
Of the 95 counties in Tennessee, Coffee County ranks 33rd highest in infrastructure improvement needs.