Manchester Police Department is participating in the 2nd annual Governor’s Highway Safety Office, “Seatbelts Are For Everyone” (SAFE) campaign. The SAFE campaign is running now until July 31st, 2015. It is designed to increase seatbelt usage in Tennessee. Manchester Police Department will be conducting education awareness during this time toward teens and seniors. MPD will also conduct a Child Passenger Safety event during this period. MPD will increase enforcement during this time and violators not wearing seatbelts and parents who do not use child restraint devices will be cited. MPD will also participate in the “Click It or Ticket” campaign. A pre-survey and post survey will be conducted during the campaign aspiring for increased seatbelt usage in Manchester.
Category: News
Manchester Police Conducting SAFE Campaign
Testing At AEDC Helps Put Orion Into Space
The United Launch Alliance Delta IV Heavy rocket, with NASA’s Orion spacecraft mounted atop, lifts off from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station’s Space Launch Complex 37 at 7:05 a.m. EST, Dec. 5, in Florida. AEDC test teams supported Exploration Flight Test-1 by assisting in testing several key components for the aircraft. (Photo by Bill Ingalls, NASA)
NASA achieved a major milestone in completing the Orion spacecraft’s first voyage to space recently.
Having had a hand in testing the Orion Multi-Purpose Crew Vehicle, Arnold Engineering Development Complex (AEDC) is also celebrating this accomplishment.
Mounted atop the United Launch Alliance Delta IV Heavy rocket, Orion launched from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station’s Space Launch Complex 37 at 7:05 a.m. EST on Dec. 5.
AEDC project engineer Nathan Payne, who coordinated the testing for Orion in support of NASA Exploration Flight Test-1 (EFT-1), stated he’s pleased the flight went smoothly because even with the amount of testing that went into prepping the spacecraft, these events are unpredictable.
A 5.9 percent scale model of the Orion crew capsule mounted on the Delta IV booster was tested in the 16-foot transonic wind tunnel at AEDC in preparation for the spacecraft’s initial flight.
Though unmanned for this trip, the flight tested many of the vital elements for human spaceflight such as key separation events, parachutes and the heatshield. During re-entry into Earth’s atmosphere, Orion endured speeds of 20,000 mph and temperatures near 4,000 degrees Fahrenheit. Data from the flight test will be used to improve Orion’s design and reduce risks to future mission crews.
A Focus On Education As Tennessee’s 2015 Session
Tennessee State Capital
The 109th session of Tennessee’s General Assembly began this week with education high on the agenda, including possible changes to the controversial educational standards known as Common Core. Governor Bill Haslam has called for a review of Common Core after some lawmakers argued the academic benchmarks should be replaced. Others say the state should stay the course. Among those who will consider the issue is first-year state representative and long-time teacher Kevin Dunlap (D-Rock Island). “In Tennessee we can come up with standards that meet what our students need to know,” he says. “But I’m reserving judgement to look at the bills, look at the laws, study them before I make any say whether I’m going to support or oppose anything of that sort.” Common Core State Standards on math and English language arts were adopted in Tennessee in 2010, and have been phased in by school districts since then. Additional education considerations expected to be heard this session include charter schools and vouchers, and teacher evaluations. Dunlap is hoping teacher pay is also addressed. “Our teachers are working hard to improve and enhance our students,” says Dunlap. “If the governor makes a pledge and promise to drastically raise their salaries, we’re hopeful that’s going to be at the top of his priority list.” In 2013, Governor Haslam set a goal of Tennessee becoming the fastest improving state in the nation when it comes to teacher salaries, but he took the planned boost in pay off the table last year, citing the state budget gap.
The Piano Man Headed To Manchester
Music fans from the across the country are now starting to plan their annual summer trip to Middle Tennessee, as organizers of the Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival announced this year’s lineup.
Some of the main acts that will perform will be Billy Joel, Earth Wind & Fire, Robert Plant and the Sensational Shape Shifters, My Morning Jacket, Mumford and Sons and many others.
Tickets go sale Saturday, Jan. 17 at bonnaroo.com
GA Price Level 1 – $299.50 plus a ticket fee of $32.75 per ticket, which includes a $6.00 facility fee, $3.00 contribution to Coffee County, $2.00 donation to the Bonnaroo Works Fund, and other fees.
Price Level 1 is available in a limited quantity. Once that allotment is sold out, tickets will be sold at Price Level 2, while supplies last.
GA Price Level 2 – $324.50 plus fees
There is a limit of (4) general admission tickets per order.
VIP tickets will also be available at $1,524.50 per pair plus applicable fees, while supplies last..
Pearman Murder Trial Begins
Carla (Dillard) Pearman
WKRN reports that, during opening statements, which began around 9 a.m., Pearman was seen crying and being consoled by his lawyer as the district attorney addressed the jury saying, “He strangled the life out of her (Carla Pearman).”
Pearman was also visibly upset as his previous confession was read aloud in court.
Pearman is accused of killing his wife inside their Rutherford County home on Valentine’s Day 2013.
Carla was a 2002 graduate of Coffee County High School.
Despite a confession to police, Pearman has pleaded not guilty to the three charges against him including, first degree murder, aggravated assault and child abuse of Carla’s son.
Two People Facing Charges Of Contributing To The Delinquency Of Minors
Anthony D. Coffman
Virginia D. Slatton
Lower Gas Prices Continue
Gas prices fell another 7 cents last week as the price of crude oil continues to drop. WTI fell below $50 a barrel on the NYMEX, settling at $48.36 on Friday, the lowest settlement since April 2009.
“The price of crude is continuing its downward slide due to excess supply and weak demand,” said Mark Jenkins, spokesman, AAA – The Auto Club Group. “Global oil prices are expected to remain low for the first half of 2015, which could put additional pressure on high-cost production countries like the United States. Rebel forces continue to disrupt supply from OPEC member country Libya, yet the level of global oversupply appears capable of easing concerns that might otherwise send prices higher due to production concerns.”
The average price for regular unleaded in Tennessee dropped below $2 a gallon for the first time since May 2009. The average price has fallen for 102 consecutive days in Tennessee. Gasoline prices are currently at their lowest level since May 2009.
The national average was $2.14 Sunday, 7 cents cheaper than a week ago, 48 cents below last month, and $1.18 less than last year. Tennessee’s average price of $1.97 fell 8 cents from last week, is 47 cents cheaper than last month, and $1.15 less than this time last year.
The low price in Manchester is $1.82 and in the low price is $1.86 per gallon in Tullahoma.
Organization Is Key As Tax Time Nears In Tennessee
IMAGE: Financial advisers say now is the time to start planning and getting organized, so you’re not caught in a pinch at the April 15 income tax-filing deadline. Graphic credit: DonkeyHotey/Flickr.
It is still more than three months away, but Tennesseans are being urged to spend a little time now to get ready for the upcoming income tax-filing season. Luis Garcia, a spokesman for the Internal Revenue Service, says by locating and organizing all your important tax documents early in the process, you won’t be scrambling to find them when the April 15 deadline is looming. “That means if you’ve got Form 1099s from your bank, or you have your W-2 from your employer, you want to make sure that all those documents end up in the same place,” he advises. “Now, whether it’s a shoebox or a folder – that’s really the most important thing.” More detailed information, forms and publications are online at IRS.gov. Garcia also notes this is the first tax season in which the Affordable Care Act figures heavily, which could mean a little extra paperwork for those who gained coverage. “The people who purchased health insurance, they want to be on the lookout for Form 1095A,” he points out. “And that’s the form that you’re going to use to make sure that you get the credit that you need, in order to make sure that you’re getting your health insurance covered properly.” Garcia adds there also is a form to fill out for anyone who received an exemption to the health insurance mandate for 2014.
To Merge or Not to Merge, That Is The Question
Attorney Steve Bennett… Photos by Barry West. Story and video by Samantha Watters
Manchester Mayor Lonnie Norman called a special meeting of the board of mayor and aldermen to meet at Westwood Middle School on Monday night. The reason for the meeting was to discuss the possibility of merging the Manchester city school system with the Coffee County school system.
Voters would have to approve such a change and that could take place this year or next. This merger would need to take place at the beginning of the county school’s fiscal year which is on July 1st, whether that is this year or the next.
One issue at hand is teacher’s salaries. Manchester teacher salaries are higher than the county so most likely Manchester teacher salaries would most likely be frozen until the two are equalized.
Attorney Scott Bennett speaking on behalf of the county school system said Dr. Ladonna McFall, director of the county schools does not plan to make changes within the first year. “We don’t yet know how to improve efficiency with the combined system”. Dr McFall feels that going in and making changes before they have an idea how the city school is run would be reckless.
Large crowd on hand at Monday’s meeting.
A lot of citizens are concerned about the bottom line cost. Bennett said it’s impossible to forecast future expenses, but according to approximate statistics based on 2013 data, the Manchester City School system spends $2,300 more in order to educate each student annually over what the Coffee County School system does. That means approximately $2.76 million dollars more is spent by city schools to educate their students annually. Of that difference, approximately $500,000 is made up of the higher teacher salaries in in the city school system.
Coaching positions were mentioned during last night’s meeting. A coach would not necessarily keep their coaching positions even if they were a tenured teacher because according to law that is up to the director of schools.
For more on this story go to our website and watch the Thunder TV News video.
Former Tullahoma Baseball Star Arrested
Justus Sheffield, 18, the Gatorade National Baseball Player of the Year was arrested on Monday in Tullahoma. Sheffield was charged with aggravated burglary and underage drinking.
Also facing charges of aggravated criminal trespassing are Samuel Greyson Grow, 18, and Robert Tyler Burns, 19.
Sheffield was arrested by Tullahoma Police for allegedly breaking into a residence on Cumberland Avenue around 4:30 a.m. Monday.
According to the report, Jeremy Thurman, who also lives at the address, told police that he was asleep when he was awakened by someone knocking on his door. After ignoring the knock for a while, Thurman stated that he heard a noise in the kitchen and looked up to see Sheffield walk through the house toward Brody Thomasson’s bedroom.
Thurman stated he heard shouting and yelling, so he got up and called police.
According to the report, Thomasson told the officer that he was asleep when Sheffield allegedly ran into his room and started “yelling and threatening to beat him up for messing around with his girlfriend.”
Sheffield, who was drafted last year by the Cleveland Indians is facing charges of aggravated burglary and violation of the drinking age law. He was released after posting $5,500 bond. He is to appear in Coffee County General Sessions Court Feb. 5.
Burns and Grow were charged with aggravated criminal trespassing. They were booked into the Coffee County Jail and were released on bond of $3,000 each. They are also to appear in Coffee County General Sessions Court Feb. 5. (Tullahoma News)
