Lincoln County Sheriff’s Department is asking for the public’s help in locating Bobby Ray Damron.
According to LCSD, Damron is a sex offender who is required to report and be monitored by state probation, which he has failed to do.
He currently has a parole violation and a violation of sex offender registry warrant for his arrest,
Possible locations include Lincoln and Franklin County areas.
If seen please contact the Lincoln County Sheriffs Office Immediately at: 931-433-9821.
Coffee County July unemployment rate falls
As Tennesseans continue to rejoin the workforce, all but one of the state’s 95 counties experienced lower unemployment in July, according to new data from the Department of Labor and Workforce Development.
Sixty-two counties had unemployment rates lower than 5%, while rates were 5% or higher, but less than 10%, in 32 counties. Unemployment was above 10% in one county.
In Coffee County, unemployment in July fell to 4.4 percent, which is down nearly a full percentage point from the 5.3 percent in June. This is well below the 8.1 percent unemployment of July 2020.
Williamson County continued to record the lowest unemployment numbers in the state with a rate of 2.7%, down 0.7 of a percentage point from its June statistic. Moore County had Tennessee’s second-lowest unemployment rate for July at 3%, down 0.7 of a percentage point when compared to the previous month.
Perry was the only county with a jobless number of over 10%. Its July rate of 10.4% represented a 2.6 percentage point drop from its June rate of 13%. Shelby County had the state’s second-highest rate for the month at 7.5%, which was 0.6 of a percentage point lower than the June rate.
Weakley was the only county to experience an increase in unemployment. Its rate inched upward during the month from 5.2% to 5.5%.
County unemployment rates are not seasonally adjusted to factor in seasonal economic influences.
The statewide unemployment situation improved for the second consecutive month. Tennessee’s seasonally adjusted July rate of 4.7% was 0.2 of a percentage point lower than June’s revised rate of 4.9%.
The unemployment situation also improved nationally in July, but still came in higher than Tennessee’s rate. The seasonally adjusted rate for the United States dropped 0.5 of a percentage point to 5.4%.
A complete analysis of the July 2021 county unemployment data, including data for each of the state’s metropolitan and micropolitan areas, can be found here (https://www.us13.list-manage.com/track/click?u=166478db53c066a7d114ea462&id=58f9b7f107&e=29851e7b63) .
The state of Tennessee is working to make job seekers TN Work Ready. Individuals can find the resources needed to search for jobs, earn a high school equivalency diploma, and remove barriers to work at www.TNWorkReady.com.
Manchester City Schools Covid-19 dashboard
Manchester City Schools has added a Covid-19 Dashboard to the district webpage to communicate current Covid-19 cases in the district. The Covid-19 Dashboard can be found by visiting Manchester City Schools website. Click on the “Community” tab and the dashboard is the first option. The dashboard will be updated each day school is in session.
To view the dashboard directly, follow this link: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/12w8NgHEcSBLF0o7GavpERVrYWI2WbfDcX2SYpAeAqXk/edit#gid=0
Coffee County CAC partners with artist Troy Freeman for child abuse awareness
Coffee County Children’s Advocacy Center has partnered with artist Troy Freeman, who will paint a mural on the Waite Street Bridge over the greenway near the Bark-Aroo Dog Park at the Manchester soccer fields. Freeman will work on the mural Aug. 27-29. The Coffee County CAC invites the community to celebrate the artwork, which aims to raise awareness of child abuse, with a free event Aug. 28 at the soccer fields. Aug. 28 will be filled with activities for children and families. Free canvases will be provided for children to decorate, and the completed artworks will be exhibited at the Manchester Arts Center. Children who return completed canvases to the office of Coffee County CAC before Sept. 9 will receive goodie bags provided by KidsVille Playground. On Aug. 28, vendors will offer arts and crafts and baked goods and food trucks will provide delicious food for purchase. Walk the greenway, chat with vendors, purchase some goods and meet Freeman, who will be painting the mural. Witness colors transforming the bridge into a meaningful and beautiful art piece. Coffee County Emergency Medical Services, Manchester Police Department and Manchester Fire and Rescue will display vehicles for children to explore during the event, as well.
Freeman has more than 20 years of experience. He has completed numerous projects across the country. One of the projects he is involved with in Tennessee is Everywhere You Look, UT mural project. The University of Tennessee launched the endeavor and plans to install a mural in every county of Tennessee. Freeman is looking forward to visiting Coffee County and using his talent to raise awareness of child abuse.
“Any time I can use my work to bring awareness to such a great cause, I am going to do everything I can to make that happen,” Freeman said. “If this mural helps even a single child, it will have been more than worth it. I look forward to talking with, meeting, and working with the kids and the community on this project and hope that it has a long lasting positive impact for everyone involved.”
Joyce Prusak, director of Coffee County CAC, said Freeman is “incredibly talented and his creativity will help protect children.”
“We are excited Troy will be part of this project, dubbed Join Our Quest to End Child Abuse,” Prusak said. “Troy has joined our quest, and we hope his talent encourages more people to join us and ensure every child has a happy and safe childhood.”
Schedule for Saturday, Aug. 28
8 a.m.-4 p.m. – Farmers market and craft vendors will offer arts and crafts and baked goods on the greenway. 321 Dogs will offer delicious food for purchase at the Manchester soccer field parking lot.
9-11 a.m. – Manchester Police Department, Manchester Fire and Rescue, Coffee County Emergency Medical Services set up trucks and cars in the parking lot for children to explore.
9-11 a.m. – Coffee County CAC booth will distribute information and art kits for children. Coffee County CAC is providing free canvases and markers for the first 200 children and asking them to return completed canvases to the Coffee County CAC’s office before Sept. 9. The artworks will be displayed at the Manchester Arts Center Sept. 10-11, and each child will receive a bag with goodies from KidsVille Playground. There will also be prizes for the top five, including free one-day passes for KidsVille Playground.
9-11 a.m. – United Way of Highway 55 members will be on hand to provide information about resources in the community.
11 a.m.-8 p.m. – El Oro Verde food truck will set up in Manchester soccer field parking lot, offering tasty Mexican street food.
3-6 p.m. – Ray Ray’s Smokehouse will set up in parking lot, offering BBQ. This project is completed thanks to grants from the Tennessee Arts Commission and Manchester Tourism Committee.
Free vaccination clinic at Tullahoma High School on Thursday
The Coffee County Health Department will be conducting a free vaccine clinic this Thursday from 3:45-5 p.m. at the front entrance of Tullahoma High School.
Tdap will be available, as well as the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine for any person 12 years or older. The COVID vaccines are for those who are needing either the first or second dose. Children who are receiving a vaccination will need to be accompanied by their parents or legal guardians. Consent forms will be signed on-site.
Coffee County Schools look to hire more substitutes for the 2021-2022 school year
The Coffee County School System is in need of substitutes this year. For certified instructors, pay is $75 a day, and for non-certified instructors the pay is $60 a day.
You must be 18 or older to apply for this position.
Follow the link for the application: https://coffeecounty.tedk12.com/hire/ViewJob.aspx?JobID=6
You must print and fill out the employment packet and bring the completed packet to the Central Office.
If you have any questions, you are asked to call the Central Office at 931-723-5150.
Greater Manchester Economic Development Board to host work session
The Greater Manchester Economic Development Board will host a “Town Hall Work Session on Economic Development.” This will take place on Monday, August 30th, at 5:30 pm in the Board Room at City Hall.
Anyone is welcome to attend and submit their input.
Motlow State releases important deadlines for TN Promise
Motlow State Community College is proud to be a participating college for Tennessee Promise! This is a statewide program that allows graduating high school students and home school seniors in Tennessee the opportunity to earn a degree or certificate from a Tennessee community or technical college regardless of financial status.
For those students graduating in the class of 2022, here are some essential dates for ensuring your TN Promise scholarship eligibility:
-November 1, 2021: Deadline to complete the TN Promise application – The application for the class of 2022 is available now at TSAC Student Portal.
-February 1, 2022: Deadline to complete the FAFSA – File the 2022-23 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The 2022-2023 FAFSA application opens October 1, 2021.
-Fall 2021/Spring 2022: You will need to attend a mandatory meeting coordinated by TN Achieves. Details about the mandatory meeting requirements will be provided to applicants following the application deadline in the fall. You can also follow up with your guidance counselor or visit tnAchieves.org for more information about this meeting.
-March 2022: Apply to Motlow State Community College.
-July 1, 2022: Deadline to complete and submit eight hours of community service.
Community Service hours can be submitted by visiting tnAchieves.org. Community service must be completed on or after November 2, 2021 in order to be considered.
For additional information about Tennessee Promise at Motlow visit
Burch announces candidacy for Circuit Court Judge
Longtime attorney and Manchester native, Eric Burch is announcing he plans to run for Circuit Court Judge, Part II in the upcoming Republican Primary, which will be held in May.
Burch, who operates his own law practice, is a 1991 graduate of Coffee County High School and opened his own law office in 2003.
Read Burch’s full statement below:
I am excited to announce my candidacy for Circuit Court Judge, Part II, in the Republican primary to be held in May of 2022.
I was raised in Manchester and graduated from Coffee County Central High School in 1991. I attended college and law school at the University of Tennessee. When I graduated in 1998, I moved back home to practice law. I opened my own office in 2003 with two card tables and one computer. For the last 18 years, I have built my law practice, and I have been fortunate to work with several fine lawyers, including my partner, Will Lockhart, who was recently appointed by Governor Bill Lee to replace Craig Johnson as Circuit Court Judge, Part I.
A vast majority of a Circuit Court Judge’s responsibilities involve presiding over serious criminal, civil and family law litigation. I think I am well-qualified to decide issues in these cases from the first day in office. I have a great deal of experience in criminal matters ranging anywhere from trespassing to first degree murder cases. I have represented over a thousand clients who were charged with criminal offenses.
With regard to civil litigation, I have represented clients in will contests, estate disputes, and clients who were seriously injured or killed through no fault of their own. I am board certified by the State of Tennessee in Family Law Trial Advocacy, one of only ten lawyers in the State of Tennessee to hold that distinction and the only lawyer outside a major metropolitan area. In 2014, I authored a book entitled Divorce in Tennessee. In my career, I have represented over 3,000 people facing divorce or custody issues.
I have three beautiful children, Auggie (19), Abigail (17) and Samuel (10). I believe that raising children also gives a judge real world experience in deciding cases involving families.
Coffee County is a special place to me. It is, and always will be, home to me. I want to give back to the community that has given me an opportunity to be educated and establish a successful business. I am ready to open a new chapter in my life, and would be honored to serve as one of your Circuit Court judges.
Large reward offered for information leading to stolen tractor trailer
Coffee County Sheriff’s Department is asking for the public’s help in locating a 2016 Peterbilt Semi-Truck that was taken from Woodall Grain on McMinnville Highway on Monday morning, Aug. 23.
No trailer attached when taken. If anyone has information, please contact CCSD Sgt. James Sherrill at 931-570-4404. There is a reward for the arrest and conviction of those responsible of $25,000.00. See photo of truck below:
