Gas tanks in Tennessee may remain full for longer periods of time thanks to the availability of fuel-efficient vehicles, but the glass is half-empty when it comes to declining gas tax revenue. Federal transportation dollars are down, and the federal Highway Trust Fund is set to run out at the end of May. Susan Mattison, a research analyst for the State Comptroller’s Office of Research and Education Accountability, recently conducted a study of Tennessee’s fuel tax revenue. “Our taxes have become stagnant,” she says. “Unless something is done, they will not fund our transportation needs over time.” State leaders...

The governor’s office has launched a program that focuses on improving health at the local level. State officials announced on Wednesday that nine cities and counties across the state will pilot the Healthier Tennessee Communities program. The initiative promotes physical activity, healthy eating and staying away from tobacco with an emphasis on community-led change. In Tennessee, one in four adults smokes and that moved officials to make a change. Tullahoma and Franklin are just two of the cities already involved. Leaders say they hope this will improve the overall health of the state and it comes at no cost...

The case involving the shooting of an 18-month old boy last week by his 3-year-old brother will be presented to the April term of the Coffee County Grand Jury. The decision was made last week by District Attorney Craig Northcott after evidence in the case was presented to him by Coffee County Sheriff Sgt. Danny Ferrell. According to Ferrell, on March 3 the three year old found a .25 caliber pistol and shot his brother in the head. The incident occurred at a residence on A Street in Hillsboro. The child was transported to Manchester Medical Center and later...

Tullahoma Officer Sam Campbell found more than he expected when he answered a noise disturbance call March 6. When the officer arrived at an apartment on East Moore Street, he allegedly heard loud music coming from the apartment. When the officer knocked on the door and the occupants opened the door he allegedly saw a James Stewart sitting in a chair with a bag of marijuana filling a glass pipe. Stewart gave the officer permission to search the apartment. An individual of the apartment Adam Walden, 23, of Garden Place, Manchester allegedly confessed to having a small bag of...

The Jail Review Committee has developed a timeline for opening the new state-of-the-art facility on Hillsboro Highway. The tentative date where officials will be moving inmates to the new location is scheduled for May 4th. Committee Chairman Tim Morris said last week that an open house and Boy Scout sleepovers will take place the weekend of April 25th to ensure that everything is working properly in the facility. Boy Scout sleepovers are common in new jails. Coffee County Sheriff Steve Graves said that officer training would take roughly six weeks and sees no problem in having everything up and...

The national average price for a gallon of gasoline declined for the first time in 40 days. The U.S. average rose 42 cents since January 27, but dipped four-tenths of a cent Sunday. “Motorists are beginning to see some relief at the pump after prices rose in response to increased oil prices and refinery maintenance season,” said Mark Jenkins, spokesman, AAA – The Auto Club Group. Since oil prices plunged in the past year, concerns of a slowdown in domestic oil production caused oil prices to rise, having a direct effect on prices at the pump. The price of...

The snow and ice may be gone, but the damage they left behind is still evident. The Tennessee Department of Transportation says crews headed out on Monday to patch potholes on roadways and will stay busy all week. Burel Tidwell with TDOT told WMSV that work crews are “a little overwhelmed” at the job ahead of them. According to media reports there are pothole problems all over the Midstate. Some are about as big as a basketball while others are the size of a small car. TDOT spokeswoman Heather Jensen told WTVF-TV that heavy rain might slow the process,...

Sacred Assembly, an event conducted by followers of Jesus from around Coffee County gathered on Sunday as a body. At the event on the Court House Square in downtown Manchester there were well known public leaders, pastors and singers participating. The event however is a nameless and faceless event in order to give the entire focus to no one but Jesus Christ. The day’s activities included praying in humility, without hype or self-promotion. Asking God, begging God, to forgive our sins, to heal our land, to revive the church, to save the lost and to have mercy on all....