TNStars College Savings 529 plan has just been recognized as the top direct-sold plan in the nation. TNStars™ is a program of the Tennessee Department of Treasury. The number one ranking comes from SavingForCollege.org, who analyzes the investment performance figures for thousands of 529 portfolios and ranks the 529 savings plans from best to worst. The latest report released compares one-year investment performance as of December 31, 2014. TNStars™ investment options rank number one in the nation. TNStars™ is designed to give Tennessee families high quality investment options at a low cost to help them put aside money for...

John Nicoll was sworn in as Coffee County’s Public Defender on Friday. He was sworn in by Judge Craig Johnson. Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam appointed John E. Nicoll as the public defender for the 14th Judicial District, which covers Coffee County. Nicoll fills the vacancy left by the late B. Campbell Smoot, Jr., who passed away November 18, 2014. Nicoll, 41, is founder and managing partner of the Nicoll Law Firm, PLLC, in Manchester. He has represented more than 200 indigent criminal defendants in the state and federal courts of Tennessee and has served as a member of the...

47th District State Rep. Judd Matheny was presented an award on Friday by TN911. This is a not for profit corporation association of 911 districts. A ceremony was held at the Coffee County 911 Center in Manchester. The award recognizes Representative Judd Matheny for legislative excellence and leadership. The award was presented by TN911 President John Stuermer (Hamilton County), Executive Director Phillip Noel (Bedford County) and Jimmy Bradford, Chairman of the Coffee County 911 Board. “Representative Matheny has been rightly called the ‘Lion of 911′ by many leaders of the emergency communications community, for his leadership over the past...

Monday’s winter storm left more than 13,000 members of Duck River Electric Membership Corp. in the dark and cold. Mutual aid crews from other electric cooperatives, municipal utilities and contract companies assisted DREMC line workers in getting the lights back on. “I am very proud of what was accomplished,” said Michael Watson, DREMC president and CEO. “The line crews worked safely and managed to restore power to most of our members on Wednesday.” DREMC’s Facebook page buzzed with thanks for the men in hard hats who wrestled with ice-laden power lines and utility poles, dodged falling trees and limbs,...

After the State Capitol thaws out from the snow and ice, one bill lawmakers are expected to take up this session is legislation (SB0612/HB0675) that would allow undocumented students who graduate from a Tennessee high school to pay in-state tuition at state colleges and universities. Eben Cathey, a spokesman for the Tennessee Immigrant and Refugee Rights Coalition, explains why greater accessibility to affordable education benefits the entire state. “I think you can imagine the economic benefits of having thousands and thousands of students who want to get a degree who are very motivated and entrepreneurial, be able to do...

The Tennessee Emergency Management Agency says that Tennessee remains in a State of Emergency from the extremely cold weather. The National Weather Service is watching for the potential of more winter weather moving across Tennessee Friday and Friday night.  Forecasts for this incoming system could produce an inch or more of snow followed by heavy freezing rain and sleet. Fatalities Tennessee has ten (10), confirmed, weather-related fatalities: Hamilton County – One (1) fatality: 63-year-old male, hypothermia related Henry County – Two (2) fatalities: 64-year-old female, hypothermia related; 69-year-old male, hypothermia related Hickman County (1) fatality:  male, dialysis patient, unable...

We have more information on the problems the area received from the winter weather. Tullahoma Utilities Board (TUB) reports that they experienced scattered outages across town due to trees (pine mostly) as they became heavy with ice. Areas that were affected the most were Ovoca Road, Stone Blvd./Westview area, Crestwood/Westwood, Lake Circle/Crosslake/Lakewood, Wilson Ave., Old Shelbyville Hwy, Bragg Circle, Sharondale area, Tara Estates, Old Estill Springs Hwy, Fort Street, Ragan Street, and Silver/Ham streets. TUB says they had multiple primary wires down, a broken pole, and multiple damaged transformers. Approximately 1,000 people in total were affected. Crews worked throughout...