While the holidays are a happy time for many, the stress associated with family obligations and dynamics can be the “lump of coal” in some people’s Christmas stockings. According to the American Psychological Association, fatigue and stress are the top sources of negative feelings during this time of year. Sometimes, said clinical social worker and psychotherapist Lisa Ferentz, the best thing to do is simply not take part in potentially stressful situations. “Sometimes,” she said, “you have to give yourself permission to avoid family interactions that you know are going to be too painful or that will set you...

Tennessee Labor & Workforce Development Commissioner Burns Phillips announced Thursday the Tennessee preliminary unemployment rate for November was 6.8 percent, three tenths of one percentage point lower than the October revised rate of 7.1 percent. The U.S. preliminary rate for November was 5.8 percent, unchanged from the prior month. Economic Summary • Over the past year, Tennessee’s unemployment rate decreased from 7.9 percent to 6.8 percent while the national rate declined from 7.0 percent to 5.8 percent. • Total nonfarm employment decreased 1,900 jobs from October to November. The largest decreases occurred in accommodation/food services, retail trade, and administrative/support/waste...

Manchester Police Officer Derek Jones has been chosen as the Governors Highway Safety Office, 2014 Cumberland Region Officer of the Year. He was given the award last Thursday at the GHSO end of the year event at Fall Creek Falls. Officer Jones was nominated based on his involvement in traffic safety. This year Officer Jones became Coffee County’s first ever Drug Recognition Expert. This certification involved a very demanding two week training course along with traveling to Arizona for field evaluations and passing several written exams. This is the second consecutive year that a Manchester PD officer has received this...

At a time when family and friends often gather at places of worship to celebrate the holidays, Tennessee’s faith community is taking a lead on ensuring inclusiveness for the state’s individuals with disabilities. One common barrier is just being able to gain access physically, but as Jeanne Crocker, a Sunday school teacher at First Baptist Church in Lexington, notes it goes well beyond. “That might include behavioral issues or specific special needs that they have to have a quiet place,” she explains. “They don’t like crowds or too much excitement, blinking lights, those kind of things you have to...

With Christmas and New Years just around the corner, AAA released its travel forecast for the end of the year holiday season. According to the report, more people will be traveling this year. AAA projects 98.6 million Americans will journey 50 miles or more from home during the year-end holiday period, which spans from Dec. 23rd to Jan. 4th. That is an increase of four percent from the 94.8 million who traveled last year. About 91 percent of people will reach their holiday destination by driving, and 6 percent will fly, according to AAA. The good news for people...