Your Local News
Early Voting Update
With four days remaining in the early voting period, voter turnout remains strong for the August 7th state primaries and county and municipal general elections in Coffee County. At the closing of the polls on Tuesday, 3,803 voters had cast early ballots well ahead of the pace for the August 2010 election. Early voting continues thru this Saturday, August 2nd. Voters may cast ballots at 2 locations, the Election Commission office in the Coffee County Administrative Plaza at 1329 McArthur Street. That office is open from 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM during the week and 8:30 AM to Noon...
Single Vehicle Accident on Monday
Manchester Fire & Rescue, along with the Coffee County Sherriff’s Office, Coffee County EMS and the Tennessee Highway Patrol responded to a motor vehicle accident on Fredonia Road on Monday night. Upon arrival, emergency crews found a single vehicle which had flipped over near the 5500 block of Fredonia Road. The female driver, who was the lone passenger in the vehicle, had to be extricated from the vehicle and was transported via ambulance to Manchester Medical Center. From there, Air Evac Life-Flight transported the driver to Erlanger Hospital in Chattanooga. No update was given on the driver’s condition and...
Gas Prices Continue to Fall
Gasoline is selling at the lowest price since March amid rising gasoline supplies and falling oil prices. The national average price for a gallon of regular unleaded gasoline is on a 30-day streak of declines. Prices in Tennessee have fallen for 32 consecutive days according to Mark Jenkins, spokesman for the AAA Auto Club Group. “Oil prices briefly rose following the crash of Malaysian Airliner Flight MH17, but gas prices didn’t skip a beat last week,” said Jenkins. “Motorists continue to enjoy discounts at the pump and that’s likely to continue this week.” Oil is trading lower as gasoline...
Historic Sewanee Landmark Damaged by Fire
Fire caused heavy damage to historic Rebel’s Rest on the campus of the University of the South last Wednesday night. The blaze was reported at approximately 11:30 p.m. and the Sewanee Volunteer Fire Department arrived on the scene at 11:35. There were no injuries or damage to adjacent buildings. The cause of the fire is not yet known; but the state arson investigator is investigating the fire. Rebel’s Rest has served as a university guest house for many years, but has been closed this summer for renovations. Originally built as the family home of Major George Fairbanks in 1866,...
Senator Lamar Alexander Visits Coffee County
U.S. Senator Lamar Alexander visited Manchester on Tuesday as part of his two week “Standing up for Tennessee” Bus Tour. At the Oak Restaurant, the US Senator met with local voters over lunch as part of his 35 stop tour before Election Day. Since 2002, Lamar has served in the US Senate. During his visit to Manchester, Alexander expressed his desire for re-election in order to enact positive change in his role as Chairman of the Committee of Education, Labor, & Health. Story and pictures by Samantha...
Manchester Couple Charged with Child Abuse
A Manchester couple is being held under a bond of $100,000 in the Coffee County Jail after their arrest on child abuse charges. According to warrants, Carlena Scalf, 22, of Maple Springs Road in Manchester is charged with hitting her 3-year-old son multiple times across the face causing swelling and bruising to his face. She allegedly told Sheriff’s Deputy Nick Graham that she did it because he “cursed” her. Preston James Myers, 22, of Fern Gully Lane, Manchester is accused of striking the 3-year-old in the face with his fist. They are both to appear in Coffee County General...
Fires at Two Manchester Businesses on Monday
The Manchester Fire Department had a busy day on Monday responding to a pair of fires at local businesses. The fire department responded alongside the Hickerson Station Volunteer Fire Department to a fire on the loading dock at Johnson’s Mulch on the Old Tullahoma Highway in Manchester on Monday morning. Crews worked together to extinguish the fire with the use of firefighting foam and heavy equipment. Damage was contained to the loading dock area. The cause of the blaze is unknown and is under investigation. On Monday afternoon, 911 received multiple calls for smoke from a second floor room...
State Unemployment Rates Go Up
County unemployment rates for June 2014, released last week, show the unemployment rate increased in all 95 Tennessee counties since the May survey. Overall, the state seasonally adjusted unemployment rate increased from 6.4% in May to a June rate of 6.6%. The rate for Coffee County increased from 5.6% in May to 6.6% in June. Franklin County increased from 5.8% in May to 7.0% in June. Moore County saw its rate rise from 5.5% to 6.7%; Bedford County increased from 6.1% to 7.5%; Grundy County increased from 8.1% to 9.5%; while Cannon County went from 5.5% up to 6.7%....
