Less cigarette smoking, soda drinking and physical fighting, but more time at computers and other tech devices. That’s the snapshot from the new Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Youth Risk Behavior survey. The government goal of reducing teen smoking nationally to less than 16 percent has been met. CDC director Tom Frieden noted that it’s a fragile victory, however, at 15.7 percent. And it comes with the rise in popularity of e-cigarettes, smoking pens and electronic hookahs. “No kid should be exposed to advertising that glorifies the use of nicotine,” said Friden. “Or be able to easily...

A possible wheel tax is back on the agenda for Coffee County Commissioners to consider at its next meeting on June 24. The Coffee County Legislative Committee voted unanimously Monday to allow commissioners to vote to put the choice of a $50 wheel tax on the November ballot. A similar resolution failed by one vote in May, which would have placed the wheel tax question on the August ballot. The resolution requires 11 “yes” votes for passage, regardless of how many of the 21 commissioners vote on the issue. If this vote fails on the part of the commissioners...

The 13th Annual Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival has ended for another year and Coffee County Sheriff Steve Graves says it makes him happy when there are no deaths to report. He did report that there were 60 arrests made by all law enforcement combined. Sheriff Graves said his department issued 258 citations for various charges. They responded to 38 calls inside the Bonnaroo grounds for thefts, fights, domestic disturbances and other reasons. The sheriff said that number could go up because they still taking reports. Manchester Police made 12 out of the 60 arrests during Bonnaroo, issued 45...

Gasoline prices in the southeast were on a streak of declines before the conflict in Iraq began. The average price for a gallon of gasoline fell 12 straight days in Tennessee. However, the streaks ended Saturday as the violence in Iraq caused oil prices to jump. Here in Coffee County, Manchester’s lowest price stands at $3.28 per gallon and the low price in Tullahoma is $3.34. Tennessee’s average price is $3.43 per gallon. Crude oil prices had its biggest weekly gain of this year because of the violence in Iraq. The cost for a barrel of oil closed last...

The Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development announced Brownsville, located in Haywood County and Winchester, located in Franklin County, have achieved Tennessee Main Street certification. These communities join 26 other Tennessee Main Street communities that are certified through the state program and accredited by the National Main Street Center, a program of the National Trust for Historic Preservation. Tennessee Main Street provides technical assistance and guidance for communities in developing common sense solutions to make downtowns safe, appealing, vibrant places where folks want to shop, live and make memories. In 2013, certified Main Street communities generated more than...

The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, Tennessee Department of Transportation and the Tennessee Department of Tourist Development have announced a new initiative designed to raise awareness about sex trafficking in Tennessee. Beginning this month, visitors too many of the state’s welcome centers and rest stops will see signs posted inside bathroom stalls designed to draw attention to the issue. The signs feature the slogan, “You see a girl who could do anything. He sees a girl he can force to do anything.” “Sex trafficking is one of the fastest-growing crimes in the United States,” said Margie Quin, TBI Assistant Special...

Lizzy the Red-Tail Hawk and Snapper the Barred Owl visited the Day Campers at the Manchester Recreation Department. Melissa Jones, Park Ranger at Paris Landing State Park accompanied the feathered friends and answered camper’s questions. Keith Wimberley-Park Manager at Old Stone Fort State Park, invited Jones, Lizzy and Snapper for this teaching session at the Rec Center. Wimberley said, “Teahing the children about our native wildlife gives them an appreciation for the animals…and hopefully they will help protect them and their environment in the future.” The Manchester Recreation Department has day camp available for children age 5-12. Visit cityofmanchestertn.com...

Gregory Scott Hale the Manchester man charged with the murder and abuse of a corpse last week was ordered Monday to undergo a mental evaluation. Coffee County General Sessions Judge Jere Ledsinger signed the order after a request by public defender Kevin Askren. The 37 year-old Hale was not in the courtroom when Askren requested Judge Ledsinger to sign the order. The petition for a forensic evaluation states that Hale has “a prior history of mental illness” and that he has a history of prior commitments to psychiatric hospitals. The petition also alleges that Hale “may suffer from a...