County unemployment rates for April 2014, show the rate decreased in all 95 counties. In Coffee County we fell from 6.1% to 5.1. Bedford County went down from 6.5 to 5.6%. Over in Cannon County the unemployment rate in March was 5.7%, going down to 4.8% in April. Franklin County dropped from 6.4 to 5.4%. On the mountain in Grundy County the unemployment rate fell from 9.1% to 8.3. Moore County had a nice drop from 5.7% in March and 4.5% in April. The biggest drop locally was in Warren County falling 1.3% to 6.4%. Williamson County had the...

With recent word on the first U.S. transmission of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome, or MERS, many across the state and the nation are concerned about what it could mean for public health. Dr. David Swerdlow is leading the Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s response team for this virus. There is no alarm for Tennessee at this point, with Swerdlow explaining that while the virus can spread from person to person, it isn’t easily transmitted. “There’s been no sustained transmission like you see with flu, where it goes from person to person to person,” he explains. “So, at the...

Area police departments, as well as Coffee County Sheriff’s Department, have received complaints that a person/persons are calling their phones advising that they failed to appear in court and have ignored a subpoena. The caller then states to get a green dot credit card and deposit money into an account or they will be arrested by a deputy or police officer. This is a SCAM. Neither the local police departments nor the Coffee County Sheriff’s Department would attempt to collect money for this, nor would they request any payment in lieu of going to jail. Another scam is a...

Bonnaroo Works Fund (BWF) has named nearly 40 nonprofit organizations as 2014 recipients, doubling the number of grantees from last year. The Bonnaroo Works Fund is the charitable arm of the world-renowned Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival and supports national and regional organizations that advance the arts, education and the environment; with a focus on local reinvestment. Program administrators also announced that The Avett Brothers have signed on as 2014 Bonnaroo Works Fund Ambassadors and will help raise awareness of the Fund’s purpose and impact. Bonnaroo Works Fund is a component of the East Tennessee Foundation (ETF), a 501(c)(3)...

Without desperately needed financial help, the Tullahoma Kiwanis Club will not be able to sponsor this year’s annual July 4 fireworks display and air show, club spokesman Mike Rutherford. “We have $5,000 and we need another $15,000 to have a show comparable to last year’s show,” Rutherford said. He noted that the Kiwanis Club has sponsored the annual Independence Day fireworks event since 1968, “but if the collections don’t come in within the next few days the skies over Tullahoma will be dark on July 4.” Rutherford explained that in the past the club has depended on donations from...

America’s Health Rankings released its second annual report on senior population health at the state and national levels. The data from America’s Health Rankings 2014 Senior Report shows Tennessee Ranks 43rd in the country for the health of its seniors, down one place from 42nd in 2013 after accounting for an update in the study’s methodology.* This analysis reflects the health of Tennessee seniors on 34 measures of health, including prevalence of obesity, chronic health conditions, level of physical activity, food insecurity and poverty. Tennessee’s low rank can be attributed to multiple factors, including: • The second highest rate...

A Memorial Day remembrance of fallen soldiers and honoring local veterans was held in Manchester. Local veteran groups hosted the event. Those receiving honorary swords from MSG Tim Brown were: *Seaman 1st Class William Keesee – WWII *SFC C. M. Houston Tosh – Vietnam *Sgt. Buster Bush accepted the memorial sword passed down from Staff Sgt. K.K. Huddleston. The Memorial Sword is presented in honor of our fallen heroes who served bravely and gave their lives to protect and defend the constitution of the United States of...