Millions of children across the country and tens of thousands across the state of Tennessee are attending school in the shadows of potentially-dangerous chemical facilities, according to the findings in a new report. The analysis comes from the Center for Effective Government, whose director of open government policy, Sean Moulton, says the advocacy group found that about one in eight pupils in Tennessee is in that position. “In Tennessee, we found 113 schools were within a mile of an RMP (Risk Management Plan) facility,” he said. “And those 113 schools had a total attendance of 56,000 students, which is...

Gov. Bill Haslam has signed into law legislation that would punish pregnant women who abuse narcotics. Haslam said after signing the bill he knows about the concerns opponents have with the measure and will use updates with the courts and health professionals to monitor its impact. Health organizations and women’s rights advocates called on Haslam to veto the bill. The measure would allow women to be charged with assault if they abuse narcotics while pregnant and give birth to a child who is dependent on drugs or harmed as a result. Haslam said in a statement that a provision...

The Tullahoma Parks and Recreation Department is pleased to announce the date and line up for the Rock Creek Music and Art Festival at Frazier McEwen Park, 12:00 noon – 10 PM Saturday, May 10. The music lineup has a mix of great sounds: Cumberland Blue – 8:30-10:00-Upbeat Blues The Midget Wrestlers – 6:30-8:00-Chicago Blues Marian Galbraith – 5:00-6:30-Folk and R&B Other local performing artists – noon – 5:00 “We are inviting everyone to come celebrate Spring in Tullahoma with a fun filled family night of music and art,” said Director of Parks and Recreation Director, Kurt Glick. “We...

A Manchester man was arrested after being found to be in possession of methamphetamines and marijuana. Travis David Flowers, of Woodbury Highway, Manchester was charged with possession of schedule II (meth) and simple possession of marijuana. He is scheduled to appear in Coffee County General Sessions Court June 5. Tullahoma Officer Holly Sparkman stated in a report that she answered a call of a “suspicious”vehicle parked at the pumps at Mapco on Cedar Lane Sunday night around 11:15 p.m. When she arrived she allegedly found Flowers hanging around the pumps and that he appeared to be under the influence...

Two people were killed in Lincoln County Monday night after two suspected tornadoes swept through the county. A spokeswoman at Lincoln Medical Center said two had died and the hospital had treated several other people with minor injuries. About half of the customers of Fayetteville Public Utilities were without power. Most of the damage occurred in the southern Lincoln County area near Lincoln and Elora. South Lincoln Elementary suffered severe damage in the second suspected tornado that struck the county. The front of the school was torn off, about three-quarters of the building’s roof was ripped off and a...

Tullahoma Utilities Board (TUB) sent a small, 4-man crew Tuesday to Athens, Alabama, to assist in the repair of utility poles and electrical lines following Monday’s line of severe storms that pummeled much of the southeast. Kyle Riddle, Cameron Denney, Steven Mantooth, and David Myers left Tullahoma Tuesday to assist in the recover and repair of approximately 200 broken poles and their associated downed power lines. The damaged area has about 40,000 meters and is a fellow Tennessee Valley Public Power Association utility. The crew was sent as part of the Mutual Aid Assistance Program which, according to TUB...

AAA spokesman Mark Jenkins says gas prices continue to rise nationally, but the peak could be in sight. He said wholesale prices on the gulf coast have tentatively pulled back, which could result in slightly lower pump prices. Refinery production has increased dramatically and there is hope that supplies will begin to build across the region. Sunday’s national average for a gallon of regular unleaded gasoline was $3.70, 3 cents more than last week. Tennessee’s average of $3.52 rose 2 cents. In Coffee County the low price in Manchester on Tuesday night was $3.47 and in Tullahoma the low...

County unemployment numbers for the month of March indicate the unemployment rate decreased in 86 counties, increased in four counties and stayed the same in five counties. Coffee County’s rate was unchanged at 6.1 percent. Cannon County dropped from 5.7 to 5.6 percent. Warren County’s unemployment rate for March was 7.7 percent…down from the February rate of 8.1 percent. Franklin County’s unemployment dropped in March by 2.3% and stands at 6.4%. The Grundy County rate dropped by .3% of a point last month to 9.1%. In Bedford County their unemployment rate dropped from 6.8 to 6.5% and in Moore...