The national average for regular retail gasoline on January 1, held the record for the highest average in history. The national average on New Year’s Day was $3.29, 1 cent more than the daily average on January 1, 2012, which held the previous record. In Coffee County gas prices were again over the $3.00 mark. In fact, this week there are only a couple of discounters offering $3.06 per gallon prices on regular gas…most are in the $3.15 range here in Manchester with the highest at $3.31. In Tullahoma $3.06 was the lowest and highest $3.20. Although the average...

The president of the Tennessee Education Association says she expects her board to take an official position against proposals that would allow teachers to carry guns. The Tennessean reports the measures are among proposals state lawmakers are considering this legislative session in the wake of last month’s massacre at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn. Several Tennessee lawmakers have drafted legislation that would encourage school districts to place at least one armed police officer in every school and would allow teachers who have undergone special training to bring their personal handguns into schools. However, TEA president Gera Summerford...

At 6:30pm on January 10th (Thursday) at Manchester City Hall there will be a Town Hall style meeting to discuss flooding and draining issues across the city. Vice Mayor Ryan French says, “This is quite possibly the most important step in what I hope will lead to Manchester obtaining a block grant from the state to address water mitigation issues. French added, “We need folks to come out, tell stories, show photos, bring letters, and anything else that would help us show the state our need for this grant.” The meeting will take place in the upstairs board room...

The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation is accepting applications for its Citizen’s Academy. The TBI says the academy is designed to develop a better understanding and awareness of the agency in the community. It offers citizens a close look at the TBI’s work investigating crime scenes and cyber crime, tracking terrorism information, and doing forensics examinations. The academy runs from May 7 through May 28 at TBI headquarters in Nashville. It is limited to only 15 citizens. Applicants must be at least 21 years old and be physically able to meet training and scheduling requirements. Those interested should fill out...

Manchester police have lodged additional charges against a man after a woman reported being kidnapped and then sexually assaulted. The victim told detectives she was abducted early New Year’s Day along Hillsboro Boulevard in Manchester. She said a man forced her into a car drove her to Tullahoma and then raped her. The victim said she managed to escape and call for help. She was treated at Harton Regional Medical Center. On Wednesday, police arrested 31-year-old Billy Joe Nelson of Tullahoma and charged him with carjacking. On Friday, police announced he was also charged with robbery, aggravated kidnapping, aggravated...

A public hearing has been scheduled for 5 p.m. tomorrow at the Coffee County Administrative Plaza to discuss zoning issues that would allow a second rock quarry to open in Hillsboro. The Coffee County Commission will meet at 6 p.m. with an agenda that includes a resolution to change the zoning of property owned by Wright Paving Contractors LLC to a high-impact industrial zoning so that the company can begin operations. A second resolution on the agenda would increase the price for reclamation bonding of all new mining operations from $2,500 per acre, not to exceed $95,000 per project,...

Flu season is picking up steam, and it could get even worse as people return to Middle Tennessee from vacation. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says 29 states are now reporting high levels of symptoms associated with the flu, including Tennessee. The flu is most heavily concentrated in the southeast, and health officials say it could spread even more now that kids are returning to school after winter break. While several Middle Tennessee and southern Kentucky local schools took some days off because of illness before the holidays, those that were back in session Friday aren’t seeing...

Getting your driver’s license is going to a lot different in Tennessee. By the middle of February, all driver license offices will be handing out paper licenses to those getting one for the first time or renewing. The actual card will then be delivered by mail, no more than seven-days later. According to the state Department of Safety, this is to help prevent fraud. Commissioner Bill Gibbons says there have been several cases of motor vehicle office employees taking the license making equipment and giving it to someone to make fake ID’s. The licenses will now be made in...