Over 1 in 5 people in Coffee County have received full vaccination for COVID-19, according to the Tennessee Department of Health. In total, there have been 28,145 doses of COVID-19 administered in Coffee County. Two doses of the vaccine have been administered to 21.49% of the Coffee County population – which is estimated over 50,000. Meanwhile, 28.56 percent of the population has received at least one dose. For more information on receiving a vaccine, click...

The Tennessee House chamber last week approved the Mercenary Rioter Act which aims to ensure protests remain peaceful. House Bill 881 increases penalties for those who are paid to participate in riots and those who come from outside the state with intent to commit a criminal offense and riot.  This legislation makes it a Class E felony and increases the punishment for aggravated rioting to a mandatory minimum sentence of 45 days imprisonment for one offense or 60 days for two or more offenses. Tennessee law defines a riot as three or more individuals inciting a violent disturbance that creates grave danger...

Motlow State Alumnus, Taylor Rayfield, left, was honored with the Motlow College Foundation’s 2021 One to Watch Young Alumni Award. He graduated from Motlow in 2014 and currently works as the State Coordinator of Family Resource Centers for the Tennessee Department of Education. Joining Taylor for the award presentation is Motlow President Dr. Michael Torrence. The Motlow College Foundation honored Tennessee Department of Education State Coordinator of Family Resource Center’s Taylor Rayfield with its 2021 One to Watch Young Alumni Award on April 26. “It is a humbling honor even to be considered a candidate, let alone an honoree...

On Monday May 3, 2021 Attorney William Lockhart officially announced his campaign for Circuit Court Judge for the 14th Judicial District. “I’m excited to announce my candidacy for Circuit Court Judge for the 14th Judicial District. The rule of law is the cornerstone of our democracy and having a judge that has the skills, experience, and temperament necessary to make decisions based on the law and facts only is paramount.  Circuit Court Judges hear a wide variety of cases, and I have the broad and practical experience to fairly and impartially decide the cases that come before me. As...

The Tennessee gas price average held steady over the last week with the state average remaining unchanged from the previous week. The Tennessee Gas Price average is now $2.69 which is the same as one month ago and $1.15 more than one year ago.  The average price in Coffee County is $2.67, which is 2 cents below the state average and 23 cents below the national average of $2.90. “While April saw minimal fluctuation, May is likely to see much larger increases alongside demand spikes, especially closer to Memorial Day weekend,” said Megan Cooper, spokeswoman, AAA – The Auto Club Group. “Compared to May 2019, U.S. gasoline...

Area authorities are searching for Michael Robert Gray, age 38, of Coalmont. According to the Grundy County Sheriff’s Department, deputies attempted to stop Gray’s vehicle on suspicion of impaired driving on Highway 108 in Gruetli-Laager. Deputies chased Gray until his vehicle ran through a gate and his vehicle was disabled in Pelham. He allegedly fled on foot. He is not considered dangerous, authorities say. Deputies found what is believed to be meth and marijuana inside of Gray’s vehicle. If anyone knows of his whereabouts, you are encouraged to call...

The House and Senate of the 112th General Assembly on Thursday successfully approved a no-debt $42.6 billion budget that provides strategic investments in education, health care, public safety and economic development initiatives. The budget provides a return to many pre-pandemic priorities with the 2021-22 fiscal year budget. The 2021-22 fiscal year budget invests $100 million into the Rainy-Day fund, bringing the state’s savings account to $1.55 billion.  The budget also sets aside $250 million through the Tennessee Consolidated Retirement System. Tennessee remains on solid financial ground as one of the indebted states in the nation with a AAA bond-rated...

Both chambers of the General Assembly gave final approval this week to legislation that aims to uphold the integrity of elections in Tennessee by ensuring absentee ballots are not fraudulent.  House Bill 1276, requires all absentee ballots to include an easily discernible watermark approved by Tennessee’s Coordinator of Elections, except those officially authorized to be delivered electronically. The Tennessee Election Integrity Act, the legislation also requires absentee ballot counting boards of local county election commissions to reject any absentee ballot without the approved watermark to prevent election fraud. The bill now heads to the governor’s desk for his...