By Elena Cawley The confidential nature of child abuse cases presents a problem: people forget child abuse exists. False. Child abuse plagues Coffee County. But the community can help by raising awareness . Joyce Prusak, executive director of the Coffee County Children’s Advocacy Center, works to provide abuse-free future for children. According Prusak, the advocacy center received 348 referrals for child abuse last year, with the numbers increasing compared with 2019. As taxing as the job is, she finds satisfaction in helping children find healing. “Dealing with witnessing the trauma builds up and it’s hard,” Prusak said. “Last year...

As a further indication the state of Tennessee’s economic turnaround continues, unemployment rates for February 2021 dropped in nearly every county, according to new data from the Department of Labor and Workforce Development. Ninety counties experienced lower unemployment during the month. Four counties recorded an increase in unemployment, while Smith County’s February rate remained unchanged from the previous month. Unemployment rates are less than 5% in 39 of the state’s 95 counties and under 10% in the remaining 56 counties. In Coffee County, the unemployment rate stands at 4.6 percent. This is down slightly from 4.7 percent in January...

Manchester Board of Mayor and Aldermen will have a regularly scheduled board meeting at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday April 6 at Manchester City Hall. Among the items listed are multiple resolutions to annex well over 500 acres of land into the city – land that is owned by New Era Farms (Bonnaroo). Bonnaroo recently requested that the city annex the property. Meeting time is 6:30 p.m. at Manchester City Hall. See the full agenda by clicking...

An important piece of legislation advancing through the TN House is the “Safe Seniors Act of 2021,” House Bill 718. This bill enhances protections for Tennessee’s aging and vulnerable citizens. House Bill 718 places elder abuse alongside child abuse as a crime that requires a magistrate to make specific findings before setting bail for suspects arrested on suspicion of abusing older citizens. It also makes it easier for prosecutors to take depositions to preserve testimony of aging and vulnerable people. The legislation modifies current law to recognize that many older and vulnerable people are unable to sufficiently communicate to...

At the beginning of Sexual Assault Awareness Month, Secretary of State Tre Hargett wants to remind Tennesseans about Safe at Home, the free statewide address confidentiality program for victims of sexual assault, stalking, human trafficking or domestic abuse. “In the two years since we launched Safe at Home, we have helped hundreds of individuals and families protect themselves from becoming victims again by protecting their address,” said Secretary Hargett. “I encourage Tennesseans of any age or gender who have experienced stalking, human trafficking, domestic abuse or any sexual offense to take advantage of this free program.” Safe at Home...

By Nadia Ramligan, TN Public News Service Under current law, Tennessee patients can be required to use certain pharmacies to fill their prescriptions, but a bill in the state Legislature could change that. On Tuesday, the House Insurance Subcommittee passed a bill to ban so-called “patient steering,” and increase transparency and regulation of drug pricing. Davidson County resident Eben Cathey said his wife, who has ALS, recently was told she almost certainly would need to change pharmacies, and potentially switch providers, after enrolling in Medicare. “And that comes with several barriers,” he said. “I mean, one, some of these...

Tennessee has reached a vaccination landmark of one million Tennesseans being fully vaccinated against COVID-19. Approximately 22 percent have received at least one dose. ‘’We celebrate this milestone and expect to see this number increase as vaccine is more widely available,” said Tennessee Health Commissioner Lisa Piercey, MD, MBA, FAAP. “The hard work and dedication of our local health departments and statewide vaccine partners have helped us reach this significant moment in our fight against COVID-19.” Continued Focus on Equity and Underserved Populations Tennessee is committed to ensure equity in its COVID-19 Vaccination Plan. TDH has been working with...

Join us at Thunder Radio and Rosalyn Partin of the Manchester H&R Block and congratulate our student of the week – Allie Raines Allie is in 5th grade at Hickerson Elementary School. She is the daughter of Dustin Johnson and Jennifer Johnson. Her favorite subject is social studies. When she grows up, Allie would like to be a veterinarian. In her free time, Allie enjoys practicing softball and any other sports, taking care of her two dogs and a cat. Rosalyn Partin, owner of the Manchester H&R Block, has been inspired to recognize great kids in our community all...