Franklin County Sheriff’s Department investigators are attempting to locate a man identified as Cody Dewayne Hill, of 1799 Blue Springs Rd. in Decherd. (pictured below) Mr. Hill was last seen at 3250 Lynchburg Rd. on Sunday at approximately 6:30 p.m. He was last seen wearing a blue jacket, gray shirt and Nike shoes. Anyone with information regarding his whereabouts is asked to contact FCSD Sgt. Todd Hindman at 931-962-0123...

Tennessee Governor Bill Lee on Monday  announced all Tennessee adults will be eligible for COVID-19 vaccination no later than April 5. Tennesseans aged 55 and older and those in Phase 2 of the state’s COVID-19 Vaccination Plan are eligible for COVID-19 vaccinations effective Mar. 18. Governor Lee shared the announcement in a video Monday morning.  By April 5, all Tennesseans age 16 and over will become eligible for COVID-19 vaccination. Eligibility for those in Phase 3 of the state’s COVID-19 Vaccination Plan will run concurrently with age-based eligibility. Phase 3 includes residents and staff members of congregate living facilities...

Legislation creating lifetime orders of protection for victims of violent crimes passed both chambers unanimously and now heads to Gov. Bill Lee’s desk for his signature. House Bill 434 creates a lifetime order of protection to strictly prohibit communication between an offender and their victim. Republican Leaders partnered with Nikki Goeser, a victim of stalking, to create this legislation. She was present in the House chamber for the unanimous vote on Monday. Goeser’s stalker shot and killed her husband, Ben, in front of her in a crowded restaurant in 2009. Her stalker has been behind bars serving time for...

After multiple weeks of significant increases at the pump, Tennessee gas prices, on average, only increased about a penny over last week. The Tennessee Gas Price average is now $2.69 which is 28 cents more than one month ago and nearly 78 cents more than one year ago. The National Average is $2.88. In Coffee County, the average price is $2.59, which is 10 cents below the state average and 29 cents below the national average. “A dip in demand along with a simultaneous increase in supply and refinery utilization has contributed to slower movement in gas price increases,”...

The Agriculture Council of America will host National Agriculture Day on Tuesday, March 23. This marks the 48th anniversary of National Ag Day, which is celebrated in classrooms and communities across the country. The theme for this year’s National Ag Day is “Food Brings Everyone to the Table.” On Tuesday, the ACA will host a virtual Ag Day event. This event will honor National Agriculture Day and mark a nationwide effort to tell the true story of American Agriculture and remind citizens that agriculture is part of all of us. The National Ag Day program encourages every American to:...

Misti Garrett, owner of Transformation Wellness & Martial Arts and Snap Fitness in Manchester, has launched a platform for women to learn to defend themselves and there is no cost to participate. Recognizing the need for women to be able to defend themselves in any situation, including against sexual assault and unwanted advances, Garrett launched a Women’s Self Defense Class last week and has committed to holding two sessions every Wednesday through at least the end of April. Sessions are free (donations to the Children’s Advocacy Center are welcome) and the class is for females age 14 and older....

Constitutional Carry legislation is continuing to move through the House, passing the Finance, Ways, and Means Subcommittee last Wednesday. House Bill 786 allows Tennesseans to exercise their constitutional right to defend themselves and their families while cracking down on criminals who steal guns or possess them illegally. The bill also includes sentencing enhancements and increases minimum sentences for gun-related crimes, and increases sentences on felons illegally carrying firearms or unlawfully providing a minor with a firearm. House Bill 786 now moves to the full Finance, Ways, and Means Committee for consideration on Tuesday, March...

Legislation authorizing the use of deadly force for sexual assault victims was approved unanimously in the House chamber this week. House Bill 50, known as the 2021 Defense Doctrine, allows victims that have a reasonable belief they are imminent danger of serious sexual abuse, sexual assault or rape to utilize deadly force as a method of self-defense to avoid serious bodily injury and escape dangerous threats to their personal safety. Recent data from the Tennessee Department of Health reveals that sexual violence is a major public health crisis resulting in long-term societal and economic costs. Approximately 6,177 people were...