Following record-breaking cold and winter storms that forced the cancellation of more than 10,000 blood and platelet donations in parts of the U.S. in February, the American Red Cross is urging healthy individuals, especially those with type O blood, to give now to ensure blood products are available for patient emergencies when help cannot wait. Everyday thousands of patients rely on lifesaving blood donations. The need for blood is constant, even during ice and snowstorms and the COVID-19 pandemic. To help ensure lifesaving patient care is not impacted, individuals are urged to make appointments to donate in the coming...

Tennesseans are finding the most expensive prices at the pump this week since September 2019 – up 12 cents over last week. The Tennessee Gas Price average is now $2.41 which is 21 cents more than one month ago and nearly 18 cents more than one year ago. Prices in Coffee County are hovering near $2.34 per gallon on average, which is 7 cents below the state average. The national average is at $2.63. “Gas prices surged last week in the aftermath of forced refinery shutdowns in the Gulf Coast due to last week’s winter weather,” said Megan Cooper,...

As of Sunday afternoon, Feb. 21, approximately 10.25 percent of Coffee County residents have received at least one-dose of a COVID-19 vaccination, according to Tennessee Department of Health. Meanwhile, approximately 3.45 percent of the population has received two doses of the vaccine. In total, 7,748 vaccine doses have been reported in Coffee County. Meanwhile, numbers of those infected and hospitalized with virus-related issues continue to decline. As of Saturday, there were 124 active cases of the virus reported in Coffee County. Statewide, fewer than 1,000 hospitalizations related to the virus were reported on...

The Federal Trade Commission received 35,638 fraud reports from consumers in Tennessee in 2020, according to newly released data. Tennessee consumers reported losing a total of $40,622,639 to fraud, with a median loss of $270. The FTC’s Consumer Sentinel Network is a database that receives reports directly from consumers, as well as from federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies, the Better Business Bureau, industry members, and non-profit organizations. This year, the FTC welcomed the data contributions of the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center, the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, and the Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection....

Tennessee State Senator Janice Bowling on Feb. 11 introduced legislation that would take the digital process out of voting in Tennessee. Bowling filed SB1510 with the intention of protecting the state’s election process. Verbiage within the bill says that county election commissions shall “not use voting machines” but instead would use watermarked paper ballots for all elections. The bill would also abolish the 2-week early voting period. The bill still needs to pass the full legislature and receive a signature from the Governor’s office. Bowling represents the 16th District in the Tennessee Senate, which includes Coffee County.  See more...

The Health Department has announced that COVID-19 vaccinations scheduled for Friday, Feb. 19 at the coffee county fairgrounds are cancelled due to inclement weather. The health department will reach out to those people with appointments to get them rescheduled as soon as...

Coffee County Communications Board (CCCB) on Wednesday (Feb. 17) voted to terminate employment of 911 director Diane Argraves after Argraves opted not to accept a severance package. The board offered a package to Argraves that included full pay through the end of the current fiscal year, which ends June 30. Argraves opted not to take the package and was then dismissed by the board. The lone no vote came from board member Joe Hinch. Sheriff Chad Partain abstained from a vote. Argraves’ termination is effective immediately. Part of the motion to dismiss Argraves gives her 20 days to accept...