After a brief stint of virtual learning following the Christmas break, Manchester City School System will return to a traditional, in-person learning schedule for all students beginning on Tuesday, Jan. 19. The system has been on a virtual schedule since returning from Christmas. Manchester City School system consists of Westwood Elementary, Westwood Middle School and College Street Elementary. “Families who wish to continue virtual instruction should contact their child’s school for more information and guidelines,” said Director of Schools Dr. Joey Vaughn. The district will have early dismissal days at 12:30 p.m. every Friday through spring break. “We will...

Tennessee is making great progress in rapidly vaccinating those at highest-risk of serious illness and death from COVID-19. Within four weeks of Tennessee receiving its first doses of COVID-19 vaccine, more than 221,000 people in the state have received vaccinations, and the Tennessee Department of Health is distributing COVID-19 vaccinations as rapidly as supplies are received from the federal government. Tennessee is one of the most successful states in the U.S. at quickly administering vaccine, having administered more than 50 percent of the vaccines received by the state. Tennessee is now providing COVID-19 vaccinations to residents and staff members...

The State Senate this week re-elected Lt. Governor Randy McNally (R-Oak Ridge) for a third term as Speaker of the Senate. Senators met at noon on the first organizational day of the 112th General Assembly to elect their speaker. By statute, the Speaker of the Senate holds the title of Lieutenant Governor. McNally has served as Speaker of the Senate and Lieutenant Governor since January 2017. Also, McNally announced subcommittees for the senate. Senator Janice Bowling, who represents Coffee County in the senate, is on the transportation and energy committes. She is the second vice chair of the government...

Coffee County’s government offices closed to in-person foot traffic back on Dec. 21 – with the exception of the trustee’s office, which remained open. Those offices will reopen to the public on Tuesday, Jan. 19. The Coffee County Sheriff’s Department, convenience centers and courts remained open. County offices remained open for business and took appointments during this...

Tennessee’s Commission on Children and Youth has released its county profiles of child well-being in Tennessee for the year 2020. At 51st, Coffee County in the bottom half of Tennessee counties in child well-being. Some of the county’s strongest rankings include a high median household income and a relatively low rate of school suspensions. Coffee County has 25.1 percent of children living in poverty – which ranks 56th out of Tennessee’s 95 counties. Tennessee has an average of one in five children living in poverty. The lowest percentage is in Williamson County (3.6 percent) and the highest percentage is...

In an email to Coffee County commissioners, other elected officials and county employees, commissioner Todd Crockett has announced that he is vacating his elected seat. Crockett serves in District 3. He is stepping down effective Feb. 1 after accepting a new job offer. His email reads as follows: “Fellow commissioners, elected members and county employees this is to inform you I will be stepping down effective Feb 1, 2021. I am taking a position with the Air Force at Warner Robbins AFB in Georgia. It has been an honor serving the people of this county and serving with all...

Tennessee State Parks had an economic impact of $1.84 billion in Tennessee in 2020 and welcomed 34.7 million visits, according to a report done for the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation. The report notes that local area spending by visitors has a substantial impact on local economies. The parks reached historic highs in camping, recording four of the top 10 months ever, and set a pace for future success with $184 million in investments in capital projects throughout the year. Those projects alone are expected to result in over $400 million in economic impact to the state. The...