UPDATE, JAN 4, 4:17 PM – The health department has communicated with the emergency management agency that a very limited allotment of COVID-19 vaccines will be available this week at the fairgrounds, and that allotment has already been “booked up.” Therefore, unless you have previously spoken with the health department about your vaccine and have an appointment or a booking, then you likely will not receive one. This includes Wednesday and Friday vaccine dates.  ORIGINAL STORY, JAN 3: Vaccines for COVID-19 will begin in Manchester at the Coffee County fairgrounds beginning Wednesday, Jan. 6. Available hours will be from...

As of New Years Day – there have been 126,887 vaccinations administered in Tennessee, according to data provided by Tennessee Department of Health. However, this number is likely higher due to a lag in reporting. As of the same date, 1.21% of the Coffee County population (estimated over 55,000 total) has received at least a partial vaccination. Currently, there are 547 active cases of the COVID-19 virus reported in Coffee County – a drop from the peak that went over 800 in December. There have been 65 deaths reported in Coffee County and currently 70 Coffee Countians are hospitalized...

Winchester police authorities are asking for help solving a burglary and theft reported on Dec. 29. According to authorities, sometime between noon on Dec. 28 and noon on Dec. 29, Journey Church, located at 916 Dinah Shore Blvd., was broken into. Reportedly stolen were a MacBook, iPad and Nord Keyboard. If you have any information about this theft or these items, contact Winchester Police Department detective Brian Wilder at 931-967-3840 or at Crimestoppers at...

Thunder Radio is saddened to report to you that Howard Clutter, longtime host of Swap & Shop and other various programs on our airwaves, passed away on Wednesday, Dec. 30, 2020. He was 80 years old. “Howard was the well-recognized voice, the smiling face behind the microphone and the unbelievably friendly personality behind Thunder Radio’s Swap and Shop – probably our most popular and well-known program on Thunder Radio,” said Thunder Radio co-owner Josh Peterson. “Holly and I are sending our prayers to Rob, Tiffany, Helen and the Clutter family during this most difficult time. We ask that our...

The Tennessee Department of Health has updated the Tennessee COVID-19 Vaccination Plan and its phased approach to administering COVID-19 vaccines to Tennesseans. As of Wednesday, Dec. 30 – there have been 79,232 vaccinations administered in Tennessee. In Coffee County, 0.70% of the total population (total population estimated over 55,000) has been vaccinated.  “COVID-19 vaccines remain limited at this time, and Tennessee’s allocation plan prioritizes those most at risk of illness and death from COVID-19,” said Tennessee Health Commissioner Lisa Piercey, MD, MBA, FAAP. “The plan also prioritizes critical infrastructure workers who have direct public exposure or work in environments...

City of Manchester government offices will be closed on Friday to recognize the New Year Holiday. Meanwhile, Coffee County government offices will also be closed on Friday in recognition of the New Year Holiday. Offices will be open again on Monday, Jan. 4. Reminder – most county offices are closed to foot traffic but are open by appointment or walk-up window. Call ahead to plan your...

Two people have died after they were struck while working on a stalled vehicle in Franklin County. The Herald-Chronicle reports that two men were working on a broken down truck on Beans Creek Rd. Monday, Dec. 28, when a vehicle hit the truck. According to Sgt. Chris Guess, identities of the two victims were not yet...

By Tennessee Public News Service The pandemic has shrunk U.S. forest exports, and economists say supply disruptions in Southeast Asia, where American logs and lumber are turned into furniture, is to blame – along with a drop in consumer demand. Professor of agriculture and resource economics at the University of Tennessee Knoxville Andrew Muhammad said U.S. furniture sales dipped by 66% in April, around the time stay-at-home orders went into effect. He said over the summer, U.S. forest producers lost more than $670-million. “Tennessee is actually particularly hurt by this, more so than the national average and more so...