The Tennessee Department of Transportation will halt all lane closure activity on interstates and state highways for the Labor Day holiday travel period. Construction crews will stop all lane closure activity beginning at noon on Friday, September 4 until 6:00 a.m. on Tuesday, September 8. This will provide maximum roadway capacity for motorists traveling during the Labor Day holiday. “The Labor Day holiday is typically a busy travel time,” said TDOT Commissioner Clay Bright. “We want to ensure that travelers using Tennessee’s roadways during this period arrive at their destinations quickly and safely without being impeded by road construction...

The Tennessee gas price average jumped eight cents over last week, but has held steady since Hurricane Laura made landfall along the Gulf Coast. The Tennessee Gas Price average is now $1.99 which is six cents more expensive than one month ago and nearly 28 cents less than one year ago. Average price for a gallon of regular unleaded  is $1.96 in Coffee County, slightly below the state average. “It’s typical to see increased demand and more expensive gas prices ahead of a storm, especially one that threatens rigs and refineries in the Gulf of Mexico region,” said Megan...

Manchester Recreation Center has announced it is lifting its restrictions that were not allowing for non-Coffee County residents to visit the center. After the center re-opened from COVID-19 shutdown in the spring, only members from Coffee County were able to attend the center, then day passes were sold to residents in Coffee County. Now memberships may be purchased by individuals from any zip code. However, the center is still members only Monday through Friday. Day passes are available on Saturdays and Sundays. The Manchester Recreation Complex is located at 557 N. Woodland...

Coffee County Schools have announced a return to a more traditional learning setting beginning the day after Labor Day (Sept. 8) According to director of schools Dr. Charles Lawson, the current plan is to maintain the A/B hybrid schedule through Friday, Sept. 4. After Labor Day, all students except those on parent-choice virtual or students who are quarantined and isolated should be able to return to their schools four days each week: Monday through Thursday. Friday will remain a distance learning day for all students through fall break. “Our community is not close to being finished with this pandemic...

Manchester City Schools have announced that they will return to traditional school schedule on Tuesday, Sept. 8. “On Tuesday, September 8, Manchester City Schools will return to a traditional school schedule. We began the year with our Pathway to Re-entry 2020-2021 and it helped our district open the school year effectively. As we have moved into the first semester of school and developed procedures to address COVID-19, we believe it is in the best interest of our students to return to in person instruction,” the system announced on Friday. “While we will continue to monitor active COVID-19 cases in...

Tullahoma City Schools will be returning to in-person, traditional instruction beginning Tuesday, Sept. 8. “Based on the current data we have, and with the current procedures we have in place, district and school-level leadership believe it to be in the best interest of our students to return to in-person instruction,” said Catherine Stephens, director of Tullahoma City Schools. Distance learners will continue to receive daily, virtual instruction. There are precautions in place for students returning to school, including masks being recommended by all, daily temperature checks, frequent handwashing and hand sanitizing, social distancing practices, strategic movement of students, cleaning...

As of 2 p.m. Sunday there are 283 active cases of COVID-19 virus in Coffee County, according to data provided by Tennessee Department of Health. There have been six COVID-19 related deaths reported in Coffee County. Across the state, active cases rose by 143 Sunday compared to Saturday. However, numbers continue to trend down over the past three...

On Friday (8/28/2020) Tennessee Governor Bill Lee signed Executive Order No. 59 to extend certain, targeted provisions of Executive Order Nos. 36, 38, 49, 50, 54, and 55 through September 30, 2020 to facilitate the continued treatment and containment of COVID-19 through regulatory flexibility, promoting social distancing and wearing face coverings in public places, and protecting vulnerable populations. Gov. Lee also signed Executive Order Nos. 60 and 61, which extend through September 30 provisions that allow for electronic government meetings subject to transparency safeguards and remote notarization and witnessing of documents, allowing for implementation of best practices developed during...