Manchester City School System has its eyes on continued expansion of schools – with plans in the works to add onto Westwood Middle School. The Manchester Board of Education heard from architects last week on a nearly $1.5 million project that would add four classrooms to the school. If bids on this project are at expectations, the board will be able to pay for the expansion from the system’s fund balance without additional funding or bonds. Bids are expected to open later this...

The Tennessee Department of Treasury Unclaimed Property Division has launched exciting enhancements to ClaimItTN.gov, the online portal where anyone can search and claim missing money they may have in Tennessee. As of June 30, 2021, there is $1.2 billion waiting to be claimed. The Unclaimed Property Division is a consumer protection program of the Tennessee Department of Treasury that works to reunite the millions of missing dollars turned over every year with its rightful owners. Treasury estimates that one in six Tennesseans could have missing money. ClaimItTN.gov is now mobile-friendly, improving online searches for unclaimed property in Tennessee on any internet...

The Franklin County Sheriff’s Office is attempting to locate a subject who is wanted for questioning relating to lottery tickets that were recently taken from Trolley Rock. (see photo below) Anyone having any information regarding the identity or whereabouts of this person is asked to contact Inv. Todd Hindman at the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office at...

Suicide deaths in the U.S. are prevalent now more than ever. Tennessee’s suicide rate is the highest it has been in five years, according to the Tennessee Suicide Prevention Network.The National Alliance on Mental Illness states that suicide is the 2nd leading cause of death among people aged 10–34 and the 10th leading cause of death overall in the U.S. Since 1999, suicide rates have increased by 35%. Depression has increased by 20% and anxiety has increased by 30% since 2019, said Dr. Joseph Sharpe, Chief Medical Officer of Ascension Saint Thomas Behavioral Health...

A Patriot Day Ceremony will be this Saturday, Sept 11th, at the Coffee County Veterans Building starting at 6 p.m. – located at 130 Shelton Rd. The event will be behind the building.  Chairs will be set out for the event and social distancing will be observed for a safer environment. Claude Morse will serve as master of ceremonies for the event, which marks the 20th anniversary of Sept. 11, 2001. Four local veterans organizations — American Legion, VFW, DAV and Marine Corps League — will all pay honors to several local first responders. Everyone is encouraged to...

The Tennessee gas price average rose five cents over last week in the aftermath of Hurricane Ida. Holiday travelers also found the most expensive Labor Day gas prices in seven years. The Tennessee Gas Price average is now $2.91 which is nearly two cents more than one month ago and nearly 94 cents more than one year ago.  Average price per gallon of gasoline in Coffee County is at $2.97, which is 6 cents higher than the state average. The National Average is $3.18. “Historically, gas demand starts to decline in the fall as schools reopen and summer road trips end, which leads to less...

By Joyce Prusak, Coffee County Children’s Advocacy Center Understanding how perpetrators gain access to children and are able to continue to sexually abuse them is critical to preventing child sexual abuse. More than 90 percent of children who are abused sexually are abused by someone they love and trust. Often, the perpetrators are people trusted by the family of the child. Perpetrators use a tactic called “grooming” to gain and maintain access to children. At the Coffee County Children’s Advocacy Center, every year we serve hundreds of children who are victims of severe abuse. We served 347 children in...

H&R Block Presents – Charitable Contributions With the recent disasters and the health pandemic, many people are looking for ways to help those in need. Contributing to a qualified charitable organization entitles you to a deduction on your income tax return. Previously in order to deduct charitable contributions you had to be able to itemize your deductions on Sch A of your tax return. However, for 2020 and 2021 a charitable contribution deduction is allowed for cash donations even if you don’t itemize. The deduction for non-itemizers for 2020 was $300 per return. The deduction for 2021 is $600...