The City of Manchester is looking for a volunteer to fill an open seat on the Manchester Tourism and Community Development Commission. This term will run through Sept. of 2021. Anyone seeking appointment must be a resident or a property owner of the City of Manchester. This commission generally meets on the fourth Monday of the month at 5:30 p.m. at Manchester City Hall. Deadline to return applications is Nov. 30 and the Manchester Board of Mayor and Aldermen will confirm an appointment on Tuesday, Dec. 1. Return applications to Manchester City Hall at 200 W. Fort St. Click...

There are currently 46,245 active cases of COVID-19 virus in Tennessee, this according to numbers provided by the Tennessee Department of Health on Sunday. There have been 55 new deaths reported, bringing the total of confirmed COVID-19 deaths in Tennessee to 3,929. According to TDH, there are approximately 318 active cases of the virus in Coffee County. There have been 41 deaths reported in Coffee County that are related to the virus. Among school-aged children in Coffee County, there have been 37 cases reported over the last 14 days. Pertaining to hospital availability, 83 % of floor beds remain...

Coffee County Mayor Gary Cordell has released the following statement regarding the recent increase in COVID-19 cases in Coffee County: “For the past few weeks, COVID cases have been on the rise, both nationally and in Coffee County. We have lost 36 people to this disease, and many more have been seriously ill, taxing our health care system and creating financial and emotional hardships for a number of families. “We are all tired of COVID-19. But COVID-19 is still here, whether we are tired of it or not. To get this pandemic under control, we must renew our efforts...

Tennessee has been selected as one of four states to participate in a pilot program for delivery of the Pfizer Inc. COVID-19 vaccine now under development. This program is designed to address distribution challenges posed by requirements for ultra-cold storage of the vaccine. “We have a robust plan in place for distribution of this vaccine, and we’re honored to be chosen to help establish a model for other states in providing COVID-19 vaccine to their residents once it’s approved,” said Tennessee Health Commissioner Lisa Piercey, MD, MBA, FAAP. Tennessee will participate in the pilot along with New Mexico, Rhode...

Tennessee employers added nearly 25,000 new jobs between September and October. Even with the creation of new jobs, the state’s unemployment rate inched upward for the first time in three months. The preliminary, seasonally adjusted, statewide unemployment rate for October 2020 is 7.4%, an increase of 0.9 of a percentage point from September’s revised rate of 6.5%. One year ago, the unemployment rate in Tennessee was 3.3%. The number of jobs increased by 24,600 during the month as Tennessee businesses rebound from COVID-19 business closures in the spring. Employers in the professional/business services sector created the most jobs during...

Blue Monarch, a residential and therapeutic recovery center for women and their children located in rural Coffee County, has as its mission “to provide a long term, residential and therapeutic Christian community to break adverse cycles and rebuild their families.” According to Kate Cataldo, operations and development director, the center assists families who are dealing with addiction, domestic violence and economic hardship transform in mind, body and spirit. “We provide a nurturing and therapeutic environment for individuals and families to achieve sobriety, enhance mother and child relationships, and build better life skills while promoting spiritual growth,” Cataldo said. “We...

Manchester Fire Department responded to a structure fire Tuesday morning on Glenburg Dr. According to Manchester Fire Department Chief George Chambers, when crews arrived on the scene there was smoke coming out of the eaves of the home. “Engine 611 crew arrived on scene, deployed an attack line, and after walking around conducting their 360 degree check of the home, crews found the fire to be in the living room area of the home,” explained Chambers. Chambers explained that crews were able to attack the fire in the living room and eliminate minimal fire extension in the attic. “Most...

Coffee County School System has announced that East Coffee Elementary will go to virtual learning through the end of November due to a rise of COVID-19 cases there. “Due to several positive cases of COVID-19 among the staff at East Coffee Elementary and quarantines among staff and students, Coffee County Schools is placing East Coffee Elementary on virtual/distance-learning status through the rest of November,” announced director of schools Dr. Charles Lawson. “Potential close contacts have already been identified and contacted.” Due to Thanksgiving break and the current use of Fridays as distance-learning days, this means that the students at...