Latest Headlines
Richard Skipper Named Tennessee SkillsUSA Administrator of the Year
Coffee County Schools Director of Career & Technical Education Richard Skipper has been named the Tennessee SkillsUSA Administrator of the Year. During Tennessee SkillsUSA’s annual State Leadership Conference in Chattanooga, Tennessee, Skipper was honored by the organization for his dedication to Career and Technical Education and SkillsUSA. “We congratulate Mr. Skipper on a well-deserved recognition and appreciate his unwavering dedication to our CTE programs,” said Dr. LaDonna McFall, Director of Coffee County Schools. Tennessee SkillsUSA is a Career and Technical Student Organization (CTSO) that is a partnership of students, teachers, and industry working together to ensure communities have...
Speed Lowered on Manchester Street
The Manchester Police Department will be increasing traffic enforcement and visibility on Waite St. With the soccer complex, the greenway and now a new dog park (Bark-aroo) along Waite St., the speed limit has been reduced to 20 mph to make it safer for pedestrians and their pets. Be aware Manchester Police will be patrolling the area and checking speed. Please watch your speed in this area by driving the new speed limit. Many more people will be walking in the area of Waite St due to the start of the spring and summer programs and the dog...
Alleged Armed Robbery in McMinnville Motel
On Tuesday, McMinnville Police arrested three suspects in connection with an alleged robbery that occurred inside a motel room earlier that morning. The victim told police he was lured to the motel room by an acquaintance, but when he arrived, he was robbed at gunpoint. He ran to a nearby restaurant and called the police. An officer spotted the Chevy Silverado reportedly being driven by one of the suspects. He led police on a pursuit that ended in Woodbury after the vehicle ran over a set of spike strips that had been deployed by Cannon County deputies. The driver...
Amid Opioid Crisis, TN Focuses on Keeping Kids Out of Foster Care
Tennessee could be doing more to place children in state care with families, including their own, according to a new report by the Annie E. Casey Foundation. More than 8,000 Tennessee children are in foster care, and about 77% live with relatives or in a family setting, compared with an 86% family placement rate nationally. Over the past decade, the report said, child-welfare systems across the country have worked to place more children with relatives and foster families, so they’re less likely to end up in group homes or institutions. Rob Geen, director of policy and advocacy reform for...
McFall makes it Official
Last month WMSR News reported that Coffee County Director of Schools Dr. LaDonna McFall was seeking other employment opportunities. Last week we reported that McFall was a finalist to become Roane County’s director of schools. During the school board work session on Monday, April 1, the agenda stated that the board would begin contract extension negotiations with Dr. McFall. She told the board on Monday afternoon that she would no longer seek an extension. Dr. McFall’s contract runs through...
Manchester/Tullahoma 4th Best Micropolitan Area in the State
The Manchester/Tullahoma area ranks 4th in the state and 51st in the nation in micropolitan areas when it comes to economic strength. Micropolitan means that the area must have an urbanized area of at least 10,000 population but less than 50,000 population. The statistics were announced by POLICOM an independent economics research firm that ranks metropolitan and micropolitan locations annually. Sevierville ranked number 1 in Micro areas in the state. The Nashville/Franklin/Murfreesboro area is ranked number 1 in the nation for metro locations. Metropolitan areas have 50,000 or more...
Gas Prices Jump Up Again
Tennessee gas prices continue their march upward this week. Tennessee drivers were paying an average price of $2.49 per gallon as of Tuesday afternoon for regular unleaded according to GasBuddy.com. The national gas price average has increased 44 cents since New Year’s Day, landing Monday’s average at $2.69. While that is seven cents more expensive than last week and 27 cents more than last month, it is only four cents more expensive than last year. In Coffee County prices rose by as much as 21-cents per gallon on Tuesday. Manchester’s low price as of Tuesday afternoon was $2.55 per...
Fire Takes the Life of Winchester Man
A house fire killed a man Saturday in Winchester, Franklin County Sheriff’s Office officials confirmed. Firefighters responded to the call at the home on Tims Ford Lake around 5 p.m. Saturday. Officials said when they arrived on the scene, they found Larry Abel unresponsive. Neighbors had rescued him from the fire, but he was unable to communicate. Abel was transported to Southern Tennessee Regional Health System, where he was pronounced dead. The fire is being investigated....
