Latest Headlines
Coffee County Government Receives Clean Audit
Only 12 of the 90 Tennessee counties audited by the Tennessee Comptroller’s Office received a clean audit report in fiscal year 2018. The 12 counties included Coffee County. Other counties listed as clean were, Blount, Fayette, Franklin, Gibson, Lincoln, Loudon, Marshall, Meigs, Putnam, Roane, and Sevier. These annual audits were completed without any findings. Auditors did not report any weaknesses or deficiencies in government operations. These audits each revealed a strong system that allows for accurate financial reporting and clear checks and balances that help protect taxpayer money. The residents of these counties should be encouraged that county leaders...
Bedford County Sheriff’s Office Identify Burglary Suspect
The Bedford County Sheriff’s Office reports vehicle burglaries recently occurred at Curl Construction. As a result, the Criminal Investigations Division was able to identify John Pickelsimer as the person responsible. Pickelsimer is currently in custody in another jail and will be charged with 4 counts of burglary and two counts of theft of property over $1,000. The Bedford County Sheriff’s Office thanked the Wartrace Police Department for their assistance in this...
Tennessee Unemployment Hits Record Low
The statewide unemployment rate in Tennessee dropped to a new historic low in February according to data released by the Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development (TDLWD). The seasonally adjusted rate of 3.2 percent is 0.1 of a percentage point lower than the previous historic low. Tennessee reached its previous record low unemployment rate of 3.3 percent in October 2018 and it remained at the level for four consecutive months. The state began tracking unemployment rates in 1976. Over the past year, Tennessee’s February unemployment rate decreased from 3.6 percent of 3.2 percent. While Tennessee did see record-breaking...
Powerball Jackpot continues to Grow
The Powerball jackpot continues inching toward $1 billion as no one won the jackpot Saturday night. The next drawing on Wednesday will be worth an estimated $750 million. The latest numbers drawn for the jackpot were 24-25-52-60-66 with a Powerball of 5. The winner would have officially won $638.8 million, the biggest jackpot of the year and the fourth-largest Powerball drawing of all-time. A lump-sum cash payout Wednesday will be worth $465.5 million, discounting for...
Bark-aroo Park Opens
The new dog park opened in Manchester on Saturday. It was a beautiful day for dogs and people to celebrate the officially named Bark-aroo Dog Park. The Manchester Recreation Department says the park, which is fenced in, is located on Waite St near the new soccer complex. The park is open from dawn to dusk seven days a week. The rec department asks that users be respectful of each other and only dogs that are used to socializing with other dogs come to Bark-aroo Dog Park. A complete set of rules can be seen on a sign at the...
UPDATE!–Home Invasion and Car Break-Ins in Coffee County
Overnight Wednesday into Thursday morning there was a home invasion and at least 3 car break-ins in the Bob Meadows/Harpo Road area of Coffee County. Sheriff Chad Partin told WMSR News that one suspect, Tyler Uselton, was brought into custody by deputies and the second suspect is now in a secure location. The sheriff went on to tell us how the arrest of Uselton took place: http://www.thunder1320.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/Chad-HI-2.mp3 Sheriff Partin says that the area is now deemed safe and thanks to everyone for their...
Tenn. Democratic Party Chairwoman Calls Tennessee Racist during Speech in Coffee Co.– Now Apologizes
Tennessee Democratic Party Chairwoman Mary Mancini has apologized for calling the state racist recently while promoting less conventional candidates. Mancini made the comment while speaking with the Coffee County Democratic Party earlier this month. Mancini is quoted as saying, “We have a little bit of a problem in this state, I’m just going to say it outright. This is a racist state.” The Tennessean reports Mancini’s comment came while she was saying the state party should continue to promote minority, millennial and LGBTQ candidates. In a statement to the USA Today Network-Tennessee, Mancini said “In the heat and the...
National Nutrition Month: AARP Offers Food for Thought
March is National Nutrition Month and for adults age 40 and older staying sharp is food for thought. Rob Naylor, communications director for AARP Tennessee, points to a 2017 survey in which nearly nine in 10 adults said they would eat a healthy diet if they knew it could reduce their risk of cognitive decline, heart disease or diabetes. The U.S. Department of Agriculture recommends certain amounts of fruits, vegetables, dairy, grain foods and protein. Naylor says a large majority of adults consumed too few servings of fish, oils and green leafy vegetables. He says good brain health can...
