Latest Headlines

Car Chase Ends in Grundy County
A car chase on Monday evening that began in Sequatchie County ended with the suspect crashing his vehicle in the Grundy County town of Palmer. The Sequatchie County Sheriff’s Department pursued the vehicle into Palmer over Daus Mountain. During the chase, the driver caused the crash of a Sequatchie County deputy’s car and hit a Dunlap Police Department car. The chase ended when the suspect crashed near Baker’s Cove Church in Palmer. During the chase, the suspect allegedly brandished weapons at the pursuing officers. Grundy County Sheriff Clint Shrum says the driver’s five-year-old son was in the car during...

Tennessee Among 8 States in New Project to Expand and Update National Broadband Map
For you folks in Coffee County that do not have broadband service here is some information you need to know. Tennessee will be among eight states in a new project to expand and update a national broadband map. A news release from U.S. Sen Marsha Blackburn’s office says the project by the National Telecommunications and Information Administration will help Tennessee get a clear and complete picture of broadband availability. The other states involved include California, Maine, Massachusetts, Minnesota, North Carolina, Utah and West Virginia. Recent federal budget legislation includes $7.5 million for the...

More Rain could bring More Flooding
After a few days of sunshine, the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency is warning Tennesseans that with rain possible over the next few days flooding remains an ongoing concern. As Tennessee remains in a State of Emergency, TEMA says that if Tennessee receives the projected 1/2 to 3/4 inch of rain that is expected Thursday night into Friday, there will likely be no issues with additional flooding. However, if concentrated rainfall of an inch or more should fall, there is the possibility that lake levels could rise, and re-flooding could occur in certain...

Heartbeat Bill Moves Forward
A bill banning most abortions once a heartbeat is detected has cleared a key hurdle in the Tennessee Legislature. The House Health Committee on Tuesday voted 15-4 to send the legislation to the House floor for a full vote, with only Democratic members voting in opposition. Supporters of the bill broke out in applause once the committee approved it. Tennessee is among several states with pending bills to ban most abortions once a fetal heartbeat is detected, about six weeks into pregnancy. Conservative legislatures are pushing increasingly strict anti-abortion laws in an effort to trigger a legal challenge to...

Tennessee Lawmakers Want Minimum Age Raised to 21 to Buy Tobacco or Vaping Products
Several Tennessee lawmakers are pushing to increase the minimum age to buy tobacco or vaping products from 18 to 21. During a news conference Monday, Republicans Sen. Shane Reeves and Rep. Bob Ramsey said the bill would help address Tennessee’s poor health rankings. More than a dozen health-related groups have backed it. A legislative fiscal note estimates the bill would annually cost the state about $7 million and local governments $1 million through lost sales tax revenues. Reeves said it will save the state on health care costs for tobacco users in the long term. Tennessee also ranks toward...

Duck River Electric’s FREE Do-It-Yourself Energy Efficiency Workshops is March 18 in Manchester
Seats are filling fast for Duck River Electric’s FREE Do-It-Yourself Energy Efficiency Workshops! The Free event includes; free supper, free energy-saving advice from DREMC’s trusted energy advisor. Don’t miss out! Join DREMC and get helpful energy-saving advice to help reduce your electric bill before summer arrives! Plus, you’ll receive a free DIY energy-savings starter kit; limit one per household. And that’s not all! You’ll also receive a limited-time, $500 rebate on attic insulation! The Manchester area DIY Workshop will be held at DREMC Manchester district office located at 209 East Fort Street on Monday, March 18th, beginning at 6:00...

ESP Begins Monday at Westwood Middle School
An after school Extended Schools Program (ESP) at Westwood Middle School (WMS) in Manchester will begin on Monday, March 4. After the rain last week, information has begun to be sent home with students this week, including registration information. The registration form will also be available on the Westwood Middle School webpage. Families can return the registration form along with the $10 registration fee to WMS this week. Additionally, the school system will accept registrations at the Manchester City Schools Central Office (215 E. Fort Street). The program will have a daily rate of $6. Families can pay in...

Man Convicted of Murder in Bedford County
With 14 prior Georgia incarcerations and a local first-degree murder conviction, 29-year-old Jeremy Lee Fleming learned Thursday he’ll be elderly before becoming eligible to be released from prison for the 2016 murder of Robert Timothy Perkins in Bedford County. Fleming wants a private meeting with the judge but that won’t happen, according to the judge. His attorney has filed a post-trial motion on Fleming’s behalf which is scheduled for March 18. In Tennessee, this does not mean Fleming has appealed his murder conviction. It simply means that he will be allowed to plead his case, post-sentencing, before the judge....