Middle Tennessee Association of Realtors, in partnership with local real estate agencies across Coffee County, partnered together to host a coat drive for Coffee County, Manchester City, and Tullahoma City Schools. Taylor Rayfield, Coordinator of Family Resource for Coffee County Schools said, “We appreciate the Middle Tennessee Association of Realtors, local real estate agencies, and members of the Coffee County community for rallying together to ensure every child in need has a warm coat this winter.” To learn more on how to help students in need or donate warm coats to schools, contact Taylor Rayfield – Coffee County Schools...

Evans Baird, age 79, of Manchester, who is out of jail because he agreed to the bond conditions, faced another battle in court this week in Coffee County. Baird served as band director for 30 years at Westwood Junior High, now Westwood Middle School, in Manchester.  He has been charged with one count of aggravated sexual battery against a 12-year-old. That is a Class B felony in the state of Tennessee. Coffee County District Attorney Craig Northcott says Baird broke his bond condition on December 9. According to a motion filed by the DA’s office, Baird was found to...

Donald M. McCoy, 52, of Murfreesboro, Tennessee, was arrested Friday by federal and state agents and charged with two counts of healthcare fraud, announced U.S. Attorney Don Cochran for the Middle District of Tennessee. According to the criminal complaint, McCoy is a licensed psychologist by the State of Tennessee and is an authorized TennCare provider who provides individual psychotherapy and family psychotherapy services to patients—usually minors—in the care of the Department of Children’s Services (“DCS”). The complaint alleges that between January 2014 and December 7, 2018, McCoy billed for more hours of services than can physically be provided in...

Road construction will not delay travelers during the Christmas and New Year holidays. The Tennessee Department of Transportation is once again halting all lane closure activity on interstates and state highways in anticipation of higher traffic volumes across the state. No temporary lane closures will be allowed for road construction in Tennessee beginning at 12 noon Friday, Dec. 21st until 6am Wednesday, Jan. 2nd, 2019. Except for a few long-term closures which must remain in place for safety, all construction-related lane closures will be suspended during the holiday period. AAA predicts over 2.5 million motorists are expected to travel...

Motlow State Community College will administer the High School Equivalency (HiSET ™) test several times throughout 2019. The tests will be administered in Crouch Center Room 1046 on the College’s Moore County campus and will be available in both computer and paper-based formats. As of April 1, 2016, the General Education Development (GED) Test is no longer an option for High School Equivalency Diploma for residents of Tennessee. Applicants interested in completing the HiSET ™ must register online at Hiset.ets.org or by calling 1-855—MyHiSET (1-855-694-4739). The fee for the HiSET test is $15 per test or $75 for the...

Several local nonprofits will expand their programs, thanks to receiving grant money. The Bonnaroo Works Fund (BWF) is a nonprofit organization that supports organizations advancing the arts, education and environmental sustainability, with a focus on local reinvestment and asset building in the communities. Since the inception of the festival, Bonnaroo and the BWF have awarded more than $7 million in funding to deserving organizations. Those receiving money in the local area include: Coffee County Central High School, Coffee County Child Care Center, Highland Rim Habitat for Humanity, Millennium Repertory Company in Manchester, Tullahoma Fine Arts Center and Tullahoma Parks...

AAA forecasts that more than one-third of Americans and two-in-five Tennesseans will travel this holiday season. The record-breaking 112.5 million travelers taking to the nation’s runways, roads and rails for the year-end holidays is the most since AAA has been tracking holiday travel. That represents a 4.4 percent increase over last year nationwide and a 5.1% increase in travelers from Tennessee. The year-end holiday travel period is defined as Saturday, December 22 through Tuesday, January 1, 2019. The 11-day span is one day longer than last year, due to Christmas and New Year’s Day falling on Tuesdays this...

Tennessee’s state parks are taking applications for grants for school field trips. State officials say field trip grants for visits to one of 56 state parks are available for kindergarten through eighth-grade students and led by a ranger. A Department of Environment & Conservation news release says teachers may apply for the competitive grants. The grants cover transportation, lunches or snacks, and related project supplies. Grant funds typically total about $10 per student. All public schools in Tennessee are eligible for grant funds this year. Applications are due Feb....