Manchester’s newest fire truck Engine 1 will officially be put into service Monday, October 8th at 10:00 am following a traditional ceremony dating back to the late 1800’s. A tradition in the fire service, the ‘wet-down”, is a ceremonial process in which firefighters officially place into service a new fire engine by anointing it with water sprayed from the retiring unit. This will be followed by the firefighters and community “pushing in” Engine 1 into the fire hall. Members of the community are welcomed to attend the ceremony that will take place at Fire Hall 1 on the Hillsboro...

On Monday an early morning caller scammed a Shelbyville fast food restaurant of more than $2,000. An employee said she received a phone call around 3 a.m. from the man claiming to represent the restaurant’s corporate headquarters. The scammer told the employee that the general manager of the eatery was secretly under corporate investigation and surveillance. In a report in the Shelbyville Times-Gazette it states that the employee was told by the caller to get the code to the safe and call him back. She was then instructed to enter the safe, count the money inside the money bags...

With campaign signs dotting the landscape across the state, it’s no secret that the midterms are around the corner. But a new poll from AARP indicates there’s something missing in the campaign rhetoric. The survey found 91 percent of Tennessee voters age 50 and older think Medicare is very important for people’s health in retirement, and almost as many prioritize Social Security benefits. While most people have a clear position on these programs, Rebecca Kelly, director of AARP Tennessee, said the state’s candidates for governor and U.S. Senate haven’t made their plans known for either program. “None of the...

It’s time once again for Old Timers Day in downtown Manchester. The 50th Old Timers Day has big events that begin Oct. 5, Friday evening at 7 p.m. featuring a free concert by the group “Silver Creek.” Saturday’s activities begin with at 10 am with the Old Timers Day Parade, featuring Grand Marshal BB Brown. There will also be giveaways, like a $50 bill every hour, plus there will be a 50in TV given away. Come on out to Old Timers Day for games and activities, a petting zoo, free train rides, musical groups like “By Faith” and more....

The Tennessee Comptroller’s Office has found several questionable financial transactions and discrepancies within the Coffee County Emergency Communications District. An investigation has determined the district made a payment of $15,000 to former director Steve DeFord for services he provided related to the district’s new building. The Board approved this questionable payment, which was above the director’s normal salary, ten months after the completion of the building project, and two months after the director announced his retirement. The $15,000 payment was processed through the district’s bank account with no payroll deductions withheld. Comptroller investigators also identified multiple payments totaling $3,400...

On Friday, (September 28th, 2018) Franklin County Sheriff’s Office personnel responded to 3105 Gourdneck Rd. NW in reference to a theft from a home under construction. Upon arrival, contact was made with workers, who advised this was the 3rd time in approximately 6 months a theft had occurred at the residence. It is believed the most recent theft occurred between Thursday, September 27th at approximately 6:25 pm and Friday, September 28th at approximately 7:45 am. After speaking to the construction owner and the homeowner, Franklin County Sheriff’s Office investigators were able to compile a list of the items stolen...

Recently, Franklin County Sheriff’s Office personnel responded to 6370 Chestnut Ridge Rd. (Union Grove Baptist Church) in reference to a vehicle burglary. A report filed by Deputy Troy Parsons stated that Sunday, September 16th at approximately 11:46 am one unidentified male and one unidentified female gained access to the vehicle parked at Union Grove Baptist Church. Allegedly the thieves broke the rear passenger side window to get inside. On Saturday, September 29th Franklin County Sheriff’s Office Investigators were able to locate the vehicle when the two suspects were driving near Adventure Mountain in Winchester, TN. Investigators were able to...

A former employee of an area hospital is suing his former employer. The suit says that St. Thomas Rutherford Hospital forced him to take a flu shot even though it contradicted the worker’s religious beliefs. The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission filed the lawsuit September 28, 2018. WTVF-TV reports that the suit claims St. Thomas Health (STH) required all workers at the hospital to have an annual flu shot, including employees of TouchPoint Support Services, which provides food and environmental services at the hospital. The lawsuit says that STH allowed a TouchPoint employee, because of his religious beliefs, to...