Tennessee is the most biologically diverse inland state in the country, but a new report released by the National Wildlife Federation finds that as many as one-third of America’s wildlife species are at increased risk of extinction. According to “Reversing America’s Wildlife Crisis: Securing the Future of Our Fish and Wildlife,” 150 U.S. species are listed as extinct, and nearly 500 species have not been seen in recent decades and could possibly be extinct. The report comes as Congress is considering a bill that would allocate funds already being collected from oil and gas extraction to protect vulnerable or...

The Manchester Times and Thunder Radio hosted a political forum on Tuesday evening at “The Church at 117.” Candidates for Road Superintendent, Trustee, Circuit Court Clerk, County Mayor, Register of Deeds, County Clerk and Sheriff answered questions during the event. If you missed the forum or would like to re-listen, go to WMSRradio.com and click on the downloads page. Video from the forum will also be available. Early Voting runs April 11–26 and Election Day is May 1. In Manchester you can early vote at the Coffee County Administrative Plaza 1329 McArthur Street, Suite 6, Monday-Friday 8:00-4:30PM and Saturday...

COFFEE COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION 1343 McArthur Street Manchester, Tennessee 37355 Telephone: 931-723-5150 Facsimile: 931-723-8285 TO: All Board Members FROM: Brett Henley, Chairman SUBJECT: Regular Board Meeting DATE: April 9, 2018 TIME: 4:30 p.m. PLACE: Coffee County Board of Education Pledge of Allegiance Recognition: ➤FBLA State Winners/National Qualifiers ➤Perfect Attendance Winners Presentation: ➤Read To Be Ready AGENDA I. Call to Order II. Call for Intent III. General Consent Items (*If no objections, the following items will be considered passed when the agenda is passed.) 1. Minutes: March 12, 2018 2. Overnight Field Trip: CHS Girls Bball Camp – Reelfoot...

On Monday, April 2, 2018 Coffee County Emergency Management and Manchester Fire & Rescue responded to Top Stop Gas Station in Manchester to a reported diesel spill. Upon arrival it was discovered a 100-gallon tractor trailer saddle tank had busted and was leaking substantial amounts of diesel. Both departments worked quickly to stop the leak and contain the runoff. Coffee County Emergency Management Director Allen Lendley and Manchester Fire Chief George Chambers commended both departments for their teamwork as they brought the leak under...

On Monday April 2nd while attempting to initiate a traffic stop on Oak Grove Road, Franklin County Sheriff’s Office personnel engaged in a vehicle pursuit. The pursuit proceeded through the Oak Grove area and ended on Wilders Chapel Road. The suspect, Robert R. Gipson of 93 Boyd Road, Hillsboro TN. was taken into custody and transported to the Franklin County jail where was charged with the following: Felony Evading, Driving on Revoked/Suspended License, Promotion of Methamphetamine Manufacture, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, Possession of Methamphetamine, Simple Possession of Schedule VI (marijuana). Gipson is currently being held on a $50,000 bond...

Hundreds of health professionals, including nurses and EMTs, lose their licenses to practice every year in Tennessee because they can’t pay their student loans. A new law though would change that. State Senator Lee Harris from Memphis co-sponsored a bipartisan bill with State Representative Ron Lollar. It says the state can’t suspend someone’s license if they’re behind on their student loans due to medical reasons. The bill also says the state doesn’t have to suspend someone’s license if they’re behind on their student loans. As the law stands now, the state must. The bill is currently in the...

The #ThumbsDownTN campaign is taking place this month, which is Distracted Driving Awareness Month. The Tennessee Highway Safety Office and the Tennessee Highway Patrol are hoping to decrease traffic fatalities statewide. This week, they are conducting their third Distracted Driving Enforcement Bus Tour. Troopers are located inside large tan buses marked with the THP logo. From inside those buses, troopers will be able to see inside cars to check whether drivers are texting behind the wheel. They then radio other troopers in unmarked cars who make a traffic stop and issue a ticket. Other law enforcement agencies are also...