Researchers from around the world are meeting in Tennessee for a conference about how humans and bears can safely coexist. The Knoxville News Sentinel reports that the Great Smoky Mountains National Park is hosting the Fifth International Human-Bear Workshop through Thursday. An estimated 1,600 black bears live in the Smoky Mountains and their greatest threat is encountering humans. Bears that become conditioned not to fear humans are more likely to be struck by cars or killed by hunters than if they remained in the park eating natural food. The more food bears find, the farther they’re likely to roam...

On Saturday (March 25th, 2018) Tullahoma Officer Michael Wilder observed a man walking on Wagoner Street and the officer had knowledge that the man identified as Vichael DeWayne Taylor as having an outstanding warrant for domestic assault. Wilder made contact with Taylor and upon detaining him, he searched Taylor and allegedly in his waistband 5 grams of cocaine, several baggies and a set of digital scales. The 33 year-old Taylor of Picard Dr., Tullahoma allegedly admitted to Wilder to having the cocaine. He was charged with manufacturing/delivering/selling/possession of a controlled substance and domestic assault. Bond was set at $27,500...

Tennessee motorists will soon find some of the highest gas prices in five months. Tennessee’s state average price of $2.41 is tied with the year’s high, set in February-and the highest price since October. AAA spokesman Mark Jenkins said gasoline demand has been very strong the past few weeks as Americans travel for spring break. This demand, coupled with lower supply levels sets the stage for higher prices in the coming weeks. The national average price of a gallon of regular unleaded is $2.60, an increase of six cents since last week and 32 cents higher than a year...

The Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security (TDOSHS) has announced its first Teen Driver Education Camp for high school students across the state. The camp will be hosted by Tennessee Highway Patrol (THP) at the department’s training center 283 Stewarts Ferry Pike Nashville, TN from Monday, July 16, to Friday, July 20, 2018. To attend the camp, interested teens must register online at www.reducetncrashes.org by May 1, 2018. There are no costs to participate; however, the program does not provide overnight lodging. Space is limited; therefore, registrants will be accepted on a first-come, first-serve basis. The Teen Driver...

Midstate students may have a tougher time getting good grades if a proposed bill passes. This bill could make TNReady standardized tests score a larger percentage of student’s final grade in some cases. Right now, TNReady test scores make up 10 percent of the final grade for students in 3rd through 8th grade. That percentage is supposed to jump to 15 percent next school year. This bill gives more power to local school boards to decide how much weight the standardized tests will have. It gives them the choice to make it a quarter of a student’s final grade,...

Please join Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Post 10904 – Manchester on March 31st (this Saturday) from 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the Manchester Square as a walk around the square for a total of 58 times will take place. The walk will be one lap for every 1,000 veterans who were killed in the Vietnam War in recognition of National Vietnam War Veterans Recognition Day. Any man, woman, child, group or organization, is encouraged and asked to participate in completing at least one lap. Each participant will be asked to carry the American flag, Vietnam veterans flag...

The trial of former Coffee County Central High School Red Raider baseball coach Bradley Newton Weir was set to begin last Monday (March 19, 2018) at the Coffee County Courthouse in downtown Manchester. The trial was first delayed until late May, but now the court date has been moved forward to Wednesday, April 4 through Thursday, April 5. The 47-year-old Weir is facing a 16-count indictment after being charged with having sex with a 15-year-old Coffee County student in 2015. The trial never started on Monday because Weir’s attorney reported to District Attorney General Craig Northcott that Weir was...

A Nashville man was arrested after he allegedly provided a false name to Tennessee State Trooper Dylan Culver last week in Tullahoma after a traffic stop on East Lauderdale St. When the officer checked the name that was given to him, he was told that there was a person with a similar name wanted in Coffee and Franklin counties. When the trooper checked he learned that the man was Demonte L. Fletcher, 21, of Nashville and that there were warrants for his arrest, he handcuffed him and placed Fletcher in the back of the patrol car. While in the...