Latest Headlines
Construction Begins on Hwy 41
The Manchester Public Works Department is warning drivers to expect longer drive times along US highway 41 (Hillsboro Blvd) due to road construction. The new Americans with Disabilities Act compliant sidewalk ramps are being installed throughout this project at various intersections. Due to the State Hwy Resurfacing Project on Hwy 41, the traffic lights through the city have been placed into manual mode, which means the wait time will be a little longer. Rogers Group is scheduled to start the milling process on March 18th. The hours will be 7pm to 6am, Sunday through Thursday. Please drive carefully and...
Bill would let Tennessee School Districts Hire Off-Duty Officers to Bolster School Security
A bipartisan bill would let Tennessee school districts hire off-duty law enforcement officers to bolster existing school security. Under it, participating districts would get a list of interested officers. Officers would have to carry a loaded handgun. Districts would choose whether officers would wear uniforms and whether they have rifles. Up to two officers would be offered per school. The program adds to existing school resource officers. Using civil asset forfeiture money, the state would pay officers $50 per school day and $50 for afterschool events. Any additional money would come from state reserves. Republican Senate sponsor Sen. Mark...
All Charges Dropped in “Operation Candy Crush”
Authorities have dropped all charges in connection with “Operation Candy Crush,” a sting that targeted Tennessee stores accused of selling candy and other products containing a form of marijuana. District Attorney General Jennings H. Jones said in a Wednesday release that the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation has backed off its initial determinations. The TBI said investigators could not determine whether the oil in the products derived from marijuana or hemp. Jones says the TBI had previously assured his office that the 23 Rutherford County stores were selling products infused with illegal controlled substances, which formed the basis for nuisance...
Medical Cannabis Act Moves Forward
The Medical Cannabis Act has passed a House subcommittee with Speaker Beth Harwell casting the deciding vote. It passed Tuesday with a vote of 4-3 in the House Criminal Justice Subcommittee. SB1710 or the “Medical Cannabis Act” would allow people with specific medical conditions to have access to cannabis oil. It would not allow recreational use of marijuana. People with cancer, Parkinson’s disease and PTSD, among other conditions, would be able to obtain the cannabis oil. Sen. Steve Dickerson sponsored the bill. He estimated 65,000 Tennesseans would benefit from the bill. He said the bill has been revised and...
Manchester Parks and Recreation holding Public Hearing
Manchester Parks and Recreation will be having a Public Hearing on Monday, March 5, 2018 at 6pm. The meeting will take place at City Hall 200 West Fort St in Manchester. The Public Hearing concerns a local parks and recreation fund grant. The Manchester Parks and Recreation Department is applying for a grant to assist in the funding of lighting two soccer fields and a restroom facility in the Manchester Sports Park. Funds from the grant will also be used to add a special needs playground addition to the Hunter Gattis Memorial Playground at Fred Deadman...
Large Drug Bust in Coffee County
Marcus Johnson age 35 of Murfreesboro was in a passenger in a vehicle that was stopped for a traffic violation on Hwy 55 in Coffee County late Tuesday night (Feb 27, 2018). Troopers received permission to search the vehicle. Coffee County Deputy Jennifer Curbow and K-9 Max arrived at the scene and Max alerted on the vehicle. According to the arrest warrant, Trooper Adam Malone allegedly located a suitcase in the trunk of the vehicle that contained approximately 2 pounds of a white crystal-like substance that field tested positive for methamphetamine, approximately 200 Xanax bars, approximately 6 pounds of...
City of Manchester Disscussing Plans for School Resource Officer (SRO)
At a recent Manchester Safety Committee meeting, Manchester Police Department Chief Mark Yother said that discussions have begun about adding a school resource officer (SRO) to his 2018-2019 budget. Yother said if approved, Westwood Middle School would be the officer’s base location but would assisting the city’s two elementary schools. You may remember that the public began asking about having an SRO for the city schools after a student brought an unloaded gun to Westwood Middle School in September (2017). Chief Yother told WMSR News that the starting pay for an officer is just over $40,000, plus benefits. He...
Coffee County Children’s Advocacy Center Awarded Re-Accreditation
Coffee County Children’s Advocacy Center has been awarded re-accreditation by National Children’s Alliance following an extensive application and site review process. As the accrediting agency for Children’s Advocacy Centers (CAC) across the country, National Children’s Alliance awards various levels of accreditation and membership to centers responding to allegations of child abuse in ways that are effective and efficient, and put the needs of child victims of abuse first. Accreditation is the highest level of membership with National Children’s Alliance and denotes excellence in service provision. Accredited CACs must undergo a re-accreditation process every five years to ensure that best...
