An analysis has found that substance abuse annually costs Tennessee more than $2 billion, with most of it attributed to lost income from people who’ve fallen out of the labor market. At $1.29 billion, the lost income from having an estimated 31,000 people, or 1 percent of the workforce, out of jobs accounts for the biggest component. Other listed costs include $138 million for hospitalizations with alcohol listed as the first diagnosis and $46 million for babies born with neonatal abstinence syndrome. The White House’s Council of Economic Advisers projected, in a November study, that the opioid epidemic cost...

On Saturday November 25, 2017 the Coffee Co. Sheriff’s Department Christmas float won the 1st place prize in the large division at the Manchester Parade. On Tuesday (Dec. 5, 2017) their float committee members Lesley Hennessee, Kelly Smith and Larry Floyd presented the prize money to Coffee County Sheriff Steve Graves. All of the money will be used for gifts for children and food baskets for the needy at...

There will be some new faces on the county commission as some current commissioners will not seek re-election: Sam Mai, Republican representing Manchester’s District 4, Diane Argraves, a Democrat representing rural District 11, Kerry Farrar, a Democrat representing District 8, Mark Kelly, a Republican representing Tullahoma’s District 15, Kimberly Martin, a Republican representing Tullahoma’s District 17, and Rush Bricken, a Republican representing Tullahoma’s District 21 have all decided not seek re-election. Others may choose not to run, but have not announced. No candidates have picked up qualifying papers to run in districts 1, 2, 4, 12, 13, 15 or...

On Sunday, (December 3rd, 2017) Tullahoma Police was called to 304 South Anderson Street for a domestic incident in progress. Officers arrived on the scene where Richard Hasley Gosman age 48 of South Anderson St, Tullahoma allegedly became combative and then slammed the door on the officers refusing to let them into the residence. According to the arrest warrant, officers state that they then heard a female scream inside of the residence and police officers forced their way into the residence to check the welfare of the screaming victim. Once officers were inside of the residence, Gosman allegedly continued...

This year’s flu season is off to a fast start and early indications suggest that it may be more severe than the previous season. Four states currently have widespread flu activity, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Last winter there were none at this time. And it may be spreading fast. Dr. William Schaffner, who is involved in the CDC’s flu surveillance network in Tennessee, has noticed cases of influenza picking up “dramatically” in the last week. Even worse, it appears the dominant strain will be H3N2, which can produce more severe illness. Medical experts say...

The Motlow State Community College Testing Center will be offering LPN-RN program applicants the opportunity to take the Health Education Systems Incorporated (HESI) Fundamental Entrance exam more than one time in early 2018. Because of LPN-RN applicant requests for a second testing opportunity, applicants can now take the exam in February, only on the Moore County campus, and again in March if they choose, when it will then be offered on all campuses; the Moore County, Fayetteville, McMinnville and Smyrna campuses. This is the first year the Testing Center has offered an LPN-RN applicant the opportunity to take the...

The Coffee County election process will crank up in full force on May 1. Primaries will be in May, the county general election and state primary in August and state general in November. County elections in 2018 will be held for: mayor, all 21 commissioners, trustee, sheriff, county clerk, circuit court clerk, register of deeds, road superintendent, road commissioners and constables. City elections in Manchester and Tullahoma will also be held in August. As of Thursday, (Nov 30, 3017) in county-wide elections those picking up papers to qualify to run are; Coffee County Mayor Gary Cordell will seek re-election...

On Friday, (December 1, 2017) Investigators from Tullahoma and Manchester police departments went to 210 Marbury road in Tullahoma to serve a warrant 28 year-old Jonathan Lyn Cornelison After serving the warrant officers say they detected a strong odor of marijuana. According to the arrest warrant, Cornelison was asked for permission to search the residence and consent was given. The search revealed scales, one ounce of marijuana, and one ounce of crystal methamphetamine and two pipes used to smoke methamphetamine. The drugs were all separated and allegedly prepackaged in individual baggies. Tullahoma Investigator Johnny Gore charged Cornelison with manufacturing/delivering/selling/possession...