The first ever Hillsboro Country Christmas Parade will be held Friday, Dec. 17 at 7 p.m. The parade will feature tractors, ATVs and UTVs decorated with Christmas cheer. The parade route will run along Hillsboro Highway at the Hillsboro Park and end at Hillsboro 41 market. Parking will be available along the side of the road. Entry forms can be obtained by emailing hillsboroparade@yahoo.com or call Jason Dendy at 931-409-0786. Registration forms can also be picked up and dropped off at Hillsboro 41 Market. Registration deadline is Friday, Dec. 10 at 4 p.m. Prize money will be given to...

Officials with the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation were in Manchester Monday for a ceremony to present the City of Manchester with $500,000 in grant funding. A ceremonial check presentation was held at Fred Deadman Park, with Manchester Mayor Marilyn Howard on hand, along with aldermen Bill Nickels, Mark Messick and Roxanne Patton, as well as multiple members of the Manchester Recreation Commission. The $500,000 grant will be matched with an additional $500,000 by the City of Manchester for a massive overhaul of the lighting at both Fred Deadman and Dave King Parks. The grant will provide LED...

School board candidates in Tennessee are now able to run partisan races after Governor Bill Lee signed legislation into law Friday allowing for it. The measure passed the state legislature during an October special session. The bill does not require partisan elections, but instead makes the partisan election optional for each county. County leaders have indicated to Thunder Radio News that school board races in Coffee County will become partisan races. This will take effect for the 2022...

The Tennessee Comptroller’s Office has launched a new webpage that will allow Tennessee businesses, governmental entities, or schools to seek an exemption from House Bill No. 9077/Senate Bill No. 9014, which was signed into law on Friday, November 12. The new law prohibits most Tennessee businesses from imposing a vaccine mandate unless they receive an exemption from the Comptroller’s Office. An exemption may be granted by the Comptroller if an applicant can demonstrate that compliance with Chapter 2 or 6 of the new law would result in a loss of federal funding and an exemption is necessary to conform...

Undergraduate students who have experienced academic difficulty can make a fresh start when returning to Motlow after an extended absence. Academic Fresh Start, a plan of academic forgiveness, now has a COVID Fresh Start exception to policy in place. “This is a needed benefit for students who experience academic difficulties due to COVID and we applaud the Tennessee Board of Regents for making this option available,” said Charle Coffey, interim executive vice president for Student Success and Academic Affairs at Motlow. Formerly, under the Tennessee Board of Regents (TBR) policy 2.03.01.01, students were required to have been separated from...

Gas prices across Tennessee continue to stabilize, decreasing nearly two cents, on average, over last week. The Tennessee Gas Price average is now $3.13 which is 9 cents more expensive  than one month ago and $1.26 more than one year ago.   “A slight dip in gas demand, possibly due to seasonal driving habit changes, is contributing to some price relief at the pump,” said Megan Cooper, spokeswoman, AAA – The Auto Club Group. “Unfortunately, the ongoing tight supply of crude oil will likely keep gas prices fluctuating, instead of dropping, for some time.” The average price per gallon of regular unleaded in Coffee County is $3.12,...

H&R Block Presents – REQUIRED MINIMUM DISTRIBUTIONS By Rosalyn Partin, Manchester H&R Block If you are age 72 (or 70 ½ if you were born before July 1, 1949), you are required to withdraw a minimum amount each year from your retirement plan investments (excluding Roth IRAs). Your Required Minimum Distribution (RMD) amount for 2021 depends on the balance in your retirement accounts as of the end of 2020 and your life expectancy (as determined by the IRS). Your RMD can be withdrawn in multiple payments throughout the year or in one lump sum payment. If you have multiple...

Franklin County authorities have charged a 33-year old special education teacher. According to the Franklin County Sheriff’s Department, Matthew Fesmire, 33, was arrested on assault charges in connection to incidents involving students. He has posted $10,000 bond. His first court appearance is Dec. 6. More information will be posted when it is...