Last week, the Tennessee Department of Health announced a temporary increase to the Women, Infants, and Children Program (WIC) Cash-Value Benefit (CVB) for fruit and vegetable purchases. The CVB increase applies to women and children participants via eligible food packages during November and December. Here are the categories and temporary CVB amounts: Child – $24 Pregnant and Postpartum – $43 Breastfeeding – $47 Exclusively Breastfeeding with multiples – $70.50. The authority to increase the amount of the CVB was approved recently by the federal agency and terminates on December 31, 2021. These will be automatically added for participants scheduled...

Coffee County Health Department will hold special “FightFluTN” events November 9 to provide flu shots at no charge to increase the number of people vaccinated against influenza in Tennessee. The Tennessee Department of Health urges all Tennesseans ages six months and older who have not yet received a flu shot this flu season to get one as soon as possible. Below is information on the locations in Coffee County – Tullahoma offering free flu vaccines on November 9. From 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM at 615 Wilson Avenue, Tullahoma, TN 37388. Manchester offering free flu vaccines on November 9....

The Court Appointed Specials Advocates for Children – shortened simply to CASA – will be hosting its 2nd annual online silent auction beginning on Nov. 12 and running through Nov. 14. This year’s auction features several unique, creative gifts for the holiday season. Among the items available are a set of rocking chairs, center ice tickets for Predators and Sabres in January, paintings, gift baskets and other got-to-have items. The auction begins at noon on Nov. 12 and ends at 6 pm Nov. 14. To participate, use this link:  www.32auctions.com/casaworks2021 use our facebook url using www.facebook.com/CASAWorksInc.  If you have questions about...

The annual Manchester Veterans Day Parade and Ceremony will be held onSaturday, November 6th, 2021, with the parade commencing at 10 AM. Lineupfor the parade, at Raider Academy on McMinnville Highway, will begin at 9 AM. Those with a family member who is, or was, in the military are encouraged todecorate, if possible, and drive their vehicle in the parade in their honor.Those with military vehicles or equipment may also participate. Participantscan either walk the 1.5 mile route, drive a vehicle, or pull a float. Cash prizes will be awarded to the top 3 parade entries. There are no...

Coffee County Election commission is exploring the idea of having fewer voting precincts for next year’s election. During a November meeting, the commission gave direction to administrator of elections Andy Farrar to look at fewer precincts based on new districts that have been drawn by the Coffee County Commission. Currently, there are 23 precincts. The commission wants to explore having 18 precincts. “With the way the county approved the new 9 districts, they want me to look at what we can do better and we will finalize a plan at the next meeting in December.” Farrar cited Tullahoma as...

Two dozen Tennessee law enforcement officers have become the newest graduates of the TBI State Academy, built as a professional and specialized training ground for public safety professionals who want to expand their education and training in the criminal justice field.Modeled after the FBI’s National Academy, the TBI State Academy includes specialized coursework in the areas of leadership, constitutional law, communications intelligence, and crime scene and undercover investigations. Throughout the four-week course, attended learned advanced investigative techniques, science, and strategy; skills they can take back with them and immediately put into practice at their home agencies.  Candidates were nominated by...

By Joyce Prusak, executive director of Coffee County Children’s Advocacy Center Child safety online is crucial in today’s world where children spend significant amounts of time online (95% of teens have access to smartphones and 45% report being online almost constantly, according to the National Criminal Justice Training Center). We covered the importance of implementing tech rules in your household, including parental approvals, tech free times and zones and focusing on the behavior instead of the app in a previous article. The most essential aspect of keeping children safe (online and offline) is establishing a strong relationship and maintaining honest conversations...

Currently, TDOT is in the process of a construction project which has brought Interstate Dr. down to one lane at times. According to Unity Medical Center officials, this has caused some issues with patients getting access to the Unity Medical Center facility at 481 Interstate Drive.. “If you are making your way to the facility and are experiencing an emergency please exit your vehicle and let the construction crew know the situation,” Unity officials said in a statement. “They will clear the way for you so that you may get to the facility. We are working with the construction...