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MEMORIES OF books, card catalogs, and hushing librarians come to mind when we recall the libraries of our childhood. We can almost smell that perfect mixture of paper, dust, and nostalgia. Those...
Sometimes life just isn’t what it seems. There are situations where we view each other through the fishbowl of life. We watch from outside, sure of what we’re seeing. Meanwhile, inside, life is its...
I THINK OF education the same way I think of the spring season. In that time of year, out of season and lifeless-looking trees begin to bloom and become like new. The new nutrients, new water, and...
DOTSON’S COUNTRY Market, once housed on Hillsboro Boulevard in Manchester, now has a new place to call home. The market is currently located at 1306 Hillsboro Blvd., a few buildings away from its...
THE COFFEE County Middle School’s golf team won their first SEC season in 10 years and went on to win first place in the conference tournament, with golf coach Rachel Williams coaching for the first...
MR. HINSHAW’S Manufacturing Practicum class created a portable cart for Mrs. Baldwin’s Digital Arts class to hold their digital single-lens reflex (DSLR). Little did they know their senior capstone...
A SIDE FROM teaching, you might find Westwood Elementary School teacher Teresa Bellamy sitting in faculty meetings and attending her grandchildren’s and students’ sports games. You might also find...
CO-ATHLETIC DIRECTOR, head softball coach, and math teacher Brandon McWhorter, with Coffee County Central High School, graduated from Coffee County and played college football in West Tennessee. He...
NINTH GRADE Raider Academy teacher Christy Clouse was born and raised in Manchester and is a proud, lifelong resident of a charming town many call “home.” The honors physics and physical science...
WE FEEL the most comfortable when we know where we’re going. Knowing our destination, all the familiar landmarks along the way, and where we’ll settle in once we’ve arrived gives us a sense of...
I TEETERED BEHIND the edge of the counter in anticipation, trying to catch a better glimpse of the man shaving thick slices of the simmering meat just a few feet away from me. Tummy rumbling, I...
THERE IS nothing quite like the idea of curling up with a good book and taking the afternoon to journey off into another land or planet and go on a grand adventure with unforgettable characters or...
IT’S THE curse of getting older — you know — being told that we are acting like our parents by taking on their traits, actions, and beliefs. And it’s true. Now, at 39, I find it happening to me,...
THE TEST of history has proven that women have been foundational, like a sturdy rock that can withstand a storm. They overcame obstacles century after century, constantly adapting to the needs of...
SERVANTS’ HEARTS significantly impact the community of Manchester, and Carolyn Davidson is just one of many citizens who became a shining light to those around her. Davidson's humility and passion...
ACROSS THE area, women meet each month to lift each other, support each other, share ideas, and give advice. With gatherings now taking place in Winchester, Tullahoma, and Manchester, the meetings...
NOW, MORE than ever, women are walking through doors that were not opened for them before, breaking down barriers set before them in years past. As women step into paths like entrepreneurship, it is...
STARIA DAVISON, the founder of the Storehouse Food Pantry in Manchester, received the vision to open the Storehouse Food Pantry in 2018 to serve the community and “feed God’s people.” Davison...
FRIENDS JINAN Robison and Kelly Hester met while working together in 2013. They originally formed Beechgrove Community Group for neighbors to find lost dogs and wandering pigs and to network with...
STACY MORALES is a tax preparer, notary public, and business owner, but more importantly, she is a community leader with a heart for people. When she was 10, Morales's family moved back to the...
JUST OVER 100 years ago, women finally received what other Americans, but not all, already had — the right to vote. Now, we have the opportunity to lift up and celebrate the groundbreaking women...
TULLAHOMA NATIVE Carol Brown is a licensed practical nurse (LPN) for Manchester Center for Rehabilitation, but more importantly, she is an educator and leader in her community. Brown...
OUTSTANDING FIDDLE player Becky Buller has worked in music education for 25 years and has helped students all over Manchester learn about the beauty of bluegrass music. She was the first female to...
THERE ARE many women today whose strength and perseverance go unnoticed, many of which are single mothers who try to raise children in a healthy and stable environment. Others are widows whose...
THE AMBROSIAL scent of ripe fruit is the first “hello” when I step through the threshold of the tiny shop in the corner. Immediately, my eyes wander to the artful yet small menu on one wall, then to...
IMAGINE LIFE is a car, and our goal is to make it from one side of the country to the other. The only way to do that is by having a full tank of gas. What is the gas in our lives, as humans, that...
ROSES ARE red, violets are blue, treat your loved one to a treat that is made by you! Whether you’re celebrating the beginnings of a new relationship, or spending the day with your longtime...
I DON’T KNOW a stranger. Call it a hazard of my job as a writer, but I genuinely enjoy meeting people, and it is even better if I can turn them into friends. There’s a great quote by Maya Angelou...
EVERY COMMUNITY member deserves a safe and affordable place to live and raise a family. Your house becomes a home at the Manchester Housing Authority (MHA). It is an equal housing opportunity...
WE MAY have made it to the other side of the COVID-19 pandemic, but there is still a real epidemic today: drug overdose. McCall fell into drug dealing and usage at 11 years old. At 25 years old,...
READING TAKES us places. We journey to new worlds, gain new ideas, and learn as we read. Without solid reading skills, we stay in one place or go backward. We can become uncomfortable and unsure of...
STANDING TALL and regal amongst the background of downtown Manchester is the event venue, The Church @117. The building’s historic brick and architecture tell a story of rich history. Over the...
WE’VE ALL seen it in the movies or read about it in books—the romantic story of when a boy meets a girl, and an instant connection is made. Some might even call it love at first sight. The destined...
IT IS commonly believed among love experts that there are seven love languages: activity, appreciation, emotional, financial, intellectual, physical, and practical. For the happily married couple,...
AT WORK, Eddie Medley wears many hats: job coach, record keeper, counselor, facilitator, job developer, etc. But he said it all comes down to three important tasks: advocate, facilitate, and...
BRO, BUDDY, sidekick, comrade, sibling, big brother, and kidbrother— whatever you may call them, you can’t deny the unbreakable bond between brothers Daniel and Stephen Ray. A seven-year age...
STARTING THE new year off right, folks strapped on their walking boots and braved the cold for the annual First Day Hike at Old Stone Archeological Park. The hike was part of a series of First Day...
I AM IN the middle of my third decade of life, and within the last two years, I’ve discovered something I always ignored: music from the midcentury. Life does not seem to be slowing down. Our...
OUR COMMUNITY has a rich history. Businesses, people, and locations have created the foundation of who we are today. Each decade is a building block to our identity, creating a beautiful masterpiece...
FOR OVER 30 years, children’s television host Mister Rogers came into the homes of millions via our television sets and told each of us one of the most important things a person could say to us. “I...
THANKS TO cell phones, video games, and social media, there have never been more distractions for our youth. Although we are technically more connected than ever before, we can sometimes feel more...
TRANSFORMATION IS defined as a dramatic change in the form, appearance, or character. Human transformation is an internal shift that brings one in alignment with their highest potential. Helping...
ARTISTS ARE unique creatures. They see things in a way that most of us take for granted or don’t have the patience to see. Their minds wander; they imagine and solve invisible problems about making...
THE START of a new year means the gym will be packed. The possibilities seem endless when the clock strikes midnight on New Year’s Eve. We’ve shrugged off an old year. Now, what will we do with the...
TWO WORDS strike fear and dread in our hearts. Cancer is number two. While number one is associated with it, it is no longer exclusive to it. Any number of conditions can lead to a call for it; the...
IT’S ONE of the oldest businesses in Manchester. A step inside the 94-year-old building, and you will be transported back in time— when mom-and-pop stores were in their heyday. Everyone knew...
EACH YEAR, hundreds of locals make their way down to the historic downtown square in Manchester for a day of traveling back in time, before cell phones and the internet existed. Games and activities...
PARKS CAN be magical places. They offer a sense of wonder and produce curiosity of a time long ago. Back to a time long before the internet, cars, indoor plumbing, or air conditioning—to a time when...
MAYBE IT’S superstitious. Perhaps it’s tradition. Or it’s possible that it’s because the food is just so darn good. Whatever the reason, Southerners cannot seem to get enough traditional New Year’s...
THE FOURTH annual Manchester Veterans Day parade was held on November 19. People lined the city streets in honor of those who have served. This year’s parade theme was “A Salute to Military Service...
ALL I want for Christmas iiiiiiis…yoooooOOooooOOoouuuUUUuuu.” Can you hear it already? It’s that time of year once again. A time of year when a heated blanket feels like a hug. Every inch of the...
As you put on your next new pair of shoes, hold that empty box a few minutes longer. Look inside at what it holds. What do you see? Packing paper? Cardboard? Look again. That empty box has the...
SOMETIMES THE holidays can seem all about the "more." More decorations, more gifts, more food, more events. But what if less was actually the more we were looking for? Tullahoma native Makayla...
THE SIMPLE act of sitting down to eat a meal with others has great significance. It conjures thoughts of historical meals, such as Jesus sharing the Last Supper with his disciples, Norman Rockwell’s...
There are two kinds of people in life, according to Manchester resident Jeffery Russo; those who return their shopping cart and those who do not. That simple act of kindness is something that Russo...
THE HOLIDAYS are a joyous time of the year for many. Days filled with family and friends coming together to celebrate and spend time with each other. But for many, it can often be a stressful and...
THE HOLIDAY season is a time for sharing. The sharing of a good meal, fellowship, and gifts. These gifts can be both in physical form and through acts of service. For Manchester native Jordan Winton...
THE CHRISTMAS Tree. It is one of the most popular and recognizable decorations of the holiday season. They come in all sorts of colors, materials, and sizes. They are adorned with everything from...
THERE ARE the famous ones such as the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York with its larger-than-life floats, and the St. Patrick's Day Parade in Chicago where they color the river bright...
WE DUST off the artificial pumpkin decorations and pull orange and purple wreaths from storage. We pull out rakes and sweaters as the weather drops like the leaves do. The weather feels therapeutic...
TAKE A deep breath and smell the aroma of lunch cooking in the kitchen. It was a very important meal. Jesus and the 12 stopped in to visit the home of Martha and Mary, in Bethany. Through the...
WE DUST off the artificial pumpkin decorations and pull orange and purple wreaths from storage. We pull out rakes and sweaters as the weather drops like the leaves do. The weather feels therapeutic...
IF YOU stop and listen, you might hear computer keys clacking. Local author Janice Lynn has been busy crafting her latest manuscripts, “Celebrating all things Christmas,” “Sweet Romance,” and...
OVER THE years, Stacey Stone has worn many hats. She’s known as “the realtor who wears many hats.” She’s donned graduation caps from both Manchester Central High School and Middle Tennessee State...
"TIP OF the spear” is a phrase used by the United States Military to describe being stationed at the forefront of battle where the pendulum can swing from life to death with no warning. Retired...
THE CREATIVE souls of Manchester regularly enjoy wonderful, relaxing evenings at Manchester’s Board & Brush Creative Studio learning how to create signs as well as many other things from etched...
EVERY CITY has its history, and Coffee County has more than most with its historical sites and festivals. What people may not think about, however, is the history behind its athletics. Head football...
IT STARTED with the sauce. Take crushed tomatoes, add a splash of red wine, a whole lot of basil, and a few secret ingredients, and you get a hearty and authentic Italian red sauce that’s not too...
IF YOU’RE looking for classic comfort food or freshly baked goods, The Mercantile Cafe in downtown Manchester is the perfect spot. Their wide variety of easy-to-grab selections for lunch and dinner...
THE “ULTIMATE Oldies” traveling show brought the house down at the Manchester Arts Center during their Elvis Tribute in October. The group started in 2010 as a way for founder and director Jamie...
WHEN THE SMELL of warm caramel coffee lingers in the air of your vehicle on the way to work, you don’t have to think about watching your back. While not every driver on the road is aware of their...
COFFEE COUNTY is home to many incredible people who work every day to make their home a better place. One such person is Dr. Jill Johnson, Animal Health Veterinary Medical Officer and long-time...
SINCE 1857, the Coffee County Fair has been a staple of Middle Tennessee life. Now in its 165th year, there are tractor pulls, carnival rides, beauty pageants, and competitions in everything from...
MANCHESTER AND Coffee County are robust and thriving communities with a population that has been steadily growing for years. That population increase is reflected in the school system. Recently,...
FOR MANY years, sports fans of Coffee County have looked forward to the annual Coffee Pot game as Manchester and Tullahoma battle for bragging rights and the Coffee Pot trophy. It has been a...
NECESSITY MAY be the mother of invention, but the pandemic birthed many new creative ventures – directly and indirectly. Lona Bailey’s is the indirect variety. Many of us rediscovered old television...
GAS WAS 30 cents a gallon, and postage for a standard letter cost 2 cents. Prohibition was in effect, leaving many to find creative ways to manufacture and transport their goods. Women had been...
WHEN THE University of Tennessee Space Institute (UTSI) is brought up, most people think of aerospace engineers and complicated experiments. The reality, however, is that one of the largest and most...
A YOUNG BOY watched as firefighters attempted to save his grandmother’s home, the home where his mother and her siblings had grown up, and his Grandmother Taylor still lived. The hearts of those...
AT HOME on his day off he’s making pancakes for his children, calming his crying child after a tumble, and picking up around the house while his wife, a teacher, is at work. With quiet patience,...
MENTION “EMERGENCY,” and a child of the ‘70s may have a totally different mental image than a generation or two removed. Gage, DeSoto, and the crew at Station 51 of the Los Angeles County Fire...
WHEN TRAGEDY and hardship strike, we want to help. We demonstrate our love and care in various ways, but feeding those hit hard meets a basic need and fuels them to manage their situations. Few...
THE CALENDAR may seem to be winding down, but the Millennium Repertory Company isn’t. The footlights barely cool off before the switches are flipped for the next production. In August, the Teen...
MANY PEOPLE think that when veterans leave the military, they are done serving. In Manchester, they couldn’t be more wrong. This past year, VFW Post 10904 earned its fourth consecutive All-American...
THE SCHOOLS of Manchester have thriving athletic programs in many sports, but they are not the only organization that promotes physical welfare in the community. The Manchester Parks and Recreation...
FOR YEARS, the Manchester City School District has been looking for a service dog to work in their school system… and that wish has finally been granted in the form of the Bernedoodle puppy, Daisy....
WHILE IT may not be the first thing someone thinks when they think of ‘Coffee County,’ the University of Tennessee Space Institute (UTSI) has been a part of the community for nearly six decades. In...
THE COFFEE County Children’s Advocacy Center (CCCAC) recently unveiled a new recognition for those who work tirelessly advocating for children in Coffee County. According to the CCCAC director,...
THIS PRACTICE wasn’t like all the others. It was the last practice before the season opener; the official start of the season. You could feel the tension and excitement amongst the players. It was...
THE AFTERNOON SUN beats down, throwing its last few heated punches before it sets for the evening. The smell of hotdogs and popcorn waft through the air luring patrons to the concession stands....
THE CROWD is wild with excitement, chanting louder and louder. The band chimes in alongside the crowd, performing the jubilant number that welcomes their team onto the field. The cheerleaders wave...
WHEN WE tell the story of our lives, it is not solely about us. When we tell the story of our successes, our triumphs, and even our failures, it involves more than just ourselves. There are a whole...
IT’S QUIET. Which is very uncommon for a Friday night football game. The score is close, and one right or wrong play could decide the whole game. It’s almost as if the whole crowd knows this, and...
It’s finally here! Although the outside temperature argues for summer, your school spirit knows it’s fall. Tonight you’ve chosen shorts and flip-flops, but soon it will be flannel shirts, pants, and...
THE ELECTRIFYING atmosphere under Friday night lights is majorly fueled by loyal fans scattered across stadium seats. Young children with painted faces, parents with cushioned seats, and...
IT’S HOT. The humidity is as thick as honey on a fluffy buttermilk biscuit that has just come out of the oven. People sit in their camp chairs and fan themselves with whatever is in arm’s reach as...
THE CLASSROOM is like railroad tracks. Hard workers spent years, decades—centuries even—laying the groundwork for the trains to run smoothly from coast to coast. They’re strong. And they last for...
DEFINING THE meaning of teacher requires more than Merriam-Webster; it takes a deeper look and a second glance. More than a job with a summer-long vacation, teachers are motivated by their love for...
IT MIGHT be one of the most exciting yet stressful times of the year, rivaling that of Christmas. It requires preparation, planning, logistics, time, and money. I’m almost sure there are military...
SURROUNDED BY a sea of classmates, a student filled with potential may feel invisible or wish he could disappear. Another student’s highest aim might be to coast through school until graduation. One...
WITH THE first cup of steaming coffee in my hand and the stiffness still in my joints, I gently ease into my spot on the couch. A fresh, new day offers a blank page, although the to-do list in my...
SAFETY HAS always been a goal for the Manchester Public Works department. This is especially true now, as the department continues work on multiple sidewalks across Manchester. The project has been...
IN COFFEE County’s backyard sits one of the largest and most complex flight simulation facilities in the world – the Arnold Engineering Development Complex (AEDC). Within the complex are 58...
THE WORDS “back to school” can stir up many different emotions. Some young parents hear “school” and are instantly filled with dread and anxiety. Leaving their wide eyed babes for the first time can...
IN JANUARY of 2021, Tennessee began providing funds for public school districts to give summer learning opportunities to rising first through eighth grade students. Westwood Middle School has taken...
THE BEGINNING of the year marked a large change in the industrial community of Coffee County, as Cookeville native Stephen Crook was hired as the Coffee County Industrial Board executive director....
ALTHOUGH THE softball and baseball seasons are over, the Coffee County High School fields are not complete. In the off season, both sets of bleachers are being replaced by new aluminum seating that...
THERE ARE times in life when we become so busy wrapped up in our own world, that we forget to look around or reach out. This could look like being consumed with our own problems, or on the opposite...
THE BOND between a girl and her horse is one that cannot be broken. A horse can be broken, meaning it can undergo skillful training to become accustomed to carrying a rider. Similarly, a young...
ASHLEY NUTT began her college journey as a dance major at The University of Alabama. Dancing was not only a hobby of Nutt’s but had always been a lifelong passion. So when Nutt changed from a dance...
GENERALLY SPEAKING, one of the most dramatic periods of a person’s life happens during the adolescent years when the prefrontal cortex of the brain region (responsible for things like planning,...
WHETHER IT seems this way or not, students desire to be inspired. They want to see someone come alive before them with passionate and contagious energy. Students like to be included and involved....
DON’T LET the image of a roadside lemonade stand staffed with a child dreaming of a pony fool you. Lemonade Day is the real deal. Instead of a pony, the stands’ operators are dreaming of owning and...
IF YOU took a snapshot of any 10 years in our country’s history, there is a hurt we were trying to heal. The same is true today. It’s our independence that lets us correct that, to heal, and to...
Here are fun facts to challenge your players: DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE: John Hancock’s was the first and only one on July Fourth. The remaining signatures were added over time,...
“FREEDOM” enters the chatroom, and immediately it’s all, barbecued meat and who’s got the biggest bang of a firework show. While Independence Day is our nation’s designated time to pause and...
WHEN VIKTOR Makela arrived in America from Finland, the Statue of Liberty welcomed him. He brought more than a few material possessions with him; he arrived with a heart filled with dreams. Makela...
WE WELCOME a summer celebration more than ever, and Independence Day is the perfect time to gather for food, fun, fireworks, and flag-waving. There’s an event near you, so there’s no excuse for...
HMMM AAAHH. It smells like the weekend. Those grilled pineapple burgers will be lip-smacking, mouthwatering, and juicy down to the last bite. However, what lies on the grill is much more than your...
WHEN I was a young buck, I decided if there was a rule, I was going to break it. There have been many distinct times in my life when I have felt suffocated by others’ control, expectations, or...
MAY 19 is officially Lemonade Day in Manchester, Tennessee, and the day means a lot more than just a celebration of a delicious drink. Vice Mayor Mark Messick made the official proclamation on May...
MURALS CAN make a drab, broken wall beautiful and bring a dreary city to life again. The Coffee County-born nonprofit DO. MORE. ART.-events (DMA-events) has been working tirelessly to bring...
FOR THE first time, Coffee County Central High School (CCCHS) has been able to implement the full scope of a new program to facilitate student leadership. The Chick-fil-A Leader Academy is a...
AMONG THE many teachers recognized by Coffee County High School’s (CCHS) Champion Teacher program is veteran psychology teacher, Kelly Smith. Smith grew up in Coffee County and attended CCHS and has...
MANCHESTER HAS always had a history in industry. It was named after the first industrialized city in the world, Manchester, England, and in the 1800s was home to several mills that harnessed the...
WHILE IT may not always be as celebrated as other sports, track and cross country athletes work just as hard – and at Coffee County Central High School, they are no less successful. Throughout the...
MAYBE IT’S the pollen, but something about springtime creates an itch within us all to get busy. Whether it’s a simple task like cleaning out a cluttered closet or a more elaborate one such as...
RECOVERING FROM life-controlling issues is challenging but possible. Greater still, restoration of families through recovery is more than possible through God and Be the Bush Recovery Ministries’...
THE ORIGIN story of Manchester’s Southern Healing Farmacy and Good Karma Cafe is as fast as it is wild. “It was totally one of those God moments. Basically, I rode by a hemp field on a Sunday, and...
IF YOU LOOK at the major milestones in aerospace history, such as getting a man on the moon, most of the materials, rocket engines, and models were tested right here at Arnold Air Force Base (Arnold...
TRAVELING ABOUT as far northeast as roads will lead you, lies a quaint fishing and farming town known as Harrington, Maine. Years ago, a 12-year-old boy hailing from the town went on a trip of a...
Right in our own backyard, we have access to one of the most di- verse ecosystems in the world. Henry Horton State Park (HHSP) neighbors the peaceful Duck River and is waiting to be explored. The...
It’s hard to want to eat a large meal after a long day working or playing out in the blistering heat. You know you need something substantial to sustain you, yet you’re so worn out. Those hearty...
Tims Ford Reservoir is 10,600 acres in South Central Tennessee, a major portion of which is located in Franklin County. The lake is considered one of the most picturesque in Tennessee. It’s regarded...
Located below Tims Ford Dam, the Elk River is popular for panfish and trout fishing. The tailwaters below the dam are about 50 feet wide with gravel bars and intermittent deep pools. For...
HAVE YOU ever given something away and later felt regret settle in? Last summer, I was push-mowing our grass. I thoroughly enjoy breaking a sweat and getting a little exercise while doing yard work....
Whether it’s relaxation or adventure you’re seeking, you don’t have to look far to find it. Middle Tennessee’s waterways will refresh and restore you. A lazy float with nature’s soundtrack of...
N OLDER gentleman living across the street shows himself peculiar in this world, addicted to speed and noise. Our world rushes and zips by, yet he stands unmoved and never in a hurry. The way he...
According to nature.org, the Duck River is one of the state’s most scenic waterways and North America’s most biologically diverse freshwater river. It is located entirely within the state of...
TENNESSEE MAY not have sandy shores. We may not have Buckingham Palace sitting in our backyard. Vacation spots all around the world, from Big Ben to the Eiffel Tower, attract tourists from far and...
WHILE THERE are beautiful historic sites all across Tennessee and the world, Coffee County boasts one special historical treasure in its own backyard. The Old Stone Fort State Archaeological Park...
ONE OF the programs at Coffee County Central High School is focused not towards the students, but towards the teachers. Once a month at the faculty meeting a teacher is chosen to be the “Champion...
THE ARTS are an important part of any school program, and the fine arts department in the Coffee County School District has a wealth of opportunities for students to engage in. One of these...
INDUSTRY IN Coffee County is continually growing and improving. Most recently this growth has been shown in Manchester’s own industrial park, by the plan to establish a new distribution center for...
THE COFFEE County Red Raider wrestling team had its first ever male state medalist at the Tennessee High School Wrestling Championship: sophomore Jacob Barlow. “Jacob has been wrestling since he was...
BREWERY. TO a child of the ‘70s, Laverne & Shirley might come to mind. A conservative parent might picture a bar or honky tonk, long-neck bottles, and an underdressed waitress. A senior citizen...
HANDCRAFTED, ARTISAN, exhibit, guild ... handmade, quilted, painted, woven ... What do the words mean to you? What images come to your mind? You might be curious about the latest craft or hobby give...
THE LAST thing we want people to say is, “I didn’t know where to go for help.” Deputy Director Sara Brown has been working for South Central Human Resource Agency (SCHRA) for the past six years. The...
Chirp chirp chirp echoes the sound of nature’s sweet- est alarm clock. Groggily, you begin to stir from a deep sleep, almost forgetting where you are. Then, it dawns on you. Whooo hoo! Excitement...
THE MERRIAM-WEBSTER dictionary defines the word selfless as “someone who has no concern for self, or unselfish.” As the world keeps turning, it may feel like selfless people are few and far between....
Easter parades may have passed on by, but its many other traditions are alive and well. Even though the internet has changed how we watch movies, families still watch “The Ten Commandments” every...
WEBSTER MAY define selflessness as having no concern for self, but givers in our community give the world and our lives deeper meaning. They take to heart the well-being and care of others and place...
AS MORNING’S first light nudged the last of the darkness, Mary Magdalene walked with heavy heart and feet along the dirt road. The garden’s birdsong and fragrant blossoms, usually welcomed,...
FOR NEARLY 10 years, the owner and manager of Harvest Local Foods, lifelong Manchester resident Ellen Briggs, has been creating relationships with farmers, vendors, and customers. Before it became a...
IN 2018 a satellite campus of the Tennessee College of Applied Technology (TCAT) opened in the Coffee County Interstate Industrial Park. Recently, the campus was moved to a building on Volunteer...
AT COFFEE County Central High School (CCCHS), students are encouraged to achieve. One of the ways this is done is through the high school’s Renaissance program. Through the program students get to...
FOR THE first time since 1965, playing under the name Manchester Central, the Coffee County High School (CCHS) basketball team has made it to the state tournament. That achievement could be...
HARSH AND uninviting, the atmosphere is charged with tension and unease as people rush by without eye contact or small talk. Restrictions oppress and stifle hope, hanging overhead, smothering...
MOST PEOPLE, especially festival-goers, are familiar with Manchester due to the wildly fun music festival it hosts each summer, Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival. This festival gives Manchester a...
IN 1984, a group of friends’ conversation over breakfast turned into a desire to make a difference in their Manchester community. They passed the hat and got busy. Their earliest efforts were...
MONDAYS. THE most dreaded day of the week for many has become the most anticipated for the Oakley community in Hillsboro. When the doors of Oakley Ministry Center open at 4:30 p.m. on Monday,...
FEW PATHS to positive personal growth are more noble than resolving to help others through increased acts of generosity and kindness. According to Psychology Today, doing good for others—no matter...
NANCY SIMPSON is a comforting voice, in a fearful time, in the life of a woman facing an unplanned pregnancy. The crisis may be so overwhelming that the support available is unknown. A young woman...
A SMILE IS a powerful thing. At times, it can communicate better than spoken words. Flashing a smile is a simple way to brighten a room or lift a mood. To the broken and hurting person, it can...
KATY RIDDLE’S enthusiasm for her work at the Manchester Chamber of Commerce is contagious. The community’s caught it, too, as proven by the interest and success of the 46th Annual Awards Gala held...
LONG BEFORE the sun rises over the horizon, Mama is up putting dishes in the oven and ironing everyone’s Sunday best. Then, it’s a hurried push out the door and into the car. Pulling into the church...
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