Letter From the Editor
THE CREAK of an old wooden floor, the worn edges of a brick building, the way a nameplate on a storefront shines a little softer with age. These are not just small details from the past. They are...
Garrett Sager: Modernizing a Manchester propane legacy
GARRETT SAGER never expected to make a name for himself in the propane industry. In fact, just a few years ago, his sights were set on a career in occupational therapy. But in a matter of months, he...
Cora Reed: Open hearts, open doors
This article is dedicated to the precious Mrs. Cora Reed, who went to be with her husband, Herbert, in heaven a week after this interview, on Sept. 2, 2025. She was able to hear her article read to...
Bobby Patel: Finding home in Manchester
BOBBY PATEL and his brother, Nilesh, help run a small liquor store in Manchester. The family business is Bill’s Liquor Store, a name familiar to many in the area since 1967. But behind the bottles...
Coffee County Historical Society: Preserving stories for all
THE COFFEE County Historical Society has long been a steward of local memory in Manchester. For board member and museum curator Bonnie Gamble, the organization’s mission is both practical and...
Wilkinson-Keele House: Saved from collapse, it will stand for generations
WHEN JOHN and Chasity Nicoll first drove past the Wilkinson-Keele House in Manchester in 2003, its foundation was crumbling, the paint had long ago weathered away, and the lawn had grass and weeds...
The Coffee Pot: A century-old tradition
THE RED Raiders stadium was packed as thousands of football fans gathered to witness Coffee County history: The 100th Coffee Pot. The Coffee Pot is the annual football game between Coffee County...
Letter From the Editor
“FRANKENSTEIN,” PUBLISHED in 1818, is considered the first science fiction novel. The Gothic story cracked open an entire genre of literature that has endless new entries today. It inspired...
REMINDER from Elk River Public Utility District
PLANTING A summer vegetable garden, installing a fence to keep your animals safe, replacing a mailbox post, or simply digging a hole for a single shrub may seem harmless. But according to the Elk...
Julie Mitchell: Making life a little more fun
WHEN JULIE Mitchell and her husband, Matt, bought Bounds of Fun in 2018, it was a modest side venture that included seven inflatables and a few rentals passed along by a previous owner who didn’t...
Hilary Statum: Teacher, speaker, blogger, podcaster, mom
HILARY STATUM was working in her first career, co-hosting a live morning show in McMinnville, after working at News Channel 5 in Nashville with no plans to become a teacher. But everything changed...
Emma’s Family Restaurant: Middle Tennessee’s Belle of the Buffet
GOOD NEWS IS COMING TO DINNER! We will feature a local food critic’s thoughts as they dine in Manchester. This month, Kimberly Miller visited Emma’s Family Restaurant. IF YOU’RE looking for a dining...
Wyatt and Amos Robison: Heart, horsepower, and hustle
FAMILY TRADITION, friendships, and a dream to win make up the heart of Wild & Sunny Racing. The youth quarter midget race team, made up of two brothers, is driven by horsepower, heart, and...
Jessica Barrera and Roxana Ramirez: Finding a creative groove in small-business ownership
INSIDE THE Suite Nails & Spa, there’s more than the scent of lotions and polish in the air; there’s an unmistakable sense of passion, purpose, and two lifelong friends living out their dream....
Elizabeth Peckinpaugh: Paving the way for virtual learners
WHEN ELIZABETH Peckinpaugh signed on to help launch the Coffee County Virtual Academy (CCVA) five years ago, she had no idea she was stepping into a role that would reshape her view of education and...
Celebrating connection in Manchester
THE MANCHESTER Chamber of Commerce filled the Manchester Events Center with with conversation, connection, and celebration on Tuesday, Aug. 5, as it brought local businesses and community leaders...
Letter From the Editor
THE SCENT of warm butter-covered popcorn and the huge roar of the crowd… does anything bring you back faster than a Friday night under the stadium lights? For me, it’s a flood of memories: the...
Jack Rhodes: Taking command of 804th Test Group
Press release by Bradley Hicks While growing up in Colorado Springs, Colorado, Col. Jack Rhodes saw his future whenever he stepped outside. He had a view of the U.S. Air Force Academy from his home....
Ramsey Grill: Greek-inspired grill in the heart of Manchester
GOOD NEWS IS COMING TO DINNER! We will feature a local food critic’s thoughts as they dine in Manchester. This month, Kimberly Miller visited Ramsey Grill. RAMSEY GRILL offers a delightful journey...
Kenadi Hall: A lifelong commitment
WHETHER HER uniform was purple and yellow, red and black, or just shorts and a T-shirt, Kenadi Hall has loved gymnastics and cheer. It’s been a lifelong commitment — ever since she was a 4-year-old...
Coach Joe Pat Cope: Heart, hustle, and hoops
THE LIGHTS are blinding. The crowd’s roar is deafening. Over 3,000 people fill Coffee County Central High School’s gym, which feels more like a college arena than a high school court. The Lady...
Matt Vinson: Basketball in his blood
ASSISTANT COACH Matt Vinson steps onto the basketball court where Coffee County Central High School’s Lady Raiders are running drills. He hears the familiar squeak of shoes pivoting, basketballs...
Unity Medical Center: Ten-year celebration & strategic new partnership
ON JULY 17, community members gathered under a large tent at Unity Medical Center (UMC) to celebrate its 10th anniversary — a milestone marking the merger of United Regional Medical Center and...
Letter From the Editor
IF YOU’VE ever seen a fighter jet cut across the sky, you know what powerful looks like. You know what freedom sounds like. That roar overhead reminds us that we live in a country where people put...
Fred Kasper: Living to serve
FRED KASPER only had seconds to duck when a rocket careened toward his vicinity in Iraq. The blast ripped his body from the ground like a tornado tearing a door from its hinges. The American sailor...
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