October 14, 2026
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Natural gas pipeline to cross Coffee County
Aprivate utility company is working to install a large diameter natural gas pipeline that will cross a portion of Coffee County as it runs 150 miles through Middle Tennessee.
Ramp closure prompts traffic shift on I-24 at Exit 117 in Coffee County
Drivers traveling near the Exit 117 interchange on I-24 in Coffee County should be aware of upcoming construction activities that will impact traffic. As crews prepare to transition the project into Phase 2, the Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) will temporarily close the I-24 westbound entrance ramp from Wattendorf/AEDC Highway beginning Monday, Oct. 12, 2026, at 7:00 p.m. CT to accommodate construction activities required for the next phase of work. The I-24 westbound entrance ramp is expected to reopen on Monday, Oct. 19, 2026, at 6 a.m. CT. A signed detour will be in place to guide motorists throughout the closure.
Memories of pizza mix and potted meat
Recently, we reminisced about Tang, candy cigarettes, Sugar Babies, and other products from our youth. That opened the floodgates. Many of you shared memories of items we rarely see today. Let’s take another trip down the aisles of the Piggly Wiggly, A & P, and Shop-Rite stores we visited every weekend. I’ve often said that I’ve never encountered a pizza I didn’t like. When people ask me about the best pizza I’ve ever had, I’ll often answer, “The very first one, and they’ve just been getting better ever since.” Truthfully, the first one was probably the worst one. I just didn’t know it at the time. Our family store’s freezer case was always stocked with Chef Boyardee’s frozen pizza. The crust was average, the sauce was bland, and the toppings were little sprinklings of sausage and pepperoni. The chef was not particularly generous with his serving portions.
Telemedicine gives options
Telemedicine allows individuals to meet with a doctor or health care provider by video or phone which can be done from anywhere. Around 80% of office-based physicians in the United States used telemedicine in 2024, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Telemedicine has many benefits including convenience and comfort, no travel costs, better access to specialists, reduced infection risk, and easier chronic care.
Is your fire extinguisher ready for action?
In the coming months, millions of Americans will be firing up their heaters (electric, gas, wood, wishful thinking, etc.), so I thought it would be an appropriate time to remind y’all of fire safety. (It’s also an appropriate time to remind you about identity theft safety. That frantic voice pleading, “Grandma, I’m in Italy and my passport caught on fire and I need you to Venmo me the money to buy a fire engine” is probably not your grandson.)
Wawa to open in Manchester Wednesday
Wawa is spreading its wings in Tennessee and celebrating the grand opening of its fifth store in the state in Manchester, located at 24 Campground Road.
Territory
“And Jabez called on the God of Israel, saying, Oh that thou wouldest bless me indeed, and enlarge my coast, and that thine hand might be with me, and that thou wouldest keep me from evil, that it may not grieve me! And God granted him that which he requested.” 1 Chronicles 4:10.
AEDC at 75: Gemini jumps so Apollo can fly
Thousands of testing hours were dedicated to the Project Apollo space program throughout the 1960s at what was then known as Arnold Engineering Development Center, but Center efforts also focused greatly on the precursor to Apollo in the early part of the decade.
Dolly Parton’s Cup of Ambition coffee launches
Over a month after the passing of country music superstar Dolly Parton, the former musician’s new coffee line, “Cup of Ambition,” has officially launched, letting everyone try the newest brand and flavors from the Parton family.