John Coffelt, Editor

The Community Resource and Information Center (CRIC) held an anniversary ribbon cutting with the Manchester Chamber of Commerce on Friday Nov. 22.

The business that provides essential services like translations, entrepreneurial and tax preparation guidance, notary, translation and interpretations, quickly outgrew the residence-based office where owner Stacy Morales began. She attributed some kind words from the late Mayor Lonnie Norman as the motivation for her to open the successful location just off the square.  

“I am really, really thankful for our late-Lonnie Norman,” Morales said. “He is the one that pushed me through. He was the first person that I spoke to about what I wanted to do for the Hispanic community.”

Morales said Norman was attentive to her goals and shared his confidence in her dreams.

“I felt that if he believed in me, if he was the one pushing me through, what else did I need,” Morales said. 

“After I graduated from Coffee County Central High School in 2010, I decided to help people translating at the doctor’s office – anywhere they need me,” Morales said.

Word quickly got out among the Hispanic community how much help she could provide and in 2018 Morales became a notary republic to offer clients help with documents that could range from immigration paperwork to children’s school registration.

Morales saw a for rent sign on the door of the building and after asking the now-deceased Ray Powers she found the place was available.

“After a while people began coming in asking, can you help me, I’m not Hispanic,” she said. “We help anybody; all are welcome.”  

Morales said she has two helpers who keep CRIC open while she is court as a translator.

“When you see the look on peoples’ faces when they get the things they need – it’s priceless,” she said.

John has been with the Manchester Times since May 2011. John has won Tennessee Press Association awards for Best News Photo and placed in numerous other categories. John is a 1994 graduate of Tullahoma High School, a graduate of Motlow State Community College and earned a Bachelor of Arts in English from Middle Tennessee State University. He lives in Tullahoma, enjoys painting, dancing and exploring the outdoors.