JOHN COFFELTEditor

Coffee County Regional Planning Commission founding member Carole Willis was recognized for years of service at the May 14 Commission Meeting.

Planning Commission Chairman Steve Cunningham said at the meeting Willis made “gigantic tracks in Coffee County” as a farmer, teacher and a college professor

“She’s the perfect example of the expression, when you want something done, get someone too busy to do it,” Cunningham said.

Cunningham said that Willis helped develop the county’s zoning regulations in 1999 as a member of the Proposition 1101 Coordinating Committee. The three yea

“Until now, we’ve never had a planning commission without Mrs. Willis sitting on it,” Cunningham said.

“She brought wisdom, experience, common sense and most importantly a keen sense of county awareness to the Planning Commission. In short, she’s been a jewel,” he said.

Willis said that it was a pleasure to serve the county. She left the county with a call for organized growth

“I hope that we look at our growth in our county and be aware of what’s happening,” she said. “I’m a farmer at heart and what to protect our farmlands.”

Interim Mayor Dennis Hunt said that dedication to public service like Willis’ is hard to come by.

“We do appreciate Mrs. Willis’s service,” Hunt 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.