John Coffelt, Editor

In preparation for this year’s Manchester Area Chamber of Commerce Lemonade Day, Mayor Joey Hobbs recently signed a proclamation declaring May 15 as Lemonade Day showing the city’s support of the endeavor. ​

Lemonade Day is a youth entrepreneurship program that teaches students how to create a business plan, market and sell a product. The stands are presented through a partnership with Manchester City- and Coffee County Schools.

For the third annual event, the Manchester Area Chamber of Commerce will introduce the Lemonade Day Draft. Each school will have a Chamber Ambassador on campus. One by one they will make their choice of business they want to partner with for the schools’ stands.

Chamber Executive Director Katy Riddle said, “You always work to introduce some kind of excitement into an event so it doesn’t get stale. I don’t think this event is anywhere near stale, but it’s just something we’re doing to build another level of excitement.”

Hobbs said that the city is committed to help in making this event successful.

“They’ve had very good success,” he said. “The kids are involved; it’s a great event.”

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.