John Coffelt, Editor

After covering countless government meetings, last week I got to cover my very first legal case, the OSF Bridge Group vs. the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation.

To catch you up to speed, Dear Reader, the Old Stone Fort Bridge Preservation Group has appealed a ruling made in September by a state administrative judge that upheld an Aquatic Resource Alteration Permit (ARAP) issued by TDEC in connection to the replacement and relocation of the old truss bridge at Old Stone Fort State Park.

The judge denied the states’ request for a change of venue and issued a limited stay on construction and required the bridge group to post a $260,000 bond to cover delay costs potentially incurred by the state.

This is in all the court transcripts, so I’ll spare the readers all the legalese that (frankly) hurts my head.

What is not in the court transcripts is that Coffee County government issued the Bridge Group a check on Oct. 17, 2025 from county tourism funds to pay outstanding legal fees from the hearing and to go toward the current appeal.

Be careful, Dear Reader, stating the above fact can possibly sully your reputation. If you say that out loud or post that on social media, to some you are anti-bridge. They’ll say you are biased, and that you are anti-Coffee County. (and you might see a post of your head emerging– a la Jim Carrey, from the wrong end of a rhinoceros).

Now I’m not one to shy away from negative comments and the rhino was pretty funny, but there are some questions that need to be asked.       

Is it not fair to ask what’s the difference between the bridge being located on the river where it is now or where the state wants it to be on the bank 100 yards upstream? 

Doesn’t the department that is tasked with protecting the “Most Biodiverse River in the US” know how to do that? Isn’t that what an ARAP permit ensures? 

If funds can be found by the County Commission for the group’s legal fees, couldn’t other funds be found for the vulnerable nonprofits that were cut from this year’s budget?

Does the county draw a line, or will it continue to provide for a legal suit against the state of Tennessee?

There is no doubting that the bridge, which came to rest at OSF in 1977 after being relocated from its original location in Decherd has historical value, but an objective mind also recognizes that the state is working to preserve its historical value with an overlook on the old concrete roadway of Highway 41.

Dear Readers, you are welcome to criticize me for asking tough questions and sharing what is, to some, an unpopular opinion, but know for certain that when it comes time to report the news we will, as always, write fair and objective stories. 

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.