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Climate Change is Real, Scientific Community Asserts
Scientists say global warming is responsible for natural disasters such as December’s wildfires that ravages parts of Gatlinburg and the Smoky Mountains. (Michael Tapp, Flickr)
Scott Pruitt, sworn in as EPA administrator just weeks ago, told reporters last week that carbon dioxide is not a major source of global warming, and he questioned human activity as a culprit.
As a professor of Earth Systems Science and senior fellow at Stanford University’s Woods Institute for the Environment, Dr. Noah Diffenbaugh says these claims run counter to vast scientific evidence showing that climate change is real, and that humans are the primary cause.
“We also know that we are already being impacted here in the United States,” said Diffenbaugh. “The 1 degree Celsius of global warming has already happened. We know with very, very high confidence that global warming is already causing climate changes that are impacting Americans, here and now.”
Besides rising temperatures, Diffenbaugh says these climate effects include such extreme weather events as the recent wildfires that ravaged Tennessee.
Pruitt’s remarks are being countered for the most part, by scientists, environmentalists and the former head of the EPA. Pruitt did note that continued analysis on climate change is needed.
Diffenbaugh believes that, in order to build resilience to protect Americans from climate stresses, there also must be acknowledgement “from the top” that the climate is changing.
“The good news is that we have a lot of opportunities to create win-wins – to create infrastructure and resource-management systems, how we manage our water and agriculture and other resources – in ways that protect ourselves from climate change now and make us more prepared for the future,” he said.
Pruitt’s comments are in line with President Trump’s take on the issue. Trump has described climate change as a hoax and promised on the campaign trail to roll back policies he sees as over-regulation, even as they curb pollution that spurs climate change.
“Great American Eclipse” is August 21
The sun is going to disappear. And no, it is not the end of the world.
On August 21, what is being dubbed the “Great American Eclipse” will put us in the dark in parts across the country.
It’s been 99 years since a total solar eclipse crossed the United States from the Pacific Ocean to the Atlantic. It happened on June 8, 1918.
To get a great view of the eclipse go to Nashville where it is expected to last one minute and 57 seconds and will start at 1:27 p.m.
Grand Slam Lifts Lady Raider Softball to Win over Shelbyville on Friday
Sarah West of CHS softball [Photo by John St. Clair – stclair-sports.com]
Shelbyville jumped out to a 1 to nothing lead in the 1st inning and stretched that lead to 3 after 3 innings. Coffee County was held to 3 hits through the first 4 innings as the Eaglettes appeared to have their sights set on the upset. In the 5th, Coffee County sent 11 batters to the plate scoring 7 runs on 5 hits and 3 walks. After tying the game at 3 and loading the bases, Coffee County’s West scored her first high school varsity hit as she belted the first pitch she saw over the left field fence. The grand slam was the 2nd game winning home run of the week for the Lady Raiders.
Katie Rutledge led Coffee County in hitting as she had a single, a double and a triple with 2 RBI. Raven Rogers and Lauren Tomberlin each added 2 hits. Rogers finished with 2 RBI. Haley Richardson got the start in the circle going 2 1/3 innings with 2 strikeouts. Skipper came on in the 3rd inning to get the win as she allowed 1 hit in 4 2/3 innings pitched.
Coffee County is back at home on Tuesday night when they play host to Franklin County at Terry Floyd Field. First pitch is set for 7 PM.
CHS Soccer Opens Season with Win Strong Weekend Performance in Gatlinburg
Breyer Taylor of CHS soccer [Photo by Pascal Randolph]
Coffee County opened tournament play on Friday night taking on Dickson County. The Red Raiders, whose season opener on Tuesday was washed out, got a 2 to 1 win over the Cougars to open tournament play. The Red Raiders scored a goal in each half to claim the win. Breyer Taylor had a pair of assists as he set up Ethan Abplanalp in the 25th minute to give the Raiders a 1 to 0 lead at the half. 1 minute into the second half, Coffee County got their second goal as Taylor found Paco Barrera on a feed to give the Raiders a 2 to 0 lead. Dickson County scored their lone goal in the 65th minute off a corner kick as Coffee County opens the season at 1 and 0.
On Saturday, the Red Raiders split their 2 games. Opening with Mary Montgomery out of Alabama, the Red Raiders took the fight to the Alabama visitors to a 3 to 0 win. In the 8th minute, Chase Harper redirected a corner kick from Taylor to give Coffee County a 1 to 0 lead at the half. Harper followed that up in the 43rd minute with an unassisted goal. Taylor scored Coffee County’s final goal in the 46th minute on a corner kick.
In the nightcap, Coffee County tangled with perennial state power Germantown. Coffee County battled the Red Devils toe to toe before falling 1 to 0. Germantown scored their lone goal in the 65th minute on a penalty kick.
The Raiders return home for a match with Cleveland on Monday at the Raider Soccer Field. That match will kick-off at 6 PM.
CCMS Baseball Sweeps Harris in Weekend Series
CCMS baseball player Trey Rogers
The Coffee County Middle School baseball team used good pitching and timely hitting to grab a crucial conference sweep this weekend over Harris. The Red Raiders scratched out a 5 to 4 win on Friday night before blasting the Eagles at home on Saturday by a 15 to 0 score.
After grabbing an early lead, the Coffee County Middle School baseball team needed a run in the 6th inning to claim a 5 to 4 win over Harris on Friday night in Shelbyville. The Raiders scratched out 7 hits and used 7 walks to claim the important road conference win.
Trey Rogers had a pair of hits and a 1st inning RBI to help the Raiders build an early 2 to 0 lead. Braxton White had a walk and a single and scored the winning run on a passed ball in the 6th for the Coffee County win. Braden Brown got the start on the bump for Coffee County and Curtis Tudor came on in relief to get the win.
It was a totally different story on Saturday as the Red Raiders plated 7 runs in the first inning. Three walks, 3 hit batters and a pair of hits to put the game out of reach early. Kyle Farless had a 3 RBI double as the big hit in the inning. Farless finished with 2 hits and 4 RBI. Griffin Meeker had 3 hits and an RBI plus got the win on the mound. Trey Rogers banged out a pair of hits including a double and 5 RBI.
The Raiders will welcome to North Franklin to Coffee County Middle School on Monday. First pitch is set for 5 PM.
CCMS Softball Smashes Harris on Friday Night
Keri Munn of CCMS Softball
The Coffee County Middle School Lady Raider softball team had little trouble on Friday night as they dispatched Harris 17 to 1 in a game shortened to 4 innings. The Lady Raiders scored in every inning as they blasted 15 hits on the contest. The win is the 6th straight for the Lady Raiders to open the season.
Keri Munn was dominant in the circle for Coffee County as she threw a 2 hitter allowing a single unearned run. Offensively, Munn had 3 hits, including a double and a 3 run home run, scored 4 times and finished with 7 RBI. Kiya Ferrell had 3 hits including a double and a triple and 3 RBI. Amber Ingleburger had a double, a single and 2 RBI and Alyssa McClanahan finished with 3 singles and 2 runs scored.
The Lady Raiders are back in action on Monday when they play host to North Franklin. First pitch is set for 5 PM.
Westwood Baseball Falls to Huntland on Friday Night
After fighting the weather through 2 reschedules, the Westwood Rockets baseball team finally met Huntland on the diamond on Friday afternoon. The Hornets’ pitching staff stymied the Rockets bats as they came away with a 2 to 0 defeat of Westwood.
Trenton Thompson and Tristian Vaughn had the only 2 scored hits on the night for Westwood. Luke Beachboard and Nick Bogle also reached base for Westwood. Skylar Bratcher limited Huntland to 5 hits as he took the loss on the mound. The loss drops Westwood’s record to 1 and 2 on the season.
Westwood is back in action on Tuesday when they play at Moore County. First pitch is set for 5 PM. Monday’s home game with Moore County has been postponed due to damage at their home field at Fred Deadman Park. A makeup date will be announced at a later date.
Saturday Results for Coffee County Youth Bass Club
Coffee County Youth Bass Club participants from Saturday’s club tournament on Woods Reservoir
The Coffee County Youth Bass Club braved the morning rains to hold a club tournament on Woods Reservoir on Saturday. In spite of an 18 inch restriction, club members had a great day in the water. The team of Hunter Haley and Garrett Fellers continued their hot streak as they came in 1st place with a total catch of 9.17 lbs. Haley also captured big fish honors as he landed a 4.97 pound smallmouth bass.
Final Standings from Saturday
1st: Hunter Haley/Garrett Fellers 9.17lbs
2nd: Hunter Sanders/Brayden Majors 5.13lbs
3rd: Madison Harryman/Blythe Petty 3.06lbs
4th: Hogan Scott/Jacob Garms 2.28lbs
5th: Issac Tuner 1.75lbs
6th: Shannah Frame 1.59lbs
7th: Braeden Thurmond/Colby Thurmond 1.20lbs
8th: Blake Mangrum 1.03lbs
9th: Megan Hartung
The next club fishing tournament will be held on April 22nd on Normandy Lake. The next TN BASS Trail event will be held on Kentucky Lake on April 8th. For more information about the Coffee County Youth Bass Club, you can check out their FaceBook page at: https://www.facebook.com/Coffee-County-Youth-Bass-Club-1227052340639230/
Preds Start Slow, Can’t Recover Versus Canes
Jeff Skinner scored twice and the Nashville Predators fell to the Carolina Hurricanes by a 4-2 final on Saturday night at PNC Arena. The result ends Nashville’s three-game winning streak, keeping them at 81 points on the season.
Carolina outshot Nashville on the evening and had the better portion of the chances as the game went on, and a late push from the Preds wasn’t enough to find an equalizer.
Predators Head Coach Peter Laviolette cautioned prior to Saturday’s game that Carolina was one of the more dangerous teams in the League at the current point in time, and he reiterated that fact after the final horn.
“What I thought might happen, happened,” Laviolette said. “They were quicker than us, they were harder in the areas than we were, they got themselves a lead and they made it difficult to generate offense. Their speed was a factor, we didn’t play as fast as they did. They were able to get a lead and stay on it.”
Jordan Staal only needed 29 seconds to redirect a puck past Juuse Saros for a 1-0 lead, and Skinner gave the Hurricanes a 2-0 advantage before the first period was out.
Viktor Arvidsson gave Nashville life when he scored at 5:38 of the second stanza from a nearly impossible angle, sending a shot from the goal line in off Eddie Lack’s pad and over the line for his 26th of the season. But nine minutes later, Skinner added his second of the evening to give Carolina a two-goal lead once more before the period was out.
Filip Forsberg made things interesting with an extra-attacker goal late in regulation, but Carolina added an empty-netter to finish things off.
“We knew it was going be a tough game,” forward PA Parenteau said. “We knew what we were getting ourselves into, but maybe we didn’t believe it.”
From here, the Predators head back to Nashville to prepare for a three-game home stand, and they’ll have this result in the back of their mind as they do so.
“We let two points out the door tonight, so we shouldn’t just dust it off like it’s nothing,” Laviolette said. “We have to be better than what we played tonight. I don’t think it was good enough.”
“We’ve been playing some good hockey lately… We played a great game in the last game and got a good result, and tonight wasn’t our night,” center Ryan Johansen said. “We know what we need to do to make it successful, and we just didn’t do it enough tonight. We’ll be ready next game.”
Notes:
Colin Wilson, who missed Thursday’s game with a lower-body injury, returned to the lineup on Saturday. Craig Smith was among the scratches for Nashville against the Hurricanes.
Viktor Arvidsson’s goal extended his point streak to four games, including three goals during that span.
The Predators return to Bridgestone Arena to begin a three-game home stand on Monday when they host the Arizona Coyotes, followed by Calgary on Thursday and San Jose on Saturday. The stretch will feature Military Appreciation Week, presented by Ford, with more information here.
Pete Weber’s Postgame Report
Friday Prep Results
Friday Prep Results
CCMS Baseball defeated Harris – 5 to 4
CCMS Softball defeated Harris – 17 to 1
WMS Baseball lost to Huntland – 2 to 0
CHS Softball defeated Shelbyville – 9 to 3
CHS Soccer defeated Dickson Co – 2 to 1 at Gatlinburg Tournament
CHS JV Baseball HOSTS Shelbyville – CANCELLED
WMS Softball HOSTS Cascade – POSTPONED