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Scottsboro’s Thackerson Signs Softball LOI with Motlow State

Scottsboro (Ala.) High School softball player Kylie Thackerson recently signed a National Letter of Intent to continue her career as a student-athlete at Motlow State Community College. Seated (left to right) are Vivian Thackerson, Tara Thackerson, Kylie and Leslie Thackerson. Standing (left to right) are Lenora Word, Motlow assistant coach; Ben Johnson, Scottsboro assistant coach; Robyn Johnson, Scottsboro head coach; and Janice Morey, Motlow head coach.

Gov. Haslam wants to Ban Any Open Alcohol Bottles or Cans in Vehicles

Gov. Bill Haslam

Republican Gov. Bill Haslam has introduced legislation seeking to ban any open alcohol bottles or cans in vehicles traveling on Tennessee roads.
Tennessee currently bans drivers from drinking at the wheel, but does not extend that prohibition to passengers. That conflicts with federal open container guidelines, which causes about $18 million in federal road money to be redirected toward drunken-driving enforcement.
Haslam wants to change the law so that money can be spent on roads as part of his ambitious transportation funding initiative. But prosecutors and police worry that the money they received to target DUIs would be lost under the change.
The governor has said he would try to replenish those funds from the general fund but has not yet made a specific proposal.

THP may start using Body Cameras

One of several styles of body cameras

The Tennessee Highway Patrol is exploring the idea of equipping its troopers with body cameras.
The Tennessean reports that the idea is included in a request for information about the possible purchase. The request also seeks out new cameras in police cars that record incidents on the road.
It says body cameras are necessary for trooper protection and accurate, complete documentation.
Highway Patrol spokesman Lt. Bill Miller says the move doesn’t indicate a policy shift, but a search for more cost-effective in-vehicle equipment.
The request says the Highway Patrol will test out some equipment in April. The agency would still need to solicit bids for a body cameras contract.

Tennessee Quit Week begins Monday

The Tennessee Department of Health joins partners in the Statewide Tobacco-Free Coalition in celebrating Tennessee Quit Week Feb. 13-17, 2017. The theme for the week-long campaign is “It’s Quittin’ Time in Tennessee” to celebrate Tennesseans who have quit using tobacco products and inspire more people to join them.
The TDH Commissioner will join former U.S. Senator Bill Frist, MD, founder and chairman of NashvilleHealth and Governor’s Foundation for Health and Wellness CEO Richard Johnson Tuesday, Feb. 14 at the Tennessee State Capitol to celebrate Tennessee Quit Week and discuss opportunities for citizens, government, business and non-profit leaders to partner in reducing tobacco use in Tennessee. The event begins at 8:30 a.m. in the Old Supreme Court Chamber and is open to the public.
Tennessee Quit Week raises awareness of the Tennessee Tobacco QuitLine and other free resources available to help Tennesseans quit smoking and/or using other tobacco products. These proven, effective services can double a tobacco user’s chances of quitting.
Tennesseans who smoke and are ready to quit can call the Tennessee Tobacco QuitLine, use a web-based program or attend in-person counseling services and may receive free FDA-approved nicotine replacement therapy. These services are provided at no charge to participants. Call the Tennessee Tobacco QuitLine at 1-800-QUIT-NOW (1-800-784-8669) to talk with a counselor who will help you create a quit plan. For more information and resources or to enroll online, visit www.tnquitline.org.

South Cumberland State Park is Honored

The Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC) recognized South Cumberland State Park on Monteagle Mountain for Excellence in Resource Management for park staff’s work to improve trails, combat invasive pests and provide richer recreation experiences for visitors over the past year.
“All 56 Tennessee State Parks strive and succeed in achieving our mission to preserve and protect unique examples of natural, cultural and scenic areas,” said TDEC Deputy Commissioner of Parks and Conservation Brock Hill. “But South Cumberland went above and beyond in 2016 thanks to the talent and skills of park staff that protected more land and created a better visitor experience.”
South Cumberland also recently acquired more land for conservation and recreation. Roughly 4,500 acres of land has been added to the park, which includes environmentally sensitive and significant areas like bluff lines, viewsheds, woodlands and some of the best outdoor rock climbing areas in the southeast.

2/8/17 — Avice Roxanna Holmes Colwell

Funeral services for Mrs. Avice Roxanna Holmes Colwell, age 100 of Manchester, will be conducted on Wednesday, February 8, 2017 at 2:00 P.M. at Coffee County Funeral Chapel with Brother Charles Williams officiating. Burial will follow in Shady Grove Cemetery. Visitation will be from 11:00 A.M. until time of the service at Coffee County Funeral Chapel. Mrs. Colwell passed away on Saturday, February 4, 2017 at Unity Medical Center.

She was born on August 24, 1916 in the Shady Grove Community of Coffee County to the late Jesse and Della Duncan Holmes. Avice was a member of the New Union Church of Christ. She loved cooking and spending time with her family and friends. Her hobbies included crocheting doilies and throws, many of which she gave away. She was a homemaker and worked a few years at the Star Union Pajama Factory before she married.

In addition to her parents, she is preceded in death by her husband of 58 years, Walter S. “”Doc” Colwell; brothers, Herman Holmes, Hubert Holmes, and J.D. Holmes; sisters, Eva Elder, Cora Simmons, and Elan Hill; five nieces and three nephews.

She is survived by her son, Walter Dane Colwell of Manchester; two brothers, Lynder Holmes (Willie) of McMinnville and Vernon Holmes (Naomi) of Manchester; sister-in-law, Pauline Holmes of Brentwood; five nieces and ten nephews.

Coffee County Funeral Chapel is honored to serve the Colwell family.

2/11/17 — Linda Lue Chandler

Mrs. Linda Lue. Chandler 70, of Tullahoma passed Monday, February 6, 2017 at Vanderbilt Medical Center. She was preceded in death by her Father, Sam Allen Starks ; Brothers, Jessie Allen Starks, Calvin Southern, Bobby and Willie Jones.

She is survived by her Husband, Arthur Chandler of Tullahoma, TN;

Children, Vincent Starks and Allen Terrell (Tameka) Starks both of Nashville, TN; Jeffrey Bernard Shannon of Indiana; Janet Nicole Shannon of Chattanooga, and Kelvin Green of Tuscaloosa, Al;

Nine Grandchildren and 6 Great grandchildren

Mother, Isabella Starks of Tullahoma, TN.

Five Sisters, Clara (Ricardo) Jones of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; Rosie (Ernest) Mitchell; Berdeda Lee (Eddie) Gray and Amber Bowen all of Tullahoma, TN; Sondra (Mike) Leveye of North Dakota.

Brother, Charles (Jameslyn) Biles of Nashville, TN.

Three sisters in law, Barbara Paige, Shannon Jones, and Maudie Jones

Two Brothers in law, Leonard Paige and Alexander Paige

Visitation Saturday, February 11, 2017 at 12:00 Noon at Revival Center Family Church with Funeral Services to follow at 1:00 pm at Revival Center Family Church with Elder Billy Brooks officiating and Elder Cedric Seay as Eulogist.

Interment Evergreen Cemetery.

J.A. WELTON & SON FUNERAL HOME IS IN CHARGE OF THE ARRANGEMENTS

Coffee County Basketball Sweeps Grundy County on Tuesday Night

Alliyah Williams of Lady Raider basketball[Photo by Demarco Moore – Manchester Times]

Looking for a pair of milestone wins, Coffee County welcomed Grundy County to the Joe Frank Patch Memorial Gym on Tuesday night for a non-district basketball doubleheader.  The Lady Raiders captured their 4th straight win with a 68 to 36 decision over the Lady Jackets.  The Red Raiders snapped a 3 game losing streak as they grabbed their 20th win of the year 82 to 57 over Grundy County.

The Lady Raiders held the Lady Jackets without a field goal in the first period as they used 7 turnovers to build a 13 point lead.  Grundy County could not get the margin any closer in the blowout win.  The win improves the Lady Raiders record to 18 and 6 on the season and is the first 18 win season for Coffee County since 20111.

The Lady Raiders were led in scoring by Alliyah Williams and Abby Morgan who each netted 10 points as 14 different Lady Raiders scored on the night.  Aerial Williams added 9 points and Jacey Vaughn finished with 8.  Alliyah Williams was named the Crazy Daisies player of the game.

DeAaron Rozier of CHS basketball [Photo by Demarco Moore of the Manchester Times]

In the boys’ game, a hot shooting Yellow Jackets team raced out to a 12 to 5 lead in the first quarter before Coffee County could get their offense on track.  Coffee County closed out the first half on a 14 to 6 run to take an 8 point lead into the second half.  In the second half, the Raiders dominated the pace of play to capture the 25 point win.  The win improves the Red Raiders record to 20 and 7 on the season which marks the first 20 win season for Coffee County basketball since 1977.

The Red Raiders were led in scoring by De’Aaron Rozier and Tyrese McGee who each put up 12 points.  Grant Sadler and Garrett Eldridge added 11 points apiece as 4 Red Raiders finished in double figures.  De’Aaron Rozier was named the Crazy Daisies player of the game.

Coffee County concludes the regular season on Friday night when they welcome Tullahoma to The Patch.  Friday night will also be Senior Night as the senior basketball players, cheerleaders and dance team members will be honored.  Thunder Radio will be on hand to bring you all the action as the girls’ game will tip off at 6 PM; we begin our broadcast with the Powers Storage pregame show at 5:50.

Swedes Help to Power Preds Past Canucks

It took a call to video review, but Filip Forsberg got the game winner and the Nashville Predators topped the Vancouver Canucks by a 4-2 final on Tuesday night at Bridgestone Arena. The victory gives the Preds 60 points overall with at least a point in 10 of their last 13 outings.

“We know how important all of these games are and this one is no exception,” Captain Mike Fisher said. “We definitely had a good first and fell back a bit there in the second, but we found a way to gut it out. Pekka [Rinne] made some unbelievable saves. That was a huge win for us, and the guys played well.”

After the Canucks took an early 1-0 lead, it was Viktor Arvidsson who ripped home his 14th of the season with a laser over the shoulder of Jacob Markstrom to even the score. Nashville then took the lead before the period was out, courtesy of a net-mouth scramble finished off by Calle Jarnkrok for a 2-1 advantage.

That score held through the second stanza until Forsberg converted with the man advantage in the final period for Nashville’s third tally of the evening, and it proved to be the game-winner with the Canucks getting a second goal before Fisher iced it with an empty net.

“To be honest, I thought we played better Saturday [a 1-0 loss to Detroit],” Head Coach Peter Laviolette said. “Tonight was an ugly win for us. We played a desperate team tonight. They talked about this being a real big game for them, the start of a trip, and meaning a lot toward the playoffs and they played hard. Again, it was another game where there wasn’t a lot of room, it was tight out here. They fought hard for 60 minutes. We found a way to win it and move on from here.”

Fans of the Predators will remember what happened the last time the two clubs got together in Vancouver. On Tuesday, that misfortune was reversed, in a way.

Filip Forsberg’s power-play tally in the third period was initially waved off by referee Tim Peel, but after further review, the call on the ice was reversed, giving Forsberg his 16th of the season and his team a crucial third goal of the night.

“Luckily they had good evidence that it went in,” Fisher said. “It was definitely close, but you could see it through the glove. We were watching it on the bench and it was a huge goal.”

“A lot of times those situations happen, and you think it might be behind the goal line, but you actually don’t have a view on it,” Head Coach Peter Laviolette said. “To actually be able to see it through the mesh and see that it was behind the goal line, I think it was the right call. Usually, if it’s just part of the glove that’s over it you don’t get the opportunity to look down through the mesh, but it worked in our favor tonight.”

Forsberg is now one tally away from tying James Neal for the team lead and has been one of Nashville’s best players over a recent stretch that has seen the team go 9-3-1 in their last 13 games.

It didn’t take long for the new-look third line of Calle Jarnkrok, Colin Wilson and Viktor Arvidsson to find some chemistry.

The trio combined for Nashville’s first two goals, including a slick feed from Wilson to Arvidsson for the first tally, followed by a Jarnkrok chip-in for the second. Both Jarnkrok and Arvidsson recorded multi-point games on the night, with Arvidsson collecting his eighth multipoint contest of the season.

“It was a great play, [Wilson] really drew the defenders down low, and I hung out in a higher position,” Arvidsson said of his goal. “He put it right in my wheelhouse, and I just tried to shoot it as quickly as I could.

“We’ve played together before, all three of us, and I feel like we find each other well. We worked hard and got rewarded.”

Notes:

Vernon Fiddler made his Nashville debut – for the second time in his career – on Tuesday night against Vancouver, logging 9:43 of ice time and two blocked shots.

The Predators have earned at least one point in five consecutive home games against the Canucks (4-0-1) and at least one point in seven of the last nine games against the Canucks (6-2-1).

The Preds head to New York City to face the Rangers on Thursday night before returning home for a weekend doubleheader at Bridgestone Arena – Florida on Saturday and Dallas on Sunday.

Pete Weber’s Postgame Report

Charles David Allen

Charles David Allen passed this life on Sunday, February 5, 2017 at the age
of 53 years. No local services are planned but memorial services will be
scheduled at a later time in Florida.

A native of Lake Worth, FL, he was the son of the late James Earl and
Patricia Soullier Allen. He was a truck driver and always enjoyed
traveling and seeing the country in his truck. He also enjoyed fishing and
boating and loved going to the beach.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by one brother, Dan
Allen.

Mr. Allen is survived by one son, Thomas Edward Allen and one daughter,
Jennifer Allen of Williston, FL; step son, Brian Sloan and his wife,
Satrina of Manchester; step daughters, Alesha Keys of West Palm Beach, FL
and Kimberly Johnson and her husband, Lonnie of Estill Springs and one
brother, Jimmy Allen of Rupert, GA.

Daves-Culbertson Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.