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Coffee County Swim Teams Prepare for Championship Meets

The Coffee County Swim teams are back in the pool this week as they work toward region championships.  After completing their time trials last Thursday in LaVergne, the Raider swimmers are working toward the high school and middle school regional meets coming up later this month in Nashville.

The high school swimmers will compete at the Middle Tennessee High School Swimming Association(MTHSSA) Region championships coming up on Friday, January 27th.  The meet will be held at the Centennial SportsPlex in Nashville.  The meet is set to begin at 10 AM at the Tracey Caulkins Competition Pool.  The Tennessee Interscholastic Swim Coaches Association(TISCA) State Championship is set to be held February 10th and 11th at the Allan Jones Aquatic Center on the campus of the University of Tennessee-Knoxville.

The middle school swimmers will follow on Saturday, January 28th with the MTHSSA Middle School Championships.  The middle school championships will get underway at 9:30 AM on Saturday the 28th at the Centennial SportsPlex.

Swim coaches Mike and Lana Ray will be guests on Saturday’s Coffee Coaches Show to talk about the upcoming championships and update the listeners and fans on any new qualifiers.  The Coffee Coaches Show is broadcast LIVE each Saturday morning at 10 AM here on Thunder Radio and comes to you from the showroom of Al White Ford/Lincoln.  Fans are encouraged to come by Al White and meet several of the team members and enjoy the show.

TSSAA Votes to Renew Golf Championship Contract with Willowbrook

After tabling a vote on whether to return the TSSAA State Golf Championships to Willowbrook on November 17th; the TSSAA Board of Control voted to renew Willowbrook’s contract to host the state golf tournament through 2020.  The board was deadlocked on a decision in that November meeting and instructed the state office to poll golf coaches statewide for feedback as to whether to move the state tournament back to Old Fort Golf Course in Murfreesboro.  Willowbrook has hosted the event for the past 8 years after leaving Old Fort.  Willowbrook was approved by a vote of 8 to 4 by the Board of Control to retain the championships for another 4 years.

Willowbrook Golf pro, and Tullahoma golf coach, Barry Bishop was ecstatic in the board’s decision when contacted by Thunder Radio sports.  “We are very excited to be chosen to host the state championships for the next 4 years.  We are pleased with the work we have done to improve the course and to contribute to the community with am improved course and a positive economic impact.   We appreciate the local community support including countless volunteers which we feel helped make the decision easier to return to Willowbrook(for the TSSAA).   As a local high school coach, you are always excited for your golfers to be able to play and practice on the state championship course easily.”

Coffee County golf coach Mike Ray echoed those same sentiments.  “We are excited to have the state tournament back on our home course.  We also are glad to see the extra revenues for our city and county being able to host such an event. WIllowbrook does a great job of putting on the tournament; from the course itself, to the facilities, to the top flight restaurant at Boskeys.  I feel that the TSSAA appreciates the past success of having the state championships at WIllowbrook and our community.”

The state golf championships are held over a 3 week period in late September and early October each year.

Two People Dead in Cannon County Incident

Two people are dead and another woman is in the hospital after an incident in Cannon County Saturday night.
It does not immediately appear the women were shot, but instead injured with another type of weapon.
The TBI reported that 42-year-old David Wooten died from a gunshot wound. Officials also say 19-year-old Elizabeth Clement and 28-year-old Laura Jastre suffered serious injuries and were taken to Vanderbilt University Medical Center. Clement died Sunday night from her injuries.
No arrests have been made for the crime.
Anyone with information is asked to contact the TBI at 1-800-TBI-FIND.

County-Wide Bike and Walking Pathway? It’s Possible

Lots of people in Coffee County get their exercise from walking and or bicycle riding so how does going county-wide on a pathway sound?
According to Bonnie Gamble, council chair, who also directs the City of Manchester’s Parks and Recreation department, the Coffee County Health Council is asking for the public’s input about this possibility. Their will summit, at 9 a.m. Wednesday at the Church of Christ at Cedar Lane in Tullahoma. The meeting will include representatives from Tullahoma, Manchester and Coffee County government agencies, utility companies and school systems.
The three government groups will be searching for grants to fund the project when the project moves forward. The summit is only the beginning to the process.

Public Transport Supporters: Mass Transit Has Mass Appeal for Tennessee

Advocates for public transportation are urging Gov. Bill Haslam to make public transportation funding a part of his infrastructure plan this year. (Tennessee Public Transportation Association)

Transportation and infrastructure are areas of focus for Gov. Bill Haslam as he enters the new year, with the governor being quoted as saying he plans to unveil a plan for projects and funding.
While work to the state’s thousands of miles of roads is no doubt on the list, public transportation advocates want to remind Haslam that mass transit also is key to solving traffic and mobility issues.
“Roads and bridges are obviously critically important,” says Jason Spain, executive director of the Tennessee Public Transportation Association. “If we’re talking about a comprehensive look at our infrastructure system in Tennessee, it has to include public transportation.
“We’ve reached a point where it’s no longer feasible to think that we can just build our way out of congestion issues in the urban areas, and in the rural areas, it’s an issue of mobility, connecting people with jobs, doctor’s appointments, schools.”
This month the Tennessee Transit Coalition – comprised of Spain’s group, as well as AARP and the Tennessee Disability Coalition and others – delivered 1,000 signatures from 60 counties to the governor’s desk, letting him know that public transportation is a priority for their communities.
The state’s transportation system is funded by gas and diesel taxes, but the last tax increase was in 1989 and since then fuel efficient vehicles have taken a chunk out of the state’s revenue.
Spain says that’s why taking action on transportation and infrastructure must be a priority.
“It’s not just a Nashville issue,” he points out. “It’s not just a middle Tennessee issue. It’s all across the state that people see the need for more and better transit service, and we hope the administration will see the importance of that and make it a part of their proposal.”
According to a study by the University of Tennessee, if the gas tax is increased, 57 percent of respondents support increased funding for biking, walking and transit.

Revenues Up in Tennessee

Tennessee revenues for December exceeded the same month one year ago. Finance and Administration Commissioner Larry Martin reported that state revenues for December were $1.2 billion, which is a growth of 11.33% and $125.5 million more than December 2015.
“Total revenues in December were higher than expected due to collections in the sales and corporate tax categories. Recorded revenues in the corporate category for December include a substantial one-time payment,” Martin said. “December sales tax revenues reflect retail activity that occurred in November including ‘Black Friday’ and after-Thanksgiving sales. January’s report will capture consumer spending for the Christmas holiday season.”
Year-to-date revenues for five months were $355.5 million more than the budgeted estimate. The general fund recorded $324.0 in revenues more than estimates, and the four other funds $31.5 million over estimates.

Feds make changes to STOP soring of Walking Horses

Federal officials have made regulation changes aimed at stopping the practice of soring among Tennessee walking horses and similar breeds.
The Tennessean reports the U.S. Department of Agriculture announced changes Friday to the Horse Protection Act.
Soring occurs when a horse’s legs are intentionally injured to make the animal have a higher gait. It often includes the use of chemicals and chains, or objects shoved between the hoof and stacked shoes.
The department says the final rule will be published soon in the Federal Register and become effective by next January. It will ban many of the tools used for soring and force horse industry inspectors to become trained and licensed through the USDA.
The Humane Society of the United States called soring a “barbaric and gratuitous” practice.
The World Grand Championship for walking horses is held Shelbyville beginning in late August.

01/21/17 — Horace Virgil Stephens Jr.

Horace Virgil Stephens, Jr. passed away January 13, 2017, at NHC in Tullahoma, Tennessee. Horace was born on September 21, 1914, in Nashville, the third of five children of Horace Virgil Stephens and Margaret Jenkins Stephens. He graduated from Wartrace High School in 1932 and was Salutatorian of his class. He served two years as a seaman aboard the U.S.S. Tennessee. He attended the US Naval Academy for one quarter before dropping out in 1935 to marry his high school sweetheart, Iva Blair Allen (b. 1912, d. 1952).

Horace was a railway postal clerk on NC&SL Railroad between Nashville and Atlanta from 1936 until he transferred to a rural mail route in Tullahoma in 1957. He was a rural mail carrier on both Routes 1 and 5 out of Tullahoma until his retirement in 1978.

Horace was married to Jean Hunter (b.1925, d. 1984), the mother of David Stephens, from 1954 until 1970 . Horace and Mary Florence Bramblett were married in 1972. After his retirement he worked in real estate sales and custom house construction. He enjoyed golf and was an avid UT fan. He was a longstanding and faithful member of the First Baptist Church of Tullahoma. He was also a Past Master of the Tullahoma Masonic Lodge #262 F&AM.

He was predeceased by his wife, Mary Florence Bramblett (b. 1912, d. 1996) and his son Jim Allen Stephens (b.1943, d. 2016). He is survived by two sons, Virgil (Clara) of Kingsport and David (Michele) of Franklin; stepson John Bramblett (Linda) of Huntsville AL and stepdaughter Anne Bramblett King of Tullahoma; eight grandchildren: Sandy Noonan (Tom) of Vernon Hills IL, Eric Stephens (Tanya) of Smyrna, Trisha McWright (Matt) of Nashville, McKenzie Stephens of Cleveland, Ena Shea Kohler (Chris) of Nashville, Alex Burlason (Bruce) of Nashville, Chris Calatrello (Holly) of Tullahoma and Stephen Calatrello (Jennifer) of Athens AL; seventeen greatgrandchildren: Daniel, Mark and Kevin Noonan, Isaiah and Beth Stephens, Hope, Samantha and Addie McWright, Isabelle, Gus and Liam Kohler, Max Beavers, Benjamin Calatrello, Thomas, Jack, Annie and Henry Calatrello; sister Irma Stephens Troxler of Tullahoma and numerous nieces and nephews.

A Celebration of Life and memorial service will be held Saturday, January 21st at the First Baptist Church of Tullahoma at 2 pm. Dr. J. Herbert Hester will officiate, assisted by Rev. Christian Watts. Visitation with the family will be prior to the service from 1 pm until 2 pm. Private burial services will be at Woodlawn Cemetery in Nashville.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the library of First Baptist Church of Tullahoma, 108 East Grundy Street, Tullahoma TN 37388 or to the Tullahoma Senior Citizens’ Center, 410 North Collins Street, Tullahoma TN 37388.

Kilgore Funeral Home is in charge of funeral arrangements.

Police Stop Terrorism Threat at Franklin County High School

Two juveniles that are accused of making threats against an area high school were taken into custody by Franklin County sheriff deputies late Thursday night.
According to District Attorney Mike Taylor, a 16-year-old and a 17-year-old allegedly threatened Thursday night to commit an act of terrorism at Franklin County High School.
Both were charged with conspiracy to commit an act of terrorism and harassment.
Authorities were alerted to the threat by other students and are working with the Federal Bureau of Investigation on the case.
Juvenile Court Judge Tom Faris ruled Friday the two teenagers would be detained until their next court date, scheduled for Tuesday.

Traffic Stop turns into Major Meth Bust

A routine traffic stop on Interstate 24 by the Tennessee Highway Patrol led to the discovery of a large amount of methamphetamine and more.
Highway patrolmen took two subjects into custody late Sunday morning after they found a little over 2 pounds of meth. The value of the drug can range from $9,500-$16,000 per pound. Also found was an undisclosed amount of cash, marijuana, drug paraphernalia and a prescription drug.
Two unnamed subjects were booked in at the Coffee County Jail.
One of the subject’s bond was set at $134,000 and the other was $132,500. They are set to appear in Coffee County General Session’s Court on March 28, 2017.