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High School Student Injured As She Walked Home From School

accident3Aliya Thomas a student at Coffee County High School was walking home from school Monday afternoon when she was struck by a vehicle.
Thomas, 17, was hit after two vehicles crashed, sending one spinning onto the sidewalk and striking her.
According to Officer Trey Adcock’s report a 2002 Ford minivan operated by Edward Stambaugh, 43, of Manchester, and a 1996 Ford pickup operated by Bobby Baker, 17, of Manchester were involved in the accident.
Thomas was transported by Coffee County Ambulance Service to Unity Medical Center, where she was then flown by Air Evac to Vanderbilt University Children’s Hospital where at last report she was in stable condition.

Conference Center Looking For New GM

MCCCCThe Manchester-Coffee County Conference Center is looking for its third General Manager in the last year and a half as Alyce Heifner has resigned. She served in that capacity for approximately a year and five months after long-term General Manager and Chef Mike Osbourne left for a job in Rutherford County.
Coffee County Public Building Authority (PBA) which oversees the conference center will now start the search for Heifner replacement. Her resignation was not expected according to a current board member.
The Manchester-Coffee County Conference Center has been in operation since 2003 and is funded by Coffee County and City of Manchester tax payers.

Mechatronics Program at Motlow College Receives Accreditation

Staff members show accreditation sign

Staff members show accreditation sign

Five years of development, impressive outcomes, teamwork and diligence has paid off in a big way for the mechatronics program at Motlow State Community College. The program recently received a critical accreditation from the Association of Technology, Management, and Applied Engineering (ATMAE), a nationally recognized accrediting agency for technology programs within community colleges and universities.
The mechatronics program at Motlow began with the Level One certification in 2010, with the goal to build it into a two-year AAS (Associate of Applied Science) program while working to achieve accreditation. The AAS program began in 2012.
Over a dozen Motlow employees worked with the mechatronics staff to obtain the accreditation. Much documentation, research, success tracking, and data assembly was required, with assistance from supporting Motlow departments such as institutional research, human resources, library staff, and others.
Currently the mechatronics program has partnerships with Oakland High School in Murfreesboro and Warren County High School in McMinnville, with both schools offering dual enrollment credit and the Level One certification. The instructors at these schools possess the same qualifications as Motlow instructors.
The industry partnership list for the program is rapidly growing, including existing relationships with Bridgestone, Batesville Casket, and Jarden. Representatives from each of those companies are on the advisory board. Other company partners include Great Lakes Cheese, Nissan, Yorozu and more, with additional industry frequently coming to the program requesting involvement.

12/10/15 — Frances Darlene Frazier

flower 24Frances Darlene Frazier, of Normandy, passed this life on Monday,
December 7th, 2015 at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville
at the age of 63. Mrs. Frazier was born in Coffee County to the late
Elwood and Mary McClure Rollins. She was a member of Canaan Baptist
Church in Tullahoma. In addition to her parents, Mrs. Frazier was
preceded in death by one son, Jeremy Chad Frazier; two brothers, Carl
Rollins and Junior Rollins; and one sister, Vivian Rollins. She is
survived by her husband Hershel “Buck” Frazier of Normandy; two sons,
Scott Frazier of Normandy and Tracy Frazier of Normandy; one daughter,
Valerie Baker of Tullahoma; one brother, Ronnie Rollins and his wife
Brenda of Normandy; three grandchildren, Bethany Baker, Nathan Baker and
Shelden Frazier; and one great-grandchild, Jaxon Baker. Visitation for
Mrs. Frazier will be held on Wednesday, December 9th, 2015 at Kilgore
Funeral Home from 5:00-8:00pm. Funeral services will be held on Thursday,
December 10th, 2015 at 11:00am in the Kilgore Funeral Home Chapel with
Bro. Brian Fuller officiating. Burial will follow at Bomar Cemetery in
the Raus Community.

Kilgore Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

12/12/15 — Kathryn Elizabeth Wertzbaugher

wertzKathryn Elizabeth Wertzbaugher, age 95, passed away, Sunday, December 6,
2015 at Harton Regional Medical Center in Tullahoma, TN. Funeral Services
are scheduled for Saturday, December 12, 2015 at 2 PM at
Kucko-Anthony-Kertesz Funeral Home in Akron, Ohio with burial to follow at
East Akron Cemetery. Visitation with the family will be from 1 PM until
service time. No local services are scheduled.

A native of Akron, Ohio, she was the daughter of the late John B. and Edna
Faye Broughton Ringer. Mrs. Wertzbaugher relocated to Tullahoma to be near
her daughter. She was a staunch Republican and very active in the GOP for
over fifty years. She was the first female city councilwoman in Akron in
1957. She was a precinct committeewoman, member of the Ohio Council of
Republican Women and a member of the Republican Executive Committee. She
was also a member of the Akron Civic Theater Women’s Guild and a member of
Firestone Park Presbyterian Church.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, John
Wertzbaugher and one brother, John B. Ringer Jr.

She is survived by one daughter, Janice Rayburn and her husband, John of
Tullahoma; three grandchildren, Todd Rayburn and his wife, Kelly of Lake
Minneola, FL, Jonathon Rayburn and his wife, Christina of Tampa, FL and Amy
Creasman and her husband, Pat of Longwood, FL and eight great
grandchildren, Tucker and Tanner Rayburn, Devin Uphoff, Jade and Jeremy
Rayburn, Dalton and Dillon DeChristopher and Patrick Creasman Jr.

DAVES-CULBERSTON FUNERAL HOME IS IN CHARGE OF ARRANGEMENTS

Coffee Middle Sweeps South on Monday Night

Jalen Morris of CCMS Basketball

Jalen Morris of CCMS Basketball

The Coffee County Middle School Raiders and Lady Raiders got a huge conference sweep on Monday night in Cowan as they downed South Franklin in a pair of middle school basketball games.  Trailing 25 to 19 at the half, the Red Raiders outscored South 18 to 2 in the 3rd quarter to stun the home standing Trojans and lift Coffee County to a 48 to 32 win.  Brandon Jernigan led Coffee County in scoring with 13 points.  Jalen Morris had 6 points in the pivotal 3rd quarter and finished with 11 on the night.  Larson Meltzer hit a pair of 3 pointers to finish with 10 points.

Bella Vinson of CCMS Basketball

Bella Vinson of CCMS Basketball

The Lady Raiders saw South match them score for score in the first quarter before Coffee County snagged the 34 to 24 win.  Knotted at 12 after the opening quarter, Coffee County got 5 points from Bella Vinson in the 2nd quarter to take a 4 point lead into the halftime break.  The Lady Raider defense stepped up big in the 2nd half holding South to 7 points and earning Coffee County their 9th win of the season.  The Lady Raiders were led in scoring by Julia Duncan who had 10 points.  Vinson added 9 points while Keri Munn netted 8 points for the Lady Raiders.  Coffee County returns home on Thursday night as they host North Franklin.  The girls game leads off the doubleheader as it begins at 6 PM.

Westwood Splits with Eagleville on 8th Grade Night

Westwood Lady Rockets and their parents on 8th Grade night

Westwood Lady Rockets and their parents on 8th Grade night

Racing out to a 12 to 0 lead in the 1st quarter provided all the momentum the Lady Rockets needed on Monday night as they clipped Eagleville 38 to 21 to 8th grade night. Hot shooting from the perimeter helped Westwood storm out to the early lead, but it was their pressure defense in the 2nd half that held off a Lady Eagles rally that saw Eagleville cut the Rockets lead to 7. 8th graders Ashley Starks, Morgan Jones, Karen Medina and Beatris Barrera were honored after the game as each helped lift Westwood to their 15th victory on the season. Starks led Westwood in scoring with 14 points while Medina added 11 and Jones netted 9.

Westwood Rockets and their parents on 8th Grade night

Westwood Rockets and their parents on 8th Grade night

The Rockets got a strong start but saw Eagleville open the game on fire from the field as the Rockets dropped a 49 to 36 decision. A series of turnovers saw Westwood fall behind 30 to 15 at the half. Westwood clawed back into the game in the 4th quarter but free throws down the stretch allowed the visiting Eagles to hold on for the win. 8th graders Nicolas White, Roderic Brinkley, Collin Ward, Isaiah Owens, Austin Burch, Jake Hollandsworth and Shawn Anderson were all honored in a ceremony at halftime of the girls’ game. Owens led Westwood in scoring with 10 points while Ward added 8 and Brinkley finished with 7. Westwood returns to the court on Thursday night as they travel to Murfreesboro to take on Middle Tennessee Christian. Tipoff for the girls’ game is 6 PM.

Westwood cheerleaders and their parents on 8th Grade night

Westwood cheerleaders and their parents on 8th Grade night

Josi Scores Two, Preds Skate Past Bruins

Pete Weber’s Postgame Report

 

Roman Josi

Roman Josi

Roman Josi scored twice on the power play, and the Nashville Predators defeated the Boston Bruins by a 3-2 final on Monday night at TD Garden. Viktor Arvidsson scored the go-ahead goal late in regulation, and Carter Hutton stopped 15 shots for his third victory of the season.

“It’s great, I don’t think we ever waivered,” Hutton said. “We were pretty confident the whole time; even in that stretch when we were struggling, I don’t think anyone lost confidence in the way we were playing. We needed a night like this to get the results, and I thought we stepped up big time.”

Boston struck first 4:13 in when Kevan Miller sent a puck to the front of the net, which deflected off a skate and over the shoulder of Carter Hutton for a 1-0 lead. Before the opening stanza was out, the Preds went on a 4-on-3 power play, and Roman Josi extended his point streak to four games. Mike Ribeiro found Josi in the left circle and the Nashville defenseman wristed a shot past Jonas Gustavsson to even the score at 1-1 headed into the first intermission.

Loui Eriksson put the Bruins back in the lead with a power-play goal in the second, but Josi took matters into his own hands on a Nashville man advantage 27 seconds later. The Swiss blueliner collected the puck on the near-side boards and drove to the net, reminiscent of a power forward move, and slid the biscuit over the line to even things up once more.

The score remained even through much of the final frame, until Arvidsson executed a beautiful individual effort, deking around a Boston defender and then Gustavsson, leaving a yawning cage in which to deposit the game winning goal with 4:56 remaining in the contest. Hutton and the Preds staved off a final Bruins push to hang on for the 3-2 victory.

“We thought we played some really good games lately and kind of found a way to lose and tonight we found a way to win that game,” Josi said. “We stayed disciplined tonight and it was a good win.”

Roman Josi almost recorded a Gordie Howe hat trick (one goal, one assist and one fight), but two power-play goals might be even better. The 25-year-old tallied twice with the man advantage for the Preds, with his second marker reminiscent of a rather famous goal from legendary Bruins defenseman Bobby Orr, flying through the air as the puck slid past an outstretched Gustavsson.

“I had a lot of space; I think their D tried to clear and was out of position, and I saw an empty lane to the net so I decided pretty quick I’m going to take it to the net and hopefully something good happens,” Josi said. “I did fly, but I think their D ended up putting it in.”

It’s been quite a stretch for the No. 1 defensive pairing of Josi and Shea Weber; the Preds Captain potted three power-play goals of his own on Saturday against Detroit for his first career hat trick – and the first hat trick by a blueliner in Predators franchise history – although Josi was playfully instructed to stop at two on Monday.

“He told me after the second one ‘don’t get another one, I want to be the only [defenseman] in franchise history [to score a hat trick],’ so I wasn’t allowed to score anymore,” Josi joked. “Our D corps is trying to add to the offense and lately they’ve been going in for us.”

Josi also participated in his first NHL scrap with Brad Marchand. Josi scored the takedown after the short scuffle, but don’t expect him to make a habit of the rough stuff.

“It was a short fight; it was my first fight and I tried to not get beat up, so it was all right,” Josi said.

As long as two points come along, the Preds are pleased with whatever Josi can bring to the scoresheet.

“He was terrific,” Head Coach Peter Laviolette said of Josi. “The puck was in his hands all night, he was up and down the ice, goals, a fight, a good game for him. It was really good.”

“He’s such a great player, we know how good he is, and to see him scrap, you don’t see that too often,” Hutton said. “But he kept his composure, comes back and scores two huge goals for us and that’s obviously a difference maker.”

 

Shea Weber recorded two assists versus the Bruins, the seventh consecutive game he’s tallied against Boston.

Eric Nystrom briefly left the contest to receive several stitches following a fight, but returned for the third period.

Monday’s win was the Predators first in Boston since Nov. 28, 2003.

The Preds are back in action on Tuesday at 7:30 PM  to face their division and recent playoff rival the Chicago Blackhawks.  Thunder Radio will bring you that game tonight as we join that broadcast in progress following Coffee County basketball.

12/09/15 — Ricky Jo Floyd

flower 9Mr. Ricky Jo Floyd of Tullahoma, age 57, passed away Sunday, December 6,
2015 at Harton Regional Medical Center in Tullahoma. Services will be
Wednesday, December 9 at 2:00 PM at the Daves-Culbertson Funeral Home
Chapel with burial to follow at Concord Cemetery. Visitation with the
family will be Wednesday from 12:00 PM until time of service.

A native of Winchester, he was the son of George and Lois Bass Floyd of
Decherd. He was a graduate of Franklin County High School and a member of
the Lighthouse Church in Shelbyville. He enjoyed completing woodworking
projects, cooking and gardening.

Mr. Floyd was preceded in death by one brother, Tracy Floyd.

In addition to his parents, he is survived by one daughter, Jami Fuller
and her husband, Ryan of Estill Springs; one son, Jody Floyd of Huntland;
one brother, David Floyd of Winchester; a special cousin, Diane Baker and
her husband, Doyle of Lynchburg; ex-wives, Cathy Sullenger Floyd of
Huntland and Debbie Kennedy of Tullahoma; step daughters, Angie Elder and
Sandy Baker both of Lynchburg; three grandchildren, Justin Reeves, Libbie
Elder and Kaleb Clark and one great grandchild, Elijah Reeves.

In lieu of flowers, the family has requested donations be made to the
memorial fund at Daves-Culbertson Funeral Home.

DAVES-CULBERSTON FUNERAL HOME IS IN CHARGE OF ARRANGEMENTS

Deadly Crash on Monteagle Mountain

Fatal accident5The Tennessee Highway Patrol has issued a preliminary crash report. It states 82-year-old John Nagata from Huntsville, Alabama was traveling westbound in the eastbound lanes (wrong way) of Interstate 24 around 5 o’clock Sunday morning near the 135 mile marker in Monteagle when his vehicle struck a minivan head-on. Nagata did not survive.
The minivan, with Wisconsin plates, was carrying a 29-year-old male driver and four passengers; a 36-year-old woman, a 17-year-old girl, a nine-year-old boy, and six-year-old girl. The 36-year-old woman was ejected from the van on impact into a grass median. She was wearing a seat belt. Both the woman and three other passengers sustained injuries, although the extent of those injuries are unknown. The driver was not injured.
State troopers say a third vehicle, a tractor trailer, was also involved in the accident. The driver was not injured.
The accident is still under investigation.