Author's posts
Democrats Want a Special Legislative Session On “Insure Tennessee”
Advocates for Insure Tennessee are planning a road trip this summer, touring the state to educate citizens about the current health coverage gap after state lawmakers weren’t able to pass Gov. Bill Haslam’s Insure Tennessee plan. Photo credit: wintersixfour/morguefile.com
Tennessee Democrats have called for a special legislative session to take a full vote on Insure Tennessee. And, since the state is passing up millions of federal dollars, the Tennessee Justice Center (TJC) says it is organizing a statewide tour of informational meetings about the health coverage gap. More than 280,000 Tennesseans remain uninsured after state lawmakers failed to pass Gov. Bill Haslam’s Insure Tennessee plan in the most recent session. According to TJC Executive Director Michele Johnson, it’s important to understand that Insure Tennessee wouldn’t increase the state’s bottom line. “This basically is budget-neutral for Tennessee taxpayers,” says Johnson. “It results in no new taxes, and it brings in $2.7 million a day in federal funds.” Insure Tennessee is different than a Medicaid expansion, she explains, because it would offer vouchers to buy private insurance and require co-pays for services. Some oppose the program because it is funded through the Affordable Care Act. In addition to working families and students, an estimated 24,000 Tennessee veterans fall into the coverage gap. In addition, says TJC, 54 Tennessee hospitals are at risk of closing without the federal funding. Together, they employ 21,000 people and provide support to thousands of working families, Johnson says. “For people with chronic illnesses, or even people with young children who can’t access a hospital within two hours because their hospital closed due to politics – really, it’s the failure of our Legislature to take the dollars that are ours and bring them back to our state,” she says. Tentative tour dates and locations include: June 23, Chattanooga; June 29, Huntingdon; June 30, Brownsville; July 13, Gallatin; July 14, Centerville; July 16, Shelbyville; Aug. 3, Knoxville; Aug. 6, Kingsport; Aug.11, Morristown; and Aug. 25, Memphis.
Nashville Sound Named PCL Pitcher of the Week
Nashville Sounds pitcher Barry Zito delivers a pitch on Sunday at First Tennessee Park
Nashville Sounds pitcher Barry Zito has been named the Pacific Coast League Pitcher of the Week for the May 25 – 31 period.
The 37-year old was a perfect 2-0 in a pair of starts during the week, shutting out both the Sacramento River Cats and Las Vegas 51s through 14.0 innings of work. He was one of four hurlers to win two games over the week and the only pitcher with two starts to not allow a run. In addition, opponents batted .111 (5-for-45) off him, the third-best mark in the league.
During his return to Sacramento (where he previously played in 2000) on Tuesday, Zito allowed just three hits and added five strikeouts over 6.0 scoreless innings. He finished the outing by retiring the last seven batters he faced and pitched the Sounds to their fourth shutout win of the season.
On Sunday, the left-hander dazzled his way to 8.0 shutout frames against Las Vegas at First Tennessee Park. He faced the minimum through the first five innings and his outing was the longest by a Nashville pitcher this season. Zito allowed a season-low two hits, fanned a season-high six batters and also produced two double plays with his 103 pitches.
Overall this season, the California native is 3-4 with a 4.12 ERA (29er/63.1ip) and .258 opponents average (63-for-244). His 11 starts are tied for the league lead and his 63.1 innings of work are third-most in the PCL.
This marks the second time in Zito’s career that he has earned a PCL Pitcher of the Week award. He was recognized for his terrific pitching during the May 1-7 period back in 2000 as a member of the River Cats. The veteran was also named the American League Pitcher of the Week with Oakland in 2000, becoming just the second player since 1998 to ever win a PCL and MLB Player of the Week award in the same season (Kerry Wood).
The weekly PCL award is the first for a Nashville player this season. The Sounds had two players win the honor last year [Mike Fiers (April 28-May 4) & Matt Clark (August 18-24)].
Zito was drafted by Oakland in the 1st round (9th pick) of the 1999 amateur draft. He signed a minor league contract with the A’s on February 17, 2015.
Coffee County CHS Baseball Schedules Tryouts
The Coffee County Central High School baseball team will hold tryouts for the 2015-2016 baseball team on Saturday, June 6th from Noon to 3 PM at Powers Field. Any student who will be in the 9th through 12th grades next school year is invited to tryout. Those wishing to tryout need to pre-register at the link provided:
Those wishing to tryout need to bring their own baseball equipment along with a completed TSSAA Physical form
For more information, Contact David Martin at martind15@k12tn.net or Jon Spears at spearsjon@k12coffee.net
CHS Baseball Settles for 2nd Place in Weekend Tournament
Nathaniel Tate delivers a pitch in Sunday’s game at Warren County
A pair of unearned runs in the bottom of the 6th inning spoiled David Martin’s homecoming on Sunday afternoon as the CHS Red Raider baseball team dropped a 5 to 3 decision to the Pioneers. The loss, though disappointing, capped off a productive first weekend of the summer for the Red Raiders. The Raiders finished the weekend tournament with a record of 2 wins, 1 loss and 1 tie earned Coffee County a 2nd place finish in the Tullahoma 17U tournament. After being named head baseball coach on Thursday, Coach Martin has had the opportunity to watch the young team in their last 3 games as he and Coach Jon Spears have worked together extremely well in this transition. “There is a lot to like about this team” said Martin following Sunday’s loss. “I feel good about their talent and their attitude. This is a great group of kids” Martin added. The loss spoiled a wonderful pitching performance by rising sophomore Nathaniel Tate has he pitched 4 2/3 innings of 4 hit ball. Offensively, Coffee County got a pair of singles from Wyatt Day and Alan Rob and an RBI double Cade Giles. The Raiders will take off this weekend as Martin will hold tryouts on Saturday at noon at Powers Field.
Zito’s Gem Spurs Sounds to Seventh Straight Win
Nashville Sounds pitcher Barry Zito delivers a pitch on Sunday at First Tennessee Park
In a much hyped-up pitching matchup, it was Nashville and Barry Zito that outdueled top Mets prospect Steven Matz and the Las Vegas 51s, 1-0, at First Tennessee Park on Sunday afternoon.
Zito faced the minimum through five, pitching eight scoreless innings, the most by a Sounds pitcher this season. The crafty veteran yielded a season-low two hits and struck out a season-high six batters. Twice he got out of jams with inning-ending double plays – including a strikeout, caught stealing in the third inning. He has now thrown 14 scoreless innings dating back to his last start on May 26 at Sacramento.
The Sounds were the only team to input a run on the guitar-shaped scoreboard, doing so in the first inning courtesy of a Nate Freiman opposite field double that scored Ryan Roberts. The run came off Matz who entered the day leading the PCL in ERA (1.99) and wins (6). He took his third loss of the season.
R.J. Alvarez picked up his third save of the season with a 1-2-3 ninth inning. With the win, the Sounds have now won seven straight games for the first time since April 23 – 30 of 2010.
The series comes to a close tomorrow night at First Tennessee Park. Looking for the sweep, the Sounds will send Zach Neal to the mound. The right-hander will attempt to secure his fourth win in as many starts with Nashville. Tyler Pill will get the ball for Las Vegas. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m.
Manchester Man Dies In One-Vehicle Crash
Jonathan Micah Esslinger, 30, of Manchester was driving a 2007 Nissan Titan pickup along Parker Road late Thursday night when he lost control on a curve. According to a Tennessee Highway Patrol report, Esslinger’s truck ran off the right side of the roadway around midnight, striking a brick mailbox, two concrete columns and a culvert. The vehicle then overturned and came to rest on its wheels.
Esslinger was pronounced dead at a Manchester hospital where he was transported by Coffee County EMS.
Coffee County Sheriff’s Department personnel and firemen with the New Union Volunteer Fire Department assisted the THP at the scene.
Man Who Found Crashed Plane, Drowns At Same Location 3 Weeks Later
The body of 64-year-old Richard E. Lane was discovered Friday afternoon in a creek on the Mulberry farm where a small single-engine plane had crashed in early May.
Law enforcement says that the man apparently fell into a creek on the property and drowned.
In an odd twist to this story, Lane was the person who discovered the crashed airplane on May 4 on the same property.
The creek is located along Steelman Road just off Highway 50 near the Moore County/Lincoln County line.
The body of Forty-six-year-old Linda Bauman of Belvidere was found by Lane when she was killed in the plane crash on May 4.
Rescue Made At Short Springs Natural Area
Tullahoma Fire Chief Richard Shasteen worked to coordinate fire, rescue and police along with sheriff department personnel following a fall by a female at the Short Springs Natural Area last week. The victim, who fell from a trail near the Bobo Creek and Machine Falls Branch split, was reportedly awake when rescuers reached her and suffered non-life threatening injuries. Coffee County deputies, Rescue, EMS and EMA, as well as Tullahoma Fire and Rescue and Police responded. Tullahoma Police Department closed the 420-acre state-owned natural area to non-essential personnel for about an hour during the rescue,
Court Denies Deportation Relief for Undocumented in Tennessee
Undocumented people in Tennessee will continue to wait to see if they will have relief through President Obama’s deportation relief programs, after the Fifth Circuit Court denied a request from an emergency stay. Photo credit: kconnors/morguefile.com
County Unemployment rates Drop Across Tennessee
County unemployment rates in Tennessee for April show the rates decreased in 94 counties and increased in only one county.
Coffee County went from 5.6 to 4.9 percent, the lowest amount in a number of years. The numbers show 1,240 people without a job in Coffee County. Grundy County went from 8.4 to 7.3 percent. Cannon County decreased from 6.4 percent to 5.2. Bedford County fell from 6.6 to 5.8 percent. Franklin County dropped from 5.2 to 4.8. Moore County went from 4.6 percent to 4.2 and in Warren County the unemployment rate dropped from 6.1 to 5.5 percent. Williamson County had the state’s lowest unemployment at 3.7 percent, while Scott County had the highest at 8.9 percent.