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High-Speed Chase Sends Female To Jail

Police car2The passenger in a vehicle involved in a Nov. 7th high-speed chase has been sentenced in Warren County General Sessions Court.
29 year old Tammy Crusinberry pled guilty to charges of evading arrest and possession of drug paraphernalia. She was ordered to serve 12 days of an 11 month 29 day sentence.
Crusinberry was the passenger in vehicle that led officers on a high-speed chase to the Viola area before coming to rest in a field. The car, driven by 24 year old Steffen Brady, ran a deputy’s car off the road, slightly injuring the officer. Crusinberry and Brady were both wanted by police. Brady for violation of parole and Cruisinberry for violation of probation. The pursuit began in McMinnville and included officers from Grundy and Coffee Counties. Brady and Cruisinberry fled on foot. Brady was caught quickly by deputies and Cruisinberry was captured by a TWRA officer.
Brady still faces numerous charges.

Shelbyville School Gets $970,000 Grant

Tennessee College of Applied Technology in ShelbyvilleTennessee Gov. Bill Haslam announced Thursday the recipients of the Labor Education Alignment Program (LEAP) competition, a state effort focused on increasing opportunities for Tennesseans to obtain a certificate or degree beyond high school that is aligned with the needs of the workforce in their communities.
“These types of intentional partnerships between local agencies and their colleges or TCATS are what we want to see across the state as a significant piece of the Drive to 55 initiative,” Haslam said. “Tying the training and skills that our colleges are teaching directly to current workforce needs will help more Tennesseans qualify for good paying, high quality jobs.”
Tennessee College of Applied Technology in Shelbyville will receive a $970,000 grant as part of the Labor Education Alignment Program (LEAP).
Funded by a $10 million appropriation by the General Assembly, the LEAP competition required applicants to respond to a competitive Request for Proposals that was released in September.

Toy Guns and High Tech: Gifts with a Risk of Eye Injury

Toy guns are the most often cited culprits when it comes to toys and childhood eye injuries in the U.S. Photo credit: Jamie Wallace/Flickr.

Toy guns are the most often cited culprits when it comes to toys and childhood eye injuries in the U.S. Photo credit: Jamie Wallace/Flickr.

As parents across Tennessee continue to pack the malls and stores, they’re being reminded that some gifts for their kids that may bring joy could also bring pain. Each year in the United States, thousands of accidents each year involving children and toys result in eye injuries and even blindness. Optometrist Jessica Schara said some of the more dangerous toys include “BB guns, paint guns, slingshots, darts – anything that’s a projectile. But even things like chemistry sets, woodworking sets, crafts that involve scissors and glue can also be dangerous.” Schara also said parents need to heed the age recommendations of toy manufacturers and teach their kids about safe use. One common toy-related eye injury is a corneal abrasion, but Schara said she also has treated kids with more serious trauma, including orbital bone fractures and detached retinas. “What’s important for everybody to know is, if there is any sort of eye injury, you really should seek the advice of an eye-care practitioner,” she said, “because sometimes there are things that aren’t visible deep inside the eye that might be going on, that could potentially lead to vision loss.” Toys that could do physical harm to a child’s eyes, however, are not the only danger to vision that may come wrapped up under the tree. Schara pointed to all those tech gadgets and screen time. “Blue light from things like tablets, smart phones, computers and even the TVs can cause computer vision eye strain.” For kids and adults who have long periods of screen time, one recommendation is to follow the 20-20-20 rule: taking a 20-second break every 20 minutes, and viewing something 20 feet away. A safe-toy checklist from Prevent Blindness is online at preventblindness.org.

Be Safe! Close the Door

Manchester Fire & Rescue Chief George DeShields presenting a program on closing the door... Photos by Samantha Watters

Manchester Fire & Rescue Chief George DeShields presenting a program on closing the door… Photos by Samantha Watters

Every year a new theme is chosen for Fire Prevention Week which is held in early October to promote good safety habits. This year’s 2014 Fire Prevention week theme was Close the Door. Most people remember Stop, Drop, & Roll when they think of fire safety, but did you know that the simple act of sleeping with your bedroom door closed could help save your life in case of a fire? That’s right.

Closing the door could save your life.

Closing the door could save your life.

While the room temperature of the fireside of a door can reach up to 700 degrees, the room temperature behind the closed door can be below 90 degrees and allow you to stay in manageable temperatures until help can arrive. To learn more about the Close the Door concept and to help teach good safety habits for the coming year to your children, be sure and watch the all new Thunder TV News Video at WMSRradio.com.

12/16/14 —— Tammy Jo Lewis

Tammy Jo Lewis, of Tullahoma,passed this life on Thursday, December 11th, 2014 at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville at the age of 37.

Ms. Lewis was born in Tullahoma to the late Claborn T. Lewis and Betty Jo Rolman Lewis of Tullahoma who survives.

She was a member of Turkey Creek United Methodist Church.

In addition to her mother, she is survived by her sister, Carolyn Chapin of Moore County; two brothers, Mark Lewis and Chris Lewis, both of Moore County; two sons, Nathanel and Blake Lewis of Moore County; and several aunts, uncles, and cousins.

Visitation for Ms. Lewis will be held on Monday, December 15th, 2014 from 5:00-8:00 pm at Kilgore Funeral Home.

Funeral Services will be held on Tuesday, December 16th, 2014 at 11:00 am in the Kilgore Funeral Home Chapel with Bro. Jeff Swinford officiating.

Burial will follow at Franklin Memorial Gardens in Winchester.

Kilgore Funeral Home in charge of arrangements.Flower 6

John L. Sullivan

Mr. John L. Sullivan passed away Thursday, December 11, 2014 at his home following a long illness.

His daughter Lisa Needham of Van Buren, Arkansas lovingly recalls “my dad never complained and he was the hardest working man I ever knew”.

Memorial services will be planned at a later time in his home state of Oklahoma.

Daves-Culbertson Funeral Home in charge of arrangements.flower 12

 

Coffee County Youth Basketball League Results from Saturday

basketballThe Coffee County Youth Basketball League ended their regular season on Saturday with a full slate of games at the Joe Frank Patch Memorial Gymnasium. Results were as follows:
Girls
Westwood 25, College Street 6
Deerfield 24, Hickerson 22
Hillsboro 15, New Union 8
North Coffee 32, East Coffee 10

Boys
College Street 37, Westwood 9
Deerfield 30, Hickerson 21
New Union 12, Hillsboro 10
North Coffee 23, East Coffee 8

The unofficial league standings are
Girls
1st – Westwood 7-0
2nd – Hillsboro 6-1
3rd (tie) – New Union 4-3
3rd (tie) – College Street 4-3
3rd (tie) – North Coffee 4-3
6th – Deerfield 2-5
7th – Hickerson 1-6
8th – East Coffee 0-7

Boys
1st – College Street 7-0
2nd – Westwood 6-1
3rd – Deerfield 4-3
4th – New Union 4-3
5th – North Coffee 4-3
6th – Hillsboro 2-5
7th – East Coffee 1-6
8th – Hickerson 0-7

The post season tournament will begin on January 10th beginning at 9 AM at Coffee County Central High. Pairings and game times will be announced later. The league championship, and cheerleading championship, will take place on January 24th.

CHS Basketball Drops a Pair to Franklin County

CHS sophomore basketball player Holli Smithson

CHS sophomore basketball player Holli Smithson

A hot shooting first 10 minutes gave the Lady Raiders a 30 to 16 lead over Franklin County on Friday night in high school basketball action at the Joe Frank Patch Gymnasium.  The Rebelettes clawed their way back into the contest to cut the deficit to 2 points at halftime.  A physical Rebelette defensive attack and eighteen 2nd half turnovers by Coffee County helped Franklin County build a 10 point lead in the 4th quarter and hold on for the 65 to 58 win.  Tyger Fenton led Coffee County in scoring with 13 points to earn the Gateway Tire and Service Center player of the game award.  Cameron Davis had three 1st National Bank 3 pointers to finish with 15 points and Holli Smithson netted 10.

CHS senior basketball player J.P. Duncan

CHS senior basketball player J.P. Duncan

Getting out-muscled on the defensive glass allowed the Rebels of Franklin County to score at least 20 second chance points in dropping the Red Raiders 60 to 48.  The Red Raiders had a strong 1st half as well as they led by as many as 9 points before a 2nd quarter Franklin County rally gave the Rebels a 28 to 27 lead at the half.  The Red Raiders made a charge in the middle of the 4th quarter, but foul trouble smothered the rally  at the foul line as Coffee County was forced to foul Franklin County down the stretch.  Peyton Talley led Coffee County scoring as he poured in 14 points to earn the Gateway Tire and Service Center player of the game award.  Wyatt Day finished with 12 points while J.P. Duncan added 10 points.

Download the Podcast

The Raiders and Lady Raiders will travel to Fayetteville on Tuesday night as they will take on the Tigers of Fayetteville High School.  The girls game will begin at 6 PM.  We will have that broadcast for you here on Thunder Radio with the Lawrence Family Motors Pregame Show beginning at 5:50.

CHS Wrestlers Fall in Home Matches on Thursday

Joel Singleton

CHS wrestler Joel Singleton(top in the red headgear) battles for advantage with a Cookeville wrestler at 126 pounds on Thursday night.

The Central High School wrestling team welcomed Centennial and Cookeville to the Joe Frank Patch Memorial Gym on Thursday night as they hosted a meet between the 3 schools.  In the opening match versus Cookeville, the Raiders jumped out to a 12 to 0 lead thanks to pin fall wins from Chase Pruitt(wrestling at 152) and Matthew DeLong(160).  The deeper and more experienced Cookeville team responded winning the next 8 matches before Joel Singleton got a pin in just over a minute to give Coffee County a win at 126.  This sparked a rally of sorts for Coffee County as Owen Teague(132) and David Tate(138) responded with wins, but the Raiders fell by a final score of 51 to 30.

In the nightcap, Coffee County won 6 of the first eight matches as they built a seemingly safe 36 to 18 lead with 5 matches to go.  Winning for Coffee County were Austin Payne (at 182), Joshua Tobitt(195), Trenton Garner(220), Dustin Seals(285), Brandon Baumstein(113) and Joel Singleton(126).  At that point, Centennial won the next two hard fought matches by decision which tightened the score and turned the momentum to the visitors.  Centennial got pin fall wins in the last 3 bouts to capture the match 44 to 36.

The CHS grapplers travel to Siegel on Monday to take on Siegel and Franklin Co in a tri-match.  The matches will begin at 6:00 PM.

Middle School Basketball Roundup from Thursday

CCMS basketball player Jacey Vaughn prepares to shoot a free throw in a recent game.

CCMS basketball player Jacey Vaughn prepares to shoot a free throw in a recent game.

A 16 point first quarter turned out to be all the Coffee County Middle School Lady Raider basketball team needed on Thursday night as they rolled up North Franklin 45 to 11.  The tenacious Lady Raider defense held North Franklin to 3 field goals in the contest and none in the 1st or 4th periods.  Julia Duncan led the Lady Raiders in scoring with 12 points, while Jacey Vaughn netted 10.  Abby Morgan scored 8 points and Alisha Jennings added 6 as the Lady Raiders improved to 11 and 1 on the year.

CCMS basketball player Andrew Mahaffey brings the ball up the floor

CCMS basketball player Andrew Mahaffey brings the ball up the floor

The Red Raiders made it a clean sweep as they stopped the Gators 19 to 15.  With the teams tied at 13 going into the 4th quarter, the Red Raiders defense clamped down on North in the final frame to take the win.  Weston Hargrove scored all six 4th quarter points for Coffee County.  Andrew Mahaffey was the high scorer for Coffee County as he finished with 8 points.  The win was the 2nd straight for Coffee County to improve to 7 and 5 on the year.  Coffee Middle will be at home on Monday night as they play host to Warren County.  The girls’ game will tip off at 6 PM.


Westwood Lady Rocket Morgan Jones looks to make an entry pass into the post in recent middle school action... Photos by Dennis Weaver

Westwood Lady Rocket Morgan Jones looks to make an entry pass into the post in recent middle school action… Photos by Dennis Weaver

Shawn Anderson

Westwood Rocket basketball player Shawn Anderson

The Lady Rockets of Westwood raced out to a 17 to 1 lead after 1 period of play and coasted to a 34 to 17 win at Liberty on Thursday night.  Nine different Lady Rockets scored on the night as Coach Angela Houck was able to play all 15 players that she dressed out.  Morgan Jones led the offensive charge as she netted 9 points while Ashley Starks and Haley Miller each netted 7 points.

The Rockets spotted Liberty a 6 point lead at the half as they dropped the nightcap by a final score of 41 to 32.  Liberty used a strong 4th quarter to quell the Westwood comeback attempt as they were red hot from the field.  The Rockets were led in scoring by Marcus Pendleton who had 10 points while Chase Simpkins added 7 points and Shawn Anderson notched 5 points.  Westwood will be at home on Thursday night as they welcome Moore County to the Joel Vinson Gym.  That game will tip off at 6 and will feature the Teddy Bear Toss coming up between the 2 contests.  Our sister station, The Ticket Radio, will broadcast the game beginning at 5:50.  Fans can tune in at 105.1 FM both in the gym and at home.  The game will also be available online at TheTicketRadio.com