Author's posts
10/4/14 — James Lauren Reed
James graduated from Tullahoma High School in 1991. He attended Harding University in Searcy, Arkansas and graduated with a BS degree from Middle Tennessee State University in Murfreesboro Tennessee. He earned a BA at Southern Arkansas University. From Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona he received a Specialist Degree in Literature.
James’ chosen sport was football. After college ball and pro camps, he signed an NFL contract through his agent in Dallas, Texas, but suffered a career ending injury shortly thereafter. He turned his interest to education, tutored Spanish in various locations, taught Physical Education, coached basketball and varsity baseball at Middle Tennessee Christian School in Christiana, Tennessee. James was a youth minister in Tullahoma, Tennessee and Magnolia, Arkansas and substitute teacher in the Ark-La-Tex area before departing for Barcelona, Spain, where he taught English for the last twelve years of his life at FIAC Escola D’idiomes in Sabadell, Spain. James was always voted a favorite among his students, many of whom have recently corresponded in very good English to express their great sorrow at his passing.
An excellent public speaker, James was an avid reader, perpetual student of literature (especially the classics), and a published author. He enjoyed learning about past civilizations, cultures and belief systems, math, physics and astronomy. He enjoyed sports, outdoor activities, boating and fishing. James possessed a wonderful sense of humor and had many hilarious stories he enjoyed sharing. He had a large, open, bright mind and a quiet wisdom. He loved people. Perhaps his greatest accomplishment was the kindness he shared with all those he met.
James departed this world on September 22, 2014, leaving behind his mother, Laurie Smith of Tullahoma, Tennessee, his father and step-mother, Jim Reed and Rene’ Reed of Texarkana, Texas, brother Jon Reed (Barbara) of Murfreesboro, Tennessee, his girlfriend, Sandra Ullot Sanchez of Sabadell, Spain, Grandmother, Ardys Pyles of Tullahoma, Tennessee, two step-brothers of Murfreesboro, Tennessee, Monty Smith (Kim) and Brandon Smith, a step-brother, Lincoln Levealle of Waco, Texas, a step-sister, Laura Levealle of Plano, Texas and a step-sister, Lynda Peebles (Mason) of Sanger, Texas among a number of other relatives. He was preceded in death by his step-father, Clyde Smith, Jr. of Tullahoma, Tennessee.
A memorial service will be held at Daves – Culbertson Funeral Home on Saturday, October 25, 2014, with visitation at 10:00 a.m. and service at 11:00 a.m.
Arrangements by Daves-Culbertson Funeral Home
Lady Raider Volleyball Falls on Senior Night
Coming off a regular season district championship, the Lady Raider volleyball team hosted former district foe White County for Senior Night on Thursday Night at the Joe Frank Patch Gym. The Lady Raiders battled hard before falling to the Warriors 3 sets to 1. White County claimed the first 2 sets 23 and 17 before Coffee County rallied back with a 25 to 19 3rd set win. White County closed it out in the 4th set 25 to 22 to drop Coffee County’s record to 26 and 13 on the season. Senior Valaina Barger was solid at the net leading the team in kills with 10 and blocks with 3. Senior Cameron Davis added 9 kills and 2 aces. Senior Sara Brown had 15 digs while senior Brittany Williams had 19 assists. The Lady Raiders travel to Murfreesboro on Friday night for a 5:30 match at Middle Tennessee Christian
The 2014 CHS Volleyball seniors and their parents are honored before Thursday’s match with White County
Two People Injured In Thursday Crash In Manchester
Emergency crews working the accident scene at Thursday night crash in Manchester… Photo by Barry West
An accident on Thursday night sent two people to the hospital in Manchester. According to authorities a Toyota pickup and a passenger car apparently were rear-ended by a 3-wheel vehicle at the Hwy 41/55 intersection. The 3-wheel vehicle overturned in the roadway. Manchester Fire & Rescue responded to the scene and cut the roof off the 3-wheel car to free the driver. Coffee County EMS then transported the driver to a local hospital. The driver of the passenger car was also transported to the hospital with a neck injury. The driver of pickup was not injured. No names were released.
Manchester Police investigating the cause of the accident.
Lady Raiders Come Close In Upset Bid
Alex Ellison plays the ball forward for Coffee County in a recent soccer match… Photo by Dennis Weaver
Lady Raider’s soccer had a home game Thursday night against Central Magnet. The Murfreesboro school was undefeated at 15-0 on season headed into the match. Alex Ellison scored on an assist by Makenzie Anderson in 35th minute of the first half to help Coffee County to a 1-0 lead at halftime. Central Magnet scored twice in the 2nd half to propel them to their 16th win. The Lady Raiders failed to score in the 2nd half.
The district tournament is up next for Coffee County.
Rockets Wrap Up Football Season
Westwood halfback Leo Botello(#20) fights for extra yardage against Eagleville in Thursday’s 30 to 22 home loss.
In middle school football action on Thursday night the Westwood Rockets hosted Eagleville. Rocket Byron Sullivan got the scoring started with a 31 yard TD on the reverse. Westwood led Eagleville 6 to 0 with 7:46 left in first half. Eagleville scored twice in the 2nd quarter and got both 2-point conversions to lead 16-6 at halftime. Jake Hollandsworth ran in a TD from 2 yards out to cut the lead to 16-14 after the conversion. Eagleville would score again in the 3rd to grab a 22-14 advantage. Leo Botello scored for the Rockets and got the conversion to tie the game at 22 with 5:48 left in the game. Eagleville would take the lead at 30-22 on TD run with 1:16 remaining in the contest and would hold on for the win.
The heartbreaking loss ended the season for Westwood.
10/2/14
Birthdays:
Benjamin Bratcher, 25 — Pizza Winner!
Tara Green
Logan Fann
City of Manchester Receives Grant
Gov. Bill Haslam has announced more than $28 million in community development grants to help improve infrastructure, health and safety projects and downtown improvements.
Seventy cities and counties around the state received the block grants under Wednesday’s announcement.
Haslam said the improvements help communities attract investment and jobs.
The state grants ranged from $88,000 to $525,000, with local governments matching some of that total.
Other grants are funding fire protection, housing rehabilitation, ambulance services and drainage improvements.
The City of Manchester will receive $315,000 for drainage improvements. The city will spend $55,589 for a total of $370,589.
Duck River Electric Membership Corp. Makes Donation
DREMC officials present a $10,000 check to the Imagination Library in conjunction with the “Governor’s Books from Birth 10th Anniversary Tour.” From left are CoBank’s Bill LaDuca, vice president, Electric Distribution Division; Shelia Orrell, DREMC Director of Financial Services; First Lady Crissy Haslam; DREMC Board Chairman, Brent Willis and Theresa Carl, President of the Governor’s Books from Birth Foundation
DREMC and CoBank each contributed $5,000 through the matching grant program. The financial assistance means more children can be enrolled to receive books by mail in rural areas served by the co-op.
“Our board of directors voted unanimously to apply for the grant. We see great value in supporting childhood education and development. It improves the quality of life for our co-op members, families and communities,” said DREMC President/CEO Michael Watson.
The Governor’s Books from Birth Foundation, celebrating its 10th anniversary with a statewide bus tour, received the grant on behalf of the Imagination Library programs in Coffee, Franklin, Bedford, Maury, Marshall, Moore and Giles counties.
Books from Birth partners with Imagination Library and 95 county affiliates to provide funding for books and distribution to the homes of enrolled children up to age 5.
The Books from Birth Foundation encourages childhood reading and involving kids at an early age with books. Exposure to books helps develop strong speech, vocabulary and life skills.
TBI Needs Help Identifying Elderly Woman Found Deceased 7 Years Ago
Composite drawing of the woman found 7 years ago.
Efforts to determine who she was since her body was found in February 2007 have not yet led to her identity, so agents hope someone seeing her description may recognize her.
The woman is a white female, approximately 5’2” to 5’5”, weighing between 110 and 120 pounds. She has reddish-brown shoulder-length hair and hazel eyes and appears to have been in her mid to late 60’s. Medical examiners say she had a golf ball-sized tumor on the right side of her neck, and a hernia that protruded from her stomach.
When she was found the victim was wearing a light pink turtleneck, a pink sweater, a purple skirt, beige panty hose and a blue fur-lined coat.
Anyone with information about this woman’s identity is encouraged to call the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation at 1-800-TBI-FIND.
October National Domestic Violence Awareness Month
On September 30, 2014, President Barack Obam proclaimed October 2014 as National Domestic Violence Awareness Month.
According to the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence (NCADV), nearly 20 people per minute are victims of physical violence by an intimate partner in the United States. 1 in 3 women and 1 in 4 men have experienced some form of physical violence by an intimate partner within their lifetime. Intimate partner violence accounts for 15% of all violent crime.
Domestic violence can result in physical injury, psychological trauma, and in severe cases, even death. The devastating consequences of domestic violence can cross generations and last a lifetime.
If you need help, dial the national domestic violence hotline at: 1-800-799-SAFE (7233).