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Two Grundy County Men Arrested In McMinnville
A traffic stop conducted by McMinnville police led to the arrest of two Grundy County residents on meth charges.
32 year old Mark Johnson was driving a vehicle that was pulled over because of illegal window tint. During the stop, the officer was informed that Johnson was wanted for violation of probation out of Shelby County. A search of his vehicle turned up a large amount of methamphetamine along with a 40 caliber derringer underneath the front passenger seat.
Johnson and a passenger, 30 year old Shae Lewis, both of Tracy City, were arrested and charged with possession of meth. Johnson also faces a firearms charge.
TVA Doing Away With 2,000 Jobs
The nation’s largest public utility is eliminating more than 2,000 jobs as part of a $500 million cost-cutting campaign.
The Chattanooga Times Free Press reports the Tennessee Valley Authority is making the cuts this year to trim expenses and make electric rates in the Tennessee Valley more competitive with neighboring utilities.
Most of the staff reductions are being made by not filling vacant jobs and through retirements and resignations by the end of next month.
TVA President Bill Johnson said this week that the voluntary reduction offers were well received and avoided the need for massive firings, although some employees are being laid off.
The staff cuts are the agency’s largest in more than two decades.
Claybusters Win Championship
Photo and information provided by Mark Williams
Congratulations goes out to the Coffee County High School Claybusters. Squad 1 placed 3rd overall in the nation at the ATA, AIM Grand National Championships in Sparta, Illinois after several days of shooting. Squad members are Derek Anderson, Megan Watters, Hunter Green, Travis Dickson & Brent Williams. The Claybusters are coached by Ben Loveless, Craig Hafer & Eddie Reagan.
7/814 —- John Glen Stark
John Glen Stark, age 52 of Bradyville, Tennessee, passed away on August 5, 2014.
He was preceded in death by his parents, the late Donald L. Stark and Minnie L. Leggett Stark.
He is survived by his sister, Brenda K. Hicks and her husband Eugene of Bradyville, TN; two brothers, Reverend Tony L. Stark and his wife Kathy of Tampa, FL and Gary W. Stark and wife Deenie of Harvest, AL; and a host of other relatives and friends.
Visitation will be on Thursday evening, August 7, 2014 from 6:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. at the Central Funeral Home in Manchester.
The Funeral Service will be conducted on Friday afternoon, August 8, 2014 at 1:00 p.m. from the Chapel of Central Funeral Home with Reverend Tony L. Stark and Gary W. Stark officiating.
Burial will follow at the Rose Hill Memorial Gardens.
CENTRAL FUNERAL HOME of Manchester, TN in Charge of Arrangements. 
CCMS Football Opens Season with a Shutout
The Coffee County Middle School football team opened their 2014 season with a resounding 46 to 0 thumping of Winfred Bryant in Lebanon on Tuesday night. Robert Brandon rushed for 2 TD’s for the Raiders as they built a 32 to 0 lead at the half. Josh Sanders, Blanton Brown, Andrew Mahaffey & Tanner Hulvey also had TD’s for the Raiders as they scored on every offensive possession of the night. Defensively, the Raider defense held Winfred Bryant to negative yards for the contest. The defense was tested one time, but stopped the Aviator’s on a 4th and goal from the 17 on the game’s last play from scrimmage. The Raiders will return to varsity action on August 19th as they travel to Whitwell for a 6:30 PM game.
Manchester-Tullahoma Named Top Micropolitan Area
Manchester City Seal photo by Samantha Watters
Local companies are expanding, entering new markets and hiring employees. The unemployment rate for the Tullahoma-Manchester Micropolitan Statistical Area went from 7.2% to 6.2% in this past year.
POLICOM Corporation is an independent economics research firm based in Palm City, Florida, which specializes in analyzing local and state economies and economic development. The index takes into account the condition of the economy from the viewpoint of its impact upon the standard of living of the people who live and work in the area.
A Micropolitan Statistical Area in the United States is defined by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) as urban areas based around an urban cluster with a population of 10,000 to 49,999. The designation is based on the city’s core population and not that of a whole area.
A Micropolitan Statistical Area is a geographic entity used for statistical purposes based on counties and county-equivalents.
Tennessee Sets Voting Record
Early voting for August elections ended Saturday and the final numbers were record-setting.
Over 564,000 people across the state cast their ballots by August 2 this year.
In Coffee County, 5,668 people voted. The most ballots cast in one day was August 1, with 583 people voting.
To view the rest of the voting numbers around the state, visit the Tennessee Election Commission’s website.
Election Day is tomorrow (Thursday August 7). Citizens are encouraged to vote early this year due to the length of the ballot.
For that same reason, voters are expected to be met with long lines Thursday.
Polls in Coffee County open at 8am and close at 7pm.
WMSR “Thunder Radio” (107.9FM, AM 1320 and wmsrradio.com) and WHMT “The Ticket” (105.1FM, AM 740 and theticketradio.com) will broadcast live election results beginning at 7pm Thursday night.
More Paving Scheduled To Start In Tullahoma, Includes Highway 55 and 41-A
Paving taking place this week in Tullahoma.. Photo by Winston Brooks
The Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) Crews will resurface these sections roads:
1. 55 from the Moore County line to 41-A
2. 55 from the Viaduct to Industrial Blvd
3. 41-A from the Viaduct to the Franklin County line
During this construction, traffic may be reduced to one lane, which must accommodate two-way traffic. Expect delays and seek alternative routes.
Motorists should be aware of the reduced lanes and watch out for workers in the construction zone and exercise caution.
Motorists should always obey reduced speed limits in work zones, regardless of any lane closure activity.
Questions concerning these paving projects should be directed to the Wayne Limbaugh at Public Works at 931-454-1768.
$81 Million Loss For TVA
The Tennessee Valley Authority had an $81 million loss during the third quarter, much larger than the $12 million loss sustained by the power provider during the same period in 2013.
The TVA blamed the losses on lower electricity sales. Total sales were down 3% through the first nine months when compared with the same period a year ago, due largely to the closing of U.S. Enrichment Corp.’s facilities in Paducah, Kentucky, later in 2013. USEC was TVA’s largest directly served industrial customer at the time, according to a TVA news release.
A three-year strategy by the TVA to reduce operating and maintenance spending by $500 million by the end of fiscal 2015 is part of the agency’s efforts to reduce costs and increase efficiencies.
Total operating revenues increased 1.9% in the third quarter as higher operating revenues in the third quarter were primarily due to a $94 million increase in fuel cost recovery, which was partially offset by a $41 million decrease in base revenue.
Lady Raider Golfers Break All School Records In Murfreesboro Tournament
L-R Hollee Sadler, Head Coach Mike Ray, Savannah Quick and Sophie Vinson
The Coffee County Lady Raiders traveled to Eagleville on Tuesday for the Murfreesboro Invitational at Champions Run. The trip paid off for the ladies as they picked up their second championship trophy of the year, after winning the Tullahoma tournament last month.
The Lady Raiders of Coffee County broke the school record for the lowest score for 18 holes as a team with a 7-under par 137. The ladies finished 7 shots ahead of Warren County.
Sophomore Sophie Vinson who played as the #3 player for Coffee County carded the lowest score of her career with a 68, finishing in a tie for first. Hannah Powell of Warren County won the tournament in a playoff. Vinson’s 4-under par 68 is also the lowest score as an individual in school history. Sophie shot 33 on the first 9 holes, also a school record. Senior Hollee Sadler, who has committed to play college golf at Tennessee Tech finish in a tie for 3rd in the tournament with a 69, her personal best. Sophomore Savannah Quick finished in 5th place overall with an even-par 72, also her personal best.
Head Coach Mike Ray said after the match that he is so impressed with how hard the girls are working. He added that they want to improve each match and today they proved that.
The Lady Raiders are now 20-0 on the season.