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Serious Motorcycle Wreck on Wednesday
A serious motorcycle accident on Wattendorf Highway at I-24 on Wednesday afternoon. Ryan Rathmann, a 37 year old Cowan resident, was seriously injured as the motorcycle that he was operating collided with a Ford Ranger Pickup operated by Nicholas Galyner of Manchester. According to the preliminary accident report, Galyner was traveling northbound on Wattendorf Highway and attempted to cross the center line to merge onto the onramp to I-24 at mile marker 117. Rathmann was traveling southbound on Wattendorf Highway when he collided with the Ford Ranger truck. Rathmann suffered serious injuries, including a broken arm and broken leg. Rathmann was airlifted to Erlanger Hospital in Chattanooga where he underwent surgery. His condition was unknown at press time.
Suspects Flee from Authorities on I-24 in Rutherford County
Two suspects were pursued after they fled from a traffic stop about 10 a.m. Thursday on Interstate 24, a Rutherford County Sheriff’s supervisor said. Deputy Travis Perusse of the Interstate Crime Enforcement Unit stopped the driver of the 2014 black Ford Explorer for a traffic violation near the 85-mile marker eastbound, said Lt. Chris Haynes. While talking to the driver and passenger, one jumped into the Explorer and drove away while the second one ran toward the tree line, the lieutenant said. Perusse tried to stop the driver but he and other deputies and detectives were unable to catch up with him. “We are trying to positively identify who they are,” Lt. Haynes said. ICE deputies, patrol deputies and detectives and K-9 officers searched for both suspects. Law enforcement agencies from all surrounding counties were notified to watch for the suspects. Thanks to our partner station WGNS for the story.
Raider Academy Ribbon Cutting
Coffee County Raider Academy principal Angela Gribble cuts the ribbon to open the new Raider Academy.
The Manchester Area Chamber of Commerce hosted a ribbon cutting presentation at the recently remodeled Raider Academy on Thursday. The Raider Academy is the new home in Coffee County for freshmen high school students has enrolled almost 550 students for the current school term. Principal Angela Mankin Gribble spoke to the large crowd on hand and thanked the businesses that helped make the summer remodeling job a success. Following a red carpet entrance, Mankin handled the ceremonial ribbon cutting and gave a tour of the facility. The Raider Academy is located in the former Coffee County Middle School building at 865 McMinnville Highway in Manchester.
The inaugural class of students, along with Raider Academy staff and teachers, pose for a class picture.
Photo is courtesy of Stephen Nabors – Lifetouch National School Studios Inc.
Early Voting Update
Saturday is the last day to early vote for the August 7th state primaries and county and municipal general elections in Coffee County. Turnout this season has been remarkably strong as 4,653 voters had cast their early ballots through Thursday. Voters may cast ballots at 2 locations, the Election Commission office in the Coffee County Administrative Plaza at 1329 McArthur Street in Manchester and the C. D. Stamps Center located at 810 South Jackson Street in Tullahoma. The Election Commission office is open from 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM today and 8:30 AM to Noon on Saturday. C.D. Stamps is open from 9:00 AM to 4:30 PM today and 9:00 AM to Noon on Saturday. Early voting ends on Saturday.
Manchester Schools Set to Open Friday
The 2014-2015 school year begins on Friday for the Manchester City School system as student and teachers will report for an abbreviated day at 8 AM. The Manchester City Schools are expecting over 1,300 students in the system this school year. The system serves the community with 2 elementary schools along with Westwood Middle School. Dr. Keith Brewer, Director of schools for the system, says that students will be present from 8 AM to 9 AM on Friday, with the first full day being Monday.
Farmers Markets Continue to Grow with Technology’s Help
As more and more Tennesseans seek out farmers markets for their produce, Tennesseans can now find the nearest farmers market within seconds through a new mobile app. The Pick Tennessee mobile app is a free and easy app that can help you find farms, farmers markets, foods and fun closest to you, wherever you are. It allows you to search by item (for example, “apples”), by region of the state, or by season. Pick Tennessee will get you where you’re going through direct GPS mapping. Some of the great farm direct and local items you can find on this app include local fruits and vegetables, wineries, greenhouses and plant nurseries, Christmas tree farms, plus local honey. You can find the farms where they’re produced, or the markets where they’re sold. Coffee County is home to 4 local farmers markets, 2 in Manchester and 2 in Tullahoma. The Tullahoma Farmers Market is open on Wednesday morning from 6 AM to Noon in the parking lot of Trinity Lutheran Church at 705 Wilson Avenue. The Tullahoma Locally Grown, or TLG, farmers market is an online farmers market where customers can place their order online for pick up each Thursday afternoon at First Christian Church. The 2 Manchester farmers markets are both open on Saturdays. Community Market is located at the intersection of Campbell Lane and Woodbury Hwy beside the Manchester Recreation Complex. It is open 9 to 1. The Coffee County Farmers Market is located on Fort Street, across from the Duck River Electric office. It is open from “daylight to noon.” Pick Tennessee Products is the longstanding statewide campaign by the Tennessee Department of Agriculture to connect customers to locally grown or made products and farm-related activities. The completely free service currently lists about 2,000 farmers with about 10,000 items.
Hillsboro Truck and Tractor Pull begins TONIGHT
Photo compliments of Hillsboro Homecoming Association
The 15th Annual Truck and Tractor Pull begins tonight at the Hillsboro Community Park. Classes include 7 tractor classes such as Super Stock and Pro Stock; 5 truck classes, from diesel to all wheel drive; and even a Big Block Hot Rod class. The action starts at 7 tonight and Saturday and admission is $10 for adults and $5 for kids on Friday and $15 for Adults and $5 for kids on Saturday. Come on out to Hillsboro for great food and fun and bring the whole family along. WMSR will be broadcasting LIVE on Friday beginning at 4 PM at the park, so come early and bring your lawn chair. The event is hosted by the Hillsboro Homecoming Association and all proceeds from the event go to fund projects to “make Hillsboro a cleaner, safer, and more attractive place to live, work, and play.”
Thursday Prep Sports Update
Savannah Quick hits a drive in Thursday’s match with Oakland at Willowbrook
In local sports on your Thursday, the Coffee County CHS girls golf team continued their sterling early season performance with an 18 hole win over Oakland on Thursday at WIllowbrook. The Lady Raiders were led in scoring by Savannah Quick who carded a 74 and Hollee Sadler who shot a 75 and to give the Lady Raiders a 149 to 207 win over the Lady Patriots. Jacque Crossland finished with an 81 and Sophie Vinson shot an 82 for the Lady Raiders. The girls travel to Eagleville on Tuesday for the Murfreesboro Invitational at Champions Run. That tournament tees off at 8 AM.
Andrew Mahaffey breaks up a pass completion from his defensive position in Thursday’s scrimmage with Rock Springs
The Coffee Middle School welcomed Rock Springs of Smyrna to their new practice field on Thursday for a scrimmage. Coach Brock Freeze was pleased with his perimeter blocking and running, along with his teams conditioning. He and his staff will look over film on Friday but admits that work has to be done in the interior of the line before Tuesday’s season opener at Winfred Bryant Middle in Lebanon
The Westwood Rockets held their 9th annual Blue/White game on Thursday as they began to wrap up their preseason practices. The Rockets got good performances from his skill position players and his defensive players. The Rockets will take on Forrest Middle on Friday night at 6:30 at the Cascade Jamboree. Westwood opens its regular season at home on Thursday as they will play host to Moore County.
Westwood back, Byron Sullivan(62) takes a handoff from QB Jake Hollandsworth(9) as Leo Baserto(45) attempts to fight off a block in Westwood’s Blue/White game
Raider Academy Ribbon Cutting is Thursday
As we begin this new school year, the Coffee County School System wants to invite the community to celebrate a new era for Coffee County Schools with the opening of the Raider Academy. The Manchester Area Chamber of Commerce is hosting a ribbon cutting presentation at 10:30 AM on Thursday for the new home in Coffee County for freshmen high school students. The Raider Academy will be housed in the former Coffee County Middle School building at 865 McMinnville Highway in Manchester. The public is invited to attend.
Manchester Square Renovation Project Nearing Completion
New street lights, sidewalks, paving and landscape areas highlight the renovations on the Manchester square
August 25th is the new target completion date for the $1M Downtown Manchester Square renovation project according to the city’s project manager Terry Dendy. The project, which has been the source of angst for merchants and citizens alike, suffered a 60 day delay due to poor soil found during the demolition of the existing streets. The soil, which was deemed unsuitable to support the renovated street, was tested by the Tennessee Department of Transportation(TDOT) and excavated from the downtown area. After digging down to find acceptable quality soil, rock and gravel were backfilled in to support the roadway. TDOT approved a project extension from the original July 1 completion date as a result of the additional work. Dendy said that the top coating of asphalt is complete, and the contractor, Rick Brindley, expects no problems in meeting the new deadline. The project, designed to beautify the historic square, has completed the new sidewalks and street lighting along with the renovation of all the utilities to underground service lines. Final detail touch ups, along with the final paving, landscaping and cleanup are the remaining steps to completion. Dendy told WMSR News that the local merchants are working together to plan landscaping improvements going forward. Downtown merchant Wendell Cothran, of The Sportsman’s Corner, hopes that the renovations will draw more consumer traffic back to the square. Cothran is also excited about aesthetic improvements. “It is really gonna look tremendous” said Cothran. Manchester city engineer Scott St.John, along with TDOT Project personnel and TDOT engineers have overseen the construction which was funded through a TDOT grant with additional funding from the Surface Transportation Program and the City of Manchester Tourism Committee.
New landscaping and sidewalks welcome customers into Toliver’s Pawn on the Manchester square