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Manchester Youth Baseball All-Stars Continue Preparations For State Tournament
Cody Esslinger awaits a pitch in Tuesday’s scrimmage with Tullahoma.. Photo and story by Dennis Weaver
Tullahoma scored 10 of their runs in 2 bad innings as the Manchester defense worked on at least 7 different defensive combinations. Manchester also used 6 different pitchers on the night as they ramp up their preparations for the TYBA state tournament on July 11th. After getting off to a bad start offensively, Manchester plated 13 of their 15 runs in their last 3 at-bats.
Cody Esslinger was the star of the night for Manchester as he was 3 for 3 on the night with a double, 2 walks, 3 runs scored and 4 RBI. Additionally, he pitched one inning striking out 3 and allowing 1 hit. Isaiah Owens scored 4 runs for Manchester as he reached base all 5 times he batted. Slade Barnes and August Burch each walked 3 times for Manchester and each had singles in the 6th inning rally for the home team.
The 11 & 12 years olds will begin play in the TYBA Open State Tournament on Friday, July 11th at 6:30 PM as they take on the Young Guns of Shelbyville at Barfield Crescent Park in Murfreesboro.
Three Teams Headed To State Babe Ruth Tornament
Three Tullahoma Babe Ruth League baseball teams battled their way into their respective state tournaments after becoming district champions.
The Tullahoma 15-year-old squad was the first to cash in on its opportunity with an 11-6 win over Franklin County. They will begin its tournament on July 18 in Lebanon.
The Tullahoma 13-year-old squad earned its berth into the state tournament with a 3-2 victory over Franklin County. The locals’ state tourney run will open on July 11 in Lewisburg.
The Tullahoma 14-year-old tournament is set to get underway on July 11 in Lawrenceburg. (Zach Birdsong, Tullahoma News)
Fireworks Stand Robbed In Manchester
Manchester Police are investigating a robbery of a fireworks stand early Tuesday morning. A man armed with a knife robbed the stand located in the Wal-Mart parking lot.
According to a police report filed by Manchester Police Officer Trey Adcock, Wesley Coppinger was working at the fireworks stand just after midnight. The man with the knife entered the location and put the weapon to Coppinger’s throat. The white male demanded money from the register and the clerk gave the thief an undisclosed amount of cash. The victim advised the officer that the robber was in the business about five minutes before committing the robbery.
The robber was described by a male second victim, who was also at the business, as being a white male who was about 6 feet tall and weighed approximately 250 lbs. He was wearing Khaki shorts with a cut off T-shirt.
If you have any information that could help police please call 728-2099.
Bogus Assault Claim Leads To False Report Charge In TBI Case
Billy J. King, Jr.
At the request of 16th District Attorney General Bill Whitesell, TBI Special Agents began investigating Billy J. King, Jr. on April 8, 2014. On April 3rd, the Cannon County Sheriff’s Department arrested King for Vandalism and Possession of a Weapon by a Felon. King soon posted bond on those charges, then immediately made accusations he had been assaulted by Cannon County detectives while in their custody. During the course of the TBI investigation, King subsequently reported he had been beaten by two detectives in the department’s interview room. Agents determined the accusations to be false.
On May 23rd, the Cannon County Grand Jury returned an indictment for King, charging the 50-year-old with one count of False Report to an Officer. When King returned to court this week on the original charges, Agents took him into custody. King was booked into the Cannon County Jail on $8,000 bond.
New Sidewalk Project Starting Soon In Manchester
The City of Manchester is pleased to announce the beginning of the construction for the 2009 Safe Route to School project. The work will be on Oakdale St from Westwood Elementary School to approximately Short St. The project is set to begin by the middle of this month (July) in hopes of completion by the end of October.
Brindley and Sons Construction was awarded the bid for construction of sidewalks, curbs, etc. as identified in the specifications. Brindley and Sons Construction is the company in charge of the renovation project in downtown Manchester.
Highway Patrol Out In Full Force
The Tennessee Highway Patrol is conducting a high-visibility enforcement campaign during this year’s Fourth of July holiday period, running through midnight on Sunday.
State troopers will utilize a variety of traffic safety tools, such as driver’s license, sobriety and seat belt checkpoints, saturation patrols, and No-Refusal enforcement, in an effort to reduce serious injury and fatal crashes on Tennessee roads.
In 2013, 19 people were killed in 15 fatal crashes in Tennessee during the July 4th holiday period. That’s down from 21 during the 2012 holiday. Of the 19 fatalities, five were alcohol-related and 13 were not wearing safety restraints.
State troopers arrested 132 individuals statewide on suspicion of impaired driving during last year’s July 4th holiday period.
Golf Try-Outs Set For Red Raiders
The Coffee County High School golf team will have team tryouts for the 2014-15 school term July 7th at WillowBrook. Try-outs begin at 9am.
Players MUST have a completed Physical Form ready to turn in to Coach Mike Ray on or before July 7th.
Tentative Parent Meeting week of July 14th. Exact Date TBA
Check out our school web page for important team information:
www.coffeecountyschools.com/chs Click on Sports–Golf
Motlow Bucks Sign Two More Players
Jordan Darden and Jacob Saunders were teammates at Cheatham County High School the last three years and enjoyed tremendous success, including leading their team to an undefeated regular season, three straight district titles and two consecutive trips to the sectional round of the state playoffs.
Motlow College men’s basketball head coach Matt Sligh hopes the two will bring that winning mentality and ability to his Bucks basketball team as both Darden and Saunders have been signed to continue their student-athlete careers at Motlow.
Saunders is a 6-2 shooting guard who scored 1,867 points during his career in Ashland City. During his senior season he averaged 22 points, five rebounds, 2.5 assists and 1.5 steals per game. He shot 83% from the free throw line and 37% from beyond the three-point arc, and was named District 9-AA regular season and tournament most valuable player. Darden is a 6-6 forward who averaged 15 points, 8.1 rebounds and 2.5 blocked shots per game while shooting 63% from the floor during his senior season. He joined Saunders on the all-district and all-region teams for both the regular season and the tournament the past two postseasons.
7/2/14 — Herbert Fred “Freddy” Blackburn
Herbert Fred “Freddy” Blackburn, age 52, of Monteagle, TN, passed away Wednesday morning at his residence.
No services are planned at this time.
Mr. Blackburn was born in Manchester, TN, the son of the late Troy Gene and Rachel Phillips Blackburn.
He was self-employed as a carpet installer and a boat mechanic. He enjoyed fishing, boat racing, gardening, farming, and working with cattle.
Freddy is survived by his loving companion of 16 years, Tina Besheres, of Monteagle; one daughter, Sheena (Marcus) Pratt of Manchester; one grandchild, Blake Pratt; Tina’s son, Jordyn Besheres, and his daughter, Madelynn Besheres; one brother, Terry (Lisa) Blackburn of Manchester; one sister, Bobbie Jean Blackburn of Estill Springs; uncle, Thomas Blackburn of
Manchester; aunt, Ann Melton of Manchester; and several nieces and nephews.
MANCHESTER FUNERAL HOME IS HONORED TO SERVE THE BLACKBURN FAMILY 
7/6/14 —– Betty Ann Haley
Funeral services for Mrs. Betty Ann Haley, age 70, of Manchester, will beconducted at 2:00 PM on Sunday, July 6, 2014 at Manchester Funeral Home Chapel with Bro. Horace Lee Jacobs officiating.
Burial will follow in Mt. Pleasant Cemetery in Coffee County, TN.
Visitation with the family will be from 4:00 PM until 8:00 PM on Saturday at the funeral home.
Mrs. Haley passed away Wednesday morning at Medical Center of Manchester.
Betty was born in Coffee County, TN, the daughter of the late Larkin Gaines and Ruby Bryan Sain.
She was a retired waitress, after spending many years employed by Shoney’s. She loved Nascar, cooking, animals, birds, and
gardening, but she especially enjoyed her grandchildren and great nieces and nephews.
In addition to her parents, Betty was also preceded in death by a brother, Larkin Gaines Sain, Jr.; and a niece, Marisa Sain.
She is survived by her husband, Charles Haley, of Manchester; one son, Lynn Haley of Manchester; one daughter, Crystal (Michael) Smith of Manchester; three grandchildren, Carrie Haley, Andrew Smith, and Caitlyn Haley; special niece, Layla Sain of MO; and several nieces and nephews.
MANCHESTER FUNERAL HOME IS HONORED TO SERVE THE HALEY FAMILY 