Author's posts
06/26/14
Birthdays:
Sharon Chandler – 56 – Pizza Winner!
Tiffany Clutter, Hayden Profitt – 17
Robert McCart, Jr. – 32, Zackery Wimley.
Wheel Tax or No Wheel Tax, That Is The Question
One of the bigger questions going on around Coffee County is whether there will be a property tax increase, a wheel tax or some type of combination to fund current projects and everyday day needs of the county? The answer is no one knows at this point.
At this week’s county commission meeting a discussion took place about if commissioners would place a referendum on the November ballot for a wheel tax. Commissioners delayed action and have until August 21 to decide, which is after the county election to be held on August 7.
In other action the commission approved the jail budget that includes extra operating cost at the new jail and keeping the workhouse program open.
The commission voted 17-1 to cut a $93,000 budget request to the Coffee County School System.
County commissioners also debated on giving county workers the day off on Election Day, the day off has been given to workers for several years. The vote was in favor of changing the policy so workers will no longer have the day off.
Two Inmates On The Run
Two inmates from the Coffee County Jail walked away from a work detail on Thursday afternoon.
According to Sheriff Steve Graves Cory Keele and Lillard Presley were working at the new Coffee County Middle School on Woodbury Highway in Manchester when they walked away.
The sheriff stated that the pair had been working at the school this summer but they ran away around 2:30 p.m. Thursday afternoon.
They were spotted running to a cornfield near the school. Deputies who were searching for the pair say that they found some tire tracks along the edge of the cornfield.
Neither is considered to be dangerous.
Keele is a white male standing 6 feet tall with brown hair, blue eyes weighting 195lbs. Presley is also a white male with brown hair, green eyes weighing 165lbs. He also has two tattoos on his back. They were wearing orange jail clothing at the time of their escape. If you know of any information that could help locate the escapees please call the Coffee County Sheriff’s Department at 728-3591.
Drugs Found At Tullahoma Apartment
Coffee County Sheriff’s department investigators James Sherrill and Kerry Farrar and Officers Daren Gadeken, and Justin Smith with the Tullahoma Police Department went to Country Club Apartment Apt. 1 in Tullahoma and could smell marijuana. The officers received consent to search and found three quarters of a pound of marijuana in jars and bags. There were digital scales, baggies, pipes, and items used for making hash. There were two stolen guns found in a safe, one stolen from Manchester and the other from inside Coffee County. This is an ongoing investigation and charges will be presented to the grand jury.
County Unemployment Rate Goes Up In May
Tennessee county unemployment rates for May 2014, were released Thursday afternoon. They show the rate decreased in five counties, increased in 88, and remained the same in two.
In Coffee County we went up from 5.1% in April to 5.6% in May. Bedford County rose from 5.6 to 6.2%. Cannon County climbed from 4.8% to 5.5. In Grundy County they were one of 5 counties to drop going from 8.3% in April to 8.1% in May. Over in Franklin County their unemployment rate went up by 0.4 to 5.8%. Warren County jumped up from 6.4% to 6.9. The state’s lowest unemployment rate for May was in Williamson County at 4.6% and the highest was in Scott County at 12.5% which is actually down 1% from the April rate.
Infiniti Opens Plant In Decherd
Representatives on hand at Thursday’s opening.
Presiding over yesterday’s opening celebration were Tennessee Governor Bill Haslam, and representatives with Infiniti Motor Company and Mercedes-Benz.
Around 200 new jobs have been added to date, with that number expected to increase to 400 once the plant ramps up to its full 250,000 engine annual capacity.
Construction of the ground-up $319 million, 310,000-square foot facility began in May 2012. It incorporates a number of energy efficient design features, such as a heat-reflecting white roof and natural daytime lighting through use of a skylight grid.
Infiniti had previously announced that later this year it will start local assembly of the extended wheel base versions of their new Q50 sports sedan and the QX50 crossover in China, and for the Chinese market. Next year, the company will start assembly of their Q30 premium compact car in the UK, for global markets.
Chris Elam Returning To The Coffee County Football Sidelines
Photo of Elam running the football in 1997 provided by the Manchester Times.
Elam was guest on Thunder Radio’s Sports Page program with Josh Peterson on Thursday and spoke about teaching the young players. Elam talked about coaching some in middle school and college and how he hopes simplify the game for the athletes at Coffee County. The former Raider star, who wrapped up his high school career in 1997 said he is ready to hit the ground running. For those of us that remember, running is something Elam knows very well.
14U Baseball Team Competing In State Tournament
Team photo provided… Story by Dennis Weaver
The Raiders opened tournament pool play last Friday with an 11 to 6 win over Murfreesboro Dynasty. Hunter Mann got the win for Coffee County pitching a complete game 4 hitter with 5 strikeouts. A.J. Rollman, Jacob Langham and Jeremiah Franklin all scored 3 runs each for the Raiders.
On Saturday, the Raiders dropped a 9 to 5 decision to Strikezone Red from Nolensville. Jacob Langham was the hitting star for Coffee County as he was 2 for 3 with a double. A.J. Rollman and Cody Miller added singles.
Sunday saw the Raiders get a 4 to 0 win over the Middle Tennessee Bats of Goodlettsville which earned them a Lower Flight championship and a 2 and 1 record for the weekend. Hunter Mann and Harley Hinshaw were each 2 for 2 for Coffee County. Jacob Langham was 2 for 3 with a triple and a single and he got the win pitching a 6 inning shutout while striking out 5.
The Raiders will open play this weekend with 2 games on Saturday at Barfield Crescent Park in Murfreesboro with games at 1 and 5 PM. The tournament will conclude on Sunday.
6/28/14 —– Jorene Bradford
Funeral services for Mrs. Jorene Bradford, age 69, of Manchester, will be conducted at 11:00 AM on Saturday, June 28, 2014 at Manchester Funeral Home Chapel with Bro. Foy Rigney officiating.
Burial will follow in Zion Hill Cemetery in Hillsboro.
Visitation with the family will be from 12:00 Noon until 9:00 PM on Friday at the funeral home.
Mrs. Bradford passed from this life on Thursday morning at United Regional Medical Center in Manchester.
Mrs. Bradford was born in White County, TN, the daughter of the late Clure William and Arrie Belle Burchett Neely.
She was a homemaker and a member of Mt. View Church of Christ.
In addition to her parents, Jorene was also preceded in death by two sisters, Rosetta Witham and Linda Faye Neely; one brother, Clure Glenn Neely; and one grandchild, Sheldan Hullett.
She is survived by her loving husband of 23 years, Jerry Bradford of Manchester; three sons, Paul (Shelly Lucas) Hullett, Robert (Barbara) Hullett, and Joey Bradford, all of Manchester; three brothers, Randy Neely of Manchester, and Ricky and David Neely, both of Chattanooga; four sisters, Gloria Brown of Chattanooga, Brenda Malone of Manchester, Treva McHugh of North Carolina, and Reta Jones of Estill Springs; and seven grandchildren, Jackson Lucas-Hullett, Alexa Lucas-Hullett, Harrison Lucas-Hullett, Bryson Hullett, Hayden Hullett, Joey Bradford, Jr., and Jayden Bradford.
Manchester Funeral Home in charge of arrangements.
6/28/13 —- Ned Sheffield Holden, Jr.
Mr. Ned Sheffield Holden, Jr, age 87 of Tullahoma, Tennessee passed away, Thursday, June 25, 2014 at his home surrounded by his loving family.
Graveside Services will be held Saturday, June 28, 2014 at 2PM at Rose Hill Memorial Gardens.
Visitation with the family will be Saturday, June 28th from 11:30 to 1:30 PM. at Daves-Culbertson Funeral Home.
A native of Coffee County he was the son of the late Ned Sheffied Holden, Sr. and Clara Bell Holder.
He was retired from George Dickel Distillery. Mr. Holden served in the United States Army as a cook.
He was preceded in death by his parents.
He is survived by his loving wife Pauline, two daughters, Marie Wyatt of Tullahoma, LeAnna Rittenhouse of Tullahoma; three sons, Brad Holden of Tullahoma, John Holden of Lynchburg, David Holden of Lynchburg; two sisters, Ruth Howse of Greenbrier, TN and Helen Holden of Wisconsin; eleven grandchildren and 13 great grandchildren.
Daves-Culbertson Funeral Home in charge of arrangements.