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It’s Almost Early Vote Time

Any voter registered in Coffee County may vote early at the Coffee County Election Commission in Manchester or CD Stamps Center in Tullahoma starting Friday July 13-July 28. Election Day is August 2. Each facility will be open till noon on each Saturday during that time frame. State or Federal photo ID is now required. This may include, driver’s license, US passports, military or veteran ID, handgun permits with photos or a Department of Safety ID. IDs can be current or expired. Student IDs will not be accepted. Those who come to vote in person without a photo ID may vote a provisional ballot, which will be counted if the proper ID is brought into the Election Commission office no later than 4:30 pm on August 6, 2012, two business days after the election. The Election Commission office is open 8 a.m.-4:30, Monday-Friday. Call 931-723-5103 for more information.

New Coach At Motlow

Motlow College has announced that Aaron Holland has been hired as the new head basketball coach of the Lady Bucks. Holland comes to Motlow from Arkansas State.
Holland had been serving as a graduate assistant for men’s basketball and has a Master of Science in Education.
Last year the Lady Bucks and Bucks were coached by Jerry Nichols. Nichols will continue to coach the Bucks and serve as Athletic Director.

Babe Ruth District Tournament Results

The Manchester Babe Ruth 15 year-old All-Stars took on Franklin Co. on Sunday night at Fred Deadman Park. Manchester moved on in district play with an 18-11 win.

Accident Hurts 5 Wattendorf Hwy/AEDC Access Road

Crews cleanup after crash... By Barry West

Chopper takes Evan John Smith to Chattanooga... Photo by Barry West

Photo By : Barry West


On Monday morning around 7:30am a head-on collision occurred on the Wattendorf Highway the AEDC access road. Four people were injured in the two-vehicle crash. According to a report by Tennessee Highway Patrolman Carl Seagroves a 1998 Nissan Maxima driven by Evan John Smith, 20, of Louisville, Kentucky drifted off the highway and struck a guardrail. The car then crossed the centerline into the path of a 1996 Chevrolet pickup operated by James Richard Edwards, 45, of Hillsboro. According to the trooper’s report, Smith was the only occupant in the Nissan and he was apparently on his way to work for a contractor at AEDC. Smith was flown by Air-Evac to Erlanger Medical Center in Chattanooga where he is undergoing treatment. Edwards and his 3 children Kristina Edwards, 13, Joseph James Edwards, 10, and James Richard Edwards Jr., 9 were in the pickup and all were taken to Medical Center of Manchester.
Troopers Louis Hendricks and Brent McCawley along with AEDC Police and Coffee County Sheriff’s Deputies assisted trooper Seagroves.

9/11/12 — Delaine Lewis Johnson

Delaine  Lewis Johnson, age 93, passed into rest on July 8, 2012 at his home in Manchester, Tennessee.
 
He was born June 5, 1919 in Newman Grove, Nebraska to his parents, the late Lewis N. and Laurena Olsen Johnson. He was also preceded in death by brothers, Malvin, Edward, Oliver, Sherman, Russell and Arlan Johnson; and two sisters, Myrtle Bailey and Evelyn Mohrman.
 
He was a U.S. Army Veteran serving during World War II in Africa and Italy and attained the rank of Staff Sergeant. He later served in the Nebraska Army National Guard where he attained the rank of Technical Sergeant. After WW II, he worked for the Ingalls Grain Company until retiring in 1981. In 1996, he moved to Virginia and then to Manchester, TN in 1997. Mr. Johnson was a member of the Faith Lutheran Church in Tullahoma, TN.
 
He is survived by his loving wife of 58 years, Margaret Louise Hotaling Johnson of Manchester, TN; daughter, Darlene A. Wilson and her husband Gerald of Clayton, N.C.; son, Darrel D. Johnson of Manchester, TN; sister, Bernice D. Sack of Hubert, S.C.; two grandchildren, Brandon Wilson of Wythville, VA and Preston Wilson of Waynesboro, VA; one great-granddaughter, Andra Wilson Wade of Waynesboro, VA; and a host of friends.
 
Visitation will be on Wednesday, July 11, 2012 from 11:00 A.M.  until 1:00 P.M. at the Central Funeral Home in Manchester.
 
The Funeral Service will follow at 1:00 P.M. from the Chapel of Central Funeral Home with the Reverend Martin S. Nutter, Pastor officiating.
 
Burial will follow at the Fredonia Cemetery in Manchester.
 
In Lieu of flowers, the family suggests Memorial Donations be made to the Faith Lutheran Church in Tullahoma, TN 37388.
 
Arrangements with CENTRAL FUNERAL HOME.

7/10/12 — Johnny Lee Murray

Mr. Johnny Lee Murray, age 67, of Tullahoma, passed away Saturday evening at Harton Regional Medical Center.

A native of Tullahoma, he was the son of the late William Murray and Mary Ophelia Petty Roll.

He was a member of Hurricane Baptist Church, a brave US Army Veteran, and was a skilled woodworker and carpenter. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by one son; David Murray.

He is survived by two sisters; Alice (Bill) Freeman of Rockvale, and Becky Murray of Tullahoma, one brother; Billy (Dale) Murray of Shelbyville, three nephews; Eddie (Deb), Ron, and Don Freeman, one niece; Faye Lynn Coffey, one great nephew; Bryce Coffey, and his step mother; Helen Murray.

Visitation with the family will be Monday, from 5:00PM until 8:00PM at the Tullahoma Funeral Home.

 Funeral services will be conducted Tuesday, at 10:00AM in the chapel of Tullahoma Funeral Home with Bro. Don Gregory and Bro. Jack Hice officiating.

Burial will follow in Smith Chapel Cemetery.

The family suggests that donations be made to the American Heart Association, P.O. Box 840692, Dallas, TX. 75284-0692.
Tullahoma Funeral Home is honored to serve the family of Johnny Murray.

7/9/12 — Jewel Sisk Damron

Funeral service for Mrs Jewel Sisk Damron age 84 of Fayetteville, will be conducted Monday at 11 am Higgins Funeral Home with Rev. Mark Ashley and Rev. Tommy Ward officiating.

Burial will follow in Lynchburg Cemetery beside her husband Mr. Charles Damron who passed away in 2005.

Mrs Damron passed away Friday evening in Huntsville Hospital.

A native of Moore County, she was the daughter of the late Jesse and Mae Chapman Sisk, was a homemaker, and a member of the Brandon’s Chapel Methodist Church, she was a charter member of Brandon’s U. M. W. And of Lois F. C.E. Club and a member of the Lynchburg Eastern Star. 493.

Survivors include her sons Wayne Damron and wife Ruth of Fayetteville, Jimmy Damron and wife Sharon of Harvest, AL. Bobby Damron and wife Phyllis of Murfreesboro , grandchildren Jennifer Swindall and husband Steve , Rebecca Gleghorn and husband Carl, Amanda Damron, Micah Damron and Gavan Damron, great grandchildren Taylor, Evan, Carter and Bailey Gleghorn, Owen and Olivia Swindall

Visitation with the family will be Sunday evening from 5 pm – 8pm at Higgins Funeral Home in Fayetteville, TN.

Higgins Funeral Home in charge of arrangements.

Two I-24 Crashes Send Four To Hospitals

One of the damaged vehicles... By Barry West

Emergency crews work to get victims out... Photo by Barry West

At 8:00 p.m. Saturday night (July 7, 2012), four people from Georgia were traveling east on I-24 when they experienced a blowout in one tire that sent them into a skid off the right side of the interstate, overturning several times. An eyewitness said they were right behind the Mitsubishi when they heard a loud
pop and saw the crash. No other cars were involved in the incident. One person was flown to Vanderbilt and another was taken to an area hospital. Manchester Fire & Rescue used the Jaws-of-Life to extract the two victims from the backseat of the car. THP was in charge of the scene.

As the chopper was landing and traffic was being stopped on I-24, a second crash at the 105 mile marker caused even more problems. Two people had minor injuries, and they were also transported to an area hospital.

Trees More Vulnerable During Drought

Damage at Hillsboro Elementary... Photo provided

Hwy 127 just before the traffic light in Hillsboro... Photo provided

Forestry experts warn that persistent drought conditions in Tennessee have made trees more vulnerable to gusts of wind.
The National Weather Service reports that at least 64% of Tennessee is experiencing severe drought conditions.
Severe drought conditions mean agricultural losses may occur. The fire risk is very high and water shortages are common.
Extreme drought conditions are marked by significant agricultural losses, extreme fire danger and widespread water shortages.
Afternoon storms have caused several trees to fall across Middle Tennessee.
The trees have damaged homes and brought down power lines.
This past Thursday a strong storm damaged homes and businesses in Hillsboro.
According to the Forestry Division of the Department of Agriculture for Tennessee, the drought conditions can cause the roots of a tree to shrink.
When the roots shrink they are less able to deliver water to the tree. The tree then becomes dry and brittle.
The Forestry Division’s Information and Education Program Specialist said the lack of water also causes the ground to become dry and fragile.
Tennessee’s Division of Forestry has created a special web page that addresses many questions surrounding Tennessee’s drought conditions.
The site also has ways for people to protect livestock, crops, pets and plants from the long term effects of drought.
According to the National Drought Forecast Map published by The National Integrated Drought Information System, most of Tennessee’s drought situation is expected to persist or intensify.

Tullahoma Man Being Held For Texas Lawmen

A Tullahoma man is being held in the Coffee County Jail under a $2 million bond after his recent arrest. 40-year-old Murray Dewayne Strawn was arrested on a fugitive from justice warrant that originated in Texas. According to warrants at the Coffee County Jail, Strawn is accused of aggravated assault in Dallas, Texas. He will be held in jail until the Texas authorities come and pick him up.