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Coffee County Soccer Blanks Tullahoma; Reclaims Coffee Cup Trophy
Coffee County CHS Seniors in front is Drake Medina. Standing, left to right: Kix Ferrell, Clinton Ferrell, Keaton Mai, Leo Botello, Briggs Haithcock and Francesco Alzate.
Hosting Tullahoma on Senior Night, the Coffee County Red Raider soccer team closed out their regular season. Competing for the Coffee Cup trophy sponsored by First Vision Bank, the Red Raiders came out and dominated possession in the physical contest. The Raiders reclaimed the Coffee Cup with a 1 to 0 win.
Coffee County got on the board early when Clinton Ferrell drove home a rebounded shot off the foot of Felix Salinas in the 15th minute. The Raiders held that 1 – 0 advantage at the half. Three yellow cards in the 2nd half marred the flow of the action in the second half as defense took center stage. Raider keeper Kix Ferrell turned away several Tullahoma shots as he finished with the clean slate. Senior Drake Medina was also dominant on the defensive end. After the match, Clinton Ferrell was named the offensive player of the game and Medina was tabbed the defensive player of the game.
The Raiders will open up district tournament play on Saturday when they take on Franklin County at the Raider Soccer Field. Opening kick is set for 10 AM.
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Coffee County CHS Tennis Rolls to District Semifinal Win over Shelbyville
Jonathan Welch of CHS Tennis
The Coffee County CHS boys’ tennis team opened up team district tournament action on Tuesday at home. Playing in 5 singles matches and a pair of doubles matches, the first team to 4 wins would advance to the district finals. After a hard fought 4 to 3 decision in the regular season, Coffee County captured the first 4 singles matches to claim the win.
As dominant as the sweep appears, it was a come-from-behind tiebreaker win by Jonathan Welch that clinched the team win. Welch opened up trailing 3 love before rallying to take the match 9 to 8. Welch also trailed in the tiebreaker before scoring 4 of the last 5 points to earn the 7 to 5 victory. Welch capped off the win with a booming shout of “Let’s Gooooooo.”
Jaden Talley shook off some bad shots in the middle of the match and rallied to win his match 8 to 5. Talley’s fire and enthusiasm seemed to spark his teammates down the stretch. Benedict Edinger played solid tennis in capturing an 8 to 4 win. Jonah Rollman was in control of his match from the opening serve as he rolled to an 8 to 2 win. In the 5th singles’ match, Landon Booth was leading in his match when Welch clinched the team win. Shelbyville conceded and the 2 teams waived the doubles matches.
Members ot the Red Raider tennis team. Left to Right: Jonathan Welch, Jonah Rollman, Benedict Edinger, Coach Josh Inzer, Jaden Talley and Landon Booth.
With the win, the Red Raiders will host the district championship on Thursday at the Raider Tennis Courts at the Coffee County Raider Academy. Opening serve is set for 4 PM as the top-seeded Raiders will play host to second-seeded Marshall County. The win also guarantees Coffee County a spot in the Region Team tournament later in May.
Coffee County CHS Baseball Closes Out Regular Season with Loss at Cookeville
Hayden Skipper of CHS baseball
The Coffee County CHS baseball team hit the road on Tuesday for a battle with sectional foe Cookeville. One night after stunning Riverdale, the Red Raider bats fell silent. The Red Raiders fell by a final score of 11 to 1.
The Raiders got on the board first in the top of the 1st inning as Hayden Skipper pulled the 3rd pitch of the game over the right field fence. Cookeville tied the game in the bottom of the 1st inning with a home run of their own. The Cavaliers added runs in each of the 5 innings as they closed out the game with an RBI on a bases loaded walk.
The Red Raiders were held to 3 hits on the night as skipper finished with a homer and a single. Griffin Meeker added the other hit via a single. Gage Edwards was stuck with the loss on the mound for Coffee County.
The Red Raiders will open up District tournament play on Wednesday when they travel to Tullahoma to take on the Wildcats. Thunder Radio will be on hand to bring you the broadcast. First pitch will be at 6 PM, Thunder Radio will begin live coverage with the pregame show at 5:50.
Coffee Middle Tennis Sweeps Match with Westwood on Tuesday
Anna Johnson of Westwood tennis
The Coffee County Middle School and Westwood Middle School tennis teams squared off in a rivalry match on Tuesday at Fred Deadman Park. In the girls’ match, the Lady Rockets dominated at the top of the lineup but Coffee Middle won 3 of the singles’ matches and the 2nd doubles match to grab a 4 to 3 win. In boys’ action, the Red Raiders won all but one of the matches as they won 6 to 1.
In girls’ play, Westwood’s Rylea McNamara(6 to 2) and Anna Johnson(6-4) won their singles matches and teamed up for a 6 love doubles win. Coffee Middle got singles wins from Morgan Tinsley(6-2), Lauren ogan(6-0) and Kyra Sherrill(6-1). Tinsley and Hogan captured a doubles win by a final score of 6 to 2.
Liam Brown of CCMS tennis
In boys’ action, Westwood’s Jonathan Nelson got the Rockets lone win by a score of 6 to 1. The Red Raiders got singles wins from Liam Brown(6-0), Xander Blomquist(6-0), Nolan Sussen(6-0) and Matthew Blomquist(6-0). In doubles’ play, the Raider teams of Brown/Krish Patel(7 to 5) and Sussen/Xander Blomquist(6-3).
The match ends the season for the Coffee County Middle School tennis teams. Both the Lady Raiders and Red Raiders finish the year with identical 7 and 1 record. The Westwood tennis teams will finish the season on the road on Friday when they travel to Columbia. That match will get underway at 4 PM.
5/3/19 — Jonathan Mark Lundquist
Mr. Jonathan Mark Lundquist, 62, passed away
Sunday April 28, 2019 at Saint Thomas Rutherford Hospital in Murfreesboro. He
was born in Manchester, Tennessee on July 8, 1956 to Charles Mervin
Lundquist and Lucille Verna Sandtrom Lundquist who preceded him in death. He
was also preceded by his brother, Christopher Michael Lundquist.
He was co-owner of Tolivers Jewelry and Loan in Murfreesboro, Tennessee. He
was an avid outdoorsman, loved hiking, skiing, boating, loved all animals and
was hard worker.
He is survived by his wife, Lee Ann Riddle Lundquist; brother, David
Matthew Lundquist; sister-in-law, Monie Lundquist; nieces, Cassie (Levi)
Norris and Charlie Mae Lundquist; nephew, Dylan Lundquist; many loving
nieces, nephews, great nieces and nephews on the Riddle side of the family;
his loyal canine companion, JoJoe.
A celebration of life will be held 6:00 PM Friday in the Central Funeral
Home chapel with Minister Corey Henley, Gary Toliver and Joshua Riddle
officiating with a reception and time of visitation to follow in the
parlors of Central Funeral Home, Manchester, Tennessee.
www.centralfuneralhome.com
Central Funeral Home has been entrusted with the arrangements
David Brent Arnold
David Brent Arnold of Shelbyville, passed this life on Monday, April 29,
2019 at The Waters of Shelbyville at the age of 66 years. No services are
scheduled.
A native of Red Wing, Goodhue County, Minnesota, he was the son of the late
Rolland Edward and Verlyn Wilma Brown Arnold. He loved traveling, touring
wineries, playing golf and baseball and playing cards with friends.
He is survived by wife Mary Lou Arnold of Shelbyville; daughter, Amy Alicia
Mundt and her husband, William of Aurora, IL and brothers, Steven Arnold
and his wife, Jeanie of Wisconsin and William Arnold and his wife, Cindy of
Minnesota.
DAVES-CULBERSTON FUNERAL HOME IS IN CHARGE OF ARRANGEMENTS
4/30/19 — Birthdays
Birthdays:
Martha Jane Watkins — Pizza Winner!
Daniel Gilliam, 34
Tracy Duke
Donny Newman
Anniversaries:
Mary & Jeremy Darnell, 14
Teachers Salaries on the Rise in Most of Tennessee
The Tennessee Comptroller’s Office has released a report examining how money intended to boost teacher salaries has been used by local school districts. More than $300 million in new, recurring state dollars was appropriated by the General Assembly through the state’s Basic Education Program (BEP) between fiscal years 2015 and 2018. The legislative intent for the increased state funding was to increase teacher salaries across Tennessee.
The Comptroller’s Office of Research and Education Accountability (OREA) surveyed Tennessee’s school districts, and the majority of respondents reported awarding salary increases to teachers for three consecutive years (fiscal years 2016, 2017, and 2018). Those pay raises resulted in an increase of Tennessee’s average classroom teacher salary of 6.2 percent (just under $3,000), making it the third fastest-growing state in the Southeast for teacher salaries during fiscal years 2015 through 2018. In addition to providing raises, districts also used increased state BEP instructional salaries funds to hire more instructional staff.
The average teacher salary over the time period in Coffee County went from $45,073.58–$47,047.51 an increase of 4.4%. Manchester City school teacher salaries went up from $48,700.64–$52,897.55 an increase of 8.6%. The average teacher salary over the time period in Tullahoma City Schools rose from $47,637.11–$51,805.15 an increase of 8.7%. The state average jumped 6.2 % going from $47,979.10 $50,958.26.
Gas Price Staying about Steady
Tennessee’s state average gas price is $2.61 per gallon for regular unleaded, which is one cent less than a week ago, 14 cents more than this time last month, and four cents higher than this time last year.
The national gas price average is $2.88. With a four cent jump on the week, the national gas price average sets a new high for the year.
A spokesperson for AAA said with 17 states within a dime of or already at $3 a gallon or more, Americans can expect the national average to likely surpass last year’s high of $2.97 set during the Memorial Day weekend.
The low price this week as of Tuesday afternoon in Manchester is $2.50 per gallon and the low price in Tullahoma is $2.51.
Gov Lee deciding on the Banning Handheld Electronic Devices, including Cellphones While Driving
Gov. Bill Lee will decide whether Tennessee will ban the use of handheld electronic devices, including cellphones while driving.
The Senate voted 23-7 on Tuesday to send Lee the bill. The House previously cleared it in a 53-38 vote.
Supporters in the GOP-supermajority Legislature touted the bill as a safety measure, while opponents argued it’s a government overreach.
Violators would face up to a $50 fine. That amount could reach $100 if the violation causes an accident or $200 for violations in construction or school zones. The bill would take effect in July.
Sixteen states and Washington D.C. prohibit all drivers from using handheld cellphones, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. Georgia passed a similar law last year.
Currently, hand-held cellphone use is banned in Tennessee school zones.