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2/20/19 — Birthdays
Birthdays:
Colton Strange, 15 — Pizza Winner!
Barbara Adams
Lady Bucks Clinch No. 2 Seed in TCCAA/Region VII Tournament with Win over Southwest Tennessee
The Motlow State Lady Bucks clinched the No. 2 seed in the upcoming TCCAA/Region VII basketball tournament by beating Southwest Tennessee 92-87 Saturday night at Copperweld Arena in the season’s final home game.
Motlow (10-5, 18-10) stands alone in second place behind defending champion Walters State and two games ahead of Roane State. The Lady Bucks will close out the regular season with a trip to Jackson State Wednesday night. The TCCAA/Region VII Tournament will begin March 1 in Cleveland, TN.
Saturday was Sophomore Recognition Day, and the Lady Bucks honored Racquel Robinson and Janna Lewis. Lewis, who has scored over 1,000 points and gathered over 500 rebounds in her fantastic Motlow career, led the Lady Bucks with 32 points and 11 rebounds along with three steals.
Motlow trailed for much of the first three quarters on Saturday, falling behind 24-22 after one quarter and 44-38 at intermission. The Lady Bucks finally caught the visitors with a minute remaining in the third quarter and led 64-63 heading into the final stanza. Motlow never trailed again.
The Lady Bucks overcame a difficult shooting performance, hitting only 37.9 percent of their shots from the field, including 6-29 three pointers. Driving into the lane at every opportunity, Motlow shot an amazing 46 free throws and hit 36, including 20-25 by Lewis and 10-11 by Starasia Bell-Freeman.
Bell-Freeman, a freshman from New Bern, N.C., had one of her best games of the season with 22 points, seven rebounds and six assists. Tanisia Murphy scored 17 points and added four rebounds, three steals and two assists. Taylor Holcomb and Dominique Fields each scored eight points and Katie Thomas added five.
Motlow has now won five of its previous six games, with the only loss coming on the road at Walters State. The Lady Bucks beat Dyersburg State 106-84 last Wednesday, with Lewis scoring 29 points and pulling in 15 rebounds, Bell-Freeman adding 28 points and 10 rebounds, and Dominique Fields recording one of the few triple-doubles in Motlow basketball history with 17 points, 14 assists and 10 rebounds.
Flooding!!
Photo from AAA-The Auto Club Group.
Flooding in certain areas of Coffee County is causing some issues with travel. With more rain falling, some roads may become impassable. Manchester and Tullahoma street departments, the county highway department, area law enforcement and Coffee County Emergency Management are all working together to keep roads open and clearing debris.
On the state level the Tennessee Department of Transportation and Tennessee Highway Patrol officials are taking steps to keep roads clear and safe.
TDOT crews started cleaning storm drains last week to help keep roads from flooding. Officials said any kind of debris can clog drains quickly. TDOT also has crews on call ready to respond to help drivers, if needed.
THP troopers will be monitoring roads, and additional troopers will be out patrolling if necessary. Strike teams, which are specially trained troopers with larger vehicles and additional equipment may also be used to respond to emergencies.
If you get stuck on a flooded road and need help, call 911 if it’s an emergency. You can also dial *847 on your cell phone and that will connect you with the nearest Tennessee Highway Patrol dispatch center.
12 Years Later, Grundy Co. Man Hopes New Evidence will Free Him from Prison
Photo from Free Adam Brasell
Attorneys for Braseel have filed a new petition that states evidence used in the original trial was weak and that new evidence reveals a different suspect in the shooting of Burrows.
“Adam Braseel stands before this court wrongfully convicted of murder and sentenced to life in prison for a crime he did not commit,” attorney Alex Little wrote in a petition filed last week in Grundy County Circuit Court. “Newly discovered evidence flatly destroys the government’s case and makes clear that had the new evidence been admitted at trial the jury’s verdict would have been different.”
Braseel’s attorneys say the District Attorney’s Office has released new evidence in the case that points to Kermit Bryson as the murderer. Bryson is now deceased. The evidence, a fingerprint at the scene of crime. Also is the fact that Bryson and Braseel looked very alike and had similar builds at the time of the murder.
Kermit Bryson
New forensic testing reveals the only identifiable fingerprints at the scene came from two different people, the responding officer and Bryson. A third fingerprint was found on a Sundrop bottle at the scene but was not matched to anyone.
In 2015 Judge Justin Angel granted Braseel a new trial and he was released from prison. One year later the Appeals Court upheld the conviction and Braseel was returned to prison.
Braseel is currently awaiting a decision from Judge Justin Angel to determine if he will be allowed a new trial.
Democratic Lawmakers want to Ban Shackling Pregnant Women in Detention
Democratic lawmakers in Tennessee say the General Assembly should ban shackling pregnant women in detention, especially during childbirth.
The bill would not only prohibit the state’s inconsistent use of shackling, but also provide prenatal and postpartum medical care. The bill would also ban solitary confinement for pregnant women before and after giving birth.
The legislation is backed by Democratic legislative leaders and civil rights activists. Republican Gov. Bill Lee on Tuesday said he hasn’t reviewed the bill but is interested in learning more.
In 2013, Tennessee made national headlines when a federal judge ruled that jail officers showed “deliberate indifference” when they cuffed a woman to her hospital bed through most of her labor and during recovery.
Tennessee Health Officials say 85% of All Maternity Deaths in 2017 Could Have Been Prevented
Officials with the Tennessee Department of Health say 85 percent of all maternity deaths in 2017 could have been prevented, with substance abuse being determined as the leading contribution in those deaths.
The agency issued the report on Tuesday after the Tennessee General Assembly in 2016 passed the Maternal Mortality Review and Prevention Act. The law created a review panel to look over maternal deaths and offer prevention recommendations.
According to the 59-page report, the panel verified 78 deaths in 2017 were pregnancy-associated despite 98 deaths flagged as such. Tennessee’s pregnancy-associated mortality ratio would have been 26 percent higher if not for the review panel.
The majority of deaths reviewed occurred 43 days to one year after pregnancy, while the remaining deaths occurred during pregnancy or soon after pregnancy.
2/20/19 — Janice M. Sherrick
Janice M. Sherrick of Tullahoma passed this life on Saturday, February 16,
2019 at her residence at the age of 67. Graveside services will be held at
2 PM on Thursday, February 21, 2019 at Winchester Memorial Park.
A native of Waukegan, IL, she was the daughter of the late Elmus and Thelma
Irene Casteel Wright. She enjoyed being on her computer, playing scratch
off lottery tickets, going to casinos and going out with her friends.
In addition to parents, she was preceded in death by two sisters, Audrey
Anderson and Martha Wright.
She is survived by sons, Eric Russell and his wife, Charlene of Vancleave,
MS and Justin Russell of Tullahoma; sister, Paula Lambrecht of Tullahoma
and grandchildren, Cody, Jacob and Shelby Russell.
DAVES-CULBERSTON FUNERAL HOME IS IN CHARGE OF ARRANGEMENTS
Coffee County Basketball Begins Region Play at Home on Friday
2019 Region 4AAA Basketball Tournament Bracket
With the conclusion of the District 7AAA basketball tournament on Tuesday night, the opponents for the Coffee County CHS basketball teams have been set. The Lady Raiders will host Stewarts Creek in a region basketball game on Friday at 7:00. The Red Raiders will host Riverdale in their region game on Saturday also at 7:00.
Tickets will be $6 for each night. The Coffee County athletic department will pre-sell tickets at the CHS Main Office on Thursday and Friday until 2:00. Only TACA (with ID) and TSSAA passes will be accepted. Employee badges, Renaissance Cards, and Season Passes will not get you into the game. There are no student discounted tickets. No other passes will be honored at the gate due to TSSAA regulations.
Region Tournament Gates
Josi Tallies Twice, Preds Top Stars to Take Season Series
Roman Josi in action [Photo courtesy of nhl.com]
The victory gives the Preds a win in the season series against the Stars (3-2-0) and sees them get back to within one point of first-place Winnipeg in the Central Division.
The triumph in Texas is a welcomed rebound after a 5-1 loss in Vegas on Saturday, and it gives Nashville life once more with a gritty road win against a potential playoff opponent.
“We just had more speed, more attitude, and we just worked harder,” Josi said. “We weren’t happy with the way we played in Vegas, and we had two days here to sit on it. We knew we had to play a lot harder to be successful, and we did that tonight.”
Nashville seized their first goal in the opening 20 minutes since the last time they faced Dallas on Feb. 7. For a Preds team that was more than ready to deliver a strong start and stop having to answer questions on their lack of production in the opening period, Brian Boyle crashing the net and knocking in his second with the club was significant.
“He’s been terrific,” Preds Head Coach Peter Laviolette said of Boyle. “He just does so much for the team. It’s what he says in the room, his leadership, his size, his presence, his physicality and the fact that he can chip in goals, it’s a really good addition for our group.”
Jason Spezza answered for the Stars at 3:31 of the second by firing a wrister from the high slot past Pekka Rinne. After the pair of second periods in the previous two games (against Montreal and in Vegas) were a sore spot, Nashville was better on Tuesday night in Dallas, and by a decent amount.
The Predators allowed three goals in the middle frame, but scored two of their own to force a 3-3 tie after 40 minutes. First, Rocco Grimaldi got behind the Stars’ defense and deked Anton Khudobin with an inside-out move to put Nashville ahead 2-1.
Two goals for the Stars in 26 seconds brought back memories of frustration for the visitors, but the Predators calmly answered only 20 seconds later with Filip Forsberg backhanding in a rebound for his 21st and a tie game once more – and what a clutch reply it was.
“A response after a goal against is always huge, no matter what the score is or what situation you are in,” said Preds defenseman Ryan Ellis, who had three assists on the night. “We got down there in the second for a shift or two and got right back on it before it ended, and that set the momentum in the right direction in the third for us.”
“That was huge,” Laviolette said of Forsberg’s goal. “We talked about it as we went out for the last period there, Fil’s response to get that… That’s when something can get away from you, and Fil’s response was excellent.”
In the third, it was Kyle Turris who dropped a pass off for Josi, and the Nashville captain circled around the Dallas net, came back out to the slot and got a friendly bounce to give the Preds their third and final lead of the evening. Josi iced it late with an empty-netter, and Rinne held strong to earn his 21st win of the campaign.
Tuesday’s win was satisfying for the two points alone, but the fashion in which the Predators not only evened the score after giving up two in short order, but followed through with a solid effort in the third makes it feels even better.
And after a thrilling, five-game season series, they may not be done with each other just yet.
“We played a desperate team that played with a lot of edge and a lot of attitude tonight,” Laviolette said. “They’re fighting for their lives, and like us, they’ve had some games not go their way, and that makes them on point trying to grab the points. I was really happy with the response from the last game and the fact we were able to come back from that game and put it away.”
Notes:
Craig Smith participated in warm-ups, but ended up missing the game with a lower-body injury. Frederick Gaudreau took his place in the lineup. Matt Irwin and Cody McLeod rounded out the Predators’ scratches for the contest.
Nashville has now earned at least a point in nine of its last 11 games versus Dallas (8-2-1), and the Preds have scored at least four goals in eight of their last 10 victories over the Stars.
The Predators begin a three-game homestand on Thursday when they’ll host the L.A. Kings.
Jarius Key Beats Buzzer as Motlow Bucks Edge Saluqis
Motlow State’s Jarius Key got a perfect pass from teammate Josh Greer and sunk a layup as time expired to give the Motlow Bucks a thrilling 69-67 win over Southwest Tennessee at Copperweld Arena Saturday afternoon.
The Bucks (12-4, 16-10) maintained their position tied atop the TCCAA standings. Walters State (13-4, 22-7) holds the tiebreaker over the Bucks due to the Senators beating Motlow twice this season, but if the Bucks can win their final two games and Walters State loses to Roane State Saturday, Motlow could still win the regular season title. The Bucks travel to Jackson State Wednesday and close the regular season at Columbia State Saturday.
The visiting Saluqis led the Bucks 31-25 at halftime as neither team shot the ball well in the opening 20 minutes. It was Motlow’s bench, led by Jayvon Humphrey and Key, that sparked the comeback and win in the second half. The Bucks finished the game shooting 45.5 percent from the field, with Humphrey and Key combining to go 12-16 and Humphrey hitting 5-6 three pointers. Motlow hit 8-19 from beyond the arc and 11-18 free throws.
The Bucks were strong underneath the basket, winning the rebounding battle 45-34, and Motlow dished out 22 assists while forcing the visitors into 18 turnovers.
Humphrey led Motlow with 19 points and pulled down eight rebounds, while Key had 14 with seven rebounds. Greer had 10 points and six assists, including the game winner to Key. Kin Webster scored six with four rebounds, Leo Castillo had four points, six rebounds and five assists, and Marcus Lacey added four points and nine rebounds.
The Bucks were coming off a 113-105 overtime loss to Dyersburg State last Wednesday in a game that saw Motlow have six players score in double figures. Bryce McBride had 18, Lacey 16, Josh Endicott 14, Humphrey and Greer 13, and Darius Harding 11.