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Local Linemen Headed to Hurricane-Hit North Carolina
Duck River Electric Membership Corporation (DREMC) is sending eight linemen, one operations supervisor and seven trucks to Lumbee River Electric Membership Corporation (Lumbee River EMC) located in Red Springs, North Carolina, to assist with Hurricane Florence recovery efforts.
The massive hurricane is expected to leave widespread damage across much of the Atlantic seaboard, and DREMC crews will be in place to assist as soon as it is safe to work.
“This is a powerful storm, and the people of North Carolina have some tough days ahead,” says Michael Watson, DREMC president, and CEO. “We are proud of our linemen for volunteering to assist. They will be working long days in difficult conditions, but they were quick to respond to the call for help. We ask that the public keep them and their families in your thoughts and prayers while they are away.”
Crews plan to leave early Saturday morning and are expected to arrive in Red Springs on Saturday, ready to assist with restoration efforts early Sunday morning. It is unclear how long they will be in North Carolina. Lumbee River EMC is in the southeastern part of the state between Charlotte and Wilmington. They serve nearly 53,000 members in four counties and maintain over 5,600 miles of line.
Crews from DREMC are joining some 120 other lineworkers from 14 electric co-ops across Tennessee who will be assisting with hurricane recovery efforts. The Tennessee Electric Cooperative Association in Nashville is coordinating requests for mutual aid and makes travel and lodging arrangements for crews who respond.
Report Card: Rheumatic Diseases Painful in TN, Literally, Figuratively
In Tennessee alone, according to the Arthritis Foundation, 1.3 million people, including nearly 6,000 children, have a doctor’s diagnosis of arthritis. (Twenty20)
The college gives Tennessee a C grade in terms of quality of life and access to certified doctors in rheumatic disease, which is the grade most states received.
But Dr. Christopher Mecoli, a rheumatologist at The Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, says the state gets a D grade in affordability because most insurers require patients to pay for a percentage of their prescription cost, versus a flat rate.
“There are some issues as it pertains to affordability in Tennessee,” he states. “Drugs used to treat rheumatic diseases can be extremely expensive. They can cost tens of thousands of dollars a year.”
Rheumatic diseases include arthritis, gout and lupus, and 100 other conditions. The conditions impact 1 in 4 Americans, and the most recent numbers estimate 91 million people, including individuals who may be undiagnosed.
Treatment for the illnesses cost $140 billion annually, which exceeds the annual cost of cancer care.
Mecoli says that around 300,000 children have rheumatoid arthritis and adds there’s a shortage of people in Tennessee trained to treat children.
“Rheumatic diseases are not just diseases effecting the elderly,” he points out. “There are actually hundreds of thousands of children who live with arthritis and other rheumatic diseases. There are actually not nearly enough board-certified pediatric rheumatologists.”
Nationwide, there is one rheumatologist for every 40,000 people, but in Tennessee there is one for every 55,000 people – making treatment particularly hard for the state’s rural communities.
Coffee County Fair Opens Saturday
The Coffee County Fair begins Saturday (September 15, 2018) and runs through Saturday, September 22, 2018. The Coffee County Fair has been carrying on family traditions for over 160 years.
There are so many events to enjoy at the Coffee County Fair for all ages. There will be carnival rides, beauty pageants, great food, music and more! Come out this year and join in the fun at the fair in Manchester.
On Saturday night the Coffee County Fair will feature the Miss Teen competition at 5:30 pm and the Fairest of the Fair starts at 8 pm. The baby and toddler shows will be held on Sunday. The carnival rides begin on Monday.
9/15/18–Verna Ruth Winton
Mrs. Verna Ruth Winton, 82, passed away, Wednesday,
September 12, 2018 at her home. She was born in Pelham, Tennessee on May
15, 1936 to Dillon Hawk and Ruby Rieder Hawk who preceded her in death.
She had worked as a nurses aide at the Grundy County Health Department and
was a Clerk in Charge at the Pelham Post Office. She was a member of the
Pelham Church of Christ.
She is survived by her husband, of 63 years J.L. Winton; daughters, Teresa
(Tim) Cunningham, Pelham and Gaye (John) Kelley, Estill Springs;
grandchildren, Courtney (Jonathan) Pragel, John Cunningham, Blake (Teela)
Kelley and Drew Kelley; great-granddaughter, Camden Reese Pragel; several
nieces and nephews.
Funeral services will be 2:00 PM Saturday in the Central Funeral Home
Chapel with her son-in-law, John Kelley officiating with burial to follow
in the Warren Cemetery. Visitation: 5:00 PM – 8:00 PM Friday at Central
Funeral Home, Manchester, Tennessee. www.centralfuneralhome.com
9/14/18 — Joshua C. Deaton
Joshua C Deaton of Moore County, passed this life on Tuesday, September 11,
2018 at his residence at the age of 30. Funeral services will be conducted
Friday, September 14, 2018 at 2 PM at Daves-Culbertson Funeral Home with
burial to follow at the Chestnut Ridge Cemetery. Visitation with the
family will be Thursday, from 6 – 8 PM at Daves-Culbertson Funeral Home.
A native of Tullahoma, he was the son of the late Richard Deaton and Robbie
Gunne Lowe of Moore County. He was a member of Chestnut Ridge Baptist
Church and enjoyed riding four wheelers, watching movies and hanging out
with his friends and family.
In addition to his father, he was preceded in death by grandparents, Roxie
Deaton, Margaret Martin, Robert Gunne and Gerald Lowe Sr.
Joshua is survived by his parents, Robbie and Gerald Lowe of Moore County;
grandparents, Melvin Deaton of Moore County and Sharon Lowe of Tullahoma;
brother, Jeremy Angel and his husband, John of New York, NY; sisters,
Ashley McInturff and her husband, Daniel of Rocky Top and Rachel Chessor
and her husband, Ross of Tullahoma; nieces, Hannah and Marlee Chessor and
Elle McInturff and nephew, Maddux McInturff.
In lieu of flowers, the family has requested donations be made in his honor
to the Sarcoma Alliance, 775 E. Blithedale Ave, #334, Mill Valley, CA
94941.
Daves-Culbertson Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Larry D. Steele, Sr.
Larry D Steele Sr. of Tullahoma, passed this life on Tuesday, September 11,
2018 at his residence at the age of 69. A Celebration of Life Service will
be scheduled at a later time.
A native of New York, he was the son of the late Mick and Mildred Sherwood
Steele. He had worked for many years for Worth as the Manager of the Wood
Bat Division. He was a member of the Pleasant Hill United Methodist Church
of Lynchburg. He enjoyed woodworking.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife, Debra
Steele.
Mr. Steele is survived by son, Larry Steele Jr and his wife, Alma of Ormond
Beach, FL; daughter, Lisa Sonnenberg of Tullahoma; brothers, Gary Steele
and his wife, Carol of Zephyrhills, FL, Bill Steele and his wife, Dawn of
Dolgeville, NY and Rick Steele and his wife, Debbie of St. Johnsonville,
NY; sister, Donna Randall and her husband, Harold of Dolgeville, NY;
sister-in-laws, Patricia Stewart and her husband, Victor of Lynchburg and
Christine Floyd and her husband, Rick of Estill Springs and four
grandchildren, C J Carter, Jack Sonnenberg, Ariel Steele and Madison Steele.
Daves-Culbertson Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
9/12/18 — Birthdays
Birthdays:
Hudson Downs, 4
Coffee County Volleyball Falls at Oakland on Wednesday
Amanda Mukai of CHS volleyball
Taking on former Lady Raider player Kaitlyn Thornton and her Oakland team, the Lady Raider volleyball team of Coffee County Central High School took on the Lady Patriots on Wednesday. In a hard fought match, Coffee County fell in 3 sets. The Lady Raiders fell by set scores of 21-25, 24-26, and 14-25.
In spite of cutting down on hitting errors, Coffee County was hampered by 10 service errors in the match. Coffee County was led kills by Keri Munn who had 5. Kiya Ferrell led in blocks with 4. The Lady Raiders were led in aces by Abigail Layne with 2 while Amanda Mukai was the match leader in assists with 7 and Sarah West had 4 digs for Coffee County.
Coffee County is back at home on Thursday when they host non-district rival Grundy County. First serve is set for 6 PM at the Joe Frank Patch Memorial Gym. Thunder Radio will be on hand to bring you all the action as part of the 1st National Bank Hometown Sports Series. Our pregame show will begin at 5:45.
Coffee County is Home to High School Rodeo Star
Jesse Hay-Smith riding a bull. [Photo used with permission]
Not only is the humble and polite young man a senior at Coffee County Central High School, but Jesse is also a member of the Tennessee High School Rodeo Association. Jesse, who has been doing rodeo since age 8, moved to Coffee County in July from Idaho. After moving here, the high school senior hooked up with youth rodeo in the state, including competing in Harriman this past week-end. Hay-Smith has competed in almost every rodeo event but now spends most of his time competing in 4 events. Jesse competes in chute dogging, in which he has won 2 championship belt buckles; bull riding, in which he has 1 championship belt buckle; bareback and saddle bronc riding.
If you want to learn more about Jesse, he will be a guest on Saturday’s Coffee Coaches Show. The Coffee Coaches Show is broadcast each and every Saturday from 10 to 11 AM right here on Thunder Radio. The Coffee Coaches Show is broadcast LIVE from the showroom of Al White Ford/Lincoln at 2002 Hillsboro Highway in Manchester.
Local Lawsuit heads to Supreme Court
The City of Tullahoma and the Coffee County Board of Education continue to battle over the liquor-by-the-drink-tax.
Both government entities have won court cases in the past. The Coffee County Board of Education has calculated that Tullahoma owes $387,488 from 1980 to 2014. The county board of education claims half of the collected liquor-by-the-drink tax money should have been distributed among all three school systems in Coffee County, according to each system’s “average daily attendance.” If the county wins Coffee County Schools would get half of that figure, Tullahoma would get the next amount followed by Manchester City Schools.
County school system attorney Eric Burch had asked the City of Tullahoma to accept an out of court settlement, but the city said no.
In Coffee County Chancery Court, Tullahoma won, but the Tennessee Courts of Appeal overruled. Now the case will be heard by the Supreme Court at 1:30 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 4.