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6/29/18 — Joseph E. Sullivan
Joe Sullivan, the legendary entrepreneur who created memories for millions, passed away peacefully at home on Friday, June 22, 2018 with his wife Lindsey by his side.
Joseph Edward Sullivan was born to Rufus James and Mildred Sullivan on January 27, 1942 in Tullahoma, Tennessee. He began his career in radio broadcasting at the age of 16 as an afternoon DJ/announcer on WMSR, Manchester, TN. His notoriously popular “Jolly Joe Sock Hops” and pizza joint made him a local celebrity. He graduated from Manchester City School in 1960. He was inducted into the 2018 Tennessee Radio Broadcasters Hall of Fame this past May.
Sullivan was hired in 1964 to DJ in Knoxville and was promoted to Program Director a year later. Sullivan quickly took the station to the number one spot in the Knoxville market.
In 1968, Sullivan went to Nashville to program station WMAK. He was made program consultant for all Mooney Broadcasting stations, including Radio Uno in San Juan, Puerto Rico. There he was responsible for catapulting the station to the number one spot in San Juan.
The Gavin Report named Joe “Program Director of the Year” for Smaller Markets in 1972.
In 1970, Joe Sullivan and Roger McDaniel partnered to begin Sound Seventy Productions. Throughout the 70’s and 80’s, Sound Seventy was a premier promoter of live entertainment in the southeast, producing shows covering all genres. The Nashville live music scene generated by Joe and some of his peers included the now iconic venues The Exit/In and Muther’s Music Emporium where some of the world’s burgeoning stars passed through including Bruce Springsteen, Iggy Pop, Joni Mitchell, Alice Cooper and many others.
Sound Seventy expanded to include artist management with the acquisition of superstar Charlie Daniels as its first client, who was the first act from Nashville to ever sign a rock record deal. Other clients included Bobby Bare, Dickie Betts, Dobie Gray, Nicolette Larsen, Henry Paul, Wet Willie and the legendary Wolfman Jack.
Sullivan created the popular Volunteer Jam hosted by Charlie Daniels in 1974, the first of what became a Nashville mid-winter tradition.
He sat on the Country Music Association (CMA) Board of Directors serving as an Officer or a Director for 16 years.
Although he never received a college degree, he was considered an expert in his field and taught Concert Productions and Artist Management at Belmont University in Nashville and an MBA level Marketing class at Drury University in Springfield, MO.
In 1990, Sullivan moved to Branson, MO where he continued to produce and promote live entertainment events for the next 24 years, including the Super Sunday Megastar Series and BransonFest. He also managed several theaters.
He served on various community boards and as an Elder at his church. Joe Sullivan retired in 2014.
His wife Lindsey and his children Kim Ward, Joseph (Kate), Savannah and Jade (Angela) Sullivan and Tracy Keller (deceased), grandchildren Barry and Latisha, six great-grandchildren and sister Nancy Wortman (Tom), survive Joe.
A Celebration of Life ceremony will be held Friday, June 29, at 11:00 am at First Presbyterian Church, 420 West Main St., Branson. Donations in Joe’s memory can be made to Lewy Body Dementia Association, 912 Killian Hill Road SW, Lilburn, GA 30047 or Care for Kids, c/o Herschend Family Foundation, 7347 West Highway 76, Suite A, Branson, MO 65616
UPDATE: Man Arrested after Allegedly making Bomb Threat
Coffee County Justice Center
Two bomb threats were called in to the Coffee County Justice Center on Wednesday, June 27. The first was received at Circuit Court Clerk’s office just after 8 a.m. The second call came in just before 10 a.m. and was received through the Coffee County Communication Center.
Circuit Court judges requested that court be postponed for the day.
Personnel with the sheriff’s department, Manchester Police and Coffee County Emergency Management did not find any device in the building.
Tennessee Highway Patrol bomb dogs were called to the scene after the second threat and again no device was found.
District Attorney Craig Northcott had this to say after the second threat (Click below)
Sheriff’s department investigators Brandon Reed and Kerry Farrar took the lead on the case. The two investigators were able to trace the call and that led to the arrest of Cody Cooper age 26 of Lakewood Park. According to Reed, Cooper admitted there was no bomb to his knowledge at the Justice Center.
Sheriff Steve Graves said he was very pleased with the quick action his department and others took. He also thanked Manchester Police, Coffee County EMA and Tennessee Highway Patrol for their assistance.
At this point Cooper has been charged with filing a false report on the first threat. His bond was set at $50,000 and he will appear Coffee County General Sessions Court on Thursday June 28, 2018.
This is an ongoing investigation.
Tullahoma Receives State Grant
The Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development on Wednesday announced recipients of the Retail Academy Grant. The grant is designed to provide funding to communities to participate in two retail training programs.
The Retail Academy 101 program is an introduction to retail recruitment for local leaders, and the Retail Academy 201 program offers advanced retail site selection training to communities who have completed the 101 program.
Tullahoma received a $5,000 Retail Academy 201 grant that will cater to specific property marketing.
TN Maintains Gains in Child Well-Being in New Study
Experts say early-childhood education can improve a child’s potential for success in school and in life, in addition to improving socialization skills. (Twenty20)
The annual report gives Tennessee leaders a chance to pinpoint areas for improvement. Tennessee KIDS COUNT Director Rose Naccarato says a growing economy is improving the lives of children.
“Much of that gain has come from growth in the economy and the economic well-being indicators; some of it has come from education,” Naccarato explains. “Certainly, one of the biggest areas last year that we’ve held onto the growth in, is youths who are in school or employed.”
She adds, as in many states, the opioid crisis is creating a demand on state healthcare resources. Between 2010 and 2015, incidences of Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome, a side effect of babies born addicted to drugs, increased from 11 per 1,000 live births to 24.
This year, Gov. Bill Haslam rolled out TN Together, a multifaceted approach across state agencies to end the opioid epidemic by focusing on prevention, treatment and law enforcement.
The new Data Book shows upward trends in many aspects of child well-being, particularly in economic indicators. However, there are mixed results or stalled progress in the other domains, according to Laura Speer, associate director for policy reform and advocacy at the Casey Foundation.
“We want to do right by all kids and make sure that they have strong families, strong communities and the opportunities that will help them to thrive,” Speer says. “And many of the trends that we’re seeing are really good. But there’s still a lot of work to do.”
Speer adds that an accurate count in the upcoming 2020 U.S. Census is vital to meeting the needs of the state’s children.
Naccarato sees one-way Tennessee can advance quickly in the rankings in the coming years.
“Our Pre-K program only serves about 25 percent of the children that are the right age for that. We are pretty low for that measure, down in the 40s,” Naccarato says. “Offering more Pre-K seats could definitely give us an improvement there.”
In education, Tennessee’s fourth- and eighth-graders saw improvement in reading and math, respectively, outpacing the national average. When many states were cutting school funding, Tennessee continued its steady increases through the Basic Education Program, although the state still ranks in the bottom 10 in per-child spending.
Manchester Veterans Monthly Breakfast to Benefit Local Wreaths Across America Committee
ARLINGTON, Va. (AFPN) — Christmas wreaths adorn head stones at Arlington National Cemetery.
(U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Jim Varhegyi)
Wreaths Across America will be placing wreaths on military graves again in Coffee County on Dec. 15th this year. All funds raised locally go directly to fund wreaths to go on military graves in Coffee County. Wreaths Across America is a 501c3 non-profit that placed wreaths on military graves at Arlington National Cemetery and more than 4,000 other cemeteries nation-wide last year.
The VFW is located at 130 Shelton Rd in Manchester.
Donations can also be made locally at Clower Automotive at 1406 McArthur St. in Manchester. $15 sponsors one wreath, $45 sponsors three wreaths and $150 sponsors ten wreaths. Checks should be made out to “Wreaths Across America”
CHS Tennis Tryouts Scheduled for July 17th and 19th
CHS tennis coach Josh Inzer[Photo provided]
Coffee County CHS students who will be in grades 9 thru 12 who wish to tryout should bring a copy of their current physical, tennis racquets, water, and wear the appropriate clothes. Student/athletes need to remember to bring along with them the signed and completed TSSAA Physical and Parental Consent forms with them when they arrive. That form can be downloaded at: http://tssaa.org/wp-content/uploads/Forms/med01.pdf . If you have questions, contact Coach Josh Inzer at inzerj@k12coffee.net
Coach Inzer will be a guest on a guest on Saturday’s Coffee Coaches Show to talk about the tryouts and give the local fans a chance to meet him. The Coffee Coaches Show is broadcast each and every Saturday morning LIVE from the showroom of Al White Ford/Lincoln. The Coffee Coaches Show is heard exclusively here on Thunder Radio beginning at 10 AM.
Sounds Sweep Doubleheader in Oklahoma City
The Nashville Sounds notched a pair of one-run wins to sweep a doubleheader at Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark Wednesday night. Nashville beat Oklahoma City 5-4 in game one before blanking the Dodgers, 1-0, in game two.
Nick Martini extended his on-base streak to 57 games by reaching safely in both contests. He went 2-for-4 with an RBI and run scored in game one and went 1-for-3 with the go-ahead run-scoring single in game two.
Eric Jokisch started for Nashville in game one and picked up the win with five solid innings. A three-run top of the third, highlighted by Martini’s RBI single and a two-run homer from Ramon Laureano, gave Nashville a 4-2 lead.
The Dodgers battled back to even the game at 4-4, but Jorge Mateo’s run-scoring triple in the top of the sixth provided the difference. J.B. Wendelken relieved Jokisch and went two innings, including striking out a pair of hitters with a runner at third base in the final inning.
Game two belonged to a trio of Nashville pitchers and Martini. Ben Bracewell started for the Sounds and went five scoreless in his first Triple-A win of the season. Jeremy Bleich worked a scoreless sixth inning before handing it over to Bobby Wahl who struck out the side in the seventh to earn his ninth save of the season.
The game was even at 0-0 in the top of the fifth when Brett Vertigan tripled to the gap in left-center to spark a rally. After Melvin Mercedes drew a walk, Martini lined a base hit through the right side to give the Sounds a 1-0 lead and extend his on-base streak to 57 games.
The fourth and final game of the series is scheduled for Thursday night in Oklahoma City. Left-hander Brett Anderson (1-1, 1.57) starts for the Sounds against right-hander Guillermo Moscoso (3-4, 4.50) for the Dodgers. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m.
Post-Game Notes
- With tonight’s doubleheader sweep, the Sounds improved to 36-40.
- The Sounds have three one-run wins in the last 24 hours and are now 15-13 in one-run games in 2018.
- Nick Martini extended his consecutive on-base streak to 57 games by reaching safely in both games. Martini’s streak is the longest by a Nashville player in the Pacific Coast League era and is the longest active streak in professional baseball. Since April 14, Martini has reached safely in every game he has played in with the Sounds. The 57-game on-base streak is the longest in the Pacific Coast League since at least 2009 when MLBAM began tracking the statistic.
- Brett Vertigan went 3-for-3 in game two to collect his first career Triple-A multi-hit game.
The 2018 season is the Sounds’ 41st in franchise history and fourth as the Oakland Athletics’ top affiliate. Single-game tickets are available now by calling (615) 690-4487 or by visiting www.nashvillesounds.com.
Rookie LB Rashaan Evans Makes Strides with Titans
Rashaan Evans(right) with NFL commission Roger Goodell after being selected as the Titans #1 draft pick on Thursday night. [Photo by Associated Press/TitansOnline]
With the Titans, head coach Mike Vrabel is putting those leadership traits to use.
Vrabel put Evans, the team’s first-round pick, in charge of the rookies during the offseason. He wants him to make sure they’re on the bus on time in the morning, in the weight room, and at breakfast before meetings.
He’s liked what he’s seen on the field as well.
“I’ve seen him do a better job in the huddle, and taking control,” Vrabel said of Evans. “It’s not that he has all the answers, but he has been very conscientious, so we have all been pleased with that attitude.”
Evans, an inside linebacker, has welcomed the responsibilities.
“I embrace that role,” he said. “And I know there’s a lot of guys in that group that can do the same thing.”
Selected 22nd overall by the Titans, Evans played in 53 games for the Crimson Tide, where he totaled 152 tackles, 15 sacks and 19 quarterback hits.
He was a full-time starter in 2017, when he tallied 74 tackles, 13 tackles for a loss, six sacks and seven quarterback hits.
Evans hasn’t been perfect, something Vrabel admits. But he made strides from the beginning of the offseason program to the end of this month’s minicamp.
“I think he’s got a lot to learn,” Vrabel said of Evans. “I think he’s conscientious. He’s not where needs to be to start for our defense and that’s OK. There’s no expectations, these guys all want to say, ‘Did I exceed expectations?’ We haven’t played a game yet. Whether it be Rashaan or Harold (Landry), as long as these guys are coming out each day and they’re getting better at something, that’s what we’re worried about and I think they have. I think he’s improved but we all have a long way to go.”
Evans said he has a better understanding of the defense. He’s watched extra film. He’s taken notes, and learned from the veterans.
“It’s gone well,” he said, “just me getting used to the NFL lifestyle and getting ready for camp and things like that.”
Titans inside linebackers coach Tyrone McKenzie said Evans has handled himself like a pro in his first few months on the job.
“He has been growing, maturing, and taking strides in the right direction learning the defense and building his role on the team,” McKenzie said. “I think the biggest thing for Rashaan, and I’ve told him, is to come in every day, and try and win the day. Win the meeting, win each play. Just focus on getting better each day and everything is going to fall into place. Just try and take it one game at a time.
“His instincts, and the way he carries himself, he is very mature. He has done well, and he just has to keep working. He’s a worker. He asks all the right questions and he is willing to learn.”
The Titans wrapped up minicamp on June 14.
The team is scheduled to practice in training camp for the first time on July 26.
Evans said he’ll be ready.
“Just continue to keep improving, man,” he said. “I just want to keep working on the little things and just continuing to develop the chemistry with the guys I have on defense.
“I am very excited. To play my first game in the NFL, it is something I have been dreaming of my whole life. So I am already looking forward to it.”
6/28/18-Linda Lou Prince
Funeral services for Linda Lou Prince, age 79, of Manchester, will be conducted at 10:00 AM on Thursday, June 28, 2018 at Manchester Funeral Home. Burial will follow in Clay Cemetery in Princeton, AL. Visitation with the family will be held on Wednesday evening from 5:00 PM until 9:00 PM at the funeral home. Mrs. Prince passed away on Tuesday, June 26 at Centennial Medical Center in Nashville, TN.
Manchester Funeral Home is honored to serve the Prince family.
6/28/18–Christopher Anthony Adams
Christopher Anthony Adams, age 25, passed away at Tristar Centennial Hospital on Sunday, June 24, 2018, much too soon. Christopher was born in Rockville, CT and moved to Manchester, TN at the age of 8. He was a 2010 graduate of Coffee County Central High School where he majored in “comedy”. Chris had many friends and probably an enemy or two, but he loved everyone, and if you spent any time with him, you had to love him too. He is the son of Anthony and Dawn (nee Carmichael) Adams and is the youngest of three children. From his birth on July 30, 1992, to his death on Sunday, Chris brought joy to everyone around him with the ability to make you laugh even if you were having an absolutely terrible day. Two of his greatest passions were boxing and mixed martial arts; but most of all, he loved spending time with his family and friends. He loved his family more than anything in the world.
Chris is survived by his father and mother of Manchester, TN; his brother, David (Dahlia) Adams of Bellevue, TN; his sister, Samantha (Ethan) Van Zandbergen of Manchester, TN; his precious niece, Kennidy; and his precious nephew, A.J., both of Manchester, TN; and Half-sister Sherrie Adams of Daytona Beach, FL. His extended family includes many loving Aunts, Uncles, Cousins and very close wonderful friends. Andrew Johnson, his 1st cousin, shared a particularly special relationship with him; Chris thought of him like a brother and loved him to pieces.
Family and friends are invited to Coffee County Funeral Chapel, 786 McMinnville Hwy, Manchester, TN, from 11:00 AM to 3:00 PM on Thursday, June 28, 2018, to remember a beloved son, brother, uncle, cousin, and friend. Funeral services will be conducted at 3:00 PM. Burial will follow at Rose Hill Memorial Gardens.
We will always carry your memory in our hearts, Chris. “My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever” – Psalm 73:26.
Coffee County Funeral Chapel is honored to serve the Adams family.
You may sign the online guestbook at www.coffeecountyfuneralchapel.com.