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State Fire Marshal Urges Tennesseans to Focus on Home Fire Safety
The Tennessee State Fire Marshal’s Office urges Tennesseans to focus on home fire safety during what has traditionally been the most tragic week for fire-related incidents in the Volunteer State: The second week of January. Data shows that Tennessee has averaged 3.6 fire deaths (29 in eight years) during the second week of January since 2010. This is the highest number of fire deaths for any week of the year and is nearly double the rate of the average week.
Firefighters around Coffee County have fought many different fires since the beginning of December.
Heating fires are a major reason for the increase in fires and fire deaths. Data indicates that 37.7 percent of fatal heating fires may have been caused by electric space heaters. The second leading possible source of ignition was wood stoves at 23 percent. January leads all other months in residential fires, heating fires and fatal fires. The State Fire Marshal’s Office says now is the time to plan an escape route in case your home catches on fire. For more fire safety information, go online to tn.gov.
TDOT Ready for Winter Weather
TDOT salt truck… Photo by Barry West
Salt bins and brine are fully stocked, and employees are ready to mobilize in the event of inclement weather.
TDOT’s statewide 2017/2018 winter weather budget is $21.4 million, and includes salt, salt brine, overtime for employees, and equipment maintenance. The department has three salt vendors to refill salt bins as needed in all 95 Tennessee counties.
TDOT currently has over 229,000 tons of salt and more than 1.6 million gallons of salt brine ready for use. Salt brine is a salt/water mixture used as a pre-treatment for roads prior to a winter storm or to melt snow on roadways when temperatures are hovering around the freezing mark. Salt is applied to roads once snow has started to accumulate.
TDOT has a fleet of more than 800 snow trucks statewide, designed to remove snow and ice safely and efficiently from state routes and interstates.
For winter weather tips and travel information, and a regional breakdown of TDOT winter weather supplies and equipment, visit the TDOT web site at https://www.tn.gov/tdot
H&R Block Student of the Week
Congratulations to Student of the Week -Alonzo Rayas!!! Alonzo, the son of Nicole Rayas and Marco Rayas, is a fifth grader at East Coffee Elementary school.
Alonzo is in Mrs.Leedy’s homeroom at East Coffee. Alonzo was nominated because he has leadership qualities, is very intelligent (and doesn’t flaunt it), is a positive person and takes school seriously. Alonzo is a cheerleader for the East Coffee Warriors. “My Mom says that I’m loud”, said Alonzo. When Alonzo is not at school he enjoys swimming and playing in the creek; catching minnows, crawdads and fish. Those hobbies fit well with Alonzo’s future plans to become a marine biologist! Rosalyn Partin, owner of the Manchester H&R Block, has been inspired to recognize great kids in our community all through hockey season. What does hockey season have to do with our local students? Well, H&R Block gives each Student of the Week a set of Nashville Predators Hockey tickets, a commemorative plaque, as well as a special letter of recognition.
Pictured with Alonzo is Rosalyn Partin of H & R Block, Tiffany Clutter of Thunder Radio and East Coffee 5th Grade Teacher, Mr. Eaton.
1/13/18–Shirley Anne Christof
Shirley Anne Christof of Tullahoma, passed this life on Wednesday, January
10 at her residence at the age of 54 years. Memorial Services will be held
on Saturday, January 13, 2018 at 1 PM at Daves-Culbertson Funeral Home with
visitation with the family beginning at 11 AM.
Mrs. Christof, a native of Dallas, TX, was the daughter of the late Charles
Brewton and Patsy Wright Howell of Dallas. She enjoyed taking walks, riding
motorcycles and spending time with her husband and friends.
In addition to her mother, Patsy Howell and her husband, Cecil of Forney,
TX, she is survived by her loving husband, Dean Christof of Tullahoma;
children, Chris McCoy and Teresa McCoy Fisher, both of Erie, PA ; brother
Dexter Brewton and his wife, Liz of Forney, TX; sister, Debra VanHoozer and
her husband, Alan of Lavon, TX and many friends.
Daves-Culbertson Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
1/13/18–Jeffrey Paul Flowers
A memorial service for Mr. Jeffrey Paul Flowers, age 60, of Manchester, TN will be conducted at 2:00 PM on Saturday, January 13, 2018, at Manchester Funeral Home with Bro. Benny Benjamin officiating. Jeff passed away on Tuesday, January 9, 2018, at Unity Medical Center in Manchester, TN.
Jeff was born on July 31, 1957, in St. Louis, MO. He was a Vice President for an IT company, and a veteran in the United States Army and United States Air Force. He was a great salesman, knew how to do just about anything, and loved helping other people. Jeff was selfless, and was an amazing and loving son, father, brother, and grandfather.
Jeff is preceded in death by his loving wife, Lori Flowers; and his father, Paul Flowers. He is survived by his three sons, Jeffrey (Sara) Flowers, Nicholas Flowers, and Justin Flowers; one daughter, Samantha Flowers; his mother, Marjorie Flowers; four brothers, Stephen Flowers, Bob Flowers, Greg Flowers, and Mike Flowers; one sister, Phyllis Decker; seven grandchildren, Easton, Caden, Madden, Colston, Lawson, Stanton, and Christopher.
Manchester Funeral Home is honored to serve the Flowers Family.
1/12/18–Bobby Joe Farris
Bobby Joe Farris, of Estill Springs, passed this life on Monday, January 8,
2018 at the age of 72 years. Funeral Services are scheduled for Friday,
January 12, at 2 PM at Daves-Culbertson Funeral Home with burial at Harris
Chapel Cemetery. Visitation with the family will begin at 12 PM on Friday.
Mr. Farris, a native of Winchester was the son of the late Clarence Newton
and Alice Marie Woosley. He was one of fourteen children. Mr. Farris was a
son, a husband, a father, a grandfather, a great grandfather, uncle and
cousin. He was an auto mechanic, a farmer and a carpenter. His friends
called him “Smilie” or “Grammer”. He worked at the Tennessee Tannery and
the Lannom Tannery for many year.
SSG E6 Farris was in the Army National Guard for over 40 years and served
in Desert Storm. He was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ in Tullahoma.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by one daughter, Alice
Ruth Farris; brothers, Roger Dale Farris, Clarence Farris Jr and Toby
Hayden and sisters, Margaret Ann Baker and Betty Sue Farris.
Bobby is survived by his wife of 55 years, Ruth Ann York Farris of Estill
Springs; three sons, Bobby Theodore Farris and his wife, Shirley, Richard
Lee Farris and his wife, Melissa and Tracy Conrad Farris, all of Estill
Springs; daughter, Tammy Dee Partin and her fiance’, Tony Isbell of
Winchester; three brothers, John Thomas Farris and his wife, Betty of
Estill Springs; Joseph Franklin Farris and his wife, Brenda of Elkart, IN
and James Edward Farris of Greenville, TN; five sisters, Louise Lewis of
Estill Springs, Laverne Mines, Ellen Buckner and Carol Ferris of Tullahoma
and Mary Vandermark of Cowan, TN as well as 12 grandchildren and 6 great
grand children.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial donations be made to
Daves-Culbertson Funeral Home.
Online condolences may be made at www.davesculbertsonfuneralhome.com.
Daves-Culbertson Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
1/10/18 — Birthdays
Birthdays:
Nadine Vaughn — Pizza Winner!
Don David, 81
Aiden Stem, 3
Richard Huddleston
Craig Cornelison
Anniversaries:
Jimmy & Becky Prince, 37
Ashley Woods Signs Soccer Scholarship with Motlow
Abby Woods signs her National Letter of Intent to attend Motlow on a soccer scholarship. Pictured are: Front Row(left to right): Abby Woods, sister; Lisa Woods, mother; Abby Woods; Chip Woods, father; and Cooper Woods, brother. Back Row: Kandy Gilley, CHS assistant soccer coach; Lafredo Ramirez, CHS assistant soccer coach; David Amado, CHS head soccer coach; Andy Lyon, Motlow head soccer coach and Lee Xixis, CHS assistant soccer coach. [Photo by Demarco Moore – Manchester Times]
Her high school coach, David Amado, praised Ashley for here “unequaled work ethic” as the quality that would serve Ashley best in her college career. “Ashley worked very hard to get where she is” said Amado. “I never had to demand total effort from her, she always gave a maximum effort” added Amado. Woods was in goal for Coffee County this spring as the Lady Raiders were the regular season district champions and advanced to the region tournament semifinals. When speaking of her senior season, Amado acknowledged that Woods presence in goal, especially early in the season, helped set the table for the spectacular season for Coffee County. “There were many times, early in the year, that having Ashley in goal was the biggest reason we had success” said Amado.
Motlow is coached by Andy Lyon, who interestingly enough, coached Ashley as a younger player in travel soccer as part of the Camp Forrest organization. “I have known Ashley for a long time” said Lyons when reached by Thunder Radio on Wednesday. “In all my years of coaching soccer, Ashley is one of the hardest working players(I have coached)” added Lyon. Lyon went on the describe Woods as a “good fit” for the Lady Bucks program; not only as a player, but as a student and teammate. “Ashley has always been eager to work hard” said Lyon.
Motlow will lose 5 players from last year’s team, including 2 former keepers. Lyon prefers to carry 3 keepers on his roster and wants those keepers to push to become better players. Lyon expects Woods to not only add depth, but to also compete for the starting keeper position.
Coffee County Wrestlers Fall to Blackman and Lawrence County on Tuesday Night
Photo by John St.Clair – JohnStClairPhoto.com
The CHS wrestling team welcomed Blackman and Lawrence County to the Raider Academy on Tuesday night for a region tri-match. Taking on the 9th ranked Blaze of Blackman, Coffee County fell 72 to 10. Against Lawrence County, the Raiders fared only slightly better against the experienced Wildcats falling 66 to 18
Against Blackman, Evan Jaynes(at 145 pounds) got a win on an 11 to 2 major decision for Coffee County. Noah O’Shields(170) got a win via a pin fall for the Red Raiders. In the Lawrence County match, Coffee County got pin fall wins from Jaynes(145) and Hunter Massey(106) to go with a forfeit win from Reynaldo Reyes(182).
The Raider grapplers travel to Cookeville on Thursday for a 4 way duals meet. Coffee County will square off against the host Cavaliers along with Livingston Academy and Upperman. The first matches will get underway at 6 PM at Cookeville High School.
No. 7 Motlow Bucks Split in Missouri, Jump Back into TCCAA Play This Weekend
Motlow State redshirt-freshman Leo Castillo, shown driving to the basket in a game earlier this season, scored 18 points and pulled down nine rebounds during the Bucks’ 111-75 win over Nationwide Academy Saturday in West Plains, Missouri. [Photo by Jeff Reed Photography]
The Bucks (11-2, 5-0) are ranked No. 7 in the latest NJCAA poll. Motlow traveled to West Plains, Missouri, over the weekend, falling to No. 24 Missouri State-West Plains 94-82 Friday, then beating Nationwide Academy 111-75 Saturday.
Now that the season has turned over the 2018 calendar, men’s teams will play the first game of all remaining TCCAA men/women doubleheaders. Friday the Bucks and Raiders will tip off at 4:30 p.m. central time, with the women’s contest to follow. Saturday, Motlow will travel to Walters State in Morristown, with the Bucks and Senators set to tip at 1 p.m. central.
The Bucks’ two losses have both come on the road to ranked teams, and Friday’s loss to West Plains resembled the early season loss at No. 1 Northwest Florida State in that the Bucks did not shoot the ball well while the home team did.
Motlow shot too many three pointers and didn’t make near enough, connecting on only 9-34 for 26.5 percent. The Bucks made only 42 percent of their shots from the field and hit 9-17 free throws. With only four assists on 32 made shots, statistics show the Bucks did not share the ball especially well.
Isaiah Hart led all Motlow scorers with 26 points on 11-19 shooting and added four steals and three rebounds. Rashawn Fredericks added to his double-double streak, scoring 17 points with 14 rebounds. Kevonte Corley also secured a double-double, scoring 13 points with 10 rebounds, five steals and two assists.
Dillon Smith had six points and two rebounds, Anthony Yarbrough scored six and added two boards, Derrick Rayford had five points, and Hayden Edmondson hit a three pointer and grabbed a pair of steals.
Saturday’s win over Nationwide Academy featured a strong shooting performance and much better ball movement for the Bucks. Motlow led 44-26 at the half and pulled away in the final 20 minutes. The Bucks shot 57 percent from the field, hit 14-29 three pointers and 25-37 free throws, and dished out 14 assists with 15 steals.
Hart, a sophomore from Murfreesboro who leads the Bucks in scoring with a 21 points-per-game average, led the way with 24 points, seven assists, four steals and three rebounds. Smith added 23 points on 6-9 three-point shooting and had two steals, and Leo Castillo had his best game as a Buck, just missing a double-double with 18 points, nine rebounds, three assists and two steals.
Yarbrough broke into double figures with 11 points and five rebounds, Kin Webster scored 10, Corley had six points and 12 rebounds, Edmondson scored six with two assists, Chad Emmons had five points and four rebounds, Justin Hill scored five with five rebounds and three steals, and Zaire Swaby scored three points and had five rebounds.
Visit the official website of Motlow Athletics at MotlowSports.com for rosters, schedules, stats and more. Interact with Motlow Athletics on social media at MotlowSports.