Author's posts
Two Home Fires on Tuesday
Photo of Hillsboro fire… Photo by Barry West
The first fire was early Tuesday morning at a residence on Limbo Dr. in Hillsboro.
The home of Rita Weddington was destroyed by the fire. No one was reported as injured in the devastating blaze.
New Union area fire… Photo by Barry West
All volunteer fire departments were called back out around 4:30pm on Tuesday afternoon for a structure fire at 401 C Anderson Road in the New Union area. The home received minimal damage according to a witness. No injuries reported.
Election Commission Meets Thursday
Administrator of Elections for Coffee County Vernita Davis… Photo by Samantha Watters
The purpose of the meeting will be to call for the Manchester and Tullahoma Municipal elections. City elections, county general and the state primary will be held on August 2, 2018.
County primary elections will be held on May 1, 2018.
Gas Prices Up
In 2017, gas prices in Tennessee averaged $2.18, which was the highest annual average in three years. The upward trend has continued into 2018 as gas prices had the most expensive start to the year in four years. Tennessee gas prices averaged $2.26 on January 1st, averaging 13 cents more than the year before.
AAA spokesman Mark Jenkins said that after a quick jump at the pump last week, prices are almost stable right now across the southeast, and should begin to take a downward turn soon. Gas prices normally decline during January and February as gasoline demand hits its lowest levels of the year.
The national average price of regular unleaded is $2.48, 13 cents higher than a year ago.
The low price in Manchester is $2.13 per gallon and in Tullahoma the low price is $2.19.
University in the South in Sewanee Sues Broadway Company
The University in the South in Sewanee is suing a Broadway production company for royalties of a play which the university says it is legally owed.
The university is the official keeper of the estate of famed American playwright Tennessee Williams, and the lawsuit says that means it’s owed six percent of the royalties of Rudinplay’s recent production of “The Glass Menagerie” over a 30-month period.
The university filed the suit last week in federal court in Chattanooga.
The suit reads in part, “”This is an action for breach of contract stemming from Rudinplay’s willful and ongoing refusal to fulfill its clear contractual obligations to the University, including to pay the University royalties in an amount not less than $305,383.78, in connection with Rudinplay’s live stage production of Tennessee Williams’ play “The Glass Menagerie” on Broadway in New York City. In addition to being an institution of higher learning, the university is the proprietor of worldwide intellectual property rights in the works of the late American playwright Tennessee Williams. (WTVC-TV)
Time to Sign-Up for EMS Classes at Motlow
The Motlow State Community College Emergency Medical Service (EMS) program is looking for a few good women and men who want to become paramedics and emergency medical technicians. The College is currently accepting applications for the 2018-19 paramedic class; deadline for application to the program is March 1, 2018.
“We are excited to begin the process for the next class,” said Drew Hooker, EMS director at Motlow. “We have successfully graduated the past three classes with the highest pass rates in the state. Our instructors are dedicated to producing the best quality paramedics possible to serve the citizens in our community.
“It is amazing how far the Motlow EMS program has come,” Hooker added, “obtaining state and national recognition as we continue to grow each day. I am proud of my staff and the successes we have shared. It is great to see all the hard work that each staff member has put in to improve the program and enrich student’s lives.”
The future is very bright for employment of EMS personnel. By the year 2026, employment of EMS personnel is expected to grow by 15 percent, according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics. These opportunities include, among others, ambulance paramedic, firefighter paramedic, flight paramedic and emergency medical technician.
“Motlow’s paramedic classes have enjoyed a 100 percent and an 88 percent licensure pass rate in the past two years, respectively,” said Justus Smith, paramedic coordinator at Motlow. “Our program is unique, dynamic, and student focused. We are looking to accept highly motivated, energetic students who want to become the future of EMS.”
For more information about Motlow’s EMS Education program, contact Drew Hooker at 931-438-0028 or dhooker@mscc.edu or go to mscc.edu/nursing/ems.
1/3/18 — Birthdays
Birthdays:
Kim Byrom, 56 — Pizza Winner!
1/06/18–Johnny Doyle (J.D.) White
Johnny Doyle (J.D.) White of Columbus, MS died Friday December 29, 2017 at
Vineyard Courts Nursing Center of natural causes.
He leaves his wife of 10 years, Wanda Floyd White of Columbus, MS, son
Randy White of San Francisco, CA, son Steven White of Chattanooga, TN,
daughter Lisa Sanders of Maryville, TN; 6 grandchildren, 2
great-grandchildren and many treasured nieces and nephews.
J.D. was proceeded in death by his loving wife Madyline Hamilton White
of Manchester, TN who passed in 2006 and his son Micheal White of
Branson, MO, from previous marriage to Debbie White, passed in 2017.
J.D. held many roles in his lifetime, but had 3 passions: his family,
Southern Gospel Music, and golf. He was a longtime member of multiple
Baptist churches in the various communities in which he lived,
including Trinity Baptist Church in Manchester, TN.
Funeral Services will be held on Thursday, January 4th at 2pm at
Lowndes Funeral Home in Columbus, MS. Graveside service and burial
will be held on Saturday, January 6th at 2pm at Manchester City
Cemetery in Manchester, TN.
Coffee County Funeral Chapel in charge of arrangements.
1/06/18–Winfred Eugene Johnson
Winfred Eugene Johnson, of Tullahoma, passed this life on Tuesday, January 2nd, 2018 at his home surrounded by his loving family at the age of 77. Mr. Johnson was born in Cocke County, Tennessee to the late William Delbert and Charlsie E. Allison Johnson. During his life he worked as an Instrument Technician at Arnold Engineering Development Center and was a member of First Baptist Church in Tullahoma. In addition to his parents, Mr. Johnson was preceded in death by a sister, Betty Ramsey; a brother, Clarence Johnson; and one grandchild, Maricella Johnson. He is survived by his wife, Francis Johnson; three children, Vernon (Cindy) Johnson of Phoenix, Arizona, Gary (Jennifer) Johnson of Tullahoma, and Sharon (Jeremy) Guillory of Yuba City, California; two step-sons, Joseph Duane “JD” (Julie) Sargent of Cedar City, Utah, and Jason (Wanda) Sargent of Dyersburg, Tennessee; grandchildren, Amber Johnson, Amanda Johnson, Alondra Johnson, Machelle (Adam) VanReenen, Kristin (David) Hunzicker, Brandon Johnson, Shelby, Claudia, and Jeremy Guillory, and Shelby and Rebekah Sargent; nine great-grandchildren; sisters, Linda (Dave) Rice, Carolyn Lindsey, and Sandra (Vernon) Clevenger; and two brothers, William (Denise) Johnson and Dennis (RosaLee) Johnson. Visitation for Mr. Johnson will be held on Friday, January 5th, 2018 at Kilgore Funeral Home from 5:00-9:00pm. Funeral services will be held at 11:00am on Saturday, January 6th, 2018 at First Baptist Church in Tullahoma with Bros. Gary Johnson and Andy Stallings officiating. Burial will follow at Rose Hill Memorial Gardens with Brandon Johnson, Scott Jones, David Hunzicker, JD Sargent, Mike Lindsey and Roger Tucker serving as pallbearers. For those who wish, in lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to either the Missions Fund at First Baptist Church, 108 East Grundy Street, Tullahoma Tennessee 37388, or to the Divorce Care Ministry at the church of Christ at Cedar Lane, 1200 Cedar Lane, Tullahoma, Tennessee 37388.
Coffee County Basketball Earns Split with Warren County
Abby Morgan of CHS basketball
The Coffee County Raider and Lady Raider basketball teams welcomed Warren County to the Joe Frank Patch Memorial Gym on Tuesday night as they opened the 2018 portion of their season. Both teams were looking to avenge losses from December 5th in McMinnville to Warren County. The Lady Raiders avenged their only loss of the season in a 49 to 31 win while the Red Raiders came up short in a 62 to 53 loss.
After falling behind early in the first matchup, Coffee County raced out to a 17 to 4 first quarter lead as they throttled the Lady Pioneers. The Lady Raider defense forced more than 20 turnovers as Coffee County improved to 14 and 1 on the year. Jenna Garretson was the leading scorer for Coffee County as she had 13 points. Abby Morgan added 12 points, with 10 of those coming in the first quarter. Bella Vinson, Jacey Vaughn and Ashley Starks each added 8 points. Morgan and Garretson were named the Crazy Daisies Co-Players of the Game.
In a back and forth boys’ game, Coffee County and Warren County were tied at 39 with 3:19 remaining in the 3rd quarter. From that point, Warren County went on a 9 to 0 run as they dominated the final 11 minutes in the win. Darius Rozier led the Raiders in scoring with 21 points as he was named the Crazy Daisies Player of the Game. DeAaron Rozier added 9 points while Garrett Booth and Andrew Mahaffey each chipped in 6. The loss drops Coffee County to 9 and 4 on the season.
Coffee County will be back at home on Friday night when they welcome district foe Lincoln County. The girls’ game will get underway at 6 PM and Thunder Radio will bring you all the action beginning with the Powers Storage Pregame Show at 5:50 PM.
Download the game broadcasts at: http://www.thunder1320.com/downloads/
2017 Year in Review – CHS Red Raider Basketball
As 2017 has drawn to a close, Thunder Radio Sports looks back at some of the highlights of the calendar year for each of the 40 prep teams we follow and report on. Today we look back at the year for the Coffee County Central High School Lady Raider basketball team. The highlight of the year 2017 came in February as the Red Raiders captured their 20th win of last season over Grundy County. This was the first Red Raider basketball team to notch 20 wins since 1977.
Thunder Radio reported on the milestone win in a story we published on February 8th
DeAaron Rozier of CHS basketball [Photo by Demarco Moore of the Manchester Times]
The Lady Raiders held the Lady Jackets without a field goal in the first period as they used 7 turnovers to build a 13 point lead. Grundy County could not get the margin any closer in the blowout win. The win improves the Lady Raiders record to 18 and 6 on the season and is the first 18 win season for Coffee County since 20111.
The Lady Raiders were led in scoring by Alliyah Williams and Abby Morgan who each netted 10 points as 14 different Lady Raiders scored on the night. Aerial Williams added 9 points and Jacey Vaughn finished with 8. Alliyah Williams was named the Crazy Daisies player of the game.
In the boys’ game, a hot shooting Yellow Jackets team raced out to a 12 to 5 lead in the first quarter before Coffee County could get their offense on track. Coffee County closed out the first half on a 14 to 6 run to take an 8 point lead into the second half. In the second half, the Raiders dominated the pace of play to capture the 25 point win. The win improves the Red Raiders record to 20 and 7 on the season which marks the first 20 win season for Coffee County basketball since 1977.
The Red Raiders were led in scoring by De’Aaron Rozier and Tyrese McGee who each put up 12 points. Grant Sadler and Garrett Eldridge added 11 points apiece as 4 Red Raiders finished in double figures. De’Aaron Rozier was named the Crazy Daisies player of the game.
Coffee County concludes the regular season on Friday night when they welcome Tullahoma to The Patch. Friday night will also be Senior Night as the senior basketball players, cheerleaders and dance team members will be honored. Thunder Radio will be on hand to bring you all the action as the girls’ game will tip off at 6 PM; we begin our broadcast with the Powers Storage pregame show at 5:50.