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Police Pursuit goes through Three Counties
The Grundy County Sheriff’s Office was involved in a car chase Saturday night that sent the suspect and an officer to the hospital.
Sheriff Clint Shrum says it started after deputies tried to stop the driver of a green Oldsmobile, Freddie Meeks, for suspicion of DUI in Palmer.
Meeks fled through Whitwell into Sequatchie County and onto Daus Mountain Road, which leads back into Grundy County.
“A sheriff’s deputy approaching from the opposite direction had pulled onto a logging road to allow the pursuit to make passage,” Shrum said. “The suspect vehicle ran off the roadway and struck the deputies vehicle in the driver’s side.”
The deputy was taken to the hospital, but was released with non-life threatening injuries.
Meeks is currently required to wear a GPS monitor on charges out of Marion County.
The newest charges Meeks is now facing include DUI, vehicular assault and felony evading arrest.
More New State Laws
Tennessee State Capital
Lawmakers made the change in reaction to a November 2016 school bus crash that killed six elementary school children in Chattanooga.
The driver was 24 at the time. The law also requires a school bus driver safety program, five consecutive years of driving experience for drivers and appointment of school district and charter school transportation supervisors.
Two other new laws that took effect on Monday require Tennessee public colleges and universities to spell out free speech policies. Another new law will allow trained soldiers to bypass firing range requirements for a state handgun permit.
Spring Assembly is Jan. 10 at Motlow
All Motlow State Community College campuses – Moore County, Fayetteville, McMinnville and Smyrna – will be closed Thursday, Jan. 11, to permit faculty and staff to attend spring assembly.
Faculty and staff from all Motlow campuses will meet on the Motlow Moore County campus in Nisbett Center, Copperweld Arena, for the annual assembly, during which preparations are made for the spring semester. Continental breakfast will begin at 7:45 a.m., with opening remarks from Hilda Tunstill, interim Motlow president, beginning at 9:00 a.m.
The assembly agenda includes introduction of new employees, updates on college programs and new initiatives, and faculty discipline meetings.
The final day that admission applications will be accepted for the spring 2018 semester is Jan. 10. Regular classes on all campuses begin on Jan. 16.
2017 Year in Review – Coffee County Swim Team
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 swim teams. While the Raider swimmers are currently in the middle of the season, the highlight for the calendar year came last February at the 2017 Tennessee Interscholastic Swim Coaches Association state meet in Knoxville which capped off the best season in scholastic swimming in Coffee County history.
Thunder Radio reported on the state meet in a story we published on February 12th
With the opportunity to put an exclamation point on a successful season, 4 swimmers for the CHS Swim team did exactly that on Friday and Saturday. A set of standout performances in the 2017 Tennessee Interscholastic Swim Coaches Association state meet this weekend in Knoxville caps off maybe the best season in scholastic swimming in Coffee County history. Ryan Farless, Jack Beachboard, Anna O’Connor and Kaylee Williams carried the banner for a talented and successful team performance this season.
Senior Ryan Farless set a new school record in the 100 yard butterfly on Friday with a time of 55.38 seconds. The performance was good enough for 29th place as he cut over 3 seconds off his personal best time. On Saturday, Farless set another personal best in the 100 yard freestyle with a time of 50.91 seconds to finish in 42nd place.
Sophomore Jack Beachboard set a new personal best in the 200 IM with a time of 2:03.88 to capture a 25th place finish. Beachboard came back on Saturday to set a new personal best in the 100 yard breaststroke with a time of 1:02.81 to finish in 28th place.
Sophomore Anna O’Connor set a new personal best in the 100 yard backstroke with a time of 1:06.90 on Saturday.
Freshman Kaylee Williams also had a wonderful first experience at state. On Friday, Kaylee captured a 58th place finish in the 200 yard IM with a time of 2:28.11. On Saturday, Williams finished in 36th place in the 100 yard breaststroke with a time of 1:13.53.
2017 Year in Review – CCMS Girls’ 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 Middle School Lady Raider basketball team. While the Lady Raiders are currently in the middle of the season, the highlight for the calendar year came last January. The Lady Raiders completed a 3 game stretch in 3 days culminating in a 5 overtime loss to Blackman in the TMSAA Sub-Sectional game at CCMS.
Thunder Radio reported on the final hectic weekend in a story we published on January 29th
The CCMS Lady Raiders with their CTC runner-up trophy.
A three point basket by Blackman with 2 seconds remaining in the 5th overtime period brought the Coffee County Middle School Lady Raider basketball team’s season to a stunning finish on Sunday afternoon. Blackman hit five 3 pointers in the five overtime thriller but the final one gave the visitors a 46 to 43 win in the TMSAA Sub-Sectional game at CCMS. The Sunday loss came in the Lady Raiders 3rd game in 3 days.
The Lady Raiders needed a three pointer at the end of the 4th overtime from Bella Vinson to force a 5th overtime. Vinson finished with 28 points. Marley Perry finished with 7 points before fouling out with 3 minutes remaining in the 4th quarter. Kiya Ferrell finished 6 points on 2 crucial 3 pointers. The first came in the 2nd quarter to tie the game and the 2nd one came gave Coffee County the lead with 1:17 left in the 4th quarter. The loss ended the season for Coffee County with a record of 16 and 6 and a runner-up finish in the CTC conference. The Lady Raiders fell in the CTC conference final on Saturday.
In Saturday’s CTC conference final, the Lady Raiders took the heavily favored White County Wariorettes to the wire before falling 42 to 36. Six turnovers in the 3rd quarter turned a 6 point lead for Coffee County into a 3 point deficit entering the 4th quarter. The Lady Raiders cut the deficit to 2 points with 19 seconds remaining, but White County got a basket and a turnover to gain the championship.
Bella Vinson led the Lady Raiders in scoring with 25 points. Kaylee Smartt added 5 points with all of those points coming in the 4th quarter. The Lady Raiders advanced to Saturday’s final with a semifinal win over North Franklin. Following the conference finals, 4 Lady Raiders and 2 Red Raiders were named to the CTC All-Conference teams. Bella Vinson, Marley Perry, Kiya Ferrell and Kylie Phillips were named to the CTC girls’ all-conference team. Hayden Hullett and Jaxon Vaughn were named to the CTC boys’ all-conference team.
Looking toward their 3rd consecutive CTC title, the Lady Raiders advanced to Saturday’s finals with a 47 to 34 win over North Franklin on Friday night. The win sets up a finals matchup with the regular season conference champion Warriorettes of White County. That matchup will take place at 5 PM on Saturday at Tullahoma High School.
The Lady Raiders jumped on North early with a 14 point outburst in the 1st quarter to take a 14 to 2 lead they would never relinquish. The Lady Gators fought back to cut the deficit to 6 points at the half, but Coffee County only allowed North to get to the free throw 3 times in the 2nd half to keep the clock moving.
Bella Vinson led Coffee County in scoring with 29 points. Kylie Phillips finished with 8 points including a pair of 3 pointers. Kaylee Smartt added 6 points as the Lady Raiders improved to 16 and 4 on the season.
The Lady Raiders will be guests on an upcoming Coffee Coaches Show to review their season. The Coffee Coaches Show airs at 10 AM each Saturday and is broadcast live from the showroom of Al White Ford/Lincoln.
2017 Year in Review – CHS Wrestling
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 wrestling team. While the Raider grapplers are currently in the middle of the season, the highlight for the calendar year came last January when 3 Coffee County wrestlers medaled at the Goodpasture Invitational Tournament, including a pair of gold medals by Rein Bozich and Owen Teague.
Thunder Radio reported on their tournament sucess in a story we published on January 15th
CHS wrestler Owen Teague (on top)
A pair of gold medals was the reward on Saturday for members of the CHS wrestling team after competing in the Goodpasture Invitational tournament. The individual tournament featured wrestlers from 21 different schools in the double elimination format tournament. While not a team event, Coffee County’s strong performance was good enough to rank 6th out of the 21 teams in team points.
Individual Results were as follows:
CHS Wrestler Rein Bozich
Rein Bozich was 4 and 0 on the day to win the 138 pound bracket. Bozich also won best match award.
Owen Teague was 4 and 0 on the day to win the 145 pound bracket,
Joseph White was 3 and 2 on the day to finish in 4th place at 132 pounds,
Reid Lawrence was 2 and 2 on the day to finish in 5th place at 160 pounds,
Zack Adams was 1 and 2 on the day to finish in 7th place in the heavyweight bracket.
Dustin Duke finished in 7th place in the 106 pound bracket,
and Noah O’Shields finished in 9th place in the 126 pound bracket.
CHS wrestlers(left to right) Rein Bozich, Joseph White and Owen Teague with their medals from Saturday’s Goodpasture tournament. [Photo provided]
2017 Year in Review – CCMS Boys’ 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 Middle School Lady Raider basketball team. While the Red Raiders are currently in the middle of the season, the highlight for the calendar year came last January as the Red Raiders closed out the regular season with a 4 game winning streak ending with a solid win over Harris in Shelbyville.
Thunder Radio reported on their win at Harris in a story we published on January 19th
Trevor Horne(#52) of CCMS goes up for a shot over a Harris defender
The Coffee County Middle School basketball teams ended the regular season in Shelbyville taking on Harris Middle School on the Eagle’s homecoming on Thursday. In a pair of games that that saw each team rally from 1st quarter deficits, the Raiders and Lady Raiders split the conference contests. The Lady Raiders fell 20 to 19 while Red Raiders won 32 to 27.
A game winning shot at the buzzer rimmed out for the Lady Raiders in a defensive struggle in the girls’ game. Harris took the lead with 8 seconds remaining and after a Coffee County time out, Bella Vinson got an open look for a 25 footer at the buzzer that rimmed out as the final horn sounded. Coffee County held Harris to 10 points in the final 3 quarters after falling behind 10 to 2 in a turnover filled first period.
The Lady Raiders were led in scoring by Kylie Phillips who finished with 5 points. Vinson and Kiya Ferrell each finished with 4 points. The Lady Raiders will end the regular season with a record of 14 and 4 overall and 10 and 4 in conference play.
The Red Raiders rallied from a 4 point deficit in the 1st quarter as they held Harris to 2 points in the 2nd quarter. Coffee County tied the game with a minute remaining in the 3rd quarter on a Jaxon Vaughn 3 pointer before dominating the 4th quarter. Trevor Horne contested every Eagle shot in the paint and finished with 9 blocked shots.
The Red Raiders were led in scoring by Vaughn who had 11 points, Horne and Trenton Scrivnor each finished with 6 points for Coffee County who improved to 11 and 7 on the season and 7 and 7 in conference play.
Coffee County is back in action next week as they enter play in the Central Tennessee Conference postseason tournament. The CTC tournament will begin on Monday as the Lady Raiders will take on Warren County at 6:30 PM at Tullahoma High School. The Red Raiders open play on Tuesday at 8 PM against North Franklin also at Tullahoma High School. The conference tournament will conclude on Saturday.
1/5/18 — Mary Charlotte Hartman
Mrs. Mary Charlotte Hartman, 75, passed away Sunday December
31, 2017 at the Williamson Medical Center in Franklin, Tennessee. She was
born in Manchester, Tennessee on September 17, 1942 to Leon and Verda Ruth
Sartain Bryan who preceded her in death along with her sister, Dorothy
Winton; brothers, Bob and Edwin Bryan.
She was a resident of Franklin, Tennessee and had been an executive
secretary for Gaylord Opryland and Southern Land Construction. She was of
the Christian faith and enjoyed Ballroom dancing.
She is survived by her daughter, Melissa (Jud) Clift; son, Brian (Jennifer)
Hartman; brother, Wayne (Pat) Bryan; sisters, Violet McMahan, Ann (Bob)
DeBerry, Carol McMahan, Sandra Simmons, Sylvia Walker and Sharon (Mervin)
Elam; grandchildren, Judson and Landon Clift, Emma and Jack Hartman;
several nieces and nephews.
A private funeral service with the family will be held 1:00 PM Friday in
the funeral home chapel with Minister Charles Hopkins officiating with
burial to follow in the Hillsboro Methodist Cemetery. Arrangements by:
Central Funeral Home, Manchester, Tennessee. www.centralfuneralhome.com
1/3/18 — Austin C. Ferrell
Ferrell, Austin C., of Decherd, passed this life on Sunday, December
31st, 2017 at Lynchburg Nursing Center at the age of 91. Mr. Ferrell was
born in Smithville, Tennessee to the late John R. and Ella Lee Lawson
Ferrell. He was a retired Iron Worker with Arnold Engineering Development
Center and attended Vine Street Church of God in Tullahoma. In addition
to his parents, Mr. Ferrell was preceded in death by his first wife of 51
years, Dean Ferrell; three brothers, Clifton, E.J., and Clyde Ferrell;
and his second wife, Mary Ferrell. He is survived by three children,
Edith Darnell of Decherd, Sue Edens and her husband Hubert of Tullahoma,
and Milton Ferrell and his wife Diane of Lynchburg; six grandchildren,
Renaye Walls (Dale) of Decherd, Duane Darnell (Kandi) of Tullahoma, Jeff
Edens (Sylvia) of Tullahoma, Karrie Tucker (Curtis) of Winchester,
Shannon Cauble (Keith) of Lynchburg, and Heath Ferrell (Tammie) of
Lynchburg; six great-grandchildren, Austin Walls, Justin Darnell, Kaley
Owens, Lori Searcy, Casey Tucker, and Sam Cauble; six
great-great-grandchildren, Caroline Todd, Matthew Walls, Carlie Searcy,
Caden Searcy, Jeremiah Owens and Elijah Owens; one brother, Bratten
Ferrell of Tullahoma; and two sisters, Lou Dean Miller of Munsey, Indiana
and Ruthene Swain of Winchester. Visitation for Mr. Ferrell will be held
on Wednesday, January 3rd, 2018 at Kilgore Funeral Home from 12:00-2:00pm
with the funeral service to immediately follow at 2:00pm with Bro. Ronnie
Holloway officiating. Burial will follow at Rose Hill Memorial Gardens.
Kilgore Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Update on County Commission Races
There will be some new faces on the county commission as some current commissioners will not seek re-election: Sam Mai, Republican representing Manchester’s District 4, Diane Argraves, a Democrat representing rural District 11, Kerry Farrar, a Democrat representing District 8, Mark Kelly, a Republican representing Tullahoma’s District 15, Kimberly Martin, a Republican representing Tullahoma’s District 17, and Rush Bricken, a Republican representing Tullahoma’s District 21 have all decided not seek re-election. Others may choose not to run, but have not announced.
No candidates have picked up qualifying papers to run in districts 2, 4, 13, or 19 for county commissioner. In District 1 Elizabeth H Joe Debellis has picked up qualifying papers to run as a republican. District 3 Michael T Crockett is planning to run as a republican and Michael D Stein is running as a democrat. William Henry Judkins II has picked up papers to run in District 5 as a republican and Bobby Bryan will run for re-election as an independent. In District 6, Republican Dennis Hunt is running for reelection and Raymond Carr has picked up papers to run as a democrat. Paul Gish will run as a republican in District 7. Two republicans are running for District 8 commissioner; Charles Schultz, Jr and Emily Howes. David Orrick is running as an independent in District 9. Harley Myers plans to run as a democrat in District 10. James Fielding is planning a campaign as a republican in District 11 and Barry West will run as a democrat. In District 12 Ashley Brooke Kraft has picked up papers to run as a republican along with independent Incumbent Tim Morris. Republican Robert John Jarman will run for the District 14 seat along with democrat incumbent Missy DeFord. Republican Dwight Miller is the only candidate so far in District 15. Republican Tim Stubblefield is planning on running again for the District 16 commissioner slot. Jimmy Bradford, Democrat and Tildon J Stubblefield Jr, Republican are running in District 17. So far one candidate has picked up qualifying papers to run in District 18, Republican Barbara Buckner. Democrat Rosemary Crabtree is running in District 20 and Democrat Gwendolyn Carr and Republican Charles Lynn Seaborn are running for District 21 commissioner.
This list can change often, and we will keep you updated in the coming weeks.