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Lady Raider Soccer Captures Huge Road Win on Monday
Reyna Flores of CHS soccer
After fighting through a physical battle with Columbia on Saturday night at home, the Lady Raider soccer team of CHS traveled to Columbia on Monday night for a rematch following Saturday’s 4 to 4 draw with the Lady Lions. In another hotly contested game, it was an Emilee Roberson goal in the second half that proved to be the deciding point as Coffee County won 3 to 2. The win improves the Lady Raiders record in the district to 3-0-1 and moves them into first place in the district standings.
Reyna Flores got the scoring started for Coffee County in the 9th minute as she scored an unassisted goal to give Coffee County a 1 to 0 lead. Columbia drew even in the 33rd minute, but an Allie Amado goal in the 40th minute gave Coffee County a 2 to 1 lead with 27 seconds left in the first half. Flores had the assist that gave the Lady Raiders the lead at intermission.
In the second half, Columbia tied the match again off a corner kick in the 67th minute. Rising to the challenge, the Lady Raiders pressed the attack and found the game winner 2 minutes later. Roberson found the back of the Columbia net, with an assist from Reagan Ellison, in the 69th minute. Coffee County shut down the Lion attack for the final 11 minutes to grab the crucial district road win.
The Lady Raiders are back in action on Tuesday when they travel to Winchester to take on Franklin County in another district matchup. Kickoff is set for 7 PM.
CHS Volleyball Sweeps Riverdale on Monday
Keelie Hillis of CHS volleyball
The Coffee County CHS volleyball team welcomed District 7 power Riverdale to the Joe Frank Patch Gym on Monday. Keeping with Coach Andrew Taylor’s philosophy to play the best folks possible to get better, the Lady Raiders stunned the Lady Warriors in 3 sets to grab the huge non-district win. Coffee County won by set scores of 25 to 17, 27 to 25 and 25 to 22.
Coffee County was spectacular in the service game as they had only one service error to go with 12 aces. At the net, the Lady Raiders had 21 kills to only 9 hitting errors and an amazing 47 digs in the match as the Lady Raiders played nearly flawless volleyball.
Tyana Fenton and Amada Mukai led the team in aces with 4 each. Mukai led the team in assists with 13 while Fenton had 16 digs. Keelie Hillis led Coffee County in kills with 6 and had the Lady Raiders only block.
The Lady Raiders are back at home on Tuesday night as they return to district play. Coffee County welcomes Lincoln County to the Joe Frank Patch Gym for a 6 PM match. Thunder Radio will be on hand to bring you live coverage as part of the First National Bank Hometown Sports Series. The pregame show will begin around 5:50.
CCMS Soccer Blasts White County on 8th Grade Night
Coffee County Middle School 8th grade soccer players and Coach Travis O’Kelley[Photo by Jodi Amado]
Coffee County got all 8 goals in the first half as Coach O’Kelley had the Lady Raiders stop shooting after the 18th minute. Katie Cotton got a goal in the 4th minute unassisted and followed that up one minute later off an assist from Anna Amado. Alexis Rayman added an unassisted goal in the 7th minute before Jayda Wright scored in the 9th minute off a feed from Haleigh Richardson. Kelsey Brantley scored to make it 5 to 0 in the 14th minute off a pass from Cotton. Ellie Fann notched a gaol in the 15th minute after a feed from Ariana Hansen. Wright added her second goal in the 16th minute on a free kick and Caitlyn Garrett added the 8th goal in the 19th minute with Brantley getting the assist
The win ups Coffee County’s record to 3 and 5 on the season and 2 and 3 in conference play. The Lady Raiders travel to Harris on Wednesday night for a conference match with Harris. Opening kick is scheduled for 5 PM at Shelbyville Central High School.
To download a copy of the broadcast, go to: http://www.thunder1320.com/downloads/
Westwood Soccer Crushes Liberty for First Win of the Year
Diana Ramirez of Westwood soccer
The Westwood soccer team traveled to Shelbyville on Monday to tangle with Liberty. The match was originally scheduled for last Tuesday but had to be moved due to inclement weather. The Lady Rockets continued their offensive revival they started last week as they captured the 9 to 0 win in the conference tilt.
Diana Ramirez had a monster first half for Westwood as she scored 6 unassisted goals in the first 30 minutes to give the Rockets an insurmountable lead. Ramirez added an assist in the second half as she helped Luz Maria Basurto find the back of the net. Anna Johnson and Patricia Barrera each added unassisted goals. Alana Coker had 5 saves in goal to give Westwood their first win of the year.
Westwood will be back at home on Wednesday they play host to Fayetteville. Wednesday night will be 8th Grade Night for the Lady Rockets. Kick-off is set for 5 PM at Dyer-Bouldin Field.
Graduation Rates show Overall Improvements in Most Areas–Coffee Co. Remains Steady
Gov. Bill Haslam
A news release from the governor’s office says the 2016-17 graduation rate of 89.1 percent has set a record. The rates increased in about 56 percent of districts with high schools.
The release says the rate is up by more than half a percentage point since last year, and overall it has increased 3.6 percentage points since the 2010-11 school year.
The administration says 13 districts increased their graduation rates by 5 percentage points or more. Lake County experienced the biggest improvement with a 23.1 percentage-point jump.
The release says the group of students who are black, Hispanic or Native American increased its graduation rate by 0.4 percentage points to 83 percent.
Coffee County improved from 89.9 in 2015 to 91.1 in 2016 and down very slightly to 90.8 in 2017. Tullahoma went from 81.9 in 2015 to 93.5 in 2016 and down to 89 percent in 2017.
Coffee County Considering Appealing Court Ruling
Coffee County plans to appeal a district court ruling in a lawsuit that, if settled now, could cost county taxpayers nearly $600,000.
Of that amount, $490,000 would be paid to plaintiff and former county employee Melinda Keeling, with $79,000 in attorney fees going to Jerry Gonzalez, who represents Keeling.
Keeling, an employee of the Coffee County Department of Codes and Safety from 2006 to 2010, filed a claim under the Tennessee Public Employee Political Freedom Act (PEPFA) following her dismissal.
Keeling was fired from the county’s codes department on May 27, 2010. At that time, Glenn Darden was the department director and David Pennington served as a county mayor.
Darden retired in September 2015, and Pennington didn’t seek re-election after his most recent term ended in 2014.
Keeling claims she was disciplined and ultimately fired because she brought up her concerns about Darden being unavailable to answer questions and address concerns brought by the public.
A jury found in favor of Keeling on Jan. 12, 2017, and awarded her damages in the amount of $10,000. Those damages, according to state law, were tripled to $30,000.
An order by the Circuit Court of Coffee County, filed on May 1, states that the plaintiff is entitled to back-pay damages and front-pay damages. The order also states that back- and front-pay damages should be tripled, as well.
The total amount the court ordered to be paid to Keeling by the county is about $490,000.
On Aug. 25, the court also ruled the amount the county pay her lawyer, Jerry Gonzalez would be $79,000 for attorney fees.
According to County Attorney Bob Huskey, Keeling was laid off because there was not enough work to justify keeping her position.
(Story courtesy of the Tullahoma News)
New Requirments for some Food Stamps Recipients
Photo credit: U.S. Dept. of Agriculture/Flickr.
Haslam said Monday that Tennessee will re-establish federal work requirements in 70 counties for able-bodied adults without dependents who receive Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits.
That requirement was waived in 2008 amid recession. It won’t be reinstated for 16 economically distressed counties.
Currently, the work requirement is in place in nine counties, including seven in the Nashville area.
Those receiving SNAP benefits in Coffee County and are able-bodied adults without dependents will have to meet the requirements to continue getting assistance. The only nearby county where the new requirement will not be reinstated in Grundy County.
Haslam says it’s now difficult to justify the waiver amid record-low unemployment rates and substantial job growth. The governor’s office says other states have restored work requirements, as well.
The change affects 58,000 of about 1 million Tennesseans on food stamps.
The administration says Haslam will also propose legislative changes to reduce welfare fraud, waste and abuse.
The 58,000 able-bodied Tennesseans who would be required to work beginning February 1 can do it in several ways, including:
• 20 hours weekly on job
• 20 hours weekly in training or education
• 20 hours weekly in an approved volunteer program
9/21/17 — John Williams Barnes, Sr.
Funeral services for John William Barnes, Sr., age 87, of Hillsboro, TN, will be conducted at 1:00 PM on Thursday, September 21, 2017 at Manchester Funeral Home with Bro. Troy Finney and Kyle Payne officiating. Burial will follow in Bethlehem Cemetery. Visitation with the family will be from 11:00 AM until the service at 1:00 PM at the funeral home. Mr. Barnes passed away on Sunday, September 17, 2017, at Southern Tennessee Medical Center in Winchester, TN.
John was born in Decherd, TN, the son of the late Roy and Sarah Barnes. He was a carpenter and adored his dog, Penny. John enjoyed watching the Atlanta Braves, and was a very loving father and grandfather.
In addition to his parents, John was also preceded in death by his three brothers, Roy Barnes, Jr., Bill Barnes, and Jess Lee Barnes. He is survived by his loving wife of 67 years, Clara; two sons, John (Cathy) Barnes and Jeff (Doreen) Barnes; two daughters, Jean (Paul) Wildman and Joann (Greg) Boyd; three brothers, Frank, Joe Ed, and Doc Barnes; one sister, Alva Johnson; eight grandchildren, Lisa (Chad) Lorance, Sherry (Shane) Toney, Michelle (Daniel) Wilson, Katy (Keith) Reese, Laura Barnes, Robby (Alyse) Clark, Josh (Lishia) Barnes, and Brad (Megan) Barnes; fourteen great-grandchildren; and two great-great-grandchildren.
Manchester Funeral Home is honored to serve The Barnes family.
Ruth Eloise Yarber Mahler
Ruth Eloise Yarber Mahler passed from this life on Saturday, September 16,
2017. A loving wife, mother, and friend to many, she is predeceased by her
parents, Grover and Edna Yarber of Acton, Indiana; sisters Betty, Melba,
and Harriette, brother Ray; and her loving and devoted husband of 44 years,
George. She is survived by her sisters-in-law Iris Mahler in Acton,
Indiana and Rosie Yarber in Indianapolis, IN; son Robert and wife Sharon of
Murfreesboro, TN; son Kenny and wife Karen of Birmingham AL; and
grandchildren Andrew Mahler and wife Anne Garland Mahler of Charlottesville
VA; Brandon Mahler of Murfreesboro, TN; and Sam Mahler of Washington, DC.
Ruth was born April 21, 1926 near Indianapolis, Indiana and lived in the
area until 1957 when she and her family moved to Manchester. During the
war, she worked in the defense industry in and around Indianapolis where
she met her future husband George, serving in the military at that time.
They
were married in 1946 in Indianapolis. After moving to Manchester, Ruth was
active in her church, First Methodist Church of Manchester, and in local
activities, including the Manchester Garden Club, the PTA, and other local
organizations. For many years, she was a constant and devoted caregiver to
her husband following his disability and retirement. She worked tirelessly
in caring for him until his death in 1990. More recently, she had been a
resident of Brookdale Assisted Living in Tullahoma. Ruth will be fondly
remembered as one who loved to be with people, cook and sew for family and
friends, involved in her church, enjoyed boating and picnicking at the lake
with her family, and visiting with her family in Indiana.
The family wishes to thank her caregivers and friends at Brookdale and
Hospice Compassus for their loving care for her in her last years. Ruth
will be interred at the Rose Hill Memorial Gardens following a private
family service. Those wishing to send cards or flowers should contact the
Daves-Culbertson Funeral Home, or gifts may be offered in her name to the
First Methodist Church of Manchester.
Daves-Culbertson Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
9/18/17 — Birthdays
Birthdays:
Keiton Gipson, 11 — Pizza Winner!
Mary Carter