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Woodbury Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Charges
George Ronzell Fyke, 40, of Woodbury, Tennessee, has pleaded guilty to aggravated identity theft and theft of government funds, announced Jack Smith, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Tennessee.
According to the plea agreement, Fyke stole names and social security numbers of deceased relatives and from fellow inmates at the Montgomery County, Tenn. Jail and used them to file false income tax returns. Fyke had the tax refund checks sent to addresses under his control and after being released from jail, he forged the signatures of the stolen identities and deposited the refund checks into his bank accounts. Fyke caused the Department of Treasury to release over $56,000 in unlawful tax refunds.
As part of his plea agreement, Fyke has agreed to a sentence of 48 months in prison and to pay restitution to the IRS. Fyke also faces a period of supervised release and other monetary penalties.
Sentencing is scheduled for August 14, 2017.
This case was investigated by the IRS-Criminal Investigation and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan Raybould.
Unemployment Rate Drops in Coffee County
Tennessee’s county unemployment rates for March 2017 have decreased in 91 counties, increased in three, and remained the same in one, according to data released by the Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development.
Preliminary unemployment rates for Tennessee and the U.S. have lowered by two-tenths of a percentage point in March.
The unemployment rate in Coffee County in March dropped from 4.8 percent in February to 4.6 percent.
In other surrounding counties, Bedford fell from 4.9 to 4.6 and Cannon County stayed the same at 4.3 percent. Down in Franklin County their unemployment rate dropped from 5 percent to 4.8 percent. Moore County fell from 3.9 percent to 3.6 percent, the 4th lowest unemployment in the state. Upon the mountain in Grundy County they went from 6.4 to 6% and in Warren County they dropped from 4.9 percent in February to 4.6 in March.
The state’s lowest unemployment rate in March was in Williamson County at 3.3 percent and highest rate was in Rhea County at 8.3 percent.
State Budget Expected to Pass This Week
Tennessee lawmakers plan to pass the state’s annual $37 billion budget this week.
House and Senate members are required by the state constitution to pass a balanced spending plan every year, and enacting that legislation is usually the final major act before lawmakers adjourn for the year.
House Majority Leader Glen Casada told members this week that they should plan to stay in Nashville for an extra day this week in case the process drags into Friday. If the budget is passed by both chambers this week, lawmakers expect to conclude their business by early next week.
The budget process had been delayed until the passage of Gov. Bill Haslam’s plan to boost funding for infrastructure projects while also cutting taxes on groceries, manufacturers and earnings from stocks and bonds.
Uniform Bill Passed
Tennessee State Capital
Under the bill, the enhancement factor would be considered by the court at the time of sentencing. The law also applies to members of the Tennessee National Guard.
In addition, the State Senate passed legislation adding penalties to current law which forbids the release of private information regarding law enforcement officers to protect them and their families from being targeted.
Both bills now go to the governor for his signature. When signed, they will become effective on July 1.
CHS Tennis Claims District Doubles Title
District 8AAA doubles tennis champions Reid Lawrence(left) and Grey Riddle(right) show off their medals with CHS tennis coach Mike Ray
The best season for Red Raider tennis thus far, added a doubles district title to their resume on Saturday. The doubles team of Grey Riddle and Reid Lawrence marched through the doubles bracket to claim a district title. Joseph Sadler finished as a runner up in singles play. Kara Roper and Shlip Patel fell in the semifinals.
Riddle and Lawrence entered the tournament as the number 1 seed and lived up to that billing. The junior duo got wins in the semifinals to guarantee a region tournament berth before claiming the district title in the finals. Freshman Joseph Sadler battled back after losing the first set in the semifinals to advance to the finals. Sadler fell in the finals to claim a runner up finish and a berth in the region tournament.
District 8AAA singles tennis runner-up Joseph Sadler (right) shows off his medal with CHS tennis coach Mike Ray
The Red Raider tennis team has advanced to the team tennis title which will take place on Tuesday. We will keep you updated on the time and location on Tuesday.
Westwood Soccer Claims Third Straight Conference Title
For the third consecutive season, the Westwood soccer team claimed the Central Tennessee Soccer Conference regular season title and postseason title on Saturday. The Rockets, unbeaten in conference play this year, faced their toughest challenge of the year on Saturday against St. Andrews. Westwood got a late goal to capture the 1 to 0 win.
Calling this a “rebuilding year”, Coach Jonathan Graf went into the season lacking a potential prolific scorer, inexperience at key positions and a brand new goal keeper; it appeared that Westwood’s run of conference titles was in serious jeopardy. But do not tell that to these Rockets who worked well as a team and carried on the winning tradition.
On Saturday, the Rockets locked horns with a Mountain Lions team they defeated on March 2nd 3 to 0. In that contest, Westwood scored a pair of goals in the last 10 minutes to cushion a 1 to 0 lead they fought to hold most of the match. On Saturday, neither team could find the back of the net in the first 47 minutes. Elliot Sain broke the scoreless tie in the 58th minute on a shot deflected off of a St. Andrews player.
Coach Graf and members of the Rocket soccer team will be guests on Saturday’s Coffee Coaches Show. The Coffee Coaches Show is broadcast live each Saturday at 10 AM from the showroom of AL White Ford/Lincoln. The Coffee Coaches Show is heard exclusively on Thunder Radio.
CCMS Softball Advances to CTC Tournament Finals
Keri Munn of CCMS Softball
The Coffee County Middle softball won a pair of games on Saturday to once again advance to the CTC tournament finals on Tuesday. The Lady Raiders opened the day with a 5 to 2 win over Warren County in the quarterfinals to advance to the winners’ bracket finals. In that semifinal matchup, Coffee County edged North Franklin 2 to 1 to advance to Tuesday’s finals.
Coming off Friday’s opening round win over South, Coffee County drew Warren County early Saturday afternoon. After giving up a run in the top of the 1st inning, the Lady Raiders tied the game when Justus Turner hit a triple and scored the tying run. Coffee County plated single runs in the 2nd and 3rd innings before adding a pair of insurance runs in the 5th inning. Katie Crosslin had a double and a single and scored 2 runs. Turners finished with a double and reached on an error while scoring 2 runs. Keri Munn got the win in the circle for Coffee County.
That set up a rematch with North who beat Coffee County twice in the regular season. After surrendering a run in the first inning on a pair of hits, Munn held North to 2 hits the rest of the game while striking out 7 for the win. Coffee County got the benefit of 3 North errors, which allowed both Lady Raider runs. Kiya Ferrell had Coffee County’s only hit, reached on an error and scored both Coffee County runs.
Coffee County will play for the conference title on Tuesday at 6:15 at Warren County.
CHS Softball Finishes Coffee County Classic on a Winning Note
Tori Bell of CHS softball (Photo by John St. Clair, stclair-sports.com)
After a pair of heartbreaking losses on Friday, the Coffee County Lady Raider softball team bounced back on Saturday to grab a tie and a win in the final day of the Coffee County Classic. In a pair of games you heard here on Thunder Radio, the Lady Raiders opened up on Saturday morning taking on Waverly. Waverly hit a solo home run in the 7th inning to force one extra inning of play under the tournament format. Neither team could score in the 8th ending the game in a 2 to 2 tie. In the final game of the day, Coffee County coach Steve Wilder rested several starters heading in a busy district slate this week. The younger Lady Raiders proved up to the task with a 6 to 3 win.
Against Waverly, Coffee County built a 2 to nothing lead heading into the 4th inning. Waverly added a single run in the 4th before hitting the home run in the 7th to earn the tie. Tori Bell had a double and a single and scored a run on a stolen base to be named the Crazy Daisies player of the game. Haley Hinshaw also had a single and a double and Katie Rutledge had a single and an RBI.
Against Warren County, Coffee County bounced back from a rough start that saw them give up 2 runs in the top of the first inning. The Lady Raiders scored 3 runs in the bottom of the 1st before adding a pair of runs in the 2nd to take a lead they would not give up. Keelie Hillis was 3 for 4 in the game with 3 RBI and a stolen base as she was named the Crazy Daisies player of the game. Katie Rutledge and Tori Bell both finished with 3 hits as well as Coffee County banged out 14 hits. Bell had a double and 2 RBI and Rutledge scored 3 runs.
Coffee County’s game with Tullahoma on Sunday night was rained out and rescheduled for Tuesday at 7 PM at Tullahoma. The Lady Raiders travel to Lawrence County on Monday night for a district tilt with Lawrence County. First pitch is set for 6 PM.
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Red Raider Baseball Drills White County
Cade Giles of CHS baseball
The Coffee County CHS baseball team took out the frustrations of a 2 game losing streak on White County on Friday afternoon with a 12 to 1 defeat of the Warriors in Sparta. The Red Raiders hammered out 12 hits, including a home run from Cade Giles, while holding White County to a single.
Jacob Duncan was masterful on the hill for Coffee County with the 5 inning one-hitter. After surrendering a first inning run on a walk and a single, Duncan went the distance striking out 4. Giles finished the game with a single to go with his tater and 3 RBI. Davis Green and Garrett Eldridge each finished with a pair of singles. Jacob Langham had a double and reached base twice after being hit by pitches. Langham scored 3 times as the Raiders improved to 15 and 13 on the year.
Coffee County is back in action on Tuesday when they travel to Murfreesboro to take on Central Magnet. That game will take place at StarPlex and will get underway at 5 PM.
CHS Soccer Fights to a Draw with Smyrna
Chase Harper of CHS soccer
The Coffee County soccer team battled to a 3 to 3 draw with Smyrna on Friday in a non-district friendly at the Raider soccer field. After jumping out to a 2 to 0 lead, Coffee County saw the Bulldogs rally to tie the match in the final 3 minutes of the 1st half. Chase Harper got the first goal for the Raiders in the 7th minute on beautiful crossing pass from Paco Barrera. Breyer Taylor made the score 2 to 0 in the 14th minute off a free kick from 20 yards out. The goal ties Taylor with Ricky Ramirez for the career goals record at CHS.
Smyrna found the back of the net in the 37th and 39th minutes to seize the halftime momentum. Coffee County got another goal from Harper in the 59th off another assist from Barrera but Smyrna pressed the attack to tie it in the 74th to claim the draw. Coffee County travels to Fayetteville on Monday for another non-district friendly. They will take on the Tigers of Fayetteville High in a match beginning at 5 PM.