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Local VFW raises over $4,000 for Ukraine; more donations welcome
On March 11th, Manchester’s Veterans of Foreign Wars All-American Post 10904
hosted a fundraiser dinner to benefit relief efforts in Ukraine. At least
117 people filled the Coffee County Veterans Building to capacity.
A fundraiser dinner was served, followed by a discussion of current events
in Ukraine led by Commander Kimberly King; VFW Auxiliary President David
King; and VFW Post Judge Advocate Claude Morse. Special effort was made to
help children in attendance understand current events. and what freedom
means.
Linda Salerno of Nashville donated a specially made quilt, designed with
Ukrainian flag colors and patriotic star in the center. It was raffled at
the event, yielding $2,577 in donations. Ukraine support buttons were
donated by Becki Louden, and specially-made cupcakes were designed for the
event by Christie Conlee.
The event ended with a prayer service led by VFW Post Service Officer and
American Legion Post 78 Chaplain Tom Hewell; and VFW Post Chaplain Hans
Hooker.
Combined. the raffle and dinner raised $4,021, all of which will be sent
directly to Samaritan’s Purse. The charity is currently in several
countries, distributing medical supplies, food, and other necessities to
Ukrainian refugees.
VFW Post 10904 will continue accepting donations with the goal of raising
$5,000. Relief funds are urgently needed, however, so funds will be sent at
the end of this week. Donations can be made by mailing check or money order
to:
VFW Post 10904
Attn: Ukraine Relief Fund
130 Shelton Road
Manchester, TN 37355
For more information, contact Commander Kimberly King for more information
at (251) 554-8836.
Unity Medical makes list for top patient experiences in the south
Using the Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers systems (HCAHPS), Becker’s Hospital Review has compiled a list of best hospital patient experience in the south and Manchester’s Unity Medical Center made the list. These are hospitals that received a 5-star patient experience summary rating.
Only 54 hospitals in the south received a 5-star rating and just three of those were from Tennessee: Ascension St. Thomas Hospital for Spinal Surgery, Mountain Home VA Medical Center and Unity Medical Center.
“Congratulations and a thank you are in order to our team at Unity Medical Center for being named one of the best hospitals in the south for patient experiences by Becker’s Hospital Review,” said Unity CEO Martha Mccormick. “Our achievements are shaped by the strength of the foundations we set. Thank you for your commitment to excellence.
“Our caring and compassionate staff strives every day to provide excellent hospital care in our town. This is some well-deserved vindication that their hard work is paying off,” added McCormick.
The HCAHPS summery is the average of star ratings of 10 topic specific measures. The rating combines information about different aspects of patient experience of care to make it easier to compare hospitals. Figures used were from July 1, 2020 through March 31, 2021.
Unity Medical Center is located at 481 Interstate Drive in Manchester. Learn more by clicking here.
TAX TIPS: Some business tax filing due March 15
By Rosalyn Partin, H&R Block
If you are responsible for filing the federal tax return for a Partnership (Form 1065) or S-Corporation (Form 1120-S), the due date is the 15th day of the third month following the close of your tax year. For Partnerships and S-Corps that are on a calendar year this means the tax return is due March 15.
If you aren’t able to file the Partnership or S-Corp return by March 15, you should file for an extension using Form 7004. The extension form must be filed by March 15 or it will not be accepted. By filing the Partnership or S-Corp extension, you are granted an automatic six-month extension, giving you until September 15 to file the return.
If the Partnership or S-Corporation tax return or extension isn’t filed by March 15, IRS can impose a penalty of $210 for each month or part of a month (for a maximum of 12 months) the failure continues, multiplied by the total number of partners or shareholders during any part of the partnership’s tax year for which the return is due.
If possible, it is best to file the extension electronically so IRS receives and processes it timely.
Avoid penalties for late-filing Partnership and S-Corporation returns. For help in filing your business extension, call H&R Block today!
If you have questions or want to schedule an appointment, please call H&R Block in Manchester TN at 931-728-9462. H&R Block Has Your Back!
PREP SCHEDULE: High school spring sports starts this week
The Friday night snow has melted and high school spring sports are officially underway beginning Monday, March 14.
Middle School spring sports have been fired up for a couple of weeks now, and high schools across the state will follow suit this week. Thunder Radio will be on hand for multiple broadcasts.
Below is this week’s schedule with Thunder Radio broadcast noted with an asterixis (**). Thunder Radio Middle School coverage financed by Peoples Bank & Trust. High School spring sports is driven by Al White Ford Lincoln.
Game times and broadcasts subject to change based on weather and broadcast team availability.
| DATE | TIME | SCHOOL | SPORT | OPPONENT | LOCATION |
| 3/14/22 | 6:00 PM | CHS | Baseball | Riverdale | Away |
| 3/14/22 | 5:00 PM | CMS | Baseball | North | Home |
| 3/14/22 | 5:30 PM | WMS | Baseball | Moore County | Away |
| 3/14/22 | 6 p.m. | CHS | Soccer | Soddy Daisy | Home |
| 3/14/22 | 5:00 PM | CMS | Softball | N & S Franklin | Home |
| **3/14/22 | 6:00 PM | WMS | Softball | Moore County | Home |
| 3/15/22 | 6:00 PM | CHS | Baseball | Nolensville | Smyrna HS |
| 3/15/22 | 5:00 PM | CMS | Baseball | North | Away |
| 3/15/22 | 5:30 PM | WMS | Baseball | Moore County | Home |
| 3/15/22 | 6 p.m. CT | CHS | Soccer | Ooltewah | Away |
| **3/15/22 | 7:00 PM | CHS | Softball | Rockvale | Home |
| 3/15/22 | 5:30 PM | WMS | Softball | Cannon County | Away |
| 3/15/22 | 5:00 PM | CMS | Softball | N & S Franklin | Away |
| 3/15/22 | 4:00 PM | CHS | Tennis | Marshall County | Home |
| **3/16/22 | 1:15 PM | CHS | Basketball | Dobyns-Bennett | MTSU |
| **3/16/22 | 6:30 PM | CHS | Baseball | Rockvale | Home |
| 3/16/22 | 5:00 PM | CMS | Baseball | Siegel | Home |
| 3/16/22 | 5:30 PM | WMS | Soccer | Community | Away |
| 3/16/22 | 6:30 PM | CHS | Softball | Tullahoma | Away |
| 3/17/22 | 5:00 PM | CHS | Baseball | Columbia | Away |
| 3/17/22 | 5:00 PM | CMS | Baseball | Westwood | Home |
| 3/17/22 | 5:00 PM | WMS | Baseball | Coffee Middle | Away |
| **3/17/22 | 5:00 PM | CMS | Softball | Lincoln County | Home |
| 3/17/22 | 4 p.m. | CHS | Tennis | Moore County | Home |
| 3/18/22 | TBD | CHS | Soccer | Red Raider Kickoff Classic | Home |
| **3/18/22 | 7:00 PM | WMS | Soccer | Coffee County | Home |
| 3/18/22 | TBD | CHS | Softball | Spring kick off | TBD |
| 3/19/22 | noon | CHS | Baseball | Siegel | Away |
| 3/19/22 | 5:00 PM | CHS | Baseball | Oakland | Away |
| 3/19/22 | TBD | CHS | Soccer | Red Raider Kickoff Classic | Home |
| 3/19/22 | TBD | CHS | Softball | Spring kick off | TBD |
MLB, players agree to new CBA; Braves baseball returns to Thunder Radio this spring
Major League Baseball and the MLB Players Association reached an agreement on a new collective bargaining agreement on Thursday, paving the way for the 2022 regular season to begin on April 7.
After the MLBPA approved the deal by a 26-12 vote, the owners ratified it Thursday night with a unanimous 30-0 vote, officially bringing the three-month lockout to a close.
The mandatory Spring Training report date for all clubs was Sunday. Exhibition games are tentatively scheduled to begin on March 18.
The defending World Champion Atlanta Braves open the season April 7 in Atlanta against the Cincinatti Reds.
TN bill would streamline reporting system for dangerous road conditions
A bill advancing through Tennessee House committees aims to make it easier for citizens to report road hazards and settle claims with the state when vehicles are damaged on state-maintained highways.
House Bill 2706 requires the state treasurer to work with the Tennessee Department of Transportation to develop and implement a centralized information system for the reporting of dangerous road conditions. It expands the authority of the state treasurer to settle citizens’ claims when personal property is damaged by road hazards such as potholes.
The state’s current procedure for filing such claims is a difficult process, said House Transportation Committee Chairman Dan Howell. The state received 1,800 claims for pothole and road hazard damage in 2021 and of those, only 12 were settled.
“We believe we can do better and I know we can do better,” Howell said. “This simply allows TDOT and our treasurer’s office to cooperate in creating a streamlined reporting system so our citizens may be better served.”
House Bill 2706 will be up for consideration in the House Finance, Ways, and Means Committee on March 15. For more about House Bill 2706 visit here.
Coffee County Sheriff’s Department, elementary schools team up to collect items for assisted living centers
Last week, Coffee County Sheriff’s Department teamed up with a pair of elementary schools for service projects.
The safety patrols at Hickerson Elementary and North Coffee Elementary each collected items to donate to McArthur Manor and Autumn Oaks assisted living facilities.
Items collected included non-slip socks, toothbrushes, toothpaste, blankets, brushes, shampoo and other similar items.
The students and members of the sheriff’s department delivered the items to excited residents last week.
North Coffee safety patrol presents items to Autumn Oaks residents. 
Hickerson safety patrol presents items to McArthur Manor.
Tullahoma City Schools to host job fair March 26
Tullahoma City Schools will be hosting a job fair and inviting individuals interested in working in the educational field to attend on Saturday, March 26, at East Middle School.
“This will be such an exciting event, and we hope to have a large turnout for our job fair as Tullahoma City Schools is one of the premier school districts in the state of Tennessee,” said Director of Schools, Dr. Catherine Stephens. “While we would like to fill the positions that we currently have available, we are interested in future candidates as well. During the job fair, we will have an interview area set up to speak with candidates we believe to be the right fit for Tullahoma City Schools.”
TCS is hiring at all campuses and in other departments, including the daycare, maintenance, food service, and transportation. Additionally, Tullahoma City Schools is excited to welcome new teachers and educational assistants to our team to serve students.
The district offers excellent benefits for its employees, including medical insurance, paid holidays and personal and sick leave. Tullahoma City Schools is a 1:1 system that provides daycare options for all staff members and waives tuition for TCS staff members.
“Our school system is a fabulous place to work,” said TCS Deputy Director of Schools, Dr. April Norris. “I am really looking forward to meeting everyone interested in joining our TCS family.”
TCS also needs substitute teachers who can work half or whole days at all campuses and the Little Cats Learning Academy. There is flexibility in days worked, as well as location. Those interested in being a substitute must be 21 years of age or older, have a minimum of a high school diploma or equivalent and lastly, must complete and receive a passing score on training materials.
The TCS Job Fair will take place from 9-11 a.m. on March 26 inside the East Middle School gymnasium, located at 908 Country Club Drive.
Seasonal work causes slight jump in county unemployment rates, state says
The end of seasonal work at the start of the new year was one of the contributing factors that led to higher county unemployment rates across Tennessee in January. While statewide unemployment numbers are adjusted to consider the impacts of seasonal labor, county unemployment rates are not adjusted.
Each of Tennessee’s 95 counties experienced an increase in unemployment during January, according to new data released by the Department of Labor and Workforce Development (TDLWD). Eighty-five counties reported rates less than 5%, while the remaining ten counties had rates of 5% or greater, but less than 10%.
The unemployment rate in Coffee County for January shows 3.3%, which was up 0.2 of a percentage point from 3.1 in December, but remains significantly lower than one year ago when unemployment was 4.9 percent.
Williamson and Moore counties had the state’s lowest unemployment for the month. Both counties recorded rates of 2.2% in January. That represented a 0.3 of a percentage point increase for Williamson County and a 0.2 of a percentage point increase for Moore County, when compared to their revised December 2021 rates.
At 9.2%, Perry County had the highest unemployment rate in the state. Its January number increased by 2 percentage points when compared to the revised December rate. Cocke County had Tennessee’s second-highest rate for the month. The new figure of 7.1% marked a 2.3 percentage point increase from December.
Statewide, January’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate of 3.5% was the lowest it has been since November 2019. It was down 0.1 of a percentage point from December’s revised rate of 3.6%.
Across the nation, seasonally adjusted unemployment for January increased slightly from 3.9% to 4%.
A complete analysis of the January 2022 county unemployment data is available here (https://www.us13.list-manage.com/track/click?u=166478db53c066a7d114ea462&id=375f0688ac&e=29851e7b63) .
Tennessee has more than 100 American Job Centers across the state where job seekers can walk in and receive one-on-one help finding a job. From resume writing to skills training programs, career specialists can help individuals take advantage of all the services available to them.
Job seekers can also find a variety of services online. From a virtual American Job Center to information on adult education programs, it is all available at TNWorkReady.com.
Frieda Gretchen Schultz
A celebration of life for Mrs. Frieda Gretchen Schultz, age 73 of Manchester, will be conducted at 3:00PM on Sunday, March 13, 2022, at Coffee County Funeral Chapel. The family will receive friends from 2:00PM until the time of services at the funeral home. Mrs. Schultz passed from this life on Friday, March 4, 2022, at her residence in Manchester, TN.
Gretchen was born in Salzwedel, Germany on March 15, 1948, the daughter of the late Karl and Frieda Hasart. Gretchen previously lived in Stuttgart, Germany, Berlin, Germany, and West Chicago, Illinois before residing in Manchester, TN. She attended Konigin-Katharina-Stitt Gymnasium, Ludwigsburg University of Education receiving her Teacher’s Certificate, Free University of Berlin receiving her Advanced Teaching Certification, and then Northern Illinois University where she received her master’s degree in German Literature. Upon receiving her teaching certificates and degrees, Gretchen taught for seven years at Nazereth Academy and Naperville Central High School for sixteen years. Gretchen had a love for teaching and for her students, but in her spare time she had a love for horses. She enjoyed horseback riding, jumping, and showing. Gretchen was a loving and devoted daughter, wife, mother, grandmother, and sister.
Gretchen is preceded in death by her parents, Karl and Frieda Hasart. She is survived by her beloved husband of 47 years, Larry Schultz; son, Daniel Schultz (Beth); daughter, Jessica Schultz (Keith); granddaughter, Emily Rose Schultz; three older sisters, Gerda Voelker, Waltraud Wenz, and Karin Ruf-Walczak; numerous nieces and nephews both in the United States and Germany.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks for donations to be made in Gretchen’s name to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.