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Partin breezes to second term as Coffee County Sheriff
Coffee County Sheriff Chad Partin had many obstacles in his way to a second term in office.
He cleared the final ones on Thursday night.
Partin easily defeated Independent challengers Brandon Tomberlin and Danny Ferrell to win another four-year term as Coffee County Sheriff. It is the second win in the past few months for Partin, who easily outpaced Republican challenger Alethia Rawn in the May primary.
Thursday night totals for Partin were impressive – racking up 5,252 total votes. The next closest challenger was Tomberlin, who serves as Manchester City Police Chief Investigator, who picked up 2,199 votes. Danny Ferrell received 1,183 total votes.
All totals are unofficial until certified by the election commission.
“I’m just overwhelmed by the numbers,” said Partin in an election night interview with Thunder Radio. Click below to listen to the complete election night interview with Partin.
See more election night results from Coffee County by clicking here.
McFadden, Bartlett fend off challengers to retain positions. See full election results here
Teresa Henegar McFadden has been serving as Coffee County Clerk since 1994. After a resounding victory on Thursday, she will get to serve four more years.
McFadden (Independent) faced a Republican challenger in Melissa Northcott Anderson and easily won another term with 5,537 votes to 3,010.
Meanwhile, Coffee County Road Superintendent Benton Bartlett fought off a challenger in the republican primary in May and held strong again on Thursday, defeating democratic challenger Ronnie Dale Watts 6,009 to 2,335. This will be Bartlett’s third term as road superintendent. He was first elected in 2014.
All totals are unofficial until certified by the election commission.
See more election night results from Coffee County by clicking here.
Manchester to have three new aldermen after Thursday election
We knew there would be at least three new Manchester aldermen after the August 4 election. We now know who they are.
There were three seats vacated by the end of a term with only one incumbent seeking re-election. Meanwhile, another seat was vacated with a resignation.
The three open seats will be filled by Joey Hobbs (747 votes), Donny Parsley (727 votes) and incumbent Mark Messick (712 votes). Those new aldermen will serve four year terms.
Meanwhile, the fourth seat will be filled by Julie Anderson (664 votes). She will serve a two-year term, which is the remainder that was left on Chris Elam’s term – he resigned earlier this summer. Other votes totals were as follows:
Helen Debellis 617, James Threet 561, Claude Morse 519 and David Bradley 478.
All totals are unofficial until certified by the election commission.
See more election night results from Coffee County by clicking here.
Judd Matheny is Coffee County’s new mayor
Everyone knew that Coffee County would have a new County Mayor after the Aug. 4 election. The only question was who would it be.
Now we know it will be Judd Matheny. The longtime Coffee County republican politician ran away with the County Mayor race, picking up 5,736 votes to 2,834 for Independent challenger Margaret Cunningham.
All totals are unofficial until certified by the election commission.
Matheny offered a thank you to Cunningham for running a clean campaign while highlighting the quick changes he can make to the county government – such as bringing cameras into all meeting rooms for the public’s inspection and an overhauled website. Listen to his full interview with Thunder Radio election night coverage here:
See more election night results from Coffee County by clicking here.
Birthdays – August 4
Riley Howell – 13
Haley Gray
Lena Baugh – 93
Ayden Lelusche – 7 – Pizza Winner!
Rebecca Sue Lesley
Rebecca Sue Lesley, of Tullahoma passed this life on Wednesday, August 3, 2022 at her residence at the age of 59. Funeral Services are scheduled for 2 PM Saturday, August 6, 2022 at Daves-Culbertson Funeral Home. The family will accept friends from 12 PM until service time. Burial will follow at Oakwood Cemetery. Rebecca was the daughter of the late John and Jo Ann Broaddus Parsons. She graduated Tullahoma Highschool in 1981, was ham radio operator and volunteered with Walk to Emmaus. She also had a love for animals. In addition to her parents, she is preceded in death by her brother, Ernie Parsons and sister, Patricia McArthur. She is survived by her husband, Doug Lesley of Tullahoma, TN; brother, Rick Parsons (Ida) of Tullahoma, TN and a host of nieces and nephews.
The family has requested that in lieu of flowers donations be made to Tullahoma Humane Society at P.O Box 807 Tullahoma, Tennessee 37388.
Online condolences may be made at www.davesculbertsonfuneralhome.com.
Daves-Culbertson Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Birthdays – August 3
Birthdays:
Wendi Patton – 47
Beth Eagles – Pizza Winner!
Anniversaries:
Bob & Rhonda Mathis – 37 Years
Coffee Middle football, Westwood volleyball open up seasons Thursday; Rocket football to host Blue-White game
A couple of middle school fall sports will get out of the blocks on Thursday.
The Coffee Middle Football team will open the season with a non-conference bout against West Wilson Thursday, Aug. 4. Kick off is set for 6:30 p.m. at Carden-Jarrell field in Manchester (865 McMinnville Highway, behind Raider Academy).
Meanwhile, Westwood Rockets volleyball will open the season with their first regular season match under new head coach Hayley Banks. The Lady Rockets host Community at approximately 6:30 p.m Thursday, Aug. 4 at Joel Vinson Gymnasium.
And behind Westwood at Dyer-Bouldin Field, the Westwood Rocket football team will host its annual Blue-White Intrasquad Scrimmage at 6:30 p.m. Thursday. It will be the first Blue-White game under new head coach Justin Kanjanabout. It is one of the biggest fundraisers of the year for the Rockets.
AUG 4 ELECTION DAY: Everything you need to know
Before heading to the polls on Thursday for the Aug. 4 State and Federal Primary & State and County General Election, the Secretary of State’s office wants voters to have the information they need to ensure that it’s easy to vote and hard to cheat in Tennessee.
Tennesseans can access voter-specific Election Day information, including polling times, locations, sample ballots, election results and more, with the GoVoteTN app or on GoVoteTN.gov. The GoVoteTN app is free in the App Store or Google Play. On Election Day, polls in all 95 counties open at various times. A list of when polls open is available on GoVoteTN.gov. All polls close at 8 p.m. EDT/7 p.m. CDT.
In Coffee County, polls open at 8 a.m. and close at 7 p.m. You can call the Coffee County Election Commission at 931-723-5103 for information about your polling precinct or click here to look at a map of each precinct.
“Voters should be aware that casting their ballot for the August election may take additional time,” said Secretary of State Tre Hargett. “With primary and general races and judicial retention questions, there is a long ballot for this August election. To reduce the amount of time it takes to vote, I encourage Tennesseans to review their sample ballots before they head to the polls.”
Coffee County voters can click here to see a sample ballot.
Casting your ballot in the midmorning or midafternoon may shorten your time. Early morning, noon and after 5 p.m. are peak times as people typically vote before work, after work or on their lunch breaks. If there is a line to vote, frail, physically disabled or visibly pregnant voters can request to move through the process faster.
To cast a ballot, voters need to bring valid photo identification. A driver’s license or photo ID issued by the Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security, Tennessee state government or the federal government is acceptable even if it’s expired.
A student ID or out-of-state driver’s license is not acceptable. For more information about what types of IDs are permitted, visit GoVoteTN.gov or call 1-877-850-4959.State law requires polling locations and areas within a 100-foot boundary of the entrance to remain campaign-free zones.
The display or distribution of campaign materials and the solicitation of votes for or against any person, party or question on the ballot within this area are prohibited. Voters wearing campaign-related clothing or paraphernalia will not be allowed within the 100-foot boundary.
Tennessee voters are encouraged to report possible voter fraud or misinformation to the Secretary of State’s Division of Elections. Tennesseans can text ‘TN’ to 45995 to use the new Text to Report Voter Fraud system or call the Official Election Day Hotline toll-free at 1-877-850-4959.
Election returns in Coffee County will be reported live on Thunder Radio WMSR beginning at 7 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 4. Tune in at 107.9 FM, 1320 AM, 106.7 FM, Manchester Go app or thunder1320.com. You can also click here to see results updated in real time.
TCS receives nearly $80,000 from Tullahoma Educational Foundation For Excellence
PRESS RELEASE
During the summer months, Tullahoma City Schools received exciting news as it learned that the Tullahoma Educational Foundation For Excellence had approved several grant requests totaling $79,999.02.
“I am so thankful for the Tullahoma Educational Foundation For Excellence,” said TCS Director of Schools, Dr. Catherine Stephens. “This foundation continues to prove yearly the commitment to ensuring that all students and staff members flourish. These grants go a long way to providing our students and staff members with a plethora of new educational opportunities. From the bottom of my heart, I cannot thank the foundation enough for their work toward making these grants possible.”
Bel-Aire Elementary School received $27,950, which will go toward Boxlight Interactive Panels. Grant author Jordan Dilley stated that the goal is to replace all of the interactive whiteboards in each classroom at the elementary school. With the grant approval, Bel-Aire can purchase 10 Boxlight Interactive Panels for Bel-Aire.
“With these devices, up to 10 students will be able to participate interactively during our lessons,” Dilley said. “I am so thankful to be able to give equal access to interactive learning to all students in our school building. Thank you to the Tullahoma Educational Foundation For Excellence for making this dream a reality.”
Tullahoma Virtual Academy received $15,000 for its mobile coffee shop. With the grant, TVA and the Career and Technical Education (CTE) Department at Tullahoma High School plan to join forces in developing a school-based enterprise project, a student-operated mobile coffee shop.
“We are extremely excited for the students of Tullahoma Virtual Academy and Tullahoma High School to have this opportunity,” said TVA Director Dr. Greg English. “Building off the design of our onsite learning lab, the TVA Cafe, we chose to propose a mobile coffee shop. The goal was to involve students from as many CTE departments as possible at some point during the project. We are currently completing the primary purchase for the project, a 16′ double axle cargo trailer. The transformation of the trailer into a concession trailer will be completed by our welding and machining students.”
Business, marketing, digital arts and broadcast media students will begin developing the business model. Additionally, they will learn about the applicable regulations and codes, naming the business, designing and creating logos for the trailer, marketing materials to advertise the business and opening and running the business.
“We understand the value that work-based learning opportunities provide for our students and community,” said THS CTE Director Jessie Kinsey. “This grant will allow TCS students to develop a school-based enterprise from the ground up. We are grateful for the generosity of the Tullahoma Educational Foundation For Excellence, and this will certainly improve the educational experience for TCS students for many years to come.”
Tullahoma High School saw three grant proposals approved for $16,246.80. The most significant sum went to the visual arts department at the high school for a grant titled Back to the Drawing Board. In the proposal, author Kelly Orr noted that she wants to help prepare the visual arts program for the art and design workforce.
“To say I’m ecstatic about this grant being approved is an understatement,” Orr said. “My goal as the visual art teacher at Tullahoma High School is to build a studio space that promotes exploration and collaboration in creating art and design with current technology. With the grant money, we can purchase 10 additional iPad sets. Our fine art students will be able to explore & create like never before using iPads and the best software, preparing for innovative careers in animation, graphic design, illustration and interactive media design.”
The e-sports lab at Tullahoma High School was the recipient of $3,227 from the latest grant. With the funds, the e-sports club is committed to purchasing LED lights and lamps and gaming consoles and controllers for students to compete. Additionally, the grant funds will go toward purchasing 20 gaming headphones.
The goal of the grant is to help bring students together and provide a way for students to continue to do something they are passionate about while also learning about teamwork, socialization, communication, critical and strategic thinking. Additionally, the grant will allow students to rise in leadership positions as game coaches and team chairs and engage students in school life and academics by providing a safe place to be involved. Lastly, the goal is to help students earn opportunities for college and scholarship opportunities that would otherwise be nonexistent.
Tullahoma High School also received $1,150 for a Change Mindsets and Behavior grant. The funds will be used to purchase the behavior flip program and headphones for students in the Alternative Learning School. The program aims to develop a positive learning culture and support students with interventions and restorative practices. The program will help students and staff in making these changes and continuing with success.
Little Cats Learning Academy received $5,738.50 from two approved grants. The daycare will use $3,085.50 for professional development for staff members. The additional $2,653 will be used for STEM equipment and materials to help students explore their curiosity, creativity and inventive thinking.
“First, it’s so exciting to have these grants approved,” said Little Cats Learning Academy Director Fawn Briggs. “This professional learning will provide our teachers with the confidence to manage classroom behaviors, support each developmental domain and provide a positive, loving environment for our children. The funds will also cover CPR training for each staff member so that we are all prepared in an emergency. We are so appreciative of the opportunity to enhance the environment for our children. This is such a blessing that the Tullahoma Educational Foundation For Excellence has given to Tullahoma’s littlest learners.”
East Middle School received $4,013.77 for a grant titled Creation in the Classroom. The project aims to take engineering, Computer-Aided Design (CAD) creation and 3D modeling to a higher level to create full-scale, usable objects for the school. The largest portion of the funds will be used to purchase a Prusa Original XL Filament Printer to aid in that objective.
“One of our biggest goals of this project is to teach students how to design and solve problems quickly and efficiently,” said grant author Drew Cochrane. “We have been able to use 3D printing and modeling in our classroom to create tools, common household items and student-inspired art projects. We plan to identify needs within the school that can be met by modeling and printing.”
Robert E. Lee Elementary School received $1,049.95 for its grant titled Make the Stories Come Alive. The school will purchase fairy tale and folk tale kits from Lakeshore Learning for students to use in small groups to work through scenarios to learn critical thinking and problem-solving.
West Middle School received $10,000 in grant funds used during the summer months, as Future Business Leaders of America had 15 Bobcats represent Tullahoma at the National Leadership Conference in Chicago. During the competition, West saw five students place, as Lillian Villamar, Ellie Simpson, Edward Henry, Thomas Anderson and Jonathan Rathjen Vallejos all received national recognition.
“I wish somebody had been keeping up with overall TN FBLA statistics regarding placements because I think West would have been close to a state record,” said West FBLA Advisor Franklin Cammack. “I know it is the best Middle-Level performance that Tennessee has had. What a great conference it was for our West Middle School students. I want to especially thank the Tullahoma Educational Foundation For Excellence for the $10,000 grant awarded, which helped make this trip for our WMS FBLA students possible. Knowing we had those grant funds and the donation money from many businesses across Tullahoma made this whole thing a reality for our students.”
During a presentation, Jim Woodard, President of the Tullahoma Educational Foundation For Excellence, expressed his appreciation for not only the grant authors but all TCS staff members.
“Myself and the other board members are always honored to support our educators in this first-rate school system,” Woodard said. “During the grant application and award process, we focus on supporting excellence in education. Through this process, we put our beliefs and words into action. I am excited to hear from our grant recipients about their successes in the near future.”
