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Tennessee lawmakers seek to prohibit early release for 14 violent crimes
Legislation to eliminate the possibility of parole for individuals convicted of certain violent crimes advanced out of the Tennessee Criminal Justice Subcommittee last week.
House Bill 2656 requires offenders to serve 100 percent of the sentences handed down by a judge or jury for an additional 14 violent offenses. Those crimes include aggravated assault resulting in death, attempted first-degree murder with serious bodily injury, second-degree murder, aggravated vehicular homicide, aggravated kidnapping, especially aggravated kidnapping, aggravated robbery, aggravated burglary, aggravated arson, aggravated child abuse, aggravated child neglect or endangerment, carjacking, and possessing or employing a firearm during a dangerous felony among other types of violent crimes.
“During my 36-year career in law enforcement, I saw first-hand the pain these senseless crimes caused victims and their families,” said State Rep. Bud Hulsey, R-Kingsport, who is a retired police lieutenant. “This bill sends a strong message that we will not tolerate these violent offenses in our state by ensuring those who commit them serve their full sentence.”
House Speaker Cameron Sexton, R-Crossville, partnered with Hulsey to serve as the co-prime sponsor of the bill as it travels through the committee process. It now moves to the House Criminal Justice Committee for additional discussion and debate.
“(This) will ensure violent criminals serve their entire sentence after a guilty verdict, not just a portion,” Speaker Sexton said about the legislation.
Last year, state lawmakers approved truth in sentencing reform for 31 crimes historically targeting women and children.
More information about House Bill 2656 can be found here.
Duck River Watershed announces spring clean up event
The Duck River Watershed Society is pleased to announce its inaugural event, the 2022 Spring Clean-up. The Society is a new non-profit organization that is based in Coffee County, Tennessee. The DRWS is a membership organization that focuses on ensuring that the Duck River watershed continues to benefit those that live, work and recreate in it.
The Spring Clean-up will take place on Saturday, March 5, 2022 from 12:00-5:00p.m. All participants should meet at the Firelake Public Use and Boat Ramp Area, located on River Forge Road, in Manchester, TN.
This event is in collaboration with the Tennessee Duck River Agency, Coffee County Rural Solid Waste, Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency, and the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA). We are in need of community volunteers/volunteer groups to help us with cleaning up parts of Normandy Lake down to the Winter water drawdown line.
If you or your organization is interested in registering for this event, please sign-up at the following link: https://drwsspringcleanup.swell.gives
For additional information, please contact: Christian Rieseberg, Board Vice-chair/Treasurer, at cfrccin@gmail.com or 205-382-3955
Coffee County Schools Pre-K Registration starts in March
PreK Registration, as well as 3-and-4-year old screenings are fast approaching. These will take place in March for the 2022-2023 school year.
For Hillsboro and Deerfield Elementary School, screenings are 3-6 p.m. Tuesday, March 22.
East Coffee and North Coffee Elementary screenings are 3-6 p.m. Wednesday, March 23.
For New Union and Hickerson Elementary schools, screenings are 3-6 p.m. Thursday, March 24.
You will need the following items to determine eligibility and to register for the PreK Program:
*Official Birth Certificate
*Social Security Card
*Proof of Income
*Proof of Residence
*Custody Documents
*Immunization Records
If you are unable to attend on your scheduled day, you may contact the school directly.
Deerfield: 931-570-2658
East Coffee 931-728-8627
Hickerson 931-393-3330
Hillsboro 931-596-2775
New Union 931-728-8434
North Coffee 931-723-8220
Coffee County Central office 931–723-5150.
CHS wrestlers head to state meet Thursday
The Coffee County wrestlers who qualified for the state tournament will head to to the Williamson County Expo Center Thursday to compete.
For anyone wishing to attend, tickets are available for $12 at gofan.co or for $15 at the door.
Red Raider Jacob Barlow, who won the section 152 pound division, will take on Ceron Campbell of Centennial in the opening round. Meanwhile, Nazario Flores will wrestle Zander Ward in the opening round of 170-pound class. Blayne Myers will hit the mat with Ryan Small of Summitt in the 285-pound class.
Lady Raider Lyra Leftwich will take on Madelin Allen of Clarksville in the girls 145 pound first round.
Details and results will be posted at thunder1320.com.
HS BASKETBALL: Raider boys now know region opponent
Coffee County’s Red Raider basketball team now knows who it will host in the boys Region 3-4A quarter-finals Saturday night in Manchester.
The Howard Hustlin’ Tigers lost to McMinn County in the District 5-4A consolation game, putting the Tigers fourth place in that district and sending them to play the Raiders in the region.
Tip is set for 7 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 26 in Manchester at Joe Frank Patch Memorial Gymnasium. Tickets are available at the gate.
Howard enters Saturday night with a record of 21-8 on the year, 9-3 in District 5-4A. The Tigers actually placed second during the regular season, but slipped up in the district tournament and placed fourth.
The lone common opponent between Howard and Coffee County this season is the Walker Valley Mustangs. Howard split with Walker Valley, losing by 11 and winning by 2. The CHS Red Raiders lost twice to the Mustangs, by 13 and by 10. However, those losses were before the Christmas break.
The Raiders enter Saturday night with a 20-9 record – coming off a district tournament championship. The Raiders have won 11 of their last 13 games.
The winner will advance to the Region semi-finals at 7:45 p.m. Tuesday, March 1 against the winner of Franklin County and Cleveland. That game is also an elimination game and will also be at Coffee County Central High School. The winner of the semi-final game will move on to the region championship, which will be at 7 p.m. Thursday, March 3 at Coffee County.
Thunder Radio will broadcast all Coffee County region games – 107.9 FM, 1320 AM, 106.7 FM, Manchester Go app and thunder1320.com.
Lady Raiders play Friday
The Coffee County Lady Raiders (no. 1 seed) will host Ooltewah, the no. 4 seed from District 5-4A in the region quarter-finals on Friday. This is an elimination game – the loser’s season comes to an end.
Tip is set for 7 p.m. Friday, Feb. 25 in Manchester at Joe Frank Patch Memorial Gymnasium. Tickets are available at the gate.
The Ooltewah Owls enter Friday night’s contest with a 15-14 record – having played in a tough district with Cleveland and Bradley Central. Walker Valley is the lone common opponent between Ooltewah and Coffee County, and both teams swept the Lady Mustangs. Coffee County beat Walker Valley twice, Ooltewah beat them three times.
Meanwhile, the Coffee County Lady Raiders enter the region quarter-final matchup with Ooltewah with a 28-3 record, riding a 25-game winning streak and ranked no. 4 in the state AP rankings.
The winner will advance to the Region semi-finals at 7:30 p.m. Monday, Feb. 28 against the winner of Franklin County and McMinn County. That game is also an elimination game and will also be at Coffee County Central High School. The winner of the semi-final game will move on to the region championship, which will be at 7 p.m. Wednesday, March 2 at Coffee County.
SCHOOL PATROL: Wednesday, Feb. 23
SCHOOL PATROL – Wednesday, Feb. 23, 2022
PRESENTED BY THE BREAD AND MILK EXPERTS AT SPRING STREET MARKET, 801 S. SPRING ST IN MANCHESTER.
*Manchester City Schools – CLOSED. No ESP.
*Coffee Co School System CLOSED
*Franklin Co School System – CLOSED
*Grundy Co School System – TWO HOUR delay
Birthdays- February 22
Helen Martin- 102
Justus Turner
Amy Sullivan- Pizza Winner!
Robert Howard- 67
Anna Jones- 16
Julia Carol Prosser
Julia Carol Prosser of Tullahoma passed this life on Saturday, February 19, 2022 at her residence at the age of 80. Graveside Services are scheduled on Thursday, February 24, 2022 at 2 PM at Maplewood Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 12 Noon until 1:30 PM.
A native of Savannah, TN, she was the daughter of the late J C and Effie Deford Clement. She enjoyed music and played the piano. She also enjoyed sewing, knitting, crocheting and doing embroidery. She liked to read and watch movies and was an avid Vanderbilt University football and basketball fan.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Jack Daniel Prosser and son, Danny Prosser.
Mrs. Prosser is survived by son, Tony Prosser (Kristy) of Tullahoma; daughter, Dana Binder (Randy) of Knotts Island, NC; grandchildren, Jared Prosser (Jennifer), Jacob Prosser, Justin and Chris Mangrum, Jacklyn Cravens-Pickens (Justin), Kourtney Jodlowski (Christopher), Jordan Binder (Megan) and Courtney Binder and six great grandchildren.Online condolences may be made at www.davesculbertsonfuneralhome.com.
Daves-Culbertson Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Harriet Elizabeth Huffman Clark
Funeral services for Mrs. Harriet Elizabeth Huffman Clark, age 79 of Chattanooga, formerly of Manchester, will be conducted at 1 PM on Thursday, February 24, 2022, at Coffee County Funeral Chapel, with Pastor Mark Barron officiating. Burial will follow in the Manchester City Cemetery. Visitation will begin at 12:30 on Thursday at the funeral home. Mrs. Clark passed away after a brief illness at Erlanger hospital in Chattanooga on Monday, February 21.
Harriet was born on August 15, 1942, in Manchester, TN, to the late Paul and Stella Jones Huffman. She was a military wife to the late Richard Clark for 44 years. Harriet enjoyed painting, gardening, and traveling with her husband. She was a member of many clubs and organizations, including, Manchester Gardening Club, Tai Chi Club in Chattanooga, was active in the local bridge club, a member of the LIFT organization in Chattanooga, and a member of the Jaycettes. Harriet was a volunteer of the Good Samaritans and was a Coffee County Public Librarian for many years. She was also a member of the Manchester Cumberland Presbyterian Church.
In addition to her parents and her husband, Harriet is preceded in death by her two brothers, Jack and David Huffman. She is survived by her daughter, Christa Clark McCuistion and her husband, Sandy; grandchildren, Ryann Peterson and her husband, Logan, and Eric McCuistion; special caretaker and angel in disguise, Bobbie Haines; sisters-in-law, Patricia Clark Moore (Bill), and Carol Clark Morgan (John Dennis); several nieces, nephews, extended family members and a host of friends.
Coffee County Funeral Chapel is honored to serve the Clark family.
Larry Andrew Johnson
Mr. Larry Andrew Johnson, 74, passed away Saturday
February 19, 2022, at his home. He was born in Manchester, Tennessee on
July 6, 1947, to Ewin L. Johnson and Naomi Gold Johnson Sanders who
preceded him in death along with his wife, Joann Gregory Johnson;
brothers-in-law, Thomas Gregory & Charles Gregory. He was a US Army veteran serving in the 101st Airborne and a member of the First Church of the
Nazarene, Manchester, Tennessee. He was Vice President of Product
Development and Gaming for Comdata Corp before his retirement. He
previously had worked for the Federal Reserve, Truck Stops of America and
American Express. He is survived by his brothers, Justin (Victoria)
Johnson, Old Hickory, Tennessee, Nelson (Wanda) Johnson, Lithia, Florida;
niece, Shannon (James) Skelton, Lithia, Florida; nephew, Jason (Jason)
Johnson, Nashville, Tennessee; sisters-in-law, Carla Glenn, Springfield,
Tennessee and Dot Johns, Hillsboro Tennessee; niece Kari Gregory; nephews,
Raymond Victor Motley, Toby Gregory Joshua and John Glenn; close friend,
Susan Henderson and family; other great nieces, nephews and family also
survive. Funeral services will be held 11:00 AM Friday in the Chapel of
Central Funeral Home with Minister Jonathon Amspaugh officiating with
burial to follow in the Hillsboro Memorial Cemetery with Military Honors.
Visitation: 9:00 AM – 11:00 AM Friday at Central Funeral Home, Manchester,
Tennessee.