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Swimmers head to regional meet this weekend
Coffee County & Westwood Swimmers head to Nashville for the MTHSSA Regional Swim meet at the Centennial Sportsplex this weekend.
Coffee County High School swimmers Ansley Beachboard, Abby Gilday, Kasen Holt, Elsie Lazalier, Ellie Masters, Kennedy Norman-Young, Clancy Sand & Emily Williams will compete on Friday, January 28th at 10 am in a timed final event.
In addition, Our Homeschool group Grace Academy will send several swimmers to Regionals as well.
Issac Lee, Matthew Howlett, Jaci Howlett, Alex Skalicky, TJ Skalicky, Jack Stowe, Ryan Brown, Addison Yates, Rosalea Buchanan, Braeden Buchanan, Maddie Dewolfe, Gavin Seabolt Pictured, not pictured Reagan Miller
Brayden Kesling, Jacob Bolin, not pictured Christian Bourn will swim on Saturday, January 29th in a prelim/ finals meet. These swimmers have worked really hard to achieve their Regional cuts.
Westwood Middle School swimmers, Sydney Shelton & Karysn Riddle will also swim in Saturdays meet
Birthdays- January 26
Patricia Finney
Jill Leech- Pizza Winner!
Lauren Jernigan
Graycin Underwood- 3
Sharon Walden- 78
Cathy Harrell
Blair Sellars
Black Rifle Coffee Company donates new tactical gear to Coffee County Sheriff’s Department
As part of their commitment to local law enforcement, Black Rifle Coffee Company on Wednesday made a large donation to the Coffee County Sheriff’s Department in the form of new tactical gear for the department’s swat team.
Sheriff Chad Partin said the donation of gear amounts to about $20,000 in value.
“This is one of the largest donations we have ever received (in my 29 years with the department),” explained Partin.
“It isn’t only big towns. Rural America can succumb to evil, as well,” said Partin in his explanation for the necessity of the gear.
Black Rifle Coffee Company purchased tactical vests, breach shields, helmets and ballistic glass face shields for the department. The purchase was made from Redemption Tactical.
“This is thousands of dollars in equipment … to the point we couldn’t have made this in one purchase,” added Partin.
The sheriff’s department visited Black Rifle Coffee Company’s location in the Coffee County Industrial Park on Wednesday to accept the donation and take a tour of the facility.
“We can’t them enough for this donation and for their partnership,” Partin said. “We have men and women who go into extremely dangerous situations an this will be of great benefit to them.”
Partin applauded Sgt. Daniel Ray for helping to spearhead the effort with Black Rifle.
Suspects names released in Cash Express robberies
Three suspects are in custody after an attempted robbery of a Cash Express in Woodbury Tuesday morning (Jan. 25) and a lengthy police pursuit that ended in Mt. Juliet, Tennessee.
According to police officials, there was an attempted robbery of Cash Express in Woodbury Tuesday morning. Doors were locked and subjects were unable to complete the robbery. Because of this, witnesses were able to contact police and a pursuit was initiated. The pursuit ended in Wilson County when spike strips were deployed on Interstate 40 and the vehicle caught fire.
Three suspects fled on foot and carjacked an individual shortly after. Suspects were later apprehended when they fled on foot once they traveled to the end of a dead-end road.
Arrested were Jaquan Brown, 21, Marques Newsom, 21 and Quenterius Anton Lewis, 21, all residents of Nashville.
Manchester Police believe these suspects involved in the attempted robbery and pursuit are the same ones who committed armed robbery at Manchester Cash Express on January 18. Police also believe the suspects are tied to an armed robbery at a Cash Express in White Bluff, Tennessee on January 10.
Manchester Police Department Assistant Chief Adam Floied told Thunder Radio News that the ATF office in Nashville will be handling the investigation.
Tennessee Tree Day is coming; pick-up available in Coffee County
Tennessee Tree Day is coming up in March and the local Master Gardeners in Coffee County are hosting a pick up site for this years event.
If you order your seedlings online by Feb. 13, you can pick them up at the UT-TSU Extension office in Coffee County from 8am-4:30 pm Friday, March 18 or from 8-12 on Saturday, March 19.
You can order your seedlings by clicking here.
DISTRICT SWEEP: Coffee County picks up two big wins over Warren County Tuesday
With each passing night, Coffee County Central’s basketball programs continue to get stronger. That was evident Tuesday night in Manchester when the Raiders swept visiting Warren County.
Warren County 37, Coffee County Central 62
If you go back and look at the first game between these two teams on January 14, you’ll be shocked at the similarities.
Coffee County led by two points at halftime Tuesday night in Manchester, then took off on a 19-4 run in the third quarter behind the Gannon sisters on their way to win number 16 in a row. CHS hit an eerily similar 19-4 run in the third quarter two weeks prior.
This time Coffee County finished strong and didn’t let Warren County make any late runs, pulling away in a 62-37 dominating victory.
Coffee County was powered in the second half by a 6-0 run inside by Chloe Gannon, who finished with with 16 points. She took off on a run after little sister Channah Gannon buried a 3-pointer to loosen up the Pioneer defense.
“They didn’t want to leave and (extend their defense),” said CHS Lady Raider head coach Joe Pat Cope. “Once Channah hit that 3, that really opened it up for Chloe.”
Channah Gannon joined Chloe in double figures with 11 points off the bench. Junior point guard Jalie Ruehling had excellent command of the Lady Raider offense and scored 12 points in the win – her second double-figure scoring night against Warren County. Elli Chumley added 10 and Olivia Vinson 9. Vinson hit a pair of big 3-pointers, the first to get Coffee County on the board early in the first quarter.
“We are becoming a complete team where on any give night anyone can hurt you,” said Cope. “We have the potential to be a really special basketball team.”
Coffee County led 14-4 early over the Lady Pioneers but a 11-0 Warren County run put WC in front briefly. Coffee County pulled back ahead and took a slim 2-point halftime lead.
The Lady Raiders improve to 19-3 overall with the win and 5-0 in District 6-4A, where they are in the driver’s seat for a regular season title. Warren County falls to 18-4, 3-2 in District play. Two of the Lady Pioneers losses have come to Coffee County.
THIS GAME WAS BROADCAST LIVE ON THUNDER RADIO. CLICK HERE TO LISTEN TO THE BROADCAST REPLAY.
Coffee County will return to action on Friday, Jan. 28 at Shelbyville. Tip is set for 6 p.m. and you can hear it live on Thunder Radio – 107.9 FM, 1320 AM, 106.7 FM, Manchester Go app and thunder1320.com.
Warren County boys 38, Coffee County 50
Warren County tied up the Red Raiders at 24-24 early in the third quarter. It was all CHS from there as Connor Shemwell poured in 16 points and Dayne Crosslin 17 to lead the Raiders to a big home district win.
For the most part, Coffee County controlled the pace against the Pioneers and led throughout with the exception of a few brief Pioneer runs.
Crosslin continued his hot play against the Raiders’ new district rival with 17 points; he had 19 when the two teams met 11 days ago in McMinnville.
Perhaps a by product of hot outside shooting in McMinnville two weeks ago and some good outside shooting early Tuesday night, Connor Shemwell found more room to work in the paint than he has had in a while and made the Pioneers pay. CHS finished 18-25 at the free throw line and only turned the ball over 7 times in the win.
Coffee County improves to 14-7 overall and now has sole possession of first place in the District 6-4A standings with a 4-1 district record.
THIS GAME WAS BROADCAST LIVE ON THUNDER RADIO. CLICK HERE TO LISTEN TO THE BROADCAST REPLAY.
CHS returns to action Friday night at Shelbyville at 7:30 and you can hear it live on Thunder Radio – 107.9 FM, 1320 AM, 106.7 FM, Manchester Go app and thunder1320.com.
Birthdays- January 25
Jim Dobson
Barbara Shemwell
Stanley Downs- Pizza Winner!
Christy Wray
Glera Jean Presley
Graveside services for Mrs. Glera Jean Presley, age 91 of Manchester, will be conducted at 12:00PM on Wednesday, January 26, 2022, at Rose Hill Memorial Gardens. The family will receive friends from 9:30AM – 11:30AM at Coffee County Funeral Chapel on Wednesday. Mrs. Presley passed peacefully from this life on Sunday, January 23, 2022, at her residence in Manchester.
Glera was born in Cannon County, Tennessee on July 6, 1930, the daughter of the late Joe and Claudia Duke. Glera loved to go shopping, listen to music, and dance. She enjoyed playing cards, especially Rook, and watching Family Feud. Glera spent much of her time at the Senior Citizen’s Center, which she enjoyed. Glera married the love of her life, Vernon, on December 31, 1951. She was a loving and devoted wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother.
In addition to her parents, Glera is also preceded in death by her beloved husband of 51 years, Vernon Presley; son-in-law, Jerry; multiple brothers and sisters. She is survived by her daughters, Kim Parsley (Rick), Kat Presley (Larry Duckworth), Karren Chandler (Larry), and Kellie Potter; brother, Windell Duke; sister, Lera Whittemore; grandchildren, Steven Parsley, Scott Parsley (Stephanie), Sara Rivas (Jaime), Cody Chandler (Emily), Casey Chandler, Joshua Potter (Chelsea), Jenna Potter, and Macy Potter; great-grandchildren, Lauren Parsley, Connor Parsley, Maggie Rivas, Hattie Rivas, Sam Rivas, Penny Rivas, and Luke Potter.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks for donations to be made in Glera’s name to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.
Coffee County Funeral Chapel is honored to serve the Presley family.
Police believe suspects from Manchester armed robbery are in custody
Three suspects are in custody after an attempted robbery of a Cash Express in Woodbury Tuesday morning (Jan. 25) and a lengthy police pursuit that ended in Mt. Juliet, Tennessee.
According to police officials, there was an attempted robbery of Cash Express in Woodbury Tuesday morning. Doors were locked and subjects were unable to complete the robbery. Because of this, witnesses were able to contact police and a pursuit was initiated. The pursuit ended in Wilson County when spike strips were deployed on Interstate 40 and the vehicle caught fire.
Three suspects fled on foot and carjacked an individual shortly after. Suspects were later apprehended when they fled on foot once they traveled to the end of a dead-end road.
Manchester Police believe these suspects involved in the attempted robbery and pursuit are the same ones who committed armed robbery at Manchester Cash Express on January 18. Police also believe the suspects are tied to an armed robbery at a Cash Express in White Bluff, Tennessee on January 10.
Manchester Police Department Assistant Chief Adam Floied told Thunder Radio News that the ATF office in Nashville will be handling the investigation. Names were not released when this story was published. Updates will be posted as they are available.
Former Manchester clinic owner sentenced to 168 months in prison for opioid distribution
On January 21, 2022, Mark Daniel Allen, 64, of Venice, Florida, was sentenced to 168 months in prison and $700 in special assessments, followed by three years of supervised released, by the Honorable Travis R. McDonough, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee at Chattanooga.
According to court documents, Allen was found guilty of six counts of unlawfully distributing controlled substances and one count of maintaining a drug-involved premises after a three-day trial, which began on September 1, 2021. Evidence presented at trial showed that Allen unlawfully prescribed approximately 15,000 opioid pills to three women with whom he had sexual relationships, and to a male patient who later passed away.
Allen was a nurse practitioner who owned Volunteer Family Medical Clinic in Manchester.
Assistant Attorney General Kenneth A. Polite Jr. of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; U.S. Attorney Francis M. Hamilton III for the Eastern District of Tennessee; Special Agent in Charge Joseph Carrico of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Knoxville Field Office; Special Agent in Charge Tamala Miles of the Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG); and Director David Rausch of the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) made the announcement.
The FBI, HHS-OIG, TBI, Manchester Police Department, and Coffee County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney James Brooks of the Eastern District of Tennessee and Trial Attorney Emily Petro of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section and prosecuted the case.