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Surrounding areas get community development grants
Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee and Department of Economic and Community Development Commissioner Bob Rolfe recently approved $28.5 million in Community Development Block Grants (CDBG), which will assist communities with infrastructure improvements, housing rehabilitation and health and safety initiatives.
The CDBG program is funded through HUD and administered in Tennessee by the Department of Economic and Community Development. Funds are available for water and sewer improvements and new extensions, housing rehabilitation and health and safety projects.
Altamont and Grundy County received a large chunk in the form of $1.2 Million for water and sewer improvements. Over $370,000 went to Warren County for fire protection improvements.
BASKETBALL: Lady Raiders climb to no. 5 in state AP poll
With an 18-3 record, the Coffee County Central Lady Raider basketball team continues its ascent in the Tennessee Associated Press polls.
In a new poll released late Monday, Jan. 24, 2022, the CHS basketball team moved up one spot to no. 5 in the Girl’s Basketball AP poll
1 — Blackman. 16-0
2 — Cookeville. 21-0
3 — Bradley Central. 18-2
4 — Bearden. 18-3
5 — Coffee County. 18-3
6 — Farragut. 16-5
7 — Bartlett. 18-5
8 — Arlington. 16-3
9 — Lebanon. 17-5
10. Rossview. 16-2
10tie — Heritage 17-4
Coffee County has lost just 3 games this season and all 3 are to top ranked teams. CHS lost to Blackman back in November by 9 and again in December by 1 in a tight game in Murfreesboro. Blackman is the no. 1 team in 4A basketball. The Lady Raiders’ only other loss, a home loss on the season’s opening weekend by 9 points to Page. The Lady Patriots are 19-1 and the no. 1 ranked team in 3A basketball by AP voters.
Coffee County returns to action Tuesday night against visiting Warren County. Tip set for 6 p.m. and tickets are available at the gate. If you can’t attend, listen on Thunder Radio: 107.9 FM, 1320 AM, Manchester Go app and thunder1320.com.
Kiya Ferrell signs volleyball scholarship with Cumberland
Kiya Ferrell was in a unique position.
The Coffee County Central senior three-sport athlete is talented enough that she could have chosen several different schools and a few different sports to play at the collegiate level. She has known for a while volleyball was what she wanted to do, and on Monday she chose Cumberland University.
In front of about 100 friends, family, coaches and teammates in the CHS library, Ferrell signed her letter of intent to play collegiate volleyball at Cumberland University in Lebanon.
“We have been to several of their team camps and seen their campus and coaches and the way they do things,” Ferrell explained to Thunder Radio Sports. “It is closer to home than some of the schools I looked at. And the offer they made me was really good, plus the education program is really good and I want to be a math teacher.”
Ferrell has long been an athletic sensation on the basketball court, softball field and the volleyball court. But once she started playing volleyball in middle school, it just felt different.
“I just love it,” she explained. “It is so much fun and I feel like I excel at it. I started showing interest in higher level of volleyball my freshman year and I knew this is what I wanted to keep playing (beyond high school).”
Ferrell has been an instrumental part of the volleyball programs success over the past four years – leading the Lady Raiders to their first ever state sectional game in 2020, and being part of multiple district championships.
“I really want to thank all my coaches and especially my parents. They have supported me in everything. I have taken them everywhere for softball and volleyball and playing three school sports. And they make enough time for me and my siblings and I’m forever appreciative.”
Ferrell is currently a key part of the CHS Lady Raider basketball team that is ranked no. 5 in the state. This spring, she returns to the diamond for the Lady Raider softball team in hopes of repeating a deep run in the TSSAA state tournament.
Lady Raiders hang 90 Monday night; Raiders roll for senior night sweep
Twelve different Lady Raiders got into the scoring column, led by 19 from senior Kiya Ferrell in a 90-22 blowout win over Lighthouse Christian Monday night in Manchester.
Ferrell piled up 16 points in the first half, followed by 10 points from fellow senior Elli Chumley on senior night as CHS led 57-9 at the break.
Also hitting double figures for CHS were Alivia Reel with 14, Olivia Vinson with 12, Channah Gannon with 11.
CHS got deep into its bench – Kaylee Suggs and Ava McIntosh each scored 3 points on deep shots, Remi Benjamin 6 points, Chloe Gannon 6, Jalie Ruehling 2, Addi Sartain 2 and Bryleigh Bray 2.
The win improves Coffee County to 18-3 overall. The Lady Raiders will host Warren County in district 6-4A play Tuesday night in Manchester. Tip is set for 6 p.m. for the girls, boys to follow. Tickets are available at the gate and the game can be heard live on Thunder Radio – 107.9 FM, 1320 AM, 106.7 FM, Manchester Go app and thunder1320.com
RAIDER HOT START LEADS TO 62-37 WIN
The final wasn’t even as close as it looked. The Raiders led by as many as 34 early in the fourth quarter in a blowout of visiting Lighthouse Christian.
Phineas Rollman and Connor Shemwell each scored 10 points in the win. Brady Nugent and Jahlin Osbourne each scored 9 for the Raiders.
Dayne Crosslin pitched in 8. Coffee County led 53-19 after three quarters.
The Raiders move to 13-7 with the win.
John Dobson 
Jahlin Osbourne 
Andrew Taylor 
Brady Nugent 
Brady Wright 
Ava McIntosh 
Addi Sartain 
Bryleigh Gray 
Jalie Ruehling 
Kiya Ferrell 
Elli Chumley 
Connor Shemwell 
Phineas Rollman 
Brady Nugent 
Aidan Abellana 
Brady Nugent 
Kiya Ferrell 
Elli Chumley and Matt Vinson 
MIDDLE SCHOOL SCOREBOARD: Lady Raiders advance; Westwood falls in semi-finals
COFFEE MIDDLE LADY RAIDERS
Coffee County overcame a slow start and blew past Warren County 50-20 in the TMSAA Area Tournament in Manchester Monday night.
CMS was led by 17 from Natalie Barnes, 13 from Ella Arnold and 9 from Jaydee Nogodula. The Lady Raiders will play in the tournament finals Friday night in Manchester.
COFFEE MIDDLE RAIDERS
Too many 2nd chance buckets hurt CMS in the opening round of the TMSAA area tournament Monday night in Manchester. CMS lost to 34-26 to end the Raiders’ season.
David Lewis led the Raiders with 11 points. Tallan Crosslin pitched in 8.
WESTWOOD LADY ROCKETS
Westwood led by one at halftime but never could create any separation, falling 38-34 to Walter J. Baird in the James C. Haile Tournament semi-finals Monday night.
The loss ends Westwood’s run for the tournament championship and just marks the Lady Rockets’ 2nd of the year as they fall to 20-2.
Jules Ferrell led WMS with 17 points, followed by Audri Patton with 12.
Westwood will play one final game on Wednesday – at 6 p.m. tip at home for 8th grade night. Boys will follow.
Birthdays- January 24
Birthdays:
Nick Graham- Pizza Winner!
Gary Trail
Anniversaries:
Ricky & Dona Vandagriff
Birthdays- January 23
Tristan VanMeter- 15
Mark Messick
Wyatt Finney
Brayden Johnson- 19- Pizza Winner!
Jermay Maguffin
Birthdays- January 22
Keller Hatfield
junior Petatan
Hayden Hargrove- Pizza Winner!
Esther “Robin” Gaskin Johnson
Mrs. Esther “Robin” Gaskin Johnson, age 78 of Tullahoma, passed away on Saturday, January 22, 2022, at Vanderbilt Tullahoma-Harton hospital.
Mrs. Robin was born on September 13, 1943, to the late Wilbur Gaskin and Esther Rutland. She was a homemaker and a Marine military wife to Mr. James Johnson, Jr. Mrs. Robin enjoyed working in her flower beds, crocheting, quilting, and sewing. She and her husband, James attended the Highland Baptist Church before their declining health. Mrs. Robin also volunteered at the local foodbank, at Damron’s restaurant for the holidays, and at the Tullahoma Sr. Citizen Center with the ladies in the quilting group.
Along with her loving husband of 58 years, James, Mrs. Robin is survived by her son, James Johnson, III and his wife, Melisa; grandchildren, Tammie Cox and her husband, Joshua, and Wyatt Johnson; three great grandchildren, Aidan, Jolene, and Lachlan Cox; and a host of friends.
Visitation will be held at Tullahoma Funeral Home, on Friday, January 28, 2022, from 12:30 – 1PM.
Funeral Services, to be conducted at 1 PM in the Tullahoma Funeral Home chapel, with burial to follow in the Concord Cemetery.
Tullahoma Funeral Home is honored to serve the Johnson Family and asks that you sign the guest book at www.tullahomafuneralhome.com
Donna Sue Sitz
Donna Sue Sitz of Hillsboro passed this life on Sunday, January 23, 2022 at
her residence at the age of 57. Graveside services are scheduled at 1 PM on
Thursday, January 27 at Beans Creek Cemetery.
A native of Manchester, she was the daughter of the late Pascal and Jewel
Walden Thomas. She attended Our Father’s House Church in Cowan and enjoyed
being involved with her church. She enjoyed cooking and being with her
grandchildren.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by brother, Ricky
Calvin Thomas.
Donna is survived by her husband, Tony Sitz of Hillsboro; son, Craig Majors
and his fiancé’, Anne Hosea of Manchester; daughter, Jessica Massingille
(Kanawful) of Tullahoma; sister, Diane McCormick (Randy) of Hillsboro and
grandchildren, Makayla, Hope, Zephyr, Sadie, Daxx and Piper June.
Online condolences may be made at www.davesculbertsonfuneralhome.com.
Daves-Culbertson Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.