Author's posts
Tennessee unemployment reaches lowest level since January 2020
Unemployment in the state of Tennessee reached a two-year low in December, according to new data released by the Department of Labor and Workforce Development. The state ended 2021 with an unemployment rate of 3.8%, which was 0.2 of a percentage point lower than the rate it recorded in November.
Over the past year, Tennessee’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate decreased by 1.8 percentage points from 5.6% to 3.8%.
Tennessee has not seen unemployment at this level since January 2020 when it had a rate of 3.7%. The state experienced slight increases in unemployment in February and March of that year before COVID-19 business closures dramatically impacted the state’s workforce. In April 2020, Tennessee reached a record high unemployment rate at 15.8%. The workforce has been recovering ever since then.
Total nonfarm employment across the state increased by 14,500 jobs between November and December. Tennessee employers added the largest numbers of workers in the leisure and hospitality sector, followed by the trade, transportation and utilities, and the education and health services sectors.
Over the year, nonfarm employment in Tennessee increased by 96,400 jobs. The largest increases occurred in the leisure and hospitality, the professional and business services, and the trade, transportation, and utilities sectors.
Across the country, unemployment in December was at its lowest rate since March 2020, one month before the pandemic began to impact the nation’s workforce. The United States seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for December came in at 3.9%, down 0.3 of a percentage point from November’s rate.
A complete analysis of the state’s December 2021 unemployment data can be found here (https://www.us13.list-manage.com/track/click?u=166478db53c066a7d114ea462&id=c2030be7e2&e=29851e7b63) .
While the number of Tennesseans out of work continues to decrease, many citizens are still searching for work or looking for a different type of job. TDLWD offers a variety of services that can help those individuals. Assistance is available online or in-person and job seekers can begin their journey at www.TNWorkReady.com.
Window remains open to register to vote in upcoming May primary
Over the past 15 or so days, there have been approximately 40 candidates pick up petitions for various elected offices across Coffee County.
Candidates for the upcoming May 3, 2022 State and Coffee County Primary Elections began picking up petition papers on Dec. 20 at the Coffee County Election Commission.
The deadline to have petitions returned is Thursday, Feb. 17 at noon with a withdrawal deadline of Feb. 24.
Anyone wishing to vote in the May 3 primary must be registered by Monday, April 4. You can register by visiting the Coffee County Election Commission on McArthur St. Early voting will be April 13 through April 28. You can also register to vote from your computer – just click here.
There are multiple races up for grabs this election cycle. Just to name a few: Coffee County Sheriff, Coffee County Mayor, Manchester Mayor, Circuit Court Clerk, County Clerk, Register of Deeds, Coffee County Trustee, Road Superintendent, General Sessions Judge, District Attorney General, along with various county commissioners, city aldermen and school board seats.
Dorris Rayburn Davis
Dorris Rayburn Davis, age 88, of the Noah community, passed from this life peacefully on January 20, 2022, at Saint Thomas Rutherford in Murfreesboro. Graveside services will be held Tuesday, January 25, at 1:00 P. M., at Rose Hill Memorial Gardens. The family encourages anyone attending to wear a mask.
Dorris was born in the Pocahontas community on May 29, 1933, the son of the late John Wesley and Lena Crosslin Davis. He was a member of the Noah Church of Christ.
Dorris graduated from Manchester Central High School, where he was captain of the basketball team as a junior and senior, and played on three state tournament teams. Dorris served with the U.S. Army for two years, including a year in Japan. He was elected and served one term on the Coffee County Court (now the Coffee County Commission). After retirement as a cattle farmer, Dorris enjoyed gardening and frequently attended the Senior Citizens Center. He enjoyed competitive activities and was an outstanding pool player.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by brothers Eugene, Eldie, Elvin, John Robert, Kenneth, Edward, and Jimmie, and sisters Opal Bush, Ethel Duke, and Jane Davis. He is survived by his loving wife of 67 years, Mrs. Velma Messick Davis; one son, Brian Rayburn Davis and his wife, Paige, of Nashville; one granddaughter, Julia Campbell Bennett and her husband Tyler, of Smyrna; one brother, Vernon Davis, and one sister, Treva Summers, both of Manchester; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Memorial donations may be made to Noah Church of Christ, Tennessee Children’s Home, or St. Jude Children’s Hospital.
Manchester Funeral Home is honored to serve the Davis family.
Virgil Allen Plummer
Mr. Virgil Allen Plummer, age 66, of Manchester,
TN, passed from this life on Monday, December 13, 2021, in Nashville, TN.
Mr. Plummer was born in Corpus Christi, TX, to his late parents Jesse
Plummer and Alpha Lorene Harper Plummer. He was a construction supervisor
for most of his career building power plants across the country. Mr.
Plummer enjoyed anything to do with motorcycles and loved riding his
Harleys. He was a proud member in the Vietnam Vets/Legacy Vets Motorcycle
Club. He served our country in the Army and was stationed in Korea during
the Vietnam War. He later served in the US Navy and traveled all over the
world with his military duties. Mr. Plummer is survived by his wife of 16
years, Christine Plummer; son, Jesse Plummer; brother, Ed Collins, and
step-sons Daniel Bentz and Samuel Bentz. Visitation with the family will be
held Saturday, January 22, 2022 from 12noon until 1:00pm with a Celebration
of Life service at 1:00pm in the Chapel of Central Funeral Home.
Raider defense smothers Rebels as CHS moves into tie for district lead
They say that defense travels well.
Coffee County’s sure did Friday night.
The Red Raiders of Central High School held Franklin County to 6 points in the first quarter, 6 in the second and 2 in the fourth quarter to leave Franklin County High School with a 44-28 victory and a new spot tied atop the District 6-4A rankings.
The win avenged a 10 point home loss to the Rebels the previous week.
Coffee County flustered the Rebels all night. CHS held Shamar Lyons to just 2 points – none from the field – and those came in the final minutes. Lyons torched the Raiders for 21 the prior week.
Meanwhile, on offense Coffee County opened the floor was some early 3-point shooting. Junior Dayne Crosslin buried three from the arc and finished with a team-high 11 points. Connor Shemwell and Cooper Reed also hit 3-pointers in the first half.
Outside shooting opened the middle and the Raiders attacked the paint immediately to open the third quarter. In addition to stellar defense, the Raiders also cleaned up their turnovers from the first matchup. They finished with only 8 team turnovers (2 in the first half, 6 in the third quarter) compared to 20 in the first meeting.
Coffee County led the game wire to wire. Shemwell finished with 9 points, Aidan Abellana 7 and Reed and Phineas Rollman with 5 apiece. Crosslin was named Thunder Radio broadcast Stone Fort Mortgage Player of the Game.
The Raiders improve to 12-7 on the season with the win and 3-1 in District 6-4A play. It puts CHS in a tie with the Rebels for first place.
THIS GAME WAS BROADCAST LIVE ON THUNDER RADIO. CLICK HERE TO LISTEN TO OUR AUDIO REPLAY.
Girls forfeit win
The Lady Raiders earned a win while cheering from the student section. Franklin County forfeited the game due to sickness, giving CHS the win and improving the Lady Raiders to 4-0 in District 6-4A play.
Both Raiders and Lady Raiders will return home on Monday, Jan. 24 for a non-district tilt against Lighthouse Christian. Girls tip at 6 p.m. with the boys to follow – senior night will be celebrated between games. Both games will be broadcast LIVE on Thunder Radio: 107.9 FM, 1320 AM, 106.7 FM, Manchester Go app and thunder1320.com.
Brady Nugent 
Dayne Crosslin 
Aidan Abellana
Birthdays- January 21
Birthdays:
Addison VanWinkle- 16
Zakk Huddlseton
Candace Duncan- Pizza Winner!
Gail Prince
Weekly Winners:
Cake- Lindsey Simpson
Flowers- Shelton & Jenny Fay Jones
Douglas C. Nevill
Douglas C. Nevill of Manchester passed this life on Sunday, January 16,
2022 at the age of 78. Graveside services will be held on Sunday, January
23, 2022 at 10 AM at Hurricane Grove Cemetery.
Mr. Neville, a native of Manchester, TN was the son of the late Garlon and
Amanda Aldridge Nevill. He enjoyed shooting pool, gardening, coin
collecting, working with leather, fixing old cars and playing his guitar.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by sons, Connell
Nevill and Roger Son and sisters, Wilda and Helen. He is survived by
daughters, Connie Tabor (Mike) of Jackson, KY and Linda Fenner (Troy) of
Tullahoma; brother, Bobby Nevill (Joy) of Manchester; sister, Judy Jones of
Manchester; eight grandchildren and six great grandchildren.
Online condolences may be made at www.davesculbertsonfuneralhome.com.
Daves-Culbertson Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Man from TBI ‘Silver Alert’ pronounced deceased after car found in creek Thursday afternoon
One man is deceased after apparently crashing his car off of Interstate-24 into Bradley Creek near the 120 mile marker in Coffee County, authorities tell Thunder Radio news.
Tennessee Bureau of Investigation issued a “Silver Alert” alert on Tuesday, Jan. 18 for Donald Alvarez who was last known to be in the Coffee County area traveling in a maroon Cadillac ATS.
At approximately 4 p.m. Thursday, January 20, a Tennessee Highway Patrol helicopter spotted what appeared to be a maroon bumper near the 120 mile marker on Interstate 24 in Coffee County. Ground units arrived on the scene and discovered a vehicle matching the description of Alvarez’s car upside down in the creek.
According to Coffee County Sheriff Chad Partin, once the vehicle was removed from the creek Alvarez’s body was discovered inside. He was pronounced deceased on the scene.
“Our thoughts and prayers certainly go out to this family,” said Partin, who said family from as far away as New York had descended on Coffee County to help look for Alvarez.
“I really want to commend Investigator (Brandon) Gullett for his due diligence and staying persistent on the case,” added Partin. “We were afraid of this type of outcome, but at least the family knows and is able to have some closure.”
Partin explained that the family lost contact with Alvarez around January 15. He said that Investigator Gullett began tracking electronic information through phone services and OnStar and “worked diligently with THP and TBI.”
Partin explained that it appeared that Alvarez drove straight into the center median, got airborne and landed in the creek upside down.
“I’m sure with all the rain we have had, the current is rapid … it looks like the current shoved the vehicle under the bridge. We have not been able to see that while driving and looking.”
The Interstate was shut down for approximately 5 hours while crews worked to remove the vehicle from the creek.
Coffee County Rescue Squad divers arrived on the scene to aid in removing the vehicle.
“We are very appreciative of the rescue squad,” said Partin. “It is in the 20s outside, extremely cold, the water is hazardous. It was not an easy task.”
Partin said that Alvarez resided in Marietta, Ga. but had family in Illinois, Virginia and New York. He believed he was traveling back from a trip to Illinois. Partin said that CCSD Captain Billy Butler and Gullett were with the family Thursday evening.
BASKETBALL: Lady Raiders advance to CTC championship, Raiders eliminated
The Coffee Middle School Lady Raider basketball team is headed to the CTC Championship game.
The Lady Raiders disposed by East Tullahoma in dominant fashion Thursday at South Middle School – rolling to a 52-17 win. Natalie Barnes and Ella Arnold led the way with 18 and 17 points, respectively.
Seventh grader Jaydee Nogodula added 8.
The win improves CMS to 18-2 overall / 12-1 in CTC play. The Lady Raiders will play in the CTC Championship game at 11 a.m. Saturday at South Middle. That game will be broadcast live on Thunder Radio – 107.9 FM, 1320 AM, 106.7 FM, Manchester Go App and thunder1320.com.
Coffee Middle Red Raiders 17, North Gators 33
A 4-point first quarter from Landan Abellana helped the CMS Red Raiders to a 6-6 first-quarter tie with North. But the Raiders couldn’t muster enough offense and fell to the Gators 33-17 at South Middle School.
The loss eliminates the Raiders in the first round of the CTC tournament. They fall to 4-14 on the season.
Abellana led the way for CMS with 6 points.
BASKETBALL: Coffee County to host senior night January 24
Coffee County Central’s basketball programs will host senior night on Monday, January 24 at Joe Frank Patch Memorial Gymnasium.
The Lady Raiders (18-3 overall / no. 6 Associated Press state poll) will be honoring seniors Elli Chumley and Kiya Ferrell. Meanwhile, the Raider boys (11-7 overall) will be honoring John Dobson, Connor Shemwell, Aidan Abellana, Brady Nugent and Phineas Rollman. Lady Raider cheerleaders Macie Lawrence and Olivia Kilpatrick, as well as dancers Makenna Orrick, Jaxen Waggoner and Hallie Pittman will also be celebrated.
The Lady Raiders will tip off at 6 p.m. against Lighthouse Christian with the boys to follow. Senior festivities are scheduled between games.
As always, both games will be broadcast live on Thunder Radio: 107.9 FM, 1320 AM, 106.7 FM, Manchester Go app and Thunder1320.com.
