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Bobbie (Essie Pearl) Thomas
Bobbie (Essie Pearl) Thomas, 84, of Manchester Tennessee, passed on January
14, 2022 after an extended illness. Graveside Services are scheduled at 3
PM, Tuesday, January 18, 2022 at Hurricane Grove Cemetery.
She was born to Norvell Grant and Julie Richardson Burks on December 21,
1937 in Summitville, TN. She married John Dayton Thomas in 1956 and
together they were blessed with 5 daughters (one lost in infancy) and
raised one of their grandchildren as a daughter. Viva Mansfield (Tim),
Karen Mansfield (Johnny), Harriet Ann Thomas, Janet Lea McGee (Butch),
Mendy Thomas Swain (Al), Yvonne Harris Waggoner (Paul). She also had 9
grandchildren Amanda Wright (Jimmy), Sarah Mansfield, Erica Cosminsky
Edwards (David), Dustin Mansfield, John Cosminsky, Bryan McGee, Caden
Harris, Delaney Harris and Reagan Harris and 5 great grandchildren.
The family would like to thank Rickey & Bubba Brandon and the many
caregivers who helped provide care to John and Bobbie during their illness.
Bobbie loved spending time with her kids and grandkids. And as one of
Jehovah’s Witnesses she also enjoyed sharing her hope of Bible truths with
others. She had many jobs through the years but particularly loved helping
her husband run the Tullahoma Fruit Market which was on the corner of E
Lincoln and N Anderson streets.
Online condolences may be made at www.davesculbertsonfuneralhome.com.
Daves-Culbertson Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Name released in fatal Sunday fire
Authorities have released the name of the person who they believe died in a structure fire in Coffee County on Sunday.
Fire crews were called to a house on Boynton Valley Rd. in Coffee County at about noon on Sunday to a structure fire.
According to authorities, Douglas Nevill is believed to have died in the fire. However, identification has yet to be confirmed.
Authorities say the remains in the home were not immediately identifiable. Preliminary investigation leads investigators to believe the fire was accidental.
Coffee County Fire Investigators will handle the investigation with assistance from TBI.
SNOW PATROL – Tuesday, Jan. 18, 2022
Your Snow Patrol for Tuesday, January 18, 2022, presented by your bread & milk experts at Spring Street Market, 801 S. Spring St. in Manchester. Your LOCAL grocery store!
Coffee County Schools – CLOSED
Manchester City Schools – CLOSED
Temple Baptist Christian – 2 HOUR DELAY
Cannon County Schools – CLOSED
Grundy County School – CLOSED
Franklin County Schools – CLOSED
Rutherford County Schools – CLOSED
Warren County Schools – CLOSED
Post will be updated with information as we have it on other school districts
Police searching for Coffee County man who allegedly stole camper
Area authorities need your help locating Randall Curtis – a suspect who allegedly stole an RV Camper from Newby RV Sales in Smartt Station (Warren County) on Saturday.
The stolen camper has since been recovered. But Curtis has not been apprehended, according to Warren County Sheriff’s Department.
Warrants are on file for Curtis’ arrest. He is 57 years old with brown eyes, brown hair (possibly shaved), with a beard or goatee, standing 6’1″ and weighing 185 pounds. He is a resident of Coffee County and could possibly be in the Franklin County area, authorities say. He is driving a Nissan Titan truck (pictured below).
Anyone with information about his whereabouts is encouraged to call 931-668-7000.

James “Pete” Lewis Hillis
Funeral services for Mr. James “Pete” Lewis Hillis, age 78 years, and 10 days of Beechgrove, will be conducted on Wednesday, January 19, 2022, at 1 PM in the Manchester Funeral Home chapel. Burial will follow in the New Beechgrove Cemetery. Visitation with the family will be held on Tuesday from 5 – 8 PM at the funeral home. Mr. Hillis passed away on Friday at his home after an extended illness.
“Pete”, as he was fondly known by family and friends, was born on January 4, 1944, to the late Lewis Henry and Georgia Harrell Hillis in Bell Buckle, TN. He was known for his athleticism in high school in Charleston, IL, where he set many records in track. Mr. Pete was a deacon at the First Baptist Church of Beechgrove for over 40 years. He enjoyed hunting with his sons and attending the ball games of his grandchildren. He was the trainer for the walking horses at Steve Hill Stables for many years. Mr. Pete and Chad, his son, would buy walking horse colts every year.
In addition to his parents, Mr. Pete is preceded in death by his grandson, Taylan Gage Hillis, brothers, Bobby Gene and George Thomas Hillis, and his sisters, Dorothy Moore, Betty Lou Winn, Mary Jo Smith, Mary Elizabeth Hillis, and Bessie Ruth Allen. Mr. Pete is survived by his loving wife of 61 years, Janie Evalyn Gordon Hillis; sons, Tracy Hillis, and his wife, Monica, and Chad Hillis and his wife, Colleen; grandchildren, Trista Blair and Treydin Chance Hillis, and Keelie Shea and Olivia Danyel Hillis; sister, Cathey Wade and her husband, Roy; several nieces, nephews, and extended family members, and a host of friends.
Manchester Funeral Home is honored to serve the Hillis family
One person perishes in Sunday fire
One person has perished in a structure fire Sunday, according to authorities.
Fire crews were called to a house on Boynton Valley Rd. in Coffee County at about noon on Sunday to a structure fire.
According to Coffee County Sheriff’s Department investigators, an elderly male lived at the home and one person did perish in the fire. Authorities say the remains in the home were not immediately identifiable. Investigators went on to say preliminary investigation shows that the fire appears to have been an accident that may have started with a wood- burning stove.
Tennessee Bureau of Investigation will handle the investigation.
Police searching for Coffee County man who allegedly stole camper
Area authorities need your help locating Randall Curtis – a suspect who allegedly stole an RV Camper from Newby RV Sales in Smartt Station (Warren County) on Saturday.
The stolen camper has since been recovered. But Curtis has not been apprehended, according to Warren County Sheriff’s Department.
Warrants are on file for Curtis’ arrest. He is 57 years old with brown eyes, brown hair (possibly shaved), with a beard or goatee, standing 6’1″ and weighing 185 pounds. He is a resident of Coffee County and could possibly be in the Franklin County area, authorities say. He is driving a Nissan Titan truck (pictured below).
Anyone with information about his whereabouts is encouraged to call 931-668-7000.

Orders for at-home COVID tests begin Wednesday
For anyone wanting to get their hands on at-home COVID-19 tests, they can do so beginning Wednesday.
According to Tennessee Department of Health, every home in the United States can order four at-home COVID-19 tests beginning January 19. There are no direct costs or shipping costs and you will not need to enter a credit card number to get the tests.
Visit covidtests.gov on January 19 to order.
LADY ROCKETS CAP PERFECT CONFERENCE SEASON WITH CHAMPIONSHIP

Westwood had one final hurdle standing in the way of the Lady Rockets and a perfect season in the Duck River Valley Conference.
Hurdle cleared on Saturday.
The Lady Rockets jumped out to a 22-6 lead in the first quarter and finished off Community 46-25 in the DRVC Championship game at Cascade.
It was familiar names who helped power WMS to the championship. Jules Ferrell led the way with 16 points – 11 coming in the first half to put the game out of reach. Reece Finch pitched in 14 and Ziya Dillard finished with 8.
The win ends DRVC play for Westwood with a perfect record and improves the Lady Rockets to 20-1 overall. Ferrell, Finch and Audri Patton were all three named to the DRVC All-Conference and All-Tournament teams.
Westwood will return home on Wednesday, Jan. 19 to host North Grundy for 8th grade night. Tip is set for 6 p.m. for the girls and the boys to follow. Then on Thursday Westwood moves on to the James C Haile Tournament. The Lady Rockets will play at 7 p.m. against the winner of Walter J. Baird and Jim B. Satterfield. A win in that game puts the Lady Rockets in the championship at 6 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 29.

CMS basketball teams play in CTC tournament this week
The Coffee Middle School basketball teams travel to South Middle School in Cowan this week in hopes of bringing home a CTC Tournament Championship.
The CMS Lady Raiders, with an 11-1 conference record, have the tournament’s no. 1 seed and receive a BYE in the first round. The Lady Raiders will play at 7 p.m. Wednesday night against the Winner of East Tullahoma and Warren County. A win in that game puts CMS in the title game – which will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday.
This is a single elimination tournament.
Meanwhile, the Raider boys are on the opposite side of the coin. CMS is the bottom seed (7) with a 2-10 conference record and will take on no. 2 North at 5:45 p.m. Wednesday. If they win, they will play at 7 p.m. Thursday in the semi-finals. The boys championship game is set for 2:30 p.m. Saturday.
See complete brackets below.