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2021 has been a year of big improvements at Unity Medical Center
Unity Medical Center has invested in the expansion and renovations of the hospital. These projects increased services and space for all departments of the hospital.
In addition to the recently opened ICU, the renovation projects include updates to the respiratory and emergency departments; new equipment for the imaging department; modernization of the lobby, nurses’ stations, and medical-surgical department; and exterior renovations that include the physical appearance of the hospital, landscaping and a digital board located next to Interstate 24.
To meet the growing needs of our patients we have also updated our lab, chapel, care rooms, and equipment in the surgery department. The added amenities in the cafeteria provide better nutritional options for our patients and visitors.
“This renovation project is very exciting for all of us at Unity Medical Center, and for the community at large,” said Martha McCormick, CEO of Unity Medical Center. “It is a direct result of the outstanding care our team provides. Their hard work and dedication are why people seek services at Unity and why the hospital has continued to undergo tremendous growth.”
Unity Medical Center is a 49-bed acute care hospital located at 481 Interstate Drive in Manchester that operates two rural health clinics employing over 40 medical providers. Unity Medical Center can be reached by phone at 931-728-6354.
TDOT to halt highway construction for Christmas holiday
Road construction won’t delay travelers during the Christmas and New Year’s holidays. The Tennessee Department of Transportation is once again halting all lane closure activity on interstates and state highways in anticipation of higher traffic volumes across the state. No temporary lane closures will be allowed for construction on Tennessee roadways beginning at midnight on Thursday, December 23, 2021, through 6:00 a.m. on Monday, January 3, 2022.
“With motorists expected to travel Tennessee roadways during the Christmas and New Year’s holidays, keeping traffic moving and getting motorists to their destinations safely is our top priority,” said TDOT Commissioner Joe Galbato. “As always, please wear your seatbelt, reduce your speed, avoid distractions, and never drink and drive.”
Except for a few long-term closures that must remain for safety, all construction-related closures will be suspended during the holiday period. Workers may still be on-site in some construction zones. Drivers should obey all posted speed limits, particularly in construction areas. Slower speeds are necessary in work zones due to the temporary layout of the roadway and will be enforced. Drivers convicted of speeding through work zones where workers are present face a fine of $250 to $500, plus court fees and possible increased insurance premiums.
AAA Travel expects more than 109 million Americans to travel this holiday season, with a majority of them driving. More than 2.6 million Tennesseans are forecast to travel between December 23 and January 2.
Get the latest construction activity and live streaming SmartWay traffic cameras from your desktop or mobile device at www.TNSmartWay.com/Traffic. Travelers can also dial 511 from any landline or cellular phone for travel information or follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/TN511 for statewide travel. As always, drivers are reminded to use all motorist information tools wisely and Know Before You Go! by checking travel conditions before leaving for your destination. Drivers should never tweet, text, or talk on a cell phone while behind the wheel.
Christmas music all day Friday, Saturday on Thunder Radio WMSR
In keeping with tradition, Thunder Radio WMSR will be airing your favorite Christmas hits on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.
The WMSR collection of Christmas hits is hundreds of songs deep. Beginning at 6 a.m. Dec. 24 through midnight Christmas night, you will be able to hear your favorite Christmas classics on your hometown, community radio station.
“Another one of the great traditions of WMSR over its decades is Christmas music on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day,” said Thunder Radio co-owner Josh Peterson. “That’s just not something you are going to find on big commercial, corporate radio conglomerates.”
Music will play mostly commercial free for the two days, with the occasional “Merry Christmas” message intertwined from area local businesses, as well as a few weather updates.
“I know at our house we like to have Christmas music on in the background for a couple of days around the holidays while the kids are opening gifts and while we cook breakfast,” said Peterson. “We hope everyone will join us for this special holiday.”
You can hear Thunder Radio WMSR at 107.9 FM, 106.7 FM, 1320 AM, streaming on the Manchester Go smartphone app and thunder1320.com.
Titans set to host 49ers on Thursday night football (broadcast on Thunder Radio)
The Tennessee Titans host the San Francisco 49ers this week in a primetime showdown on Thursday Night Football. Kickoff at Nissan Stadium (capacity 69,143) is scheduled for 7:20 p.m. CST on Dec. 23.
San Francisco makes its third all-time appearance at Nissan Stadium, which opened in 1999, and its first appearance at the venue since 2013. This marks the first Thursday primetime game for the Titans franchise against an NFC opponent.
THE BROADCAST
Thursday’s contest will be nationally televised on NFL Network, and the telecast also can be seen locally in Nashville on WZTV FOX 17. The broadcast team includes play-by-play announcer Kevin Burkhardt, analyst Greg Olsen and reporters Pam Oliver and Kristina Pink.
Fans can livestream the broadcast on their mobile devices from the Titans Mobile App (iOS and Android), as well as on desktop computers and mobile web at TennesseeTitans.com. Restrictions apply. For information and more streaming options visit TennesseeTitans.com or NFL.com/ways-to-watch.
The Titans Radio Network will carry the game across the Mid-South with the “Voice of the Titans” Mike Keith, analyst Dave McGinnis, sideline reporter Amie Wells and gameday host Rhett Bryan. You can hear the game LIVE on Thunder Radio WMSR in Coffee County, beginning with Titans Countdown at 6 p.m. Listen at 107.9 FM, 1320 AM, 106.7 FM. Titans Football on Thunder Radio is listed by Charlie Gonzales with Weichert Realtors, Joe Orr & Associates.
Additionally, Westwood One Sports will broadcast the game to a national radio audience. Play-by-play announcer Ian Eagle and analyst Tony Boselli will have the call.
TITANS RETURN HOME FOR TWO OF FINAL THREE GAMES
With three games remaining on the schedule, the Titans are 9-5 and hold a one-game lead over the 8-6 Indianapolis Colts in the AFC South. With any two combined Titans wins and/or Colts losses, the Titans will win their second consecutive division title. The Colts travel to face the Arizona Cardinals this week in a Saturday night matchup.
This is the first of two consecutive home games for the Titans. After Thursday night, they have a long rest before hosting the Miami Dolphins on Jan. 2. To close the regular season, the Titans play at the division rival Houston Texans on Jan. 9.
The Titans went to Pittsburgh last week and fell by a final score of 19-13. They led 13-3 in the third quarter, but the Steelers scored the game’s final 16 points, and a final drive by the Titans offense ended at Pittsburgh’s 10-yard line in the final minute of the fourth quarter.
The Titans defense surrendered only 168 total yards, the fewest by any Titans opponent since Sept. 19, 2010, when they yielded 127 yards in a game to the Steelers. Additionally, the Titans defense allowed only 35 rushing yards, 133 passing yards and 12 first downs.
Offensively, the Titans rushed for 201 yards at Pittsburgh, including 108 yards on a career-high 22 carries by D’Onta Foreman. Ryan Tannehill provided the Titans’ lone touchdown on a one-yard run to tie his career high with seven rushing touchdowns on the season.
THE 49ERS
The 49ers have won two consecutive games to improve to 8-6 on the season. They are looking to gain ground in the NFC West on the 10-4 Arizona Cardinals and the second-place Los Angeles Rams, whose record is 9-4 prior to their Dec. 21 game against Seattle.
Last week, the 49ers hosted the Falcons and rushed for 162 yards and three touchdowns in a 31-13 victory. It was their fifth win in their last six games after beginning the season 3-5 in their first eight contests.
Kyle Shanahan is in his fifth season since being named head coach of the 49ers in 2017. He is looking to guide the 49ers back to the playoffs after previously taking them to the Super Bowl at the conclusion of the 2019 campaign.
San Francisco quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo has started 12 of the team’s 13 games this season. The eighth-year quarterback arrived in San Francisco in a trade with New England in 2017, and in his fifth season with the club, he has passed for 3,172 yards and 18 touchdowns with eight interceptions and a 100.7 passer rating.
Alontae Taylor, Red Raider and Volunteer grad, to be at Al White Ford Lincoln for meet and greet Wednesday
One of the greatest Coffee County Central Red Raiders to ever play at the school and recent University of Tennessee graduate, Alontae Taylor, will be at Al White Ford Lincoln for a two-hour meet-and-greet event on Wednesday, Dec. 22.
Taylor will be meeting fans and signing autographs at the dealership between 12-2 p.m.
Taylor recently finished his senior season with the Vols. He was a four-year starter at cornerback. He has opted out of the Vols’ bowl game and has declared for this springs NFL Draft.
Al White Ford Lincoln is located at 2002 Hillsboro Blvd.
Lady Raiders win 6th straight, drop Ft. Payne, Ala. 62-40
One day after barely having enough players to put a team on the floor due to illness, the Lady Raiders got reinforcements sent down to Ft. Payne, Alabama and beat the host school 62-40 in the 21st Annual Wills Valley Shoot Out.
Chloe Gannon rejoined the team Tuesday and helped boost the presence in the paint, scoring 15 points in the win. Elli Chumley added 14 points. But it was junior guard Alivia Reel playing one of her best games of the season, a 17-point performance that included three 3-pointers, that led the way for CHS.
Kiya Ferrell pitched in 8 points for the Lady Raiders in the win.
Coffee County took a 3 point lead at the half on a buzzer-beating three from Reel. Then the Lady Raiders pulled away – allowing just 8 points in the second half, all of which came in the third quarter. The Lady Raider defense pitched a shutout in the fourth.
Coffee County improves to 9-3 with the win, making six straight wins. The Lady Raiders will wrap-up their three-day trip to Ft. Payne by playing Boaz, Alabama at 10 a.m. Wednesday.
Second half struggles hit Raiders again in loss to White County at Sparta Sonic Shootout
Coffee County dropped its second game in a row in the Sparta Sonic Shootout, falling 63-51 to host White County Tuesday afternoon.
It was the second straight loss for the CHS Raider men after winning 4 out of 5.
On Tuesday, the Raiders were down by 4 at the break – 33-29. But the Warriors outscored CHS 15-9 in the third quarter and pulled further away in the fourth to seal the win.
Ten different Red Raiders scored points on the afternoon, led by 14 from Dayne Crosslin before he fouled out. Junior post Jahlin Osbourne scored 10 for the Raiders, Aidan Abellana 6, Connor Shemwell 5 and Brady Nugent 5.
The loss sends Coffee County (8-6 overall) to a third-day consolation game. The Raiders will play at 11:30 a.m. Wednesday, Dec. 22 at White County High School. The game will be broadcast live on Thunder Radio – 107.9 FM, 106.7 FM, 1320 AM, thunder1320.com and the Manchester Go app.
Birthdays- December 21
Erin Evans- 31
Blanton Brown- Pizza Winner!
Kia Stem- 27
Susan Stone Webb
Funeral services for Mrs. Susan Stone Webb, age 59 of Manchester, will be conducted at 2:00PM on Monday, December 27, 2021, at Coffee County Funeral Chapel. The family will receive friends from 5:00PM until 8:00PM on Sunday, December 26, 2021, at the funeral home. Mrs. Webb passed from this life on Monday, December 20, 2021, at St. Thomas Midtown in Nashville, TN.
Susan was born in Shreveport, LA on April 16, 1962, the daughter of the late Tom and Carolyn Stone. She was quick witted and loved making people laugh. Susan loved flowers, music, and the Titan’s, but her true love was for her animals. She was a devoted and loving wife, daughter, sister, and friend.
Susan is preceded in death by her parents, Tom and Carolyn Stone. She is survived by her beloved husband of 33 years, Randy Webb; brother, Shane Stone; sister, Cynthia Thompson; step-mom, Annette Stone; a host of friends.
Coffee County Funeral Chapel is honored to serve the Webb family.
Louise Hendrix
Louise Hendrix, age 88, born September 1933 in Marks, Mississippi, passed away December 10, 2021. Louise attended University of Tennessee, Memphis where she met her husband, Dr. Ernest Hendrix. She dedicated her later years to her many grandchildren and worked in home healthcare. She is survived by her three children: Marybeth Starr, Joanne Dunn, and Ernest Hendrix, Jr. Louise was preceded in death by her son, Paul W. Brooks Hendrix, and ex-husband, Ernest Hendrix, Sr. She was well-known for her big smile, twinkling blue eyes, and stylish outfits. The family will celebrate her life privately, no service will be held.
Coffee County Funeral Chapel is honored to serve the Hendrix family.