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TAX TIPS: Tax savings contributions to retirement plans
BY ROSALYN PARTIN, MANCHESTER H&R BLOCK
Contributions to retirement accounts can be a great way to reduce your taxable income and thereby reduce your tax. Many employers offer retirement plans such as 401K, SEP, or Simple plans. These employer sponsored plans allow the employee to contribute a portion of their taxable wages into their retirement account, thus deferring the tax on the income until the money is withdrawn from the account. An added benefit of these plans is when the employer also contributes to the employee’s account as a matching contribution.
Contributions may also be made to Individual Retirement Accounts (IRA). The 2021 contribution limit for IRAs is $6,000 per taxpayer with an additional $1,000 allowed for taxpayers age 50 and over. There are 2 types of IRAs; Traditional and Roth. Many people who set up a traditional IRA can deduct their contributions. The IRA deduction can lower your taxable income, thus reducing taxes owed. You can claim this deduction even if you use the standard deduction. The deduction may be limited if you or your spouse is covered by a retirement plan at work and your income exceeds certain levels.
Roth IRA contributions are not tax deductible. However, in most cases all distributions you take from the Roth account at retirement will be nontaxable. This feature makes Roth IRAs a good planning device for receiving tax-free income at retirement and may be appealing for people who believe they will be paying more taxes in later years. This is also a good option for people who cannot fully deduct a traditional IRA contribution.
IRA contributions for the year can be made up until the return filing deadline (usually April 15). Therefore, some taxpayers find it beneficial to wait until their tax return is being prepared to determine if they want to contribute to a Traditional IRA or Roth IRA.
If you have questions about retirement plans, please call your local H&R Block office. In Manchester TN call 931-728-9462. H&R Block Has Your Back!
PERFECT START: Raider boys dominate Lighthouse Christian to cap 3-0 weekend
Coffee County pressured Lighthouse Christian early and cruised to a 66-46 win Saturday night at Joe Frank Patch Memorial Gymnasium.
The win caps a perfect 3-0 weekend for the Raider boys, beating Moore County, Monterey and Lighthouse Christian.
“We are just wanting to work on being a better basketball team with each opportunity we get to play,” said Red Raider head coach Andrew Taylor. “We are working on a lot of little things right now and I’m happy with what we’ve done to this point.”
The Raider defense smothered the Lions Saturday night, forcing 15 turnovers and multiple transition buckets. It could have been far worse, but the Raiders called off the full court press early.
Dayne Crosslin led the Raiders with 13 points, Jackson Shemwell 11 and Phineas Rollman 12.
The Raiders did struggle at the free throw line – hitting on less than 50 percent.
Coffee County will have a few days off before playing in the Cannon County Thanksgiving Classic Friday and Saturday. The Raiders will play Loretto at 2:30 p.m. Friday and Cookeville at 4 p.m. Saturday – both games at Cannon County High School.
THIS GAME WAS BROADCAST LIVE ON THUNDER RADIO. CLICK HERE TO LISTEN TO THE BROADCAST REPLAY.
Brady Nugent 
John Dobson 
Jackson Shemwell 
Connor Shemwell
Turnovers costly in Lady Raider loss to Page
Lady Raider head basketball coach Joe Pat Cope knew a time would come when he would miss starting point guard Jalie Ruehling.
That time came in game 3 of the season.
Coffee County struggled against the pressure of Page High School Saturday night, turning the ball over 16 times in a 50-41 loss to cap a 2-1 weekend in Hall of Champions games at CHS.
“Our guard kind of disappeared on us tonight,” said Cope, noting that without Ruehling, other guards have to step up. Ruehling is currently sidelined after tearing her ACL in a summer game in June.
Senior forward Elli Chumley offered a blunt assessment of Coffee County’s performance.
“I think this game just showed how out of shape we are and how much work we have to do. I guarantee you we will be in the gym everyday this (Thanksgiving) week,” said Chumley.
The Lady Raiders fell behind by 12 midway through the second quarter, but otherwise were able to keep the game close. Coffee County closed the gap to 6 after three quarters but the Lady Raiders were held to just 7 points in the fourth quarter.
What offense Coffee County was able to muster was in the post – as the Lady Raiders fed Chloe Gannon to the tune of 20 points. But there wasn’t much production after that – Chumley had 6 points, Channah Gannon 5 and Olivia Vinson and Emma Fulks each had 3 points.
Coffee County started the game 10 of 10 at the free throw line, but faded in the second half, hitting just 1 of its final 7 at the stripe.
By contrast, Page’s guard play was outstanding. Lili Wilken scored 18 and McKenzie Cochran 20 for the Lady Patriots.
Coffee County will have a few days off before taking on Blackman on Monday, Nov. 29 at 6 p.m.
THIS GAME WAS BROADCAST LIVE ON THUNDER RADIO! CLICK HERE TO LISTEN TO THE BROADCAST REPLAY.
Elli Chumley 
Alivia Reel 
Channah Gannon 
Olivia Vinson
Authorities investigating alleged financial crimes at Davis Homes in Warren County
Warren County Sheriff’s Department, at the request of the 31st Judicial District Attorney’s Office, is investigating financial crimes involving Davis Homes in Warren County.
Through the investigation, multiple victims were found to have paid large sums of money to Davis Homes in return for homes – but victims have not received anything.
Furthermore, it was discovered by investigators that some victims were paying deposits while waiting to be approved for financing and did not get the deposit refunded when they were not approved for credit. In addition – more individuals have been identified as never receiving titles to their homes that were purchased through Davis Homes.
According to Warren County Sheriff’s Department, victims in this case have come from all over the mid-state – ranging from as far away as Sumner County to Franklin County. Countless other individuals have reported issues with homes that were sold and set up as being unsatisfactory; however, these issues are not criminal.
If you think you are a victim of a crime involving Davis Homes, you should contact Warren County Investigator Aaron Roberts at 931-473-7863 or the District Attorney’s office at 931-473-9572.
Lonnie Richard Ashburn
Mr. Lonnie Richard Ashburn, age 73, of Manchester,
TN, passed from this life on Friday, November 19, 2021, in Manchester, TN.
Mr. Ashburn was born in Clarkrange, TN, to his late parents Paul Dawson
Ashburn and Treva Marie Neely Ashburn. He served our country in the United
States Marines ultimately attaining the rank of Lance Corporal. Mr. Ashburn
then became the Chief of Police in Carthage, TN, beginning his work in law
enforcement. Soon after, he started working for Tennessee Highway Patrol,
ranking as a Lieutenant until his retirement. Mr. Ashburn was a graduate
from the Northwestern School of Staff and Command. He was also a member of
Masonic Highland Lodge #214. Mr. Ashburn and his wife both attended World
Outreach Church in Murfreesboro, TN. In addition to his parents, he was
preceded in death by a sister, Diana Matthews; father-in-law and
mother-in-law, Benton and Sue Lowe.
Mr. Ashburn is survived by his wife of 50 years, Melinda Ashburn; son, Sean
(Lisa) Ashburn; sisters, Brenda (Joe) Masters, Clarkrange, TN;
sister-in-love, Cynthia (Mike) Thompson; grandchildren, Bethany and Lydia
Ashburn; nieces, Jessica (Art) Guevara, Miranda Masters; nephews, Jake
Thompson, Cole Thompson, Chad Matthews.
Visitation with the family will be on Tuesday, November 23, 2021, from
4:00pm until 8:00pm at Central Funeral Home in Manchester, TN. Funeral
services will be conducted on Wednesday, November 24, 2021, at 1:00pm from
the chapel of Central Funeral Home with Vicky Inzer and Mike Thompson
officiating. Burial will follow at Shady Grove Cemetery in Morrison, TN.
Central Funeral Home is serving the family, 931-723-7777,
centralfuneralhome.com
Tennessee statewide unemployment drops for 5th straight month; virtually identical to pre-pandemic levels
Tennessee’s employment situation improved again in October as the statewide jobless rate dropped for the fifth consecutive month. According to the latest data from the Department of Labor and Workforce Development (TDLWD), the state’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate came in at 4.2% for the month.
October’s rate is 0.2 of a percentage point lower than the previous month’s rate. Looking back one year, Tennessee’s unemployment rate was 7.8%, which is 3.6 percentage points higher than the current rate.
This is the lowest unemployment has been in the state since March 2020, which was the last month before COVID-19 business closures impacted Tennessee’s economy. Then, the rate was 4%, just 0.2 of a percentage point lower than the state’s latest statistic.
Tennessee employers added 6,800 nonfarm jobs across the state between September and October. The manufacturing sector experienced the largest increase in jobs, followed by the professional and business services sector and the mining, logging, and construction sector.
Between October 2020 and October 2021, the number of nonfarm jobs across the state increased by 80,700. The leisure and hospitality sector accounted for the largest number of new jobs. The professional and business services sector saw the next highest increase, followed by the trade, transportation, and utilities sector.
The nation’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate also dropped by 0.2 of a percentage point in October to 4.6%. That number is 2.3 percentage points lower than it was in October 2020.
The TDLWD WIRED division has produced a complete economic analysis of October’s unemployment data. You can find statistics, including details on specific industry sectors, here (https://www.us13.list-manage.com/track/click?u=166478db53c066a7d114ea462&id=3cbb303e4b&e=29851e7b63) .
While the state’s unemployment numbers continue to improve, many Tennesseans are still searching for meaningful employment. TDLWD offers a variety of services that can help job seekers land their next gig. From the more than 100 American Job Centers across the state to Jobs4TN.gov with its 420,000 job postings, that assistance is available online or in person. www.TNWorkReady.com is the site where all those services are listed and made easily available.
Coffee County authorities respond to chemical leak in Winchester
At approximately 7:30 a.m. Saturday morning, Coffee County District 6 Hazmat Team consisting of personnel from Manchester and Tullahoma Fire as well as Coffee County EMA personnel were requested to respond mutual aid to Winchester Utilities for a leaking Chlorine Gas Cylinder.
Upon the teams arrival, technicians were suited up and sent in to ascertain the location and size of the leak. A special device was placed on the 1 ton Cylinder to stop the leak. Winchester Fire along with A&E Ambulance service were on scene as well to help with medical evaluations and decontamination of personnel who had entered the hot zone. No injuries were reported, and no product was released from the building, as air scrubbers clean the air before it is released.
East Coffee Elementary, CCSD team up to collect food
The Coffee County Sheriff’s Department and East Coffee Elementary School teamed up for a food drive – donating collected items to the Store House Food Pantry in Manchester.
The East Coffee Safety Patrol was able to deliver and distribute donations that amounted to 762 pounds.
Raider boys blowout Monterey in early Saturday win
Sophomore Cooper Reed came off the bench and delivered a game-high 19 points, 9 different Raiders scored and Coffee County cruised to a 72-33 win over Monterey Saturday morning at Joe Frank Patch Memorial Gymnasium.
Coffee County took a 16 point halftime lead and steadily pulled away before enacting the running-clock mercy rule about midway through the fourth quarter.
Jahlin Osbourne also put in double-digit points off the bench for the Raiders, with 10 points.
Connor Shemwell pitched in 9 points, Brady Nugent 8, including a pair of 3 pointers, Jackson Shemwell 6, Aidan Abellana 6, Phineas Rollman 6, John Dobson 6 and Dayne Crosslin 2.
The Raider defense forced 15 turnovers in the win, which improved CHS to 2-0 on the season. The Raiders play again Saturday night at approximately 7 p.m. against Lighthouse Christian.
Lady Raiders thump Monterey, move to 2-0
The Gannon sisters teamed up for 28 points and the Central High School Lady Raiders woke up from a slow Saturday morning start to put a 68-35 beating on Monterey at Joe Frank Patch Memorial Gymnasium.
Coffee County got off to a slow start, not mustering up much offense in the first 5 minutes but eventually pulled ahead 33-16 by halftime.
The win improves Coffee County to 2-0 on the season after a Friday night win over Moore County.
Saturday morning, junior Chloe Gannon put up 15 points in the paint and her freshman sister Channah Gannon added 13 points in the paint as Coffee County exerted some paint dominance. Another freshman – Olivia Vinson – was able to finish in double digits with 12 points despite sitting much of the first half with foul trouble. Senior Elli Chumley poured in 11 points – including a 3-pointer.
Also scoring for Coffee County: Kiya Ferrell with 8 points off the bench, Emma Fulks 5, Alivia Reel 2 and Ava McIntosh, Bryleigh Gray and Remi Benjamin all added a single point.
CHS is scheduled to host Page at 5:45 p.m. Saturday. Tickets are available at the gate. The game will be broadcast live on Thunder Radio: 107.9 FM, 1320 AM, 106.7 FM, Manchester Go smartphone app and thunder1320.com.