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Tullahoma to vacate middle school volleyball title win over Coffee Middle; stopping competition in CTC fall sports
Early Wednesday afternoon, the Tullahoma City School District was informed that due to an off-the-field
violation, all fall middle school sports teams would be removed from their respective Central Tennessee
Conference Tournament.
The TSSAA informed TCS that because the TMS middle school girls soccer, volleyball and cross-country
teams are listed as club sports, those squads are ineligible to compete for their respective conference titles.
Tullahoma is the sole member of the CTC in those sports that is not a member school of the Tennessee Middle
School Athletic Association.
“My heart hurts for these girls because they have worked so hard and set themselves up for success,” said
TCS Director of Schools Dr. Catherine Stephens. “We have participated for about 18 years as club sports with
no issues, but our teams will no longer be participating in CTC competition this fall. While I know they are hurt
now, these young ladies should hold their heads high and know that they are true champions.”
Due to the violation, the TMS girls soccer team will no longer be eligible to compete in its upcoming CTC
Tournament matches. The TMS volleyball team is also forced to forfeit its CTC Title that it won on Tuesday
evening.
“Those head coaches and I spoke to the student-athletes affected at both East and West middle schools,” said
TCS Athletic Director John Olive. “They were tough discussions to have because our students did nothing
wrong. We plan to honor these athletes individually as they deserve to be celebrated.
“Last spring, we started researching what it was going to take to move the remaining eligible teams to be
TMSAA affiliated. We did not make that transition before fall sports got underway. However, we are working to
make this move as soon as possible so our athletes can compete this spring and going forward under the
TMSAA.”
Currently, Tullahoma has four sports associated with the TMSAA: football, basketball, track and field, and
cheerleading. TMS wrestling is associated with AAU, while the remaining sports fall under the club sports
category, which has existed for about 18 years.
“Tullahoma East Middle School and Tullahoma West Middle School are not allowed to compete against TMSAA
member schools in the sports of cross-country, tennis, soccer, golf, baseball, softball, bowling, volleyball, and
wrestling until their School Board approves those sports,” said TSSAA Executive Director Richard McWhirter in
a letter to Olive. “Additionally, the schools must recognize these sports by having school-sponsored teams and
must follow all TMSAA Bylaws for these sports. Furthermore, if Tullahoma East Middle School and Tullahoma
West Middle School continue to field teams in these sports as club teams instead of school-sponsored teams,
TSSAA officials will not be assigned to work in those contests.”
Moving forward, the Tullahoma City School District is working toward making sure that eligible teams are
associated with the TMSAA.
“I am disheartened that this occurred this fall,” Dr. Stephens said. “District administrators, the TCS School
Board and myself are working to ensure this does not happen again for any of our Tullahoma teams.”
SNAP Food Benefits to increase starting Friday
By Tennessee Public News Service
Almost 848,000 people in Tennessee will see their Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) food benefits go up by about 21% starting tomorrow.
Recipients of the program that formerly known as food stamps will receive, on average, an extra $36 a month on their EBT cards going forward.
Peter Martino, chief development officer at the Martha O’Bryan Center, an anti-poverty agency which runs the largest food bank in Nashville, said food insecurity remains high.
“The demand at our food bank remains elevated,” Martino reported. “It’s not gone down to pre-pandemic level, by any means.”
The increase is automatic; no new paperwork is required. The increase was triggered by a Biden administration revision of a program known as the Thrifty Food Plan, which listed the types and amounts of food necessary for a healthy diet and had not been changed since 1975.
Many things have changed since then, from dietary recommendations to food costs. Martino contended SNAP benefits should have been raised long ago.
“The funding level for SNAP in 2019 was not adequate for feeding families,” Martino asserted. “And so, anything that can maintain or increase that level is definitely going to help.”
A report from the Government Accountability Office showed almost more than 94,000 working adults in Tennessee receive SNAP benefits. As recipients spend the extra SNAP money, the program is expected to inject $612 million into the state’s economy.
Old Timers Day set for Friday, Saturday
Two days full of fun are ahead in Manchester as the annual Manchester Old Timers Day is set for Friday and Saturday.
Events begin with free Bingo from 7-9 p.m. Friday night. On Saturday, events run all day beginning with opening ceremonies at 9 a.m. and a ceremony to celebrate 150 years of the Coffee County Courthouse on the downtown square.
The parade will begin at 10 a.m. and make its way from the intersection of Highways 41/55 to the downtown square. Following the parade will be entertainment all day, including music from Macy Tabor, the Dixie Dancer Cloggers, Travis Clower, a show from Duck River Dance, East of Nowhere and Beech Grove Bob. There will be a petting zoo and a digital scavenger hunt. Vendor spots are full.
Birthdays- September 29
Sarah Greer
Richard Gable
Riley Keele- Pizza Winner!
Graclyn Madden- 6
Old Timers Day set for Friday, Saturday
Two days full of fun are ahead in Manchester as the annual Manchester Old Timers Day is set for Friday and Saturday.
Events begin with free Bingo from 7-9 p.m. Friday night. On Saturday, events run all day beginning with opening ceremonies at 9 a.m. and a ceremony to celebrate 150 years of the Coffee County Courthouse on the downtown square.
The parade will begin at 10 a.m. and make its way from the intersection of Highways 41/55 to the downtown square. Following the parade will be entertainment all day, including music from Macy Tabor, the Dixie Dancer Cloggers, Travis Clower, a show from Duck River Dance, East of Nowhere and Beech Grove Bob. There will be a petting zoo and a digital scavenger hunt. Vendor spots are full.
Paul Duke
Mr. Paul Duke, age 81, of Morrison, TN, passed from this life on Tuesday, September 28, 2021, at his residence.
Mr. Duke was born on March 16, 1941, in Coffee Co., TN, to his late parents
Jesse and Nellie Duke. He worked for Samsonite for 6 years and then for
Carrier for 35+ years as a machinist. Mr. Duke was a farmer all his life
and he dearly loved it. One of his joys of life was watching his special
needs child in Gatlinburg having fun. Mr. Duke enjoyed helping everyone he
could and was a giving person. He always loved talking to people and always
had time for them. Mr. Duke loved the Lord and served as a Deacon, teacher,
treasurer, Elder and song leader at the Pocahonatas Church of Christ where
he has been a member for around 60 years. In addition to his parents, he
was preceded in death by sister, Juanita Moore and a brother that passed at
birth.
Mr. Duke is survived by his wife of 59 years, Peggy Duke; two sons, John
Alan Duke, Manchester, TN, and Tracy Duke, Morrison, TN; grandchildren,
Justin (Kristen) Duke and Jessie Duke, both of Chattanooga, TN; sister,
Dolas (Randall) Markum, Murfreesboro, TN; brothers, Eddie (Rita) Duke,
Kenneth (June) Duke, both of Beechgrove, TN and Bobby Duke of Antioch, TN.
Visitation with the family will be on Saturday, October 2, 2021, from
11:00am until 2:00pm at Central Funeral Home in Manchester, TN. Funeral
services will be conducted immediately following visitation at 2:00pm from
the chapel of Central Funeral Home with Bro. Ralph Hart officiating. Burial
will follow in Shady Grove Cemetery in Morrison, TN.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Vanderbilt Children’s
Research Hospital.
Timothy Lee Lampkin
Timothy Lee Lampkin of Tullahoma, TN passed this life on Sunday, September
26, 2021 at the age of 65. A Celebration of Life Visitation will be held on
Saturday, October 2 at Daves-Culbertson Funeral Home, from 11 AM – 1 PM.
Mr. Lampkin, a native of Birmingham, AL was the son of the late Richard and
Vera Mae Dollar Lampkin. He attended the University of Alabama and was an
avid football fan. He enjoyed photography and photographing his children
and granddaughter participating in a variety of sports. He also enjoyed
riding horses and rodeos. He was a bull rider and enjoyed reminiscing
about his experiences. His favorite times were spent with his children and
his granddaughter, Bella.
He is survived by daughter, Jennifer Wilson (Eric) of Cashiers, NC; son,
Zach Lampkin (fiancé, Leslie Hull) of Nashville; brother, Rick Lampkin
(Sharon) of Birmingham; sister, Linda Lampkin of Birmingham and
granddaughter, Bella Wilson.
Online condolences may be made at www.davesculbertsonfuneralhome.com.
Daves-Culbertson Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
TN to increase childcare assistance rates
The Tennessee Department of Human Services (TDHS) is announcing additional steps to help parents navigate the balance of raising a family and holding down a job. Beginning October 1, 2021, the Department of Human Services will increase child care payment assistance rates by 10% across all categories of care in the Child Care Certificate Program.
Under this program, the state pays a reimbursement rate directly to child care providers on behalf of families who are enrolled and meet the income and work or education requirements of the program. This overall rate increase will save many participating families money by reducing the portion they have to pay to cover tuition expenses.
Additionally, this rate increase will provide financial support to child care providers who may be recovering from financial losses during the pandemic. This additional income for child care providers and will help providers stay open and remain available to serve families in their communities that need quality care for their children.
“Many child care providers have continuously and consistently served families throughout the pandemic, enabling parents to work and children to continue their critical early learning,” said TDHS Commissioner Clarence H. Carter. “This rate increase will create incentives to grow the child care industry and remove some of the barriers that make it challenging for parents to enter the workforce and support their families.”
Beginning October 1, 2021, TDHS will also begin providing additional assistance to child care agencies who care for children identified with disabilities or special needs. A 15% rate bonus will be applied to each qualifying child that participates in the Child Care Certificate Program. In addition to the 15% bonus, the Department is partnering with the Child Care Resource and Referral Network to establish a team of Inclusion Quality Coaches to promote inclusive early childhood environments.
These investments are the latest in a series of moves to support and expand child care in Tennessee. In recent years TDHS has offered Enhancement and COVID Relief grants, established a WAGE$ program to raise salaries, and created a bonus for providers operating in communities that don’t have an adequate supply of child care providers.
Winchester police looking for suspects who vandalized park bathrooms
Police officials in the City of Winchester are asking for information about the individual or individuals who vandalized the city park restrooms.
Photos posted by the police department show sinks and toilets completely destroyed.
Anyone with information is encouraged to call Winchester Police Department at 931-967-3840 or Crimestoppers at 931-962-INFO. Crimestoppers is offering a reward up to $500 for inforamtion leading to the arrest of those responsible.
Get credit for what you know at Motlow
Students at Motlow State Community College are getting credit for what they already know and graduating faster. Prior-learning assessments (PLAs) award college credit, certification, or advanced standing for non-academic experiences and training. Motlow State students who participate in PLA testing can use these credits as a fast track to graduation.
PLAs evaluate the knowledge a student has gained in high school, careers, training programs, military service, independent study, or even community service.
“Motlow wants you to graduate, and we do whatever we can to get you there. There is no reason to sit through a class if you can demonstrate existing competency with the material,” said Walter McCord, head of PLA and a Cyber Defense instructor at Motlow. “Since January of this year, approximately 10-15 students have taken advantage of PLA credit. It is an excellent money-saving tool that could benefit many more Motlow students.”