Josh Peterson

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FOOTBALL: Rockets get road win at Eagleville

Westwood took advantage of big plays and made a big defensive stop late to drop Eagleville 20-16 Thursday night – a game you heard live on Thunder Radio as part of the Capstar Bank Hometown Sports Series.

Westwood took the lead early when Kane Dixon got loose and rumbled 45 yards for a touchdown. It was the first of two scores for Dixon, who scored twice and totaled 155 yards on 7 totes.

The other Rocket touchdown came in the second half with WMS trailing 16-14, Kaysen Lowery put the ball across the goal line from 2 yards out to put Westwood in front. Joel Barrera made a big tackle on a fourth down pass for a turnover on downs to seal the win for Westwood.

Barrera also had 45 yards on the ground offensively. Isaiah Deadman had 41 yards on 6 touches.

Coffee Co XC has strong showing at Voyles Classic

Coffee County Cross Country team had a strong showing at the Voyles Classic last weekend in Hendersonville.

The Raider boys team finished 10th out of 38 teams. Meanwhile, the Lady Raiders took 21st out of 31.

The top boys finishers were:

Jacob Rutledge (16:37.45)

Garrett Masters (18:16.23), Fletcher Barnard(18:21.26)

Jacob Slabaugh (19:19.70) and Cayden Miller (19:58.27)

The top girls were Patricia Barrera (20:34.19),

Ava McIntosh (25:20.18), Maddie Sullivan (26:16.38),

Kailee Rossman (26:58.22) and Rylea McNamara (27:14.47)

Birthdays- September 2

Birthdays:

Mary Kate Finley- Pizza Winner!

Kimberly Neeley- 31

Anniversaries:

Vernon & Dena Cole- 15 Years

Jimmy & Kay Taylor- 43 Years

Dorothy “Allie” Delbridge Whitehead

Mrs. Dorothy “Allie” Delbridge Whitehead of
Manchester, TN, departed this life on August 30, 2021. She was born June
19, 1932 to the late parents, Will R. and Zetta M. (Hollis) Delbridge, in
Bell Buckle, TN. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by
her loving husband of 53 years, Thurman Ralph Whitehead; two brothers,
Robert Delbridge and Billy Delbridge; and three sisters, Betty Jones, Della
Bland and Mildred “Irene” Nelson. Dorothy was a longtime resident of
Nashville especially in the Donelson community. She worked at being a
housewife and mother but also enjoyed working 10+ years at Genesco. She
loved spending time with her grandchildren taking them to yard sales and
flea market. She also bought each grandchild a season tickets to Opryland
Theme Park and spent many days with them there. Dot loved growing roses
with yellow being her favorite color rose. She enjoyed backyard cookouts
with family and friends. Dorothy is survived by her two sons, Johnny
(Jannette) Whitehead and David (Sherry) Whitehead; six grandchildren,
Jonathan (Emily) Whitehead, Joshua (Christina) Whitehead, Rachel (Mark)
Massengale and Philip (Amanda) Whitehead, Brent Whitehead and Connor
(Colby) Whitehead; eight great grandchildren; Jaden, Ashton, Daniel,
Valorie, Luke, Everly, Sawyer and Malachi; sisters Nell Douglas of
Murfreesboro, Tennessee and Lois Key of Krum, TX; many nieces, nephews and
friends. Arrangements to be determined at a later date.

Amanda Bush Escue

Amanda Bush Escue passed from this life on September 1, 2021 from a
long-term illness. She was 58.

Amanda was born on December 20, 1962 in Hartsville, TN to Dan and Linda
Bush.  Amanda was the oldest of 3 children.

Amanda came to know the Lord as teenager when attending First Baptist
Church in Tullahoma with a friend named Jennifer Smith. She spoke of her
being saved many times throughout her life. She also wanted to reaffirm her
commitment to her salvation and got baptized in New Hope Baptist in
Hermitage TN when she was an adult. She absolutely believed in the power of
prayer by asking for prayers, and uttering prayers herself during her
illness.

Amanda graduated from Tullahoma High School in 1981 and obtained her
bachelor’s degree from the University of TN Knoxville in Sociology. Any
wonder she was always a Vols fan! Her career path led her into insurance
underwriting for which she worked for Bituminous Insurance Company, State
Auto, Penn National and later with Lester Green McCord (Thoma). Her
attention to detail made her a success in her field.  She made countless
dear friends along the way that ended up being life-long in her heart.

As a result of her wide circle of friends, she met and married Jim Escue.
That marriage resulted the birth of Samantha Escue, her pride and joy. She
cherished Samantha’s childhood and loved every minute of running her from
swim practice at the Y to soccer practice and everything that comes with
raising her. Thus, why she still has a collection of Sam’s baby teeth.

Amanda LOVED life and being around a good time. Wherever she was, everybody
there would want to be around her just to hear what she might say next. She
met no stranger, was a conflict avoider at all costs and wanted everyone to
be happy. She loved snacking on a large bag of M&M’s while enjoying
SnapChat, JibJab, filters and all the other fun apps that made people
laugh. She could have a crowd laughing over the silliest things.

Amanda is survived by her daughter, Samantha Escue of Murfreesboro; her
mother, Linda Bush of Tullahoma; her father, Dan Bush of Wartrace; her twin
sisters; Terrie (Mike) Quick-Hill of Altamont; Sherrie (David) Cleveland of
Tullahoma; and her most caring and loyal partner in life, Philip Ray.

The family will receive friends Friday, September 3, 2021 from 4-7PM at
Daves-Culbertson Funeral Home.

In lieu of flowers, please send cards and gifts to “Samantha’s Growth Fund”
PO Box 128 Tullahoma Tn

37388

Online condolences may be made at www.davesculbertsonfuneralhome.com.
Daves-Culbertson Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Suspect in custody after armed robberies in Shelbyille

Authorities in Bedford County have a suspect in custody after he was allegedly involved in two armed robberies Tuesday, Aug. 31.

According to Shelbyville Police Department, the first incident occurred on Germantown Rd. The victims were in the process of putting children in car seats when two black males exited a Ford Fusion and approached the victims. The suspects allegedly produced a handgun and demanded a wallet.

Later, officers responded to an aggravated robbery at T&M Market on East Depot St. Surveillance shows two black males entering the store while another stood at the door as a lookout. One suspect pointed a gun at the clerk and demanded the money from the register. After taking the money, both black males exited the store and ran from the scene. Video surveillance showed a blue Ford Fusion in the area of the store.

One individual identified as being involved in both robberies is Godice Clark. Shelbyville Police Department updated the public Thursday to say that Clark is now in custody.

Godice Clark

Grundy County closes schools, halts extra curricular activities through Sept. 10

Grundy County School District announced on Thursday that it will be closing schools from Sept. 3 through through Sept. 10 due to an increase in COVID-19 cases there.

Three stockpile days and two snow days will be used to cover the closure.

Meanwhile, all school-related extracurricular activities will be cancelled during this time period.

Tennessee announces statewide employment push

To mark National Workforce Development Month, Tennessee is continuing a hiring momentum across the state that is putting Tennesseans back into the workforce. Keep TN Working Week will take place September 13 – 17 to highlight the numerous employers in the state actively searching for new employees.

Keep TN Working Week will include nearly two dozen job fairs in areas across each grand division of the state. These events will help to connect Tennesseans with the skills and opportunities necessary to secure meaningful employment. Nearly 100 job fairs are scheduled across Tennessee throughout September.

“We are committed to providing every necessary resource to get Tennesseans back to work,” said Gov. Bill Lee. “COVID-19 has caused significant disruptions to employment across the state, but with over 450,000 available jobs in Tennessee, there is an opportunity for every Tennessean to join our workforce.”

Tennessee employers currently have the largest number of jobs ever posted on the state’s workforce development website, www.Jobs4TN.gov, with over 450,000 positions available. These positions are for every skill level, at every salary level, and in every area of the state.

“Across the state, Tennessee employers continue struggling to find a qualified workforce,” said Department of Labor and Workforce Development (TDLWD) Commissioner Jeff McCord. “Keep Tennessee Working Week shines a light on the important work occurring year-round to enable individuals with the skill sets employers need. We have the people and the programs available to not only help Tennesseans find employment but help them start on the journey towards a new career.”
Job seekers can find more information about the job fairs taking place during Keep TN Working Week and other events at www.TN.gov/workforce/events.

The highlighted Keep TN Working Week job fairs include:
* September 13   – Breakthrough Knoxville, 11 a.m. – 4 p.m.
* September 14   – Wilson County Career Expo, 2 p.m. – 6 p.m.
* September 15   – Gallatin American Job Center, 11 a.m. – noon
* September 16   – Blount County Library, 10 a.m. – noon
* September 16   – Washington County Chamber – Virtual, 9 – 11 a.m., and 2 – 4 p.m.
* September 16   – West Tennessee Employers – Virtual, 9 a.m. – 1 p.m.
* September 17   – KCDC Knoxville, 3 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.

There are multiple resources available to help out-of-work Tennesseans become TN Work Ready. From the Virtual American Job Center, where individuals can access program information, anytime, anywhere, to in-person or virtual Adult Education courses offered in every county in the state, the opportunity to get back to work, or change a career path, is available. TDLWD has created a one-stop website that provides job seekers easy access to information at www.TNWorkReady.com.

Many Tennesseans choosing a new career path are using Registered Apprenticeship programs as a way to earn a living while they learn a new skilled trade. There are currently more than 7,100 apprentices working in Tennessee, the largest number in over a decade. The state has seen a 30% increase in the number of apprentices since TDLWD opened its Office of Apprenticeship in 2019. Employers and job seekers can learn more about Registered Apprenticeship Programs at www.ApprenticeshipTN.com

Tullahoma School System sees growth with value added scores

Tullahoma City Schools saw tremendous growth when the state released the Tennessee Value-Added
Assessment (TVAAS) data Wednesday.


This past spring marked the first time students across the state returned to end-of-year assessments after
sudden school closures in 2020. The most recent test results will serve as a baseline for the district to
determine students’ strong points and what areas need focus and improvement.


“In the face of a challenging year, to see and have this type of growth that we as a district had, it is absolutely amazing,” said TCS Director of Schools, Dr. Catherine Stephens. “To place these results in context, scoring a three demonstrates one year of growth in a subject area. Our staff and students worked so hard throughout this past school year, and that effort was reflected in the release of the recent TVAAS data, which highlights fives and significant growth from our students!”

TVAAS measures students’ academic growth over time rather than student proficiency on the Tennessee
Comprehensive Assessment Program (TCAP) and End of Course (EOC) examinations. TVAAS helps
educators identify best practices, implement programs that best meet the needs of their students, and make informed decisions about where to focus resources to ensure growth opportunities for all students.

When TVAAS results are released, growth is determined on a scale of 1-5, with five being the highest level of improvement.

Across all grade levels, TCS had significant improvements in all subject areas with 5s across the board. As a
district, Tullahoma City Schools received a 5 in composite, literacy, numeracy and literacy & numeracy.

Tullahoma students saw exponential growth in all subjects on the EOC exams at the high school level.
According to TVAAS data, THS students received 5s in algebra I and II, geometry, biology and U.S. history.
Additionally, they received 4s in English I and II.

“A 4 represents more than a year’s worth of growth, while a 5 is a significant year of growth,” said TCS Director of Curriculum Susan Fanning. “To see this amount of 5s across the district, particularly in a difficult year with the ongoing pandemic, is tremendous.”


While there are several areas highlighted in Wednesday’s results, there are also subjects where district
improvement can occur. At the sixth-grade level, TCS students received a 5 in math, 4 in ELA, 3 in science and 1 in social studies. Seventh graders received a five in math, 2 in ELA and 1s on science and social studies.

Eighth-grade students received a 5 in ELA, 3 in social studies, 2 in math and 1 in science.

“Tullahoma City Schools had a 97.4 percent participation rate in these end-of-year assessments, which was
higher than the state’s 95 percent rate and we are proud of that,” Dr. Stephens said. “While there are areas to celebrate, we certainly recognize there are opportunities to improve. Our teachers, instructional coaches and administrators will begin the work of analyzing these results to make appropriate instructional
decisions and meet our students’ needs as we continue forward reaching for success.”

THS students additionally saw growth in their ACT scores this past spring. High school students achieved 5s in composite, English, math and reading, while they also received a 4 in science/reasoning.

“As a whole, we are pleased with the success and the amount of growth that the TVAAS results show,” Dr.
Stephens said. “Our students and teachers deserve high praise for these results, as they put in the effort and work to see this successful outcome. Moving forward, we will use this data, along with other data sources, to continue to aid our students’ growth and development. TCS faculty and staff are continuing to work hard to ensure that the growth seen in the most recent results continues to occur.”

The Other Fest to feature some Bonnaroo artists, local favorites this weekend in Manchester

With the cancellation of the 2021 Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival that was set to take place Sept. 2-5 in Manchester, community leaders and businesses have quickly teamed up to make the best of a tough situation.

“The Other Fest” is coming to Manchester this weekend – hosted at different restaurants and featuring a few musical acts who were supposed to play at Bonnaroo. Shows will be held at Common John Brewing Company, Praters BBQ and Bites of Europe – all in Manchester.

The Other Fest is organized by Manchester Area Chamber of Commerce, Nashville Unsigned, South Central TN Tourism and others. Bonnaroo artists, vendors, food trucks and patrons are all certainly welcome to share in the experience. Tickets are $20 and are very limited and can be purchased at theotherfest.com or by clicking here.

Artists are being added by the hour. So far, those scheduled to play include Andy Frasco, Big Something, Kid Politics, Jade Million, Phenix Red, Steady Rotation, , Them Guys, Justin Williams and Andy Walker, with nearly 30 total artists set to play. Frasco was slated to play Thursday at Bonnaroo in “That Tent,” Big Something was scheduled for “This Tent” for Thursday,

Click here to see the full schedule, with acts beginning Friday night and running through Sunday evening.

Sponsors include: Cherokee Distributing, Corona, Coors Light, Steve Jernigan with Coffee Co Realty, Snap Fitness, Transformation Wellness and Martial Arts, TN Printworks, Howard Mortgage Group, Peoples Bank & Trust Company, Traders Bank AND Thunder Radio, your official home of Radio Bonnaroo!