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Identity of body found at Fire Lake Bridge released
UPDATED, 3:00 PM, JUNE 21, 2021
The body discovered in the water at Fire Lake Bridge in Coffee County has been identified as James Damien Hodges, a white male, 31 years old from Manchester. The cause of death is still under investigation.
UPDATED, 2:30 PM, JUNE 17, 2021
A dead body was discovered in the water at Fire Lake Bridge in Coffee County at approximately noon on Thursday, June 17.
According to Coffee County Sheriff’s Department authorities, a group of four people arrived at the water near the bridge to swim when they discovered the body in the water.
Sheriff’s Department officials and Coffee County Rescue Squad were called to the scene. The body was recovered from the water.
Authorities have yet to make a positive identification of the deceased. Frank Watkins with the sheriff’s department told Thunder Radio that the deceased is a white male that they believe to be between the age of 30-35.
“This could be a possible drowning, but we are awaiting confirmation from an autopsy,” said Watkins.
The body has been sent to state medical examiner’s office for an autopsy. Watkins added that a preliminary investigation shows that foul play is not suspected at this time.
ORIGINAL STORY: 12:45 PM, JUNE 17, 2021: A dead body has been discovered in the water at Fire Lake Bridge in Coffee County.
Coffee County Sheriff’s Department and Coffee County Rescue Squad are on the scene Thursday afternoon. The body was reported late Thursday morning and has yet to be identified. No further details are available at this time.
Thunder Radio will update the story as information becomes available.
Tennessee gas prices are down three cents, Coffee County even with state average
The Tennessee gas price average fell three cents over last week – the largest week-over-week decrease so far this year. The Tennessee Gas Price average is now $2.85 which is four cents less than one month ago and 96 cents more than one year ago. The national gas price average is $3.07 and Coffee County’s average is $2.85 which makes Coffee County even with the state average, and 22 cents under the national average.
“Despite the latest increase in demand, many motorists are not seeing significant pump price jumps due to increasing stock levels, which have significantly built over the last four weeks,” said Megan Cooper, spokeswoman, AAA – The Auto Club Group. “During this same period, the Tennessee gas price average has declined three cents.”
Quick Facts
· 93% of Tennessee gas stations have prices below $3.00
· The lowest 10% of pump prices are $2.62 for regular unleaded
· The highest 10% of pump prices are $3.11 for regular unleaded
National Gas Prices
Increasing gasoline stock levels have helped to keep gas prices mostly stable across the country. On the week, 40 state gas price averages held steady or saw fluctuation of only one to two cents. This helped the national average decrease by a penny since last Monday, down to $3.07 today.
According to Energy Information Administration (EIA) data, total gasoline stocks sit at 242.9 million bbl, which is a 9 million bbl surplus compared to the same week in June 2019. Stock levels have increased in line with refinery utilization rates, which are up to its highest rate since January 2020. Demand is also trending higher. In EIA’s latest report, demand increased by nearly 1 million b/d to 9.3 million b/d.
Last week, crude oil jumped to $72/bbl, but decreased by $2/bbl at Friday’s close. If crude prices trend at this or a lower price point for a sustained period, that would help to minimize jumps at the pump through the end of this month.
Today’s national gas price average is more expensive on the month (+3 cents) and the year (+95 cents).
National Oil Market Dynamics
At the close of Friday’s formal trading session, WTI increased 60 cents to settle at $71.64. Although a stronger dollar helped to limit price gains at the end of the week, crude prices fluctuated last week, between $70 and $72/bbl, due to optimism that vaccine rollout will continue to help crude demand recover. Additionally, EIA’s latest report, revealing that total domestic crude supplies decreased by 7.4 million bbl to 466.7 million bbl last week, helped to bolster crude prices. For this week, crude prices could continue to climb, especially if EIA’s next weekly report shows another decline in total domestic crude supply.
What you should know about advance child tax credit payments
IRS has begun sending letters to taxpayers eligible for the Advance Child Tax Credit. Monthly payments are scheduled to begin mid-July. Payment amounts will be based on the number of children claimed on the 2020 tax return and their ages.
The payments are subject to an income phase-out. Here are the rules:
– Children age 5 and younger – $300 per month (full credit on the 2021 return is $3,600)
– Children age 6 to 17 – $250 per month (full credit on the 2021 return is $3,000)
Taxpayers with Modified Adjusted Gross Income under the following amounts are eligible for the full credit amount:
– Married Filing Joint or Qualifying Widow(er) $150,000
– Head of Household $112,500
– Single or Married Filing Separate $75,000
If the modified AGI is over the limit, the amount is reduced by $50 for every $1000 over the limit.
Note: If the 2020 return hasn’t been filed, IRS will base the payments on the 2019 return. Families can expect the first payment to be made around July 15, 2021 and continue monthly on the 15th of each month unless the 15th falls on a weekend or holiday. Payments will be sent to the account used for your 2020 refund (or 2019) or to the physical address on your return.
Most people don’t have to do anything to get the advance payments. However, if you want to opt out of the monthly payments and receive the full credit on your tax return, you will need to take action. IRS is launching an online portal the week of June 21 to allow families to unenroll from receiving the monthly payments. Later this year, IRS will provide a method to update changes in direct deposit information, income, filing status, or number of qualifying children.
** It is always recommended that you keep a log of any payments received from IRS including date, amount, and reason for the payment.
Keep reading Tax Tips Tuesday for more information on the Advance Child Tax Credit as it becomes available
from IRS.
United Way of Highway 55 announces its 2021-2022 local partner nonprofits
In late May, United Way of Hwy 55’s Director and Allocations Committee interviewed 25 local nonprofits that applied for funding. The allocations committee met on June 1st to discuss and choose the new partner nonprofits for cycle year 2021-2022. Nonprofits from the area submitted applications and required documentation in early May, which their allocation committee reviews every year.
The committee members are a diverse group consisted of Board members, community leaders, and donors in the 3 counties they serve – Coffee, Moore, and Warren. Through this process, they identify how organizations in the community can work together to provide the most effective and efficient services.
They are happy to announce the 2021-2022 United Way of Highway 55 Partner Nonprofits:
- Upper Cumberland Human Resource Agency (Warren Co)
- HAWC-Helping Animals of Warren Co (Warren Co)
- Children’s Advocacy Center, 31 st Judicial District (Warren Co)HOME (Warren Co)
- Kids of the Community (Warren Co)
- Warren Co Meals on Wheels (Warren Co)
- CASA Works (Coffee Co)
- Coffee Co Humane Society (Coffee, Moore, & Warren Counties)
- Good Samaritan of Tullahoma (Coffee Co)
- Coffee Co Senior Citizens (Coffee Co)
- Family Community Development Center (Coffee & Moore Counties)
- Child Development Center (Coffee and Moore Counties)
- Coffee Co Child Care Center (Coffee Co)
- HorsePlay Inc (Coffee Co)
- Coffee Co Children’s Advocacy Center (Coffee Co)
- The Storehouse Food Pantry (Coffee, Moore, & Warren Counties)
- Hospice of the Highland Rim (Coffee, Moore, & Warren Counties)
- Partners for Healing (Coffee Co)
- Haven of Hope (Coffee & Moore Counties)
UWHWY55 thanks the allocation committee for their volunteered time and thorough assessments in choosing the new Partner Nonprofits for 2021-2022. Thank you to the Committee Members:
Ashley Wright, Pam Bussell, Ashley Kraft, Pam Barnes, Marsha Hale, Mike Belzil, Chad Moyer, Daniel Berry, Michele Simmons, Holly Buchanan, Maggie Powell, and Michelle Carmack.
To learn more about United Way of Hwy 55 or the new partner nonprofits, visit www.highway55unitedway.org, or email our Executive Director, Ashley Abraham at Director@Highway55UnitedWay.org or call 931-455-5678. If you would like to support, donations can be sent to PO Box 27, Tullahoma, TN 37388, or online at highway55unitedway.org.
VFW Post 10904 will receive the highest award nationally
VFW Post 10904 will receive the VFW National American Award. This will be the 3rd year in a row that this non-profit organization has been awarded this honor.
This award is the highest award that any post can receive, and only 4 other posts in Tennessee have received this award.
“The award is well deserved, and I am very proud and honored to be a part of such a wonderful Post of veterans and family members,” said Kimberly King, Commander of VFE Post 10904.
Inaugural ‘Thunder The Magazine’ now on the streets
The inaugural edition of “Thunder The Magazine” is now on the streets, announced Thunder Radio owners Josh and Holly Peterson.
The magazine, a 40-page glossy publication re-living the spring sports season in photos, can be picked up at multiple locations in Manchester for free.
“This is a free publication thanks to our great sponsors within this magazine,” said Josh Peterson, co-owner of Thunder Radio.
“We are strong believers in our local athletes and our local athletic programs. Thunder Radio is already the radio home for Coffee County Central, Coffee County Middle and Westwood Middle School athletics, and thunder1320.com is the go-to place for results, sports news and excellent sports photography. If you have been paying attention then you know that we have some excellent athletic programs and some great athletes here in our community. Holly and I wanted to add this magazine as another way to celebrate these great people and to build up our programs in our community.”
The magazine is set to publish at the conclusion of each main sports season: Fall, Winter and Spring, with other special publications on tap.
Beginning on Monday, June 21, you can pick up free copies of Thunder The Magazine from the Thunder Radio studios between the hours of 6:30 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Thunder Radio is located at 1030 Oakdale St.
Copies can also be obtained from the following businesses beginning on Tuesday, June 22:
Al White Ford-Lincoln
Peoples Bank & Trust Company
Mercantile Cafe Bakery and Gift Shop
Hullett’s Service Center
Shawn Trail, Attorney at Law
Interstate Liquors
The Cracked Pot
Coffee County Realty & Auction
Snap Fitness
Capstar Bank
Reese’s Genes Boutique
Southern Diva
SOFTBALL: Lady Raiders set for handful of summer scrimmages
The 2021 Coffee County Central High School softball season was certainly one to remember. The Lady Raiders piled up over 30 wins, powered through district play undefeated and placed second in the TSSAA Spring Fling State Tournament in Murfreesboro.
If you’re already itching for a preview of the 2022 Lady Raiders – you’re in luck. Coffee County head coach Brandon McWhorter announced a 5-game summer scrimmage schedule that includes a pair of home games for fans to enjoy.
Coffee County will host Rockvale at 5:15 p.m. Tuesday, June 22 at CHS and will be at home again at 5 p.m. on July 14 when Riverdale comes to town. The full summer scrimmage schedule is below:
June 22: home vs Rockvale at 5:15
July 13: away vs Smyrna at 5:00
July 14: home vs Riverdale at 5:00
July 20: away vs. Siegel 5:00
July 22: away vs. Rockvale at 5:00
The Lady Raiders will spend the summer breaking in new players and searching for replacements for two starters lost due to graduation – pitcher Keri Munn and second baseman Justus Turner.
Your home for Lady Raider softball is Thunder Radio – 107.9 FM, 1320 AM, 106.7 FM, Manchester Go App and thunder1320.com
Coffee County CAC offers free training to community members
The Coffee County Children’s Advocacy Center offers free training to community members. The Coffee County CAC empowers adults to spot red flags and react responsibly to child abuse. The center’s authorized facilitators use Darkness to Light’s Stewards of Children program to fight child abuse through education and prevention.
The Coffee County CAC held a training session June 16 at the Coffee County Administrative Plaza. Participants included employees of the Coffee County Lannom Memorial Public Library, Tullahoma Housing Authority and other individuals who wanted to take the necessary steps to prevent child abuse.
“Community members who participated in the Darkness to Light’s Stewards of Children training presented by the Coffee County CAC have joined our quest to become a community without child abuse,” said Joyce Prusak, executive director of the Coffee County CAC. “They completed the training and learned how to prevent child abuse.”
It’s rewarding to see that community members are taking the necessary steps to end child abuse and organizations are empowering their employees with the tools and knowledge to respond appropriately to child abuse, added Prusak.
The Coffee County CAC’s authorized facilitators use Darkness to Light’s Stewards of Children program to educate the community and eliminate the stigma around abuse.
Darkness to Light’s Stewards of Children program trains adults to react responsibly to child sexual abuse. The program aims to eliminate child abuse through training adults to recognize red flags. Darkness to Light’s Stewards of Children programs are “the only evidence-informed, adult-focused child sexual abuse prevention trainings proven to increase knowledge and change behavior,” according to www.d2l.org.
Statistics show that 1 in 4 girls and 1 in 7 boys will be sexually abused by age 18. More than 90% of victims are abused by someone they know and trust. Adults have obligation to protect children, and adult education is essential to preventing child abuse.
Thanks to a grant Coffee County CAC received, the center offers Darkness to Light’s Stewards of Children training free for community members. The two-hour training is available in-person and presented by a Darkness to Light authorized facilitator.
For more information about training or to schedule a training session, please call Elena Cawley at 931-723-8888 or email elena@coffeecountycac.org. For more information, visit www.coffeecountycac.org.
Unemployment in Tennessee held steady between April and May 2021
Tennessee’s statewide unemployment rate held steady at 5% between April and May 2021, according to newly released data from the Department of Labor and Workforce Development (TDLWD).
While Tennessee’s unemployment rate did not change in the month-to-month comparison, it was 4.6 percentage points lower than the May 2020 rate. At that time, many of the state’s employers remained closed due to the COVID-19 health emergency. Just one month after the state recorded its highest unemployment rate in history, 15.8% in April 2020, the economy had already begun to show signs of improvement.
The latest statistics show Tennessee employers added 5,000 jobs between April and May. The largest increases occurred in the professional/business services, leisure/hospitality, and financial activities sectors.
When comparing May 2021 to May 2020, nonfarm employment across the state increased by a remarkable 231,500 jobs. The leisure/hospitality sector created the most jobs during that time. The manufacturing and professional/business services sectors created the next highest numbers of jobs over the year.
Unemployment also dropped nationally in May to 5.8%, down 0.3 of a percentage point from the previous month’s rate. In the year-to-year comparison, the United States unemployment rate is down 7.5 percentage points from May 2020.
TDLWD produces a complete analysis of the state’s unemployment data, including labor force estimates, which is available here.
Job seekers in Tennessee can find more than 255,000 open positions employers need to fill on the state’s workforce development website, www.Jobs4TN.gov.
The Tennessee Virtual American Job Center (VAJC) www.TNVirtualAJC.com allows Tennesseans to research different programs that can help them remove barriers to employment so they can more easily reenter Tennessee’s workforce. The VAJC allows job seekers to do this on their schedule, anytime, anywhere.
The state of Tennessee will release the May 2021 unemployment rates for each county Thursday, June 24, 2021, at 1:30 p.m. CT.