Josh Peterson

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.

Coffee County Schools begin a Virtual Academy for the 2021-2022 school year

About the Virtual Academy

Coffee County Schools will begin a Virtual Academy for the 2021-2022 school year. This will offer “select students a more flexible and convenient approach to learning.” The CCVA will use an educational program called Edgenuity. The coursework will be completed asynchronously by students who are interested in pursuing a Humanities course selection. The Virtual Academy will provide one-on-one teacher and student support, a distance learning orientation, and an on-site virtual lab. The mission of the Virtual Academy is to provide students who prefer the non-traditional education setting with the opportunity to decide on their own future academic achievement.

Leadership Team

The on-site Virtual Academy will be located at the Coffee County KOSS Center administered by Principal Jeff Johnson. The virtual lab will be available to students at this location should you need additional academic or technical support. Our coordinator, Betsy Phillips, and lab facilitator, Elizabeth Miller, will be available during school hours to collaborate with you, connect you with subject-specific teachers, and provide you with academic tools and resources to be successful in your virtual learning experience.

There are several requirements that students will be required to meet to be eligible for the Virtual Academy:

2.5 GPA
5 or fewer unexcused absences
A successful distance learning record (determined by CCVA Leadership Team)
Provide at least 3 teacher recommendations with an application
Be willing to participate in a student/parent/CCVA interview
Be willing to pursue a Humanities Course Path

For more information about the Coffee County Virtual Academy, visit the Coffee County Schools Website at www.coffeecountyschools.com, and click on the CCVA link on the homepage.

Student application: https://forms.gle/t7v6C9cssV6bmMzu7

Teacher recommendation: https://forms.gle/UW8pZUUiHkREokjt6

Escaped inmate from West Tennessee found in Manchester hotel

An escaped inmate from West Tennessee was found in Manchester on Wednesday.

Federal agents captured a prison inmate who escaped from a minimum security facility in Tennessee, the U.S. Marshals Service said.

Cecil Corey Haggins was found at a hotel in Manchester.

Haggins, 33, was discovered missing from the prison on Monday, the Bureau of Prisons said. Haggins has been serving a 10-year sentence for possession of methamphetamine with the intent to distribute and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense.

The FBI, the Marshals Service and other law enforcement agencies investigated the escape. Haggins’ girlfriend was with him at the hotel, according to authorities. They are being held at the Coffee County Jail and both are expected to face federal charges related to his escape, Miller said.

Millington is located just north of Memphis. The satellite camp is a minimum security facility and currently houses 84 male offenders, the bureau said.

Details of Haggins’ escape have not been released.

Manchester Water Department releases water quality report

Manchester Water Department has released its annual water quality report.

Anyone wishing to receive a hard copy of the report can do so by calling 931-728-7171.

You can view the report below:

New Titan Bud Dupree anxious to get on the field

New Titans linebacker Bud Dupree hasn’t taken the field in his new helmet just yet.

But Dupree, signed this offseason after playing previously with the Steelers, is edging closer.

And getting more anxious.

“I am recovering well, and I am on schedule,” said Dupree, who suffered a torn ACL in Week 12 of the 2020 season. “As far as when they’ll let me practice and stuff, it is really up to (trainers and doctors) to decide how they want to go forward with it. But on my end, I am doing pretty good and just taking it day by day.

Click here to continue reading this story.

You can hear the Tennessee Titans all fall long on Thunder Radio – your exclusive home for the Titans in Coffee County.

Lady Raider basketball looking for teams for Saturday scramble

Coffee County’s Lady Raider basketball team will host a 4-person scramble at 1 p.m. Saturday at WillowBrook Golf Course.

Fee is $400 per team, which includes tournament entry for 4 players, lunch at Boskeys, Cart Fees, Dinner at Praters BBQ after teh tournament and a player goody bag.

Lunch will begin at noon with a shotgun start at 1 p.m. There will be a live auction, awards and dinner at Praters beginning at 7 p.m.

Tournament will split into two flights. Prizes will be awarded as follows:

First Flight: 1st place $600, 2nd place $400

Second flight: 1st place $500, 2nd place $300.

To enter, call WillowBrook at 931-728-8989.

Birthdays- June 16

Birthdays:

Nolan Jernigan- 16

Bobby Mullins- 13

Amaya Martin- 12- Pizza Winner!

Stephen Perry- 26

Anniversaries:

Travis & Kimberly Hillis- 20 Years

Lorene Pearl Bratcher

Funeral services for Mrs. Lorene Pearl Bratcher, age 100, of Manchester, will be conducted at 3:00PM on Friday, June 18, 2021, at Coffee County Funeral Chapel. Burial will follow in Rose Hill Memorial Gardens. The family will receive friends from 1:00PM until the time of service at the funeral home. Mrs. Bratcher passed from this life on Tuesday, June 15, 2021, at Manchester Healthcare.

Lorene was born in Coffee County, TN on December 10, 1920, the daughter of the late Mitch and Mae Floyd. She worked as a seamstress for Genesco, and she was a member of Bell Springs United Methodist Church. In addition to her parents, Lorene is also preceded in death by her loving husband, James Bratcher; son-in-law, Charles Henley; granddaughter, Renee Perry; great-grandson, Tyler Cruse; several siblings. She is survived by her son, Kettrell Bratcher (Shirae); daughter, Ella Mae Henley; grandchildren, Lisa Morris (Chris) and Ricky Bratcher; great-grandchildren, Ashley Cruse, Nathan Morris, Nickolas Henley, Dallin Bratcher, and Skylar Bratcher.

Coffee County Funeral Chapel is honored to serve the Bratcher family.

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Body found near Fire Lake Bridge in Coffee County