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Shilo Elexus Cyree
Shilo Elexus Cyree, age 28, of Tullahoma passed away suddenly Tuesday, June
8, 2021. She was born October 22, 1992 in Tullahoma to the late Jamie
Cyree and DeVonda Nunley who survives her. Besides her father, she is also
preceded in death by her sister, Shelby Cyree. Shilo was a people person
who enjoyed life by spending time with family and friends. She also
enjoyed taking pictures and listening to music.
The family will receive friends Saturday, June 12th from 5-7 p.m. at
Daves-Culbertson Funeral Home. A funeral service will be held at 2 p.m.
Sunday, June 13th at Daves Culbertson Funeral Home with Brother Jimmy
Kesey officiating. Interment will follow at Rose Hill Memorial Gardens.
Shilo is survived by her daughter, Kayzie Cyree; mother, DeVonda Nunley
(Bill Moon); sister, Chelsea Nunley (Dustin Alford); brothers, James Cyree,
Caden Russell, Brent Moon, and Bo Nunley; grandmothers, Beverly Cyree and
Rosie Nunley; ex-husband, Jerod Thompson; and a host of aunts, uncles,
cousins and friends.
Online condolences may be made at www.davesculbertsonfuneralhome.com.
Daves-Culbertson Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
City of Manchester receives TDEC recreation grant
The Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC) announced a $500,000 parks and recreation grant for the City of Manchester for work on baseball and softball fields.
The grant is part of $7,584,530 awarded to communities throughout the state from the Local Parks and Recreation Fund (LPRF) program and the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) program. The state is also awarding $1,892,642 in grants from the Recreation Trails Program (RTP).
“We are happy to announce grants that will enhance the outdoor experience in communities across our state,” Jim Bryson, deputy commissioner of TDEC, said. “We want Tennesseans to enjoy recreational activity, and we recognize local leaders need funding to help make it happen. These grants meet that need.”
The project in Manchester will replace lighting and wooden poles on three softball fields in Dave King Park and three baseball fields in Fred Deadman Park. The lighting will be LED and includes installation.
“Our ball parks offer a great opportunity for children and adults to get active and make lasting memories,” Sen. Janice Bowling, R-Tullahoma, said. “I am very pleased funds have been awarded that will enhance Dave King Park and Fred Deadman Park. I appreciate the work done by our local officials in submitting a successful grant application and look forward to seeing the improvements.”
“I am excited Manchester Parks and Recreation has been awarded this grant to make improvements to the Dave King Park softball fields and Fred Deadman Park baseball fields,” Rep. Rush Bricken, R-Tullahoma, said. “These small renovations will go a long way in making a difference for our young athletes and families using these fields in our community. I congratulate Mayor (Marilyn) Howard, Director (Bonnie) Gamble and (Assistant Director) A.J. Fox for securing these funds and can’t wait to see how these improvements will benefit our community.”
The LPRF program provides state funding for the purchase of land for parks, natural areas, greenways, and recreational facilities. LPRF funds also may be used for trail development and capital projects in parks, natural areas, and greenways. The LWCF program provides grants to states to administer to state and local governments for the acquisition and development of public outdoor recreation areas and facilities. The grants require a 50-percent match.
The RTP is a federally funded, state administered grant program, providing funds for land acquisition for trails, trail maintenance, trail construction, trail rehabilitation, and trail head support facilities. These grants are distributed in the form of an 80-percent grant with a 20-percent match.
Coffee County School’s to begin after school programs
Beginning in the 2021-2022 school year, Coffee County Schools will offer the Excellence After School Program at all elementary schools and the Coffee County Middle School. The Excellence program is an afterschool program that provides students-particularly students who are in need of improvement-with academic enrichment opportunities and support services to help them meet state and local standards in the core content areas. This program also incorporates state academic standards in a way that makes both teaching and learning fun.
The Excellence Program will begin September 7th, 2021 and run through May 19th, 2022, Monday through Thursday from 3:00 to 6:00pm, and is free to the students. Kindergarten through eighth grade students can apply to attend. The program will not operate on Fridays. The program will only operate when schools are in session. If schools are not in session for any reason or if schools dismiss early, the excellence program will not operate.
Admission paperwork will be sent home with your child at the beginning of the school year and is required to be filled out completely and turned in prior to your child attending the program.
The Excellence program is taking place of ESP. There will no longer be ESP at any location in the district.
The school system is looking forward to a wonderful school year. If you ever have any questions or concerns, please contact your schools’ Excellence Site Director.
Former Winchester Police Officer was released on bond
An inmate that was being held in the Franklin County jail has had his $1 million bond reduced and was released from custody pending subsequent court appearances.
Former Winchester Police Officer Tristan Delacruz, who was arrested on May 4 on multiple sex-offense charges, including rape, aggravated kidnapping and aggravated assault, appeared in Franklin County Circuit Court on Tuesday.
His $1 million bond was reduced by Judge Thomas Graham to $100,000, and he was able to meet the requirement and was released from custody.
Delacruz is to appear again in Circuit Court on at 9 a.m. on July 29.
A Franklin County Grand Jury returned indictments charging the 28-year-old former police officer with six counts of rape, six counts of sexual battery, two counts of domestic assault, one count of false imprisonment, two counts of aggravated kidnapping and one count of aggravated assault.
With the assistance of the Lincoln County and Franklin County Sheriffs’ Departments, Delacruz was later arrested in Lincoln County. He was transported to the Franklin County Jail, where he was booked on a $1 million bond and later transferred to the Coffee County Jail where he remained until his most recent court hearing.
An investigation by special agents with the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation resulted in the indictment and arrest of the former police officer.
On Oct. 2, 2020, 12th District Attorney General J. Michael Taylor requested the TBI to investigate Delacruz on sexual-assault allegations.
During the course of the investigation, agents developed information that identified Delacruz as the individual allegedly responsible for multiple incidents of sexual assault in March 2020. He was subsequently released from his employment with the Winchester Police Department.
Delacruz was arrested for a third time in early November 2020 in connection with an assault incident, according to Franklin County Jail records.
What is CAC model? It reduces trauma and saves money
The Children’s Advocacy Center (CAC) model streamlines the process related to responding to child abuse, reduces trauma for children and saves taxpayers’ dollars.
It’s so rewarding to know that the Coffee County Children’s Advocacy Center helps children overcome pain. I have seen fear in the eyes of children disappear when they enter the Coffee County CAC.
In 2004, the Coffee County CAC was founded based on the CAC model. The nonprofit opened its doors to serve Coffee County children, who are victims of severe child abuse. The model used by the Coffee County CAC makes the process less traumatic for the child and family.
CAC model reduces trauma
One of the most important aspects of the CAC model is that it allows the child to tell his or her story only once in a safe and child friendly place. The forensic interview takes place at the advocacy center and is recorded for members of the child protective investigative team to use as part of their case. The child protective investigative team is part of the CAC model that depends on the teamwork of all the professionals involved in child abuse investigations. Experts provide professional and compassionate services to meet the needs of the victims. This model brings together law enforcement, Department of Children’s Services (DCS), prosecution, forensic interviewer, family advocate, juvenile court, mental health provider and medical professionals. The advocacy center coordinates the case review process with all team members. Prior to the CAC model, agencies worked separately to respond to child abuse, and children sometimes had to talk with several professionals to describe their traumatic experiences.
CAC model saves taxpayers’ money
It is important to note that a coordinated response to child abuse investigations saves the community money as well. According to a report from the National Child Advocacy Center, on a per-case basis, traditional investigations were 36% more expensive than coordinated team investigations done at a CAC. The average per-case cost of a CAC investigation was $2,902 compared to $3,949 for a non-CAC investigation, generating a savings of more than $1,000-per case, according to Cost-Benefit Analysis of Community Responses to Child Maltreatment: A Comparison of Communities with and without Child Advocacy Centers.
CAC model process
When severe child abuse is initially reported, law enforcement and the Department of Children’s Services respond to conduct a join investigation. Law enforcement officers work to ensure public safety. DCS officials ensure the child’s home is safe. The Coffee County CAC becomes involved to coordinate the efforts of all agencies. The child visits the Coffee County CAC, where the forensic interviewer conducts the interview. Evidence is collected. Medical professionals provide specialized medical exams. Our family advocate provides resources to the child and non-offending caregivers. The next step is presenting the case to the full child protective investigative team. If appropriate, the case will then go through the legal system. While the case goes through the justice system, our family advocate continues to support the child and family with resources, and a mental health professional provides therapy to the child, if necessary. Regardless of it a case goes to trial, the CAC provides trauma-focused therapy to the child if needed in order to help him or her begin the healing process.
To learn more about Coffee County CAC, follow us on social media and visit www.coffeecountycac.org.
*Column by Joyce Prusak*
Birthdays- June 9
Birthdays:
Russ Moran- 60
Chad Hatfield
Jeff Brandon
Charlie Brown II- 51- Pizza Winner!
Jimmy Rhea
Anniversaries:
Dan & Cheryl Skuya- 48 Years
Matthew & Terry DZ- 42 Years
Eileen Dorothy Levengood
Mrs. Eileen Dorothy Levengood, age 68, was born in Farmingdale, New York on February 8, 1953. She entered her eternal resting place on June 5, 2021. After more than 20 years of serving the community through her time at Hillsville Utility, she retired in 2020. Her advice to you, if you wanted to hear it, would be to retire sooner and enjoy as much time with your family and friends as possible. Working a few extra years for a couple extra dollars a month that you don’t get to enjoy isn’t worth it. Eileen enjoyed watching her grandkids grow up, especially at the softball fields, reading, crocheting and finding simple ways to bless those she loved. If you enjoy a dry sense of humor and a healthy dose of sarcasm, you would have loved her. Eileen was preceded in death by her parents, William and Dorothy Schenck and her husband, Richard Levengood. She is survived by two sisters, Linda (Jim) Eckardt and Ruth Yanofsky, and one brother, William A. Schenck, eight children, Diana (Fred) Hazell, Ric Levengood, Michelle Rivera, Kathleen (Patrick) Metz, Teresa (Lee) Gault, Lori (Jeremy) Freeman, Billy (Jodi) Levengood, and Stephanie (Justin) Stotts. She also leaves behind twenty-five grandchildren including Roland, David, Chevy, Reyna, Barbara, Fred, Dori, Ryan, Emily, Jordan, Brandon,
Madisyn, Cheyenne, Ayden, Janissa, Hailey, Jason, Ethan, Elliana, Will, Matthew, Isaac, Bennett, Cole and Wyatt, along with many great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews. Family will receive friends on Friday, June 11, 2021, from 11:00am until 1:00pm at Encounter Life Church in Manchester, TN. Funeral services will be conducted immediately following
visitation at 1:00pm with Billy Levengood officiating. Burial will follow in Forest Mill Cemetery in Manchester. Central Funeral Home is serving the family, 931-723-7774, centralfuneralhome.com
Raider basketball to host skills camp for boys, girls June 21
Coffee County Central Red Raider basketball team will host a skills camp from June 21-23 for aspiring basketball players.
The camp will cost $50 and will be from 9 a.m. until noon on June 21, 22 and 23. Camp is open for kids entering third through 8th grade in the upcoming school year. Boys and girls are welcome.
Concession will be open. There will be contests, prizes and t-shirts. Campers can register at 8 a.m. June 21 at Joe Frank Patch Gym at CHS.
FOOTBALL: Shelbyville football postseason ban lifted
Shelbyville Central’s football team – one of Coffee County Central High School’s new region opponents – has caught a break from the TSSAA.
The TSSAA Board of Control on Wednesday approved that Shelbyville and Franklin County football teams are now both eligible for the 2021 playoffs.
The two schools were involved in a fight last season and were placed on probation that included a postseason ban for 2021. That has now been lifted. Both teams were placed on “restrictive probation.”
A Shelbyville postseason ban in 2021 would have effectively guaranteed the Coffee County Red Raiders a trip to the playoffs with the top four teams in each region earning a trip. Only five teams are in Region 3-6A.
The new region 3-6A for the 2021 season is Coffee Co., Cookeville, Lebanon, Shelbyville and Warren Co.
Below is Coffee County’s 2021 football schedule. The Red Raiders play all games on Thunder Radio – your Coffee County Sports Authority. Listen at 107.9 FM, 1320 AM, Manchester Go app and thunder1320.com.
Regular Season
Aug. 20 AT Franklin County – 7 p.m.
Aug.. 27 vs. Tullahoma – 7 p.m.
Sept. 3 AT Shelbyville * 7 p.m.
Sept. 10 vs. Page – 7 p.m.
Sept. 17 AT Lebanon* 7 p.m.
Sept. 24 – AT Spring Hill – 7 p.m.
Oct. 1 – vs. Warren Co.* – 7 p.m.
Oct. 8 – OPEN
Oct. 15 – vs. Cookeville – 7 p.m.
Oct. 22 – vs. Rockvale – 7 p.m.
Oct. 29 AT Rhea County – 6:30 p.m.
An * denotes region game.
Bold games at home.
Coffee County Sheriff’s Department search for suspect
The Coffee County Sheriff’s department needs your help identifying a subject for questioning. The suspect is wanted for questioning regarding a recent shoplifting case in Coffee County.
If you have any information about the subject, please contact Investigator Brandon Gullett at (931) 450-0561. Please visit our website to review the photos of the suspect.
