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Police pursuit goes through Coffee County Wednesday
Police are still looking for a man driving what appeared to be a blue Dodge Charger, that led authorities on a pursuit through Rutherford, Bedford, and Coffee County on Wednesday, May 12.
The chase started after numerous motorists made calls to 9-1-1 to report a man outside of his vehicle waiving a handgun. The calls came into Rutherford County dispatchers with motorists saying the subject was stopping traffic on I-24 near I-840. The man reportedly got back in his car and led law enforcement on a chase toward Chattanooga.
At one point, the suspect allegedly reached speeds of 130-miles-per-hour as he neared the Beechgrove exit. Back-up was called as the pursuit headed into Bedford County and eventually into Coffee County within a matter of minutes.
Officers in the area of Manchester blocked all exits on I-24 in an attempt to keep the suspect from exiting the interstate into Manchester.
Spike strips were laid across the interstate at mile marker 103 with hopes of stopping the chase. However, the strips were not believed to be effective. Spike strips were again deployed at mile marker 112 on I-24.
As the pursuit continued, State Troopers from as far away as Chattanooga were notified about the incoming Charger.
By mile marker 114, Rutherford County Deputies backed off as other units took the lead.
The Charger continued to speed at over 130-miles-per-hour, which is why additional counties started to back off for the safety of other motorists once the vehicle reached mile marker 120.
Panic buy causes gasoline shortage in some areas of southeast
More than 1,000 gas stations in the Southeast reported running out of fuel, primarily because of what analysts say is unwarranted panic-buying among drivers, because of the shutdown of a major pipeline.
Government officials acted swiftly to waive safety and environmental rules to speed the delivery of fuel by truck, ship or rail to motorists and airports, even as they sought to assure the public that there was no cause for alarm.
The Colonial Pipeline, the biggest fuel pipeline in the U.S., delivering about 45% of what is consumed on the East Coast, was hit on Friday with a cyberattack by hackers who lock up computer systems and demand a ransom to release them. The attack raised concerns, once again, about the vulnerability of the nation’s critical infrastructure.
A large part of the pipeline resumed operations manually late Monday, and Colonial anticipates restarting most of its operations by the end of the week, U.S. Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm said.
Motorists may still feel a crunch because it takes a few days to ramp up operations, but she said there is no reason to hoard gasoline.
Coffee County Emergency Management Agency pleaded with residents to not purchase unnecessary amounts of gasoline.
“There is currently not a gas shortage in Tennessee,” EMA officials advised. “Certainly purchase what you need but over buying and filling canisters is not necessary and makes the situation worse.”
Multiple COVID-19 pop-up vaccination sites available in Coffee County this week
Those wishing to receive COVID-19 vaccination in Coffee County will have multiple opportunities to do so over the coming weeks.
Wednesday
Southern Family Markets Building Manchester, 3-6 p.m.
Lakewood Park CC, 2-5 p.m.
Thursday
Manchester Health Department, 9-11 a.m.
Tullahoma Health Department, 1:30-3:30 p.m.
Southern Family Markets Building Manchester, 11-2 p.m.
Friday
Manchester Health Department, 7-9 a.m.
Tullahoma Health Department, 7-9 a.m.
Saturday
Westwood Middle School Vietnam Veterans Event, 10-2 p.m.
Westwood Middle School 3-5 p.m.
George Gordon Panter, Jr
Graveside services for Mr. George Gordon Panter, Jr., age 74, will be conducted on Wednesday, May 12, 2021, at 2:00PM at Ragsdale Cemetery in Manchester, TN. The family will receive friends from 10:00AM until 2:00PM at Manchester Funeral Home. Mr. Panter passed from this life on Monday, May 3, 2021, at Lee Memorial Health System in Fort Myers, FL.
George was born in Fayetteville, TN, on February 1, 1947, the son of the late George and Wynnoa Panter. George worked at AEDC for over 32 years, was a Navy veteran, and a member of the Masonic Lodge. George enjoyed flying personal planes and loved watching UT Football. He was a loving and devoted husband, father, and grandfather.
In addition to his parents, George is also preceded in death by his first wife, Francis Panter; broher, Phillip Panter. He is survived by his loving wife, Tanis Panter; son Brian Panter; daughter, Stacy Panter; step-sons, Stephen Bess and Scott Bess; step-daughter, Jodi Barnes; grandchildren, Ethan Panter, Briley Panter, Ayden Panter, Gracie Panter, and Casey Jennings; step-grandchildren, Detira Bess, Emily Bess, and Ethan Bess.
Manchester Funeral Home is honored to serve the Panter family.
Birthdays – May 11, 2021
Keaton Rowe
Dale Peterson
Jacey Vaughn – PIZZA WINNER
Emily Eaton – 17
ANNIVERSARIES
Amanda & Jamie Ruehling
Kim & Todd Watkins – 25 years – ANNIVERSARY FLOWER WINNER!
Birthdays – May 10, 2021
Eric Keith – 36
Whitney Pica – 33
Lisa Ellison
Carolyn Kennedy – 68
Charlie Winton – PIZZA WINNER
ANNIVERSARIES
Tyler & Cassie Patton – 7 years
Birthdays – May 9, 2021
Kim Fannin – 51
Emily Hargrove – PIZZA WINNER
Birthdays – May 8, 2021
Kay Hutson – 60
Brenda Sissom
Kayla White
Logan Myers – 9
Ava McIntosh – 14 – PIZZA WINNER
Bradley Keasling
SOFTBALL: Lady Raiders advance to district championship, region tournament
Coffee County dispatched of Lawrence County 6-0 Tuesday night in Fayetteville – moving the CHS Lady Raiders into the District 8-AAA championship game and securing a spot in the Region 4-AAA tournament.
Coffee County used 7 strong innings in the circle from Keri Munn and two hits and a pair of runs scored from Kiya Ferrell to easily get past the Wildcats of Lawrence County. Munn has thrown 13 consecutive district tournament innings without allowing a single run.
THIS GAME WAS BROADCAST LIVE ON THUNDER RADIO. CLICK HERE TO LISTEN TO THE REPLAY.
Munn struck out 10 and allowed six hits – she was named Mid Tenn Turf Player of the Game by Thunder Radio.
CHS got an RBI from senior Justus Turner on a hard-hit double, also RBIs from Brianna Shelton, Haidyn Campbell and Madison Pruitt.
Chesnie Cox joined Ferrell in the multi-hit department with a pair of singles.
Coffee County is now 27-4-1 on the season and 14-0 in district play (counting tournament games). The Lady Raiders will play the winner of Lawrence County and Lincoln County in the District 8-AAA Championship game at 7 p.m. Wednesday in Fayetteville. Thunder Radio will broadcast the game live.
If Coffee County wins Wednesday night, the Lady Raiders are district champions. A loss would force an extra game on Thursday. If CHS wins the district title the Lady Raiders will host the Region 4-AAA semi-finals on Monday, May 17. If they finish as district runner-up, they will travel for the region semi-finals.
Raider baseball season ends with tough loss to Lawrence County
Coffee County got the tying run into scoring position in the top of the 7th with two outs Tuesday night.
But the Raiders couldn’t get any closer, falling to Lawrence County 2-1 in a loss that ends the season for the Raiders.
Trailing 2-1 with two outs in the final inning, Brady Nugent was hit by a pitch and managed to steal second base. But a ground out ended the game in the loser’s bracket finals of the District 8-AAA tournament. A win would have pushed the Raiders to the district championship and a region tournament trip for the first time since 2011.
Offensively, the Raiders struggled to get anything going against Wildcat pitcher Luke Boswell, who limited the Raiders to just 4 hits and one run. The lone CHS run came in the top of the second when Wyatt Nugent knocked in Braden Brown to tie the game at 1-1 – a score that held until the Wildcats pushed a run across in the sixth.
Jacob Holder was just as tough on the mound for the Raiders. The sophomore allowed 3 hits over six innings. He allowed 1 earned run, struck out four and walked five.
Coffee County finished the season with 21 wins – the most for the Raider baseball program since 2010. The loss marked the final game in a Raider uniform for seniors Lane Spry, Hayden Hullett, Wyatt Nugent, Braden Brown and Griffin Meeker.