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Six year old killed in gun accident in Shelbyville
A 6-year old boy is dead after Shelbyville police say he accidentally shot himself in the head on Monday, May 10.
According to the Shelbyville Times-Gazette, Shelbyville police investigators believe the child picked up the gun while the mother was in the restroom.
The mother called police and stated that the boy had accidentally shot himself in the head and was not breathing. The child was airlifted to Vanderbilt Children’s Hospital where he was pronounced dead. According to the Gazette article, two other children were in the room – ages 8 and 2, but they did not witness the incident.
Ovoca Road Closure in Tullahoma
A portion of Ovoca Road in Tullahoma will be closed for construction from 9 a.m. until 2 p.m. on Wednesday, May 12.
The road will be closed from Riley Creek Rd. to Country Club Rd.
The road will be open to local traffic only. Detour will be Fairways Blvd. to Country Club.
Public works crews will be working to replace a drainage culvert at 2125 Ovoca Rd. Next week crews will repave the road and it will be closed again. That date will be announced later.
Motlow Foundation Faculty Excellence Awards
The Motlow College Foundation announced its 2020-21 Academic Year Faculty Excellence Awards. The Faculty Excellence Awards recognize full-time and adjunct faculty who excel in professional activities and development; instructional activities, improvement, retention, completion activities; non-instructional college service; community service; and student evaluations. The Motlow College Foundation is proud to sponsor this Motlow tradition since the awards began in 1978.
These faculty members join a distinguished list of instructors who are part of the great tradition of celebrating excellence in education at Motlow State. A reception for nominees and winners is planned for a later date.
Faculty Winners:
Kate Benson
Charle Coffey
Nathan Fisher
Dr. Cheri Gregory
David Powell
Adjunct Faculty Winners:
Kyle Macon
Margaret McKinley
Dr. Tina Roback
“While they are excellent in their unique individual ways, you will note they share a common passion—dedication to making a difference in their fellow beings’ journey via education and redeemed social conditions,” said Dr. Gregory Sedrick, chief student success and academic officer, and special assistant to the president. “It is my honor and privilege to congratulate these truly remarkable Motlow State Family Members.”
Associate Professor of Geography Charle Coffey, Tullahoma, is a travel enthusiast.
She has visited multiple world heritage sites, geographic landmarks, cultural and religious sites, and wildlife habitats. Her travel knowledge transfers to her classroom using virtual reality technology that allows students to take virtual field trips. She has presented information sessions to civic and community organizations, sharing her travel experiences with others beyond the classroom. She served 30 years as an administrator at Motlow before moving to full-time faculty.
“Extensive travel to educate myself on other cultures, religions, places, governments, economies, and wildlife is an important part of professional development in my discipline. I often tell my students that two of the best ways to experience other cultures are through food and music,” said Coffey. “I challenge students to research topics of interest, experience the world through travel, and to strive to broaden their perspectives and world views.”
Professor of Biology Dr. Cheri Gregory, Tullahoma, is a Motlow graduate who has been teaching at Motlow for more than 25 years.
This is her second time receiving this award. As a member of the Beagle Freedom Project, SOS Beagle Rescue, and the Tullahoma Animal Shelter Fundraising Committee, she is an animal lover at heart. She is also a sports enthusiast, participating in Tullahoma’s Cross- Country, Quarterback, and Wrestling Booster Clubs. Additionally, she has served as a “visiting scientist” for the Hands-On Science Center and Tullahoma City Schools.
“Teaching at Motlow was my dream job, and it means as much to me now as it did in the beginning. The opportunity to interact with the students helps keep me young, and some of my best friends have been my coworkers,” said Gregory.
Director of Student Success Kyle Macon, Winchester, represents Motlow during TN Promise fall meetings at Franklin County High School.
He teaches the First-Year Experience Course. Beyond Motlow, Macon is a minister at Huntland Church of Christ and has served as camp director for Revive Camp Week for ten years.
“It is an honor to be recognized among so many outstanding faculty members,” said Macon. “First- Year Experience is a joy to teach because it provides a foundation for the rest of our students’ collegiate careers. The most rewarding part is watching students engage in critical thought leading to lightbulb moments in regards to their study skills, personal health, stress management, money management, or career goals.”
Pfizer Covid-19 Vaccine Approved for 12-15 year-old’s
The US Food and Drug Administration approved the emergency use for Pfizer’s Covid-19 vaccine on Monday to people ages 12 to 15. This means everyone ages 12 and up are now eligible for the vaccine.
This is the first vaccine authorized for people under the age of 18. It was previously approved for people ages 16 and up. Covid-19 vaccines from Moderna and Johnson and Johnson are still authorized for people 18 and older.
Pfizer held a clinical trial that involved 2,260 12-to-15-year old’s which was then reviewed and approved by the FDA. The trial showed that the vaccine has 100% efficiency.
“It was a relatively straightforward decision,” Dr. Peter Marks, Director of FDA’s Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, the arm of the FDA that regulates vaccines, told reporters Monday evening.
The FDA looked at the Pfizer safety and efficacy data. The agency also looked at the immune responses of some of the children who were vaccinated, and compared them to the immune responses of older teens and adults who got the shot.
“The response to the vaccine was excellent and in fact it was even better, really, in the younger age group than it was in the 16-25 age group,” Marks said.”The safety profile was very similar in 12-15-year-olds as in 16-25-year-olds.”
Expanding authorization to people 12 to 15 opens Covid-19 vaccination to another 5% of the US population, nearly 17 million more people. The expanded authorization means 85% of the US population is eligible to receive a Covid-19 vaccine.
Pfizer said last week it expects to submit for emergency use authorization for its Covid-19 vaccine for children ages 2 to 11 years old in September. Its vaccine safety and efficacy study in children ages 6 months to 11 years old is ongoing.
The vaccine is expected to be available to the new age group as early as this week.
CJ Anthony signs to play football at Cumberland
Coffee County senior CJ Anthony officially signed to play collegiate football with Cumberland University.
The Cumberland Phoenix is an NAIA school located in Lebanon. The school just wrapped up its spring season at 2-5, a season that was pushed back due to COVID-19.
“I feel like this is the best fit for me,” Anthony told Thunder Radio. “It feels like another Manchester, very hometown environment (and) a lot of support from the fans.”
Anthony added that the short travel between Cumberland and Manchester was also a factor for him.
“Being an hour away and me wanting to continue to come back had a big factor in my decision.”
During his Red Raider career, Anthony served multiple roles on the football field. He started as a wide receiver, at defensive back and as a kick returner. He returned a kick for a touchdown last season and also his junior season.
He has been told he will be at receiver in college.
“I played a lot of receiver my junior year and had to do what was best for my team and focus on the defensive side my senior year,” said Anthony. “I feel like I’ll be returning a lot of kicks there. That’s what they have asked me to do.”
Anthony plans to major in business administration.
“Thank you to all my coaches. Especially coach (Doug) Greene for working with me the past two years. Thank you for all the support from the community of Manchester, my friends and my family.
“I want to thank God most importantly. Because I wouldn’t’ be in the position I am today without him.”
Kristopher Daniel Cates
Kristopher Daniel Cates was born on February 12, 2001, in Tullahoma, TN to Jamie Cates and Stacey Partin Cates. Kris enjoyed fishing, boating, swimming, and working outside, listening to country music, and he was thought of as an avid movie buff. He played baseball for many years in the Tullahoma City baseball league.
Kris is preceded in death by his grandparents, Bud and Ann Cates. Along with his parents, Jamie Cates (Kristy) and Stacey Cates, Kris is survived by his twin sister, Katie Cates, and his brother, Seth Cates; grandparents, Danna and Marvin Sanders, Butch and Sally Partin, and Vickie Passwaters; aunts, uncles, cousins, and a host of friends.
A celebration of Kris’s life will be announced at a later date.
Tullahoma Funeral Home is honored to serve the Cates family.
Raiders eliminate Tullahoma from District 8-AAA tournament behind shutout effort from Meeker
Griffin Meeker shall now be known as Mr. Clutch.
The senior right-hander etched himself into Red Raider baseball lore on Monday night when he took the ball in an elimination game and tossed a four-hit, complete game shutout against cross-county rival Tullahoma to lead the Red Raiders to a 4-0 win and extend their season. Tullahoma had swept Coffee County when the two teams met in March.
Monday in Shelbyville, Meeker went seven innings and needed just 91 pitches to do it. He allowed four hits and walked 2 while striking out 5. He avoided trouble most of the night, except the bottom of the sixth when the Wildcats got the tying run on second base with one out. Meeker responded with a strikeout and a ground out to end the threat.
THIS GAME WAS BROADCAST LIVE ON THUNDER RADIO. CLICK HERE TO LISTEN TO THE REPLAY.
At the plate, Coffee County broke the scoreless tie with a run in the fourth inning and never looked back. A ground ball on the infield hit by Hayden Hullett allowed Nolan Jernigan to scamper home to take a 1-0 lead. A Jacob Holder double off the fence in the sixth inning sent Carter McKenzie across the plate to extend the Raider lead to 2-0.
The Raiders added some insurance runs in the top of the seventh. Meeker singled in a run, then Nolan Jernigan doubled after his line drive snuck over the head of Jacob Dixon to score Meeker.
Meeker’s performance on the mound makes it 14 consecutive shutout innings for the senior in the District 8-AAA tournament.
The win improves the Raiders to 21-10 on the season. CHS needs to win one more game to reach the district championship and lock up a spot in the Region 4-AAA semi-finals. The Raiders will play Lawrence County Tuesday night in Shelbyville at 6 p.m. The loser’s season is over. CHS hasn’t played for a district championship since 2011 – which was their third title in a three-peat run.
Tullahoma’s season ends with the loss.
Griffin Meeker 
Nolan Jernigan 
Nolan Jernigan 
Lane Spry 
Carter McKenzie 
Nolan Jernigan 
Brady Nugent 
Nolan Jernigan 
Griffin Meeker and Nolan Jernigan
Preds close season with blowout win over Hurricanes
Pekka Rinne made 30 saves for his 369th NHL win for the Nashville Predators, 5-0 against the Carolina Hurricanes on Monday.
Rinne tied Tom Barrasso for 19th place in NHL history. He has two shutouts this season, 60 in the NHL, which is 19th all time.
Matt Duchene scored two goals and Tanner Jeannot and Ryan Johansen each had a goal and an assist for the Predators (31-23-2), who swept the two-game set to end the regular season.
Nashville finished fourth in the Discover Central Division and Carolina finished first. They will play each other in the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
You can hear the Nashville Predators on Thunder Radio – presented locally by Charlie Gonzales with Weichert Realtors, Joe Orr and Associates.
GOLF: Westwood beats Harris to advance to championship
Westwood Middle School golf defeated Harris 6.5 to 5.5 flags on Monday at WillowBrook Golf Course. The win advances Westwood to the championship.
For the Rockets, the team of Jack Stowe and Leah Kate Sullivan picked up 1 flag. Meanwhile, the team of Landon Collins, Ziya Dillard an Peyton Evans notched 2.5 flags. Thompson Lowe, Alyssa Harvey and Colin Bryant cleaned up, claiming 3 of 3 flags to give Westwood the advantage.
The Rockets will take on Tullahoma in the Championship on Tuesday at Lakewood Country Club.
The Unborn Child Dignity Act becomes Tennessee law
State Rep. Tim Rudd, R-Murfreesboro, and State Sen. Janice Bowling, R-Tullahoma, Monday announced The Unborn Child Dignity Act has been signed by Gov. Bill Lee and will become law on July 1.
The bill, HB1181/SB828, advocates for the dignity of the unborn by requiring proper burial or cremation for a surgically aborted child. The legislation grants the same protection, respect and dignity to a deceased, surgically aborted child required by law to any other deceased human being.
“Tennessee is overwhelmingly a right-to-life state. While it’s disheartening that we have to propose legislation to ensure a preborn child’s body will be treated with the same respect as any other human being, I’m grateful for the support,” Rudd said. “I thank the governor and my colleagues for their commitment to defend and honor all life with this important legislation.”
Rudd and Bowling’s bill does not limit or restrict an abortion or access to an abortion. Currently, Tennessee law grants guidelines for the disposal of pets and animals, but gives no such dignity to aborted children.
“I am very grateful this legislation was passed by the General Assembly and has now been signed into law,” Bowling said. “It is a tragedy in Tennessee that we regulate how veterinarians properly dispose of the remains of animals, but there are no regulations regarding human babies. These are the remains of human beings and should be treated as such. This new law corrects that oversight and ensures that the remains of unborn children are treated with dignity.”
The bill mirrors an Indiana law that survived a U.S. Supreme Court decision in 2019. In their decision, the U.S. Supreme Court justices recognized that states have a legitimate interest in the proper disposition of human fetal remains. The court ruled the law did not impose a burden or interfere with an abortion choice.
Once the bill becomes law, it would be the responsibility of the abortion facility or mother to provide a burial or cremation. Approximately 862,000 abortions are reported each year in the United States. Nearly 11,000 abortions were performed in Tennessee in 2020. Currently, 11 states require burial or cremation of aborted fetal remains.