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TN House passes legislation strengthening TANF program
The Tennessee House chamber last Thursday unanimously passed legislation strengthening and improving the state’s Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program.
House Bill 142 was recommended by a group appointed to study possible changes to the program, which currently has $710 million in reserves. The funds, which come from a federal block grant, provides support to working families such as child care assistance, temporary cash assistance, transportation, job training, employment activities and other support services offered through the state’s Families First Program.
This legislation creates a two-year pilot program which provides enhanced cash assistance to individuals who are actively pursuing educational opportunities. The bill also distributes $180 million through a new Tennessee Opportunity Pilot Program, which will create large-scale programs benefiting TANF recipients. The legislation also increases the TANF allotment. For example, it increases the monthly amount a family of three receive from $277 to $387.
House Bill 142 will create the Families First Community Grants to infuse $50 million in TANF reserves funds into the community through grants to organizations providing services to low-income families. It includes the Two-Generation program, which focuses on intergenerational poverty through a “whole family” approach by combining parent and child interventions to break the cycle of poverty and create a pathway to economic security.
The bill requires that $191 million will be reserved to ensure the program’s stability during an economic downturn. However, once those reserves are in place, it provides that funding not spent from the department’s previous year will be used for community grants that will be spread statewide to build stronger families and a thriving Tennessee.
Finally, the bill creates The TANF Advisory Board consisting of up to 21 people to approve grantees and provide important input regarding the effectiveness of existing Families First and Two-Generation Program policies and grant programs. The board will also be responsible for selecting recipients for Tennessee Opportunity Pilot Program grants, community grants and selecting research partners to evaluate the successes of grant programs awarded through TANF.
Mary S. Milam
Milam, Mary S. , of Tullahoma, passed this life on Friday, April 16 th , 2021 at Brookdale Senior Living at the age of 100. Mrs. Milam was born in Blue Springs, Mississippi to the late Tilman and Ester Ozell Leach Swindle. During her life she worked for SuperX Drugs in Knoxville, was a registered cosmetologist, and was an active member of Wallace Memorial Baptist Church in Knoxville. Mrs. Milam also volunteered with Mended Hearts in Knoxville. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by one son, Ron Milam; daughter-in-law, Ann Harrelson; two grandsons, Brian and Michael Milam; one brother, Tripp Swindle; and two sisters, Evelyn Webb and Alene Adams. Mrs. Milam is survived by her son, James Harrelson; two granddaughters, Denise (Alan) Pegram and Direnda (Gary) Jarrell; great-grandchildren, Lauren (Justin) Sulfridge, Quenton (Julie) Kirby, Garrett Pegram, Clay (Rebecca) Jarrell, Adam (Baylee) Jarrell, Taylor Milam, and Tanner Milam; great-great-grandchildren, Parker and Grayson Sulfridge, Madeline and Savannah Jarrell, and Austin Jarrell; and her daughter-in-law, Melissa Milam. No services are planned at this time. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to Avalon Hospice.
Kilgore Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements
Charles Leroy Shogren
Charles Leroy Shogren of Tullahoma passed this life on Friday, April 16, 2021 at Vanderbilt Tullahoma-Harton Hospital at the age of 73 . Mr. Shogren was born in Two Harbors, Minnisota to the late Roy Shogren, and Dorothy Ness Carpenter who survives. He served his country as a member of the United States Navy during the Vietnam War where he was awarded the Purple Heart, and retired as a Chief Petty Officer. He was also a member of the Patriot Guards. In addition to his mother, Mr. Shogren is survived by his wife, Patricia Morley Shogren; four sons, Ray Kelly (Brandi), Arthur Anglebrandt (Denise), Brian Frasier, and Brett Frasier; one step-daughter, Shannon Berg (Tom); one sister, Pam Mayfield (Earl); one brother, Tim Shogren; eight grandchildren, Hunter, Aaron, Ray Jr., Lora, Troy, Emily, McKenzie, and Morgan; and four great-grandchildren, Isaac, Lincoln, Quinn, and Dreyln. A memorial service will be announced at a later date. Kilgore Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Lady Raiders rip six extra base hits in blowout of Rebelettes
Westwood’s softball team dropped a tough conference tournament opener on Tuesday, falling to Huntland 8-7 in an 8-inning affair.
Westwood scored a pair of runs in the seventh to force extra innings when Paisley Campbell hit a home run to score Liza Freeze.
But Huntland pushed ahead in the 8th and held on.
Lily Norman had a big day at the plate for the Lady Rockets – reaching base three times and scoring all three times – including a single and a triple.
Westwood will play Fayetteville City at 7 p.m. Wednesday.
Micah Williams resigning as CHS Red Raider basketball coach
Coffee County Central High School head boys basketball coach Micah Williams is resigning his position, Thunder Radio learned Friday morning.
Williams just completed his sixth season at the helm of the Red Raider basketball program. He is expected to be named the head coach at Webb School in Bell Buckle, although that has yet to be officially confirmed by Webb officials. Williams has communicated his resignation with his Raider players.
Williams, a graduate of Coffee County Central High School and former standout player for the Raiders and ETSU Bucs, took over the Red Raider basketball program in 2015 in an opportunity he described as “a dream come true.”
Under Williams’ leadership, the Raiders instantly saw success that had not been experienced in any recent history. CHS won the District 8-AAA regular season title in back-to-back seasons. This year the Raiders finished second in the district, but went on to beat Riverdale in the quarter-finals of the Region 4-AAA tournament – an accomplishment not realized by the boys basketball program in over 30 years.
Williams’ final win as Red Raider head coach also happened to be his 100th career win as a head coach.
CHS athletic department issued a statement Monday morning.
“We appreciate (Coach Williams’) dedication to our athletes. His energy and efforts have contributed greatly to the success of our program. Coach Williams has been an integral part of CHS basketball for a long time and we wish him continued success in the next chapter of his coaching career.”
This story will be updated with information as it is available.
BASEBALL: Rockets put 32 on the board in tournament win over Eagleville
Westwood Middle School and Eagleville combined to send 50 runs across the plate in a four-hour marathon of a baseball game Monday.
In the end, the Rockets were able to keep the better pace and go the distance in a 32-18 win over the Eagles in a conference tournament win.
Every player in the Rocket lineup scored at least two runs and the Rockets were able to get on base in every way possible. The Rockets combined to earn 23 walks at the plate, including six walks for Trevor Jesse. Meanwhile, when the Rockets got pitches to hit they pounded out 18 hits, led by 5 from Cayden Trail, who had 5 RBIs and three runs scored. Blake Hillis also had 5 RBIs on a pair of hits, including a home run.
Four different Rockets pitched to piece together the winning effort. Cayden Trail was solid, allowing just one earned run in two innings of work. He allowed three hits.
SOFTBALL: Coffee County blasts Tullahoma to complete season sweep
Coffee County pounded out 18 hits at the plate and made easy work of Tullahoma, dropping the Lady Wildcats 12-2 on the road Monday afternoon – a game you heard live on Thunder Radio.
Two of those 18-hits were dingers – as Alivia Reel blasted her first home run of the season, a solo blast to left field in the 5th inning, and Kaitlyn Davis hit her team-leading ninth home run of the year.
Chesnie Cox (2), Haidyn Campbell (2), Davis (2), Reel (2), Emily Schuster (3), Eliza Carden (2) and Madison Pruitt (2) all had multi-hit games for the Lady Raiders. Schuster came around to score 3 times. Cox, Davis and Reel each had a pair of RBIs.
THIS GAME WAS BROADCAST LIVE ON THUNDER RADIO. CLICK HERE TO LISTEN TO THE REPLAY.
Davis picked up the win in the circle after working five solid innings for the Lady Raiders. She allowed just two hits and struck out five. She gave up two runs, but both were unearned.
The win improves the Lady Raiders to 21-3-1 on the year and keeps them perfect in District 8-AAA play.
The Lady Raiders will host Franklin County at 7 p.m. Tuesday night. You can listen to that game live on Thunder Radio – 107.9 FM, 1320 AM, on the Manchester Go app and at Thunder1320.com.
Birthdays- April 19
Zak Holmes
Helen Brown
David Pennington
Christine Weaver
Ashley Abellana
Chloe Hensiek- 12- Pizza Winner!
Heather Thacker
Birthdays- April 18
Mary Beatty- 70
Hannah Avery- 34
Daniel Prince- 33- Pizza Winner!
Birthdays- April 17
Tina Stem- Pizza Winner!