Josh Peterson

A Coffee County infant is in critical condition at Children’s Hospital At Erlanger and two others were injured after a head-on collision Saturday afternoon, Feb. 27 at approximately 3 p.m.

According to a report filed with the Manchester Police Department, a 2014 Chevrolet Cruz driven by a 68-year old female was traveling the wrong direction on Highway 55 near Coffee County Central High School and struck a 2000 model Dodge pickup head on. The dodge was being driven by Kyle Alford, with infant Houston Alford as a passenger.

The driver of the Chevrolet, identified by the report as Barbara Hampton, age 68, of Estill Springs, suffered serious injuries, according to the officer’s report. Hampton was taken by EMS to the Tullahoma Airport to be transported by helicopter. The report states that Hampton “appeared to have several broken bones.”

Kyle Alford had a cut but “otherwise appeared to be OK,” according to police. Houston Alford was later diagnosed with head trauma and flown to Children’s Hospital at Erlanger. The hospital confirmed to Thunder Radio  on Thursday that Houston Alford remains in critical condition.

The report states that there was no drug or alcohol use suspected in this accident. All of those involved were wearing seat belts, according to the MPD report.

If your daily commute or cut through town includes Doak Rd., you will want to consider an alternate route on Friday, March 5. 

According to the Manchester Public Works Department, Doak Rd. from White Oak Dr. to Belmar Rd. will be closed on Friday from 6 a.m. through 5 p.m. while the department replaces a tile. 

Everyone is encouraged to avoid traveling that road during that time.

Coffee County Children’s Advocacy Center received a grant from The Healing Trust, which awarded funds totaling $751,900 in its most recent grant cycle.

The Coffee County Children’s Advocacy Center grant was for $30,000 and will be used to help support intervention services that the Coffee County Children’s Advocacy Center provides for children who are possible victims of abuse and their non-offending families in Coffee County. In 2020, the Coffee County Children’s Advocacy Center helped more children than ever before through forensic interviews, mental health services and family advocacy services in addition to providing prevention programs in the community.

“We are deeply grateful for the life changing work done by these 17 grantee partners, “said President & CEO Kristen Keely-Dinger. “Their commitment to improving the health of the most vulnerable members of our community is inspiring.” The mission of The Healing Trust, a private grant making foundation, is the sacred work of fostering healing and wholeness for vulnerable populations through strategic investing, philanthropy, and advocacy.

Recipients of the contributions include non-profit organizations from 40 counties in Middle Tennessee that focus on advocacy, physical health, mental health, recovery from alcohol and drug abuse or healing from abuse, neglect, and violence. This year’s grants bring the collective grant making of The Healing Trust to over $96 million since 2002. The Trust, while created out of the sale of Baptist Hospital to Ascension Health/St. Thomas Health Services, is a private, independent foundation and is not affiliated with the St. Thomas Health Services or the St. Thomas Health Services Fund.

The Tullahoma Police Department says it has been made aware of “several different scams being perpetrated against our citizens recently.” 

In light of recent scam attempts, the department offered some tips for people to follow when dealing with scams and potentials scams. 

1. Government agencies will never ask for payment in the form of gift cards or prepaid credit cards;

2. Verify who you are speaking to, and don’t give personal information out over the phone to someone that you do not know;

3. Scammers have the ability to “spoof” legitimate phone numbers and make the Caller ID show up as a legitimate number;

4. If someone is offering something of great value to you for a minimum or minor upfront cost, it is a scam and someone is trying to separate you from your hard earned money.

Most scams originate from out of state and our country making the likely hood of recovering money and or prosecuting the scammer very unlikely. 

Join us at Thunder Radio and Rosalyn Partin of the Manchester H&R Block and congratulate our student of the week – Ashton Ferrell.

Ashton is a sophomore at Coffee County Central High School in Mrs. Carney’s homeroom. He is the son of Bobby and Alexis Ferrell. His favorite subject is Math. He plans to attend the University of Tennessee and pursue a career in engineering. In his free time, Ashton enjoys fishing and spending time outdoors.

Rosalyn Partin, owner of the Manchester H&R Block, has been inspired to recognize great kids in our community all year long. H&R Block gives each Student of the Week a gift card, a commemorative plaque, as well as a special letter of recognition. Job well done, Ashton.

(Pictured above, Ashton Ferrell receives his student of the week award from Rosalyn Partin and Thunder Radio’s Holly Peterson (far right)).