Josh Peterson

The Crimson Clover Master Gardener Association has partnered with the Tennessee Environmental Council to host Tennessee Tree Day in Coffee County on March 19 and 20.

This is a statewide event is led by the Tennessee Environmental Council and provides Tennesseans with trees to plant to enhance our state’s appearance and environment.

There will be 50,000 native bare-root tree-seedlings available in all 95 Tennessee counties during the weekend of March 19-20, 2021.

Bare-root seedlings range in size from 1 ft. to 3 ft. depending on species. The tree varieties include buttonbush, tulip poplar, sweet gum, red mulberry, wild plum, northern red oak, silky dogwood, short leaf pine, eastern redbud, white oak, and bald cypress. Trees can be ordered and paid for at the website https://tiny.utk.edu/tntreeday. The last day to order trees is March 7. The trees will be available to pick up at the UT-TSU Extension Office (1331 McArthur St., Manchester) on Friday, March 19 from 8-5 and Saturday, March 20 from 8-12.

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

Madelyn is a senior at Coffee County Central High. She is the daughter of Maureen Schultz. She enjoys cheerleading and baking. When she graduates, Madelyn plans to attend UTC to pursue a career in nursing.

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, Madelyn!

(Pictured, Rosalyn Partin and Thunder Radio’s Holly Peterson present the award to Madelyn Schultz).

Coffee County Central High School is in the process of installing new sidewalks along the school’s “car rider circle” area all the way to Highway 55.

“We have noticed over the years that walkers diverge in every direction across campus as they leave the building at the end of the school day,” explained CHS principal Paul Parsley. “Overall, the new sidewalk should result in cleaner shoes for those walking on and off campus via the front side of the campus and give us a nicer looking campus entrance area.”

The project began on Jan. 18 and should be complete in about 8-10 work days, depending on weather.
The project is possible thanks to local businesses who donated money or labor to make it possible, according to Parsley. Donating to the project: Moran Brothers, Inc, Smyrna Ready Mix, Mid Tenn Turf, Turf Works and Coffee County Bank.

By Deidre Moon, AEDC

With the recent hiring of Regina Bucher by Akima Intra-Data, Arnold Air Force Base now has its first female leading the Facility Support Services (FSS) II Security Service contract section.

Eugene Mittuch, project manager for FSS II at Arnold, commented on the
significance of this event.

“It’s a first in the 60-plus years of AEDC’s existence in a male-dominated
field,” Mittuch said. “There have been females, a few, but a very small
percentage, on the guard force for the past 20 years. However, none have had
the experience or leadership qualities to run the organization until now.

“No doubt there are other females in local law enforcement agencies equally
qualified; Ms. Bucher happens to be in the right place at the right time and
is a great fit for the position.”

Before taking on her current role, Bucher was the Electronic Security
Systems Officer and Security Operations Manager at Arnold AFB.

Bucher served active duty in the U.S. Army as a Military Police Officer for
10 years, and she is currently serving in the Army National Guard. After
leaving active duty, she worked as a police officer for 10 years.

Mittuch noted these are some of the many reasons why Bucher was the perfect
candidate to fill the role.

“She brings a wealth of experience in military (U.S. Army active and
National Guard), civil service (Department of the Army), and contractor
security and law enforcement at various installations over the past 20-plus
years,” he said. “These experiences make her uniquely qualified to provide
the leadership for the Akima Intra-Data (AID) contract security team at
Arnold.”

Bucher added that she’s proud to be the first female to lead the Security
Services contract at Arnold AFB.

“The position means a lot to me, and I don’t take the responsibility
lightly,” she said. “For Arnold AFB, we, as security, want to provide a safe
and secure environment for those that work and live here. As for the
security officers, I would like to thank them for the hard work they do. I
want to create an environment where they are happy to come to work and are
proud of what they do.”

Ray Kelly, AAFB Chief Security Forces, also welcomes Bucher to the team.

“Securing Arnold is a team effort,” he said. “I am looking forward to our
continued team success. Our contract partners are critical to the success of
the overall security mission.”

Suspension of most in-person court hearings will continue through March 31 in Tennessee – an order extended by the Tennessee Supreme Court.

In Coffee County, the county clerk’s office remains accessible and there are emergency situations that will be heard in court. There have also been virtual meetings held.

VFW All-American Post 10904 proudly announces that three local teachers have been awarded the coveted Veterans of Foreign Wars, Department of Tennessee, Teacher of the Year Award for 2020-2021.

The recipients are Donna Harryman of Hickerson Elementary School in the Kindergarten-5th grade category; Donna Burdine of Westwood Middle School in the 6th – 8th grade category; and Becki Louden of Coffee County Central High School in the high school category.

With 92 VFW Posts in Tennessee, being selected Teacher of the Year at the state level is a remarkable achievement. Seven local area teachers have received the honor over the last four years; this marks the first “sweep” as all three teachers selected at the local VFW Post level advanced to District selection and went on to be awarded Teacher of the Year for the State of Tennessee.

These three remarkable teachers will now advance to the VFW National level. Emily Ezell of Cowan Elementary School received the National award in 2018.

Donna Harryman has worked as a teacher for 29 years. She was selected because of the work she has done to educate elementary school children on veterans, American history, Veterans Day and the meaning of “service to country”. Around 15 years ago she created the Wall of Honor, which featured the names of former Hickerson Elementary students who later served in the military.

She inspires her students to regard veterans as “superheroes” with artwork displayed throughout the school. She has supervised veterans programs and sold bracelets and other items to fund the ceremonies; as well as baked goods for the events. She teaches students patriotic songs and uses current political differences to teach American history such as the conflict between Andrew Jackson and John Adams.

Donna Burdine has a degree in business from Lee University. After working at an Atlanta business for a year, she had two children and was encouraged by family to work in the school system. After serving as a substitute teacher, she chose to pursue a degree in education. In 2017, she was awarded the Scottish Rite Educator of the Year award. She educates her students in flag etiquette, as well as the meaning of the various patriotic days and the importance of mutual respect in the classroom.

She had her students make Valentines and holiday cards for veterans at the VA Hospital in Murfreesboro; in last year’s Veterans Day Parade she dedicated the parade entry to former First Lieutenant Gary Dyer, former Westwood Middle School student and Vietnam veteran, who returned and served his school as coach and teacher before his retirement.

Becki Louden served in the United States Army and was awarded the Bronze Star for her service in Iraq. She is Culinary Arts teacher at Coffee County Central High School and a Life Member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars. To honor veterans, she coordinated projects in support of Veterans Day, Memorial Day, Patriots Day, Pearl Harbor Day and created a Meals Ready to Eat (MRE) competition. For Veterans Day last year, she and her students provided a drive-thru meal for veterans so that none felt forgotten.

She educates her students on topics ranging from Prisoners of War / Missing in Action veterans, events surrounding September 11th, the meaning of the military funeral bugle call TAPS and the different branches of the service.
VFW Post 10904 Commander Kimberly King noted: “It is always an honor to meet and interview teachers who serve our country in this way. In an age when self-worth is stressed and sacrifice is not even discussed, it is so important for school children to realize what has been given to them as Americans. Teachers who educate our children in the values and morals of America are so deserving of this award.”

A tentative awards ceremony is scheduled for March 8th, 2021, at the Veterans Building located at 130 Shelton Road in Manchester.