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MIDDLE SCHOOL BASKETBALL: Rockets open Christmas tournament with dominating win
In there first game in two weeks, the Westwood Rockets didn’t show any rust Monday.
Rocket eighth grader Jayden Carter piled up 23 points – 15 coming in the first quarter – and the Rockets blew past Elkmont in the first round of the Elkmont Middle School Christmas tournament in Alabama, winning 58-25.
The Rockets held a controlling 30-13 lead at the halftime break.
In total, 10 different Rockets contributed on the offensive end of the floor Monday. Blake Hillis and Lane Fann each added 6 points, Jaiden Warren 5, Neyland Grant 5, Cayden Trail 4, Blake Cummings 3, Matt Moore, Matthew White and Dylen Trail all added 2 points.
The win improves Westwood to 6-8 on the season. The Rockets will play Lexington at 1:45 p.m. in Alabama on Tuesday, Dec. 29. With a win, the Rockets will advance to the tournament semi-finals at 12:30 p.m. on Wednesday. All games in Alabama.
Titans place Gostkowski on COVID list
The Titans have placed kicker Stephen Gostkowski on the team’s Reserve/COVID-19 list.
Gostkowski has made 18-of-26 field goals for the Titans in 2020, and he’s hit on 46-of-48 extra point attempts.
The Reserve/COVID-19 list was created for a player who either tests positive for COVID-19 or who has been quarantined after having been in close contact with an infected person or persons. Clubs may not disclose whether the player is in quarantine or is positive for COVID-19. Under the rules for Reserve/COVID-19, teams are required to address the player’s roster status once that player has fulfilled the protocol for their circumstance.
The Titans face the Texans on Sunday in Houston. You can hear the game live on Thunder Radio – 107.9 FM, 106.7 FM, 1320 AM. Kickoff at noon.
A LOOK BACK: The top 3 local stories of 2020
This past year has been riddled with tragedy and misfortune – with the COVID-19 pandemic halting local schools, sports and businesses in the spring to other unfortunate news events.
While we do try and find the positives – like the many great deeds over the holidays by those who worked to provide for the less fortunate and Manchester citizens going the extra mile to support local businesses in a time of downright crisis – this year’s top area stories have an overwhelmingly negative feel to them.
Thunder Radio has pulled our website analytics and subtracted out most all COVID-19 related stories to provide you with the top 3 local stories of 2020. These stories are decided by those who visit our website, ranked in order of most viewed.
1 – Dennis Weaver, longtime voice of Coffee County athletics, passes away. In July, Coffee County athletics lost its voice with the sudden passing of longtime play-by-play man Dennis Weaver. Beloved by all coaches and athletes he came across, Weave’s absence is palpable, even today. That likely won’t change soon. If you are looking for a positive spin, you can look at the emergence of the Dream for Weave Foundation. This foundation, in its infancy, is now open for business and accepting donations with a key mission to help athletes across Manchester. See the original coverage of Weave’s passing by clicking here.
Learn more about the Dream for Weave Foundation here.
2 – September shooter: 3 dead, others injured in carjacking and subsequent manhunt in Manchester.
Who could forget the terror that reigned on the Coffee County area on Sept. 13, 2020. A male shot and killed another inside of a vehicle while traveling on Interstate-24 through Coffee County. He subsequently carjacked multiple vehicles while eluding law enforcement in the Cannon, Warren, Coffee and Marion County areas. One hostage was later killed and the criminal committed suicide after crashing during a pursuit. It was without a doubt one of the wildest, most tragic stories to take place in the Manchester area. See some of Thunder Radio’s original coverage here:
3. Manchester Mayor Lonnie Norman passes away. There have not been a shortage of COVID-19 victims in Coffee County over the course of this year. But the passing of longtime Manchester Mayor Lonnie Norman was particularly devastating for the community. Norman served many years as both mayor and an alderman. His death drew attention from around the country. See our original story following his death here:
Next two most viewed stories:
*1 killed in 2 vehicle crash on Highway 55 in Manchester
*Franklin County man allegedly shoots wife, kids
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Suspect in burglary of The Caverns arrested
A suspect in the Nov. 22 burglary and vandalism of The Caverns in Pelham has been arrested, the Grundy County Sheriff’s Department announced on Monday.
Terry “Tee Tee” Nunley, age 33, of Palmer, was arrested Saturday in Jackson County, Alabama after an incident with police there. He has been charged with multiple crimes in Alabama, including:
Driving Under the Influence
Assault-Reckless Endangerment
Assault-Reckless Endangerment
Obstructing Police-ATEPO Attempting to Elude a Police Officer
Obstructing Police-RA Resisting Arrest
Stolen Property-RSP Buying/Receiving Stolen Property
Attempted Murder x 2
Burglary-PBT Possession of Burglars Tools
Flight/Escape-Fugitive From Justice
Tennessee department of labor reviewing unemployment extension
The Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development (TDLWD) is currently reviewing details of the CARES Act Unemployment Extension (H.R. 133) Congress recently passed and President Donald Trump signed into law.
TDLWD will provide claimants additional information regarding the next steps they need to take to receive the modified federal unemployment benefits listed in HR 133 once it has the program rules from the United States Department of Labor (USDOL).
TDLWD must wait on program guidance from the USDOL before it can begin the implementation of H.R. 133. There is no firm timeline as to when states will receive this guidance from the federal government. The state cannot pay benefits until it receives rules for these modified programs. Once that happens, TDLWD will work to implement the changes as quickly as possible to provide these much-needed benefits to eligible claimants in Tennessee.
H.R. 133 will bring additional unemployment compensation to tens of thousands of Tennesseans. It also includes new requirements to qualify for benefits from the federal programs outlined within the bill.
Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA)
* Will provide up to an additional 11 weeks of benefits, to a maximum of 50 weeks.
* Weekly certification will be required.
* Claimants will be required to provide documentation of eligibility to qualify for PUA beginning Jan. 31, 2021.
* PUA will be available until the week ending March 13, 2021 (no new applications after that date), with an allowance for three additional weeks of benefits for those who have not reached the maximum number of weeks through the week ending April 3, 2021.
Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation (FPUC)
* Will provide up to 11 weeks of an additional $300 weekly benefit to eligible claimants.
* A claimant must be eligible through a separate unemployment program to receive FPUC.
* Once implemented, FPUC will be available to cover weeks of unemployment between Dec. 27, 2020, and the week ending March 13, 2021.
Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation (PEUC)
* Will provide up to an additional 11 weeks of benefits, to a maximum of 24 weeks.
* PEUC will be available until the week ending March 13, 2021 (no new applications after that date), with an allowance of three additional weeks of benefits for those who have not reached the maximum number of weeks through the week ending April 3, 2021.
Tennessee gas prices jump to highest since March
For the first time since March, Tennessee motorists are finding prices at the pump over $2 per gallon. Tennessee gas prices, on average, continue to trend upward, rising another six cents over last week. The Tennessee Gas Price average is now $2.04 which is nearly 15 cents more than one month ago and 28 cents less than one year ago.
The average price in Coffee County is even higher at $2.09 – five cents higher than the state average.
Tennesseans who took a holiday road trip for Christmas found the lowest gas prices in two years. Tennessee gas prices averaged $2.03 on Christmas Day. That put pump prices 28 cents less than Christmas 2019 and the lowest since 2018, when pump prices averaged $2.04 per gallon.
“December has seen the biggest pump price jump of any month this year, ending with a state average 14 cents higher than it began,” said Megan Cooper, spokeswoman, AAA – The Auto Club Group. “Despite low demand, pump prices are more expensive because crude oil has seen steady gains.”
Quick Facts
· 50% of Tennessee gas stations have prices below $2.00
· The lowest 10% of pump prices are $1.86 for regular unleaded
· The highest 10% of pump prices are $2.29 for regular unleaded
· Tennessee moved to the 10th least expensive market in the nation
· Tennessee ranks 6th in the nation’s top 10 largest weekly increases
Edgar “Eddie” Lee Fletcher
Funeral services for Mr. Edgar “Eddie” Lee Fletcher will be conducted on Sunday, December 27, 2020, at 2 PM at the Pocahontas Church of Christ with Charles Williams and Ed Crook Shank officiating. Burial will follow in the Fletcher cemetery. Visitation with the family will be held at Manchester Funeral Home on Saturday, December 26 from 4 – 8 PM and also from 12 Noon until time of service Sunday at the church. Mr. Fletcher passed away on Wednesday, December 23 at St. Thomas Riverpark in McMinnville after an extended illness.
“Eddie” was born on January 6, 1940, in Manchester to the late John W. and Lucille Scott Fletcher. He was a mechanic for the Coffee County Highway Department and an elder of the Pocahontas Church of Christ. He loved tractor pulling and his family built the first pulling sled in the Manchester area in 1975. He also enjoyed playing music, especially at the Senior Citizen Center, and was the lead member of the Eddie Fletcher and the Tennessee Walkers in the ‘70s. But his greatest joy was spending time with his grandchildren and great grandchildren.
In addition to his parents, Eddie is preceded in death by his brothers, Rondall and Phillip Fletcher; sister, Gloria Bush; great grandson, Cooper Ramsey; grandson-in-law, Spencer Wayne. He is survived by his loving wife of 60 years, Beatrice Markum Fletcher; son, Douglas Fletcher and his wife, Sheila; daughters, Kim Ford and her husband, Mark, and Pam Fitzpatrick and her husband, Pat; brother, Johnny Fletcher and his wife, Pat; sister, Brenda Anderson and her husband, Marlin; grandchildren; Jason Ford and his wife, Candice, Cheetah Wayne, Jessica Bryson and her husband, Joe, Gwen Ramsey and her husband, Jason; great grandchildren, Kenzee and Jon Mark Ford, Jon Burl, Casen, and Gunner Bryson, Chandler and John Spencer Wayne, Emilia Ramsey; sisters-in-law, Faye Fletcher and Linda Fletcher; brother-in-law, Truman Bush; several nieces and nephews and a host of friends.
In lieu of flowers, the family request donations be made to the Pocahontas Church of Christ in memory of Mr. Fletcher.
Donald York
A Celebration of Life for Mr. Donald York, age 68, of Beechgrove, will be conducted from 1:00 until 3:00 PM on Wednesday, December 30, 2020, at Coffee County Funeral Chapel. Mr. York passed from this life on Thursday, December 24, 2020, at St. Thomas – Rutherford in Murfreesboro, TN.
Donald was born in Chattanooga, TN, on January 7, 1952, the son of the late William and Linnie York. He was a supervisor at AEDC for many years. Donald loved fishing, hunting, and going metal detecting. He enjoyed taking trips to the beach and had an amazing sense of humor. He was a loving husband, father, brother, and grandfather.
Donald is survived by his loving wife, Kay York; one son, John York (Jennifer); three daughters, Jenny Armstrong (Donnie), Samantha Moore (Matt) and Amelia Whiting; one sister, Barbara Bullard; four grandchildren, Stone York, Tanner York, Lacey York, and Gavin Coker.
Coffee County Funeral Chapel is honored to serve the York family.
You may sign the online guestbook at www.coffeecountyfuneralchapel.com.
Charles Edward Broadrick, Sr.
Broadrick, Sr., Charles Edward, of Tullahoma, passed this life on Friday, December 25th, 2020 at his home, surrounded by his family at the age of 87. Mr. Broadrick was born in Tullahoma to the late Roy and Ethel Garner Broadrick. During his life he owned and operated Broadrick Auto Supply and was a member of Wilson Avenue Church of Christ. In addition to his parents, Mr. Broadrick was preceded in death by five brothers, Eugene, Archie, Ross, Roy and Leighton Broadrick; and one infant sister, Ethel Florence Broadrick. He is survived by his loving wife, Joyce Broadrick; one son, Chuck Broadrick and his wife Tracy; one sister, Joyce Winton; and one granddaughter, Tabbitha Anders and her husband Don. Visitation will be held on Thursday, December 31st, 2020 at Kilgore Funeral Home from 5:00-8:00pm. Funeral services will be held on Friday, January 1st, 2021 at 11:00am in the Kilgore Funeral Home Chapel with Bro. Randy Davis officiating. Burial will follow at Rose Hill Memorial Gardens.
Kilgore Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Jeanne Willis Bryant
Bryant, Jeanne Willis, of Newport News, Virginia, passed this life on Friday, December 25th, 2020 at her family’s home in Estill Springs, surrounded by her children. Jeanne was born in Morehead City, North Carolina in August of 1932 to the late Fredrick Earl Willis and Virginia Guthrie Willis. and moved to the Hampton/Newport News, Virginia area when she and her two sisters were in Junior High School. She graduated from Hampton High School in the Class of 1950 where she was a member of the cheerleading squad and a devoted “Crabber”. Jeanne and her husband, Buddy Bryant lived in the Grandview area where they raised their 3 children. Jeanne followed Buddy’s and son, Tom’s interest in sports through fast-pitch softball in Fox Hill, Little League, Pony League, American Legion, and Newport News Shipyard Apprentice School baseball. Her role as “fan in the stands” continued into basketball season starting with Youth leagues followed by teams at Spratley Junior High, and Kecoughtan High School. Jeanne worked for and retired from the State of Virginia Division of Motor Vehicles in 1987. After retirement, she and Buddy moved to Tennessee to join their daughter, Diane and assist with the newly expanded Olympia Health and Racquet Center in Tullahoma. Their son, Tom managed the fitness center, Buddy became the Racquet Sports coordinator and Jeanne learned to play tennis at the age of 55. She and Buddy returned to their home in Hampton Virginia in 1994 where they continued their tennis involvement as a part of several local tennis groups at the Hampton Tennis Center and Newport News Centre Court. Jeanne continued to play women’s doubles until fall of 2011 when she retired her tennis racquet at the age of 79. Her final 5 years she resided at the Arbors in Port Warwick where her daughter, Barbara was a frequent visitor. Jeanne was an avid Bridge and Dominoes player, loyal UVA sports supporter, and matriarch of a network of her extended family and friends. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Buddy Bryant; one sister, Norma Armstrong; and one son-in-law, Arthur Wilson. Jeanne is survived by one son, Tom Bryant (Doris) of Mechanicsville, Virginia; and two daughters, Barbara Bryant of Winston-Salem, North Carolina, and Diane Bryant (Ron Mayes) of Estill Springs; one sister, Mary Mosby (Bob) of Virginia Beach, Virginia; three grandchildren, Kaitlin Botts (Chris), Chase Bryant and Rachel Bryant; and one great-granddaughter, Mia Botts. A memorial service is planned for late spring at R. Hayden Smith Funeral Home in Hampton, Virginia.
Kilgore Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.