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Local United Way accepts grants; calls for donations
The United Way of Highway 55 believes that all our neighbors deserve a chance to succeed and live a vibrant life here at home. We support these areas that build a good quality of life and a strong community – Education, Income, Health, and Basic Essentials.
United Way prides itself on being a safe, effective outlet for donors to make a difference in their community. We raise funds from a variety of individuals and businesses, pooling donated resources, and organize fundraisers so we can make significant grants to nonprofit agencies in Coffee, Moore, and Warren Counties. We distribute funds strategically to our 16 partner local nonprofits four times a year. All donated dollars stay in those 3 counties supporting our nonprofits and community. The pandemic has hit our nonprofits hard and they need your support to continue their missions-that strengthen and help our neighbors in this community.
United Way of Highway 55 would like to thank The Robert & Jill Coon Foundation for donating $2,600 and Caterpillar Inc. for matching the donation totaling $5,200. Caterpillar is the world’s leading manufacturer of construction and mining equipment, diesel and natural gas engines, industrial gas turbines and diesel-electric locomotives. The company principally operates through three primary segments – Construction Industries, Resource Industries and Energy & Transportation – and provides financing and related services through its Financial Products segment. On behalf of United Way of Highway 55, we would like to thank all our donors that allow us to carry out our missions in our community.
For more information about United Way of Highway 55 go to http://highway55unitedway.org/ or visit our Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/Hwy55UnitedWay/ to stay up to date on local news and events! Go to our website to DONATE or set up an employee deduction/give program at your work. Contact Ashley Abraham at Director@Highway55UnitedWay.org. Thank you!
Final home high school football game cancelled
Coffee County Central High School’s final home football game of the season has been cancelled.
The Raiders were set to host the Riverdale Warriors at 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 30.
Central High School athletic director Rebecca Koger told Thunder Radio News on Wednesday morning that the game has been cancelled and will not be made up.
It was scheduled to be senior night. Koger said the team will work something out for a later date to celebrate seniors.
The cancellation is just one of many cancellations across the state this season because of COVID-19 related issues. Just in Coffee County’s region alone, Blackman High School had to miss two games and Rockvale shut its season down two weeks early.
Coffee County finishes the season with a 4-5 record and did not qualify for the TSSAA football playoffs.
Jacob Rutledge qualifies for state XC meet
Central High School cross country runner Jacob Rutledge is headed to the state cross country meet.
Rutledge finished third overall in the regional meet Tuesday to qualify for the state meet, which will be November 5.
The Raider team finished fourth overall – just 11 points shy from qualifying for the state meet as a team.
Garrett Masters placed 19th for the Raiders with a personal best time.
Meanwhile, for the girls Patricia Barrera placed 16th and Kailee Rossman 29th.
Lady Rocket sixth grade team falls in overtime
Westwood’s sixth grade Lady Rocket basketball team dropped a heartbreaker Tuesday night in Manchester.
Lady Rocket Jules Ferrell hit two free throws to tie the game with 1 second left in regulation, but the Rockets couldn’t keep up in overtime and fell to North 38-35.
Westwood was led in scoring by Ferrell with 16 points. Reece Finch added 14 points, Faythe Irons 4 and Anna Reed 2.
Westwood’s sixth grade team returns to the floor for a 6 p.m. game against Warren County Thursday in Manchester.
CHS FOOTBALL: Ticket info for Raiders’ final game
If you plan to attend the final Central High School football game of the 2020 season, you will need to purchase tickets in advance.
Paper tickets will be on sell Wednesday and Thursday between 8 a.m. and 2 p.m. at the CHS main office – anyone can purchase tickets on either day. Cost is $7 per ticket.
If you would prefer to purchase tickets digitally, you can do so at www.gofan.co
No tickets will be sold at the gate.
Coffee County will host Riverdale at 7 p.m. Friday. It is senior night.
The game will be broadcast live on Thunder Radio. Friday Night Thunder Pregame Show (delivered by Riddle Trucking) begins at 6 p.m.
Former Winchester Police Officer arrested for second time in past week
A former Winchester Police Department officer who was fired last week after an arrest in Manchester on charge of domestic violence has been arrested again.
Tristan Delacruz was originally arrested in Manchester on Oct. 20 for domestic assault. He posted $2,000 bond.
On Monday, Oct. 26, Delacruz is reported to have been arrested again – this time booked into the Franklin County Jail. This time Delacruz faces charges of domestic assault, two counts of interfering with an emergency call, two counts of vandalism, theft of property, false imprisonment and harassment. He was released on $50,000 bond.
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Police apprehend man who escaped from Justice Center on Tuesday
Police quickly apprehended an escapee Tuesday after he escaped from transport officers at the Coffee County Justice Center on Hillsboro Blvd.
Terrance Moore was sentenced to the Coffee County Jail Tuesday for non-violent offenses. Just before Moore was loaded into the transport vehicle at the Coffee County Justice Center, authorities say he took off while in handcuffs.
A joint effort between the Coffee County Sheriff’s Department and Manchester Police Department led to Moore being taken back into custody near Ramsey Street and the nearby railroad tracks within about 20 minutes.
According to Frank Watkins with the Coffee County Sheriff’s Department, additional charges will be added relating to Moore’s escape.
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No event this year for Sportsmen; organization asks for contributions
In a letter to its members, Sportsmen and Businessmen’s Charitable Organization announced what many already assumed – that there will not be an annual fundraising event this year for the first time in decades due to COVID-19 pandemic.
However, the organization remains committed to serving the community and is asking for donations to continue to help aid in that mission.
“SBCO is still committed to helping those in our community by providing financial assistance to those in need,” SBCO president Carter Sain said in the letter. “It feels very unnatural for our volunteers to enter this fall without planning an SBCO event. Since SBCO continues to provide the same critical support to this community in 2020 and beyond, your donations are needed, requested and tax deductible 501c3.”
Anyone wishing to make contributions can direct your 2020 donations to SBCO PO Box 521 Manchester, TN. 37349
MIDDLE SCHOOL BASKETBALL: Lady Raiders demolish East in season opener
Blowout is not a word that does justice to what the Coffee Middle School Lady Raiders did to East Tullahoma Monday night.
Absolute domination would be more appropriate.
Eighth grade Lady Raiders Olivia Vinson and Channah Gannon each racked up 20 points and the Lady Raiders rolled to a 66-2 beating of the Lady Panthers at Tullahoma High school.
Eight different Lady Raiders were able to score points in the season-opening win. Natalie Barnes put up 8 points for CMS, Ava McIntosh 2, Addi Sartain 4, Sophie McInturff 8, Peyton Graham 2 and Ella Arnold 2.
The Lady Raiders return to the floor Thursday in another CTC conference game at South. The Lady Raiders first home game will be Monday, Nov. 2. Tip is set for 6 p.m. and that game will be broadcast live on Thunder Radio as part of the Hometown Sports Series on Thunder Radio, presented by Mid Tenn Turf.
MIDDLE SCHOOL BASKETBALL: Raiders make furious comeback, fall short in opener at East
Coffee County made a furious comeback, including 21 points in the fourth quarter, but couldn’t overcome a 19-point halftime deficit in a 54-50 loss to East Tullahoma Monday night at Tullahoma High School.
The Raiders spent most of the night at the free-throw line, hitting 16-of-27 at the charity stripe.
Cole Pippenger led the way for the Raiders with 15 points. Colter Neel added 8, including a perfect 4-for-4 night at the free-throw line. Evan Kirby added 12 points in the post, Brady Wright 9 and Brennan Young 6.
The Raiders actually outrebounded East on both ends of the floor, pulling down 14 offensive boards and 13 defensive boards to the Panthers’ 10 each. Turnovers were an issues for CMS, especially in the first half. The Raiders turned it over 16 times – 11 in the first two quarters.
CMS outscored East 34-20 in the second half. Keegan Taylor led both teams in scoring with 16 points for the Panthers.
The Red Raiders return to the floor Thursday in another CTC conference game at South. The Raiders’ first home game will be Monday, Nov. 2. Tip is set for 7 p.m. and that game will be broadcast live on Thunder Radio as part of the Hometown Sports Series on Thunder Radio, presented by Mid Tenn Turf.