Josh Peterson

The body of Lane Frame, a 12-year old Manchester boy who went missing after he as swept of a pier in Frankfort, Michigan, has been found.

After extensive searching since Monday, authorities in Benzie County, Michigan confirmed that Lane’s body was discovered Wednesday at noon.

Lane and his family were in Michigan on vacation. Witnesses say that water swept the family off the pier and into Lake Michigan. Also swept into the water were an 11-year old boy and a 50-year old aunt. These two were able to get back to safety.

Tennessee voters who request an absentee by-mail ballot for the Nov. 3 election can track the status of their ballot on the Secretary of State’s website using the Absentee By-Mail Ballot Status Tracker tool.

Through this tool, Tennessee voters can easily and securely track their absentee by-mail ballot’s status starting when the county election commission mails the ballot to the voter and ending when the completed ballot has been received by the county election commission. Visit the Absentee By-Mail Ballot Status Tracker at tnmap.tn.gov/voterlookup (https://t.e2ma.net/click/65l9nmb/yvgckg/2yhipwn).

“We saw a record number of Tennesseans voting absentee by-mail in the August election and we expect to break that record in November,” said Secretary of State Tre Hargett. “Many of these voters are voting absentee by-mail for the first time. Our online tracking tool takes some of the uncertainty out of the process so voters can be confident about their ballot.”

Voters must have a legal reason to vote absentee by-mail. A list of legal reasons to vote by-mail may be found at sos.tn.gov/products/elections/absentee-voting (https://t.e2ma.net/click/65l9nmb/yvgckg/iriipwn).

To receive an absentee by-mail ballot, you must submit a written request to your local election commission by mail, fax or email. Voters can find the contact information for their county election commission on our website, tnsos.org/elections/election_commissions.php (https://t.e2ma.net/click/65l9nmb/yvgckg/yjjipwn).

Absentee by-mail ballot requests must be received by your election commission no later than seven (7) days before the election. The deadline to request a ballot for the Nov. 3 election is Tuesday, Oct. 27.

Completed absentee by-mail ballots must be returned by-mail to your local county election commission. Voters are encouraged to request and return their absentee by-mail ballots early in order to ensure deadlines are met. Ballots must be received before the polls close on Election Day, Tuesday, Nov. 3. A first-class stamp is required to return a ballot through the U.S. Postal Service.

For the latest information on the Nov. 3 election, follow the Secretary of State’s social media channels Twitter: @SecTreHargett (https://t.e2ma.net/click/65l9nmb/yvgckg/eckipwn), Facebook: Tennessee Secretary of State (https://t.e2ma.net/click/65l9nmb/yvgckg/u4kipwn) and Instagram: @tnsecofstate (https://t.e2ma.net/click/65l9nmb/yvgckg/axlipwn).

For more information about voting absentee by-mail or tracking your ballot, go to GoVoteTN.com (https://t.e2ma.net/click/65l9nmb/yvgckg/qpmipwn), contact your local county election commission or call the Division of Elections toll-free at 1-877-850-4959.

September is National Childhood Obesity awareness month. Unity Medical Center wants to be sure our community is aware of the adverse risks that come along with childhood obesity.

The problem is more common than you might think – about 1 in 5 children in the United States is obese (20 percent), while even more are overweight and in danger of obesity.

Children with obesity are at risk for chronic health conditions and diseases as they age, leading to shorter life expectancy and greater risk for other diseases.

For example, obese children are at a higher risk for asthma, sleep apnea, bone and joint problems and type 2 diabetes. This can also lead to heart disease, high blood pressure and high cholesterol.

There are other factors to consider – such as adverse mental effects. Obese children are more likely to be bullied and teased – this can lead to social isolation, depression and low self-esteem.

There are many factors that can lead to childhood obesity. Luckily, many of these are controllable for parents and caregivers. Here are a few tips for helping control childhood obesity.

Causes of childhood obesity include:
*Too much time spent being inactive.
*lack of sleep
*lack of places to go in the community to get physical activity
*Easy access to inexpensive, high calorie foods and sugary beverages
*Lack of access to affordable, healthy foods.

As parents, there are steps you can take. Be sure to pay attention to the following steps recommended by our friends at the CDC:

*Provide nutritious, low-calorie foods such as natural fruits and vegetables in place of sugary foods and fats
*Ensure your child drinks plenty of water from an early age. Limit sugary drinks and juices
*Children should get 60 minutes of physical activity each day. This leads to controlled weight and also helps control other weight-factors, such as sleep and reduced anxiety and stress.
*Ensure proper sleep habits. Children 6-12 years-old should actually be getting 9-12 hours of sleep per 24 hours. Children 13-18 should be sleeping 8-10 hours per 24 hours.
*Be a role model! If your child sees you eating properly and exercising, they are likely to follow

Unity Medical Center is located at 481 Interstate Dr. in Manchester, Tenn. Follow them on Facebook.

The Coffee County Fair continues on Thursday.

Thursday is 2-for-1 rides at the Coffee County Fair – two people ride for the price of one. For entertainment, the talent show starts in the grandstands at approximately 6:30 p.m.

Admission on Thursday is $5. See the complete fair book by clicking here. 

We have tragic news to report out of Michigan that involves a Coffee County family.

News outlets in Michigan are reporting that rescue crews are searching for a 12-year old boy after he was swept off the Frankfort Pier on Monday.

Authorities say that no recovery was made on Monday and the situation is no longer a rescue mission, but instead a search and recovery situation.

The family was visiting from Tennessee when three children were swept off the pier. A family member was able to rescue two children, according to reports, but the 12-year old boy is still missing as of Tuesday afternoon.

Thunder Radio is choosing not to release names.