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Freshman Raiders strong on defense, fall to Riverdale 12-7
The Coffee County Freshman football team was stout defensively against visiting Riverdale Monday night, but struggled to get the offense going in a 12-7 loss at Carden-Jarrell Field.
Riverdale intercepted a screen pass and returned it for a touchdown in the first quarter to take a 6-0 lead. Coffee County blocked both Riverdale extra point attempts on the night.
Coffee County finally got on the board late in the first half when quarterback Jackson Shemwell connected with Jaden Foster, who turned a screen into a 30-yard score.
The second half was about dominating defense for both teams. The Raiders picked up a goal-line stand when Riverdale got first-and-goal inside the five to force a turnover on downs. CHS stopped another scoring threat when Cole Fowler intercepted a Warrior pass in the end zone.
The freshman Raiders will return home Monday Sept. 21 for a 6:30 p.m. kick against White County.
CMS volleyball sweeps Warren County, now 8-3
In a match you heard on Thunder Radio as part of the First National Bank sports series, the Coffee County Middle School volleyball team picked up a 2-0 sweep of visiting Warren County Tuesday.
CMS won 25-18 and 25-18 in two sets.
The win improves the Lady Raiders to 8-3 on the season. CMS returns to action Tuesday, hosting South Franklin. The junior varsity will start at 5 p.m. with the varsity to follow at about 6 p.m.
Late Gostkowski kick lifts Titans over Broncos in sloppy season opener
By Jim Wyatt, Titans Online
Titans kicker Stephen Gostkowski has kicked in Super Bowls, and he has three rings to show for it.
Over the last decade, in fact, he’s been one of the NFL’s very best kickers.
But on Monday night (in a game you heard on Thunder Radio), he had a game he’d like to forget … until the very end.
That’s when Gostkowski stepped up and kicked the game-winner in the team’s 16-14 win over the Broncos.
“It’s definitely an opportunity I didn’t deserve, but grateful I got it for the team,” Gostkowski said. “The guys that went out there and busted their butt, I really put them in a tough spot – you don’t always get that lucky to get a chance to redeem yourself. I am just happy the guys got to celebrate.
“I am disappointed in myself, and embarrassed and frustrated. But at the end of the day we won, and luckily guys are happy going home.”
Gostkowski missed on kicks of 47, 44 (blocked) and 42 for the Titans before he got a chance to kick the game-winner – from 25 yards out, with just 17 seconds left.
It was the 10th career game-winning kick for Gostkowski, a former Patriot.
After the game, Gostkowski said he took the sock off his right foot because it’s a routine he worked with during the summer with success.
“I would have taken my pants off to make that last kick to try something different,” he said with a smile.
The Titans, who had issues at the kicking position last year, signed Gostkowski to solve their problems.
The three-time Super Bowl champion is the Patriots all-time leading scorer, and heading into the game he was ranked 12th in NFL annals with 1,775 career points and 374 field goals. Gostkowski’s 87.4 percent field goal accuracy rate heading into the 2020 season was the highest in Patriots history and fifth in NFL history.
Gostkowski, in a video conference call after the game, thanked his teammates for sticking with him.
“I am just disappointed in myself that I couldn’t bounce back quicker – that is something I usually pride myself on … and it just snowballed. I have to hold my head high and move on to the next one,” he said.
“I just got here, and to come out there and play like that … For guys to support me like that, it was pretty cool. I was grateful for the opportunity at the end, because the guys deserved to win.”
TBI: Dorsey executed hostage in front of wife
Tennessee Bureau of Investigation on Monday released the names of the deceased from Sunday’s path of destruction left by Dangelo Dorsey.
Deceased are Darcey Johnson, age 28, who was shot and killed by Dorsey inside the Dodge Charger the men were traveling in Sunday morning.
Also shot and killed was hostage Phillip Jordan Stevens, age 23.
TBI has clarified some facts surrounding the timeline of Sunday’s events. Following the shooting inside of his vehicle, Dorsey exited and carjacked a nearby vehicle.
Dorsey then approached a nearby truck and, during an exchange with the driver, shot that driver in the face. At this point, Dorsey approached another driver and shot her through the car’s window when she attempted to drive away, striking her in the hand.
At this point, Dorsey drove away and later rear-ended a Ford Mustang driven by Stevens and his wife.
Believing it was a fender bender, Stevens and his wife stopped, at which point Dorsey took them hostage at gunpoint.
Dorsey forced the hostages to drive him to their home in Morrison. When they arrived, it appears Dorsey took two additional firearms from the home, swapped vehicles to a blue Toyota Rav4 and forced the couple to accompany him. At some point Dorsey separated them and executed Jordan Stevens in the view of his wife. He then forced Stevens’ wife back into a Rav4 and returned to the interstate. He later dumped Stevens’ body in Coffee County.
A high speed chase later ensued, Dorsey crashed the Rav4 with the female hostage in the vehicle. Following the crash, Dorsey shot and killed himself.
Jordan Stevens was a 2015 graduate of Warren County High School. Click here to contribute to a GoFundMe for the family. Click here to contribute. Reports are that the female hostage, Aileen Stevens, is pregnant.
TBI asks that if anyone in the public has information, pictures, video, or details that might help in this case, call 1-800-TBI-FIND. (Top photo is Phillip Jordan Stevens and wife Aileen. )
Coffee County COVID-19 update Monday, Sept. 14
There are now 175 active cases of COVID-19 virus in Coffee County as of Monday afternoon, according to numbers provided by Tennessee Department of Health.
This is an increase of 28 cases from the previous day. There have been 9 COVID-19 related deaths reported in Coffee County.
Since March, there have been 959 cases of the virus reported in Coffee County. Coffee County’s total estimated population is 57,000.
Across the state, there was an increase of 1,488 cases from Sunday to Monday, according to TDH.
Work search requirement resumes for unemployment claimants in Tennessee
The Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development (TDLWD) will once again ask unemployment claimants to complete weekly work searches beginning Sunday, Oct. 4.
Claimants who choose to continue receiving unemployment benefits will start work search activities during the week of Sunday, Sept. 27. They will then document those searches during their weekly certification for Sunday, Oct. 4, 2020, and each week after that date.
Claimants who have a definitive return to work date due to a temporary layoff do not need to complete this requirement.
Self-employed workers can fulfill the requirement by completing business improvement or enhancement activities.
Out of Work: Not Job Attached: Claimants who are out of work, and do not have a job to return to, will be required to complete weekly job searches.
Out of Work: Job Attached: Claimants who are temporarily laid off or furloughed, but expect to return to their previous employer, are not required to complete weekly job searches
Self-employed: Work search activities for those individuals who are self-employed and on the PUA program may include calling on clients, submitting bids or proposals, applying for contract or gig work, and or attend training. They should continue taking proactive steps to reopen their business. If they do not plan to reopen their business, they must complete a work registration and seek work.
Union Workers: Claimants, who are union workers, and attained employment through their union hiring hall, are not required to complete weekly job searches.
COVID-19: Claimants who are out of work due to one of the COVID-19 reasons listed in the CARES Act may be exempt from performing job searches if they self-certify that they are unable to look for work due to one of the designations and are otherwise able and available.
The Reemploy Tennessee program can assist claimants with fulfilling the job search requirement and put them on the path to new employment or job training.
Jobs4TN.gov combines the Department’s Unemployment Division and its Workforce Services Division into a powerful workforce development tool for Tennesseans searching for a new job. This integration allows claimants access to more than 210,000 current job openings across the state, career services, and job training opportunities – all online.
For one-on-one assistance, career specialists at Tennessee’s more than 80 American Job Centers can work with job seekers to provide customized job searches, job fairs, Reemployment Services, and Eligibility Assessment (RESEA) appointments, and help them determine if job training assistance is available.
Career specialists can also work with a claimant to find free or reduced costs for transportation, childcare, uniforms, or other requirements needed to make a successful return to Tennessee’s workforce.
All these services are provided by the state of Tennessee at no cost to the job seeker.
Traditional job search methods also satisfy the requirement to remain eligible to receive benefits.
If a claimant fails to complete their work searches, they will be denied benefits for the week they did not meet eligibility requirements.
Gas prices continue downward trend ahead of Hurricane Sally
The Tennessee gas price average continues to trend lower as Hurricane Sally moves toward the Gulf Coast. The Tennessee Gas Price average is now $1.94 which is down three cents from last week, three cents more than one month ago and 34 cents less than one year ago.
The average price per gallon of regular unleaded gasoline in Coffee County is $1.91, according to AAA.
“We have not seen much of an impact on gasoline prices ahead of the storm thus far, but that could change this week depending on the severity of the storm,” said Megan Cooper, spokesperson, AAA – The Auto Club Group. “Some price fluctuation is typical any time a storm threatens the Gulf Coast region, however, any pump price impacts will likely be contained in the region and not have a national impact. ”
Quick Facts
· 88% of Tennessee gas stations have prices below $2.00
· The lowest 10% of pump prices are $1.72 for regular unleaded
· The highest 10% of pump prices are $2.24 for regular unleaded
· Tennessee is the 9th least expensive market in the nation
Study finds Tennessee among best states for home ownership
With mortgage rates falling and a renewed emphasis put on living space during COVID-19, U.S. home sales have boomed.
In July, sales of previously owned homes rose 24.7%, according to the National Association of Realtors. Meanwhile, sales of new homes increased by 13.8% based on the Census’ Survey of Construction.
With homeownership top-of-mind for many people across the U.S., SmartAsset crunched the numbers to find the best states for homeowners for the sixth year running. Tennessee cracks the top half at number 20 on the list to tie with Michigan as being named one of the best states for homeowners.
Some of the reasons that Tennessee stands out… In just one year, a new homeowner in the Volunteer State should see the value of their home appreciate by 6.33%. Furthermore, the annual cost of homeowners insurance is deemed realtively low with an average cost of just over $1200 each year.
The full report, including the methodology and key findings, can be found here:
Sunday shooter is dead; body of hostage located in Coffee County
There have been two more fatalities related to this morning’s shooting on Interstate-24 in Manchester.
At approximately 4 p.m., Tennessee Highway Patrol troopers encountered allegedly shooter Dangelo Dorsey near the 154 mile marker on Interstate 24 in Marion County. Upon confronting the troopers, Dorsey allegedly shot himself and is now deceased.
Meanwhile, before being encountered by Troopers, Dorsey allegedly took two people hostage in Smartt Station, Tennessee – a small community which is located in Warren County.
Dorsey allegedly shot and killed the male hostage and dumped his body in Coffee County near Bonnaroo property. The wife of that hostage, who was also taken by Dorsey, is alive and is currently at a hospital.
Tennessee Bureau of Investigation will be aiding Coffee County Sheriff’s Department at the scene where the body of the hostage has been discovered. Names have not yet been released to the public.
ORIGINAL STORY FROM THUNDER RADIO SUNDAY MORNING, 10 A.M., SEPT. 13
One person is dead, four are injured and a shooter is at large after an argument inside a vehicle boiled over Sunday morning on Interstate-24 just north of Manchester.
According to Coffee County Sheriff’s Department investigator Billy Butler, as of 11 a.m. Sunday the alleged shooter remains at large and is believed to be driving a black Toyota Camry.
According to officials, a black Dodge Charger with four black males inside was traveling on Interstate 24. An argument that apparently boiled over from the previous day led one man to brandish a gun, shooting another male inside the vehicle. That person who was originally shot is deceased.
According to Butler, more shots were fired inside the vehicle and, possibly, two people were shooting judging by the condition of the vehicle. Two other people were struck – one was taken by ambulance and another flown to area hospitals.
One person escaped the vehicle without injury authorities say.
During this altercation, the Charger vehicle side-swiped another vehicle and the vehicles went off the road. At this time, the original shooter allegedly exited the Charger and car-jacked the crashed vehicle. Not far down the road, the shooter allegedly exited that vehicle, crossed the Interstate and car-jacked a black Toyota Camry.
“We believe he exited the interstate at the 97 mile marker. But we aren’t sure which direction he went from there. All we know is a black male inside a Toyota Camry,” Butler told Thunder Radio news.
During this process, an elderly lady was shot in the hand, according to Butler. And a truck driver who stopped to help was shot in the neck. Both are receiving treatment for their injuries.
Interstate-24 lanes in both directions are currently closed.
Manchester native and Central High School graduate Brandon Phillips and his family were traveling in the vehicle that was first side-swiped by the charger and then stolen.
“He ran us off of the interstate and held me up at gunpoint telling me to get out of my car,” Phillips said in a Facebook post. “Thank God he let my wife and Braeden get out of the car as I was getting Briley out of the back. He took my car and ran. The he ditched our car because it was so badly wrecked.”
Thunder Radio will continue to update this story as accurate information is available.
EDITOR’S NOTE: This story originally stated Dorsey shot himself and was not deceased. That was a typo and should have said now deceased.
Grant-funded unemployment benefits will end with Sept. 5 payout
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has informed the Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development (TDLWD) funding for Lost Wages Assistance (LWA) program payments will stop after the week ending Sept. 5, 2020.
FEMA funded LWA through a $44 billion grant. Once the agency depleted that funding, the program ended.
Eligible claimants will receive the additional $300 payment for the weeks ending Aug. 1, 8, 15, 22, 29, and Sept. 5.
Retroactive LWA payments will be delayed by two weeks or more after the week ending date because of the time involved in the approval process for funding, the eventual allocation of funding from FEMA, and then the time it takes the state to process payments.
Tennessee has applied for funding to cover payments for the weekend ending Aug. 29. Due to the nature of the LWA grant, payments for Aug. 29 and Sept. 5 will have a lag time. FEMA approves funding on a week-to-week basis after the state determines how many claimants are eligible to receive LWA that week.
Depending on when the state receives funding from FEMA, the additional benefit could be combined with a claimant’s weekly benefit payment or it could be deposited separately on a different date.
The LWA program is retroactive to Aug. 1, 2020, and TDLWD automatically adds the $300 to the benefit payments for eligible claimants.
If a claimant was eligible for the first three weeks of August, they received a retroactive lump sum payment. Some claimants may have been eligible for all three weeks, others may not have been eligible.
To receive the additional LWA payment, a claimant must be out of work due to COVID-19, they must earn at least $100 per week in unemployment benefits, and they must complete their required weekly certifications.
Claimants who received a message last weekend asking them to confirm they are out of work due to COVID-19 cannot receive their LWA payments until they respond to the Department’s request and confirm that detail.
Unemployment benefits starting the week ending Sept. 12 will only contain the weekly benefit amount a claimant is eligible to receive through either a state or federal unemployment program.