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Manchester Annual Halloween Safe on the Square has been cancelled
The annual Safe on the Square trick-or-treating event that draws thousands of children to the Manchester downtown square every Halloween will not take place this year.
In a joint statement, Manchester Mayor Lonnie Norman and Coffee County Children’s Advocacy Center executive director Joyce Prusak (which organizes the event) announced Tuesday that the event will not take place “in the interest of everyone’s health and well-being.”
“This was a difficult decision as this event has become a community tradition and something so many children look forward to annually,” the joint statement reads. “However, we both agreed that it was the appropriate decision at this time. Coffee County Children’s Advocacy Center will work hard to bring Safe on the Square back in 2021 bigger and better than ever.”
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COVID-19 update for Monday, Sept. 7
There are 122 active cases of COVID-19 in Coffee County as of Monday afternoon, according to Tennessee Department of Health.
Seven COVID-19 related deaths have been reported in Coffee County.
Since March, there have been a total of 834 cases in Coffee County. Of these, 705 are inactive or recovered and seven have passed away.
Across the state, there are currently 826 people hospitalized with COVID-19 related issues. That is 18 fewer than the previous day and over 40 fewer than two days prior.
Schools return to normal learning schedules Tuesday
Local schools are off the A/B Hybrid plan beginning Tuesday and will return to in-school classroom learning.
Coffee County Schools, Manchester City Schools and Tullahoma City Schools are all returning to traditional learning Tuesday, Sept. 9. It wasn’t long after schools started in August when all three systems went to a hybrid model, bringing students to the buildings on certain days.
Coffee County School System students will only be attending Monday through Thursday, with Friday remaining as an at-home learning day for students.
Three MPD officers recognized
Local businessman Jay Kalvala teamed up with Manchester citizen Gene Holmes to launch a project with the intention of recognizing and honoring all police officers with the Manchester Police Department.
The pair began on Friday, Sept. 4, when they joined the police department at Manchester City Hall to recognize three of the department’s longest serving officers. Honored were Dwight Vandagriff, Debbie Guffey and Alberto Garza.
The pair said they intend to keep going until all officers at MPD are recognized for their hard work and sacrifice for the safety of the community.
Pictured, top left, are Holmes, Guffey and Kalvala. Pictured top right are Holmes, Garza and Kalvala. Pictured bottom are Holmes, Kalvala and Vandagriff. Photos by Thunder Radio.
Raiders fall to Blackman; open week before Siegel
Coffee County Central looked to be going into halftime within striking distance of Blackman and possession of the ball coming to start the second half Friday night in Murfreesboro.
But on the final play of the first half, Blackman quarterback Drew Beam scrambled and found a wide open Todd Lark standing in the end zone from 32 yards out as time expired to send Coffee County into the locker room trailing 28-6 and deflated.
Coffee County was unable to recover, falling 44-6. The loss drops the Raiders to 1-2 on the season, 0-1 in Region 3-6A play.
Coffee County’s only points came on field goals from Ian Weldon, who connected from 36 yards out to make the score 14-3 at the end of the first quarter and connected again from 24 yards out late in the first half.
Unofficially, Raider quarterback Conner Shemwell was 5-of-15 through the air for 112 yards. The Raiders were missing two key weapons offensively – starting receiver and backup tailback Matthew Pittman, along with starting tailback Marshall Haney. Third string running back Konor Heaton picked up the majority of the carries for the Raiders, going 20 yards on 10 carries.
It was a late game sub – sophomore Tristan Galey – who sparked the Raider offense. Galey ripped off 29 yards on four carries, all of them tough yards. Galey was named Mid Tenn Turf Player of the Game.
Coffee County has an open week with no opponent on Sept. 11. The Raiders return to the field Friday, Sept. 18 to host Siegel in a region game.
CHS volleyball reschedules home match with Columbia
Central High School volleyball team has announced that it has rescheduled its volleyball match with Columbia for 2 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 2.
This will be a varsity only contest and there will be no concession stand available.
This match was postponed recently due to COVID-19 concerns from Columbia.
The Lady Raider volleyball team is currently unbeaten.
Prep Sports Schedule Tuesday, Sept. 8
9 a.m. – CHS Golf at Keith Maxwell Invitational at McMinnville Country Club
CHS Cross Country at MSCCA meet at Henry Horton State Park
6:30 p.m. – CHS Freshman football AT Shelbyville
6:30 p.m. – CMS football vs. North* First National Bank Hometown Sports Series Broadcast
Friday police pursuit leads to crash, lockdowns
Shortly after 11 a.m. on Friday, Sept. 4., a police pursuit initiated by Tennessee Highway Patrol ended in a crash on Madison St. near the Coffee County Justice Center.
The suspect then eluded police on foot for about an hour, forcing a lockdown of the Coffee County Justice Center and a soft lockdown of all Manchester City Schools. A helicopter was used to help search along with multiple law enforcement agencies.
Manchester Police Department canine officer Nalty (pictured below with handler Daryn Gadeken) was able to help track the suspect. It is unclear what led to the initiation of the pursuit.
Annual One Day of Hope will not happen this October; rescheduled to spring
The annual One Day of Hope that is held at the Coffee County Fairgrounds and was planned for Oct. 24, 2020 has been postponed.
Ray Marcrom, president of One Day of Hope, said that the event is being rescheduled because “due to shortages we were unable to obtain quantities of food or hygiene items needed.”
Tentatively, organizers plan to reschedule for March of 2021.
Marcrom added that they plan to have an October 2021 event as well.
The One Day of Hope annually provides meals, clothing, health screening, job placement and other services to those in need of assistance.
Last year, approximately 2,750 guests were served, 451 medical services were provided, 132 dental patients were seen, 3,200 meals were distributed, 2,250 bags of groceries plus fresh produce, 295 Bibles were distributed, 4,000 children’s books were distributed, 85 people received job counseling, 126 people received hair cuts and 131 family photos were taken.
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Coffee County COVID-19 update
There are currently 123 active cases of COVID-19 virus in Coffee County, according to data provided by Tennessee Department of Health.
There has also been a seventh COVID-19 related death reported over the weekend in Coffee County.
Across the state, there are currently 819 people hospitalized with COVID-19 related complications. This is 27 fewer than the previous day.