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Coffee County Schools now offering online registration
Coffee County Schools is pleased to announce the implementation of online registration. Online registration allows parents to save time and reduce paperwork. Overall registration time should be much shorter by following the prompts for online registration. Hard copies of some documents are still required but may also be uploaded. These include but not limited to birth certificate, immunization proof, two proofs of legal residency in Coffee County, and custodial documents if necessary. Online registration is divided into new parents to the district and existing parents.
Parents of incoming Kindergarten students are required to complete online registration at your zoned school on August 3. 2020. If your child attended Pre-K in Coffee County Schools last year, then you will be considered an existing parent.
Our student information system is hosted through Synergy. Synergy has a platform called ParentVUE. Through ParentVUE, parents can access certain information about their child such as grades and attendance. Many parents have already created a ParentVUE account. If not, the process is simple. Parents who have never accessed ParentVUE will use the activation key letter sent with final report cards in May and follow the instructions. The URL for Coffee County Schools’ ParentVUE is https://psv-coffee.tnk12.gov/COF/PXP2_Login_parent.aspx . An app is also available for download via I-phone or Android by searching ‘ParentVUE’.
Beginning July 1, 2020, existing parents with an activated account will be able to access ParentVUE for the purpose of reviewing and updating student information and to complete new academic year forms and acknowledgements by logging in and clicking Online Registration near the Logout button at the top of the page. On the next page, click Begin New Registration and follow the prompts. This process must be completed before advancing to the familiar ParentVUE screen. If you are an existing parent with returning students, have not activated your account, and have misplaced the activation key letter, then email olr@k12coffee.net for assistance.
New parents to Coffee County Schools will access the Online Registration Account Access Screen via the following URL: https://psv-coffee.tnk12.gov/COF/PXP2_OEN_Login.aspx . Users will select “more options” and then click “create new account”. Complete the next step prompts by entering required information. A confirmation email will then be sent to the email account entered. The parent will follow the instructions to complete the entire process. After submitting the completed registration, the district will review all registration information. Parents will be contacted if more information is required. Supporting documentation can be uploaded to the system or brought to the school in person. Enrollment is not complete until all enrollment requirements are satisfied.
Look for detailed guideline documents and live links to the sites listed above beginning July 1 at www.coffeecountyschools.com to assist with the process whether new to our district or an existing parent in our district.
McMinnville man shot, killed by deputies
A McMinnville man was shot and killed by officers during an armed standoff on rural Toad Road Thursday night in DeKalb County.
According to radio partners at WJLE in Smithville, 28 year old Gregorio Cruz Vanloo of McMinnville was taken by DeKalb EMS to Ascension Saint Thomas DeKalb Hospital where he was pronounced deceased.
Reports indicate that there was an armed standoff with officers of the DeKalb County Sheriff’s and Smithville Police Departments Thursday night at a residence on Toad Road.
“After we got a tip that he was at this residence on Toad Road, officers of the Sheriff’s Department and Smithville Police Department got together and went to this home trying to apprehend Vanloo. When we arrived on the scene, Vanloo was on the front porch threatening the officers and then he drew down on them with a handgun. After an exchange of gunfire with officers Vanloo was wounded and later died.”
No one else was injured.
The case remains under review by the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation and District Attorney General Bryant Dunaway.
The story began Thursday morning when Vanloo caught a ride with a woman who brought her brother to work at Los Lobos Mexican Restaurant on Broad Street. After that, Vanloo became a suspect in a “shots fired” incident at the parking lot of Los Lobos Mexican Restaurant Thursday morning.
As the woman pulled into the parking lot of the restaurant in a red car, a white Chevy Suburban, driven by her former boyfriend, Steven Christopher Shelton of McMinnville drove up beside her. According to the woman, Shelton had been harassing her even though she had an order of protection against him. After the woman’s brother jumped from the red car with a tire iron to confront Shelton, Vanloo, seated in the back seat of the red car, pulled a handgun and fired two shots into the side of the Suburban. Shelton wasn’t hit but he drove to the rear of the restaurant, parked, and then got out and took refuge inside the restaurant, entering through the back door.
After dropping off her brother, the woman then drove Vanloo to the Midway Community where he had asked her to leave him. She then returned to town.
During an investigation at the restaurant by Smithville Police, a witness to the shooting spotted the woman’s red car pulling into the parking lot of McDonald’s Restaurant and reported it. Officers went to McDonalds to confront the woman and she explained what had happened and where she had taken Vanloo.
City and county officers then began their search for Vanloo and reverse 911 calls were made to area residents alerting them to the threat and to report suspicious activity. Sheriff Ray and Chief Mark Collins said the effort paid off as tips started coming in from the community. Officers learned that Vanloo was spotted around at least two homes on Sparta Highway and that his image was captured on home surveillance there.
“While we were searching a call came in that someone had spotted a man fitting the description of our suspect getting into a red Toyota, driven by another man later identified as Gregory Michael Patton, at the corner of Evins Mill Road and Highway 70. According to the witness, the man (suspect) got into the rear seat and laid down, The car then came back into town,” said Chief Collins.
County and city officers later spotted a red Toyota matching the description on Highland Avenue and when they approached the car it sped away resulting in a pursuit which started in Smithville and traversed along several streets and county roads before heading out Short Mountain Highway and into Cannon County where the driver finally pulled over on Jim Cummings Highway near the Coffee County line. During the chase, which at times exceeded speeds of 100 miles per hour, a Be On The Lookout (BOLO) was issued and officers from the Warren County and Cannon County Sheriff’s Departments, Woodbury Police Department, and the Tennessee Highway Patrol joined in the effort to get the vehicle stopped. Warren County Sheriff Tommy Myers was also helpful to the local departments in identifying Vanloo as the suspect because of his criminal record there.
Following the chase, officers received a tip that Vanloo was at a residence on Highland Avenue where the pursuit began but upon arriving there after the tip, they discovered Vanloo had already left.
“During our search of the home, we found our suspect’s backpack. There was also a large amount of methamphetamine in the backpack. We had information earlier that Vanloo had two weapons on him at the time of the shooting at Los Lobos and we found one of the weapons among his belongings at this residence on Highland Avenue. He also had a police scanner so we knew he could monitor our movements while we were out trying to catch him,” said Chief Collins.
“We later had a report of him on foot walking by Florence & White Ford so we did another 911 reverse call to alert residents in that area,” said Sheriff Ray.
“Calls came in from people who saw men walking that matched the description and we began following up on all of those leads. We even had a call reporting someone in the bushes by Walmart. Both city and county agencies responded but it turned out not to be him. Walmart was put on lock down for a long time during that period,” said Chief Collins.
Later after receiving another tip, officers converged at the residence on Toad Road where Vanloo was found and confronted.
TBI reports that Vanloo allegedly came out of the home firing shots. As a result, officers returned fire, striking Vanloo.
Sheriff Ray said that Patton has been charged with reckless endangerment, evading arrest, and driving under the influence. He was also cited for possession of schedule II and V drugs (methamphetamine and Gabapentin).
The charges against Patton allege he tried to evade law enforcement in congested traffic driving at speeds exceeding 100 miles per hour forcing several vehicles off the roadway and going through a public housing area at excessive speeds where children were present. Patton admitted to having taken methamphetamine and heroin. His speech was slurred and he was unsteady on his feet. Patton had to be assisted to the patrol car. He had on him 0.4 grams of methamphetamine and two Gabapentin pills.
Shelton is charged with assault and violating an order of protection. His bond is $7,000 and he will make a court appearance on June 25.
“A special thanks to Warren County Sheriff Tommy Myers and his staff, Cannon County Sheriff Darrell Young and his staff, the Tennessee Highway Patrol, Woodbury Police Department, TBI, and District Attorney General Bryant Dunaway and his staff for their assistance,” said Sheriff Ray.
“We also want to thank the citizens for their support in giving us tips and for the things we have seen on facebook since this has happened along with the calls, text messages, and emails we have had in support of us through this. We want people to continue to pray for our deputies, us, and the city police officers who were there and please pray for Mr. Vanloo’s family,” said Sheriff Ray.
“We will be setting up a debriefing for our officers. That was a very tragic thing for them to have gone through. All of our officers are young and we want to make sure they are okay,” he said.
“I want to express my thanks to Sheriff Ray and his staff. They were there with us at the beginning and helped us. We couldn’t have done this without them today. We both had several officers working and we needed all of them. Its great that we live and work in a place where two agencies like ours work together. Today we started this case together and finished it together,” said Chief Collins.
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Early voting for Aug. election opens July 17; deadline to register to vote approaching
We are roughly one month away from the opening of early voting for the 2020 August primary, county general and city municipal elections.
Early voting will be July 17 through Aug. 1, with election day on Thursday, Aug. 6.
If you have not yet registered to vote, you must do so by Tuesday, July 7 to participate in the Aug. 6 election. There will be many races on the ballot, including Manchester mayor and three aldermen seats, as well as Tullahoma mayor and two aldermen seats.
To register, contact the Coffee County Election Commission at 1329 McArthur St. suite 6. Call 931-723-5103 for more information. Click here for more information about registering to vote.
Mold or standing water in your basement or crawl space?
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Tennessee secretary of state warns businesses of fraudulent form
Tennessee Secretary of State Tre Hargett is warning businesses about a mailer from a company called “TN Certificate Service.”
“We have seen mailers like this before using deceptive forms and language,” Tennessee Secretary of State Tre Hargett said. “We continuously work with the appropriate authorities to eradicate scams and misleading mailers in order to protect Tennessee business owners.”
The Secretary of State’s Division of Business Services has received several complaints about these deceptive mailers, which request a fee of $83.50 to obtain a “Certificate of Existence” from TN Certificate Service. A Certificate of Existence can be obtained directly from the Secretary of State’s office for only $20.
The misleading mailer from TN Certificate Service, titled “2020 Certificate of Existence Request Form,” has been sent to businesses across the state.
The mailer makes it appear that the 2020 Certificate of Existence Request Form is part of the business entity’s registration process: “A Certificate of Existence certifies that your Tennessee business is in existence, is authorized to transact business in the state, and complies with all state requirements.”
The mailer and organization are not affiliated with or authorized by the Secretary of State’s Office in any way.
Businesses may wish to obtain a Certificate of Existence in certain circumstances, such as a loan closing or other business transaction. However, they are not required to do so as a matter of course during the business formation process.
Secretary Hargett encourages business owners to call the Division of Business Services at 615-741-2286 if they receive such a questionable mailer or have questions about obtaining a Certificate of Existence.
To see a copy of the misleading mailer, click here.
Kill all bacteria in your home or business in 2 minutes
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Coffee County Census response nearing 2010 mark; still time to complete yours
Coffee County is nearing its Census self-response rate from the 2010 Census, and remains in the top five in the entire state of Tennessee for Census response.
According to numbers provided by the US Census Bureau on Friday, Coffee County’s self-response rate to the 2020 United States Census is 67.6 percent. The response from the 2010 census was 70 percent.
If you have not yet responded to the 2020 Census, it’s not too late. You can respond by telephone by calling this number: 1-844-330-2020. Or click this link. Completion only takes minutes. Studies show that for every person not counted in the Census, Coffee County will miss out on approximately $11,000 in federal funding.
Complete your 2020 Census now!
Completing your Census is your civic duty. And it only takes a few minutes. You don’t need anything but your home address to get started
Tullahoma splash island to open June 24
Tullahoma’s premier water park, Splash Island, plans to open for swimmers
beginning Wednesday, June 24th. The park will be open for 300 swimmers from
11am to 4pm daily. The pool will operate on this schedule until July 28th.
After that date, Splash Island will be open on Saturdays and Sundays through
Labor Day.
The Manchester Recreation center pools already opened for the summer around Memorial Day.
“Splash Island has become an important part of summer life in Tullahoma, and
we are pleased and excited to once again offer outdoor water recreation
opportunities for 2020 under the Tennessee Pledge,” said Kurt Glick, Parks
and Recreation Director. “We’re happy to be able to safely provide aquatic
services to Tullahoma’s citizens.”
As a result, Splash Island will operate with a modified schedule until all
restrictions are completely lifted. A screening process for swimmers will be
done upon entry per the Tennessee Pledge.
Southland Pharmacy - Manchester's newest pharmacy
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Westwood Rockets celebrate police, deliver steaks and drinks to MPD
In an overwhelming show of support Thursday morning, the Westwood Middle School Football players took it upon themselves to show the Manchester Police Department that it is appreciated in this community.
Westwood football players, along with head coach Chad Dyer, teamed up with Spring Street Market in Manchester and delivered uncooked steaks, baked potatoes and cases of drinks to the police department at city hall on Thursday for officers to enjoy.
“We know you all are here for us and our community,” said Shannon Fletcher, who helped organize the gifts. “We just want to give a little appreciation back to you with all the stuff that’s going on and show that you are really appreciated. We want to thank you.”
Football players made their way to city hall after morning practice and even brought signs of support with them. Manchester Police Department officials were grateful for the gifts.
(Below photos by Josh Peterson, Thunder Radio)
LAWSON: ‘Impossible to make solid plans for 2020-21 school year’
“Coffee County Schools Director Dr. Charles Lawson issued a lengthy statement Thursday afternoon, stating that while the school system has a goal to open as normal as possible, the system is creating a plan to enhance student safety.
“It is impossible at this point to make solid plans for the opening of schools in the fall of 2020. The ever-changing climate that has been created by COVID-19 means a constant series of adjustments are being made. This has not prevented Coffee County Schools from moving forward and preparing to educate our students in the coming school year,” the statement reads.
“The goal of Coffee County Schools is for the opening of schools to look as normal as possible. The district has spent time creating a plan to allocate CARES Act funding to enhance our students safety at school and positively affect any learning that must happen at home. Discussions with the other school districts in our county are being held in order to share ideas and see if practices can be streamlined. A series of “toolkits” provided by the state department of education will be utilized to make additional preparations.
“While a normal start is desired, preparations are being made for alternatives. If distance learning must occur in the coming year, there will be requirements placed on both teachers and students that will reflect these preparations. Students will be required to complete assignments and grades will be taken. Teachers are being offered layered professional development this summer that should lay a strong foundation for effective distance education and enhance in-classroom instruction.
“Coffee County Schools is planning to start school and remain on the existing school calendar as much as possible. Guidance from the state and various health agencies will ultimately provide a framework under which schools can be opened. As soon as firm guidance is given, Coffee County Schools will provide a plan to the public and final preparations will be made for the new school year.”
Coffee County Schools name new family resource coordinator
Coffee County School system announced Thursday that it has hired Carrie Davis as the Family Resource Coordinator in the student support services department. Davis takes over for Taylor Rayfield, who left the system to take a position with the Tennessee State Department of Education.
“Carrie’s past education work experience and community connections will benefit us greatly in this position. We are excited Carrie is joining Team Coffee,” the school system said.
Thunder Radio has scheduled an interview to introduce Carrie to the community in the near future.
Temporary closure set for Kings Landing boat ramp in McMinnville
The Kings Landing Boat Ramp, off Great Falls Road in Warren County, will be temporarily closed starting Monday, June 15 through Wednesday, August 1, according to TWRA.
Closures will include the construction of a permanent crane access path as well as debris removal and dredging in front of the intake structures on the Collins River.
TWRA Captain Matt Clarey stated, “We appreciate the work being done at the boat ramp. Although the closure is a bit longer this year, the building of the permanent crane path will allow for shorter closures of the ramp in future years.”
Dredging of the intake at Great Falls Dam intake area is part of the area’s routine maintenance. TVA conducts regular inspections and maintenance on all its dams as part of its rigorous Dam Safety program. Those seeking boat ramp location information should visit tnwildlife.org
For more information about this project or the dam visit tva.org