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No road construction for Memorial Day travelers in Tennessee
Road Construction will not delay motorists as they travel Tennessee’s highways this Memorial Day weekend. The Tennessee Department of Transportation will suspend all construction-related lane closures on interstates and state routes beginning at noon on Friday, May 27 through 6:00 a.m. on Tuesday, May 31. This will provide maximum roadway capacity for motorists expected to travel in the state this Memorial Day weekend.
“Suspending construction-related lane closures during the Memorial Day weekend will lessen congestion and delays on Tennessee’s major highways,” said Interim Commissioner Joe Galbato. “We want to do our part to help everyone have an enjoyable and safe holiday weekend and keep traffic flowing as smoothly and efficiently as possible.”
Motorists may still encounter some lane closures or restrictions while traveling through long-term construction projects. In addition, drivers should know reduced speed limits will be in effect in work zones. Drivers convicted of speeding through work zones where workers are present face a fine of up to $500, plus court fees and possible increased insurance premiums.
Despite historically high gas prices, nearly 87% of Tennessee Memorial Day travelers plan to drive. AAA predicts 698,000 Tennesseans are forecast to take a holiday road trip. That’s 4.1% more than last year’s holiday weekend.
Tennessee Highway Patrol graduates 36 state troopers
On May 20, Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security Commissioner Jeff Long and Tennessee Highway Patrol (THP) Colonel Matt Perry welcomed the newest graduating classes of Tennessee State Troopers. The department simultaneously instructed a regular 16-week trooper cadet class and a 10-week lateral trooper cadet class. The lateral class returned from their district assignments for the graduation ceremony that took place at the Hermitage Hills Baptist Church in Nashville. To view highlights of the graduation, Click Here<https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sq3P115sqF4>.
Lateral Trooper Cadet Class 422 graduated 14 trooper cadets composed of all prior Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) certified law enforcement officers. Class 422 completed 10-weeks of specialized training to build upon their training and experience received as prior law enforcement officers.
Graduating Trooper Cadet Class 522 graduated 22 cadets. This was a traditional full 16-week trooper cadet class. This included four cadets with prior military service, one cadet with an Associate degree and five cadets with Bachelor’s degrees.
One graduate, trooper Daniel Houston, will be assigned to Coffee County.
The new graduating troopers completed intense physical and classroom training which earned them their badges. After graduation, the new troopers will continue training with troopers who are classified as Field Training Officers. This additional training will consist of more than 400 hours of hands-on experience in the field.
Governor Lee served as the keynote speaker during the graduation ceremony, and Commissioner Jeff Long swore in the new troopers as they delivered their oaths of office.
“The Tennessee Highway Patrol plays a crucial role in protecting Tennesseans, and I commend the newest trooper class for answering this important call to service,” said Gov. Bill Lee. “This year, we made strategic investments to put 100 additional troopers on Tennessee roads, strengthen training and prioritize proven crime prevention, and we’ll continue to give law enforcement the support they need to keep every Tennessee community safe.”
“Today, we recognize the hard work and perseverance you have shown during several months of difficult physical and academic training,” said Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security Jeff Long. “You are now part of a thin blue line that brings order during chaos. At times you will selflessly put your life on the line for people you have never met. In return, you will make Tennessee a safer place to live and work in. I’m proud to congratulate you as you join one of the most respected law enforcement agencies in the United States.”
“When you leave here today, and every day as you don your uniform, remember that service is at the heart of being a Tennessee State Trooper. Perform your duty with honor and treat this badge and uniform with respect. This job will test you. It will test your patience, your compassion, your mental and physical strength. It will challenge you with adversity, stress, and long days and nights. But it is work worth doing. You no longer serve only yourself; you serve the citizens of the state of Tennessee and those that travel through our state.”
From their own resources, Cadet Class 522 conducted a class project. This resulted in the cadets donating 22 backpacks filled with school supplies for students at Hickman Elementary School in Nashville, Tennessee.
Bethel University presented a $5,000 scholarship to Trooper Cody Roberts. Trooper Roberts is assigned to Maury County, of the THP Lawrenceburg District.
Trooper Albert South of class 522 was named the top cadet for his class and was presented with the Trooper Calvin Jenks Memorial Award for Excellence for achieving the overall highest average. The award was named in honor of the late Trooper Calvin Jenks, who was killed in the line of duty in January 2007.
Two Coffee County deputies involved in shooting
Two Coffee County Sheriff’s Department deputies were involved in a shooting at the Interstate-24 overpass at exit 117 early Tuesday morning, May 24, 2022.
According to Sheriff Chad Partin, deputies were responding to a call of a suicidal subject at the 117 overpass (AEDC exit). That subject has since been identified as Evan Krenson, age 20.
Deputies made contact with Mr. Krenson and began talking with him in an attempt to get him to seek medical treatment. It was at this time that Mr. Krenson allegedly produced a handgun and fired upon deputies. At that time, deputies returned fire and struck Mr. Krenson. He was transported to the hospital for treatment where he remains in critical but stable condition. His injuries are not expected to be life threatening, according to Partin.
The names of all of the deputies involved have not yet been released. The bridge was closed for much of the early morning. It was open again as if 6 am Tuesday. The TBI is leading the investigation at the request of Coffee County 14th Judicial District Attorney General Craig Northcott.
More information will be released as it is available.
Birthdays – May 21
Birthdays:
Anthony Bratcher- 59
Nicole Carney
Louise Nickenson
Henry McKelvey – Pizza Winner!
Anniversaries:
Jeremy & Mandy Bowling – 16 Years
Birthdays – May 23
LeAnne Evans
Rece Chumley
Brett Chaffin – Pizza Winner!
Rylea McNamara
Birthdays – May 22
Ebde Prince – Pizza Winner!
Janey Fishe
Sammy Eagles – 18
Teresa Carrick
SPRING FLING STARTS TUESDAY: Lady Raider softball road to state title begins at 5:30 Tuesday
Coffee County Central will be well represented at the TSSAA Spring Fling State Championships this week in Murfreesboro.
The Lady Raider softball team, makes its second consecutive trip to the Spring Fling after a 3A state runner-up finish in 2021, will get things started on Tuesday, May 24. The Lady Raiders (24-14) are set to play at 5:30 p.m. at McKnight Park Field #3 against Springfield (29-4). The tournament is double elimination.
Win or lose in game 1 – the Lady Raiders will play again at 11:30 a.m. on Wednesday at Starplex. Tickets can be purchased at the gate, or you can purchase in advance by clicking here. You can see the full bracket by clicking here.
All Lady Raider softball games in the state tournament will be broadcast LIVE on Thunder Radio through multiple channels. Listen at 107.9 FM, 1320 AM, 106.7 FM or listen online by clicking here or the Manchester Go Smartphone App.
Track & Field
Coffee County Track and Field will be well represented at the state meet, held at MTSU.
Senior Elli Chumley will throw shot put and senior Ethan Welch will throw discus in the 9 a.m. window on Thursday, May 26. Welch will then move to the pole vault area at noon and he will be joined by Madison Rooker, doing girls pole vault.
Thursday afternoon at 4 p.m. the 4×800 girls relay team of Chumley, Rooker, Patricia Barrera and Kailee Rossman will compete. See the full schedule of events here.
Tennis Doubles will hit the court Thursday morning
The CHS doubles team of Lauren Perry (senior) and Rylea McNamara (sophomore) will hit the court at 9 a.m. Thursday. The duo will take on Elena Kurowski and Kylee Hockman from McMinn County. A win in that match would put Perry and McNamara in the semi finals at 2 p.m. and they would need to win that to advance to the championship round at 11 a.m. Friday.
All doubles tennis matches at the Adams Tennis Complex in Murfreesboro. Click here for full schedule.
Lowery receives Brian Gregory Award for WMS
Westwood seventh grader Kaysen Lowery has been named the 37th recipient of the Brian Gregory Memorial Award.
Naming a Brian Gregory Award recipient has been a Westwood Rocket football tradition since 1985.
Lowery is the first ever 7th grader to receive the award. Lowery played quarterback for the Rockets this past fall.
Manchester Lemonade Day brings in more than $8K
Numbers are in from last week’s Lemonade Day. Apparently, people were really thirsty.
In partnership with Manchester Chamber of Commerce, Manchester City Schools students setup lemonade stands around town on Thursday, May 19 as part of the Lemonade Day program to learn about entrepreneurship. Over 3 hours and 12 different lemonade stands, a total of $8,187.37 was made.
The lemonade stand generating the most revenue was a Westwood Elementary Stand at Coffee County Bank, which generated $1,236.50.
All money was given to the groups of students that worked each stand. Part of the Lemonade Day curriculum is for students to divide the profits by spending for a class reward, donating to a local non profit or to the school and reinvesting and putting money back into the program for next year’s students.
Unemployment rate in Tennessee remains at its lowest level in state history
New data from the Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development (TDLWD) revealed unemployment across the state remained at a historic low in April. The state reached its all-time low unemployment rate in March, and April’s seasonally adjusted rate of 3.2% mirrored the previous month’s record-breaking number.
The April 2022 rate is 1.6 percentage points lower than it was one year ago. In April 2020, unemployment in Tennessee reached its highest level ever at 15.9%. Two years later, the rate is 12.7 percentage points lower than it was during the height of pandemic-related business closures.
The number of Tennesseans in the workforce also hit new highs in April. Statewide, the seasonally adjusted civilian workforce grew to 3,388,426 from March’s total of 3,370,646. The number of Tennesseans employed came in at 3,278,825, compared to 3,261,628 for the previous month.
Employers across the state added 7,700 nonfarm jobs between March and April. The leisure and hospitality sector saw the largest number of new positions. The professional and business services sector had the next biggest increase in jobs, followed by the mining, logging, and construction sector.
Over the last 12 months, the state’s employers added 145,600 nonfarm jobs. The leisure and hospitality sector created the largest percentage of those jobs, followed by the trade, transportation, and utilities sector and the professional and business services sector.
Unemployment across the nation also remained unchanged in April at 3.6%. One year ago, the national rate came in at 6%.
TDLWD has produced a complete analysis of the state’s unemployment data for April 2022. That report is available here (https://www.us13.list-manage.com/track/click?u=166478db53c066a7d114ea462&id=2344ad9986&e=29851e7b63) .
The state offers Tennesseans trying to return to the workforce a variety of free services that can help them find meaningful employment. Job seekers can take advantage of career counseling, job search assistance, and even programs to help pay for necessities such as uniforms and gas. Many of those services are available both online and in person. TNWorkReady.com (https://www.us13.list-manage.com/track/click?u=166478db53c066a7d114ea462&id=0b20d51366&e=29851e7b63) has all the information needed to get started.