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ONE MORE WIN: Lady Raiders host Smyrna Friday with state spot on the line
One more win.
That is all the Central High School Lady Raider softball team needs to return to the TSSAA BlueCross Spring Fling in Murfreesboro next week. And from there, anything can happen – last year is proof of that.
But the one final hurdle will not be an easy one. The Lady Raiders welcome Smyrna to Manchester for the state sectional on Friday, May 20, 2022 – first pitch is set for 6:30 p.m. The winner moves on to the state tournament next week with 7 other teams in 4A. The loser’s season comes to a close.
Smyrna enters Friday with a 27–7 overall record and an impressive resume. The Lady Bulldogs have only lost games to two teams from the state of Tennessee – once to Morristown West in a weekend tournament and four losses to Stewarts Creek, including a 7-5 loss in the Region 4-4A Championship. Smyrna’s other two losses came to teams from Alabama.
Meanwhile, Coffee County enters Friday’s sectional coming off of two nice wins, an 8-2 effort over Walker Valley in the region semi-finals and a 6-2 revenge victory over Warren County in the Region 3-4A championship. And don’t forget postseason pedigree, the Lady Raiders are used to big games in May – reaching the state tournament last year and finishing state runner up. Part of that postseason run last spring was an 11-1 win over Smyrna in the Region 4-3A semi-finals to eliminate the Lady Bulldogs.
Friday’s sectional game will be broadcast live on Thunder Radio at 107.9 FM, 1320 AM, 106.7 FM, Manchester Go App and thunder1320.com. First pitch at 6:30 p.m., pregame at 6:15 p.m.
COLLEGE CHECK UP: Ashley Evans earns 2nd team all-conference
Former Coffee County Lady Raider Ashley Evans earned big honors for the Cumberland Phoenix at the conclusion of her softball season.
Evans was named to the All-Mid-South Conference Second Team.
Evans had a breakout year this season for Cumberland leading the team in batting average (.384), hits (53), runs scored (24), walks (15), and on-base percentage (.448). She is the sparkplug for the Cumberland lineup at the top of the order and has registered the highest average since Tyra Graham hit .426 in the 2018 season.
Coffee County senior parade is Monday
Coffee County Central High School will return to a conventional graduation ceremony this year after COVID-19 led to vehicle parades for the class of 2020 and 2021.
The concept of the parade was so well liked, however, there will still be a senior parade.
The senior parade will be Monday, May 23. It will leave Coffee County Central High School at 6 p.m. and finish at Carden-Jarrell Field behind Raider Academy for “senior sunset” festivities.
The parade route is as follows:
Leaving CHS at 6 p.m. and traveling on State Route 55 toward Raider Academy.
Turn left on US Highway 41, traveling southbound (wrong way lanes) to Spring Street.
Turn right onto Spring St.
Turn Left onto Main St.
Turn right onto Irwin St.
Turn right on to Fort St.
Turn right onto Woodland St.
Turn left onto Highway 41 (northbound (wrong way lanes).
Turn left at Highway 41 and 55 toward Raider Academy
Turn left into CCRA entrance
Traffic will be completely closed to thru traffic on US 41 between the intersection of Highway 41 & 55 and Spring Street and at the main intersection during the parade. Please avoid that area if possible.
Meanwhile, traditional graduation will be held at 7 p.m. Friday, May 27 at Carden-Jarrell Field behind Raider Academy.
Over 18,000 pounds of medications collected in Tennessee on take back day
Tennessee Department of Health and Substance Abuse has announced that last month’s National Prescription Drug Take Back Day in Tennessee collected over 18,000 pounds of prescription medication by 102 participating agencies.
Drug coalitions say that you should not throw unwanted medications in the trash or flush them down the drain. You can dispose of unwanted medications at any drug coalition dropbox, which can be found at the Manchester Police Department in Manchester.
Tennessee Employment Surpasses Pre-Pandemic Levels
Tennessee nonfarm employment has fully rebounded from the pandemic, surpassing pre-pandemic levels of employment with 45,500 more people holding jobs now than in February 2020.
The Tennessee Quarterly Business and Economic Indicators report issued by Secretary of State Tre Hargett’s office shows that state unemployment dropped to 3.2%, below the national rate of 3.6%.
“Employment exceeding pre-pandemic levels is an important milestone for our state,” said Secretary Hargett. “It reflects Tennessean’s resilience and our leaders’ commitment to a business-friendly environment that encourages investment and job growth. As the economy resets, we are seeing more companies choosing to make Tennessee their new home.”
New business filings in the first quarter of 2022 grew 8.7% from first quarter filings in 2021, marking 42 consecutive quarters of year-over-year growth. Over 77,000 new businesses filed over the past year and 21,353 new entities filed in the first quarter of 2022.
Growth in business filings typically leads to growth in jobs, personal income and state revenue. The largest number of filings in the first quarter were in Shelby County, followed by Davidson, Knox and Hamilton counties. These four most-populous counties accounted for 44.3% of new filings state-wide.
However, most of the year-over-year growth in filings occurred in Tennessee’s other 91 counties. Businesses in those counties expanded by 16.2%, reflecting efforts across the state on workforce development, education, infrastructure and responsible fiscal management.
“Everywhere you look, there’s evidence that the strong economic momentum in Tennessee isn’t slowing down,” said Bill Fox, director of the Boyd Center for Business and Economic Research. “Nonfarm employment has not only recovered to pre-pandemic levels, but has exceeded them. Tax revenues are up; personal incomes are up. Our growing economy is not only beneficial to Tennesseans, but attractive to others wanting to move here, too.”
This report provides a snapshot of the state’s economy based on key indicators, including new business data from the Secretary of State’s Division of Business and Charitable Organizations. It is published through a partnership with the University of Tennessee Knoxville’s Boyd Center for Business and Economic Research and the Secretary of State.
To review the complete Q1 2022 Tennessee Quarterly Business and Economic Indicators report, past reports and a teleconference recording about the report with Secretary Hargett and Dr. Fox visit, sos.tn.gov
REGION CHAMPIONS! Lady Raiders beat Warren County to claim 3-4A title
Coffee County jumped in front 2-0 early Wednesday against Warren County.
But unlike in the district championship, there would be no comeback in the cards for the Lady Pioneers.
Coffee County added 2 more runs in the fourth and 2 in the sixth to beat Warren County 6-2 Wednesday (May 18, 2022) in McMinnville, claiming a Region 3-4A Championship (a game you heard live on Thunder Radio).
THIS GAME WAS BROADCAST LIVE ON THUNDER RADIO. CLICK HERE OT LISTEN TO A REPLAY.
Coffee County outhit the Lady Pioneers 12-6 in the win – 7 of those hits came from the top two spots in the lineup. Kiya Ferrell had 3 hits and Olivia Evans added 4 and each knocked in a run and both had triples. Haidyn Campbell scratched out two hits and an RBI.
Channah Gannon blasted a monster home run for the Lady Raiders deep to left field.
Kaitlyn Davis earned the win in the circle with a superb outing. Davis scattered six hits and allowed two runs – both were unearned and on the heels of 2 CHS errors in the bottom of the sixth. She struck out 3.
With the win, CHS improves to 23-14 overall. The Lady Raiders will host Smyrna in the state sectional game at 6:30 p.m. Friday at Terry Floyd Field. If the Lady Raiders win that game, they will return to the TSSAA Spring Fling state tournament next week in Murfreesboro. A loss Friday will end the season. The game will be broadcast live on Thunder Radio at 107.9 FM, 1320 AM, 106.7 FM, Manchester Go App and thunder1320.com.
Birthdays – May 18
Pam Sims – Pizza Winner!
Helen Clutter – 80
Roger “Butch” Dale Ribar
Memorial services for Mr. Butch Ribar, age 68 of Manchester, will be conducted on Wednesday, May 25, 2022, at 10 AM in the Manchester Funeral Home chapel. Butch passed away unexpectedly at his home.
Butch was born on December 12, 1953, in Niles, MI to the late Myron and Goldia Harpo Ribar. He served his country in the United States National Guard, and he enjoyed working on cars and watching Nascar.
Butch is survived by his family friends, Bobby Nelson and his wife, Cindy, Jonpaul Nelson and his wife, Amanda, Bobby Nelson and his wife, Cindy, Robert Nelson and his daughter, Avery, and Daniel Nelson and his wife, Sarah, and daughter, Ellis; and a host of friends.
Online condolences and memories can be shared at
Manchester Funeral Home is honored to serve the Ribar family.
Robert S. “Bob” Walluck
Robert S. “Bob” Walluck of Tullahoma Tennessee, formerly of New Jersey died
at his home on Sunday May 15, 2022, at the age of 70. Mr. Walluck is
survived by his son, Nicholas R. Walluck (Kirsten Bean) of Tullahoma,
Tennessee; sister, Ginger Walluck of Bogota New Jersey; and sister, Mary
Ann Walluck of Florida; and longtime girlfriend, Sharon Roth of Florida. A
visitation will be held on Friday May 20th at Daves Culbertson in Tullahoma
from 2-4. A celebration of his life will be held from 5-7 pm on Monday May
23, 2022 at London’s in Tullahoma, Tennessee for family and friends to
gather and raise a glass to toast his memory & invite his former
colleagues, family and friends around the country to join in a toast
wherever they are to remember Bob at this time. Feel free to wear any New
York Team gear as Bob would have loved to see support for the Jets or
Yankees.
Bob was born June 1951 in Hackensack New Jersey; the son of the late Stella
& Ziegmund “Ziggy” Walluck. Bob attended Bogota High School in New Jersey
graduating in 1969 where he promptly adventured with friends in a road trip
to Colorado in true 60’s spirit – camping in a VW van along the way. Bob
maintained close ties with his road trip buddies throughout his life and
fondly remembered this trip until his passing.
Shortly after this adventure, Bob returned to Jersey where he attended the
New Jersey Police academy. After graduation he held positions as a Police
Officer in Long Branch New Jersey, later as a Detective Long Branch New
Jersey as well as the Major Crimes Bureau of the Office of the Monmouth
County Prosecutor.
Bob was a devoted father, retiring from police work in 1991 shortly after
the birth of his son and relocating to the Tennessee area. While in
Tennessee, Bob briefly held positions as a private detective and as a
probation officer for Coffee County. In addition, Bob held positions in
auto sales with Pearson and Barnett. Bob was also active in the Tullahoma
community as a volunteer before health problems limited his ability to
serve.
Although Bob was assimilated to Tennessee after living over 30 years of his
life here, he remained a Jersey boy at heart – steadfast in his support of
the Jets and devotion to the Garden State until his death.
Online condolences may be made at www.davesculbertsonfuneralhome.com.
Daves-Culbertson Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Rep. Bricken passes law saving Tennessee charities $2M
State Rep. Rush Bricken, R-Tullahoma, announced the General Assembly has successfully reduced the $10 fee for charitable filings through June 30, 2023. The reduced fees will save Tennessee non-profits an estimated $2.1 million.
The legislation extends a reduction to all fees charged under the Charitable Solicitations and Gaming Act to $10 for the 2022 fiscal year. Charitable filing fees typically range from $50 to $240.
“Tennesseans are incredibly generous, and the donations they give to non-profits across our state each year deserve to stay with those important organizations,” Bricken said. “I was proud to sponsor this legislation to reduce charitable filing fees for another year in Tennessee. By doing so, we will help ensure millions of dollars in contributions remain with non-profits that offer essential support to individuals across our state.”
Gov. Bill Lee signed the legislation into law on April 14, 2022. Public Chapter Act 867 takes effect July 1, 2022.
“Tennessee non-profit organizations can better use hard-earned funds for their mission instead of filling government reserves,” said Secretary of State Tre Hargett. “I appreciate Representative Bricken working with our office to sponsor legislation that keeps Tennesseans’ generous donations in the hands of charities that help many across our state every day.”
For information about the Secretary of State’s Division of Business and Charitable Organizations, visit sos.tn.gov/charities.