Josh Peterson

Thanksgiving travelers will not be delayed by construction on Tennessee roads during this busy travel holiday. TDOT will halt all lane closure activity on interstates and state highways in anticipation of higher traffic volumes across the state. All construction related lane closures will be stopped beginning at noon on Wednesday, November 27, 2019 through 6:00 a.m. Monday, December 2, 2019.

“1.2 million motorists are expected to drive to their holiday destinations this year in Tennessee,” said TDOT Commissioner Clay Bright. “This is the most traveled holiday of the year. Halting road work during this busy time will provide maximum capacity on our highways and help alleviate congestion, especially during the predicted peak travel days of Wednesday and Sunday. TDOT’s regional HELP Trucks will also be working throughout the holiday weekend to assist with incidents that may occur along the interstates.”

While all lane closure activity will be stopped, workers may be on site in some construction zones. Long-term lane closures will also remain in place on some construction projects for motorists’ safety. Motorists are reminded to drive safely and obey the posted speeds, especially in work zones. Drivers convicted of speeding in work zones where workers are present face a fine of up to $500, plus court fees and possible increased insurance premiums.

The Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security and TDOT are partnering with law enforcement across the state for the I-40 Challenge, with the goal of having zero fatalities on the 455 miles of I-40 in Tennessee. Wednesday, November 27st through Sunday, December 1st, the Tennessee Highway Patrol will have troopers stationed every 20 miles on I-40, along with increased law enforcement on all highways.

AAA predicts more than 55 million Americans will travel 50 miles or more during the Thanksgiving holiday. Tennesseans make up 1.3 million of those travelers, with an estimated 1.2 million expected to travel by automobile.

From your desktop or mobile device, get the latest construction activity and live streaming SmartWay traffic cameras at www.TNSmartWay.com/Traffic. Travelers can also dial 511 from any land-line or cellular phone for travel information, or follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/TN511 for statewide travel. As always, drivers are reminded to use all motorist information tools wisely and Know Before You Go! by checking travel conditions before leaving for your destination. Drivers should never tweet, text or talk on a cell phone while behind the wheel.

A man was transported to Unity Medical Center in Manchester Tuesday evening at approximately 6:50 p.m.. after he was struck by a train near Rose St. in Manchester.

According to preliminary information from Manchester Police Department Assistant Chief Adam Floied, the victim, Jerry Messick, 38, appeared to be standing near the tracks where they intersect with Rose St. The conductor said that he spotted the victim and hit the train’s emergency brakes but could not stop in time.

“It looks like he was standing next to the tracks and it didn’t run him over, but it did hit him,” explained Floied. “We did get a good statement from the conductor and there was [a railroad worker flagging at another intersection] that was close by.”

Floied said officials expect Messick to survive. Floied added that the man appeared to be under the influence of alcohol, however, this information is preliminary and a complete report was not yet available at the time of this story.

Thunder Radio will report more information when it becomes available.

Unity Medical Center is excited to announce its next step in bringing new, innovative medicine to Manchester with the upcoming addition of cardiac telemedicine.

In a collaboration with TriStar Health, Unity will soon employ a state-of-the-art robot that will allow patients at Unity Medical Center instant access to cardiology specialists while in the Emergency Room and while admitted to Unity.

The program is expected to launch close to the start of 2020.

“This partnership with Unity Medical Center and Tristar will allow our patients in this community to have access to quality doctors without having to drive long distances,” stated Martha McCormick, CEO of Unity Medical Center. “We continue to strive for programs like these to ensure that rural healthcare in Coffee County is strong and our residents have access to life-saving care.”

Unity Medical Center will be the first facility to partner with Tristar in the cardiology field. Neurology is expected to follow.

Unity will be able to use a robot to directly link patients with specialists in the Tristar system for instant evaluation. The robot offers a screen, multiple cameras with zooming capabilities and has multiple ports to plug stethoscopes and other necessary medical equipment for instant patient evaluation.

“If a patient comes into our Emergency Room with potential cardiac symptoms or stroke symptoms, we would be able to have that patient instantly evaluated by the appropriate specialist to make better and quicker decisions about whether that patient should be shipped to a bigger facility or can be cared for at our facility,” explained McCormick.

In addition to Emergency Room evaluation, the telemedicine robot will also be available to inpatients during their stay at Unity for consultations with specialists within the TriStar system. 

For example, if a patient presents with a cardiac related event, that patient can have an initial consultation with a Cardiology Specialist, without having to travel to Nashville. The collaboration with Tristar will also give Unity broader access to Tristar’s extensive lists of specialists on staff for patient referral.

Unity ER nurses and other staff will undergo extensive training with the new robot before the program is officially launched. The telemedicine program is just one of the many exciting and new programs coming to Unity Medical Center since the hospital officially switched to a nonprofit status in the summer of 2019. Efforts are currently underway to renovate and open the hospital’s ICU, a project that is expected to be completed at the start of 2020.

“This is just the beginning of the effort to seriously overhaul and revamp medical care in Manchester,” said McCormick. “Our board of directors and our staff at Unity understand the need for improved patient access and quality care and that is what we are striving for every day.”

Unity Medical Center is located at 482 Interstate Dr. in Manchester.

If you would like to contribute to a good cause while also eating a good meal, the Manchester Jefferson’s Restaurant is hosting a “Eat to Earn” event on Dec. 3 from 4 p.m. until closing.

For that time period, Jefferson’s will donate a percentage of sales to the Manchester Police Department for the department’s annual Christmas Angel Tree program. The department adopts nearly 80 Christmas angels. Jefferson’s is located on Relco Drive. 

You can also make monetary donations to the police department for their angel tree purchases at City Hall – 200 W. Fort St. in Manchester.

Manchester City and Coffee County Government offices will both be closed  on Thursday and Friday in observance of the Thanksgiving holiday. 

Also, the Manchester Recreation Center will close at noon Wednesday and be closed for Thursday and Friday before re-opening Saturday for regular business hours. 

The Sportsmen and Businessmen’s Charitable Organization made a sizable contribution to the Manchester Police Department Monday – funds that will go toward adopting approximately 80 Christmas Angels from the city’s Angel Tree Program. 

“We do food baskets and Christmas gifts – we have about 80 angels from the school system, we will do those and 40 to 50 food baskets,” explained Manchester Police Department Chief Mark Yother. 

SBCO donated $1,000 to the department for that effort, and another $1,000 to the Steve Graves-Gene Taylor Christmas Charity Fund. 

Yother said that other money for the massive effort comes from Bonnaroo donations and other various fundraisers and donations throughout the year. 

“If you spend $100 per child that’s $8,000 right there,” explained Yother. “It can really get up there but we think it’s important.”

Police officers will start shopping this weekend for Angel Tree. 

Individuals who would like to donate toys or make monetary donations to the effort can visit the police department at 200 W. Fort St. in Manchester. 

The holidays are the time of year that families and friends gather in the kitchen to celebrate. It is also a season to remain vigilant about the dangers of cooking fires.

According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), cooking is the leading cause of home fires. One out of three home fires begins in the kitchen – more than any other place in the home. Thanksgiving Day is the peak day for home cooking fires 

A new State Farm report reveals that in 2018, State Farm Insurance paid more than $118 million for nearly 2,500 cooking/grease fire homeowner’s claims across the U.S. 

The Top 5 states for cooking/grease fire losses in 2018 were:

1) Georgia

2) California

3) New York

4) Illinois

5) Pennsylvania

Tennessee was ranked #14 with over $3.9 million paid in 107 claims. Average paid Tennessee cooking fire claim in 2018 was over $36,000. The states with the least fire claims were Massachusetts and Rhode Island.

State Farm wants your family to be careful and enjoy Thanksgiving Day. Here are some cooking tips to keep you and your family safe.

• Always keep an eye on what you are cooking/frying. Never leave the cooking area unattended.

• Keep anything that can catch fire – oven mitts, wooden utensils, food packaging, towels or curtains — away from your stovetop.

• Keep a lid beside the pan when cooking. If a fire starts, slide the lid over the pan and turn off the burner. Never throw water on a grease fire.

• Keep a fire extinguisher approved for cooking or grease fires nearby. Make sure your smoke alarms are working

Turkey Frying Safety Tips:

• Keep outdoor fryers off decks, out of garages and a safe distance away from trees and other structures.

• Make sure the turkey is thawed and dry before cooking. Ice or water that mixes into the hot oil can cause flare-ups.

• Place the fryer on a level surface, and avoid moving it once it’s in use.

• Follow the manufacturer’s instructions to avoid overfilling. Oil can ignite when it makes contact with the burner.

• Choose a smaller turkey for frying. A bird that’s 8 to 10 pounds is best; pass on turkeys over 12 pounds.

If you have a cooking fire

• Just get out! When you leave, close the door behind you to help contain the fire.

• Call 9-1-1 or the local emergency number after you leave.

• If you try to fight the fire, be sure others are getting out and you have a clear way out.

• Keep a lid nearby when you’re cooking to smother small grease fires. Smother the fire by sliding the lid over the pan and turn off the stovetop. Leave the pan covered until it is completely cooled.

• For an oven fire, turn off the heat and keep the door closed.