Josh Peterson

Author's posts

Coffee County’s Taylor drafted by New Orleans Saints in 2nd round

Coffee County Red Raider graduate Alontae Taylor is headed to the NFL.

Taylor, who played quarterback, receiver and defensive back for the CHS Red Raiders from 2014-2017 before a successful 4-year career as a starter at defensive back for the University of Tennessee, was selected in the second round as the 49th overall in the 2022 NFL Draft by the New Orleans Saints.

Taylor was an electrifying player for the Red Raiders during his tenure, rushing for over 6,000 yards, throwing for over 1,700 and receiving 479. Including kick returns, Taylor accounted for 8,225 yards and 75 touchdowns during his tenure as a Red Raider.

He went on to start at cornerback for four years at the University of Tennessee. Friday’s second round selection for Taylor makes him the highest drafted defensive back out of the University of Tennessee since safety Eric Berry was taken in the first round by the Kansas City Chiefs in 2010.

Alontae Taylor receives the player of the game trophy following the Great American Rivalry Series win in 2016 over Tullahoma. (Photo by Brock Freeze)
Alontae Taylor scores a touchdown on Saturday against Auburn [Photo by Andrew Ferguson-Tennessee Athletics, 2018]
Alontae Taylor hangs out on the sidelines of the Red Raiders’ game against Tullahoma in 2021. — Thunder Radio photo by Holly Peterson

Coffee County track boys and girls both take first at SAS Meet

Both the Coffee County boys and girls track teams took first place in Friday’s meet at Sewanee St. Andrews. The girls placed first out of 7 teams, with 140 points to lead the way. Meanwhile, the Raider boys racked up 132 points to take first out of 8 competing teams.

Coffee County also left with some MileSplit era school records (MileSplit came online in 2001. Prior records are not always available).

Senior John Dobson set a school record in the 400-meter run with a time of 52.59. Meanwhile, Ethan Welch broke his own school record in Discus throw at 129-11 – good enough for first place.

Individual results below (CC competitors only)

Results listed: event, name, placement.

100 METER DASH
13.91Maddie Sullivan2ndFinals H3Complete
14.67Kasen Holt5thFinals H3Complete
14.93Allie Sullivan7thFinals H2Complete
200 METER DASH
28.87SBMaddie Sullivan2ndFinals H4Complete
31.08Gracie Campbell5thFinals H3Complete
400 METER DASH
1:12.73SBGracie Fowler7thFinals H1Complete
800 METER RUN
2:34.32SBPatricia Barrera2ndFinals H1Complete
2:44.91SBBethany Lambert3rdFinals H1Complete
3:06.81Katrine Rhodes8thFinals H1Complete
1600 METER RUN
5:42.24SBPatricia Barrera1stFinals H1Complete
5:43.54SBKailee Rossman2ndFinals H1Complete
7:02.25Katrine Rhodes6thFinals H1Complete
3200 METER RUN
13:16.09Kailee Rossman3rdFinals H1Complete
100 METER HURDLES
17.01SBMadison Rooker2ndFinals H2Complete
19.68SBElizabeth Brown6thFinals H2Complete
300 METER HURDLES
50.79Madison Rooker1stFinals H2Complete
53.47SBMaddie Sullivan2ndFinals H2Complete
4X100 METER RELAY
56.73Relay Team3rdFinals H1Complete
4X200 METER RELAY
2:00.01SBRelay Team4thFinals H1Complete
4X400 METER RELAY
4:47.34SBRelay Team2ndFinals H1Complete
HIGH JUMP
4-6SBElizabeth Brown3rdFinals H1Complete
4-6Jalyn Case4thFinals H1Complete
4-2Kenzie Givens7thFinals H1Complete
LONG JUMP
15-0SBJalyn Case3rdFinals H1Complete
13-7.5Kasen Holt5thFinals H1Complete
12-7.5Bethany Lambert7thFinals H1Complete
TRIPLE JUMP
29-3SBMadison Rooker2ndFinals H1Complete
27-4SBBethany Lambert4thFinals H1Complete
DISCUS
67-11Jade Lenhart4thFinals H1Complete
59-6.5Nikki Graham5thFinals H1Complete
56-5Ariana Hansen7thFinals H1Complete
SHOT PUT
23-7.5SBElizabeth Brown7thFinals H2Complete
21-5Ariana Hansen10thFinals H1Complete
19-9Nikki Graham14thFinals H2Complete
BOYSATHLETEPLACESECTIONRESULTS
100 METER DASH
12.08Jaiden Foster2ndFinals H4Complete
12.60SBTyler Martin6thFinals H2Complete
12.73SBCole Fowler7thFinals H2Complete
200 METER DASH
24.67SBJaiden Foster2ndFinals H4Complete
26.34Cole Fowler7thFinals H3Complete
26.37Tyler Martin8thFinals H3Complete
400 METER DASH
52.59SBJohn Dobson2ndFinals H4Complete
56.02SBCayden Miller4thFinals H4Complete
1:01.15SBJacsen Yancer10thFinals H2Complete
800 METER RUN
2:17.04SBCayden Miller3rdFinals H1Complete
2:29.30SBJesus Gonzales5thFinals H1Complete
2:38.31Jacsen Yancer8thFinals H1Complete
1600 METER RUN
5:07.30Garrett Masters3rdFinals H1Complete
5:12.42SBJacob Slabaugh4thFinals H1Complete
5:13.33SBHolden Shew5thFinals H1Complete
3200 METER RUN
11:07.02Garrett Masters1stFinals H1Complete
11:49.55Jacob Slabaugh2ndFinals H1Complete
110 METER HURDLES
18.84Ethan Welch3rdFinals H1Complete
19.88SBZach Warrick5thFinals H1Complete
4X100 METER RELAY
47.35Relay Team2ndFinals H1Complete
4X200 METER RELAY
1:45.77SBRelay Team5thFinals H1Complete
HIGH JUMP
5-8John Dobson1stFinals H1Complete
5-0Tristan Galy3rdFinals H1Complete
LONG JUMP
19-8.5SBTristan Galy1stFinals H1Complete
14-5.5Lee Bieder11thFinals H1Complete
TRIPLE JUMP
34-9.5SBLee Bieder4thFinals H1Complete
DISCUS
129-11SBEthan Welch1stFinals H2Complete
98-6Ty Morton5thFinals H2Complete
75-0Ashton Ferrell12thFinals H2Complete
SHOT PUT
38-6SBEthan Welch2ndFinals H2Complete
28-11.25Ty Morton16thFinals H1Complete
26-5Nicholas Helms19thFinals H1Complete
  • Madison Rooker
  • Ethan Welch
  • John Dobson
Thunder Radio photos by Holly Peterson

Westwood Rockets soccer claims second straight DRVC Title

Westwood tied Cascade when the two teams met in Manchester in the regular season.

The Rockets made sure it wasn’t close this time around in the DRVC Conference Championship.

The Rockets dominated the Champions, not allowing a single shot on goal in a 5-0 win Friday afternoon in Manchester.

The Rockets picked up goals from Joel Ramirez, Junior Petatan, Joan Deanda, Will Rogers and Jobson Lemmons.

Westwood finishes the season 12-1-1, outscoring opponents 83-8.

Photo provided.

Over 4,000 cast early ballots in Coffee County; Tuesday is election day

Early voting totals for the May 3 Coffee County primary are in.

According to Coffee County Administrator of Elections Andy Farrar, 4,171 people cast their ballots in early voting between April 13 and April 28 with the heaviest day coming on the final day, as 511 voters hit the polls on April 28.

The total of 4,171 is 12.5 percent of active Coffee County voters and 11% of total registered voters in the county.

Numbers break down like this: 2,058 rural county voters cast a ballot, while 1,223 registered voters in Tullahoma voted and 890 Manchester voters went to the polls.

Residents still have one day to vote – that is Election Day on Tuesday, May 3.

If voting on election day, you will vote at your assigned precinct. Voting hours are 8 a.m. to 7 p..m on that day. If you have questions about the process or your correct precinct (some have changed this year), contact the election commission at 931-723-5103. Voters are required to show a federal or state photo ID when voting.

The night of May 3, Thunder Radio will carry live election return coverage on our radio station – 107.9 FM, 1320 AM, 106.7 FM, Manchester Go app and thunder1320.com. Our coverage begins at 7 p.m. You can also see results updated in live time on our website by clicking here.

Click here for Republican Sample Ballot.

Click here for Democratic Sample Ballot.

Growing number of Tennessee seniors will increase demand for state services

The Tennessee Comptroller’s Office has released an updated version of its report on Senior Long-Term Care in Tennessee. The report indicates the number of Tennessee seniors age 60 and over is expected to increase by 30% from 1.6 million in 2020 to 2.1 million in 2040. The number of those age 80 and over in Tennessee is forecast to double during this time.

This population trend will likely create a significant growth in the demand for and potential cost of public long-term services and supports programs for low-income Tennessee seniors.

The Comptroller’s Office of Research and Education Accountability (OREA) report focuses on the three primary publicly funded long-term services and supports programs for low-income elderly Tennesseans: TennCare CHOICES (Medicaid), Options for Community Living, and Older Americans Act programs. Together, these programs provide a continuum of services ranging from information and referral, meals, varying levels of home and community-based services, and nursing home care.

OREA’s first report on this topic was released in 2017. The updated report focuses on four issues that continue to be critical in 2022:

  • -expanding home and community-based services for senior at risk of nursing home care, which would likely result in decreased future use of more expensive home-and community-based services and nursing homes;
  • -expanding community-based residential alternatives; 
  • -addressing front line workers’ pay; and
  • -providing additional support for family and other unpaid caregivers.

The report includes several policy options that the General Assembly may wish to consider. The report also notes that Governor Lee’s proposed budget for fiscal year 2022-2023, and actions taken as a result of the influx of federal money during the pandemic, address concerns presented in the report.

To read the 2022 update, please visit the Comptroller’s website at: tncot.cc/orea.

City Board of Mayor and Aldermen to have regularly scheduled meeting Tuesday

The Manchester Board of Mayor and Aldermen will host a regularly scheduled board meeting at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, May 3.

There will be no work session prior. Everyone is welcome and invited to attend the public meeting. The board room is upstairs in city hall at 200 W. Fort St. in Manchester. Full Agenda below:

Karrol June Basham

Mrs. Karrol June Basham, age 81, of Manchester, TN,
passed from this life on Friday, April 29, 2022, in Manchester, TN.

Mrs. Basham was born in McMinnville, TN, to her late parents Alton A.
Hendrixson and Lucille Bess Hendrixson. She was a homemaker all her life.
Mrs. Basham loved gardening and taking care of her animals. When she was
younger, she had an artistic side in painting, photography, creative
writing, and playing guitar. In addition to her parents, she was preceded
in death by a sister, Jo Anne Bishop.

Mrs. Basham is survived by a son, Brent (Ladonne) Basham; daughter, Lia
(Brent) Parsley; brother, Douglas Hendrixson; grandchildren, Matthew and
Brad Basham, Ryan Jennings; several nieces and nephews.

Visitation with the family will be held Sunday, May 1, 2022, from 12noon
until 2:00pm at Central Funeral Home in Manchester, TN. Funeral services
will be conducted immediately following the visitation at 2:00pm in the
chapel of Central Funeral Home with Paul Parsley officiating. Burial will
follow at Rose Hill Memorial Gardens in Tullahoma, TN.

Central Funeral Home is honored to serve the Basham family, 931-723-7774,
centralfuneralhome.com

Birthdays – April 29

Birthdays:

Wendy McKelvey- 50- Pizza Winner!

Patsy Fortner- 74

Karen Kelley

Weekly Winner:

Harrison Ayer

PREP SCOREBOARD: Thursday, April 28, 2022

Multiple Prep Sports Teams were in action Thursday night, April 28, 2022.

Lady Raiders roll on senior night

Coffee County dispatched of Franklin County 11-2 Thursday night in Manchester – pounding out 15 hits in a big District 6-4A win on senior night.

And several seniors did big work in the win. Kiya Ferrell knocked in 3 runs and had a pair of hits. Senior Olivia Evans knocked in a pair and on two hits, including a triple.

Freshman Channah Gannon blasted a two-run home run to cap the night.

Kaitlyn Davis earned the win in the circle – allowing a pair of runs on six hits. She struck out 6.

Raider baseball closes district schedule with win to secure top seed

The Red Raider baseball team closed its regular season district schedule with a 4-1 road win over Shelbyville Thursday.

The Raiders outhit the Eagles 6-5 but got help via 4 Shelbyville errors.

Aiden Robertson earned the win on the hill for CHS – striking out 10 batters over 7 innints while scattering 5 hits.

Cole Pippenger knocked in a run and scored twice on two hits.

The Raiders will host Riverdale at 6 p.m. Friday. It is youth night – all youth players who wear a jersey can join the team on the field for the National Anthem and run the bases after the game.

Westwood baseball gives up big lead in DRVC tourney loss

Westwood led Huntland 13-6 going into the seventh and final inning of the DRVC tournament Thursday in Manchester. But the Hornets scored 9 runs in the top of the seventh and held off a Rocket rally in the bottom half of the inning to win 15-14.

Westwood loaded the bases in the bottom of the seventh with one out and pushed one run across, but couldn’t tie the game back up.

Matt Moore and Ayden VanWinkle led the offensive effort for Westwood with 5 and 4 RBI, respectively. Each doubled and Moore added a home run. Kaysen Lowery tripled for the Rockets .

Of Huntland’s 15 runs, only 8 were earned.

Westwood soccer moves to championship game

The Rockets beat Liberty 6-1 Thursday in Manchester and will now host Cascade Friday in the DRVC Championship match.

Birthdays – April 28

Shaina Steere

Erin Murray- Pizza Winner!

Ethan Arnold

Harrison Ayer- 12

Dylan Pelham- 22

Kayla Buddey