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Early voting in Coffee County ends Thursday
Early voting for the May 3 Coffee County primaries will end on Thursday.
The final day to cast your ballot in the early voting period is Thursday, April 28. If you miss early voting, election day will be May 3.
Registered voters in Coffee county can appear and cast their early voting ballot at one of two locations:
Coffee County Election Commission at 1329 McArthur St Suite 6 in Manchester. Early voting hours are between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday or 8:30 a.m. to noon on Saturdays.
CD Stamps Center at 810 South Jackson St. in Tullahoma. Early voting hours there are between 9 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday and 9 a.m. to noon on Saturdays.
Voters are required to show a federal or state photo ID when voting.
As of the end of the day Tuesday (April 26), a total of 3,325 early votes had been cast – 1,625 county voters, 987 Tullahoma voters and 713 registered Manchester voters had cast ballots.
If you do not early vote, you will vote at your assigned precinct on Election Day (May 3). Voting hours are 8 a.m. to 7 p..m on that day. If you have questions, contact the election commission at 931-723-5103.
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.
Few sponsorship opportunities remain for first ever Thundie Sports Awards
The Dream for Weave Foundation and Thunder Radio will be hosting the first ever “Thundie Sports Awards” for the Coffee County community on Saturday, May 21.
The inaugural sports awards will honor the best athletes, coaches and teams of Coffee County Central High School, Westwood Middle School and Coffee Middle School. Doors for the red carpet event will open at 5:15 p.m. at First Baptist Church Gymnasium (1006 Hillsboro Blvd). Middle Tennessee State University head softball coach and the pioneer of the CHS Lady Raider softball program, Jeff Breeden, will deliver the keynote address.
Dinner will begin at 6 p.m. with awards to follow. There are only a few dozen tickets remaining – tickets are $50 ($400 per table). To purchase tickets, contact Josh Peterson at 931-409-2215 or josh.peterson.wmsr@gmail.com or Holly Peterson at 931-409-2173.
And there are only a few sponsorship opportunities remaining. All sponsorship money is being used for scholarship funds for select CHS senior athletes.
“This is the type of event that Holly, myself and the foundation board envisioned when the Dream for Weave Foundation launched back in late 2020, it has just taken us some time to get there,” said Josh Peterson, vice president of Thunder Radio and treasurer of the Dream for Weave Foundation.
“We put a great emphasis on local sports coverage at Thunder Radio with our broadcasts, our daily sports coverage, photos, Thunder The Magazine and our weekly coaches show,” added Peterson. “As everyone saw last spring when the Lady Raider softball team made a deep run in the state tournament and just recently when the Red Raider basketball team reached the state tournament – athletics are very important to our community. This event is perfect to recognize and honor them.”
The Thundie Sports Awards are driven by Al White Ford Lincoln — the presenting sponsor.
Sponsor Peoples Bank & Trust is providing meals and t-shirts for winning athletes, and Unity Medical Center is providing dessert and admission for award-winning athletes. All athletes who are set to be honored will be contacted and invited to the event free of charge thanks to these generous sponsors. Awards will be decided based on decisions of the awards committee.
In addition to awards, the Weave Foundation annual scholarships will be presented at the Thundies. In its first year of operation, the Dream for Weave Foundation presented $3,500 in scholarship funding to athletes departing CHS. The foundation has also purchased and provided athletic gear and apparel for athletes in need. This year, scholarship funding is expected to exceed $10,000.
“There are multiple people who are putting in so much of their time to make this event possible for our athletes and if not for them and our great sponsors, it simply would not be possible,” said Rob Clutter, president of the Dream for Weave Foundation.
Dream for Weave Foundation
The foundation was formed in October of 2020, just 3 months after the sudden passing of Thunder Radio sports director Dennis Weaver after complications from a routine operation.
Beloved by all, Weave as the play-by-play voice for Coffee County athletics and one of the key contributors to the rise of the CHS softball program in the 90s. He was a graduate of Central High School.
His love for sports and the athletes who played them led to the formation of the foundation, which aims to ensure all children who want to play sports have the means and equipment necessary to play. The foundation also strives to provide scholarship funding to athletes departing CHS and pursuing higher education – whether in the college or technical fields.
About Keynote Speaker Jeff Breeden
Jeff Breeden is currently coaching his 10th season as Head Softball Coach at Middle Tennessee in 2022 and has seen improvement in his team in each of the nine previous years.
MT finished at 26-22 overall in 2021, including an 11-8 mark in Conference USA play, leading the Blue Raiders to their first winning record in league play since 2007.
Breeden is a high school state championship softball coach in Tennessee with over 700 career wins. He is largely credited with helping to build the Coffee County Central Lady Raider softball program, which had 1 win before his arrival. Breeden coached with Weaver for many years and together the two helped to build the softball complex where the Lady Raiders now play. He earned 341 wins as Lady Raider head coach from 1990-2003, and made two state tournament appearances before leaving for Riverdale.
Lady Raiders beat Warren County; clinch regular season district title
Coffee County’s Lady Raider softball team is regular season district champions.
Again.
Coffee County outhit Warren County 11-3 in McMinnville Tuesday night and got a stellar performance in the circle from Kaitlyn Davis in a 4-1 win over the Lady Pioneers. The win clinches first place in the regular season District 6-4A standings for Coffee County.
Coffee County had a big night at the plate with 11 hits but could only push across the 4 runs. Olivia Evans led the way with 3 hits, including a double. Kaitlyn Davis also doubled and Chesnie Cox tripled for the Lady Raiders.
Davis, Cox and Channah Gannon each knocked in runs.
Meanwhile, Davis turned in a gem in the circle. The junior right-hander allowed only 3 hits over 7 innings in the complete-game win. The one run Warren County scored was unearned. She struck out 4.
The Lady Raiders will host Franklin County at 7 p.m. Thursday at Terry Floyd Field in Manchester – it will be senior night. Thunder Radio will carry that broadcast at 107.9 FM, 1320 AM, 106.7 FM, Manchester Go app, thunder1320.com.
GOLF: Raiders, Rockets win on the golf course Tuesday
The Westwood Rocket and Coffee Middle Raider golf teams both earned wins on the golf course Tuesday.
Westwood 12, Fayetteville 0
Jack Stowe, Danica Fleenor: 3-0
Landon Collins, Eli Henley: 3-0
Peyton Evans, Thompson Lowe, Ava Thomas: 3-0
Jaxon Phillips, Calvin Barrett, Ethan Hamby: 3-0
Coffee Middle 7, Tullahoma 5
Tallan Crosslin, Lucas Turner: 0.5 – 2.5
Noah Costello, Skylar Releford: 2-1
Cade Williams, Luke Lowe: 3-0
Braden Kesling, James Bradley: 1.5 – 1.5
Birthdays – April 26
Eathen Beaty – 18- Pizza Winner!
Pearl E. Brothers
Graveside services for Mrs. Pearl E. Brothers, age 99 of Beechgrove, will be conducted at 1:45PM on Wednesday, April 27, 2022, at Riverside Cemetery in Woodbury, TN. The family will receive friends from 11:00AM until 1:00PM at Manchester Funeral Home. Mrs. Brothers passed from this life on Sunday, April 24, 2022, at Manchester Center Rehab in Manchester, TN.
Pearl was born in Cannon County, TN on May 2, 1922, the daughter of the late William “Billy” and Naola Williams. Pearl was a member of Beechgrove Cumberland Presbyterian Church, and she was also a member of the Beechgrove Home Demonstration Club for many years. Pearl worked at Colonial Shirt Factory in Woodbury for over 20 years. She enjoyed knitting, crocheting, and quilting in her spare time. Pearl also enjoyed flowers and decorating cakes. She was very family oriented, and her family meant everything to her. She was a loving and devoted wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother.
In addition to her parents, Pearl is also preceded in death by her beloved husband, Leonard Brothers; two sons, John and Jack Brothers; brother, William “Billy” Williams Jr.; two grandchildren, Patricia Moradain and Laura Fults. She is survived by her son, Mark Brothers (Jenny); three daughters, Patsy Rogers (Jerry), Naola Tarpley (Carter), and Cathey Fults (Jimmy); fourteen grandchildren, Billy, Lisa, Jeff, Jerri, Jennifer, Douglas, Chris, Josh, Rachel, Stacy, Erica, Andrew, Adam, and Ashley; seventeen great-grandchildren.
Manchester Funeral Home is honored to serve the Brothers family.
Paul David Baker Jr.
Mr. Paul David Baker, Jr., age 65, of Rock Island,
TN, passed from this life on Monday, April 25, 2022, at his residence. Mr.
Baker was born in Indianapolis, IN, to his late parents Paul David Baker
Sr. and Joyce Matthews. He worked with Lowe’s as a kitchen specialist for
many years. Mr. Baker enjoyed working on anything with a motor and loved
building things. He also enjoyed camping with his family and loved doing
anything with his grandkids and great grandkids. In addition to his
parents, he was preceded in death by a son, Joshua Paul Baker; daughter,
Jessica Rae Baker; brother, Frankie Romero Baker; sister, Deborah Sue
Baker; grandparents, Sam and Nola Matthews and George and Inez Baker. Mr.
Baker is survived by his wife of 47 years, Jenene St. John Baker; daughter,
Jennifer Jernigan (Doug Holmes); brother in law, Mike (Debbie) St. John;
sister in law, Debbie Reavis (Robert Young); grandchildren, Brooke
(Michael), Cody, Andy, Ashley; great grandchildren, Grady, Paislee, Olivia,
and Garron. Visitation with the family will be held on Wednesday, April 27,
2022, from 4:00pm until 8:00pm at Central Funeral Home in Manchester, TN.
Funeral services will be conducted on Thursday, April 28, 2022, at 2:00pm
from the chapel of Central Funeral Home. Burial will follow at Manchester
City Cemetery in Manchester, TN. The family wishes to express their sincere
thanks and gratitude to the employees and staff of Avalon Hospice for their
loving care during this difficult time. Central Funeral Home is honored to
serve the Baker family, 931-723-7774, centralfuneralhome.com
Two suspects in custody after running from Coffee County authorities Tuesday; third suspect remains at large
Two suspects are in custody and face a litany of charges after running from Coffee County authorities Tuesday morning. A third suspect remains at large.
According to Coffee County Sheriff’s Department Chief Deputy Frank Watkins, a patrol deputy was behind subjects on Interstate 24 westbound at approximately 4:30 a.m. Tuesday (April 26) when they began “driving recklessly.”
When the deputy attempted to stop the vehicle, the driver allegedly began passing vehicles on the shoulder of the road at a high rate of speed. Subjects then turned around and came into Coffee County. According to Watkins, someone threw a gun and a white substance from the vehicle believed to be methamphetamine. The vehicle then wrecked just off of the interstate and subjects fled.
Manchester Police Department responded to mutual aid request from the sheriff’s department near the rear of The Reserve at Northridge, where the three suspects allegedly fled.
One subject was quickly apprehended by MPD K9 Officer Daryn Gadeken and canine Nalty. At approximately 8:45 a.m. a second suspect was apprehended near Melrose Market on US Highway 41.
As of this story Tuesday afternoon, the third suspect remains at large and authorities believe he is a black male who is no longer in the area.
Arrested were Michael Zander Labelle, 20, of McMinnville and Zebulun Waleed Byrd, 35, of Smyrna. Both subjects are in custody of the Coffee County Jail.
Labelle is held on $49,000 bond facing charges of resisting arrest, reckless endangerment, reckless driving, manufacture, sale, delivery or possession of methamphetamine, tampering with or fabricating evidence, theft of motor vehicle, contraband in a penal institution and evading arrest.
Meanwhile, Byrd is held on $329,500 bond and is facing charges of evading arrest, resisting arrest, reckless endangerment, manufacture, sale, delivery, possession of methamphetamine, reckless driving, tampering with or fabricating evidence and theft of property.
State budget waves state fee for license plates; county fees still due
The Tennessee legislature fiscal budget for July 1, 2022 through June 30, 2023 waves the state portion for license plate renewals.
The state fee is $23.75 when renewing tags for a Class B vehicle and $16.75 to renew class A (motorcycles).
Coffee County Clerk Teresa McFadden told Thunder Radio News that she has yet to be notified of the change.
Even though the state fee will be waved, you will still need to renew tags and pay the county portion of the renewal. In Coffee County, the clerk fee is $3.50. Other counties with wheel taxes will still collect those fees.
Manchester Chamber of Commerce brings Lemonade Day to Manchester
Manchester will be the second community in Tennessee to play host to a global youth entrepreneurship program that teaches leadership and business skills by encouraging children to launch a lemonade business – the program is simply called “Lemonade Day.”
The Manchester Chamber of Commerce is working in partnership with Manchester City Schools to provide curriculum and training materials to all fourth-grade students at College Street and Westwood Elementary Schools and one group of students at Westwood Middle School.
Participants will learn how to create a business plan, market a product, and determine how much to charge per cup of lemonade to make a profit. All of this will be done in the classroom, with teachers guiding students through the program’s workbook and generating discussion and ideas of how to make theirs the best lemonade stand.
The program will culminate in Lemonade Day Manchester on Thursday, May 19. Eleven lemonade stands will be located at area businesses, led by these student entrepreneurs.
“We are thrilled to bring Lemonade Day to Manchester,” said Manchester Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Katy Riddle. “This program introduces students to financial literacy, empowers them to launch a business, and connects them with resources in our community designed to help them succeed.”
The impact of a program like Lemonade Day is four-fold: 1) teach financial literacy to kids; 2) promote entrepreneurship; 3) teach kids to be responsible and self-reliant; and 4) contribute to their community’s development.
“Communities that host Lemonade Day programs are making a difference in a positive, meaningful way: they are demonstrating their commitment to bettering people, society and the economy by supporting youth entrepreneurship,” states Lemonade Day National Director Debbie Nazarian.
The program is made possible by presenting sponsor SERVPRO of Coffee, Franklin, and Warren County, and the following additional sponsors: Coffee County Bank, First Bank, First Vision Bank, J & G Pizza and Steak House, Peoples Bank & Trust and Thunder Radio.
For more information about the event, stand locations, and how to become a sponsor, please visit www.manchestertnchamber.org/lemonade.
Since 2007, more than one million kids have participated in Lemonade Day in throughout the U.S. and Puerto Rico, plus Canada and Bermuda. For more information, please visit www.lemonadeday.org.
The Manchester Chamber of Commerce is a proactive, high-energy partner with citizens and government, with an involved and informed membership. The Chamber is focused on recruiting, promoting, and celebrating business in the Manchester area.
