Josh Peterson

PRESS RELEASE

In August 2018, Manchester Police responded to Tri-Green Equipment on Interstate
Drive, in regards to a burglary to their business. It was reported that one of their trucks had been
used to break through the gate and used to move a barricade. It was also determined that a John
Deere Gator, Zero Turn Mower and an 18’ Lawrimore trailer was stolen.

In November of 2018, Manchester Police Department Investigators learned that similar
thefts had happened in Murfreesboro, TN. Manchester Police and Murfreesboro Police worked
together to identify suspect(s) that were responsible for crimes in both jurisdictions. As the
investigation continued, and it became obvious that crimes were committed throughout the
Southeast and Eastern United States. Both agencies teamed up with the FBI to continue the
investigation.

Investigators followed leads which led them to two suspects, Donald White and Miranda
Skye Jones from McMinnville, TN. During extensive interviews with the Manchester Police
Department and the FBI, the case grew into a multi-state, million dollar theft ring involving
Christopher Daniel Gay – AKA Little Houdini (Leader of Theft-Ring). Donald White and
Miranda Skye Jones were determined to be acting as accomplices. The three conspired and
carried out a multi-state theft ring, stealing approximately $1.7 million dollars’ worth of
property. The property stolen included: Class A Motorhomes, car haulers, heavy equipment,
travel trailers, lawn care equipment, vehicles and tools. It was reported that Gay would wear a
police shirt and an exposed firearm while canvasing heavy equipment dealerships, gaining his
own intelligence. Gay would then use the intelligence gained and return to commit his crimes.

The involved individuals sold the stolen equipment using social media pages including Facebook
and Craigslist.

All 3 suspects entered guilty pleas in Federal Court on charges of Conspiracy to Commit
Wire Fraud and Interstate Transportation of Stolen Property. Gay was sentenced to 84 months in
Federal Prison, to run consecutive to other State Felonies. White was sentenced to 74 months and
Jones was sentenced to 36 months. Both were ordered to pay restitution to the victims. Gay has
an extensive criminal history and received his nickname after numerous escapes from
jails/guards. He is most known after a 2007 escape and theft of country music singer Crystal
Gayle’s tour bus in Nashville, TN.

All involved agencies worked tirelessly throughout this investigation. Manchester Police
is grateful for the time and work that was dedicated to this case by the FBI and the Murfreesboro
Police Department. A majority of the property was able to be recovered and returned to the victims.

Kentucky flood victim collections continue in Manchester

Manchester residents have teamed up to begin a collection of items for victims of recent floods in Eastern Kentucky.

A trailer was dropped off Monday, Aug. 8 in the Southern Family Market parking lot to be filled. The items will be driven to the Sycamore Volunteer Fire Department for distribution. The trailer remains as there is room for more donations.

Items needed include:

Water

Tooth paste

Tooth Brush

Deoderant

Feminine products

Diapers

Baby Formula

Soap

Shampoo

Razors

Towels

Shaving Cream

Pet Food

Cleaning supplies (trash bags, gloves, brooms, brushes)

No clothing is being accepted at this time.

In addition to collection items, anyone wishing to make monetary donations to cover fuel expenses of the trip can be made at 1873 Hillsboro Blvd. in Manchester (Imhoff Landscape). Additional funds over fuel costs will be used for gift cards for more supplies.

Southern Family Markets parking lot is located at 2050 Hillsboro Blvd. next to Al White Ford Lincoln.

Flood waters ravaged the eastern part of Kentucky in late July, leaving at least 37 people dead.

Woodbury man sentenced to 3 months for Jan. 6 actions

A Woodbury man has been sentenced to three months in prison for his role January 6th in Washington DC.

Matthew Baggott pleaded guilty in April to a count of disorderly and disruptive conduct.

Baggott has been sentenced to 3 months incarceration, 1 year of supervised release, 60-hours of community service and $500 in restitution.

A total of 25 Tennesseans have been arrested in relation to January 6.

Motlow Celebrates 14 New Paramedic Graduates

Motlow State Community College recognized 14 new paramedics during a graduation ceremony held August 8 in Powers Auditorium on the College’s Moore County campus.

“This graduating class has put in a lot of time and effort and proven themselves to take their place among their colleagues in the field,” said Houston Austin, EMS Director at Motlow. “I am very proud of all of their accomplishments. Motlow strives for excellence, and they have definitely achieved that.”

Time management is essential for successfully completing the Paramedic program. From the time they started the program to when it was finished, they completed 1200 hours of class time and more than 600+ hours of clinical time to achieve their goals. The graduates can appreciate what they have accomplished as they prepare for their careers as valuable, highly-competent paramedics.

“This has been the hardest and most rewarding year I’ve experienced,” said Hayley Corn, from Winchester. She plans to work for the Rutherford County EMS.

Most of the graduates completed Paramedic Certificates at Motlow, however, Taylor Mitchell and Jacob Wrisner also achieved their Paramedic Associate of Applied Science degrees. A paramedic is the highest level of EMT. In the field, paramedics can provide a higher level of emergency care, such as inserting an IV, administering drugs, and helping with pacemakers.

Several Motlow graduates were also recognized with additional awards of achievement, including:

Excellence in Academic Performance

-Katrina Cherry

Excellence in Clinical Performance

-Jamie Lamb

Excellence in Skills Performance

-Jessica Quirk
-Jacob Wrisner
-Ashley Welcome

For more information about Motlow’s EMS programs, contact emseducation@mscc.edu. Fall classes start August 22.

2022 Graduating Class

-Ramina Askander
-Katrina Cherry
-Levi Coles
-Hayley Corn
-Gabriel Garcia (US Air Force veteran)
-Cameron Hawkins
-Dustin Horton
-Jamie Lamb
-Taylor Mitchell (US Navy veteran)
-Jessica Quirk (US Army veteran)
-James Richard (US Marine Corps veteran)
-Alex Smith (US Army veteran)
-Ashley Welcome
-Jacob Wrisner

Tennessee’s Community Colleges is a system of 13 colleges offering a high-quality, affordable, convenient, and personal education to prepare students to achieve their educational and career goals in two years or less. The system offers associate degree and certificate programs, workforce development programs, and transfer pathways to four-year degrees. For more information, please visit us online at tbr.edu or visit Motlow at motlow.edu.

Raz’n Kids Consignment Sale is Wednesday through Friday in Manchester

The Raz’n Kids Fall/Winter Consignment Sale is slated for Aug. 10-12 at the Coffee County Fairgrounds in Manchester.

Hours are 4:30-7 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 10 and 8 a.m. until 7:30 p.m. Aug. 11 and 12. There will be a public half price sale from 7:30 a.m. until noon on Saturday, Aug. 13.

The sale will feature kids clothes, junior girls and women’s clothing, young men’s clothes, bicycles, shoes for all ages, sports cleats, infant toys, baths and pack and plays. There will also be home decor, movies, board games, books, purses, backpacks and Halloween costumes.

The Coffee County Fairgrounds can be found at 99 Lakeview Dr. in Manchester. Learn more at raznkids.com.

The Doug Greene Football Coaches Show returns to Thunder Radio Aug. 17

If you can’t get enough high school football coverage, Thunder Radio is the place to be.

The Coach Doug Greene Show – Built by Gilley Construction – will return exclusively to Thunder Radio airwaves this fall for the third consecutive year.

Hosted by Thunder Radio football color commentator Dustin Murray, the show will broadcast live from 7-8 p.m. every Wednesday night (beginning Aug. 17, 2022) from Prater’s BBQ on Woodbury Highway. Everyone is welcome to attend and talk football with coach Greene and special guest players and coaches every week.

Thunder Radio has been your home for Red Raider football since 1957 and will continue that tradition this fall. Catch the Red Raiders every Friday night beginning at 6 p.m. with The Friday Night Thunder Pregame Show (delivered by Riddle Trucking). The Al White Ford Lincoln game broadcast begins at 7 p.m. every Friday and the Friday Night Thunder Postgame show will have you covered until approximately 10:30 p.m. Broadcasts can be heard at 107.9 FM, 1320 AM, 106.7 FM, Manchester Go smartphone app and thunder1320.com.

“We are excited for another year of highlighting our student athletes and our football program,” said Josh Peterson, co-owner of Thunder Radio. “This marks the 100th year of Red Raider football. I know a lot of folks have put planning and effort into making this a special season for the team and the community. We are excited to be a part of that once again.”

Red Raider football on Thunder Radio possible by:

Raiders golfers split in first home match of 2022

Coffee County Central High School golf teams split in their first home matches of the season Monday, Aug. 8 at WillowBrook Golf Course.

The Raider boys lost to Shelbyville but beat Lincoln County. The top four Raider golfers carded a total of 368 on the day, led by Noah Costello’s 90. Jacob Holder finished at 91, Brady Daugherty 92 and Jackson Shemwell 95.

Shelbyville was 28 strokes better, leading all teams with a 340, including an impressive 7-over from Boston Boyce.

Meanwhile, the Lady Raiders also placed second – beating Shelbyville but falling to Lincoln County.

Cadie Prater led all Coffee County golfers on the day with an 88. Maggie Crouch was close behind at 90 to give CHS a 178 to Lincoln County’s 167.