Josh Peterson

In an effort to better inform our listeners and the electorate at large, Thunder Radio WMSR will host a political forum on April 7 – just before early voting begins for the May 3 Coffee County primary.

This continues an election-year tradition for Thunder Radio WMSR that dates back to 2012.

The forum will run from 6-8:30 p.m. Thursday, April 7. The public is welcome to attend the event, which will be held at The Church at 117 (117 E. Fort St.) just off the square in downtown Manchester.

For those who are unable to attend, the forum will be broadcast live on Thunder Radio: 107.9 FM, 1320 AM, 106.7 FM, Manchester Go app, thunder1320.com and Facebook live. There is no charge to attend.

Anyone wishing to submit questions for candidates should do so by April 1 to josh.peterson.wmsr@gmail.com.

The schedule for April 7 is as follows:

6:00-6:22 p.m.: Circuit Court Judge Part 2
Eric Burch

Bobby Carter

6:27 – 6:49: General Sessions Judge Part 2
Gerald Ewell
Garth Segroves

6:54 – 7:16: District Attorney General
Craig Northcott
Felicia Walkup

7:21-7:43: Circuit Court Clerk
Jenny Anthony

Josh Morris

7:48-8:05: Road Superintendent
Benton Bartlett

Scott Hansert

8:10-8:32 – Sheriff
Chad Partin

Alethia Rawn

Candidates will be provided up to 2 minutes for opening statements and 2 minutes to answer questions. Closing statement of 1 minute will be given if time allows.

Early voting is April 13-28. Election day May 3.

Area authorities need help identifying suspect

Authorities in neighboring Warren County are attempting to identify a person who was allegedly responsible for a burglary and theft from an automobile.

According to authorities there, this person attempted to use stolen bank cards where a surveillance photo was captured. (see photo above).

The suspect appears to be a white male, wearing a black hood with a camouflage type of shirt material used as a mask.

Anyone with information should contact Warren County Sheriff’s Department at 931-473-7863.

Local fire departments send equipment, personnel to help in East Tennessee wildfires

Early Thursday morning (March 31, 2022) approximately 17 Manchester firefighters and 11 pieces of apparatus deployed to Sevierville, TN in support of wildland fire operations occurring in East Tennessee, according to MFD chief George Chambers.

Personnel and equipment from Manchester Fire-Rescue, Hillsboro Volunteer Fire, Summitville Volunteer Fire along with Winchester Fire and Moore County Volunteer Fire deployed from Manchester headed to Sevierville. Crews will be there for an unknown number of days supporting wildland fire operations and structural fire protection for the wildfire affected communities in East TN.

Mandatory evacuations have been underway due to the fire. As of Thursday morning, the fire is considered zero percent contained and several structures are at risk. Some Manchester residents told Thunder Radio News that they were in the area for spring break and were forced to evacuate.

Birthdays- March 30

Timothy Hill- 57- Pizza Winner!

Frances Paulete Gallo

Frances Paulete Gallo passed this life on Monday, March 28, 2022, at legacy
Health and Rehab at the age of 67. The family will receive friends and
family from 9:30 – 10:30 AM Friday, April 1, 2022 at Daves-Culbertson
Funeral Home. Graveside service will follow at Hunt Cemetery in Estill
Springs.

Ms. Gallo enjoyed taking walks, listening to the radio and eating
chocolate. She was the daughter of the late Robert E. Jeans Sr. and Mary
Kathryn Denby Jeans.

She is survived by her brother, Robert Jeans Jr. (Kathleen) of Tullahoma;
sister, Mary Ann Smith of Decherd and nieces, Frances Sabo of Decherd,
Kathryn Ann Henley (Billy) of Tullahoma and Felica.

Online condolences may be made at www.davesculbertsonfuneralhome.com.
Daves-Culbertson Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Bradley “Brad” Keith McAfee

Mr. Bradley “Brad” Keith McAfee, age 58, of Manchester, TN, passed from this life on Monday, March 21, 2022, in Murfreesboro, TN, at Alive Hospice. Mr. McAfee was born in Manchester, TN, to his late father Ivan Willard McAfee and surviving mother Brenda Robertson McAfee. He was of the Church of Christ faith and was a minister and missionary. Mr. McAfee loved the Lord and studied the Bible all the time and knew it well. He enjoyed playing the guitar, golfing, and spending time with his dog, Brownie. Mr. McAfee also enjoyed watching Titans football as well as UT football. He loved and adored his grandchildren very much and enjoyed spending time with them. Mr. McAfee is survived by his wife of 5 years, Diana Keele Williams McAfee; son, Joshua (Kristen) McAfee; daughter, Rebecca (Mark) McAfee; mother, Brenda McAfee; brothers, Greg (Kim) McAfee and Carson (Anna) McAfee; grandchildren, Jude, Evelyn, and Emma; several nieces and nephews. Visitation with the family will be held on Wednesday, March 23, 2022, from 4:00pm until 8:00pm at Central Funeral Home in Manchester, TN. Funeral services will be conducted on Thursday, March 24, 2022, at 11:00am in the chapel of Central Funeral Home. Burial will follow at Rose Hill Memorial Gardens in Tullahoma, TN. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Alive Hospice, 1629 Williams Drive, Murfreesboro, TN 37129. Central Funeral Home is honored to serve the family, 931-723-7774, centralfuneralhome.com

Mack A. Fannin

Mack A. Fannin passed peacefully in his sleep, March 27, 2022, at Ascension St. Thomas Rutherford Hospital in Murfreesboro, after a nearly two decades struggle with heart disease. He was born on February 26, 1936, in Double Springs, Alabama, and moved with his parents, the late Robert Misseldine Fannin and Ora Lee Adams Fannin, to Manchester, when he was two years old. He graduated from Coffee County Central High School with the Class of 1954, and was a dairy farmer and played in the band. He developed a lifelong love of music while in high school.

After high school, he enlisted in the US Marine Corps and during this time, he suffered a severe visual impairment which was enough to render him legally blind. Nevertheless, he was a highly motivated person, and received a Bachelor’s degree in music from MTSU, and later, a Master’s degree in counseling from the Univ. of GA. He worked in GA and AL as a school band teacher, before beginning a 30 years career with the Ga. Division of Disability Adjudication in Atlanta. He retired in 1996, and he and his wife moved to his beloved Manchester, because of his many wonderful memories growing up here.

Mack is survived by his loving wife of 42 years, Hazel McClaran Fannin, and his son, Scott Fannin (Fayette) of Calhoun, GA, daughter, Deborah (Daniel) Nichols of Dalton, GA, stepson, Stephen Price (Heather) of Manchester, VT, and a stepdaughter, Susan Price of Manchester, TN; granddaughters, Erica and Melanie Robinson; step-grandsons, Nick and Noah Price; brother, Dale (Wanda) Fannin of Double Springs, AL, and nephews, Matt (Brittney) Fannin of Tuscaloosa, AL and Greg Densmore (Jeretha) of Haleyville, AL, and great-nephew, Brody Densmore; sister-in-law, Lella McClaran Hars, niece, Julie (John) Bowes and nephew, John (Amy) Boettcher and great-nephew Austin (Amy) Echlov, all of the Orlando, FL area.

During retirement, Mack became an active volunteer with the Coffee County Humane Society, and in lieu of flowers, donations are requested to CCHS, PO Box 252, Manchester, TN 37349. As per his wishes, his body will be cremated, and a memorial service will be held at 3:00PM on Sunday, April 3, 2022, at Manchester Funeral Home. Visitation with the family will be held from 2:00PM until the time of services at the funeral home.

Manchester Funeral Home is honored to serve the Fannin family.

New issue of Thunder the Magazine now on the streets

The newest issue of Thunder The Magazine is now on the streets.

The quarterly magazine – featuring season recaps, action photography and feature stories from the just completed winter sports season – hit the streets on Wednesday, March 30, 2022.

The glossy magazine is 48-pages – the largest issue yet.

“For this issue we really wanted to step up our game,” explained publisher Josh Peterson. “The first two issues provided us with a learning curve. For this issue, we expanded our page count thanks to the large amount of advertisers interested in this product. And we hired a professional design team to enhance the look and feel of the magazine.”

This new edition of Thunder The Magazine also includes more features stories on local athletes and coaches – including a heavy concentration on the Red Raider boy’s basketball team and its first run to the state tournament in 57 years.

The magazine is free for anyone. Beginning March 30th, you can get a copy at Al White Ford Lincoln, Capstar Bank, Coffee County Bank, Mercantile Cafe, Interstate Liquors, Bush Insurance, Peoples Bank & Trust and Dr. Jay Trussler’s office. You can also pick up copies between 3-5 p.m. at Thunder Radio studios – 1030 Oakdale St Wednesday, March 30 through Friday, April 1. Copies will be available for all-day pickup at the Thunder Radio Studios beginning Monday, April 4. The radio station businesses offices are open limited hours this week for spring break.

Thunder the Magazine is a product of Thunder Radio and Coffee County Broadcasting – owned and operated by Josh and Holly Peterson of Manchester.

Two young McMinnville adults killed in Tuesday crash

Two people were tragically killed Tuesday, March 29 in a wreck involving a motorcycle versus vehicle in McMinnville.

According to a news report from WOWC, a 2018 Toyota 4Runner driven by Alissa Rains of McMinnville was making a turn from Donnell St. to North Spring Street when she collided with a 2007 Suzuki Motorcycle, which was driven by Bryan Jennings, age 21, of McMinnville.

The motorcycle and 4Runner both caught fire. Jennings was pronounced deceased at the scene. He also had a passenger, Katelyn Rogers, 20, of McMinnville. She was transported to the hospital where she later died.

McMinnville Police Department is investigating the crash.

Thunder Radio political forum set for April 7; deadline to submit questions is April 1