Authorities with the Coffee County Sheriff’s Department and the Coffee County District Attorney’s office are investigating what they believe to be a murder-suicide that took place in the Hoodoo community in Coffee County.
Deceased are James and Cleeta Goad.
According to Coffee County Sheriff Chad Partin, investigators believe James Goad, 78, killed Cleeta Goad, age 77, then killed himself.
Family members found the two Wednesday afternoon at approximately 2:30 p.m. Partin said he believes the incident happened within the past 24 hours.
Information about a possible motive or other information has yet to be released.
Thunder Radio will update this story if/when more information becomes available.
TSSAA discusses fall plan for football, soccer; final vote to be July 8
The Tennessee Secondary School Athletic Association(TSSAA) Board of Control met in a special-called meeting Wednesday to discuss classification and changes to fall sports due to the COVID-19 pandemic. On Tuesday, TSSAA executive director Bernard Childress advised member schools that the fall contact sports, or girls’ soccer and football, would not begin on time.
On Wednesday, three options were discussed with no final decision reached. Governor Lee’s Extension of the Emergency Order currently has restricted season preparations for football and girls’ soccer until August 30th. On Wednesday, the TSSAA intoned that the earliest contest for high school football and girls’ soccer would be September 18th with middle schools opening the season on September 17th or September 24th. The discussion on classification was tabled.
Options for length of the regular season and playoff possibilities will be studied prior to the next board meeting.
One option includes beginning football season on Sept. 18 with seven regular season games and five rounds of playoffs. This is three fewer regular season games than normal. However, teams that do not qualify for the playoffs would have the option of adding up to two games to play a more complete schedule. The second option is similar, and would begin football around Sept. 18. This would reduce the playoffs by one week, and would allow teams that do not make the playoffs to add two games. The third option calls for nine regular season games beginning on Sept. 18 and only region champions to make the playoffs – a three week playoff. Teams that do not qualify for playoffs could add one game to complete their season.
The TSSAA Board of Control is set to meet again on July 7th with the hope of finalizing plans for the season and postseason on that date. TSSAA officials are in discussions with the governor’s office to better define restrictions on prep athletics. Director Childress reiterated on Wednesday that the sports of cross country, volleyball and golf are not restricted at this time and that they will follow the regular TSSAA calendar regarding practice dates and the beginning of their season. As Manchester’s only hometown station, Thunder Radio will once again bring you live broadcasts of Coffee County CHS, Coffee County Middle School and Westwood Middle School volleyball this fall. When soccer and football return, we will bring you those broadcasts continuing our unparalleled sports broadcast tradition.
TSSAA Pushes Back Start of Some Fall Sports
On Tuesday, TSSAA Executive Director Bernard Childress sent a letter to all member schools(including Coffee County CHS and Coffee County Middle School) altering the start of the fall season for some varsity sports due to Governor Lee’s extension of the COVID-19 Emergency Order. In the letter, Childress advises that “close contact sports” can not have competition or scrimmages while the Governor’s order is in place. He advises that the seasons for girls’soccer and football will not begin on time. The TSSAA is working on contingency plans and Thunder Radio will continue to monitor this story.
Below is TSSAA Executive Director Bernard Childress’ letter to member schools:
“Yesterday, the Governor’s office extended Tennessee’s COVID-19 State of Emergency until August 29, 2020. The Governor’s prior order (No. 38) includes limitations and restrictions on contact sporting events and activities.
We are working with the Governor’s office to ensure that our member schools are in compliance with the executive order in regards to athletic participation and contact sports.
While the Governor’s order is in place, member schools cannot have any competition or scrimmage with other schools and cannot have close contact activities during their fundamental practice in the sports of football, 7-on-7 football, girls soccer, wrestling and basketball.
Based on the extension of the Governor’s order, football and girls’ soccer cannot begin their seasons as originally scheduled. We are in the process of developing regular season and postseason options to present to the TSSAA Board of Control for their consideration. The Board will ultimately make the decision as to how this will impact the postseason and if any adjustments can be made to regular season competition.
Local Prep Sports Contests are Suspended
With the closing of the Coffee County and Manchester City School Systems on Sunday afternoon, decisions have to be made regarding extracurricular activities, including sports. Manchester City Schools have announced that all games and practices are suspended for the week of March 16th thru March 20th. The Coffee County School System met on Monday morning and decided to suspend all extra-curricular activities; both practices and games. Thunder Radio will continue to follow this story and update you when practices and games resume.
Coffee County Lady Raider Basketball Claims District Title; Red Raiders Settle for 4th Place Finish on Saturday
The Coffee County CHS basketball teams traveled to Fayetteville on Saturday for the final day of the District 8AAA postseason tournament. The Red Raiders fell in the consolation game to Lincoln County 64 to 55. The Lady Raiders used a strong 2nd half to claim the District 8AAA Championship with a 52 to 40 win over Tullahoma.
In the boys’ game, Coffee County fell behind early trailing by as much as 17 points in the 1st half. In the second half, the Red Raiders caught fire and rallied to tie the game at 45 with 6 minutes left in regulation. But turnovers hampered Coffee County down the stretch as Lincoln County outscored the Raiders 19 to 10 in the final stretch to grab the win. The loss dropped the Red Raiders season record to 19 and 9
The Red Raiders were led in scoring by Jaylon Wooten who had 12 points as he selected the Stone Fort Mortgage player of the game. C.J. Anthony and Kyle Farless each netted 11 points while Hayden Hullett chipped in 6. After the game, Wooten was named the District 8AAA regular season MVP. Anthony was tabbed to the all-district team. Head coach Micah Williams was named the District 8AAA Coach of the Year.
In the girls’ title game, Coffee County jumped out to lead in the 1st half only to see Tullahoma tie the game at 17 just before the half. As the horn sounded to end the first half, Bella Vinson was fouled while shooting a 3 point basket and hit all 3 free throws to give the Lady Raiders a lead they would not surrender. Coffee County dominated the 2nd half to get their 3rd win in a row over Tullahoma. The Lady Raider seniors finish their careers winning 13 of 14 games against the Tullahoma Class of ’20.
Bella Vinson was the leading scorer for Coffee County as she finished with 26 points, including going 17 of 17 from the free throw line, to earn the Stone Fort Mortgage player of the game honors. Ellie Chumbley added 12 points and Jenna Garretson finished with 8. The win improves Coffee County’s record to 27 and 3 on the season. After the game, Vinson was named the District 8AAA regular season and tournament MVP. Ellie Graham was selected to the regular season all-district team and Garretson was named to the all-tournament team. Head coach Joe Pat Cope was named the District 8AAA Coach of the Year.
The Lady Raiders return to action on Friday when they host a Region 4AAA quarterfinal matchup at the Joe Frank Patch Memorial Gym. Coffee County will take on either Blackman or Stewarts Creek. Tip-off is set for 7 PM. The Red Raiders will open up the Region 4AAA Tournament on Saturday night as they will travel to either Blackman or Siegel for the quarterfinals. That game will also tip off at 7 PM. Thunder Radio will be on hand to bring you the broadcast of both of the Coffee County basketball games as the official station of Coffee County CHS athletics.
Download the broadcast at: www.thunder1320.com/downloads
