Just under a year away from next year’s Coffee County General Election and one candidate is officially announcing a bid for Coffee County Mayor.
Former, longtime Tennessee State Representative and lifelong Coffee County resident, Judd Matheny, is officially announcing his campaign for Coffee County Mayor. Election will be held in August, 2022.
Current Coffee County Mayor Gary Cordell, who is serving his second term, told Thunder Radio News that he does not plan to run for a third term.
County Mayor is just one of many seats that will be up for election next year: an election that will include sheriff, Manchester City Mayor, Circuit Court Clerk, multiple judges, district attorney and many more. Thunder Radio will cover those upcoming races in more detail later.
Below is Matheny’s campaign announcement:
Matheny brings a wealth of experience, relationships and a proven record of service to the citizens of Coffee County. According to Matheny, “Coffee County has a rich history of electing capable leaders who have built a strong education and business foundation while maintaining a high standard of living. I have been fortunate enough to have been re-elected seven times in the service of this community on the state level. During my time I have seen many issues evolve and be solved by helping to foster local relationships with state and federal officials. Whether issues of job creation, legitimate infrastructure, education or senior citizens, I plan to bring the same focus, intensity and ‘get things done’ approach to the Mayor’s office as I was privileged to do as your State Representative.
Coffee County will meet many new challenges with the growth and opportunities headed our way as our families grow and citizens from other parts of Tennessee and the United States make their way here to take advantage of the lifestyle we have created. Embracing these opportunities with predictable planning and policies while maintaining a healthy budgetary stance will be a major challenge but one that I am up for. With the assistance of Manchester, Tullahoma, Beechgrove, Noah, Pocahontas, Summitville, Hillsboro and other rural unincorporated areas of the county we have the capable people to address and tackle any matter. Taking full advantage of inevitable growth while still fostering the values that make us an independent people will be guiding principals during my time as Mayor. I realize this is an era when Tennesseans are frustrated with many of the aspects of government, and often there are few if any pragmatic alternatives to many of the requirements or services of government. With these concerns always at the forefront, I realize we need the most fair, transparent and efficient people to provide the customer service our citizens deserve from their county. I have extensive experience dealing with bureaucracies and managing conflict-two things that are crucial to leading our county into the future. My experiences as a veteran and law enforcement officer have embedded a deep respect for the traditional institutions of Democracy and the rule of law.
As your state representative I was fortunate to have many valuable experiences which will enable me to hit the ground running as your Mayor. I served two years as Speaker Pro Tempore of the House of Representatives, was Chairman of numerous major committees to include Consumer and Employee Affairs, Government Operations and the State’s Rights Committee. In addition, I have served on numerous committees which have led to a deeper understanding of how our system truly works, how it can be amended and its profound impact on the daily lives of Tennesseans. These committees included the Judiciary, Commerce, Budget, Health, Utilities and Banking, Agriculture and many others. My education and the contacts I have made while on these committees has prepared me for almost any eventuality that may meet us here in Coffee County.
My accomplishments are many, but several of the more prominent issues I have marshalled include a revamping of our unemployment insurance fund, workers compensation reform and protecting Coffee County from a Nashville overreach which attempted to take away our highly efficient judicial district. My bipartisan work on unemployment insurance reforms have resulted in the savings of hundreds of millions of dollars to Tennessee businesses by placing automatic reductions in the wage rate as the balance increases-without legislative mingling. By enacting the worker’s compensation exemption registry I have helped over 100,000 Tennessee small businesses legally self-insure in order to provide competitively priced services. When Nashville attempted to merge Coffee County with 4 to 6 other counties in a sprawling new judicial district, I led the fight and defeated the initiative. A larger judicial district would inhibit our county’s ability to provide efficient services in child support collections and special courts like our highly successful drug court. Everyday civil and criminal matters dealt with by our District Attorney and court systems would have been bogged down, with far less attention being placed on each case.
I am supremely proud to be a citizen here and to have had the experiences to serve you. I have never cast a vote that was to the detriment of our county or that put politics in front of good, local policy. If my record as your state representative and my steadfastness in principals meet your standards, I ask for your vote and ongoing support as Coffee County Mayor. I will remain dedicated to being accessible to all citizens, county departments and employees”.
Judd Matheny is a graduate of Tullahoma High School and holds a BS in Political Science and Criminal Justice. Judd is also an eight year veteran of the Tennessee Army National Guard as well as a ten year veteran of local and state law enforcement. He currently serves as General Manager of Southern Central Iron and Metal and Waste Services which operates locations in Manchester, McMinnville and Smithville.
Small, non-injury plane crash in McMinnville
There was a small plane crash on Wednesday morning at a nursery in McMinnville. Around 9:30 a.m., a single-engine crashed near Spencer Road.
Two people were on board, but there were no reports of injuries, according to investigators.
The Federal Aviation Administration will investigate to determine the cause of the crash.
Two more opportunities to win Bonnaroo bands
We have two opportunities coming up for you to WIN TICKETS to Bonnaroo 2021!
Friday, Thunder Radio will be LIVE AND ON LOCATION at Payless Auto in Tullahoma from 3-5! Stop by and see us to register to win those tickets and other great prizes! Also, Saturday at Interstate Liquors at 20 expressway drive in Manchester there will be a free tasting AND you can register to win those tickets between 11-1! You can even register at BOTH places! These are our final two Bonnaroo ticket giveaways of the summer!
Coffee County Government offices to remain open
Coffee County Government offices were slated to be closed on Aug. 13 for electric work – however, that will no longer be the case.
Mayor Gary Cordell’s office announced that “Due to unforeseen circumstances with Duck River Electric, the resetting of the meters has been postponed and the offices at the Coffee County Administrative Plaza will be open regular hours on Friday, August 13.”
Thunder Radio will announce when that work will be rescheduled.
Becky Buller joins the Coffee County CAC’s quest to end child abuse
Fiddler, singer, songwriter Becky Buller, who has earned 10 International Bluegrass Music Association (IBMA) awards, has joined the Coffee County Children’s Advocacy Center’s quest to end child abuse. She is also the first artist ever to win in both instrumental and vocal categories, as well as the first female to win Fiddle Player of the Year.
“I grew up in Minnesota, but my husband, Jeff Haley, grew up here, and Manchester, Tennessee, became my adopted hometown just over 12 years ago,” Buller said.
“Through my songs I like to tell stories and reach people’s hearts, stir their emotions and make them smile. I’d like to use my voice today to talk about something that’s near and dear to my heart: children. I want to use my voice to help end child abuse.”
The Coffee County Children’s Advocacy Center served 350 children victims of severe child abuse in 2020.
“The greatest challenge to battling child abuse is lack of awareness,” Buller said.
“Community members can help prevent child abuse by learning the red flags, recognizing child abuse and responding appropriately to signs of child abuse. Using my voice today, I have joined the advocacy center’s quest. Together, we can end child abuse.”
Executive Director of Coffee County CAC Joyce Prusak expressed appreciation.
“Not only is Becky Buller a talented, internationally recognized musician but she is a loved and respected member of our community,” Prusak said. “Her support means so much and will help us reach more people and raise awareness of child abuse. Child sexual and physical abuse is a growing problem in our community. But we can end child abuse with the help of the community. Becky Buller’s involvement just proves that our community is ready to battle the issue. We are so thankful.”
Visit coffeecountycac.org and follow Coffee County Children’s Advocacy Center on social media to learn more about child abuse prevention.
Email elena@coffeecountycac.org to schedule a free child abuse prevention training session.
You can watch the video here: http://www.coffeecountycac.org/post/becky-buller-joins-our-quest-to-end-child-abuse.
Bonnaroo to require vaccine or negative COVID-19 test before entry
Just three weeks before the Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival, organizers have announced that patrons must have a COVID-19 vaccination or provide a negative COVID test to attend the 2021 festival.
Bonnaroo will be held Sept. 2-5 in Manchester.
“Bonnaroo strongly encourages vaccination,” organizers said. “The last day to receive the second shot of Moderna or Pfizer, or a single dose of Johnson and Johnson is Thursday, August 19.
“For patrons who are not fully vaccinated, a negative COVID-19 test results must be obtained within 72 hours (3 days) of first entering Centeroo. Bonnaroo requests that unvaccinated individuals wear a mask at all times while on the farm.”
Thunder Radio has Bonnaroo tickets on sale for $175 apiece. Tickets can be purchased at 1030 Oakdale St. between the hours of 9-5 Monday through Friday.
Gas prices stay steady in Tennessee; Coffee County below state and national average
The Tennessee gas price average held steady over last week. The Tennessee Gas Price average is now $2.89 which is the same price as one month ago and 99 cents more than one year ago. The Coffee County average is $2.86 which puts the county 3 cents below the state average and 33 cents below the national average.
“We continue to see very robust gasoline demand for the peak summer driving season,” said Megan Cooper, spokeswoman, AAA – The Auto Club Group. “The latest demand rate was 2% higher than the same time period in 2019, while gasoline stocks are about 1% below.”
Quick Facts
· 91% of Tennessee gas stations have prices below $3.00
· The lowest 10% of pump prices are $2.71 for regular unleaded
· The highest 10% of pump prices are $3.17 for regular unleaded
· Tennessee remains the 9th least expensive market in the nation
National Gas Prices
Crude oil prices dropped below $70/bbl at the end of last week in reaction to concerns about the delta variant, growing COVID case numbers and the possibility of potential lockdowns. While crude is a little cheaper, gas prices are still positioned to remain high in August.
Today’s national average is $3.19. That is the most expensive gas price average of the year as well as $1.02 more than a year ago, a nickel more than a month ago and two cents more than a week ago. Pump prices fluctuated across the county last week with states seeing as much as a nine-cent jump to a seven-cent decrease. The variation in prices is partly attributed to the U.S. seeing an increase in demand and decrease in stocks, according to the Energy Information Administration (EIA).
August can be a busy month at the pump with school starting and others taking last minute summer trips. AAA offers these daily driving tips to help save on gas:
· Slow down and drive the speed limit. On the highway, aerodynamic drag causes fuel economy to drop off significantly as speeds increase above 50 mph.
· Avoid extended idling to warm up the engine. It is unnecessary and wastes fuel.
· When approaching a red light or stop sign, take your foot off the gas early and allow your car to coast down to a slower speed until it is time to brake.
· Accelerate smoothly with light to moderate throttle. This allows the automatic transmission to upshift into higher gears sooner, reducing engine rpm and saving fuel.
· AAA members can save at the pump by joining the Fuel Rewards at Shell program at AAA.com/Shell. Members save 30 cents per gallon on their first fill-up when they join between now and August 31, 2021. As part of the Fuel Rewards program, AAA Members earn Gold Status ongoing and save five cents per gallon every day on each individual gas purchase of up to 20 gallons from participating Shell stations with no minimum fill ups.
National Oil Market Dynamics
At the close of Friday’s formal trading session, WTI decreased by 81 cents to settle at $68.28. A stronger dollar and market concern about the impact of new coronavirus infections on crude demand pushed prices lower at the end of last week. Crude prices also declined after the EIA’s latest report showed that total domestic crude stocks increased by 3.6 million bbl to 439.2 million bbl. For this week, crude prices could decrease further if the market continues to worry that crude demand will decline as restrictions are imposed to halt transmission of COVID-19.
DCS extends deadline for former foster care to apply for pandemic aid
The Department of Children’s Services has extended the deadline for former foster youth to apply for federal stimulus funds to assist with living expenses such as rent, groceries, transportation and education. Former foster youth ages 21-26 may apply through Sept. 15, 2021. Former foster youth ages 18-20 may continue to apply after Sept. 15, while funds remain available.
“Navigating young adulthood is difficult for many, but for those who were previously in foster care it can bring additional challenges; that is why we are committed to doing everything we can to help our former foster youth thrive and be successful,” DCS Commissioner Jennifer Nichols said. “We encourage as many of our former foster youth who are now young adults to enroll in this program. These funds will make an immediate difference in their daily lives.”
The department has $7.4 million in stimulus funds available for Tennessee youth. To date, DCS has received more than 2,500 applications. Depending on the number of eligible applications received, individual checks may be worth up to $1,200, while funds last.
Who Can Qualify:
– Young adults who were in foster care in Tennessee at the age of 14 or older and are currently 18-26 may be eligible.
– Young people also have the option to re-enter Extension of Foster Care to receive additional support services if they aged out of foster care in Tennessee after Jan. 27, 2020.
Learn More and Apply at tn.gov/dcs: https://www.tn.gov/dcs/program-areas/youth-in-transition/youth-resources/pandemic-aid-former-tn-foster-youth.html
Source: Partner Station WGNS
Tullahoma man charged with attempted murder, kidnapping
A Coffee County man is behind bars and his wife is recovering after a domestic violence situation nearly turned deadly last week.
Christopher Harrison Bates, age 44, of Tullahoma, is being held in the Coffee County Jail on $1.3M bond and is facing charges of Attempted Murder, 1st Degree, and Especially Aggravated Kidnapping.
According to Coffee County Sheriff’s Department authorities, investigators responded to Vanderbilt Harton Hospital in Tullahoma on Aug. 4 in reference to a female with a severe neck laceration. The victim claimed to have been accidentally injured by leaning on a knife in a vehicle.
However, investigators were able to determine that the victim and her husband, Christopher Harrison Bates, were arguing in the vehicle. Bates allegedly drove to a remote gravel road while holding a knife next to the victim’s head at the headrest. During an argument, Bates allegedly pushed the knife into the victim’s throat, cutting her deeply two times. It is policy of Thunder Radio to not released the names of domestic violence victims.
According to authorities, the event was captured on dashcam video in place on the vehicle. Bates is being held in the Coffee County Jail.
Warren County Sheriff’s Department issues BOLO for missing Jeep Wrangler
The Warren County Sheriff’s Department issued a Be on the lookout for an orange four door 2012 Jeep Wrangler that was reported stolen from Warren County. The vehicle was taken over the weekend (8/6-8/2021) from a residence while the homeowners were out of town.
If seen please contact the Warren County Sheriff’s Department through the Warren County E-911 Center at 931-668-7000, 911 if an emergency, or your local authorities if outside of Warren County.
