Thunder Radio is proud to announce the return of our summer “Phrase that Plays” contest!
In partnership with participating businesses, Thunder Radio will be giving away a pair of tickets to Beech Bend Park every weekday in June and a pair of tickets to Lake Winnie every weekday in July. All listeners have the opportunity to enter. The rules are simple – all you have to do is listen to Thunder Radio and when you hear the special phrase (which will play 8-12 times every day), you call in and enter your name for the daily drawing.
Limit one winner per household every 30 days.
Call 931-728-1320 with any questions.
Governor Bill Lee signs bill supporting independent pharmacies and patients
Governor Bill Lee has signed into law legislation aimed at protecting independent pharmacies from rising fees and patient-steering associated with the companies that manage prescription benefits on behalf of health insurers. Greg Bohannon, co-owner of Thrifty MedPlus Pharmacy in Ooltewah, says pharmacy-benefit managers, which have ballooned into monopolies in recent decades, are unfairly targeting small pharmacies.
The bill prevents PBMs from discriminating against hospitals and clinics participating in a federal drug-pricing program which allows them to buy medications at reduced rates, allows patients to choose their own pharmacy, and creates transparency for patients and providers on drug pricing and co-pays. Pharmacy-benefit managers say their industry helps lower drug costs for patients.
Bohannon explains PBMs use a number of tactics to increase profits, which often result in patients and small pharmacies footing the bill.
“A lot of times they actually pay the pharmacies less than what the pharmacy has to pay for the medication. Or, overreaching and ever-changing audit strategies that are employed by the PBM and their auditing companies.”
He says the state’s independent pharmacies have stepped up to serve Tennessee communities during the pandemic.
“Whether it was making hand sanitizer or sourcing some of the hard-to-get products for the store and for our customers, or curbside delivery programs.”
One survey of 600 independent pharmacies nationwide by Pharmacists United for Truth and Transparency found PBMs charged community pharmacies more than two billion dollars in medicare prescription fees in 2017 and 2018.
Franklin County authorities searching for escaped prisoner
Franklin County Sheriff’s Department authorities are attempting to locate an escaped prisoner – Chase Moffit.
Moffit has an address of 1557 Pleasant Ridge Rd. in Huntland. He allegedly escaped custody from the Franklin County Jail Monday, May 31.
If anyone has information regarding Moffit’s whereabouts, you are asked to call the Franklin County Sheriff’s Department at 931-962-0123.
COVID-19 vaccinations
The number for people vaccinated in Tennessee is close to reaching 5 million (4.857,898). 33.4 % of the population is fully vaccinated, while 39.3% have at least one dose.
Ages 61-70 seem to have the highest rate of vaccines across the state at 535,084 people vaccinated.
The Tennessee Department of health is still running their “Give it a Shot” campaign, which is used to encourage those hesitant of receiving the vaccine to go out and get it.
Nationally, a total of about 135 million people are fully vaccinated which is equivalent to 41.2% of the U.S. population.
For more details about vaccination numbers in Tennessee, visit https://www.tn.gov/health/cedep/ncov/covid-19-vaccine-information.html
TDOT to resume construction
Tennessee Department of Transportation will resume construction Tuesday morning at 6 a.m. This comes after construction was suspended for Memorial Day weekend as it was anticipated that many people would travel. Construction was paused at noon on Friday, May 28th.
“Suspending construction-related lane closures during the Memorial Day weekend will lessen congestion and delays on Tennessee’s major highways,” said Commissioner Clay Bright. “We want to do our part to help everyone have an enjoyable and safe holiday weekend and keep traffic flowing as smoothly and efficiently as possible.”
AAA estimated nearly 37 million Americans would travel this Memorial Day holiday, 60% more than last year, still almost six million fewer than pre-pandemic. Over 776,000 Tennesseans planned to travel, with more than 687,000 driving to their Memorial Day destinations.
From your desktop or mobile device, get the latest construction activity and live streaming SmartWay traffic cameras at www.TNSmartWay.com/Traffic. Travelers can also dial 511 from any landline or cellular phone for travel information, or follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/TN511 for statewide travel. As always, drivers are reminded to use all motorist information tools wisely and Know Before You Go! by checking travel conditions before leaving for your destination. Drivers should never tweet, text, or talk on a cell phone while behind the wheel.
Gas prices down in Tennessee
Tennessee gas prices are down one cent on the week as many Tennesseans are expected to hit the road for Memorial Day. Gas Price average is now $2.87 which is 17 cents more than one month ago and $1.17 more than one year ago. Coffee County is 25 cents below national average and 7 cents below the state average.
The County average is $2.80, the state average is $2.87, and the national average is $3.05 for Memorial Day. The national average cost for gas just two weeks ago when the Colonial Pipeline shut down, was $3.00 a gallon which makes the new average 5 cents higher for Memorial Day weekend.
For the complete list of county averages, visit https://gasprices.aaa.com/?state=TN
Unemployment down across the state in April
Tennesseans continued returning to the workforce in counties across the state in April. According to newly released data from the Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development, nearly all counties experienced a decrease in unemployment during the month. In year-to-year comparisons, each county showed a remarkable recovery from pandemic-era unemployment rates one year ago.
The department reported 87 counties saw lower unemployment rates in April when compared to the previous month. The rates remained the same in two counties, while six counties did experience higher unemployment.
Seventy of the state’s 95 counties now have rates less than 5%. Unemployment is 5% or greater in the remaining 25 counties.
Coffee County had a 4% unemployment rate for the month of April which is down 0.9% from March.
At 2.8%, Williamson and Moore counties recorded the state’s lowest unemployment for the month. Williamson’s rate is down 0.5 of a percentage point from March and 7.9 percentage points from April 2020, during the height of business closures due to the pandemic. Moore County’s rate is down 0.9 of a percentage point from March and 9.8 percentage points from its rate one year ago.
A complete analysis of the April 2021 county labor force estimates is available here.
While Tennessee has seen great improvement in unemployment over the last 12 months, many residents still need to find a path back into the workforce. The state stands ready to help them navigate the job market to gain meaningful employment.
Online or in-person resources are available to job seekers in every county. Jobs4TN.gov, TNVirtualAJC.com, ApprenticeshipTN.com, and more than 80 American Job Centers across the state can provide a starting point to a new job.
The state of Tennessee will release the May 2021 statewide unemployment rate at 1:30 p.m. CT, Thursday, June 17, 2021.
Plane crash in Percy Priest Lake leaves 7 deceased
Saturday morning, a 1982 Cessna 501 departed Smyrna Airport heading toward Palm Beach International Airport in Florida. Shortly after take-off, the small jet crashed into Percy Priest Lake.
Seven persons were on board and all family members have been notified. William J. Lara, Gwen S. Lara, Jennifer J. Martin, David L. Martin, Jessica Walters, Jonathan Walters, and Brandon Hannah all of Brentwood. They were all leaders in the Remnant Fellowship Church, 1230 Franklin Road in Brentwood.
Rutherford County Fire-Rescue Captain and Incident Commander John Ingle said, “The debris field is approximately a half of a mile wide.”
Drone operations continue over the debris field, and airspace traffic has been restricted at the crash site and within a radius of one nautical mile, 500 feet altitude.
The National Transportation Safety Board is the lead investigating agency with assistance from the Federal Aviation Administration and local officials. NTSB has enlisted the help of other agencies including Cessna aircraft to assist with the investigation. According to NTSB officials, the entire investigation can take up to one to two years to complete.
Retired FAA Inspector Larry Williams is concerned that the crash happened so quickly that the pilot never called for help.
Boaters on the lake report that the jet from Smyrna crashed into the water near the Fate Sanders Recreation Area. Authorities have blocked-off a debris field. The crash area of the lake was described as an “oil slick”.
Local agencies involved are Rutherford County Fire Rescue, Almaville and Lascassas Volunteer Fire Departments, Rutherford County Sheriff’s Office, Rutherford County Emergency Medical Services, Rutherford County Emergency Management Agency, Tennessee Highway Patrol, Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency, and Smyrna Airport Authority Public Safety.
Two juveniles found safe
Two Juveniles were found safe Friday after Coffee County Sheriff’s Department advised people to be on the lookout. Trinity Storm Barber, age 11, and Candace Sun Barber, age 8, were located and taken home. The Sheriff’s Department put out a statement online to ask people in the Roberts Ridge Road area to check anywhere they could be. They were last seen at 12 on Thursday before located and safely returned home.
STATE RUNNER-UP! Lady Raiders make history, finish second in TSSAA state tournament
It was a ride for the ages.
Coffee County Central’s softball team gave everything it had, pushing Farragut to the brink, but ran out of gas in the TSSAA State Championship Friday in Murfreesboro – falling 4-2.
The second place finish for Coffee County sets a school record for best placement by the storied softball program, which has reached the state tournament a handful of times.
“When you get there, the first goal you have is to not be the first team out,” said Coffee County head softball coach Brandon McWhorter. “You want to prove that you belong. We did that.”
And then some.
Coffee County battled out of the loser’s bracket, beating Siegel and Dickson County on Thursday and then fighting a downpour to beat Summit 12-4 Friday morning and advance to the state championship against Farragut Friday afternoon. The Lady Raiders would have had to beat Farragut twice in the same afternoon to win the state title after waking up and winning a 9 a.m. game the same morning. It was a tall task.
“Farragut is a good team,” said McWhorter. “Our girls fought and they gave it everything they had all week. The community support was just awesome and we couldn’t have got this far without that. It was incredible to see.”
Coffee County 12
Summit 4
The Lady Raiders needed to beat Summit at 9 a.m. Friday morning to advance to the title round – and they left no doubt.
Kaitlyn Davis had 6 RBIs, including a grand-slam, and senior Justus Turner blasted a grand slam over the center field fence to lead an offensive onslaught that buried Summit early. CHS took advantage of erratic Summit pitching – as CHS batters were hit 7 times and earned 7 walks.
Keri Munn earned the win in the circle – allowing 3 runs on 5 hits while striking out 6. The win sent Coffee County to the state championship game against Farragut for the first time in school history.
THIS GAME WAS BROADCAST LIVE ON THUNDER RADIO. LISTEN TO THE AUDIO REPLAY BY CLICKING HERE.
Coffee County 2
Farragut 4
Coffee County took the lead against the Admirals – but the Lady Raiders couldn’t hold on and Farragut won the state championship Friday afternoon.
It took a while for the scoring to get started – then the Lady Raiders finally broke through in the fifth inning.
Kiya Ferrell pulled a ground ball to the right side of the field and beat out the first baseman to the bag. In the process, Chesnie Cox scored and Olivia Evans motored all the way around from second to put Coffee County up 2-0.
Farragut answered immedietely.
The Admirals put three on the board in the bottom of the fifth to retake the lead.
The Lady Raiders loaded the bases in the sixth and Olivia Evans hit a line drive on the nose. But it went directly to the right fielder and ended the threat.
“I think when they took the lead there (in the fifth) we kind of knew it was over,” said senior Justus Turner. “We were tired. Nobody said that, but you kind of just knew.”
The Lady Raiders graduate three seniors from this year’s team – Eliza Carden, Turner and Keri Munn.
Tryouts for next year’s team are next week.
“We couldn’t have made this run without every single person on this team, all 23 of them,” said McWhorter.
photos – Coffee County vs. Summit
Brianna Shelton 
Keri Munn 
Chesnie Cox 
Olivia Evans 
Olivia Evans 
Haidyn Campbell (22) 
Keri Munn
