Thunder Radio School patrol for Monday, February 1, 2021. Brought to you by the bread and milk experts at Spring Street Market in Manchester – 801 S. Spring St.
Coffee County Schools – CLOSED, no ESP
Manchester City Schools – CLOSED, no ESP
Cannon County Schools – CLOSED.
Grundy County Schools – CLOSED
Warren County School – CLOSED
Area school systems are in line to receive a large chunk of funds from the US Department of Education for the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund disbursement. This was set aside as part of the CARES act.
Coffee County Schools are in line to receive 3,727,222. Meanwhile, Manchester City Schools are set to receive 1,347,321 and Tullahoma Schools 3,151,299.
Funding is designed to address learning loss and challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Tennessee Department of Health is expanding access to COVID-19 vaccination with a particular focus on rural and underserved areas. TDH is partnering with pharmacies and community health clinics to add more than 100 new vaccination sites across the state. Tennessee’s COVID-19 Vaccination Plan remains focused on equity to ensure those with limited access to health care resources will be able to receive vaccinations when they meet eligibility criteria outlined in the plan. Find lists of these new locations at http://bit.ly/3oq6bMT.
There are no new vaccine locations listed in Coffee County. However, neighboring Warren County has four new locations: Genoa Healthcare, Graves Family Pharmacy, Stacy’s Wellness Pharmacy and Walmart.
“We’re eager to launch these partnerships to help bring the vital resource of COVID-19 vaccines to Tennesseans in communities most vulnerable to serious and lasting social and economic challenges due to the pandemic,” said Tennessee Health Commissioner Lisa Piercey, MD, MBA, FAAP.
“These pharmacies and clinics are easily accessible to Tennesseans who have barriers to receiving health care, like lack of transportation or health insurance,” Piercey continued. “We’re bringing COVID-19 vaccines to familiar and convenient locations for residents of these communities to receive their vaccinations.”
These new COVID-19 vaccination sites include 24 federally qualified health centers, rural health clinics and community health centers, 64 local pharmacies and 20 chain pharmacies with many sites in some of Tennessee’s most vulnerable counties. These locations will follow the Tennessee COVID-19 Vaccination Plan,
These added COVID-19 vaccination sites are distributed across 51 counties covering every grand division of the state. COVID-19 vaccine supplies remain limited, and availability of vaccines varies by county and provider. These providers and facilities are expected to receive COVID-19 vaccines this week, and will handle their own scheduling processes for administering vaccinations.
In Tennessee, there are 181,260 people who have received the required two doses of COVID-19 vaccine, this according to Tennessee Department of Health. There are 280,298 people who have received one dose of the vaccine.
In Coffee County, 4.65 percent of residents have received their first dose of the vaccine, while 1.18 percent of residents have received two doses.
If you would like to sign up to be on the waiting list to receive the vaccine in Coffee County, click here.
The latest jobless numbers show unemployment increased in each of Tennessee’s counties during December 2020, according to new data released by the Department of Labor and Workforce Development (TDLWD).
There were six counties with an unemployment rate of less than 5% in December, 88 counties had rates greater than or equal to 5%, and one county had a rate higher than 10%.
Coffee County now has an unemployment rate of 5.9 percent. That is a jump of 1.3 percentage points from 4.6 percent in November, and is well above the 3.3 percent from December of 2019.
The jump in unemployment coming in December happens coincide with the announcement of the extension of CARES federal unemployment benefits.
Williamson County recorded December’s lowest unemployment rate among Tennessee’s 95 counties. The rate did increase 0.9 of a percentage point during the month to 4.2%. One year ago, Williamson County’s jobless rate was 2.1%.
Lake County had the state’s highest unemployment rate for the month. At 10.6%, the county’s rate increased by 2.5 percentage points in December. The new rate is 5.5 percentage points higher than it was in December 2019.
A complete analysis of December’s county unemployment data for Tennessee is available here.
Statewide, unemployment increased in December. The preliminary, seasonally adjusted rate for December came in at 6.4%, an increase of 1.2 percentage points from November’s revised rate of 5.2%
Nationally, unemployment held steady between November and December at 6.7%.
Tennessee employers are searching for employees to keep their businesses moving forward as the state’s economy continues to rebound. There are currently more than 230,000 open positions posted on the state’s workforce development website, Jobs4TN.gov (https://www.us13.list-manage.com/track/click?u=166478db53c066a7d114ea462&id=bd992a23e6&e=29851e7b63) .
TDLWD also offers the Tennessee Virtual American Job Center (VAJC). The new website located at www.TNVirtualAJC.com allows Tennesseans to research different programs, from different state agencies, that can help them remove barriers to employment so they can move back into the workforce.
The Tennessee Department of Education announced a new five-year partnership, T-Mobile Tech for TN Students, to provide school districts across the state with access to over 200,000 student connectivity devices, or mobile Wi-Fi hotspot device, to provide directly to families at no cost to them.
Through T-Mobile’s nationwide initiative, Project 10Million, the department will provide participating districts access to student connectivity devices to provide mobile Wi-Fi to households across Tennessee, with more than 40,000 devices available this year. Districts have three tiers of service to choose from, with 100GB of data per device per year available for free.
“As our school districts have navigated through a global health pandemic over the past year, we know access to technology and the internet remains an issue for many students,” said Commissioner Penny Schwinn. “We are grateful that T-Mobile launched this nationwide initiative and that we are able to partner to open opportunities for districts to secure free Wi-Fi hotspots for their students and their families to use at home.”
Each year over the next five years, more than 40,000 additional devices from T-Mobile will become available statewide and will be distributed directly to districts by T-Mobile according to economic factors including amount of Title 1 schools, distressed county designations and National School Lunch Program eligibility rates. Districts interested in participating will complete an online application and contract, and student connectivity devices are CIPA (Children’s Internet Protection Act) compliant.
Through this partnership, districts that choose to participate have three tiers of service to support virtual instruction and the needs of their families:
• Free: Allows for up to 100GB per year per device
• $12 per month: Allows for 100GB per month per device
• $15 per month: Allows for unlimited data per device
“Over the past several months, COVID-19 has presented significant challenges for families across the state, especially in rural areas where access to quality internet services is lacking. We are grateful to the department for providing access to these critical Wi-Fi devices so our students can continue to learn at home when virtual school is necessary,” said Dr. Versie Hamlett, Director of Fayette County Schools. “This program will allow us to bridge the connectivity gap and continue providing essential services to our students.”
“Access to the internet means access to opportunity and T-Mobile believes every single child is deserving of that access,” said Mike Katz, executive vice president of T-Mobile for Business. “We are so proud that over the next five years Project 10Million will make free, reliable connectivity accessible to over 200,000 students all across Tennessee, including those in critically important underserved rural areas without high-speed internet.”
During the COVID-19 pandemic, the department has provided multiple districts with additional resources and funding related to technology, including $50 million in device funding grants and $15 million for districts to pursue connectivity options for students.
Project 10Million is a nationwide initiative from T-Mobile with the goal of offering free internet access and mobile hotspots to 10 million eligible households. Learn more about the initiative here.
For additional information on the department’s COVID-19 and school reopening related resources, please click here. https://www.tn.gov/education/health-and-safety/update-on-coronavirus/reopening-guidance.html. For additional information, For Tennessee Department of Education media inquiries, contact Edu.MediaInquiries@tn.gov.
Join us at Thunder Radio and Rosalyn Partin of the Manchester H&R Block and congratulate our student of the week – Riley Keele!
Riley is in fifth grade at New Union Elementary School. He is the son of Jeff and Beverly Keele. His favorite subject is science. When he grows up, he would like to be a veterinarian. Riley’s favorite hobbies are snow skiing, fishing and riding horses.
Rosalyn Partin, owner of the Manchester H&R Block, has been inspired to recognize great kids in our community all year long. H&R Block gives each Student of the Week a gift card, a commemorative plaque, as well as a special letter of recognition. Job well done, Riley!
(Pictured, Rosalyn Partin presents Riley Keele with his student of the week award)
In an announcement Thursday, Tennessee Governor Bill Lee announced that he will soon lift the restrictions on sporting events contained in Executive Order No. 74.
“The guidance and rules of local education agencies and the TSSAA remain in place but Executive Order 74 will be suspended effective Monday, February 1,” Governor Lee said in a statement today. “I encourage Tennesseans to keep up their responsible personal choices as we work towards a COVID-free Tennessee.”
The TSSAA COVID-19 Regulations and Rules Modifications for practice and competition as well as the current restrictions on preseason scrimmages and jamborees adopted by the Board of Control at their July 22 meeting are still in place for all sports and must be followed. Visit the Tennessee Returns to Play page of TSSAA.org for complete details.
With the Governor’s announcement, the restrictions limiting cheerleaders and members of the general public from attending contests will be lifted on Monday, February 1. The TSSAA rules regarding masks, temperature checks, social distancing and COVID-19 recommended venue capacities will remain in effect.
“We’re proud that our member schools have been taking steps to follow the Governor’s orders and limit the spread of the virus,” said Bernard Childress, Executive Director of TSSAA. “It is vitally important that we continue to be smart and safe in our activities, wear a mask, wash our hands and practice social distancing at every athletic contest.”
Coffee County Central athletic director Rebecca Koger has now confirmed with Thunder Radio Sports that CHS will return to allowing anyone to attend. However, capacity is limited to 1/3 at Joe Frank Patch Memorial Gymnasium. Also, no tickets will be sold at the gate. Digital tickets must be purchased at gofan.co by clicking here.
Cheerleaders and dance team will be returning to the game experience.
Per TSSAA: Member schools are encouraged to limit fan attendance to a number that will allow adequate social distancing (e.g., 1/4 to 1/3 of typical seating capacity, depending on the characteristics of the particular venue) and should mark/designate bleachers or seats in order to promote social distancing among spectators. Member schools must facilitate compliance with any applicable state or local order limiting gathering sizes for participation in public events. In consultation with local health providers, member schools in areas experiencing high virus transmission should consider further limitations on attendance (e.g., family members only, or no spectators). Limit informal gathering in areas where social distancing cannot be maintained.
Diane Argraves, who is the director of the Coffee County 911 Communications Center, has filed a complaint against Coffee County Sheriff Chad Partin recently, claiming that she has been bullied and discriminated against by the sheriff.
Among many accusations, Argraves claims that Partin has created a hostile work environment. She also claims that Partin treats her differently because she is female. She claims that she believes “it is a personal matter that Sheriff Partin has against me and other women in authority in county government. “
Thunder Radio News reached out to Partin to address these claims, and he sent back the following comment:
“The Coffee County Communications Board has no comment as to the current director’s state of mind,” Partin said.
Argraves also claims that Partin has made derogatory remarks about her age.
See the complete letter sent by Argraves below:
Winchester Police Department officials are asking for the public’s help to identify two people who broke into Bennett’s Pharmacy on Dinah Shore Blvd.
According to Winchester Police, officers responded to the location at 10:30 p.m. on January 25 to burglar alarm.
When officers arrived they found the front window shattered and further investigation revealed that property was taken. Surveillance video shows two suspects dressed in black committing the burglary. Authorities believe that a Toyota Rav4 (2017-2020 model) is also involved. From a video provided, the vehicle appears to be blue or gray.
Anyone with information about who may have committed this crime is urged to contact Sgt. Detective Ronnie Durm at 931-967-3840 or call Crimestoppers anonymously at 931-962-INFO.
(Suspects are pictured above, dressed in all black)
