Category: News

Tullahoma’s premier water park, Splash Island, plans to open for swimmers
beginning Wednesday, June 24th. The park will be open for 300 swimmers from
11am to 4pm daily. The pool will operate on this schedule until July 28th.
After that date, Splash Island will be open on Saturdays and Sundays through
Labor Day.

The Manchester Recreation center pools already opened for the summer around Memorial Day.

“Splash Island has become an important part of summer life in Tullahoma, and
we are pleased and excited to once again offer outdoor water recreation
opportunities for 2020 under the Tennessee Pledge,” said Kurt Glick, Parks
and Recreation Director. “We’re happy to be able to safely provide aquatic
services to Tullahoma’s citizens.”

As a result, Splash Island will operate with a modified schedule until all
restrictions are completely lifted. A screening process for swimmers will be
done upon entry per the Tennessee Pledge.

In an overwhelming show of support Thursday morning, the Westwood Middle School Football players took it upon themselves to show the Manchester Police Department that it is appreciated in this community.

Westwood football players, along with head coach Chad Dyer, teamed up with Spring Street Market in Manchester and delivered uncooked steaks, baked potatoes and cases of drinks to the police department at city hall on Thursday for officers to enjoy.

“We know you all are here for us and our community,” said Shannon Fletcher, who helped organize the gifts. “We just want to give a little appreciation back to you with all the stuff that’s going on and show that you are really appreciated. We want to thank you.”

Football players made their way to city hall after morning practice and even brought signs of support with them. Manchester Police Department officials were grateful for the gifts.

(Below photos by Josh Peterson, Thunder Radio)

“Coffee County  Schools Director Dr. Charles Lawson issued a lengthy statement Thursday afternoon, stating that while the school system has a goal to open as normal as possible, the system is creating a plan to enhance student safety. 

“It is impossible at this point to make solid plans for the opening of schools in the fall of 2020. The ever-changing climate that has been created by COVID-19 means a constant series of adjustments are being made. This has not prevented Coffee County Schools from moving forward and preparing to educate our students in the coming school year,” the statement reads. 

“The goal of Coffee County Schools is for the opening of schools to look as normal as possible. The district has spent time creating a plan to allocate CARES Act funding to enhance our students safety at school and positively affect any learning that must happen at home. Discussions with the other school districts in our county are being held in order to share ideas and see if practices can be streamlined. A series of “toolkits” provided by the state department of education will be utilized to make additional preparations.

“While a normal start is desired, preparations are being made for alternatives. If distance learning must occur in the coming year, there will be requirements placed on both teachers and students that will reflect these preparations. Students will be required to complete assignments and grades will be taken. Teachers are being offered layered professional development this summer that should lay a strong foundation for effective distance education and enhance in-classroom instruction.

“Coffee County Schools is planning to start school and remain on the existing school calendar as much as possible. Guidance from the state and various health agencies will ultimately provide a framework under which schools can be opened. As soon as firm guidance is given, Coffee County Schools will provide a plan to the public and final preparations will be made for the new school year.”

Coffee County School system announced Thursday that it has hired Carrie Davis as the Family Resource Coordinator in the student support services department. Davis takes over for Taylor Rayfield, who left the system to take a position with the Tennessee State Department of Education.

“Carrie’s past education work experience and community connections will benefit us greatly in this position. We are excited Carrie is joining Team Coffee,” the school system said.

Thunder Radio has scheduled an interview to introduce Carrie to the community in the near future.

The Kings Landing Boat Ramp, off Great Falls Road in Warren County, will be temporarily closed starting Monday, June 15 through Wednesday, August 1, according to TWRA.

Closures will include the construction of a permanent crane access path as well as debris removal and dredging in front of the intake structures on the Collins River.

TWRA Captain Matt Clarey stated, “We appreciate the work being done at the boat ramp. Although the closure is a bit longer this year, the building of the permanent crane path will allow for shorter closures of the ramp in future years.”

Dredging of the intake at Great Falls Dam intake area is part of the area’s routine maintenance. TVA conducts regular inspections and maintenance on all its dams as part of its rigorous Dam Safety program. Those seeking boat ramp location information should visit tnwildlife.org

For more information about this project or the dam visit tva.org

An investigation by Special Agents with the Technical Services Unit of the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation has resulted in the arrest of a McMinnville man on a charge of sexual exploitation of a minor.

TBI Agents received information via a cybertip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC), indicating that an electronic service provider reported a user in the Warren County area was in possession of child sexual abuse material. During the course of the investigation, Agents identified that individual as Travis Young, and on Tuesday, executed search warrants at residences on John Oliver Road.

On Tuesday, TBI Agents, joined by officers with the Warren County Sheriff’s Office, arrested Travis Alan Young (DOB 03/07/1990). Young was charged by TBI Agents with one count of Sexual Exploitation of a Minor, and booked into the Warren County Jail on a $100,000 bond.

A planned protest for Manchester that was scheduled for noon on Friday, June 12, has been cancelled.

Thunder Radio News learned from event organizers that the event has been postponed until further notice because of “personal issues that have come up.”
Thunder Radio confirmed with Manchester Police Department that organizers have rescinded their request for an event permit for Friday.

Organizers had originally planned to march from the Coffee County Justice Center to the Manchester downtown square.

As of Wednesday afternoon, there are 27,869 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Tennessee. This includes 436 deaths and 1,990 hospitalizations. There are 18,516 recoveries, meaning there are 9,353 active cases in the state. This is approximately 209 fewer cases than the previous day.

There have been 528,635 tests performed in Tennessee.

Meanwhile, in Coffee County there are 87 confirmed cases with 64 recoveries. This leaves 23 active cases of the virus.

The Emergency Cash Assistance provides two monthly cash payments to families that were employed as of March 11, 2020 and have lost a job or lost at least 50% of their earned income due to the COVID-19 emergency. Applications for emergency cash assistance will be accepted through June 30, 2020. This money is funded by the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program and provides:

• $500 for a household of 1 to 2 persons.
• $750 for a household of 3 to 4 persons.
• $1000 for a household with 5 or more persons.

To be eligible, families must have been employed as of March 11, 2020 but have since then lost employment or at least 50% of their earned income due to the COVID-19 emergency, include a child under the age of 18 or a pregnant woman, have a valid Social Security Number, must not have resources exceeding $2000, and the gross and/or unearned monthly income may not exceed 85% of the State’s Median Income that’s currently:

• Gross Monthly Income of $2,696 for a household of one.
• Gross Monthly Income of $3,526 for a household of two.
• Gross Monthly Income of $4,356 for a household of three.
• Gross Monthly Income of $5,185 for a household of four.
• Gross Monthly Income of $6,015 for a household of five.

Click here to apply.