Category: News

Unemployment claims in Tennessee continue to be on the rise. For the week ending May 2, there were 37,319 new claims filed for unemployment. This makes 474,580 new claims filed since the week ending March 21.

Meanwhile, across the nation over 33 million people have sought US unemployment aid, with 3.2 million filing last week.

A Tuesday fire at the Tennessee Hills Campground in the North Coffee area has claimed the life of a man.

North Coffee Volunteer Fire Department responded to the call at 5:20 p.m. Tuesday to a fire at a motor home in the campground. The occupant was inside the structure and passed away from injuries sustained. His name has not been released.

TBI arson investigators are investigating the fire.

The school year may have ended early, but the H&R Block Student of the Week continues here at Thunder Radio.
Join us at Thunder Radio and Rosalyn Partin at the Manchester H&R Block as we say congratulations to this week’s student of the week – Kayleigh Greer.

Kayleigh is an eighth grade student at Coffee County Middle School in Mr. O’Kelley’s homeroom. She is the daughter of Kenny Greer and Johnnie Kelly. In her free time, Kayleigh enjoys singing in the choir.

When she grows up, she would like to pursue a career in music and singing.

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 set of Nashville Predators hockey tickets, a commemorative plaque, as well as a special letter of recognition. Job well done, Kayleigh.

Pictured are, from left, CMS principal Kim Aaron, Kayleigh Greer and Rosalyn Partin with Manchester H&R Block.

As of 2 p.m. Wednesday, there are now 13,938 cases of COVID-19 in the state of Tennessee,. Of these, 6,564 are marked as recovered, leaving approximately 7,374 active cases, about 100 more than the previous day. There have been 239 confirmed deaths and 1,221 hospitalizations. In total, there have been 227,101 total tests performed.

In Coffee County, numbers remain steady from the prior day. There are 45 confirmed cases, with 21 recoveries – leaving 24 active cases in Coffee County. There have been 1,257 negative tests performed.

Tennessee residents can now get free masks from local health departments.

Governor Bill Lee’s COVID-19 team announced Tuesday that 300,000 cloth masks are now being distributed to health departments in 95 counties. Each county will receive at least 1,000 masks this week, with some counties receiving more than others and additional masks coming soon.

Governor Bill Lee announced recently his intention to purchase five million masks to provide to Tennesseans.
The Coffee County Health Department is located at 800 Parks St. in Manchester.

In Grundy County, a woman’s body was found hanging in a wooded area. This discovery was made Tuesday afternoon in Gruetli-Laager.

Grundy County Sheriff Clint Shrum is not ruling out foul play.

The female, whose name has not been released, was a white female discovered near Red Barn Road.

An autopsy of the body is being performed.

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Grundy County Sheriff Clint Shrum took to Facebook Wednesday to plead with the public to come forward with information regarding a recent rash of drug overdoses and deaths in Grundy County.

Shrum said in the past 10 days, there have been six overdoses with three deaths, and two additional deaths of individuals under the age of 40.

“This has been very difficult, very trying,” said Shrum.

“When you start having young people drop like flies, it’s very concerning. That is our #1 issue.”

Shrum expressed frustration that people in the community may have information that could lead to a break in the investigations, but that people are not sharing with law enforcement for fear of being labeled a snitch.
“We are dealing with very dangerous times right now.”

Shrum said both of his investigators are working on these cases. If you have information, contact the Grundy County Sheriff’s Department at 931) 692-3466

After lengthy debate and planning, Coffee County School System has finally reached a decision for handling the commencement exercises for the Central High School Class of 2020 – a graduation parade.

Thunder Radio will handle audio  to allow for everyone to hear the announcement of graduate names from their vehicles or homes. 

The system issued a statement late Tuesday highlighting the thought process behind planning. The statement reads as follows:

“Coffee County Schools has carefully considered multiple options for the 2020 graduation ceremony. Concern that social restrictions will not relax enough to allow a traditional graduation ceremony later in the summer has been a major consideration.

The first graduation option was alternative dates later in the summer, which the district has already advertised. Decreasing opportunities for participation, particularly among the graduates who will be attending basic training with the military, made this option less than ideal.

A second option that was investigated was using an alternative site. The parent company of the Bonnaroo Music Festival, Live Nation/AC Entertainment, was contacted to see if the Bonnaroo grounds could be utilized. Live Nation/AC Entertainment was gracious enough to give the district permission to use the property. However, logistical difficulties and social spacing issues eliminated this option.

Early last week, Coffee County Schools arrived at the third main option. The ceremony was going to be held at the stadium with only a few tickets issued per graduate to allow for proper social spacing. The inclement weather plan in this scenario was to hold graduation in the gymnasium without a live audience and stream the ceremony on the internet. The issuance of Governor Lee’s Executive Order #30 made the stadium option more difficult and created additional concerns. Uncertainty of social distancing guidelines beyond the expiration of Executive Order #30 limits consideration of the stadium as a potential graduation site later in the summer.

All of this leads to the graduation option that has been under development this week. The current plan is to hold graduation on the original date of May 22. Coffee County Schools will host the Class of 2020 Parade of Graduates. Each graduate and family members will be in a vehicle that will stage at the Raider Academy, follow a route that is determined by local law enforcement, and end at Coffee County Central High School. Spectators will be able to park in various parking lots along the route to watch the procession. All audio of the ceremony will be handled by local radio. The graduates will receive their graduation packet at the high school without exiting their cars. This plan allows for proper social distancing of graduates and spectators, participation of the maximum number of graduates including those that are leaving this summer to serve in the armed forces, and the highest amount of community involvement.

While this is not the preferred method of graduation for the senior class, this plan represents an opportunity for families and the community to be a part of the celebration. Coffee County Schools, in conjunction with local law enforcement, will make plans to maximize the safety of participants and spectators while providing our graduates with an experience to remember and honor their accomplishments.

Coffee County Schools would like to extend our appreciation to members of the Coffee County Sheriff’s Department and the Manchester Police Department as they have provided a significant amount of time consulting with us about plans. Although these plans will place an increased burden on these two departments, all officers involved have been quick to help and make this event a top priority.”

Westwood Middle School will be hosting eighth grade awards night and spring sports recognition night  at 6 p.m. Thursday, May 21.

Thunder Radio is proud to partner with Westwood Middle School to broadcast the awards ceremonies to allow for parents, grandparents and extended family to listen to their child while maintaining social distancing.

According to the school, social distancing guidelines will be observed for the awards night. The broadcast of awards can be heard live at 107.9 FM, 106.7 FM, 1320 AM, at thunder1320.com and on the Manchester GO app.

“We couldn’t be more excited to team up with Westwood Middle School to broadcast these awards for students and their families to celebrate their accomplishments,” said Josh Peterson, co-owner of Thunder Radio. “As Manchester’s community radio station, we take our role of providing local content and local events seriously – so naturally this is a great event for us to be a part of and we are excited to broadcast it. “

Westwood has also released a schedule for students to return school materials and pick up personal belongings. Sixth graders will do this from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Tuesday, May 12, seventh graders from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on May 13 and eighth graders from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Thursday, May 14.

Parents bringing students should park in the front parking lot. Students walking should approach the main entrance to turn in materials. Chromebooks will be turned into personnel located under the awning at the front of the school. After Chromebooks are returned, outstanding cafeteria charges or fees must be paid or arrangements made to pay.
Students will then move to their homeroom teacher to pick up personal belongings. No students or parents will be allowed inside the building.