Category: News

Manchester Parks and Recreation will soon begin installation of a new playground near the old Riverview School.
The new playground, which is designed for children 13 and older, is described by parks director Bonnie Gamble as “more of an obstacle course/American Ninja type of area.”

Gamble cited the need for a play area for older youth, who get bored with playground equipment for smaller children, which leads to that equipment not being used properly.

The cost of the project is $200,902, which is fully funded by a Diabetes Initiative Grant from the Tennessee Department of Health and will not use any local tax dollars. The Manchester Board of Mayor and Aldermen approved the contract with Recreational Concepts LLC for purchase and installation of the equipment at last week’s regularly scheduled board meeting.

The playground will also include artificial turf grass beneath the equipment. Gamble said installation date is currently set for late June.

Gamble said the project is the first step of developing the area near Riverview as a neighborhood park. The city received $450,000 in grant money that must be spent over three years.

(Below is a rendering of the equipment to be installed at Riverview school)

We have an expanded story that Thunder Radio News first brought to you last week, expanding on the desire for Duck River Electric Membership Corporation to upgrade the city of Manchester’s 1,500 plus streetlights to LED.
President and CEO Scott Spence and Electrical Engineer Chip Pinion reviewed the current plan and future options and benefits of LED lighting.

Manchester Mayor Lonnie Norman accepted DREMC’s request to discuss LEDs and hear a more detailed study of what the cost savings would be.

“We look forward to working with DREMC on evaluating how we can convert our current street lighting to energy-efficient LED lighting,” said Norman. “The City of Manchester is committed to helping the community become more energy-efficient.”

Last week, DREMC and the town of Normandy in Bedford County unofficially entered into an agreement to replace 39 streetlights with state-of-the-art LED fixtures. Normandy Mayor Charles Whitaker said, “It’s a no brainer,” after listening to the LED proposal.

During the presentation to Manchester aldermen on Tuesday, March 3, Pinion explained that LEDs are better quality “clean light” and are less wasteful as LEDs do not disperse light into the sky where it’s not needed.
“With our program, no upfront spending is required, and DREMC maintains inventory to make repairs as needed,” explained Pinion.

Pinion also noted, “DREMC will provide approved project designs to meet all lighting standards and requirements of the Tennessee Department of Transportation on state roads.”

“Commitment to community is a core value for DREMC,” shared Spence. “What’s best for our members in Manchester is what’s important to us; partnering with the Manchester Board of Aldermen on this LED lighting project helps fulfill this mission we both have of serving our community.”

Manchester officials invited DREMC to share more details of the LED lighting upgrade with the Manchester Board of Aldermen’s Street and Street Lighting Committee before action is taken to move forward with the project.

Manchester authorities are asking for the public’s help locating a runaway juvenile. On Friday, March 6, Abigail Raider did not return home from school. She was last seen wearing a neon shirt, dark blue jeans and white Air Force Ones Nike Shoes. She also wears black framed eyeglasses. According to Rader’s mom, she could be in the Smyrna area. Abigail Raider is a white female with brown eyes and brown hair, standing approximately 5’7” and weighing 120 pounds. You can see photos of her on our website. If you know any information regarding Abigail, contact the Manchester Police Department immediately at 931-728-9555.

Multiple crews from Duck River Electric have been assisting neighboring Middle Tennessee Electric Member Corporation with rebuilding electric infrastructure  following Tuesday’s (March 3) tornadoes that left wide paths of destruction across much o northern Middle Tennessee, including Wilson County, which was reportedly the hardest hit area of Middle Tennessee’s electric service area where an estimated 300 electric poles were broken. 

 (Pictured below, Duck River Electric crews work to restore power in Wilson County)

The Tennessee Department of Health has received positive test results for a case of the COVID-19 novel coronavirus in Tennessee. The TDH State Public Health Laboratory tested the individual, and has submitted results to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for confirmation. The patient is an adult male from Williamson County who had recently traveled out-of-state. The patient has a mild illness and is isolated at home.

 “We are working closely with local health care partners to identify contacts and contain spread of this disease in our communities,” said Tennessee Health Commissioner Lisa Piercey, MD, MBA, FAAP. “We’ve been anticipating identification of COVID-19 cases in Tennessee. At this time, the overall risk to the general public remains low. We are continuing to work with the CDC and other agencies to provide guidance to Tennesseans to protect their health.”

 Most patients with confirmed COVID-19 infection have mild respiratory illness with fever, cough and shortness of breath. A smaller number of patients have severe symptoms requiring hospitalization. COVID-19 is not currently widespread in the United States, so no additional precautions are recommended for the general public to take beyond normal practices to help prevent the spread of respiratory viruses. These include:

• Wash your hands often with soap and water. Use alcohol-based hand sanitizer if soap and water are not available.
• Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when coughing or sneezing
• Don’t touch your eyes, nose or mouth with unwashed hands
• Stay home if you are sick
• Stay away from people who are sick

 TDH has launched a Tennessee Coronavirus Public Information Line effective at 10 a.m. Central time today in partnership with the Tennessee Poison Center. The hotline number is 877-857-2945 and will be available from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Central daily.

 People with concerns about their health should contact their health care providers. TDH has additional information available by clicking here. The CDC has updated information and guidance available online by clicking here.  

 In the wake of devastating tornadoes that hit Davidson, Putnam and Wilson counties, Secretary of State Tre Hargett is urging people to use caution when trying to help those affected.

“Tennesseans are generous and support each other in times of need, and I encourage everyone to be diligent when donating money to charitable organizations,” said Secretary Hargett. ” Unfortunately, there are scam artists who prey on our generosity after a disaster. Tennesseans should give wisely so that we maximize recovery efforts.”

Secretary Hargett encourages Tennesseans to review these Wise Giving Tips from the Secretary of State’s Division of Charitable Solicitations and Gaming before donating:

• If a nonprofit asks you for a contribution, check to see if it’s registered online sos.tn.gov/charitable or by calling 615-741-2555.
• Take your time. Resist pressure to give on the spot.
• Ask Questions. If an organization has a specific mission, ask how and who will benefit from your donation.
• If you are asked for a donation via text or email, verify the request is directly from the charity or nonprofit.
• Do your own research and don’t assume a social media or blog recommendation has been approved by the nonprofit.
• If you give through an app or website, ask if it is going directly to the organization.
• Avoid giving cash. Always ask for a receipt and if your contribution is tax deductible.
• Pay close attention to the name of the nonprofit organization, as there are many with similar names.
• Don’t forget there are many ways to give, such as volunteering your time.
• If a paid fundraiser asks you for a donation, ask how much is kept by the fundraiser and how much goes to the nonprofit.

“Our thoughts and prayers continue to be with those affected by Tuesday’s devastating tornadoes, especially those who’ve lost loved ones, along with all of the volunteers and uniformed men and women who are tirelessly helping others during the ongoing recovery effort,” Secretary Hargett said.

Any charity that raises over $50,000 a year must register with the Secretary of State’s Division of Charitable Solicitations. To see if a charity is registered with the State of Tennessee visit, sos.tn.gov/charitable or call the Division of Charitable Solicitations and Gaming 615-741-2555.

As Tennessee’s charity officials, please report any false, misleading or deceptive fundraising activity to the Division of Charitable Solicitations and Gaming at 615-741-2555.

More local groups and organizations continue to set up drop off areas to donate and help those ravaged by storms earlier this week.

The Manchester Police Department, Manchester Fire Department, and local volunteer fire departments are taking donations to help storm victims in Putnam County. All donations can be dropped off at Manchester Fire Station 1, located on Hillsboro Blvd. near Papa Johns.

Items being requested are as follows:

Visa Gift Cards, Grocery gift cards for items like milk, eggs, cheese, Fruit cups, Applesauce cups, Juice boxes , Kid-friendly foods- such as individual bags of chips, fruit snacks, gummy bears etc, batteries,  diapers of all sizes, disposable wipes, baby formula, baby food, feminine hygiene products.

This collection will continue through the end of the day March 10, and items will be delivered on March 11, according to Manchester Fire Department Chief George Chambers.

There are also drop off locations for supplies at Unity Medical Center, Coffee County Board of Education, First National Bank of Manchester and Manchester Recreation Department. These locations are collecting peanut butter crackers, granola bars, snack packs, pop tarts, juice boxes, water, individual packs of food, Clorox wipes, hand sanitizer wipes, tarps, blankets, flash lights and hygiene items. 

Join us at Thunder Radio and the Manchester H&R Block and say congratulations to our student of the week – Keena Seivers.

 Keena is a seventh grade student at Westwood Middle School. She is the daughter of Stephanie Hershman, Jared Hershman and Cody Seivers. She is in Mr. Gribble’s home room class.

 She likes to play basketball and volleyball, and enjoys playing board games with her family. When she grows up she wants to play college volleyball and be a pediatrician.

Rosalyn Partin, owner of the Manchester H&R Block, has been inspired to recognize great kids in our community all through hockey season. What does hockey have to do with our local students? Well, 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.

(Pictured above, from left, Rosalyn Partin with H&R Block, student of the week Keena Seivers, and Westwood principal Julie Miller.)