Category: News

Authorities began releasing names and ages of those who perished in the Tuesday morning storms that swept through Nashville, Putnam, Wilson and Benton Counties.

In total, 24 people died in the storms, that included an EF-3 and an EF-4 tornado that hit the area in the early morning hours Tuesday.

Five children are among the 18 victims who died in Putnam County. All of the children were under the ages of 13. Three of the children were under 5 years old. As many as 17 people were still missing in Putnam County as of Wednesday afternoon.

Locally, several groups and good Samaritans are organizing collection efforts to help those displaced by the storms. North Coffee Elementary School executed a community service project to collect blankets for people in need. Now those blankets have been taken to Putnam County tornado victims by Coffee County Sheriff’s Department deputies who traveled to Putnam County Wednesday night to work in the area.

Meanwhile, Unity Medical Center has organized a collections point for items of need. Those wishing to help and contribute can drop off the following items at Unity Medical Center:

Cases of water

Hygiene products

Tarps

Feminine hygiene products

Diapers

Ensure

Formula

Cleaning supplies

New underwear

Gatorade

Protein bars

Pillows

Blankets

Laundry detergent

Garbage bags

Flashlights

Batteries

Plastic totes

These items can be dropped off at Unity Medical Center, 481 Interstate Drive in Manchester. All items should be dropped off prior to 5 p.m. Sunday, March 8. Hospital staff will deliver a truck of items Monday morning.

The Coffee County Rescue Squad sent volunteers to Putnam County Tuesday and Wednesday to help with recovery efforts. Meanwhile, the Coffee County Sheriff’s Department sent three deputies to Wilson County Tuesday and three to Putnam County Wednesday to aid in scene control and security.

(PICTURED BELOW, CCSD OFFICIALS WITH BLANKETS TO GO TO PUTNAM COUNTY)

Now that Tuesday’s March 3 primary is over, what is next? 

That would be the August 6 Coffee County and Manchester general elections, as well as the state primary, which is also on Aug. 6.

Among the races on the ballot will be the federal primary for the US Senate and US House of Representatives, primary for the Tennessee State Senate and Tennessee House of Representatives, Court of Appeals retention questions, county general election for assessor of property, Coffee County School Board seats 1,5 and 7, Manchester general election for Mayor, three aldermen and two school board members, Tullahoma general election for mayor, two aldermen and three school board members. Following that will be the November 3 federal general election, which includes President, US Senate, US House, State Senate and State House races.

The deadline for candidates to qualify for the Aug. 6 races is noon on April 2.

The Manchester Board of Mayor and Aldermen heard a pitch from Duck River Electric and TVA representatives Tuesday night, March 3, during a work session to convert city lighting to LED lights.

While the pitch was in generalities and, as one official put it, a “50,000 foot view of the potential project”, Duck River officials estimated that the city could save nearly 15% on costs by making the switch. City officials have asked Duck River to provide a more exact study on what would be included in the switch, what costs would be, etc. Duck River will begin working on that study at no charge to the city.

  (Above photo: Pictured is damage in Putnam County after a tornado ravaged the area Tuesday morning (March 3, 2020) . Photo provided by Neal Simmons, Coffee County Rescue Squad)

Coffee County residents and emergency personnel are rallying to help storm ravaged areas in Middle Tennessee.

In the early morning hours of Tuesday, tornadoes and high winds devastated areas of Nashville, Wilson County, Benton County and Putnam County, killing a total of 24 people with the death toll continuing to rise.

As of mid afternoon Tuesday, 18 people were killed and 65 injured in a 2-mile stretch in Putnam County just west of Cookeville. Three people were confirmed dead in Wilson County, one dead in Benton County and two in Nashville. Officials report that over 70 are missing in Putnam County. 

National Weather Service confirmed late Tuesday afternoon that an EF-3 tornado touched down in Nashville, Donelson and Mt. Juliet. NWS continues to work to determine strengths in other areas and whether or not there were one or two long-track tornadoes on the ground. 

Six members of the Coffee County Rescue Squad spent all day in Putnam County Tuesday, helping to search storm-ravaged homes for survivors.

“We are up here searching houses; dogs are going around hitting on houses and we [are searching them],” explained Neal Simmons with the Coffee County Rescue Squad. “It has really tore this place  to pieces up here.”

The rescue squad members planned to either stay through the night Tuesday night or send a crew back first thing Wednesday morning, depending on what Putnam County officials request.

Meanwhile, Coffee County Sheriff Chad Partin said he sent three deputies to Wilson County Tuesday night and will be sending three additional to Putnam County Wednesday night to help secure damaged areas.

“We will be helping to keep damaged areas secure,” explained Partin. “It takes a lot of people to secure those areas and we will help any way that we can.”

Partin said that deputies from Franklin County and Lincoln County will also be traveling with his deputies to assist in these storm-ravaged areas.

Tullahoma Mayor Lane Curlee said that Tullahoma is organizing a drive to assist in Cookeville through the Red Cross office. Once a list of needed items is available, we will post it on the Thunder Radio website and the Thunder Radio Facebook (click here to like us on Facebook). Drop off location will be at Fire Hall #1 in Tullahoma on South Jackson Street.

President Donald Trump has said he intends to visit the affected area on Friday, although details were not immediately available.

Dr. Joey Vaughn, Manchester City Schools director, has been named the Tennessee Coordinated School Health Director of the Year.

 Vaughn said he was completely shocked and humbled to receive the award, and quickly pivoted to the importance of the coordinated school health program and its importance to education in local schools.

“There is a lot of focus on the whole child,” explained Vaughn. “Not just educational, but their emotional and social needs. This is a focus of our school system and our team does a great job emphasizing that. “

Vaughn went on to explain that the coordinated school health program, along with school nurses and staff work hard to ensure proper nutrition in schools, as well as ensuring that food is home on the weekends for children to maintain proper nutrition. 

Manchester City Schools coordinator of Coordinated School Health is Leslie Brasfield. 

 Tuesday is primary election day here in Tennessee. This is the presidential preference primary and the Coffee County primary. Polls will be open in Coffee County until 7 p.m. Anyone waiting in line by 7 p.m. will be allowed to complete their vote.

In addition to the federal presidential preference primary, Coffee County voters will have assessor of property, general sessions judge, Coffee County Commissioner (District 8 only), and road commissioner seat 4, which serves districts 11 and 12 to vote for.

If early voting is an indicator, Coffee County voters are turning out in heavier amounts than they did for the presidential preference primary in 2016. During early voting, which ran Feb. 12 through the 25^th, there were 3,517 total votes cast. That was up from 3,074 early votes cast in 2016. Of the 3,517 early votes cast this year, 2,561 were Republican and 956 were Democratic.

March is the month when United States Census information will begin arriving in mailboxes across the country, including right here in Coffee County.

Beginning March 12, households across Coffee County will begin receiving official Census Bureau mail that includes detailed information on how to respond to the 2020 Census either online, by phone or by mail. Responding is not a lengthy process.

The Census is conducted every 10 years, in accordance with the United States Constitution.

“This is a very important Census for Coffee County,” said Coffee County Mayor Gary Cordell. “It is of utmost important that everyone is accounted for. This data and these results will have a direct impact in our community for the next 10 years.”

If you do not receive census mail on March 12, there is no need to panic. It should arrive in your mailbox sometime between March 12-20.

This mail will be an invitation to respond to the Census. It will also include a Census ID that you can use to respond online. The 2020 Census is the very first that is allowing self-response online.

It is important to note that the invitation sent to each mailbox will be addressed to “resident,” and not to anyone personally.

“You will receive a postcard invitation … a very basic general letter,” explained Tia Zanghi, partnership specialist with the Census for the Coffee County area. “It has a unique code. You type that into the website and that’s how you can complete online. But you do not have to have that unique code. You can actually do it with just your address.”

Census results impact many things, including congressional boundaries, business and industry relocation, grant allocations and federal funding for important projects, such as transportation and education.

“School districts are directly impacted by census data, so it is vital that everyone who resides in Manchester and Coffee County participate,” explained Dr. Joey Vaughn, director of Manchester City Schools. “Funding is based on total population, not just the number of children in the area. Our schools are working with families to make sure accurate information is distributed and encouraging everyone to participate.”

“You will receive a postcard invitation … a very basic general letter,” explained Zanghi. “It has a unique code. You type that into the website and that’s how you can complete online. But you do not have to have that unique code. You can actually do it with just your address.”

Privacy and security concerns at ease

For those concerned with privacy, the U.S. Census is completely confidential and bound by Title 13.

Title 13 protects private information from being published and under the U.S. Code, Census workers take a lifetime oath of confidentiality as well.

By law, census responses cannot be used by any of the following agencies: The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), The Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

Those who violate Title 13 can face a federal prison sentence of up to five years, a fine of $250,000, or both.

 “Your information is completely confidential,” reassured Zanghi. “It is protected by law. For 72 years your info is completely locked up. Whenever we submit this information to the president it will be in statistical form only”

Tennessee lawmakers plan this week to bring forward legislation to legalize medical marijuana in Tennessee. If the law were to pass, as written, marijuana products such as marijuana oils, tinctures,  pills and lotions would be available for sale as soon as the end of 2020. This law would not allow marijuana joints, vapes or edibles.

Also, if passed in its current form, you would only be able to purchase marijuana products if issued a medical cannabis card by the clinical cannabis commission, which will be a new government commission. Being issued a card would be relegated to certain medical conditions, such as cancer, PTSD, or HIV, and a recommendation from a doctor. There are about a dozen medical conditions that would be eligible. 

State senator Steve Dickerson, of Nashville, and state representative Bryan Terry, of Murfreesboro are both Republicans who happen to be doctors. They are introducing the legislation.

This bill would only allow for the licensing of 75 dispensaries – which are to be evenly distributed between the three divisions of Tennessee. Only six cultivation businesses would be allowed.

It is worth noting that Governor Bill Lee has said he is not in favor of medical marijuana or decriminalizing marijuana.