Coffee County’s Industrial Board has announced that Stephen Crook has been hired as the new director. He will begin on January 18.
Before coming to Coffee County, Crook served on the Economic Development of Cookeville-Putnam County Chamber of Commerce for the past six years.
Crook is from Cookeville and a graduate of Tennessee Tech.
WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY ISSUED FOR THURSDAY, JAN 6
The National Weather Service office in Nashville has issued a Winter Weather Advisory in effect from 4 a.m. Thursday through 4 p.m. Thursday.
Snow accumulations of 2-3 inches for most areas expected with far southern counties in Middle Tennessee expected to have around 1 inch of snow mixed with light accumulations of sleet and freezing rain.
Travel conditions are expected to become hazardous and could impact the Thursday morning commute, according to NWS.
Precipitation is expected to develop over the southwest counties of the Mid State before daybreak Thursday, then spread across the area through the early morning hours. Precipitation will start to develop during the morning rush hour for Nashville Metro. Some freezing rain and sleet will be mixed with the snow for areas south of Interstate 40, but any mixed precipitation will change to all snow .
This precipitation is expected to be followed by extremely frigid weather – with overnight lows forecast for 10 degrees Thursday night into Friday morning.
In the event of school closures, cancellations or other travel advisories, Thunder Radio will update its website, announce on air (107.9 FM, 1320 AM, 106.7 FM) and send push notifications on the “Manchester Go” app for your apple or android smart device (free download).
Measurable snowfall back in the forecast for Thursday
With snowfall still lingering in the area from the weekend, the National Weather Service in Nashville is predicting another measurable snowfall for our area on Thursday, Jan. 6.
According to NWS, estimated accumulations include upward of 6 inches on the highest elevations of the Cumberland Plateau, with 1-2 inches of snow possible in the Coffee County area. According to NWS, 1-3 inches is expected in most all of Middle Tennessee.
Accumulation could begin around daybreak on Thursday and continue through evening hours. As always, forecast could change. Stay tuned to Thunder Radio for more information as it is available.
Estimates and forecast could change.
Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation Seeks Nominations for Governor’s Environmental Awards
The Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC) is inviting Tennesseans to submit nominations for the 2022 Governor’s Environmental Stewardship Awards.
“We are proud to recognize organizations that stand out in protecting our valuable natural resources in Tennessee,” Gov. Bill Lee said. “These awards honor those who are going above and beyond to responsibly protect and preserve Tennessee’s beauty and resources.”
The Governor’s Environmental Stewardship Awards include 10 unique categories: Agriculture and Forestry, Building Green, Clean Air, Energy and Renewable Resources, Environmental Education and Outreach, Materials Management, Natural Resource, Water Quality, Sustainable Performance, and Lifetime Achievement.
Any individual, business, organization, educational institution, or agency is eligible, provided it is in Tennessee and the project was completed during the 2021 calendar year. All nominees must have a minimum of three consecutive years of overall environmental compliance with TDEC. Self-nominations are encouraged.
TDEC Seeks Nominations
“Many Tennesseans do our state a great service by protecting our environment and applying sustainable practices,” TDEC Commissioner David Salyers said. “We not only want these awards to recognize leaders in this effort but to offer examples for others to get involved.”
A panel of judges representing agricultural, conservation, forestry, environmental, and academic professionals will select award recipients based on criteria including level of project or program completion, innovation and public education. The deadline for nominations is March 31, 2022. Award recipients will be announced in the summer of 2022.
For more information about each category, judging criteria, and nomination forms, visit this link at the TDEC website.
Tennessee camping reservations up 52 percent
A recent survey shows that Tennesseans seem to be enjoying old fashioned camping trips now more than ever.
From 2015 to 2020, Recreation.gov reported a 52.7% increase in camping reservations made in the state of Tennessee. Again, a 52.7% climb in camping reservations in Tennessee alone over a small five-year period.
Camping Started to GROW Before COVID, but Exploded During COVID
Camping was steadily growing in popularity prior to 2020, but the COVID-19 pandemic accelerated its growth as Americans sought safe, outdoor vacations away from crowds.
According to a research report by the Kampgrounds of America (KOA), over 10 million households camped for the first time in 2020, accounting for one-fifth of all camping households. Data from Recreation.gov—a trip planning and reservation portal for U.S. public lands—showed that camping reservations numbered nearly 3.3 million in 2020, up by about one-third from 2019 and by more than two-thirds from five years prior.
Camping is GROWING like Wildfire in Tennessee
The increased popularity of camping has been fueled by a combination of long-term trends and more immediate factors related to the pandemic. Over the past several years, camping trends such as “vanlife” and ”glamping,” as well as the increased availability of wifi and better cell phone service at campgrounds, have helped attract new campers and offered seasoned campers new ways to enjoy the outdoors without completely foregoing modern-day comforts. In particular, Gen Zers and Millennials are camping in greater numbers and account for an increasing share of all campers. In 2015, members of these generations accounted for 34% of all campers according to KOA. By 2020, this number climbed to 48%.
In addition to these longer-term factors, changes resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic—such as safety concerns, travel restrictions, and business closures—encouraged a flood of first-time campers. According to KOA, the majority of first-time campers in 2020 decided to do so for reasons directly tied to the pandemic. In addition, campers that year ventured further from home than in past years, suggesting that Americans increasingly chose to travel by car and camp than travel by airplane and stay in a hotel. Compared to 2015, the percentage of campers who traveled more than 200 miles to camp increased from 17% to nearly 30%.
In 2020, California led the country in camping reservations according to Recreation.gov. California camping reservations totaled 634,000 for the year, accounting for 19% of the nearly 3.3 million total camping reservations on U.S. public lands. Some of the most popular destinations in California were Yosemite National Park, Joshua Tree National Park, and several national forests in and around the Sierras. Colorado, Oregon, Utah, and Texas rounded out the top five states with the most camping reservations on public lands in 2020.
Camping in TENNESSEE
To find the states where camping has grown in popularity the most over the past five years, researchers at Outdoorsy analyzed data from Recreation.gov. The researchers ranked states according to each location’s percentage change in camping reservations from 2015 to 2020. Researchers also calculated the total increase in camping reservations from 2015 to 2020, total camping reservations in 2020, and the public land (national park, national forest, lake, etc.) with the most camping reservations in 2020.
The analysis found that from 2015 to 2020, Recreation.gov reported a 52.7% increase in camping reservations made in the state of Tennessee.
Here is a summary of the data for Tennessee:
• Percentage change in camping reservations (2015–2020): 52.7%
• Total increase in camping reservations (2015–2020): 39,124
• Total camping reservations (2020): 113,324
• Most popular destination: Great Smoky Mountains National Park
For reference, here are the statistics for the entire United States:
• Percentage change in camping reservations (2015–2020): 68.1%
• Total increase in camping reservations (2015–2020): 1,323,031
• Total camping reservations (2020): 3,267,142
• Most popular destination: Yosemite National Park
-Thunder Radio news partner WGNS helped with this report.
SNOW PATROL: TUESDAY, JAN 4, 2022
SNOW PATROL FOR TUESDAY, JANUARY 4, 2022
presented by the bread and milk experts at Spring Street Market – 801 S Spring Street in Manchester
* Bedford County Schools – CLOSED
*Cannon County – CLOSED
*Coffee County School System – CLOSED
* Grundy County Schools – CLOSED
*Manchester City Schools – CLOSED
*Temple Baptist Christian – CLOSED
*Warren County Schools – CLOSED
*Webb – CLOSED
*** this post will be updated if/when other school districts decide to close or make schedule changes. If you do not see your school district, assume it is on normal schedule.***
Sunday night snow makes for beautiful photos; brings down power lines
A weekend of wacky weather culminated in a heavy snowfall in the Thunder Radio listening area Sunday night into Monday morning.
After temperatures in the mid-70s on Saturday that brought severe storms, tornado watches and wind damage, a cold-front plowed through the area on Sunday night and brought with it several inches of snow.
According to official snowfall totals with National Weather Service, areas of Shelbyville received north of 8 inches of snow overnight Sunday. Meanwhile, Manchester officially received 4.5 inches of snow according to NWS. However, multiple photos submitted to Thunder Radio News have shown between 5 and 7 inches of snow at various locations throughout Coffee County.
The snow did cause some travel problems early Monday morning and left approximately 3,500 Duck River Electric Membership Corporation members without power. The heavy snow on electric lines and tree limbs caused some power lines to come down completely, according to first responders. DREMC crews worked through the day Monday to restore power.
The inclement weather forced closure of Coffee County government offices. Manchester city government offices opened late Monday and teachers for the Manchester City and Coffee County School systems reported late for their scheduled professional development on Monday.
Gas prices remain virtually unchanged from prior week
Tennessee gas prices have risen 0.6 cents per gallon in the past week, averaging $2.98/gallon today (01/03/2022), according to GasBuddy’s daily survey of 3,821 stations in Tennessee. Gas prices in Tennessee are 8.1 cents per gallon lower than a month ago and stand 95.8 cents per gallon higher than a year ago.
The average price in Coffee County is $3.00 per gallon, which is down a few cents from last week and just 2 cents above the state average.
The National Average price is $3.28. The most expensive gas remains out west – $4.66 per gallon in California.
Body found by hunters in Rock Island has been identified
A body discovered by hunters Friday morning in the Rock Island area has been identified by authorities as Richard McCormick, age 51.
Warren County Sheriff Tommy Myers said McCormick was identified by tattoos and a wallet found with the body.
McCormick was last seen on November 21 and was reported missing on Nov. 25.
Time of death could not be determined and authorities are waiting on toxicology results. The investigation is ongoing.
McCormick’s body was found near a pond on Rayburn Walling Rd in Rock Island.
TAX TIPS: H&R Block offers instant refund
By Rosalyn Partin, H&R Block
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There are many changes to this year’s taxes and possibly carryovers from your 2020 return. With professional help from H&R Block, you won’t have to worry about filing an accurate return and getting all the credits and deductions for which you are eligible. Our preparers are trained to deliver complete interviews which uncover all the benefits the tax code offers. If you want to meet face-to-face, we offer in-office service or virtual appointments with one of our tax professionals in Manchester. We can also help you upload your tax documents to us to minimize your time in our office.
For those who need money fast, when we prepare your tax return you could get up to $3,500 within minutes of filing with our no cost, interest free Refund Advance Loan.
So, now that it’s a new year, begin to gather your tax documents, and when you have all of them, call us or come in. Let the tax professionals at H&R Block take the stress out of preparing your tax return. We are open and ready to serve you at 2161 Hillsboro Blvd, in the Whispering Pines (Goodwill) shopping center, Manchester.
If you have questions or want to schedule an appointment, please call H&R Block in Manchester TN at 931-728-9462. H&R Block Has Your Back!
