News – Page 861 – Thunder Radio

Court Denies Deportation Relief for Undocumented in Tennessee

Undocumented people in Tennessee will continue to wait to see if they will have relief through President Obama’s deportation relief programs, after the Fifth Circuit Court denied a request from an emergency stay. Photo credit: kconnors/morguefile.com

Fifty-thousand people in Tennessee who would qualify for new deportation-relief programs announced last year still cannot take advantage of them. This comes as a Fifth Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals denied a request Tuesday for an emergency stay that would have lifted the injunction that has delayed the implementation of those programs for people in Tennessee and the rest of the country. Eben Cathey, spokesman for the Tennessee Immigrant and Refugee Rights Coalition, said they still have hope. “This is not the end. There’s a long way to go for this lawsuit,” he said. “This only covered whether or not the programs would go into effect now, as that lawsuit is happening or if we would have to wait until this lawsuit is resolved.” Cathey said the appeal process will continue this summer as the Fifth Circuit court will hear the formal request to lift the injunction. At the same time, the Department of Justice has not yet said what its next steps will be and could appeal the denial of the emergency stay. While he and others are hopeful, Cathey said, the court’s decision is leaving thousands of long-time residents of Tennessee with much anxiety about their future and that of their loved ones. “What we do know is that every day that the injunction remains, families are suffering,” he said. “Families fear family separation; they’re not able to contribute to our economy fully.” Tennessee is one of 26 states that filed a lawsuit alleging that President Barack Obama’s action to shield as many as 5 million immigrants illegally living in the United States from deportation is unconstitutional.

County Unemployment rates Drop Across Tennessee

County unemployment rates in Tennessee for April show the rates decreased in 94 counties and increased in only one county.
Coffee County went from 5.6 to 4.9 percent, the lowest amount in a number of years. The numbers show 1,240 people without a job in Coffee County. Grundy County went from 8.4 to 7.3 percent. Cannon County decreased from 6.4 percent to 5.2. Bedford County fell from 6.6 to 5.8 percent. Franklin County dropped from 5.2 to 4.8. Moore County went from 4.6 percent to 4.2 and in Warren County the unemployment rate dropped from 6.1 to 5.5 percent. Williamson County had the state’s lowest unemployment at 3.7 percent, while Scott County had the highest at 8.9 percent.

Teachers Prepare For New Testing Standards

Tennessee teachers this summer are getting a first look at the new test that will replace TCAP.
WPLN reports schools had been preparing to switch to a nationally-available, computerized test until the legislature mandated Tennessee develop its own assessment.
The new test is called TNReady. The biggest difference between it and TCAP is the way the questions are asked. Instead of multiple choice, students in grades 3 through 11 will be given essay questions, even in math.
In an email and video to teachers, Commissioner Candice McQueen told them recently they can prepare for the new test by looking at sample questions. That will show them how questions will be asked. But they will have to wait until September to find out the curriculum standards the tests will cover.

CHS Tabs David Martin as New Head Baseball Coach

New CHS baseball coach tries on a new hat at Powers Field on Thursday. (Photo by Ryan Sulkowski)

The hunt for a new baseball coach for Coffee County Central High School has come to a close as David Martin has been tabbed to head the program. Martin, who served as an assistant coach at Warren County High School this past season, was the head coach at Warren County Middle School for 4 seasons prior to that. During the time, he won 1 regular season championship and 1 conference tournament championship. Martin, who grew up in McMinnville, played college baseball at Motlow State Community College and Jackson State Community College before finishing his college career at Middle Tennessee State University.

“I am very excited” said Martin when reached by Thunder Radio on Thursday afternoon. “I grew up competing against this program (at Warren County) and I am honored to get a chance to join this program. “ he added. Martin went on to describe his self as an “old school coach who learned a lot of baseball lessons from my grandfather (Hall of Fame coach Jack Martin)” Martin added that he “wants to bring stability to this program and to these kids.”

CHS athletic director Ryan Sulkowski said that Martin “is a young, energetic up and coming coach. He has a strong baseball background and is passionate about the kids.” In the interview process, Coach Sulkowski said that they reached out to his previous principal “and we received rave reviews about his performance in the classroom” added Sulkowski. He went on to say; “He will bring a spark to this program. He is a great fit for our kids, our school, our community and the athletic department here at Coffee County.”

CHS principal Dr. Joey Vaughn was complimentary of Martin. “We had some outstanding applicants for this position. Coach Martin will bring a passion for baseball and a work ethic that will take this program in the right direction.” Vaughn added “I look forward to him meeting the team, the parents and the community and I feel he will quickly earn their respect.”

Martin takes over the program from interim head coach Jon Spears who replaced suspended Coach Brad Weir in February. Spears, who also interviewed for the head coaches job, thanked the administration. “I appreciate the opportunity to serve as interim coach and I am glad I was able to step in and help out.” Spears has also agreed to stay on as an assistant coach under Martin.

Coach Martin will get to see a few of his future players this weekend as Coffee County will take part in the Tullahoma 17U tournament. The Red Raiders play at 7:30 tonight at Tullahoma and will host a pair of games on Friday at Powers Field. Friday’s games will be at 4:30 and 8:30 against Grundy County and Central Magnet. Coach Martin will be made available for a community “Meet and Greet” on Friday afternoon at Powers Field from 3:30 to 4:30 prior to the first game.

Manchester Odor Complaint Answered

Entrance to the wastewater facility in Manchester… Photo by Barry West

WMSR Radio has been receiving complaints recently about a terrible odor and wondering if anything was wrong at the Manchester wastewater treatment plant.
Paul Coston, chief operator at the Wastewater Treatment Plant says that the cause of odor is the lack of dissolved oxygen in the wastewater. Wastewater entering the plant only has an average of 2 to 3 parts per million. Oxygen is added in the biological reactor (oxidation ditch) as well as in the bio-solids digesters to support microscopic biological life. The water leaving the treatment plant (effluent) must have minimum dissolved oxygen reading 6 parts per million in order to support aquatic life in the receiving stream.
Left over ammonia from the treatment process is removed in the bio-solids to the digesters where it becomes concentrated. When the ammonia loading levels rise in the digesters above the treatment capability of the microscopic organism, odor occurs.
There are only a couple treatment methods to help combat odor. The odor can be treated chemically with the addition of costly chemicals and chemical feed systems to the bio-solids digesters or by spraying some type of re-odorant. Also, odor can be treated biologically with the right combination of dissolved oxygen and mixing. Manchester has been utilizing the second method for years with minimal odors being produced and it wasn’t until recently while trying new operating methods that the odor became more noticeable. Coston says they have changed their oxygen feed rate timing to help combat the odor and the plant has become much less odorous within the last two weeks.
The U. S. E.P.A. through the State of Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation regulates all aspects of Sewage Treatment and Bio-solids disposal. The City of Manchester Sewage Treatment Plant currently is in compliance with the National Pollution Discharge Elimination Permit and State of Tennessee Bio-Solids Permit.

New President Named At Motlow

Anthony G. Kinkel

The Tennessee Board of Regents have appointed a new president at Motlow State Community College in Moore County.
Anthony G. Kinkel, now serving as president of Wichita Area Technical College in Kansas, takes over as president of Motlow State effective Aug. 1. Kinkel has 30 years of service in public education, including 11 years as a president in higher education. His public service extends beyond education, having been elected six times to the Minnesota House of Representatives and twice to the Minnesota Senate.
The TBR is among the nation’s largest higher education systems, governing 46 post-secondary educational institutions. The TBR system includes six universities, 13 community colleges and 27 colleges of applied technology, providing programs to more than 200,000 students across the state.

Wanted Sexual Offender Captured

James Joseph Odell

Thanks to an anonymous tip to the Criminal Investigations Division, Bedford County Sheriff’s Sgt. Benji Burris and Deputy Clyde Boyce were able to locate James Joseph Odell at a residence in Bedford County early Thursday morning. Odell is currently being held in Bedford County Jail on a $30,000 bond.
James Joseph Odell was wanted for Violation of Sexual Offender Registry Law and classified by the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation as a violent offender.
Odell also had two outstanding drug warrants.

WMSR Broadcaster Celebrating 30 Years Owning His Own Business

Fellow WMSR Radio broadcaster Wyatt Nettles, who is your host for the “Behind the Wheel” program on Thunder Radio heard each Monday morning at 9am has something special taking place on Monday. The business he owns, J&W Auto Repair of Manchester will be celebrating 30 years of serving the community.
Nettles will broadcast his show live on location on Monday at J&W, starting at 9am.
Nettles started his business working out of his truck and moved into his first building next to Coffee County High School and then moved to a location on Short St and moved to the current location on the Murfreesboro Hwy in November of 1986. Nettles said he wanted to offer good service and fair pricing when he and his wife Janet moved back home from Mississippi in 1985.
Come on out and celebrate on Monday with the J&W Auto Repair family.

Wartrace MusicFest is June 6

Midnight Riders

Southern rock, a fireworks show, classic cars, and over thirty arts and crafts dealers will all convene Saturday June 6^th at the eleventh annual Wartrace MusicFest in Wartrace, Tennessee. The six piece Allman Brothers tribute band Midnight Riders from Nashville will close the show with a fireworks display beginning at 10:00 PM.
Other main stage acts include Bad Monkey, a high energy crowd favorite with pop and country hits, and The Road Crew performing fifties rockabilly. Music will start earlier this year as the sounds begin at 1:00 PM.
Gates will open at 10:00 AM with over thirty arts and crafts booths, a classic car display, and barbeque cooked on the premises. A Kid’s Zone with an inflatable slide, art tables, hula hoops, face painting, cornhole contests, and pony rides will be open all day.
Admission to Wartrace MusicFest is $5, with children twelve and under admitted free. Parking is free. For additional information, stage schedules, and directions visit www.wartracemusicfest.org.

Local Trooper Facing Investigation

According to the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, Coffee County District Attorney General Craig Northcott has requested TBI Agents to investigate a report of missing training aids (drugs) assigned to Tennessee Highway Patrol Trooper and K9 handler Brent McCawley. THP reported the information to the TBI and the District Attorney General once they determined the training aids were missing.
The investigation is active and ongoing, and because of that they are not able to offer any additional specific information at this time.
The Tennessee Department of Safety & Homeland Security confirms that Trooper McCawley is on approved sick leave from the Department of Safety and Homeland Security.
Trooper McCawley was hired as a state trooper on January 22, 2012. His first assignment was at the Coffee County Scales. McCawley was transferred to his current assignment with the Criminal Investigation Division I-Plus Team in Coffee County in January 2014.
Allegedly McCawley has moved out of his Coffee County residence

Category: News