The 2022 Coffee County Sheriff Election now has another name for consideration.
Manchester Police Department lead investigator Brandon Tomberlin announced on Sunday that he will be running for Coffee County Sheriff in the 2022 election.
Tomberlin will be running as an Independent. By throwing his name in the ring, Tomberlin makes three challengers to sitting sheriff Chad Partin. Alethia Smartt-Rawn and Danny Ferrell have announced their intent to run for sheriff on the Republican ticket. All three are challenging Republican incumbent sheriff Chad Partin, who is completing his first term and does intend to run for the seat again. The primaries for next year’s election will be held in May, with the general election in August. So far, no candidates have announced their intention to run on the Democratic ticket.
Below is the complete candidacy statement from Tomberlin:
“Family, friends, and residents of Coffee County, after much thought, prayer, and consideration, I am elated to announce my bid for the office of Coffee County Sheriff in the 2022 election. In the months leading up to this announcement I have felt a deeper calling to enhance public service in our county, encourage conservative leadership in our law enforcement community, and promote unity.
“I have been a lifetime resident of Coffee County and have a deep sense of pride in our community and desire to see the growth that we have the potential for. My parents, Tommie and Brenda Tomberlin, have been driving forces in this passion and pride. I am constantly encouraged by my wife, Angie Slater Tomberlin and our two beautiful daughters. My oldest daughter, Lauren, is a senior studying Neuroscience at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville and my youngest daughter, Brayden, is a Sophomore volleyball player at CCCHS. For them, and each child growing up in our community, I see a future that is attainable with stronger leadership.
“My law enforcement career began in 1998 when I started working as a patrolman at the City of Manchester. Soon after, I was promoted to Corporal and worked there until October of 2006. In November of 2006, I responded to a unique call of duty and went to work for the US State Department serving in Iraq and Afghanistan as an International Police Advisor. In 2010, I traveled to Haiti to work with the United Nations as a Contingent Inspector. Through these endeavors I was able to serve my country while also rebuilding theirs. In 2016 I returned to work at the City of Manchester where I am currently employed and serve as Chief of Investigations.
“As your Sheriff, I intend to lead with dignity, respect, and pride. In doing so, I will ensure that the community will actively see me and hear from me. This is the place you call home, and you deserve to be informed on matters regarding your safety and leadership. The safety of our community is my top priority, but the cohesion of our leaders in the community is vital to success. I will strive to have strong, essential relationships with other departments in our county, our state, and across the nation. We will be a law enforcement branch that works united as one for the good of the people we serve.
“I look forward to this journey and strive for a clean campaign that exemplifies the faith and professionalism that has carried me this far. I would be honored to receive your vote for Coffee County Sheriff in the 2022 election.“
Coffee County Health Department offering Pfizer COVID-19 booster shots
The Coffee County Health Department will offer booster doses of COVID vaccine to certain populations.
A single dose booster of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine can be administered for individuals who meet these criteria:
- People 65 years and older and residents in long-term care settings should receive a booster shot of Pfizer-BioNTech’s COVID-19 vaccine at least 6 months after their Pfizer-BioNTech primary series,
- People aged 50–64 years with underlying medical conditions should receive a booster shot of Pfizer-BioNTech’s COVID-19 vaccine at least 6 months after their Pfizer-BioNTech primary series,
- People aged 18–49 years with underlying medical conditions may receive a booster shot of Pfizer-BioNTech’s COVID-19 vaccine at least 6 months after their Pfizer-BioNTech primary series, based on their individual benefits and risks, and
- People aged 18-64 years who are at increased risk for COVID-19 exposure and transmission because of occupational or institutional setting may receive a booster shot of Pfizer-BioNTech’s COVID-19 vaccine at least 6 months after their Pfizer-BioNTech primary series, based on their individual benefits and risks.
More information on the CDC’s recommendation for a booster dose is available online.
COFFEE COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT will offer COVID-19 vaccines including the Pfizer-BioNTech booster dose at the Manchester location, 800 Parks Street and the Tullahoma location, 615 Wilson Avenue from 8:00am-4:30pm. Appointments are not required. Additional vaccine providers offering the Pfizer vaccine can be found by visiting http://www.vaccines.gov. Patients do not need to prove their diagnosis or health condition to be eligible for the booster dose.
The mission of the Tennessee Department of Health is to protect, promote and improve the health and prosperity of people in Tennessee. Learn more about TDH services and programs at www.tn.gov/health.
RAIDERS ROLL: Coffee County goes on the road, crushes Spring Hill 49-7
Coffee County needed a win in a bad way Friday night – and it showed.
The CHS Red Raiders started hot and finished strong, outgaining Spring Hill 510 yards to 67 on their way to a 49-7 blowout win at Spring Hill High School.
It was a much needed win for the Raiders, who had dropped four straight since opening the season with a win at Franklin County.
THIS GAME WAS BROADCAST LIVE ON THUNDER RADIO! LISTEN TO THE FIRST HALF REPLAY BY CLICKING HERE. LISTEN TO THE 2ND HALF REPLAY BY CLICKING HERE.
The ground game set the tone for CHS Friday night. Junior tailback Konor Heaton got behind his big offense line and took advantage of solid downfield blocking to rack up a career high 218 yards on 33 totes. Heaton scored a pair of touchdowns on runs of 14 and 1.
The Raider defense was pretty much perfect – pitching a shutout and getting a safety to score two points. Spring Hill’s only points came on a defensive score early in the second half when they sacked Conner Shemwell, got the ball away and rumbled about 40 yards for a touchdown.
Coffee County led 22-0 at the half and after Spring Hill’s defensive score, CHS answered quickly to put the game out of reach. Shemwell finished 12-of-20 through the air for 181 yards. He connected with Travis Martin for a touchdown in the first half.
Freshman Cole Pippenger had a big night – picking up an interception on defense, then playing quarterback in the fourth quarter and scoring a pair of touchdowns. Pippenger’s first score came from 1-yard out, then he got loose and sprinted 52 yards for a score with under 2 minutes to play.
Jahlin Osbourne led the Red Raiders in receiving with 7 catches for 63 yards. Kelby Walker had the most receiving yards, with 3 catches for 87 yards.
The Raiders are now 2-4 with the win and will return home next Friday, Oct. 1 to host Warren County on Homecoming. Kickoff is at 7 p.m. and the pregame show starts at 6 p.m. on Thunder Radio – 107.9 FM, 1320 AM, 106.7 FM, thunder1320.com and Manchester Go app.
Jaden Carter 
Cole Pippenger 
Konor Heaton 
Cole Pippenger (17) after an interception 
Tyler Myrick (79) 
Derrick Scott 
Robbie Gilley (74) and Travis Martin 
Jake Barlow 
Jahlin Osbourne 
Conner Shemwell
Thunder Radio photos by Holly Peterson
Text message COVID contact tracing to begin in Coffee County
The South Central Regional Health Office is launching a text message
COVID-19 case investigation system beginning on Thursday, September 23, 2021 in
conjunction with the Tennessee Department of Health.
South Central residents who test positive for COVID-19 through a reportable testing
mechanism (PCR or antigen testing) may receive a text-message from the South Central
Regional Health Office asking them to complete their case investigation online.
Individuals who have been tested in Bedford, Coffee, Giles, Hickman, Lawrence, Lewis,
Lincoln, Marshall, Maury, Moore, Perry, and Wayne counties should expect to see this
change.
While traditional phone interviews for contact tracing will continue, the text message
outreach will accelerate the case investigation process and help provide critical isolation
and mitigation resources in an expedited manner.
The survey will also uncover who may have been exposed, so that contact tracers can follow up with those individuals to advise them of the exposure, what symptoms they need
to watch for, when to get tested, and how to avoid infecting others.
“If you receive a text, we urge you to respond and complete your case investigation information,” said South Central Regional Director Ami Mitchell. “Please do your part to contain the spread of
COVID-19 and help our community.”
It’s not too late to get vaccinated. Visit vaccine.gov to see your local Health Department’s
most up to date COVID-19 vaccine availability
Unemployment decreases in nearly all Tennessee counties
Unemployment rates in nearly all of Tennessee’s counties decreased in August. This marks the second consecutive month the jobless situation has improved in 93 or more of the state’s 95 counties.
August unemployment rates were lower in 93 counties across the state. The rate in Williamson County remained unchanged from July at 2.6%. Unemployment increased in Maury County from 4.2% to 4.5% in a month-to-month comparison.
In Coffee County, the August unemployment rate fell to 4 percent – down from 4.4 percent in July. The 4 percent rate is significantly better than one year ago, when unemployment in Coffee County was 6.3 percent.
Seventy-nine counties recorded unemployment rates of less than 5% for the month. The remaining 16 counties had August rates of 5% or greater, but less than 10%.
Williamson County continued to have Tennessee’s lowest unemployment rate in August. Moore County recorded the second-lowest rate at 2.7%, which was down 0.2 of a percentage point from its July rate.
Shelby County had the month’s highest unemployment rate at 6.7%. While it was the highest in the state, the county’s new rate represented a 0.8 of a percentage point decrease from July. Unemployment in Perry County was the second highest at 6.6%, but that accounted for a 4 percentage point drop from its July rate of 10.6%.
Unemployment statewide improved for the third consecutive month in August. The rate ticked down from 4.7% to 4.6%.
Nationally, the jobless rate also improved in August. It decreased by 0.2 of a percentage point from 5.4% to 5.2%.
A complete analysis of the August 2021 county unemployment data can be found here (https://www.us13.list-manage.com/track/click?u=166478db53c066a7d114ea462&id=c42ca5613c&e=29851e7b63) .
This week, there are more than 470,000 open positions across Tennessee. The state is working to help unemployed Tennesseans become TN Work Ready, so they can successfully rejoin the workforce. Job seekers can find a multitude of online and in-person resources by visiting www.TNWorkReady.com.
VFW cancels monthly breakfast due to COVID concerns
The Coffee County VFW post announced that it will be cancelling its monthly fundraiser breakfast for this month.
The decision was made due to concerns from the continued COVID-19 pandemic.
“We are trying to be safe both with our customers and with those of us who volunteer,” the group said.
The group hopes to resume having breakfast next month.
Friday is FAIR DAY at the Coffee County Fair
The 164th annual Coffee County Fair continues Friday with fun and entertainment all day – starting at 10 a.m.
Friday is “Fair Day” – free admission from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. and that will also be $20 hand stamp time for rides on the midway. The midway will close from 5-6 p.m. and reopen at 6 with tickets only.
For entertainment, The Ultimate Oldies Show will hit the stage at 7 p.m. and the Tennessee State Pullers Tractor Pull begins at 7:30 p.m.
The Coffee County Fair is located at 99 Lakeview Dr. and runs through Saturday. Click here for the complete fair book.
Kyle Douglas named new head baseball coach at CHS
Coffee County Central High School is hiring Kyle Douglas to be the new head baseball coach of the Red Raiders.
Douglas, who has a year of assistant experience with the Raiders from last year, replaces David Martin who resigned earlier this month after six seasons to spend more time with his family.
Douglas takes over a Raider baseball team that is coming off its best season in over a decade in terms of wins. as CHS racked up 21 wins in the 2021 season for the first time since 2010 and finished one win shy of advancing to the region semi-finals. The Raiders are the early favorites to claim a district title in 2022, with a large pool of talent returning that includes a deep pitching staff. If that happens it would be the first district title for CHS since 2011, a program that continues to search for success of the late 90s and the first decade of the 2000s. Under the direction of head coaches Doug Greene and Chase Jones, the baseball program won 8 district championships in 15 years between 1997 and 2011, including three district titles in a row between 2009 and 2011 that included a region championship and a state tournament berth.
Douglas served as the head coach of La Vergne in 2020 – only for a couple of games before the season was squashed because of COVID-19. He then resigned to take an assistant position with the Red Raiders for the 2021 season.
“We are pleased to announce Kyle Douglas as the new head baseball coach for Coffee County Central High School,” said CHS co-athletic director Brad Costello in a prepared statement. “Kyle Douglas is a CCCHS alumnus who played baseball all 4 years in high school. Kyle has a passion for baseball, he has a passion for Coffee County, and he has a strong desire to lead the Red Raider baseball team.
“Kyle played 4 years of collegiate ball at Freed Hardeman University, was a graduate assistant at FHU, head coach at LaVergne High School, and was the assistant coach last year at CCCHS. We are excited to have Coach Douglas on board and look forward to the continued success of our baseball program.”
Two arrested, authorities release more details from weekend homicide
Two Coffee County residents were taken into custody early Wednesday morning and charged with murder.
Coffee County Sheriff’s Department investigators have taken into custody Ronald A. Archey, age 54, and Cullen B. Hickerson, 26, both of Hillsboro, and charged them with premediated first degree and felony murder.
Both are suspected by authorities to have been involved in the deaths of Chasity Kay Hill, 27, and Logan Tindale, 22, who were found dead at 93 Clyde Vickers Rd. over the weekend.
Coffee County District Attorney General Craig Northcott released a statement on the arrest of Archey and Hickerson.
“On Sept. 19, 2021, police were called to the scene at which the bodies of Chasity Hill, age 27, and Logan Tindale, age 22, were located. Upon investigation, it was immediately apparent that they had suffered fatal gunshot wounds,” Northcott said.
“Over the course of the next several days, the Coffee County Sheriff’s Department worked tirelessly to determine who was involved in this incident. Dozens of interviews, hours of crime scene investigation and the resolve to achieve justice for these victims resulted in developing evidence to make the arrest of two individuals involved in the murders.
“Ronald Andrew Archey, age 54, of Coffee County, and Cullen Blake Hickerson, age 25, of Coffee County, have each been charged with two counts of premeditated murder and felony murder for the killings.”
Both suspects are scheduled to appear in Coffee County General Sessions Court on Sept. 23.
“I want to thank all the investigators and officers of the Coffee County Sheriff’s Department for their relentless and professional efforts in this investigation,” added Northcott. “I want to thank sheriff Chad Partin for making available all the resources of his department and his many hours leading the investigation. The work will continue in this case to leave no lead unpursued to ensure that justice will be served. please pray for the victims’ families and respect their privacy in this difficult time.”
Bowling named chairman of ‘Yes on 1’ chairman for Coffee Co.
The Yes on 1 Committee announced Wednesday morning its regional and local leadership team, naming a county chairman in all 95 Tennessee counties. Yes on 1 will advocate for Amendment 1 to place right-to-work in the Tennessee Constitution, which will appear on the ballot on November 8, 2022. Right-to-work says that Tennesseans cannot be forced to join a union and pay dues in order to get or keep their job.
In Coffee County, State Senator Janice Bowling was named chairman.
Lt. Gov. Randy McNally (Anderson County) and House Speaker Cameron Sexton (Cumberland County) will serve as Yes on 1’s East Tennessee co-chairmen. Senate Majority Leader Jack Johnson (Williamson County) and House Majority Leader William Lamberth (Sumner County) will serve as Middle Tennessee co-chairmen. Sen. Brian Kelsey (Shelby County) and Rep. Chris Todd (Madison County) shepherded the amendment through the legislative process to put it on the ballot and will serve as co-chairmen for West Tennessee. Former Gov. Bill Haslam was previously announced as treasurer of Yes on 1.
“Tennessee’s right-to-work law is under attack in Washington, D.C., and neighboring states like Virginia,” said Jim Brown of the Yes on 1 Committee. “It’s a main reason that the Yes on 1 effort to enshrine our 1947 right-to-work law into the state Constitution has the backing of so many state leaders across Tennessee. They believe worker choice and worker freedom are Tennessee values worth preserving for generations to come, and it’s why they are asking voters to join them in supporting Yes on 1 on the November 2022 ballot.”//////
“Right to Work is fundamental to Tennessee’s business friendly status,” said Yes on 1 Committee member Bradley Jackson. “Business leaders across our great state support placing it in our Constitution to ensure its permanent status for future generations and continued economic prosperity.”
“We are grateful to have these leaders in all 95 counties championing right-to-work as a fundamental constitutional right,” said Justin Owen of the Yes on 1 Committee. “Their leadership on this issue sends a strong message to all Tennessee voters that right-to-work is a Tennessee tradition and should be protected at all costs.”
The following leaders have been named as county chairmen for Yes on 1:
Rep. Dennis Powers – Anderson and Campbell Counties
Rep. Pat Marsh – Bedford and Lincoln Counties
Sandy Still – Bedford County
Sen. John Stevens – Benton, Carroll, Henry, and Obion Counties
Sen. Paul Bailey – Bledsoe, Cumberland, Jackson, Overton, Putnam, and White Counties
Rep. Jerome Moon – Blount County
Rep. Bob Ramsey – Blount County
Scott Stuart – Blount County
Sen. Art Swann – Blount and Sevier Counties
Sen. Mike Bell – Bradley, McMinn, Meigs, Monroe, and Polk Counties
Rep. Dan Howell – Bradley, Meigs, and Polk Counties
Sen. Ken Yager – Campbell, Fentress, Morgan, Pickett, Rhea, Roane, and Scott Counties
Rep. Clark Boyd – Cannon, DeKalb, and Wilson Counties
Sen. Jon Lundberg – Carter, Johnson, and Sullivan Counties
Rep. Mary Littleton – Cheatham and Dickson Counties
Chad Cherry – Chester County
Rep. Kirk Haston – Chester and Perry Counties
Sen. Page Walley – Chester, Decatur, Fayette, Hardeman, Hardin, Haywood, Henderson, and McNairy Counties
Sen. Frank Niceley – Claiborne, Grainger, Hancock, Hawkins, Jefferson, and Union Counties
Rep. Kelly Keisling – Clay, Fentress, Macon, Pickett, and Scott Counties
Rep. Jeremy Faison – Cocke County
Sen. Janice Bowling – Coffee, Franklin, Grundy, Marion, Sequatchie, Van Buren, and Warren Counties
Rep. Chris Hurt – Crockett, Haywood, and Lauderdale Counties
Sen. Ed Jackson – Crockett, Dyer, Lake, Lauderdale, and Madison Counties
Joe Scarlett – Davidson County
Rep. Terri Lynn Weaver – DeKalb, Smith, and Trousdale Counties
Rep. Michael Curcio – Dickson County
Rep. Rusty Grills – Dyer County
Rep. Ron Gant – Fayette County
Valerie Jones – Fentress County
Brooks Lynch – Franklin County
Rep. Iris Rudder – Franklin, Marion, and Moore Counties
Rep. Curtis Halford – Gibson County
Rep. Clay Doggett – Giles and Lawrence Counties
Sen. Joey Hensley – Giles, Lawrence, Lewis, Maury, Perry, and Wayne Counties
Chris Morris – Giles County
Rep. Jerry Sexton – Grainger County
Rep. David Hawk – Greene County
Brett Purgason – Greene County
Rep. Rick Eldridge – Hamblen County
Rep. Patsy Hazlewood – Hamilton County
Rep. Robin Smith – Hamilton County
Rep. Gary Hicks – Hawkins County
Sen. Kerry Roberts – Hickman and Robertson Counties
Rep. Jay Reedy – Houston and Humphreys Counties
David Seal – Jefferson County
Mayor Glenn Jacobs – Knox County
Angie Almond – Lauderdale County
Chris Morris – Lawrence County
Rep. Lowell Russell – Loudon and Monroe Counties
Larry Lowrance – Madison County
Sen. Shane Reeves – Marshall, Moore, and Rutherford Counties
Rep. Mark Cochran – McMinn and Monroe Counties
Rep. Curtis Johnson – Montgomery County
Sen. Bill Powers – Montgomery and Stewart Counties
Henry Redmond – Roane County
Sen. Dawn White – Rutherford County
Rep. Dale Carr – Sevier County
Rep. Kevin Vaughan – Shelby County
Rep. Johnny Garrett – Sumner County
Rep. Debra Moody – Tipton County
Renea Jones – Unicoi County
Rep. Rebecca Alexander – Washington County
Rep. Tim Hicks – Washington County
Rep. Tandy Darby – Weakley County
Cheryl Brown – Williamson County
Rep. Glen Casada – Williamson County
Rep. Brandon Ogles – Williamson County
Rep. Sam Whitson – Williamson County
