Nearly 6. 5 inches of rain has fallen on Manchester from midnight Saturday morning through 4:30 p.m. Sunday afternoon, according to TVA Rain Gauges.
According to TVA gauges, 3.11 inches fell on Manchester Saturday with another 3.20 falling on Sunday up through 4:30 p.m. with rain continuing to fall.
Meanwhile, even more rain has been measured at nearby Normandy Dam – with 5.28 inches measured Saturday and 2.95 additional inches as of 4:30 p.m. Sunday – bringing the total to 8.23 inches.
Currently, a flood watch remains in effect for Coffee County through 7 p.m. Monday as more rain is in the forecast.
National Weather Service is forecasting a 90% chance of rain Monday into Monday night with an 80% chance of storms and rain Tuesday. All of this precipitation is on the front end of a cold front that will bring fall-like temperatures by Wednesday, with a high of only 68 degrees Wednesday and low temperatures falling into the 40s.
Coffee County authorities on the scene of possible double homicide
Coffee County Sheriff’s Department and District Attorney General are on the scene of what is being described as a “possible double murder” at 93 Clyde Vickers Rd., Estill Springs.
According to Coffee County Sheriff Chad Partin, authorities were notified of the situation at approximately noon on Sunday. Deceased are one white male and one white female.
Authorities have identified the female victim as Chasity Kay Hill, age 27, with ties to Moore and Coffee County. The male victim has been identified as Logan Tindale, age 22, from Florida.
This is a developing story. More information will be released when it is available.
Shelbyville murder suspect captured in Mississippi
Shelbyville police announced that Horatio Lewis Rice and his girlfriend were taken into custody late Friday.
Rice, at TBI Top 10 Most Wanted Fugitive is charged with first degree murder and attempted murder after allegedly shooting 14-year old Israel Domingo Pascual and attempting to kill Pascual’s brother last Monday, Sept. 13. Rice’s girlfriend, Tiffany Taylor was listed as a person of interest. Rice allegedly killed Pascual in the parking lot of a laundry mat in Shelbyville.
US Marshal Service arrested the pair in Tunica, Mississippi Friday afternoon, Sept. 17.
Tiffany Taylor 
Horatio Rice
Tennessee unemployment drops for third straight month
As Tennessee’s economy continues to rebound, the state has experienced three consecutive months of lower unemployment, according to newly released data from the Department of Labor and Workforce Development (TDLWD).
The preliminary, seasonally adjusted statewide unemployment rate for August came in at 4.6%, 0.1 of a percentage point lower than July’s revised rate of 4.7%. June’s unemployment rate was 4.9%.
Unemployment across the state last month was 3.5 percentage points lower than it was in August 2020.
Employers brought an additional 4,400 employees into the workforce between July and August. The manufacturing sector had the largest increase in employment, followed by the mining/logging/construction sector, and then the government sector.
Between August 2020 and August 2021, employers across Tennessee increased the state’s workforce by 121,600 jobs. The professional/business services sector accounted for the largest percentage of that growth. The leisure/hospitality sector added the second-largest number of jobs, followed by the trade/transportation/utilities sector.
The unemployment situation also improved throughout the nation in August. The seasonally adjusted rate for the United States dropped 0.2 of a percentage point from 5.4% to 5.2%. The latest rate is down 3.2 percentage points from this time last year.
TDLWD has compiled a complete analysis of the August 2021 statewide unemployment data, including the latest statistics on Tennessee’s labor force. You can find that report here (https://www.us13.list-manage.com/track/click?u=166478db53c066a7d114ea462&id=69c4cb1aee&e=29851e7b63) .
As Keep TN Working Week continues across the state, with scheduled job fairs, unemployed Tennesseans can also find work, online, at www.Jobs4TN.gov. The site currently has more than 430,000 open positions posted.
The state is ready to help job seekers become TN Work Ready, so that they have the tools needed to find meaningful employment and reenter Tennessee’s workforce. They can start their journey by reviewing what assistance is available to them at www.TNWorkReady.com.
Danny Ferrell announces bid for Coffee County Sheriff
Veteran lawman Danny Ferrell has announced his plans to run for Coffee County Sheriff in the 2022 election.
Ferrell’s announcement comes after the announcement earlier this month that Alethia Smart-Rawn will also seek the sheriff seat. Both Rawn and Ferrell will be running on the Republican ticket, challenging incumbent sheriff Chad Partin in the spring primary. Partin is currently serving his first term and does plan to seek re-election. The general election will be held next August.
Below is the full statement from Ferrell:
Friends, Family and Coffee County residents, my name is Danny R. Ferrell and I am excited to announce my candidacy in the 2022 Sheriff’s election. After much thought and consideration, I feel a deeper calling of service and see a need for true conservative leadership in our county. I was born and raised in Coffee County and through my wonderful parents, Donnie and Janie Ferrell, I was taught a solid foundation of faith makes the strongest leaders. It has been my great honor to follow in my father’s law enforcement footsteps. I will lead as he did, by example, with honor and integrity.
My greatest blessings in this life, my wife, Lisa Peterson Ferrell of 20 years and my three sons, Clinton, Daniel and Colton, are my reasons to make Coffee County the safest place to live in Tennessee. I began my law enforcement career twenty-eight years ago and served at the Coffee County Sheriff’s Department twenty of those years. I have held many positions in law enforcement including Corrections, Court Officer, Transport Officer, Deputy, K-9 Officer, Investigator, Sergeant over Investigations and Captain over patrol. I also served as a part-time boating officer with the TWRA for eighteen years. During my tenure with the TWRA, I assisted in teaching boating and hunters education. I currently serve as Sergeant on patrol at the Warren County Sheriff’s Department and have held this position for the past three years.
As Sheriff of Coffee County, I will be visible in the community and will uphold every honor the office demands. I will strive to have the most well trained, ethical department in the state. I will mend broken relationships and work closely with other departments. My view of law enforcement is one collective branch that works for the betterment of the community and state we serve. I will implement an open door policy as I feel strongly that all elected officials should be available for the citizens they serve. Law enforcement and community involvement is imperative in breaking down boundaries and forming relationships.
I would appreciate your support and humbly ask for your vote for Sheriff of Coffee County, 2022.
Coffee County authorities on the scene of possible double homicide
The offices at the Coffee County Administrative Plaza building, with the exception of Coffee County Board of Education, will be closed on Friday, Sept. 24 for TRANE and Duck River Electric to perform meter consolidation installation.
There will be no power at those offices during this time.
Offices will reopen for regular hours on Monday, Sept. 27
Search continues for Shelbyville murder suspect; $2500 reward offered
Area police continue to search for Horatio Lewis Rice, alleging he was involved in the shooting death of a 14-year old Shelbyville teenager Monday night.
According to Shelbyville Police Department, a 14-year old teenager was shot and killed in the parking lot of Duck River Laundry shortly after 9 p.m. Monday night.
Using surveillance video, Shelbyville police have identified the shooter as Rice.
The victim has been identified as Israel Diego Pascual, a freshman student at Shelbyville Central High School. He was shot to death sitting in his brothers car outside the laundry mat. Police have charged Rice with first degree murder of Pascual, and attempted first degree murder of Pascual’s 22-year old brother Adolfo Sebastian-Pascual. Police say there is no evidence the brothers knew Rice and no evidence that conflict occurred before the shooting. Rice is also wanted felon in possession of a weapon.
Tiffany Taylor (AKA Tiffany Rice) is believed to be traveling with Horatio Rice and is a person of interest.
Shelbyville police continue investigating and are encouraging anyone with any information about this to contact detective Lieutenant Charles Merlo at 931-684-5811. A $2,500 reward is being offered for information leading to the capture of Rice. Rice has been added as a TBI Most Wanted Fugitive and is considered armed and dangerous.
MPD receives reports of local phone scams
Manchester Police Department has received complaints of a phone scam hitting the area yet again.
According to police, the intended victim was advised that they were involved in a civil matter. The caller advised the intended victim that they could send money to them and that would then withdraw federal warrants that had been issued.
Police advise that this is not how warrant service works. Additionally, no law enforcement agencies will request funds over the phone in relief of criminal charges.
Coffee County Fair begins Saturday
A week full of fun, carnival rides, entertainment and all the cotton candy you can imagine begins on Saturday.
The annual Coffee County Fair begins Saturday with pageants, baby and toddler shows kicking off the weekend.
Rides and full exhibits will be operational by Monday, Sept. 20. Click here to see the fair book and a look at the schedule for the week.
Coffee County Out of the Darkness Suicide Awareness walk is Saturday
The first-ever Coffee County Out of the Darkness Walk to bring awareness to suicide, will be held this Saturday, Sept. 18 at Rotary Park in Manchester.
Over 300 registered walkers and over 35 teams are scheduled to be on hand. There will be vendors on hand and the event program will begin at 10:30 a.m. Everyone is welcome to participate.
