Tennessee Commissioner of Labor & Workforce Development Karla Davis announced Tennessee’s unemployment rate for February fell to 8.0 percent, down from the January revised rate of 8.2 percent. The national unemployment rate for February 2012 was 8.3 percent, unchanged from the January rate. “The state experienced a net increase of approximately 4,800 jobs in February,” Commissioner Davis said. “While it is a small change in the job picture, Tennessee’s unemployment rate is the lowest since November 2008.” UT Economist Bill Fox added, “The business survey data shows strong year-over-year growth with an increase of more than 50,000 jobs. The...

We at Thunder Radio would like to thank the 100’s that attended the 6th annual Home Show. The event was held at the Manchester/Coffee County Conference Center and was a huge success for the many vendors that showed their goods and services. The Good Samaritan Food Bank received 100’s of items for the needy in Coffee County. Thunder Radio would like to thank you for your donations and plans are already being made for next year’s 7th annual...

In December the Manchester City School Board voted to rename Westwood Jr High to Westwood Middle School. This week the board voted 3-2 reaffirm that name change. A petition has been passed around the city the last few weeks to name the school Manchester Middle School. Many people signed and ask leaders to reconsider. Proponents of the Westwood Middle School name said it would have been too costly to change the name. Supporters of the Manchester name said it would have given the school a better identity. So for now Westwood will only change from Jr high to middle...

According to Coffee County Sheriff’ Investigator Danny Ferrell, a number of counties are reporting the solving of burglaries in their jurisdiction with the recovery of stolen items this week at the Ambassador Motel from a Virginia man. According to the investigator, a town in Maryland reports that they have solved four burglaries. Virginia Beach, Virginia reports the solving of one burglary there. And Metro Nashville, Franklin and Brentwood are reporting the solving of several burglaries in their areas as well. Sgt Ferrell stated yesterday that the sheriff’s department continuing to receive phone calls from law enforcement around middle Tennessee...

Tennessee drivers beware. The Coffee County Sheriff’s Department is teaming with law enforcement agencies all across the state to crack down on traffic safety violations. State and local law enforcement will be out in force to remind all drivers and passengers to never drink and drive, always buckle up, obey the speed limit, and eliminate all distractions in the vehicle while driving. This special enforcement crackdown is part of the state’s new More Cops. Sheriff Steve Graves says they want everyone to be safe while traveling on Tennessee’s roadways. So the department is teaming with other state and local...

Three east Tennessee men are facing charges in connection with the burglaries and thefts from businesses located in a local Wal-Mart shopping center earlier this year. Clifford Mitchell and Richard Mitchell both of Cleveland and Anthony Cordell of Chattanooga have been arrested in Tupelo MS on burglary charges and now face charges here, Winchester, Murfreesboro, and Smyrna. According to police, the three are being held in jail Tupelo and their arrest came about after police in Murfreesboro were able to obtain pictures of the trio during a burglary there last month. Investigators from Winchester Police Department traveled to Tupelo...

Former congressional candidate Lou Ann Zelenik has prevailed in a lawsuit that accused her of defamation for a campaign advertisement attacking rival Diane Black. The suit was filed by Aegis Sciences Corp., a drug-testing company owned by David Black. He is the husband of Diane Black, who won the congressional election for the 6th District seat. The advertisement in claimed that Aegis Sciences benefited from votes by Diane Black when she was serving in the state Senate. The Daily News Journal reports that on Wednesday, a judge granted Zelenik summary judgment in the case. David Black announced immediately that...