As we progress into the summer months, it’s important to remember to always keep a watchful eye on children who enjoy swimming. The Tennessee Department of Health reports that drowning is the leading cause of injury and death for children ages one to four. Nationwide, three children die every day as a result of drowning. TNDH gives a few tips to prevent any situation where a child could be in danger of drowning: -Install a four-sided fence with self-closing, self-latching gates. -Never leave a child unattended by a pool, even just for a moment. -Be sure children always wear life jackets around...

Effective on June 1st, 2021, Elk River Public Utility District will be applying rebates to all of their June Natural Gas bills for active customers.  Because of the increase in Natural Gas sales and residential and commercial activity, their revenue is expected to exceed their budget. Because of this, the Board of Commissioners voted to provide rebates of approximately $750,000 to over 16,500 active customers with no increase in base rates for the 2022 fiscal year.  This is the 4th consecutive time the board has voted to provide the...

Thunder Radio is proud to announce the return of our summer “Phrase that Plays” contest! In partnership with participating businesses, Thunder Radio will be giving away a pair of tickets to Beech Bend Park every weekday in June and a pair of tickets to Lake Winnie every weekday in July. All listeners have the opportunity to enter. The rules are simple – all you have to do is listen to Thunder Radio and when you hear the special phrase (which will play 8-12 times every day), you call in and enter your name for the daily drawing.  Limit one...

Governor Bill Lee has signed into law legislation aimed at protecting independent pharmacies from rising fees and patient-steering associated with the companies that manage prescription benefits on behalf of health insurers. Greg Bohannon, co-owner of Thrifty MedPlus Pharmacy in Ooltewah, says pharmacy-benefit managers, which have ballooned into monopolies in recent decades, are unfairly targeting small pharmacies. The bill prevents PBMs from discriminating against hospitals and clinics participating in a federal drug-pricing program which allows them to buy medications at reduced rates, allows patients to choose their own pharmacy, and creates transparency for patients and providers on drug pricing and...

Franklin County Sheriff’s Department authorities are attempting to locate an escaped prisoner – Chase Moffit. Moffit has an address of 1557 Pleasant Ridge Rd. in Huntland. He allegedly escaped custody from the Franklin County Jail Monday, May 31. If anyone has information regarding Moffit’s whereabouts, you are asked to call the Franklin County Sheriff’s Department at...

The number for people vaccinated in Tennessee is close to reaching 5 million (4.857,898). 33.4 % of the population is fully vaccinated, while 39.3% have at least one dose. Ages 61-70 seem to have the highest rate of vaccines across the state at 535,084 people vaccinated. The Tennessee Department of health is still running their “Give it a Shot” campaign, which is used to encourage those hesitant of receiving the vaccine to go out and get it. Nationally, a total of about 135 million people are fully vaccinated which is equivalent to 41.2% of the U.S. population. For more...

Tennessee Department of Transportation will resume construction Tuesday morning at 6 a.m. This comes after construction was suspended for Memorial Day weekend as it was anticipated that many people would travel. Construction was paused at noon on Friday, May 28th.  “Suspending construction-related lane closures during the Memorial Day weekend will lessen congestion and delays on Tennessee’s major highways,” said Commissioner Clay Bright. “We want to do our part to help everyone have an enjoyable and safe holiday weekend and keep traffic flowing as smoothly and efficiently as possible.” AAA estimated nearly 37 million Americans would travel this Memorial Day...

Tennessee gas prices are down one cent on the week as many Tennesseans are expected to hit the road for Memorial Day. Gas Price average is now $2.87 which is 17 cents more than one month ago and $1.17 more than one year ago. Coffee County is 25 cents below national average and 7 cents below the state average. The County average is $2.80, the state average is $2.87, and the national average is $3.05 for Memorial Day. The national average cost for gas just two weeks ago when the Colonial Pipeline shut down, was $3.00 a gallon which makes the new average 5...