The Coffee County Sheriff’s Department welcomes deputy Scott Steele after his graduation last week from the Tennessee Law Enforcement Training Academy.  Steele spent 12 weeks and many long hours working to being a graduate. While the department is adding Steele to the team, it also says goodbye to deputy Wendell Bowen who retired last week after serving the Coffee County Sheriff’s Department after 20 years.  ...

The Bedford County Sheriff’s Department will have National Night Out from 5-8 p.m. Tuesday Oct. 1 at HV Griffin Park. There will be bounce houses, a strong man show, child seat safety checks, as well as the THP roll over simulator, life flight helicopter and other emergency vehicles and personnel. There will be hot dogs and refreshments and the event is free to the...

A FEMA grant is expected to foot about 95 percent of the bill for a new $400,000 training facility for local first responders here in Coffee County – the facility will be placed in the joint industrial park. The project has received the green light from the Coffee County Commission. This facility would benefit all local volunteer fire departments, as well as city police departments, fire departments, rescue squad, EMS and other emergency services personnel. What isn’t covered by the grant is expected to be covered by the county government and the city of Tullahoma. The facility is not...

  (THIS STORY HAS BEEN UPDATED AS OF 10 A.M. SATURDAY TO REFLECT VENUE CHANGE) Music star Billy Ray Cyrus will be coming to Manchester for an awareness event Sunday morning at Rotary Amphitheater following the suicide death of Central High School 16-year old Channing Smith. Channing Smith took his life late Sunday, Sept. 22, after other students turned personal screen shot messages over to social media that outed Channing’s gay sexual orientation. Channing’s brother, Joshua Smith, posted on Facebook late Friday that Cyrus would be making an appearance at 8 a.m. Sunday (Sept. 29) at Fred Deadman Park....

  A Coffee County Central High School student committed suicide late Sunday night. And now the community is mourning and searching for answers.  Channing Smith was a 16-year old student and, according to his brother – Joshua Smith – Channing took his life after other students turned personal screen shot messages over to social media to attempt to “assassinate Channing’s character” because he was gay. Those reported screenshots outed Channing’s sexual orientation.   Thunder Radio spoke to Coffee County Sheriff’s Department investigator James Sherrill. According to Sherrill, screenshots of text messages were posted on social media. Sherrill reiterated the investigation...

You  have probably noticed that your grass is a little brown and crunchy. The National Weather Service has officially placed most all of Coffee County in a moderate drought status. In fact, about 75% of the state is considered in a moderate drought as no significant rainfall has been gauged in the past month. The forecast doesn’t appear to be changing anytime soon, with temperatures in the 90s expected this weekend into...

The Justice Department announced this week the second coordinated law enforcement action of the Appalachian Region Prescription Opioid (ARPO) strike force, resulting in charges against 13 individuals across five Appalachian federal districts for alleged offenses relating to the over prescription of controlled substances through “pill mill” clinics.  Of those charged, 12 were charged for their role in unlawfully distributing opioids and other controlled substances and 11 were physicians.  The alleged conduct resulted in the distribution of more than 17 million pills. This action follows the first such takedown in April of this year, which involved charges against 60 defendants,...