The State Department of Education recently released the new, redesigned state report card for 2017-18. The new report card is intended to help families better understand school performance and support student success. This tool was developed over the past year with educators, parents, and community organizations and includes several new features based on that feedback. A school receives a rating on each indicator ranging from 0.0 to 4.0, like a GPA scale, with 4.0 being the highest. The six indicators are academic achievement, whether students are performing on grade level or above based on state tests; student academic growth,...

At approximately 8:40 p.m. Wednesday night (December 12) a rock was thrown off the Trussell Road overpass in Monteagle, seriously injuring the driver of an 18-wheeler. Deputies who arrived on the scene called in Monteagle Police Chief Virgil McNeece who, along with a CID investigative officer from the Tennessee Highway Patrol, collected evidence and found footprints at the overpass and developed a lead in the case. McNeece says they first interviewed a juvenile and were able to match his boots to one of the footprints found at the scene. The juvenile admitted to being at the overpass when the...

The College St Elementary School Music Department presents Cougar Christmas Coffee House on Monday December 17 at 6:30pm, doors open at 6pm at the school in Manchester. Teacher Greg Ray invites everyone to ring in the season with hot chocolate, coffee, baked goods and great music. The program will feature recording artist CJ Solar. They are asking for a donation of $5 for adults and $1 for children. Any other donation will be great appreciated. The school and Mr. Ray hope to see you...

Grundy County Sheriff’s Department Investigator Larry Sims was dragged by a vehicle while trying to detain a man Tuesday night in Coffee County. Sheriff Clint Shrum said the suspect is still on the run. The incident happened when Sims stopped to check on what appeared to be a minor crash or stranded motorists in Coffee County, Sheriff Shrum explained. In a press release from the Coffee County Sheriff’s Department it stated: On December 11, 2018 at approximately 5:40pm Coffee County Sheriff’s Department received a call that an out of county investigator had been involved in an incident at the...

According to arrest warrants issued to Sgt. Harmon Campbell with the Coffee County Sheriff’s Department on Saturday, December 8, Katsana Maxkenzie Chanthoumphone age 26 of Murfreesboro was charged with aggravated assault and aggravated criminal trespass. The warrant states that Campbell responded to Arnold Air Force base at the guard shack for a person driving through the security check-point without stopping. The male driver went to the second check-point where he was detained by protective services. Director of Public Affairs for the base, Jason Austin describes what to place: http://www.thunder1320.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/Jason-Austin.mp3 Since AEDC no longer has a regular police force the...

The U.S. Geological Survey says an earthquake that struck eastern Tennessee could be felt as far away as Atlanta. The light earthquake occurred about 4:15 a.m. Wednesday and was centered about 7 miles northeast of Decatur. According to the USGS, the Eastern Tennessee seismic zone is one of the most active earthquake areas in the Southeast. The zone extends across parts of Tennessee, Georgia and Alabama. There were actually 2 quakes. The first earthquake was a 4.4 magnitude around 4:15 a.m. that had a depth of about 9 kilometers with an epicenter 6.8 miles outside of Decatur, Tennessee. The...

Former Coffee County Sheriff Steve Graves and the Coffee County Rescue Squad have teamed up to make Christmas a whole lot merrier for families around the area. The program began several years ago through Graves’ charity program at the sheriff’s department. This year, with the help of many volunteers, members of the rescue squad and churches, over 300 families have received toys and more during this special time of year. Graves, volunteers and the Coffee County Rescue Squad will have one more distribution day on Saturday December 22, 2018 beginning at 9am in the Coffee County Rescue Squad building...