A local up-and-coming singer-songwriter is hosting an album release party Saturday night in Milan.

Gibson County native and UT Martin graduate Darian Matheny will be performing songs from her new album, “You Want Me,” Saturday night at 7:00 at the White Woods Venue in Milan.

Miss Matheny tells Thunderbolt Radio News that music has always been a big part of her life.

Matheny says working on the album was a life-changing experience.

Matheny says all net proceeds from the album go to fibromyalgia research at Vanderbilt.

Saturday night’s release party is open to the public and features live music, free food, and previews of Darian Matheny’s new music video.

You can find out more by visiting her website at darian.rocks.

The Tennessee Highway Patrol reports an increase in both fatal and non-fatal crashes during this year’s I-40 Challenge in Tennessee.

During the two day Thanksgiving holiday traffic initiative on November 27th and December 1st, the THP reports two fatal crashes and 177 non-fatal crashes.

During last year’s two-day I-40 Challenge, there were no fatal crashes and 41 fewer non-fatal crashes.

The THP also reports 123 distracted driving citations and 26 DUI citations during the two-day initiative.

There were also 14 drug-related arrests and 16 drug seizures.

As part of this year’s I-40 Challenge, the THP assigned troopers every 20 miles on Interstate 40 for 12-hour shifts during Wednesday and Sunday, the busiest travel days of the Thanksgiving holiday weekend.

I-40 runs 455 miles through Tennessee.

Weakley County Schools has joined the list of Mid-South organizations recognized as “StormReady Supporters” by the National Weather Service. “StormReady Supporter” is a national program to recognize schools, businesses, venues, and other such entities that have met or exceeded specified guidelines in severe weather preparedness and operations. There are approximately 900 StormReady Supporters in the country and 51 in Tennessee.

“The StormReady Supporter program was designed to recognize those organizations that had gone above and beyond in their severe weather preparedness,” said Gary Woodall, Warning Coordination Meteorologist at the National Weather Service in Memphis. “Schools are a vulnerable target for severe weather, due to the high concentration of people at the campuses. We commend the leadership at Weakley County Schools for their efforts in achieving this recognition. More importantly, the students, parents, faculty, and staff should take pride in knowing that the district is doing all it can to keep safe during severe weather.”

To achieve the recognition, Weakley County Schools completed an application and review process. The review criteria included the existence of a severe weather plan, methods to receive watches and warnings and disseminate them through the campuses, and safety and preparedness activities.

“This designation is a vote of confidence regarding our preparedness in protecting our students and staff during inclement weather,” said Lorna Benson, Coordinator of Safe Schools. “As an added bonus, we could benefit from a slight reduction in our insurance rates and the designation would certainly enhance our grant requests for retrofitting or reinforcing buildings with storm shelter areas.”

The Weakley County Schools recognition was formalized at a ceremony on Wednesday at the district office in Dresden. In comments to the school safety coordinators and staff who helped achieve the status, Woodall added a reminder to his praise, “Storm ready doesn’t mean storm proof,” he said. “But this designation indicates preparedness for the next incident.”

Benson, Weakley County Schools director and assistant director Randy Frazier and Jeff Kelley received the framed certificates denoting the safety status.

(Karen Campbell, Weakley County Schools Communications Director)

(photo: (back row, left to right) SRO Steve Fulcher, Brittany Kendall, Donald Ray High, Patresa Rogers, Brittany Jaco, Danny Giles, Lisa Beam, Jeff Cupples, Robert Browning; (front row, left to right) SRO Jimmy Brown, Kelsey Hopper, Brenda Randolph, Amy Glasgow, Randy Frazier, Jeff Kelley, Lorna Benson, Gary Woodall, Stacy Williams, and Samantha Wright.  (Not shown but also Safe School Coordinators: Justin West, Scott Moran, Jason Stephens, Matt Butler, and Brian Allen)

The Martin Police Department was awarded its third state accreditation Wednesday in Nashville at the December meeting of the Tennessee Association of Chiefs of Police.

Martin Police Chief Don Teal tells Thunderbolt Radio News about the process of receiving accreditation.

Chief Teal and Assistant Police Chief Phillip Fuqua were in Nashville Wednesday to receive the award.

The Tennessee Law Enforcement Accreditation Program exists to improve the quality of law enforcement agencies in the State of Tennessee and ultimately the quality of services provided to the citizens of Tennessee.

American Legion Post 55 in Martin is celebrating its 100th anniversary this month.

Post 55 was chartered on December 16, 1919, the same year the national American Legion began.

Post 55 Adjutant Sabrina Bates tells Thunderbolt Radio News what the American Legion is.

Bates says the four units of the Legion all contribute services to the local community, from assisting veterans with their needs, to raising funds to help buy gifts for needy children.

With the 100th anniversary, the Post 55 has planned a celebration for this Saturday night.

Following the All-American Family Dinner, Chuck Garrett and Midnight Point will be performing from 8:00 to midnight in the lounge.

American Legion Post 55 is located at 221 Central Street in Martin.