News

Throughout March, the Tennessee Department of Education invites all Tennesseans to celebrate Tennessee Literacy Month, proclaimed by Governor Bill Lee. All month long, the department will highlight how Tennessee’s meaningful reading investments continue to strengthen early literacy skills and prepare students to reach their full potential.

“Tennessee students are leading the nation in reading proficiency gains thanks to our state’s strong literacy strategy,” said Gov. Lee. “Every student deserves the opportunity to thrive, and in the month of March, we’re celebrating our continued commitment to literacy and ensuring that every child can reach their full potential.”

March Literacy Month kicked off over the weekend with Read Across America Day on Sunday, March 2, which began Read Across America Week (March 2-6). This week and month, the department and Riley the Reading Raccoon will celebrate the work happening to boost literacy scores by visiting schools across the state. Tennesseans are encouraged to join the conversation on social media throughout the month using hashtags like #TNReadingForALL and #ReadLikeRiley. Additionally, families can practice reading at home using the Interactive Decodables.  

Tennessee’s literacy rates continue to make historic strides statewide, thanks to the strategic investments made by Gov. Lee and the Tennessee General Assembly, including the passage of the 2021 Tennessee Literacy Success Act, which has been pivotal in providing resources and supports to teachers and students. The 2023-24 ELA TCAP results showed, overall, 39% of students are meeting grade level expectations, with proficiency gains in most tested grades, and elementary and high school students are continuing to out-perform pre-pandemic levels. In addition, the 2024 Nation’s Report Card results further exhibited Tennessee’s improvements with 32% of tested students scoring as proficient, outpacing the national average in both 4th and 8th grade reading.

“Our district and school leaders, teachers, families, elected leaders, and communities are putting in a tremendous amount of effort to support our young readers, as they are dedicated to nurturing a passion for reading by offering resources and enriching experiences both in and out of the classroom across Tennessee,” said Lizzette Reynolds, Commissioner of Education. “I’m grateful for the hard work being done across the state, and this March Literacy Month, I encourage all Tennesseans to join us in celebrating our districts’ achievements by picking up a book and reading together!”

Through Tennessee’s commitment to continue and sustain a focus on early literacy, the department is excited to offer the fifth summer of literacy trainings for educators, including the Early Reading and Secondary Literacy Trainings. For the first time this summer, the department will offer a Foundations First: Pre-K Literacy Training designed to include foundational literacy support to Pre-K teachers and Pre-K teaching assistants, currently teaching or planning to teach Pre-K for the 2025-26 school year.  Additional information about training details will be available later this spring.  

Additionally, the department is continuing to support early literacy instruction through the Early Literacy Network 2.0 with regional convenings, virtual learning sessions, and asynchronous modules specifically designed for school leaders and teachers. During these sessions, district and school leaders and teachers engage in high-quality foundational skills professional development and collaborate on ways to improve practices in their districts.

Learn more here on how Tennessee is equipping teachers and families with online resources and engaging with the public to accelerate literacy. 

On Tuesday, U.S. Representative John Rose (TN-06) voted ‘Yes” on H. Con. Res. 14. The measure, which passed 217-215, establishes a budgetary framework for fiscal year 2025 and sets budgetary levels for fiscal years 2026-2036. The resolution also directs House committees to begin drafting specific reconciliation legislation. The final budget will require another vote of the full House of Representatives as well as the Senate. Rep. Rose released the following statement: “Tennesseans overwhelmingly support President Trump’s vision for America, and I am dedicated to paving the way for swift action,” Rep. Rose said. “That’s exactly what I did by supporting this budget resolution. It’s a shame that every Congressional Democrat voted against protecting our borders, against cutting government waste, and against preventing a historic tax increase that would devastate millions of American families. You can find out more about the budget framework resolution here.

The Cannon County Lionettes are Champions of the 9 AA District in high school girls basketball.  The lady lions defeated Cascade in a double overtime by a score of 60-59 at Grundy County Saturday night.

All tournament players included; Liv Prater, Addie King and Jaylon Taylor. All tournament Most Valuable Player is Abi Aleander.

The Lions join the Lionettes as Champions of District 9AA Basketball this year.  The Lions defeated the Yellow Jackets of Grundy County by a score of 82 – 57 at Grundy County Monday night.

Three players from the team were named all  tournament members, Antonio Jones, Lucas Phillips and Miles Alexander.  Eli Pelham was named tournament Most Valuable Player.

As district winners, the teams earn home court for their next game.  The Lionettes will play Friday night and the Lions will play Saturday night.  Both games will have a 7pm tipoff.

WBRY and our sports crew of Murphy Fair and Matt Daniel will continue to follow Cannon’s teams as long as they continue their post season quest.

Christopher Andrews, the head football coach at Cannon County Middle School, has resigned effective immediately. He recently submitted his resignation to Cannon County Middle School Principal Dr. Annie Reed and previously announced his decision to staff and his team. Under his leadership, Coach Andrews instilled the essential skills and fundamentals of the game and emphasized the importance of good character and a winning attitude. Coach Andrews leaves a lasting legacy of success on the field and within the CCMS community.

Coach Andrews coached all 3 years of the middle school program, leading the team through its inaugural year in TMSAA and establishing a strong foundation for the program. Before this, he had a significant influence as a coach for three years with the Jr. Lions football team. Under Coach Andrews’s leadership, Cannon County Middle School’s football team participated in the Duck River Valley Conference Championship game in 2023, where they earned a second-place finish.

Cannon County Middle School Principal Dr. Annie Reed stated, “I genuinely appreciate all Coach Andrews has contributed to CCMS. His selfless spirit and the positive impact he has had on our student’s lives have played a crucial role in the success of our early years at CCMS.”

Cannon County Middle School Athletic Director Jayson Watson stated, “Coach Andrews has set the standard for excellence for CCMS football, which extends far beyond the field. He has deeply impacted the lives of the young men he has coached and mentored. His presence will definitely be missed. I am grateful for all he has done and will continue to do for our community.”

Cannon County Director of Schools, Bonnie Patterson, stated, “On behalf of Cannon County Schools, I would like to thank Coach Andrews for his dedication and commitment to the Cannon County Middle School Football program. We thank him for his service to our student athletes and the school community. He will definitely be missed.”

Cannon County Middle School will begin the search for a new head football coach immediately.

The recent heavy rains and winter weather have created an abundance of potholes along interstates and state routes. The Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) has already enacted its statewide effort using all available resources, including contractors, to repair the damaged areas as quickly as possible.

“Each year, we anticipate severe weather will impact our roads, and we’ve proactively planned for pothole repairs while also addressing winter conditions,” says Deputy Governor and TDOT Commissioner Butch Eley. “Our teams have been focused on putting contracts in place ahead of time, enabling us to immediately mobilize and begin repairs. This approach ensures we can respond quickly and effectively, prioritizing the safety and service of Tennesseans.”

Multiple crews will be patching potholes over the coming days and weeks. Cold mix asphalt is currently being used for temporary repairs. Permanent repairs will be made in spring and early summer when asphalt plants are producing ample amounts of hot mix and it’s more readily available.

In some cases, motorists should be prepared for short-term traffic delays during these pothole repair operations. While every effort will be made to perform repairs during off-peak travel times (9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. weekdays), some lane closures may extend into the late afternoon, evening, and weekends. We ask drivers to be patient and to watch out for TDOT crews on interstates and state highways. Work with Us – move over, slow down.

Please note – inclement weather, emergency repairs or incidents may disrupt daily schedules. TDOT does not count potholes, keep a tally of how many potholes have been repaired or the cost of repairs per pothole. These repairs are part of normal highway maintenance operations. Drivers can report potholes by calling the TDOTFIX Hotline at 833-TDOTFIX or by submitting an online maintenance request form.

From your desktop or mobile device, get the latest road conditions and live-streaming SmartWay traffic cameras at www.TNSmartWay.com/Traffic. Travelers can also dial 511 for travel information or follow us on Twitter at https://twitter.com/myTDOT for statewide travel.

COLD WEATHER ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM MIDNIGHT TONIGHT TO 10 AM CST THURSDAY

COLD WEATHER ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM MIDNIGHT THURSDAY NIGHT TO 10 AM CST FRIDAY…

For the first Cold Weather Advisory, very cold wind chills as low as 4 below expected. For the second Cold Weather Advisory, very cold wind chills as low as 1 below expected.

For the first Cold Weather Advisory, from midnight tonight to 10 AM CST Thursday.

For the second Cold Weather Advisory, from midnight Thursday Night to 10 AM CST Friday.

Frostbite and hypothermia will occur if unprotected skin is exposed to these temperatures. Very cold temperatures can lead to hypothermia with prolonged exposure.

Use caution while traveling outside. Wear appropriate clothing, a hat, and gloves.

Keep pets indoors as much as possible.

Cannon County Schools will be CLOSED with Virtual Learning Day 2 for students on February 20, due to hazardous driving conditions and extreme cold temperatures.

The basketball game scheduled for Thursday in Grundy County has been postponed. Cannon boys will now play on Friday night at Grundy vs Community starting at 6:00 pm. Cannon girls will play against Cascade on Saturday at 6:00 pm at Grundy County. The boys championship and/or consolation game will be on Monday night at Grundy County. 

Tennessee State Parks have an economic impact of $1.9 billion dollars in the state and support employment of 13,587 people, according to an analysis by a leading economic consulting firm.

Based on figures from fiscal year 2024, the report by Impact DataSource says the parks created $550 million in annual household income for Tennessee families. Because of the strong performance, state parks generated $111.8 million in state taxes and $22.1 million in local tax revenue. Overall, Tennessee State Parks account for $1.1 billion of Tennessee’s gross domestic product.

“Tennessee continues to invest in a conservation strategy for our state’s future, and Tennessee State Parks are a cornerstone of our efforts,” said Gov. Bill Lee. “Tennessee’s natural beauty and rich resources drive tourism and our economy, particularly in rural areas, and we welcome Tennesseans and visitors alike to enjoy all that the Volunteer State’s great outdoors have to offer.”

“We are proud of the impact our state parks have on the Tennessee economy,” said David Salyers, commissioner of the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation. “We are grateful to Governor Lee and the Tennessee General Assembly for having such vision and commitment to conservation, and the figures show how that works for all Tennesseans.”

The governor’s conservation strategy, launched in 2023, includes the addition of more new parks than any administration. The plan balances the state’s economic growth, especially in rural areas, while protecting the state’s natural resources. Admission to each of the Tennessee State Parks is free.

The conservation strategy makes new investments in Tennessee State Parks lodges and maintains a focus on making Tennessee’s state parks the most accessible in the nation, identifying and eliminating barriers that may exist for parks visitors.

The analysis presents the impact of state park visitors’ spending in the local region and state, along with expenditures in operations, maintenance, capital, and grants.

Impact DataSource, is an Austin, Texas, economic consulting, research, and analysis firm founded in 1993. The firm has conducted over 2,500 economic impact analyses of firms, projects, and activities in most industry groups in Tennessee and in more than 35 other states.

Peter Allen Snyder, 43, of Smyrna, Tennessee, was sentenced last Thursday to 20 years in federal prison after having pled guilty to one count of sexual exploitation of a minor and one count of distribution of child pornography, announced Robert E. McGuire, Acting United States Attorney for the Middle District of Tennessee. Snyder also is required to register as a sex offender.

“One of our office’s highest priorities is the aggressive prosecution of crimes against children,” said Acting United States Attorney Robert E. McGuire. “We will seek to hold these criminals accountable in order to protect the most vulnerable members of our community.”

According to court records, on November 21, 2019, Snyder created at least nine sexually explicit images of the Minor Victim on his cell phone which depicted her naked from the waist down. Snyder’s hand was visible in one of the images.  Snyder later distributed these photographs through the internet. The creation and distribution of these sexually explicit images came to light in December 2021, when Yahoo submitted a CyberTip to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children regarding the possession and distribution of child sexual abuse material. The CyberTip contained twenty-five images of child sexual abuse material, including nine of the Minor Victim, which had been sent by e-mail from a Russian-based e-mail service, with the subject header reading “Trade.”

The images of the Minor Victim contained gps data confirming the images were produced at or near the vicinity of Snyder’s residence in Cannon County.  These images also included data about the cell phone used to create the sexually explicit images of the Minor Victim.  When Snyder was questioned about the cell phone following his arrest, he said he had disposed of it at a recycling kiosk.

After serving his sentence, Snyder will be on supervised release for the remainder of his life.

This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, and the Woodbury Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Monica R. Morrison prosecuted the case.

The Office of the Tennessee Attorney General urges consumers to be aware before the Super Bowl that wagering with an unlicensed sportsbook can lead to scammers stealing both a consumer’s money and identity.

“Illegal gambling sites can look slick and legitimate, but looks can be deceiving,” said Attorney General Skrmetti. “Illegal sportsbooks don’t care if you win; they care about getting your money and your personal information.  Once they get it, there is nothing the State can do to help you.”

Illegal sportsbooks often look legitimate with professional websites and apps with star athletes promoting them but are often located offshore. Wagering on illegal sportsbooks, especially those located offshore, can lead to outright fraud and identity theft. Tennessee regulators are unable to intervene in disputes between illegal sportsbooks and players, and many consumers have been taken advantage of through these scams.

“Illegal offshore sportsbooks are not going to go away easily. It will take government entities working together to make the biggest impact, and we want to thank the Attorney General and his office for their efforts as we all work to eradicate illegal sportsbooks and bookies from Tennessee,” SWC Chairman Billy Orgelsaid. “Illegal sportsbooks often look legitimate to the consumer, so if you choose to wager, make sure you wager with a sportsbook licensed to do business in Tennessee.” 

It is recommended that consumers closely inspect their sportsbook of choice before placing any wager on a sporting event. Tennessee bettors should be aware that simply being able to visit a website or download an app inside Tennessee’s borders does not mean that the sportsbook is a legitimate business licensed to do business in Tennessee. The licensure process is critically important in Tennessee, as the State is the largest “online-only” sports betting market in the U.S., with over $4.5 billion a year wagered in Tennessee on sporting events through licensed online sportsbooks.

Tennessee’s sportsbook licensure process provides critical consumer protections. Licensed sportsbooks are required to hold reserves to pay out winning wagers, are required to protect consumers’ personal information, and are prohibited from allowing individuals under 21 years of age to wager. Unlicensed sportsbooks do not provide these protections and are unlikely to make things right with a consumer if or when something goes wrong.

Consumers can be on the watch for illegal sportsbooks by looking for any of these factors, all of which are illegal in Tennessee:

(1) the sportsbook extends credit to users to place wagers;

(2) the sportsbook allows wagers to be placed with cryptocurrency; and

(3) the sportsbook offers casino games, such as slots or online poker, or chance-based wagers (i.e., the coin toss or the color of the Gatorade).

To be safe, Tennessee bettors can check the Sports Wagering Council’s website for sportsbooks with active licenses in Tennessee.

USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) reminds producers of hay and pasture crops that February 15, 2025 is the final sales closing date to purchase a Non-Insured Crop Disaster Assistance Program (NAP) policy.

Eligible producers must apply for coverage using form CCC-471, “Application for Coverage,” and pay the applicable service fee by the application closing date. For all coverage levels, the NAP service fee is the lesser of $325 per crop or $825 per producer per administrative county, not to exceed a total of $1,950 for a producer with farming interests in multiple counties. Producers can elect increased coverage for additional premiums. 

Beginning farmers, limited resource farmers, socially disadvantaged farmers and qualifying veteran farmers are eligible for a waiver of the service fee and a 50 percent premium reduction when they file form CCC-860. A “beginning farmer” is defined as a person who has not operated a farm for more than 10 years, and materially and substantially participates in the operation. For 2025, in DeKalb and Cannon counties, a “limited resource farmer” is defined as having gross farm sales less than or equal to $227,100 per year in each of the tax years 2022 and 2023 and less than $33,658 in total household adjusted gross income each tax year 2022 and 2023. A “socially disadvantaged farmer” is defined as a farmer who is a member of groups such as: American Indians, Alaskan Natives, Asians, Asian Americans, Blacks, African Americans, Native Hawaiians, Pacific Islanders, Hispanics, and Women. A “veteran farmer” is defined as a farmer who has served in the Armed Forces and has operated a farm for less than 10 years, or first obtained status as a veteran during the most recent 10-year period.

For crop year 2025, pasture (mixed forage for grazing) producers with NAP coverage should report their crop acreage by February 28, 2025 (15 calendar days before the onset of grazing) to have a timely filed crop acreage report. The deadline to report mixed forage for hay is also 15 days before the onset of harvest. To streamline the process, we would also encourage producers who have NAP coverage on hay to file their crop acreage by February 28, 2025.

When a crop or planting is affected by a natural disaster, a Notice of Loss (CCC-576) must be filed within 15 calendar days of the: 1) natural disaster occurrence; 2) final planting date if your planting was prevented by a natural disaster; 3) date damage to the crop or loss of production becomes apparent. 

For additional program details, contact the DeKalb/Cannon County Farm Service Agency, located at 647 Bright Hill Rd., or phone the office at 597-8225, extension 2.