News 2012

The Cannon County High School Basketball Teams travel to Carthage tonight for a pair of district contests.  In the first game of the evening the 9th ranked Cannon County Lionettes will attempt to put another loss on the record of the Smith County Lady Owls.  Smith County goes into the contest 11 and 8 and a 2 and 3 mark in the district.  Cannon is also 2 and 3 but have a 17-4 mark.  The Cannon County Boys Team is looking for win number 8 on the year and more importantly a district win as they have a 2 and 4 record coming into this game.  Smith County is 13 and 10  and 2 and 3 in District 8AA.  Pregame will start at 5:45 with the tipoff at 6:00.  You can hear the games right here on AM 1540, FM 96.7 WBRY and streaming live on wbry.com  

The Cannon County Board Of Education Thursday night approved to support three resolutions by the Tennessee School Boards Association as the TSBA is gathering data from all school systems and asking all school boards for support.  Those resolutions include that the TSBA opposes any legislation to create a voucher program that would divert money intended for public education to private schools.  TSBA supports the appointment of the director of schools by the board of education and opposes any measure to revert to the process of electing superintendents.  The TSBA also opposes any legislation that would allow the state to set the school calendar.  In setting the school calendar all start dates, break dates and other date on school calendars could be set in one uniform fashion instead of the individual school systems setting it up as it is now.  These 2012 Resolutions  as well as other statements from the TSBA will be taken to the state legislature.  The Cannon County Board Of Education voted to approval of the support of the TSBA resolutions In other board action at the monthly meeting last night, the board approved the consent agenda consisting of approving a resolution to add the Arts Center Ticket Subsidy to the Budget. Approving the copier lease for Woodland School and approved Rick Mullins as an assistant basketball coach at East Side School.  
Director Of Schools Barbara Parker Announced that the Fall District Meeting is set for September 6th and that it is Cannon County’s turn to host the meeting.  The meeting usually brings in anywhere between 50 to 150 people   The board gave approval to proceed with hosting the meeting.
Ms. Parker also noted that there needed to be a change made to the 2012-2013 School Calendar to reflect that March 29th was Good Friday rather than March 27th as reflected on the Calendar.
The TSCPP System Improvement Plan was discussed.  The plan was changed from a 3 year plan to a 1 year plan.  The plan shows what areas there are of greatest progress and what areas of greatest challenge there are academically.
Goals also set up in the plan.  These goals are based on AYP and Race To The Top  The goals are set in 3rd grade reading and 7th grade math along with Algebra and English 2.
The next Board Meeting Workshop will be at the Central Office Tuesday February 7th at 6:00 p.m.  The next regular board meeting will be Thursday February 9th at 6:00 at the Cannon County Courthouse.

There’s still room for more teams for Saturday night’s Trivia Night at the Cannon County Senior Center.  Teams of up to six players per table will work together to answer ten questions ranging from national events, sports, agriculture, music, science,popular media and more. The event starts Saturday at 5:00 in the early evening with a BBQ dinner.  The trivia contest begins at 6:00.  The cost is $10 per person and all proceeds will benefit the Senior Programs. Call 615-563-5304 for reservations.

School’s are closed due to weather in Cannon County Friday.  Also the Adams Memorial Library and Auburntown Libraries Will Be Closed.  This report is brought to you by Middle Tennessee Electric and Smith’s Automotive.  Keep checking back with us for more updates throughout the evening and Friday morning.

Judge Susan Melton presided over General Sessions Court on Tuesday. Some of the results of the various cases that appeared on the docket included:Donna P. Armstrong pled guilty to leaving the scene of an accident. She was sentenced to 8 months 29 days in jail.
Bobby J. Cobb agreed to the violation of probation. He was ordered to serve his original sentence of 23 months 28 days. In another case Cobb pled guilty to worthless check. He was sentenced to 11 months 29 days in jail, pay restitution and the costs.
William Elton Eisenmann’s charges of Forgery X3, simple possession of schedule II drugs, drug paraphernalia, fraudulent use of a credit card, theft over $1,000.00, and aggravated burglary were bound over to the January term of the Grand Jury. In another case Eisenmann’s charges of violation of probation X6 were reset to 2/14/2012.
Nina S. Faries pled guilty to worthless check. She was sentenced to 11 months 29 days in jail. That sentence was suspended upon equal time on probation, paying restitution and the costs.
Darren L. Green pled guilty to possession of drug paraphernalia. He was sentenced to 11 months 29 days in jail. That sentence was suspended upon equal time on probation, paying a $150.00 fine and the costs.
Brandon Lee Hancock pled guilty to driving without insurance. He was fined $50.00 and the costs.
Christopher Paul Lafever pled guilty to public intoxication. He was sentenced to 30 days in jail.
Clifton Wayne Mankin Jr.’s charge of violation of an order of protection was retired for 11 months 29 days. He was ordered to pay the costs.
Roger Lyn Martin’s charge of violation of an order of protection was retired for 6 months. He was ordered to pay the litigation tax.
Jerry Wayne McCoy pled guilty to reckless endangerment. He was sentenced to 11 months 29 days in jail. That sentence was suspended upon equal time on probation, paying a $525.00 fine and the costs.
Gary Duane Riddle pled guilty to DUI. He was sentenced to 11 months 29 days in jail. That sentence was partially suspended upon serving 2 days in jail, equal time on probation, paying a $350.00 fine and the costs.
Kelly Brooke Rollins’ charge of domestic assault was retired for 6 months. Rollins was ordered to pay the litigation tax.
Nicholas St. Cyr agreed to the violation of probation. He was ordered to serve 11 days in jail and his probation was extended 11 months 8 days.
Amanda Kay Wilson pled guilty to possession of a schedule IV drug. She was sentenced to 11 months 29 days in jail. That sentenced was suspended upon equal time on probation, paying a $750.00 fine and the costs. In another case, Wilson’s charge of public intoxication was dismissed.
 
 
 

Middle Tennessee Electric’s Operation Round Up program will fund 10 scholarships for $2,000 each to students in the cooperative’s service area again this year. 
“We’re excited about the success of this program and look forward to seeing
these funds put toward such a well-deserving cause again this year,” MTEMC Communications Coordinator Todd Palmer said. “The scholarship program enhances the education outreach of our Customers Care program.”
 
A scholarship candidate must be an MTEMC member or a child of an MTEMC member, and he or she must use the scholarship monies to attend a Tennessee two- or four-year accredited college or trade school.
 
Anyone interested must fill out an application and write a one-page essay stating how the scholarship funds would benefit his or her personal goals. The essay should be typed and double-spaced on white paper. Essays will be judged by a group of volunteer school teachers from the Middle Tennessee Electric service area.
 
“One of the cooperative’s seven principles is a commitment to education,” Palmer said. “This is just another way we’re able to contribute to our membership and assist with our education outreach.
 
“The scholarship applicants will be judged on a point system. They will be graded on a financial needs assessment, current grade point average, involvement in community service, leadership roles and essay score. At least one of the 10 scholarships will be awarded in each MTEMC district.”
 
The deadline to submit scholarship essays and applications is Wednesday, Feb. 15. This year’s scholarship winners will be announced July 18-20.
 
For more information, contact Mitchell at 615-494- 1065 or log on to www.mtemc.com.
 
 

Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam announced today U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack has designated 14 counties natural disasters for agriculture as a result of drought and excessive heat in 2011.Counties designated as primary natural disaster areas include Blount, Cumberland, Fayette, Fentress, Haywood, Loudon, McMinn, Macon, Meigs, Monroe, Morgan, Roane, Scott and Wilson. Haslam requested the secretarial designation last month.
“Agriculture is important to the state and contributes significantly to our rural economy. I’m pleased that USDA has acted on my request so promptly,” Haslam said. “I hope this assistance helps eligible farmers recover and better prepare for the upcoming growing season.”
In separate action, Gov. Haslam has requested a disaster designation for Henry and Williamson counties also for drought and excessive heat and for Claiborne and Union counties for flooding and excessive rain during the past growing season. 
Copies of the letters are attached.
The secretarial disaster designation allows farmers in primary and adjoining counties to apply for Supplemental Revenue Assistance Payments to help recover lost income, low-interest loans and other assistance through local USDA Farm Service Agency offices.
Adjoining counties where farmers can also apply for assistance include Anderson, Bledsoe, Bradley, Campbell, Cannon, Clay, Crockett, Davidson, DeKalb, Hamilton, Hardeman, Jackson, Knox, Lauderdale, Madison, Overton, Pickett, Polk, Putnam, Rhea, Rutherford, Sevier, Shelby, Smith, Sumner, Tipton, Trousdale, Van Buren and White. 
Farmers in affected counties reported crop losses in excess of 30 percent for corn, soybeans, tobacco, pastures, hay and some specialty crops

USDA’s National Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) recently announced that the deadline for producer applications for the Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) will be January 13, 2012. While CSP is a continuous sign-up program and producers can apply to enroll at any time of the year, NRCS applies a cut-off date for applications to be considered during a particular fiscal year.  Once the cut-off date is past, producers may continue to apply for the program, but they will not be considered for entry until the spring of the following year, in this case spring of 2013. In order to enroll in 2012 applications must be filed by January 13.
The Conservation Stewardship Program is a voluntary stewardship incentives program, administered by USDA’s NRCS, designed to reward farmers, ranchers, and forestry producers to maintain existing conservation, as well as for the adoption of additional conservation measures that provide multiple environmental benefits that run beyond the farm or ranch. This program pays producers for clean water, better soil management, improved habitat, energy efficiency, and other natural resource benefits.
“The ranking cutoff leaves NRCS with less than a month (during the busy holiday season) to publicize the program and conduct outreach through its state and local offices,” said Traci Bruckner, Assistant Director of Rural Policy at the Center for Rural Affairs. “We hope that this will be enough time for NRCS and partners to reach out to producers.”
CSP is one of the most popular conservation programs. In 2010 alone, nearly 21,000 applicants enrolled in CSP, putting additional conservation on 25.2 million acres, about the size of the state of Kentucky. Farmers and ranchers interested in applying should contact their local NRCS office as soon as possible to meet the deadline.
To sign up, producers should visit their NRCS local service center (http://offices.sc.egov.usda.gov/locator/app?agency=nrcs).
Bruckner is encouraging farmers, ranchers and others to call the Center for Rural Affairs’ Farm Bill Helpline with questions about the application process and to share their experiences, both positive and negative. “We know the previous sign-ups have yielded some great success stories for farmers and ranchers, but also some disappointments and frustrations.”
“We want this program to work for all farmers and ranchers employing conservation-based farming systems, and firmly believe the CSP is a step in the right direction for policy to financially reward historical commitments to conservation, as well as encourage further adoption,” Bruckner continued. “This is a far better approach than paying to clean-up problems.”
Bruckner commented that it would be most useful for producers to have specific information available when they call, including a complete copy of their application materials, and more specifically the Conservation Measurement Tool responses and ranking information for their state or ranking area. The NRCS office will provide only a summary, unless specifically asked for a complete print out that includes their ranking information, the highest scores in their state or area, and how far down the ranking list NRCS was able to provide contracts before the money ran out for the last sign-up period.
“One of the main goals for our Farm Bill Helpline is to identify the strengths and weaknesses of programs such as the CSP,” said Bruckner. “It is only with that information that we are able to push for any needed changes and improvements.”
Producers can also receive guidance for applying for other conservation programs. “Through our helpline you will speak to someone who is knowledgeable about the program rules to help you understand how to participate in the program,” Bruckner added. Producers can call (402) 687-2100 and ask for the Farm Bill Helpline or send an email to tracib@cfra.org

Youngsters in grades seven through 12 will be able to present their original projects in forensic science at the inaugural MTSU Forensic Science Symposium, scheduled for May 12, 2012, in the Paul W. Martin Sr. Honors College Building.The Science fair, which is open to students in Tennessee and beyond, will showcase original research performed in various fields of forensic science. It is organized in the form of a professional scientific meeting to introduce students to that experience.
Students should begin their research soon in order to submit applications and abstracts by the Jan. 15, 2012, deadline, organizers say. Students will be notified of their acceptance by Jan. 31.
The symposium sponsor is MTSU’s Forensic Institute for Research and Education, which provides educational and training opportunities for law enforcement, medical examiners, coroners, attorneys, social workers and other groups in forensic science and homeland security.
Students will present their symposium projects in both written and poster formats, and the judging will take place during the poster session of the symposium. Judges will include community leaders and professionals in science and forensic science.
First-, second- and third-place finishers will receive cash awards. The first-place winner’s sponsoring teacher also will receive a special prize and recognition during the awards ceremony. Abstracts of all accepted projects will be printed in the official Forensic Science Symposium Proceedings Journal.
Applications can be downloaded at www.mtsu.edu/fire/Forensic_Science_Symposium.shtml. For more information, contact the FIRE offices at 615-494-7713 or email symposium coordinator Tiffany Saul at fire@mtsu.edu.

The Boyd Deering String Band with Jim and Inge Wood will be in concert this Fridaynight, January 13th at The Arts Center. Tickets are $10 and may be purchased at the
door or call 615-563-2787 to make reservations. This special event is not a part of
any Season Membership.
We are excited to announce that The Blue Porch will be assuming management of the
restaurant at The Arts Center. The Blue Porch is a local award-winning Bed &
Breakfast and Catering Company focusing on quality home style meals featuring fresh
local ingredients. The Blue Porch @ The Arts Center will open February 1 with a
Grand Opening on March 2.