News 2012

Every day in the United States, needless home fire deaths occur. Operable smoke alarms significantly increase your chance of surviving a deadly home fire. In fact, according to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), working smoke alarms cut in half the risk of dying in reported home fires. A properly installed and maintained smoke alarm in your home can alert you and your family to a fire 24 hours a day, seven days a week. “Working smoke alarms save lives and should be installed and maintained in every home,” State Fire Marshal and Commerce and Insurance Commissioner Julie Mix McPeak says. The state’s fire incident reports for 2011 indicated that smoke alarms were present in only 36 percent of fatal fire cases. Increasing the presence of smoke alarms in Tennessee households increases the possibility that more lives can be saved from fire danger.
The State Fire Marshal’s Office recommends following these smoke alarm guidelines to protect your life, your loved ones, and your home:

Smoke alarms with nonreplaceable (long-life) batteries are designed to remain effective for up to 10 years. If the alarm chirps, warning that the battery is low, replace the entire smoke alarm right away.

These alarms with nonreplaceable should not be confused with hard-wired smoke alarms that draw their power from the home’s electrical system and that might have power backups outfitted with replaceable batteries, even replaceable 10-year batteries. For smoke alarms with any other type of battery, replace batteries every six months when the time changes.

Dust or vacuum smoke alarms annually or whenever the battery is changed. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for cleaning. The instructions are included in the package or can be found on the internet.

Test alarms once a month using the test button. Replace the entire alarm if it’s more than 10 years old or doesn’t work properly when tested.

Install smoke alarms on every level of your home, including the basement, and both inside and outside of sleeping areas.

For the best protection, equip your home with a combination of ionization and photoelectric smoke alarms or dual-sensor alarms.

Interconnect all smoke alarms throughout your home so that when one sounds, they all sound. Interconnected alarms are available at most stores that sell smoke alarms.

Make sure everyone in your home understands the warning of the smoke alarm and knows how to respond.
Finally, prepare and practice an escape plan so that you and your loved ones can get out of your home safely should there be a fire. Plan to meet in a place a safe distance from the fire and where first responders can easily see you.
For more information on smoke alarms, fire escape planning, and fire prevention, view the 2012-2013 Monthly Fire Prevention and Public Fire Education Planning Guide on the State Fire Marshal’s website at http://www.tn.gov/commerce/sfm/.

The Cannon County Junior High Basketball Season gets underway tonight with the annual Border War Basketball Tournament at the Woodbury Grammar School.  The games tip off at 4:30 this afternoon when the Woodland Lady Warriors meet Centertown.  Woodland’s boys team will meet Dibrell at 5:45.  The third game of the tournament features Westside Girls playing Dibrell at 7:00 and the fourth and final game of the opening night will have the Westside boys facing Eastside school out of Warren County.  Tournament games will be played on Tuesday, Thursday with the consolation and championship games being played on Saturday

Starting today the Tennessee Department of Agriculture in cooperation with the USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service and the University of Tennessee Extension are hosting a series of meetings to address the recent discovery of the Emerald Ash Borer in Smith County.  Cannon County Extension Director Bruce Steeleman has reported that sightings of the Borer have been as close as in Dekalb County.  Presentations delivered at the meeting will provide information about the danger this pest poses to forest and community tree health, as well as how to move ash products under the quarantine regulations.  Local residents, forest industry, homeowners, outdoor recreation enthusiasts and others interested in learning more about this invasive non-native pests are welcome to attend.  Three meetings in the Upper Cumberland Middle Tennessee area have been coordinated with the first meeting tonight at 6:30 at the Hyder Burks Agriculture Pavillion 2390 Gainesboro Grade in Cookeville TN.  Other meetings will be scheduled Tuesday October 30th in Carthage and also Thursday November 1st in Lebanon.  More information about this and other forest pets in Tennessee can be found at http://protecttnforests.org  

A Hollow Springs Road resident was arrested recently and charged with several drug offenses.  59 year old Sterling Parker Jr. was arrested and charged with Possession of a controlled substance with intent,maintaining a dwelling and drug paraphernalia.  Cannon County Investigator Anthony Young made the arrests after finding a schedule 6 controlled substance of marijuana along with paraphernalia used to inject, inhale, ingest or process the illegal narcotic at Parker’s residence.  Parker has made bond since the arrest and is due to appear in Cannon County General Sessions Court on Tuesday December 4th to answer all three charges  

The Tennessee Highway Patrol cautions motorists to watch out for deer on or near the roadways this fall season. An increase in deer-related crashes is likely during the months of October through December due to deer mating and hunting season.“Deer pose a danger to motorists throughout the year, but especially in the fall,” THP Colonel Tracy Trott said. “November is typically the worst month for deer-related crashes. It is important to exercise caution, slow down and stay alert in areas where deer are populated.”
In Tennessee, between 2007 and 2011, 9.2 percent of deer-related crashes occurred on interstate highways.  In 2011, there were 5,644 deer-related crashes, including 285 that involved injuries and two that were fatal. That was up by 4.2 percent from 5,418 the previous year. However, since 2007, deer-related crashes in Tennessee have increased 5.9 percent.
Additionally, State Farm®, the nation’s leading auto insurer, estimates 1.09 million collisions between deer and vehicles occurred in the U.S. between July 1, 2010 and June 30, 2011. That’s nine percent less than three years earlier.
The Department of Safety and Homeland Security and the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency suggest the following tips to help prevent deer-related crashes during peak mating and hunting seasons:
Remember that mating season puts deer on the move and deer tend to move at dawn and dusk.

Whenever you see deer cross the road, expect more to follow.  Many times, the second or third deer crossing becomes the one that motorists hit.

Be attentive; drive defensively, constantly scanning the roadside, especially at daybreak and dusk.

Do not swerve to avoid contact with deer. This could cause the vehicle to flip or veer into oncoming traffic, causing a more serious crash. Swerving also can confuse the deer as to where to run.

When you spot a deer, slow down immediately.  Proceed slowly until you pass that point.

If you do collide with a deer, never approach the injured animal.  They are powerful and can cause bodily harm to a human.  Report any deer collision, even if the damage is minor. 
“Our agency appreciates the Department of Safety and Homeland Security’s efforts to remind drivers to be aware of the increase of deer activity at this time of year,” Don King, TWRA Chief of Information and Education said.
In the event of a deer crash, move the vehicle as far off the road as possible, and dial *THP (*847) from an available cell phone for assistance. 
The call will be connected to the nearest THP Communications Center and a State Trooper will be dispatched to the location.
Tennessee law allows deer killed in a collision to be taken and used as food, as long as you contact the nearest TWRA regional office to report the accident within 48 hours. For TWRA regional offices, visit the TWRA website at www.tnwildlife.org

Recycle Rutherford will hold its semi annual meeting tonight at 7:00 in the second floor courtroom of the Rutherford County Courthouse in Murfreesboro.  Larry Christley, a program manager at the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conversation’s Division of Solid and Hazardous Waste Management, will discuss the economics of recycling and how important it is to the Tennessee economy.   Recycle Rutherford is a volunteer organization dedicated to increasing recycling in Rutherford County.  To become a member or request more information, please visit www.recyclerutherford.org or call 615-687-3497
 

Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam today announced Nissan will add 810 new jobs at its Smyrna vehicle assembly plant for a third shift at the site. 
The third shift for the Nissan plant is the company’s first ever at the plant in its nearly 30-year history in Smyrna, and with this announcement, the company has added more than 2,000 manufacturing jobs in Tennessee since mid-2011.
 
Nissan, founded in Japan, began its Smyrna plant in 1983. The plant has an annual production capacity of 550,000 vehicles on a capital investment of $2.5 billion.
 
“Nissan and Tennessee have enjoyed a long and successful partnership, and this announcement shows the strength of the company and the market demand for its products,” Haslam said. “Nissan and our existing industries are very important to the state’s economy and the citizens they employ, and I want to congratulate and thank Nissan on today’s announcement and the new jobs it means for Tennessee.”
 
Nissan North America is headquartered in Franklin, Tenn. The Smyrna plant is one of three Nissan production sites in the United States, the others in Decherd, Tenn., and Canton, Miss.   
 
“Our investment in creating hundreds of new jobs demonstrates Nissan’s long-time commitment to our employees, Smyrna, and the state of Tennessee,” Nissan Americas Vice Chairman Bill Krueger said. “The dedicated workforce in Tennessee continues to build high-quality vehicles that compete and win globally, and we’re committed to ensuring this doesn’t change.”  
 
The announcement was made at the 59th Annual Governor’s Conference on Economic and Community Development at the Renaissance Nashville Hotel.
                                        
The theme of this year’s conference is “Global Reach, Local Impact.” Haslam said the Nissan move reflects the spirit of the conference.
 
“Nissan has been instrumental in putting Tennessee on the map in auto manufacturing,” Haslam said. “This announcement bolsters what has been a highly successful business story in our state.”

The Cannon County Commissioners may make a demand on the County Executive to carry out something, but it doesn’t mean that the County Executive will comply.  Latest case in the Commissioners and County Executive tug of war concerns Cannon County EMA Director Faye Morse.  Last Saturday October 6th, during a Cannon County Commissioners meeting, the Commissioners voted unanimously to give Director Morse a vote of no confidence after a report was reviewed that outlined communication problems and possible fraud violations.  Ultimately the commissioners would vote unanimously to demand that County Executive Mike Gannon remove her from the EMA Director position and appoint someone to fill the vacancy.  Earlier this week, Cannon County Commission Chairman Bob Stoetzel met with Gannon to carry out the decision by the commission.  Executive Gannon refused to remove Morse from the position stating that if any of the Commission members can show proof of intentional wrongdoing, then he would be happy to make the change.  Morse has served through 4 different county executives and has written several grants for the County.  Gannon will not make a change unless proof of wrongdoing is shown.  When asked about the State Comptroller coming in to investigate. Gannon replied that he would welcome the investigation and based on if there were any findings by the Comptroller’s office, Gannon would make the necessary changes at that time.  Gannon also mentioned that Homeland Security visited Cannon County to do a monitor or a investigation back in April and at that time said everything appeared to be in order.  

Friday representatives from Global Industrial Components will be in Nashville at the 59th Annual Governor’s Conference on Economic and Community Development to accept the 2012 Governor’s Award for Trade Excellence.  The award honors large and small size companies who have achieved excellence in engaging global trade. Global Industrial in the recipient of the award in the small company category.  Global Industrial designs and manufactures a variety of metal products.  They have established a trading company in China and recently hired a vice president of sales for Latin America with hopes of establishing a full model in Mexico  The company also participated in the TN Trade trade mission in Mexico City in July.  Tennessee is the 14th largest exporting state in the United States.  The award presentation will be made during the Governor’s Luncheon at the Renaissance Nashville Hotel.
 

District Attorney Bill Whitesell and fellow Tennessee district attorneys debuted Deceptive Danger, a new statewide campaign to raise awareness of the dangers of prescription medication and synthetic drug abuse, on Wednesday, Oct. 17, at an annual law enforcement training conference. The district attorneys unveiled an educational DVD featuring real Tennesseans affected by these drugs and a personal message from Gov. Bill Haslam. The DVD and accompanying posters and brochure are being distributed to public middle and high schools across the state through an ongoing partnership between the Tennessee District Attorneys General Conference and the Tennessee Department of Education. 
For additional information, please visit www.tndagc.org/deceptivedanger.