News 2013

The 2013 Farm Family School is scheduled to begin on Thursday, January 10th with the Mid State Producers Annual Meeting. Following the business meeting, Dr. Andrew Griffith will discuss the outlook for the beef industry. Dr. Andrew Griffith serves as the University of Tennessee Extension Service Ag Economist. Dr. Griffith recently joined the University of Tennessee system replacing Dr. Emmitt Rawls which retired in 2012. Mike & Christy Alexander with Christy Q Barbeque will cater the meal sponsored by the Mid-State Producers.  The meeting starts tonight at 6:30 at the Cannon County Extension Office.  

A short agenda meets the Cannon County School board tonight during their regular monthly meeting. Other than the usual approving of the minutes and bus trips, one other item for the meeting is for the Board to discuss and act on policy 1.802 which concerns the section 504 and grievance procedures.  The meeting will take place tonight at the Woodbury Grammar School in the cafeteria at 6:00  

Donny Green, County Executive Director of the DeKalb/Cannon County Farm Service Agency, says the Cannon FSA County Committee met in regular session on Tuesday, December 4 to canvass and tabulate the ballots received in the 2012 Local Administrative Area (LAA) # 2 County Committee Election. The deadline to return ballots was December 3, 2012. Charles Brown was re-elected to serve as a member on the Committee representing LAA-2. His third and final 3-year term began January 1, 2013. Jared Franklin was elected as the 1st Alternate on the Committee.
In addition, the Committee met on January 8, 2013 for its Organizational Meeting. The Committee selected Terry Young to serve as Chairperson, Charlie Brown to serve as Vice-Chairperson, and Javin Fann to serve as Member. The Committee meets quarterly at the DeKalb/Cannon County Farm Service Agency office located in Smithville.
Green says that the DeKalb/Cannon FSA County Committee and office staff wishes to express their appreciation to voters in LAA-2 who participated in the election by voting and returning their ballots. “The local County Committees are a very important part of Farm Service Agency’s program delivery and administrative processes. I do not know of any other agency providing federal programs that can say that the delivery and decision making efforts are made on the local level by a farmer-elected committee,” added Green.
For more information about FSA’s County Committees or other program inquiries, call 597-8225 (extension 2) or come by the DeKalb/Cannon County Farm Service Agency office at 647 Bright Hill Rd. in Smithville. You can also visit the agency’s web site at: www.fsa.usda.gov.
 

What does a pound of fat look like?  What kind of fats are in the foods you eat?  How can you limit the fat in some of your favorite foods? Those questions will be answered as the UT Extension Family and Consumer Sciences of Cannon County will help  lower the unhealthy fats in your diet during the Low Fat Express program offered in January at the Cannon County Senior Center.  The dates are starting this Thursday January 10, next Thursday the 17th, and the following Thursday the 24th beginning at 9:30 a.m.  There is no charge for this education session. For more information call the Cannon County UT-Extension Center at 563-2554  

The Tennessee Treasury Department is extending a promotion that allows Tennessee residents who sign up for the state’s TNStars College Savings 529 Program to receive a $50 match for the first $50 they invest in the program. The matching funds promotion will be available through June 30, 2013. 
TNStars is a cost effective, easy way for Tennesseans to start saving for their children’s or grandchildren’s college education. The Tennessee Treasury Department estimates that college tuition and fees are rising by at least 7 percent per year. So saving is not an option – it’s a must.
 
TNStars is a college savings plan created by Tennesseans, administered by Tennesseans, for Tennesseans that allows participants to choose from 15 investment options, ranging from conservative to aggressive. The plan offers low investment fees and money earned on those investments may be withdrawn tax-free, provided it is used to pay for qualified  educational expenses for the account’s beneficiary. In fact, the funds can be used at thousands of public or private universities, community colleges, technology centers, vocational schools and any post-secondary institution that is eligible to receive U.S. Department of Education student loan funds.
 
An account can be established for as little as $25, but Tennessee residents who invest $50 or more will each receive $50 in matching funds from the state deposited into their accounts. In addition to the $50 match, Tennessee residents who roll over their entire account balances to TNStars from other states’ 529 college savings programs or Tennessee’s prepaid tuition program will each receive $100 in incentive funds deposited into their TNStars accounts.
 
More than a thousand Tennesseans have opened accounts – so don’t be left out! The $50 match and the $100 rollover incentive are some of the keys to help your child or grandchild get the education and training needed for the 21st Century Tennessee specialized workforce.
 
“This is an easy way people can double their money while investing,” Treasurer David H. Lillard, Jr. said. “I hope this will give Tennesseans the encouragement they need to start accounts with TNStars on behalf of their children, grandchildren, other relatives or family friends. If account holders will commit to saving even small amounts of money on a regular basis, that will add up over time. And providing the money needed to attend college can help our children build better futures – both for themselves and for our state.”
 
Anyone interested in learning more about TNStars may visit www.TNStars.com or call toll-free to (855) 386-7827.

State Senator Mae Beavers (R-Mt. Juliet) has been awarded the “Friendof Business Award” by the Nashville Chamber of Commerce. Each year the organization
assesses legislators based on the record in voting for or sponsoring pro-business
legislation.
The award was presented to Senator Beavers by Adam Lister, who is Director of Policy
for the Chamber.
“This is a great honor,” said Senator Beavers. “I constantly look for ways to help
strengthen and assist the business community in my district by supporting
legislation that promotes job growth, fairness, and efficiency. I appreciate the
recognition by members of the Chamber and look forward to continuing to partner with
them to help create opportunities for our citizens.”
Senator Beavers represents Cannon, Clay, DeKalb, Macon, Smith, and Wilson Counties
in District 17 in the Tennessee Senate.

 American Legion Post 279 in Woodbury hosted the annual Oratorical Contest, for students who speak on the United States Constitution,
and compete for scholarships as much as $18,000.00 at the National
Level.  The winner of the 2013  American Legion Post 279
Oratorical Contest is Ryan Gunter, a sophomore at Cannon County
High School.  Ryan will go to District competition on February 9,
2013, if he wins there he will come back to Woodbury for the
Division Competition on February 23rd, which will include the four
District winners in Middle Tennessee.  If Ryan wins there he will go to
Tennessee State Level Competition.  From there he will go to National
Level competition, in Indianapolis.
   Let’s all get behind Ryan and show him that we support him,
that we are praying for him, and that he brings home the National
Level Championship Award to Woodbury and Cannon County.
 

Orders are being taken now for Girl Scout Cookies!  Booth sales begin February 10.  The approximately 60 Girl Scouts in Cannon County will be working booths on weekends outside of local businesses.  Please show your support by placing an order now or purchasing from one of our booths.The Girl Scout Cookie Program is much more than a fundraiser, it is the largest girl-led business in the country and generates immeasurable benefits for girls, their local Girl Scout offices and communities nationwide. It is the vehicle that drives the creation of great women. It begins as a way for girls to earn money for their troops by setting personal and group goals, but it becomes the basis for her to realize that SHE CAN make a difference. This hands-on financial literacy program provides girls with a means to enhance their public speaking skills, work in collaborative groups, set goals and map out a plan to achieve them. They also have a chance to connect with their community, build self-confidence and most importantly fuel their imaginations – all while having FUN! When all of the key components of the program come together girls become – strong and confident, committed and determined…to make the world a better place. Selling Girl Scout cookies provides an important ingredient for leadership by helping girls develop five key skills:

Goal Setting: Girls set cookie sales goals and, with their team, create a plan to reach them. This matters because girls need to know how to set and reach goals to succeed in school, on the job, and in life.

Decision Making: Girls decide where and when to sell cookies, how to market their sale, and what to do with their earnings. This matters because girls must make many decisions, big and small, in their lives. Learning this skill helps them make good ones.

Money Management: Girls develop a budget, take cookie orders, and handle customers’ money. This matters because girls need to know how to handle money—from their lunch money to their allowance to (someday) their paycheck.

People Skills: Girls learn how to talk (and listen!) to their customers, as well as learning how to work as a team with other girls. This matters because it helps them do better in school (on group projects, on sports teams, and on the playground) and, later, at work.

Business Ethics: Girls act honestly and responsibly during every step of the cookie sale. This matters because employers want to hire ethical employees—and the world needs ethical leaders in every field.
All of the proceeds generated from cookie activities stay in our local Girl Scout council to support girls in middle Tennessee. When people purchase a package of cookies, they’re investing in their community by investing in Girl Scouts.
To purchase Girl Scout Cookies locally, please call Carla Bush at the UT Extension Office at 563-2554

The Cannon County Lionettes didn’t find out about their number one ranking in the inaugural 2013 Associated Press Statewide Basketball Ranking until after their battle with Coffee County last night.  The news was an extra bonus after the Lionettes survived an upset bid by the Lady Red Raiders 41-38.  Coffee County came into the game 7-9 but 6 of their 9 losses were by 3 points or less.  Both teams battled back and forth in a game that saw 8 lead changes and 6 ties before clutch free throws this time by Jordan Hollis gave Cannon the win.  The Lionettes were led in scoring by Abbey Sissom with 14.  Hollis finished with 8.  The Coffee County Boys team got a little revenge on a Cannon boys win earlier in the year with a 61-49 win over the Lions.  The Lions stayed close in the game until the second half when Coffee County would shoot better in the second half.  Tanner Larson and Cory Henley each had 13 while Jarrett Melton finished with 11.  Cannon falls to 8-10 overall.  Girls record is 18-1.  Cannon’s next games will be at home in Woodbury against Smith County Friday night starting at 6:00

A public hearing will be held tonight concerning the town ordinance which amends the town’s municipal code by establishing package liquor regulations.  The public hearing will kick off the agenda of the meeting of the Town of Woodbury Mayor and Board of Aldermen.  After the public hearing the Aldermen will consider the actual adoption of the ordinance under second and final reading.  The Alderman will consider adopting a resolution which will authorize Mayor Harold Patrick to apply for a 2013 Community Development Block Grant in the amount of $500.000.00 for the purpose of water system rehabilitation and to provide $75,000.00 local matching funds from the Woodbury Water and Sewer Fund.  The Aldermen will consider the sale of the vacant lot on Water Street.  Mayor Patrick will appoint Dotty Duggin from the board to the Woodbury Planning Commission.  He will also appoint Bill Johnston, Kevin Mooneyham and Alan Paschal to serve on the Hazard Mitigation Planning Committee.  The meeting starts tonight at City Hall at 7:00