News 2014

Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam today unveiled a website, https://apps.tn.gov/tcas/, where Tennesseans can review and comment on the state’s current K-12 academic standards.Academic standards set grade-specific goals that define what students are expected to know and be able to do by the end of a given grade or course. There are more than 1,100 for English language arts (ELA) and more than 900 for mathematics in Tennessee.
Every Tennessean now has the opportunity to go online, review the more than 2,000 individual ELA and math standards, and provide specific feedback about them.
“Tennessee is making historic progress in academic achievement, and this discussion is about having the best possible standards as we continue that important work,” Haslam said. “This valuable tool allows Tennesseans to contribute feedback on the current standards, adding their voice directly to the review process to improve student achievement.”
Following an education summit in September that Haslam co-hosted with Lt. Gov. Ron Ramsey and House Speaker Beth Harwell, the governor announced last month a public review process in partnership with the State Board of Education designed to recruit input from educators and citizens from across the state.  The standards review website is part of that process. 
Standards are typically reviewed in Tennessee every six years.  The current standards are now in their fourth year. The governor believes that with all of the conversation about standards happening in the state and country it’s an appropriate time to look at them again.
The Southern Regional Education Board, as a third party and independent resource, will collect the data from the website in the Spring and then turn that information over to be reviewed and analyzed by two committees and six advisory teams comprised of professional Tennessee educators.
The advisory teams will review Tennessee’s current standards and gather input to make recommendations to the two committees, which will then propose changes to the State Board of Education.

Motlow College students and area citizens are invited to attend a career fair at the Fayetteville Center on Wednesday, Nov. 12, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. according to Brenda Cannon, director of student and campus relations. The event will be held inside the Sundquist Center Room 23. Motlow College and the Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development collaborated to sponsor the event.
There is no pre-registration fee or fee of any kind required to attend the career fair and job seekers are encouraged to dress for success and to bring copies of their resumes.
A Tennessee Career Coach will be onsite. The Career Coach provides mobile centers with services similar to those in a Tennessee Career Center and features a mobile computer lab with internet access, while offering resume assistance and interviewing advice, and serves as a recruitment center for companies moving into Tennessee.
Various businesses and industries from the Middle Tennessee area will have representatives available to talk to potential applicants.
For more information, contact Debbie Mullins by emailing Debbie.Mullins@tn.gov or Brenda Cannon at bcannon@mscc.edu.

An investigation by agents with the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation has resulted in a Cannon County attorney pleading guilty to theft and agreeing to disbarment for at least five years. At the request of then-16th District Attorney General Bill Whitesell, TBI Special Agents began investigating – Dale Peterson a practicing attorney whose clients included the Town Of Woodbury  on July 16th. Peterson had been an attorney representing the Riverside Center medical facility in Woodbury.  The services he provided included filing documents and paying filing fees on behalf of the facility. During the course of the investigation, agents learned that between March 2012 and July 2014, Peterson stopped filing documents with the Cannon County Clerk’s office and kept the filing fees for himself. As the investigation began, Peterson admitted his role in the theft and assisted agents in returning files to the Clerk’s office.
On Thursday, Peterson pled guilty to Theft over $1000 through a criminal information plea. He agreed to be disbarred from the practice of law for no fewer than five years and to pay restitution in the amount of $20,551. Peterson was booked at the Cannon County Sheriff’s Department after his court appearance.
 

Cannon County residents wanting to change a county road name will have to pay a fee of $100 in order to have that name changed after the Cannon County Commissioners agreed to enact the fee during Thursday night’s monthly meeting.  Anyone wanting to change a road name in the County will have to  go to the 9-1-1 Director for research to make sure there are no conflicts.  After the 9-1-1 Director reviews the potential change, it will then be passed on to the 9-1-1 Board.  The 9-1-1 Board will then make a recommendation to the County Commission and the County Commission will have the final say.  The matter was brought up after County resident Mike Roberts wanted to change the name of the road he resides on from Lucas Lane to Highpoint Lane. In other actions of the Commissioners.  The Commissioners approved the appointment of Commissioner Glen Steakley to the Four County Regional Solid Waste Planning Board.  They also approved the following changes to the various Committees: Added Brent Bush to the Budget Committee.  Added Russell Reed to the Ambulance Committee and took off Mark Barker from that particular committee.  Allowed Todd Hollandsworth to be removed from the Insurance Committee while adding James Holloway, Brent Bush and Russell Reed.  Removed Bill Johnston from the Fire Board.  Added Woodbury Fire Chief Joe Loftus and Commissioner Adam Melton to the fire board.  
The Commissioners also gave the green light to get the process started so that the Sheriff’s Department can obtain new software for their computers.  The current software is almost 12  years old and will no longer be serviceable by December.

The Town of Woodbury’s Mayor and Board of Aldermen met Tuesday night for their regular monthly meeting.  The meeting which was held on election night turned out to be a short 10 minute meeting with the only item on the agenda was to consider the adoption of Ordinance number 466 on the first reading.  This is an ordinance to amend the Town of Woodbury Zoning ordinance to amend the sign regulations to allow a maximum height of 35 feet for ground signs.  The maximum height of 35 feet is the average regulation for signs in neighboring towns and counties.  The ordinance passed on first reading and will now go before the Board in the December meeting after a public hearing for passage on second and final reading.

A big weekend is planned this weekend as Cannon County will honor all military veterans starting tomorrow morning with a big Veterans Day program at the Robert A Harris gymnasium at Cannon County High School.  There will be various special groups and presentations which starts at 8:30 in the morning and is expected to last until at least 10:30.  Everyone is invited to attend and honor the veterans. Saturday afternoon starting at 1:00 is the annual Veterans Day parade.  All veterans activities will be broadcast live on AM-1540/FM 96.7 WBRY online at wbry.com and through the smartphones and tables using the TuneIn Radio App

The Christmas Gala tickets have gone on sale for the Cannon County Senior Center annual event.  Beautifully decorated tables, entertainment and a special meal will set the tone for the Holiday season.  The theme this year is “Frosty Friends”  This is a major fundraiser for the Center so the staff wishes to invite everyone to come join in on the event.  The Gala is set for December 12th at 6:00.  Tickets are available at the office for $25.00.  For more information call the Senior Center at 563-5304

The Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development’s mobile Career Coach will be at the Adams Memorial Library located at 212 College Street in Woodbury from 9A-3P Thursday.  Career Coach staff will be on site helping people to create resumes and register with Jobs4TN.gov where there are more than 90,000 jobs listed as available.  The event will be conducted in conjunction with the Woodbury Mid Cumberland Head Start

Legislation was passed this year to simplify the process of filing a Motor Vehicle Temporary Lien (MVTL) with the Secretary of State. Effective Nov. 1, it is longer necessary to attach a notarized security agreement or bill of sale to an MVTL application in order for it to be filed with the Secretary of State. There is also a new MVTL application form that is available on the Secretary of State’s websiteBeginning today, MVTL applications can also be created and filed online. The Secretary of State’s online filing wizard will guide people through the process of filling out and submitting the applications and payments. This will allow a first lienholder to secure its interest in a vehicle before the customer leaves the dealership. Our office is very excited to be able to turn on this new feature and provide yet another way for people to interact with the Secretary of State using online technology.
Please contact the Business Services Division by email at TNSOS.MVTL@tn.gov or by telephone at (615) 741-0529 if you have any questions or need additional information regarding the changes to the Motor Vehicle Temporary Lien statute.

Frank Walkup is the new Board member of the Cannon County Board of Education following the November Federal and State General Election Tuesday night.  In one of three local flavored issues and races on the ballot, 337 voters voted for Frank Walkup to represent District 2 on the School  Board while 259 registered voters voted for Walkup’s opponent Tim Powers.  3 voters wrote in votes.    Cannon County narrowly voted to allow legal sale of alcoholic beverages for consumption on the premises in Cannon County as 1493 voted for while 1431 voted against.   Cannon County voters also chose the Southern Route around the Town of Woodbury by a 1090 to 952 vote of the Center Route.  Only 604 voters chose the northern route.  The issue was for advisory purposes only as no legal effect shall result from the adoption or rejection of any route.  Most of the Cannon County vote in the State and Federal Elections mirrored the results of the rest of the State.  Republican Bill Haslam defeated Democrat candidate Charles V. “Charlie” Brown 1975-546.  Cannon County said yes to all of the state’s constitutional amendments.  In the abortion amendment the Yes votes got the majority of 1831-1085, while the Judges amendment saw a close vote of 1475 yes to 1423 no.  Constitutional amendment 3 which was the taxes amendment 1970 voted yes while 834 Cannon County voters voted no.  the Lottery amendment was 1867 yes votes to 860 no votes.  United States Senate,  Cannon County voted Lamar Alexander with 1770 while the Democratic Candidate Gordon Ball only got 826 votes.  The Republican winning election continued with 6th Congressional District Diane Black with 2004 votes over Democrat Amos Scott Powers who received 648 votes.  No competition for Tennessee 17th Senate District member Mae Beavers 2108 voters voted for her while 44 voted for write in candidates.  The only other contested race was for House of Representatives 46th District where Cannon County voted Mark Pody with 1944 votes while Candace Reed received 969 votes.  You can view not only the entire Cannon County vote but how the entire state of Tennessee voted by looking at the state’s voting website http://www.elections.tn.gov/