News 2014

It’s Election Day as the Federal and State General Elections will be decided Tuesday.  There are also some Cannon County issues on the ballot Tuesday such as voting for or against the legal sale of alcoholic beverages for consumption on the premises in Cannon County.  Voters will get to weigh in their choice on which route for the Woodbury Bypass should take around or through Woodbury and the  District 2 School Board Member will also be decided.  All 9 voting places in Cannon County will be open from 7:00 until 7 p.m. tonight.  Voting places are West Side School, Auburntown Community Building, Woodbury Grammar School Gym, Short Mountain School, Gassaway Fire Hall, Woodland School, East Side School, and Short Mountain School.  Voters are reminded to vote in the place where your voting precinct is and to bring a photo ID to the polls.  Also a reminder that the 100 ft boundary Campaign Free Zone will be enforced at the polls.  WBRY will have the results of  the election posted on the website wbry.com after the results are released sometime Tuesday night.  

As Tennesseans head to the polls Tuesday, they should be aware that the state Division of Elections staff is available to answer questions or listen to any concerns about the voting process. People can call the division’s toll free hotline, 1-877-850-4959, or visit www.GoVoteTN.com to get information about the elections.
Also, there’s a new smartphone application produced by the division that can provide voters with their polling locations, hours the polls will be open in their communities, lists of candidates, sample ballots and more. The app, called GoVoteTN, is available free of charge in the Apple Store and Google Play.
People can also contact their county election commissions for information. Contact information for those election commissions is also available at www.GoVoteTN.com
“I encourage all eligible voters who haven’t already voted early to cast their ballots Tuesday,” Secretary of State Tre Hargett said. “Voting is one of the most fundamental rights that we have in our system of government – and it’s a right we should never take for granted. Also, I encourage people to take advantage of our new elections app. It only takes a couple of minutes to download and provides valuable information for people who are preparing to vote.”
You can also follow election results on Twitter. The results will be posted at @tnconstamend, @tngovelection, @tnsenategen, @tnhousegen, @tnushouse and @tnussenate
 

Government Meetings will also highlight the evening as the Town of Woodbury Board of Mayor and Aldermen will meet Tuesday evening at 7:00.  One item on the agenda is to consider the adoption of Ordinance No 466 on first reading, which 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.  There will be also other business items discussed and reports from the Mayor Committees and Department Heads.  The meeting will take place at the Nolan Dude Northcutt building formerly known as Woodbury City Hall.  Also the Industrial Development Board of Cannon County will meet Tuesday evening at 6:00 at the Cannon County Arts Center.

“We are excited that 19 local agencies are partnering for the international “19 Days of Activism for the Prevention of Violence Against Children and Youth,” announced Sharon De Boer, executive director of the Child Advocacy Centers in Rutherford and Cannon Counties.   
The Women’s World Summit Foundation is sponsoring the fourth annual “19 Days of Activism for the Prevention of Abuse and Violence Against Children and Youth.”  This worldwide event happens every year from November 1-19.  This is the second year that organizations in Rutherford and Cannon Counties have been partners in the international event. 
 
“The theme of the 2014 “19 Days of Activism” is addiction and substance abuse and the impact on children and youth,” continued De Boer. 
 
Amanda Pruitt is the Child Advocacy Center’s Drug Endangered Children Coordinator.  Pruitt works with children who are impacted by their parent’s abuse of alcohol and drugs. She helps children and families cope with addiction issues.  Services include alcohol and drug education, relapse prevention, anger management, parenting skills, communication skills, and stress management.
During the 19 Days of Activism, the Child Advocacy Center and their community partners have two goals.  The first goal is that the organizations that serve child abuse victims will be sponsoring 19 press releases every day for 19 days to educate our community about child abuse, the impact of substance abuse on children and youth, and the resources that are available to assist children and families. 
The 19 Partner Agencies are:

CADCOR

CASA

Centerstone

Child Advocacy Center

Department of Children’s Services

Domestic Violence Program

Exchange Club Family Center

The Guidance Center

Kids on the Block

Kymari House
········http://19days.woman.ch/index.php/en/

Cannon County High School conducted a Student Mock Election on October 30th, 2014.  U.S. Government students in Mr. William F. Curtis’s classes conducted the election during students’ first period.  Advanced Placement U.S. Government Students distributed the ballots to all classes, collected the ballots, and analyzed and published the results.  These results of the mock election were uploaded to the National My Voice – Student/Parent Mock Election (NSPME) and One Vote – Division of Channel One.   “The My Voice National Student Mock Election is the largest civic engagement project in the United States, and is built on the more than 30 years of work of the National Student/Parent Mock Election. With My Voice, the Pearson Foundation is creating a digital initiative to encourage student voice in school and the community all year long.”
“The History of The National Student Mock Election includes being co-founded by Edward Stanley and Gloria Kirshner in 1980, as the National Student/Parent Mock Election. After more than 30 years, and 19 elections, it still stands as the nation’s largest civic education project and the world’s largest national mock election. Over the years, National Student/Parent Mock Election is used to help over 50 million students learn about our nation’s electoral process and the meaning of democracy.”
507 Total Students voted in the Mock Election and their results are as follows:
Cannon County High School Mock Election
Results – Thursday, 10-30-2014
Total Students Voting = 507 out of 606 (83.66%)
Governor
Bill Haslam – Republican Party – 246 votes or 59.86%
Charles V. “Charlie” Brown – Democratic Party – 97 Votes or (21.05%)
Shaun Crowell – Constitution Party – 12 or 2.6%
Isa Infante – Green Party – 25 or 5.4%
Steven Damon Coburn – Independent Candidate – 9 votes or 1.9%
John Jay Hooker – Independent Candidate – 30 votes or 6.5%
 Daniel T. Lewis – Independent Candidate – 12 votes or 2.6%
United States Senate
Lamar Alexander – Republican Party Nominee – 244 votes or 54.22%
Gordon Ball – Democratic Party Nominee – 87 votes or 19.33%
Joe Wilmoth – Constitution Party Nominee – 9 votes or 2.00%
Martin Pleasant – Green Party Nominee – 14 votes or 3.11%
Tom Emerson, Jr. – Independent Candidate -11 votes or 2.44%
Edmund L. Gauthier – Independent Candidate -11 votes or 2.44%
Joshua James – Independent Candidate – 19 votes or 4.22%
Danny Page – Independent Candidate – 14 votes or 3.11%
Bartholomew J. Phillips – Independent Candidate – 16 votes or 3.55%
C. Salekin – Independent Candidate – 2 votes or 0.44%
Eric Schechter – Independent Candidate – 10 votes or 2.22%
Rick Tyler – Independent Candidate – 13 votes 2.52%
United States House of Representatives
6th Congressional District
Diane Black – Republican Party Nominee – 292 votes or 67.90%
Amos Scott Powers – Democratic Party Nominee – 82 votes or 19.07%
Mike Winton – Independent Candidate – 56 votes or 13.02%
Tennessee Senate
17th Senatorial District
Mae Beavers – Republican Party Nominee – 408 or 80.47% of ALL Voters
Tennessee House of Representatives
46th Representative District
Mark A. Pody – Republican Party Nominee – 227 votes or 59.27%
Candace Reed – Democratic Party Nominee – 156 votes or 40.73%
Cannon County Referendum
For legal sale of alcoholic beverages for consumption on the premises in Cannon County – 118 votes or 42.90%
Against legal sale of alcoholic beverages for consumption on the premises in Cannon County – 157 votes or 57.09%.
Highway Routing Resolution:
The following question is for advisory purposes only.  No legal effect shall result from the adoption or rejection of any route.  Which of the following routes for the Woodbury Bypass most closely
represents your preference?
Northern Route – 91 votes or 20.59%
Southern Route – 152 votes or 34.38%
Center Route – 199 votes or 45.02%
Constitutional Amendment Proposals:  
Constitutional Amendment #1
Shall Article I, of the Constitution of Tennessee be amended by adding the following language as a new, appropriately designated section:  Nothing in this Constitution secures or protects a right to abortion or requires the funding of an abortion.  The people retain the right through their elected state representatives and state senators to enact, amend, or repeal statutes regarding abortion, including, but not limited to, circumstances of pregnancy resulting from rape or incest or when necessary to save the life of the  mother.
Yes – 267 votes or 57.71%           No – 221 votes or 45.28%
Constitutional Amendment #2
Shall Article VI, Section 3 of the Constitution of Tennessee be amended by deleting the first and second sentences and by
substituting instead the following: Judges of the Supreme Court or any intermediate appellate court shall be appointed for a full term or to fill a vacancy by and at the discretion of the governor; shall be confirmed by the Legislature; and thereafter, shall be elected in a retention election by the qualified voters of the state.  Confirmation by default occurs if the Legislature fails to reject an appointee within sixty calendar days of either the date of appointment, if made during the annual legislative session, or the convening date of the next annual legislative session, if made out of session. The Legislature is authorized to prescribe such provisions as may be necessary to carry out Sections two and three of this article.
Yes – 244 votes or 52.92%           No – 217 votes or 47.07%
Constitutional Amendment #3
Shall Article II, Section 28 of the Constitution of Tennessee be amended by adding the following sentence at the end of the final
substantive paragraph within the section:  Notwithstanding the authority to tax privileges or any other authority set forth in this Constitution, the Legislature shall not levy, authorize or otherwise permit any state or local tax upon payroll or earned personal income or any state or local tax measured by payroll or earned personal income; however, nothing contained herein shall be construed as prohibiting any tax in effect on January 1, 2011, or adjustment of the rate of such tax.
Yes – 262 votes or 58.35%          No – 187 or 41.64%
Constitutional Amendment #4
Shall Article XI, Section 5 of the Constitution of Tennessee be
amended by deleting the following language:  All other forms of lottery not authorized herein are expressly prohibited unless authorized by a
two-thirds vote of all members elected to each house of the general
assembly for an annual event operated for the benefit of a 501(c)(3)
organization located in this state, as defined by the 2000 United States Tax Code or as may be amended from time to time. and by substituting instead the following language: All other forms of lottery not authorized herein are expressly prohibited unless authorized by a
 two-thirds vote of all members elected to each house of the general
assembly for an annual event operated for the benefit of a 501(c)(3) or a 501(c)(19) organization, as defined by the 2000 United States
Tax Code, located in this state.
Yes – 208 votes or 45.6%            No – 248 votes or 54.38%
U.S. Government students at Cannon County High School encourage all Cannon County citizens to please exercise the right to vote in this very important election on Tuesday, November 4th, 2014!   
 

The United Way of Rutherford and Cannon Counties is seeking volunteers for the 2015 Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program.  VITA is a free service and will aid qualifying local residents in claiming their tax refund dollars, officials said.  The 2014 VITA program resulted in a $842,893 impact on the community through tax returns, officials said.  The 2015 VITA program is set to open in late January.  Volunteers are needed from January to April to assist with the sites.  Volunteer hours are flexible and depend on the volunteer’s availability.  Experience with tax preparation preferred but not required.  Volunteer responsibilities will include greeting and screening to tax preparation officials said.  Volunteer registration is available at www.unitedwayvolunteer.org  

The Staff of the Adams Memorial Library wants to invite all adult literature lovers to participate in the Library Book Club.  The club will meet on Monday night at 6:30 p.m. They will be reading Annie Freeman’s Famous Traveling Funeral written by Kris Radish.  Also toddler stories will be held on Mondays November 3rd and 17th with Preschool stories held on Tuesdays November 4th and 16th at the Adams Memorial library.  Story times will be held at the Auburntown Branch on Wednesdays November 5th, 13th and 19th with all story times beginning at 10:30 in the morning.  

Walter (Chuck) Holt was presented with the Tennessee Association of Rescue Squads (TARS) Lifetime Membership Award at the 56th annual TARS Convention in Pigeon Forge on October 4, 2014. TARS is a non-profit organization made up of Rescue Squads and Fire Departments from all across the State of Tennessee.  TARS has approximately 4000 members and over 100 member units in Tennessee and Virginia.
Only two TARS members are selected to receive the Lifetime Membership Award annually.  The Cannon County Rescue Squad nominated Chuck Holt for the Award.  The TARS Awards Committee received numerous nominations and selected Chuck to be one of the two Lifetime Members for 2014.
Chuck has given a life-time of service to Cannon County, starting when he joined the Woodbury Fire Department in 1975.  He has given the citizens of Cannon County continuous volunteer service for over 39 years.  During his 25 years of service to the Cannon County Rescue Squad, he has held several Executive Officer positions.  He has been Training Officer, Unit Director, Second Lieutenant, and First Lieutenant.  He has been a volunteer firefighter with the Mooretown Volunteer Fire Department since 1989 and was Chief for 2 years.
We would like to thank Chuck for all of the work that he is doing in Cannon County every day to help protect our citizens.  Chuck has made Cannon County a better place to live and work.
For more information on becoming a volunteer responder with the Cannon County Rescue Squad, Inc., visit our website at www.CannonCountyRescue.com and contact Michael Underhill, CEO, at 615-904-5002 or by email at MUnderhill@CannonCountyRescue.com
To follow us on Facebook, like our page: https://www.facebook.com/CannonCountyRescue
To follow us on Instagram, like @cannoncountyrescuesquad, #cannoncountyrescuesquad
 

 An Edgar Allan Poe scholar will share his wealth of knowledge about the famous 19th century author and poet during a Nov. 3 public lecture. 
Scott Peeples, College of Charleston English department chair, will discuss “Poe Places” as part of the fall MTSU Honors Lecture Series on “The Power of Place.” The 55-minute lecture, set for 3 p.m. Monday, Nov. 3, is free and open to the public. A printable campus map is available at http://tinyurl.com/MTSUParking14-15.
 
As a professor at the Charleston, South Carolina, university, Peeples teaches courses in 18th- and 19th-century American literature, as well as freshman writing. He has published two books on Poe and many essays on 19th century American literature. He is a past president of the Poe Studies Association.
 
He is in the very early stage of writing “Poe Places,” the subject of his MTSU lecture. This book project is a collaboration with photographer Michelle VanParys.
 
Peeples’ second book on Poe, “The Afterlife of Edgar Allan Poe,” received the Patrick F. Quinn Award from the Poe Studies Association in 2004. “Edgar Allan Poe Revisited” was published in 1998. He is a past editor of the journal “Poe Studies.”
 
A Poe-themed reception will follow the lecture.
 
For more information about the lecture or fall Honors Lecture Series, call Honors College events coordinator Susan Lyons at 615-898-5645 or email Susan.Lyons@mtsu.edu.

Four people were killed in traffic crashes in Tennessee during last year’s Halloween period between midnight, October 31 through 11:59 p.m., November 1, compared to three traffic deaths during the same time in 2012. That’s why the Tennessee Highway Patrol is urging all motorists to drive cautiously, buckle up and don’t drink and drive this Halloween.“We have planned for increased patrols and will conduct a variety of enforcement plans to help ensure a safe Halloween for citizens across the state,” Colonel Tracy Trott said. “Drunk or distracted driving will not be tolerated and state troopers will aggressively seek out violators. The failure to wear seat belts is also unacceptable – it’s the law,” he added.    
Three of the four vehicular fatalities during last year’s Halloween period were unrestrained vehicle occupants and one traffic death was alcohol-related.   Last year, state troopers issued 240 speeding citations and arrested 51 individuals on suspicion of drunk driving in Tennessee on October 31.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), from 2008-2012 (the latest data available), almost half (51%) of all crash fatalities on Halloween night involved a drunk driver or motorcycle operator. In 2012, 19 percent of the fatal pedestrian crashes on Halloween involved drunk drivers.
In Tennessee, the preliminary number of alcohol-related traffic fatalities has decreased 25 percent from January 1, 2014 to October 27, 2014, compared to that same time last year. So far in 2014, there have been 166 alcohol-related vehicular fatalities. That is 41 fewer than the 207 traffic fatalities involving alcohol during those same dates in 2013.      
As of October 27, there have been 68 pedestrian fatalities in Tennessee in 2014. That’s two more pedestrian deaths compared to this same time last year.
The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) estimate children are four times as likely to be struck by a vehicle on Halloween as any other day. 
THP personnel will conduct saturation patrols, sobriety and seat belt checkpoints, as well as bar and tavern checks this holiday period.
Below are tips parents, children and motorists should keep in mind before heading out this Halloween. HALLOWEEN SAFETY TIPSTips for Motorists
·         Slow down. Watch for children walking on roads, medians and curbs.
·         Be extra alert when pulling in and out of driveways.
·         Be especially alert for children darting out from between parked vehicles and from behind bushes and shrubs. They’re excited and may not be paying attention.
·         Do not pass other vehicles that have stopped in the roadway.  They could be dropping off children.
·         If you are driving to a Halloween party, put your mask on after you park the car.
·         Never drink and drive – tonight or any night. If you are partying, designate a driver.Tips for Parents
·         Adults should accompany children at all times and supervise their “trick or treat” activities.
·         Teach children to “stop, look left-right-left, and listen” before they cross the street.
·         Instruct children to stay on sidewalks and to cross only at corners or crosswalks.
·         Use a flashlight and wear retro-reflective strips or patches on your clothing or costume to be more visible to motorists.
·         Be certain that the mask does not obstruct vision or hearing.
·         Ensure that costumes do not impede walking or driving ability.Tips for Pedestrians (children and adults)
·         Require children to wear retro-reflective materials and carry a flashlight at dawn and dusk and in other low-light situations, such as rainy or foggy weather.
·         Before crossing a street, stop at the curb or edge of the road and look left, right and left again to be sure no cars are coming. Continue to check for traffic while on the street.
·         Walk – never run – from house to house or across the road.
·         Cross the street only at intersections and crosswalks.
·         When crossing at an intersection with a traffic light, be sure to watch for turning cars. Obey all pedestrian signals.
·         Walk on sidewalks whenever possible. If there are no sidewalks, walk on the left side of the street facing traffic.