News 2014

Cannon County has received a solid waste recycling equipment grant in the amount of $20,754.00.  The grant is for the purchase of a Skid Steer.  The grant is part of the  total of $531,820 from the state that will go toward the purchase of recycling equipment to help reduce landfill waste throughout the state of Tennessee. Recycling equipment grants may be used to purchase key equipment for new recycling programs, improve and expand the operation of existing systems, or prepare recyclable materials for transport and marketing.
“This grant money will positively impact not only our environment but our economy,” said TDEC Commissioner Bob Martineau. “The recycling equipment purchased through these grants will help local governments avoid landfill costs while providing additional resources for the recycling of materials.”
Grants may be awarded to counties, cities, nonprofit recycling organizations and solid waste authorities to help reach or exceed the goals set forth in the Solid Waste Management Act of 1991. Each recipient is required to match the state grant on a sliding scale basis. A local match of 10 percent to 50 percent toward these 28 projects will be required based on an economic formula.
The grant program helps encourage recycling and reduces the amount of solid waste going into Tennessee landfills. It was authorized by the Solid Waste Management Act of 1991 and is supported by the Tennessee Solid Waste Management Fund, which is administered by the Department of Environment and Conservation. The fund receives its revenues from a state surcharge on each ton of solid waste disposed in landfills and from a fee on new tires sold in the state.
In order for Cannon County to receive the money, the County Commission will have to approve a match amount of only $2000 in a upcoming meeting.

Cannon County Deputies had their hands full following a bonfire that spilled over into a fight resulting in drunk driving and a car accident recently.  According to Cannon County Sheriff’s Department reports, Deputies were dispatched to a residence on Iconium Road after complaintants called police warning about a drunk driver that had just left the driveway.  Minutes later after arriving near the residence another dispatch call came in that there was a possible wreck with injuries,  Deputy Randy Wildes went to the area on Iconimum Road but couldn’t locate the wreck.  Minutes later though a drunk driver pulled up in what appeared to be a vehicle that looked like it had just been in a wreck.  The driver was upset screaming at Deputy Wildes about someone trying to kill him.  Deputy Wildes took the man back to the residence of the original caller.  While the subject was being medically attended to, a female of the house explained to Deputy Wildes what had been going on.The subject later identified as Mr Jeffery Nichols and three other people showed up at a bonfire on Prater Road.  Nichols and the other male of the group Mr. Joseph Barrett were highly intoxicated and were asked to leave.  Before they left though Nichols decided to jump on the hood of a 2001 Volvo smashing the hood, then Nichols kicked in the windshield.  Then after all that action.  Mr Nichols jumped into a car ran through a horse fence, sped through a field and nailed the horse fence on the other side too.  After viewing the damage of the vehicle and talking to other witnesses, deputies then found Mr. Joseph Barrett.  After getting Barrett’s identification he was taken into custody for underage consumption of alcohol and possession of Schedule 2 Narcotics as after booking him in the Cannon County Jail he was found to have 1 tablet of morphine in his pocket. Nichols was charged with Vandalism over $1000 for damages to the field and fences.  He was also charged with vandalism $5000 to $10000 for damages to the Volvo.  Tennessee Highway Patrol charged Nichols with leaving the scene of an accident and DUI 2nd offense.  
 

A Cannon County man who got pulled over in Murfreesboro recently for a light out on the truck was arrested for several charges.  According to Murfreesboro police reports, early Tuesday evening, Murfreesboro Police pulled over 49 year old Michael Wallace of Hollis Creek Road of Woodbury.  Police noticed that Mr. Wallace and the passenger in the car Kathleen Farless also of the same residence moving stuff around after being pulled over.  Upon contact, the driver stated his name was Michael Allen Blair and gave a date of birth and social security number.  He stated he didn’t currently have a drivers license and never had one to begin with.  After getting the driver and passenger out of the truck they were in, the officers then asked the pair what they were hiding before officers got to the vehicle.  Wallace admitted that Farless had an open beer in the passenger seat and she allegedly shoved it under the seat  Upon searching the truck, police found the beer under the passenger seat.  After further investigation a check on the information that Mr. Wallace gave in regards to identifying himself as Michael Blair was false.  Records also showed that Mr. Wallace had a active warrant from Williamson County.  It was also found out that Mr. Wallace’s driver’s license had been revoked.  Police charged Wallace with criminal impersonation, habitual offender, driving on revoked and open container.

pplications for the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency 2015 Spring Turkey Quota Hunts are now being accepted. The application period runs from Dec. 17 through Feb. 4, 2015. Applications are available and will be accepted at any TWRA license agent, TWRA regional office, or online at the TWRA website by clicking here. Applications can be accepted until 11:59 p.m. (CST) on Feb. 4. Mailed applications will not be accepted. 
The areas available for the hunts are listed on the instruction sheets. Hunters have up to 12 choices, but will be drawn for only one. Applicants may not use the same hunt code more than once. There are a total of 24 hunts listed. No person may apply more than once.
A permit fee will not be charged to Annual Sportsman (Type 004), Lifetime Sportsman (Types 402-405) license holders or Senior Citizen Hunters (Type 166) with an Annual Senior Citizen Permit (Type 167). For all other license holders, the cost is $10 per permit, plus the agent fee. When applying at a license agent, hunters must remain at the location while the application is processed. Hunters will receive a receipt with a confirmation number when the application is complete. 
Hunters with Internet access may apply for a spring quota turkey hunt online. Hunters can click on Buy a License On-Line. Once the Internet site has been accessed, hunters can follow the on-screen directions.  

Motlow College’s Moore County campus will administer the General Educational Development (GED®) and High School Equivalency (HiSET) tests several times throughout 2015. These tests will be conducted in the Crouch Center room 1046. Each applicant should decide which test they need for his or her Tennessee High School Equivalency (HSE) Diploma. A high school diploma remains the primary ticket to several entry-level jobs. In some cases, it’s also the prerequisite for employment, occupational training and post-secondary education. THE HSE provides adults with the opportunity to grow, whether it is through further education, enhanced employment or stature with the community.
Applicants interested in completing the GED® must register online at www.GEDcomputer.com or by calling 1-877-392-6433. The fee for the test is $24 per test or $120 for the entire test. The GED® is in computer-based format only.
The HISET is available in both computer and paper-based formats. Applicants interested in completing the HiSET must register online at www.Hiset.ets.org or by calling 1-855-694-4739. The fee for the HiSET test is $15 per test or $75 for the entire test.
Both tests meet the criteria for the HSE. Applicants should contact the Service Delivery Area (SDA), formerly the Adult Education Center, in his or her community for test vouchers and information on preparation classes. Applicants must also complete the online registration form, bring a notarized copy of the Official Practice Test, present government-issued identification, bring a confirmation letter, and present an Eligibility for Enrollment Form if applicable to the test.
Please visit the GED® and HiSET websites for details regarding the schedule and appointment for the tests. For more information regarding the tests, visit the Motlow College Testing Center online at www.mscc.edu/testing.

Tennessee Labor & Workforce Development Commissioner Burns Phillips announced today the Tennessee preliminary unemployment rate for November was 6.8 percent, three tenths of one percentage point lower than the October revised rate of 7.1 percent. The U.S. preliminary rate for November was 5.8 percent, unchanged from the prior month.Economic Summary
Over the past year, Tennessee’s unemployment rate decreased from 7.9 percent to 6.8 percent while the national rate declined from 7.0 percent to 5.8 percent.

Total nonfarm employment decreased 1,900 jobs from October to November. The largest decreases occurred in accommodation/food services, retail trade, and administrative/support/waste services.

Over the year, nonfarm employment increased 53,900 jobs. The largest increases occurred in professional/business services, trade/transportation/utilities, and durable goods manufacturing.

Stores and businesses have long used the familiar holiday slogan, “Give the gift that keeps on giving.” While stereos, watches and even baskets of fruit delivered monthly have been advertised to provide perpetual pleasure, the Tennessee Department of Health suggests a present that really does have lasting benefits:  Stopping the use of tobacco products.The three top benefits to a person who quits are these:  A former user can live longer and be healthier; his or her family can live longer and be healthier; and there will be more money available to spend or invest. All are noticeable fairly quickly when a tobacco users ends his or her addiction to nicotine.
“As a medical doctor, I know the body responds positively and almost immediately when tobacco is no longer used,” said TDH Commissioner John Dreyzehner, MD, MPH. “It’s easier to breathe, the ability to prevent other illnesses is enhanced and the risk of respiratory illnesses, along with many cancers that can develop over time, are significantly reduced. We need to also consider the stress of paying for a tobacco addiction, which can be thousands of dollars each year. That economic impact can rob individuals and families of precious dollars and create totally unnecessary budgetary and emotional burdens.”
“December and January present substantial economic challenges for many,” said TDH Family Health and Wellness director Michael Warren, MD, MPH. “Holiday expenses, higher utility bills, tax payments and other financial obligations can combine to create stress. Reducing one cash outlay while making you and your family healthier is a way to lessen the economic anxiety some may experience. Most importantly, the health and economic benefits continue as a user stops wasting money on a nicotine addiction.”
Dreyzehner and Warren agree ending a tobacco addition can be very difficult and that professional help can be very beneficial. They recommend users call the toll-free Tennessee Tobacco QuitLine, 1-800-QUIT NOW.
“Talk with your clinician or another reputable health care professional about a cessation effort that will work for you,” Dreyzehner said. “We recommend only FDA-approved nicotine replacements or other tobacco cessation materials and would caution users to avoid untested or unregulated nicotine delivery devices, such as electronic cigarettes.”

The Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation is now accepting Tennessee Recreation Initiative Program (TRIP) grant applications from local governments that do not currently have, or have not had in the past, an established parks or recreation department with a designated director.TRIP grants are designed to assist communities in establishing their first, full-time parks and recreation department to provide recreation opportunities for their citizens. Applications are due Jan. 29, 2015 with a projected grant and professional parks and recreation director start date of July 1, 2015.
The Tennessee Recreation Initiative Program was created in 1995 by the General Assembly. TRIP grants are administered through TDEC’s Recreation Educational Services Division and provide funding to governments that do not currently have established parks and recreation services within their jurisdictions. Any incorporated city or county government or joint city and county government that meet the grant qualifications may apply for funding through a competitive matching grant process.
The grant is offered over a three-year period. During the first two years of the program, the community will be required to match up to $50,000 with the TRIP grant funding an equal amount up to $50,000. The community is responsible for 100 percent of the funding during the third year. The TRIP program provides grants to hire a professional director, establish a recreation office and hire other staff as needed.
To receive additional information regarding the TRIP grant program and the application process and requirements, contact April H. Johnson, Recreation Services Coordinator, at April.Johnson@tn.gov or 865-898-0956.

MTSU facilities are winding down operations as the fall 2014 semester ends and winter break approaches.All MTSU offices are open regular hours through Tuesday, Dec. 23.
MTSU will be closed for winter break beginning Wednesday, Dec. 24, through New Year’s Day, Jan. 1.
During this quiet time on campus, most MTSU food venues are closed. Those open and their hours include:

Monday-Friday, Dec. 15-19: KUC coffee and doughnuts while they last, 8-10 a.m., and KUC Subway, 11 a.m.-2 p.m.; Student Union Dunkin Donuts, 8 a.m.-2 p.m.

Saturday and Sunday, Dec. 20-21: All campus food venues closed.

Monday-Tuesday, Dec. 22-23: KUC coffee and doughnuts while they last, 8-10 a.m.; Student Union Dunkin Donuts, 8 a.m.-2 p.m.

Wednesday-Thursday, Dec. 24-Jan. 1: All campus food venues closed.
The MTSU Student Union and the James E. Walker Library will be open 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Dec. 15-19 and 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Dec. 22-23. Both will close Dec. 24 with the rest of the university.
Facilities at the Student Health, Wellness and Recreation Center are closed through Jan. 11. Campus Recreation offices will be open 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. weekdays through Dec. 23 and will close Dec. 24 for winter break.
MTSU offices and most facilities will reopen at 8 a.m. Friday, Jan. 2. Students will return to campus for spring 2014 classes on Tuesday, Jan. 20.
For more information on MTSU scheduling, visit the university’s academic calendar. The MTSU Student Unions information page, the Walker Library home page and the Campus Recreation page also have links to facility operating hours.

The State Fire Marshal’s Office is reminding Tennesseans with natural, fresh-cut Christmas trees to keep them in water because of the fire risk posed when they are allowed to dry out.“Properly maintaining a cut Christmas tree’s moisture content by keeping it in water significantly reduces the chance that its needles will dry out and pose a fire hazard,” said Gary West, deputy commissioner of the Fire Prevention Division, Department of Commerce and Insurance.
According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), structure fires caused by Christmas trees result in an average of six deaths, 22 injuries, and $18.3 million in direct property damage every year. Christmas tree fires are not common, but when they occur, they are likely to be very serious. On average, one of every 40 reported fires that began with a Christmas tree resulted in death. A heat source placed too close to the Christmas tree started one of every five (18 percent) of these fires.
To illustrate the short time in which a dry, cut Christmas tree can catch fire and engulf a room in flames, the Tennessee State Fire Marshal’s office is distributing this link of a side-by-side comparison of the burn rates of a properly maintained tree and a dried-out tree: http://youtu.be/RNjO3wZDVlA
In addition to keeping natural trees watered, the State Fire Marshal’s Office also shares these Christmas tree safety tips:

Picking the tree. If you have an artificial tree, be sure it is labeled, certified, or identified by the manufacturer as fire retardant. Choose a tree with fresh, green needles that do not fall off when touched.

Placing the tree. Before placing the tree in the stand, cut 1 inch – 2 inches from the base of the trunk. Make sure the tree is at least 3 feet away from any heat source, like fireplaces, radiators, candles, heat vents or lights. Make sure the tree is not blocking an exit. Add water to the tree stand. Be sure to add water daily.

Lighting the tree. Use lights that have the label of an independent testing laboratory. Some lights are only for indoor or outdoor use, but not both. Replace any string of lights with worn or broken cords or loose bulb connections. Connect no more than three strands of mini string sets and a maximum of 50 bulbs for screw-in bulbs. Read manufacturer’s instructions for number of LED strands to connect. Never use lit candles to decorate the tree. Always turn off Christmas tree lights before leaving home or going to bed.

After Christmas. Get rid of the tree when it begins dropping needles. Dried-out trees are a fire danger and should not be left in the home or garage, or placed outside against the home. Check with your local community to find a recycling program.
Develop and practice a home fire escape plan with everyone in your home. The plan should include two ways out of every room and a designated meeting place outside where everyone can be accounted for.