News 2015

The Cannon County Senior Center is always busy with activities for local and area members.  Today is no exception as the Senior Center staff recognizes National Senior Citizens Day.  This day honors the elderly population and they encourage everyone to recognize seniors and show their appreciation.  On National Senior Citizens Day we should not only spend some time with Senior Citizens and show appreciation for Senior Citizens but we should also do volunteer work in support of the elderly. The Cannon County Senior Center encourages all Senior Citizens to come by and participate in the Senior Center activities or volunteer for the Senior Center.  There will be a $50 drawing held at the end of the month.  Those participating in activities or volunteering can enter the drawing once per day.  You are invited to celebrate senior citizens day by participating in the World’s Largest Banana Split activity today.  Also don’t forget music night is tonight with James Hamlet and Family at 7:00.  Tickets are $5.00.
 

The Cannon County Sheriff’s Department and Eastside Vol Fire Department responded to a car fire on Manustown Road Monday.  According to Cannon County Sheriff’s Department Reports there was a white Buick car burning in the middle of the road way.  The driver David Haley stated that he was driving his fathers car and the battery light came on and smoke came out of the vents.  He stated that he then saw flames from the dash area and stopped the vehicle.  The owner of the vehicle Leo Haley arrived on the scene and he stated that the vehicle had over 200,000 miles on it and he was unsure of any issues with it.  Eastside Volunteer Fire Department extinguished the fire and the vehicle was removed from the roadway.  

Two Cannon County 4-H Members recently received the Vol State award in Knoxville.  Seth Woods and Hannah Nave were recognized at the Tennessee 4-H Roundup.  The Vol State Award is the highest level of recognition a Tennessee 4-H member may achieve.  The Vol State award is presented to high school juniors and seniors in recognition of excellence in all phases of 4-H work, as well as service and leadership rendered in their communities.  The UT Extension office in Cannon County congratulates these two individuals and is proud to have such amazing youth that represent the Cannon County 4-H program.  

The Arts Center of Cannon County announces open auditions for A Neverland Christmas Carol Co-Directed by Matthew Hayes Hunter & Brittany Goodwin  With Choreography by Matthew Hayes Hunter & Music Direction by Brittany Goodwin   Sunday, August 23 at 4pm Callbacks will be held on Monday, August 24 at 6pm (if necessary)  Roles are available for male and female actors & singers ages 8-80 The role of Captain Hook will by played by Phil Mote. All other roles are open.  Most roles will be double cast.  Those auditioning should prepare 16 bars of any Christmas Carol to sing Acapella and expect cold readings from the script.
Rehearsals for A Neverland Christmas Carol will begin September 7th and be held during the week between 4:00-6:30 and on weekends. Performances run November 10-21, with school matinees taking place during the week. All those auditioning must be able to miss a minimum of three days of school or work.
Please contact Brittany Goodwin at Brittany@artscenterofcc.com with any questions.

The Cannon County Senior Center has announced that David Turner a Ventriloquist will be performing at the Senior Center on Friday August 28th at 4:00.  This will be open to the public and tickets will be available at the Cannon County Senior Center.  David is a very talented and humorous ventriloquist.  David was chosen by the Armed Forces Entertainment to entertain military troops and their families overseas and has entertained in more than 13 countries. Tickets are $5.00 each.  Popcorn and drinks will be served.
For tickets or additional information please call the Senior Center at 615-563-5304
 

The United Way of Rutherford and Cannon Counties is set to host its After School Network Summit (formerly called Education Action Week) on August 25, 2015, from 11:30 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. at the Embassy Suites Conference Center in Murfreesboro. The United Way After School Network Summit provides an opportunity for curriculum and education specialists from Rutherford County Schools and Murfreesboro City Schools to discuss curriculum standards that apply to after school programs. The intent is to encourage local after school care providers to reinforce the academic methods being used in county and city schools and to engage students by using unique methods to excite them about learning.
Speakers and special guests include First Lady Crissy Haslam, the University of Tennessee College of Social Work and the Rutherford County Chamber of Commerce.
Randy Allen, Director of Community Impact for United Way, said, “Our hope is that this event will continue to enhance the relationship between  education and after school programming, and open doors to new opportunities for children to succeed in our community. The After School Network Summit, presented by Fifth Third Bank, promotes communication and supports United Way’s mission of bringing resources together to improve education, health and financial stability in Rutherford and Cannon counties.”
For more information call United Way of Rutherford and Cannon Counties at 615-893-7303

The Cannon County Board of Education approved a transfer of a grammar school student during their regular monthly meeting Thursday night, one month after they originally denied the request.  Davetta Satchell approached the Board of Education with some additional information about her daughter who is legally blind, suffers from cerebral palsy and is prone to have seizures.  The now second grader was zoned for Woodland School this year after having been zoned for Woodbury Grammar the year before.  Ms. Satchell requested that her daughter be left at Woodbury Grammar because of the convenience and familiarity her daughter already had in the school and classroom.  Board member Frank Walkup made the motion to move her to the second grade at Woodbury Grammar and the motion passed 3 votes to 2 with Randy Gannon and Bruce Daniel also voting yes.   In other actions of the Board, they denied the transfer request of  Leigh Doney.  Approved the changes of the school’s policy concerning Asbestos management, and student surveys and evaluations.  The Board also approved the surplus of  8 portables to be sold through bids along with the shells of 25 HVAC units which will be sold for scrap.

Tennessee Governor Bill Haslam and Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC) Commissioner Bob Martineau last week announced that two communities and three utility districts have been approved to receive more than $12.1 million in low-interest loans for water infrastructure improvements. The State Revolving Fund (SRF) Loan Program provides low-interest loans that help communities, utility districts and water and wastewater authorities finance projects that protect Tennessee’s ground and surface waters and public health. Loans are used to finance the planning, design and construction of water and wastewater facilities.
“The State Revolving Fund Loan Program helps communities address current infrastructure needs and prepare for future needs, improving the health of our communities and their ability to grow,” Haslam said.
Through the SRF Program, communities, utility districts and water and wastewater authorities can obtain loans with lower interest rates than most can obtain through private financing. Interest rates for loans can vary from zero percent to market rate based on each community’s economic index. Loans utilizing EPA grant funds can include a principal forgiveness component.
“Community investments in our drinking water and wastewater systems are vital to maintaining environmental and public health,” Martineau said. “These loans will help keep our communities moving forward, and the principal forgiveness provisions help local communities accomplish this work in difficult economic times.”
TDEC administers the SRF Loan Program for the state of Tennessee in conjunction with the Tennessee Local Development Authority. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency provides grants to fund the program, and the state provides a 20 percent match. Loan repayments are returned to the program and are used to fund future SRF loans.
The funding order of projects is determined by the SRF Loan Program’s Priority Ranking Lists that rank potential projects according to the severity of their pollution and/or compliance problems or for the protection of public health.
Drinking Water Loans were announced last week for the following recipients:
Cookeville Boat Dock Road Utility District (Putnam County) – The Cookeville Boat Dock Road Utility District will receive $750,000 for a Green – Waterline Replacements project.  The project will be funded with a 20-year, $562,500 loan, with an interest rate of 1.22%, and $187,500 in principal forgiveness that will not have to be repaid.
First Utility District of Tipton County (Tipton County) – The First Utility District of Tipton County will receive $843,602 for a new 300,000 gallon elevated water storage tank.  The project will be funded with a 20-year, $632,701 loan, with an interest rate of 0.73%, and $210,901 in principal forgiveness that will not have to be repaid.
City of Lebanon (Wilson County) – The City of Lebanon will receive $904,000 for water distribution system improvements (WL extensions along Franklin Road/Holloway Drive/Legends Drive, and Briskin Lane). The project will be funded with a 20-year, $587,600 loan, with an interest rate of 1.71%, and $316,400 in principal forgiveness that will not have to be repaid.
City of Paris (Henry County) – The City of Paris will receive $2,500,000 for WTP improvements and Volunteer Drive water tank rehabilitation. The project will be funded with a 20-year, $1,875,000 loan, with an interest rate of 1.29%, and $625,000 in principal forgiveness that will not have to be repaid.
Traditional Drinking Water Loans were announced today for the following recipients:
DeKalb Utility District (DeKalb, Cannon, Smith, and Wilson Counties) – DeKalb Utility District will receive a loan increase of $4,250,000 for Construction of a new water treatment plant with a new water intake, raw water transmission and finished water transmission lines to connect to the existing water distribution system  These additional funds will increase the total loan to $7,000,000.  The project will be funded for a 20-year term with an interest rate of 0.60%.
First Utility District (Tipton County) – First Utility District will receive $686,833 for a new 300,000 gallon elevated water storage tank.  This loan will be funded for a 20-year term with an interest rate of 0.73%.
City of Lebanon (Wilson County) – The City of Lebanon will receive $1,217,000 for water distribution system improvements (WL extensions along Franklin Road/Holloway Drive/Legends Drive, and Briskin Lane). The project will be funded with a 20-year, $686,833 loan with an interest rate of 1.71%.
City of Paris (Henry County) – The City of Paris will receive $950,000 for WTP improvements and Volunteer Drive water tank rehabilitation. The project will be funded with a 20-year, $950,000 loan with an interest rate of 1.29%.
Since its inception in 1987, Tennessee’s Clean Water State Revolving Fund Loan Program has awarded more than $1.6 billion in low-interest loans. Since its inception in 1996, Tennessee’s Drinking Water State Revolving Fund Loan Program has awarded more than $270 million in low-interest loans. Both programs combined award more than $90 million annually to Tennessee’s local governments for water and wastewater infrastructure projects.
Any local government interested in the SRF Loans should contact the State Revolving Fund Loan Program, Tennessee Tower, 12th Floor, 312 Rosa L. Parks Avenue, Nashville, TN 37243, or call (615) 532-0445.

Two women who train dogs for competitions, plus a special activity for up to 30 adults, will be featured during the 19th annual Expanding Your Horizons in math and science event for girls Saturday, Sept. 26, at MTSU. Krista Wade with Happy Valley Kennels in Bell Buckle, Tennessee, and Kathy Green, an executive aide in the MTSU Department of Chemistry, will highlight the event for middle school and high school girls.
The pair plans to bring Green’s German shepherd, Hershey; Wade’s shepherds Nike, Berlin and possibly Panzer; and Firecracker, a dog they train together, to this year’s EYH.
For adults, Debbie Frisby, a new Homer Pittard Campus School teacher, will offer “InventionX” as a challenging educational tool to guide children through real-world application of science, technology, engineering and math, or STEM.
InventionX is applied STEM, where students in grades six through 12 compete for awards and recognition as the next great inventors.
Expanding Your Horizons is a hands-on math and science event to help girls consider careers in these fields as well as engineering and technology.
EYH gives girls opportunities to talk with women in STEM and attend this type of conference with other girls.
Openings remain in registration for both girls in middle school and high school. Event organizers recently added 25 more slots for the older girls.
To register, go to www.mtsu.edu/wistem/eyh and click on “Registration.” A link for the parent or guardian release form is included on the registration page.
Wade and Green have trained together for 10 years. They and their dogs compete nationally, and Wade also competes in international events.
Green discussed the topic “The Nose Knows” during EYH 2014 and said this year’s presentation will be an extension of that conversation.
The pair also makes presentations through the local Read to Succeed program, where they go into schools and children read to their dogs.
Wade and one of her dogs has worked with at least one family to detect and divert diabetic seizures. She’s also trained dogs to detect bombs.
Frisby, who teaches fifth graders, attended InventionX training in July.
“Through hands-on, problem-based learning activities, the EYH adult workshop will help parents understand the InventionX five-step framework,” she said.
“Using InventionX, they can better guide their children through real-world application of STEM knowledge while increasing their critical thinking skills and longterm engagement in the STEM fields.”
For more information about Expanding Your Horizons, call 615-904-8253 or email eyh@mtsu.edu.
 

BBB alerts consumers to steer clear of Blue Ridge International Sales, which claims to be located in Nashville, TN. Consumers report receiving unsolicited phone calls from a broker claiming to be with Blue Ridge International Sales with a resale offer for the consumer’s timeshare claiming they have a buyer for the property. Consumers are told they must pay a 5% commission of the sales price usually ranging from $2000 – $3000 prior to completion of the agreement. Blue Ridge International Sales also advises the need to pay Mexican SAT taxes to an agent up to $5160.00.
BBB visited the address where Blue Ridge International Sales claims to be located (566 Mainstream Dr. Suite 310, Nashville TN), and could locate no such business or suite number at that address. In addition, BBB called the advertised phone numbers 866-978-6925 and 615-866-5226 to inquire about the company’s physical location; however, the company representative indicated they were near a nonexistent business. Richard Donaldson, President & CEO for the company, called back indicating he did not want BBB to visit his location and wanted nothing to do with BBB.
BBB checked with the State of Tennessee, and Blue Ridge International Sales does not have a corporate filing, does not have a state business license, and does not have a real estate license.
If you have done business with Blue Ridge International Sales, BBB would like to speak with you. Please call 615.250.4223.
BBB advises timeshare owners to be wary of brokers who call out of the blue, ask for advance fees and say they have prospective buyers. Many times, consumers pay the fees and never hear back from the company. In addition:
Use a Business You Can Trust – Make sure the timeshare reseller you use has a good reputation and a good rating with BBB.
Confirm Licensing Requirements – Some timeshare resellers will use fake addresses or PO boxes in order to mislead timeshare owners. Confirm where the company is located and in what states it does business. Ask if the salespeople are licensed to sell real estate where your timeshare is located, and verify this with the licensing board.
Check the Facts/Figures and Get Everything in Writing – Find out if the business charges a commission. Do they handle the entire closing and provide escrow services? Do they charge an up-front listing or advertising fee? What does it cover and is it refundable?
Be Wary of Upfront Fees – Many complainants to BBB were burned by companies charging an advanced fee for services or were told that they just had to pay closing costs and that timeshare would be taken off their hands. Consider opting for a company that offers to sell for a fee only after the timeshare is sold.
Don’t fall for the Hard Sell or an Offer That Sounds Too Good To Be True! – Don’t agree to anything over the phone but instead ask the salesperson to send you written materials. Always take the time to think it over and don’t be pressured. Unscrupulous timeshare resellers may claim that your property is in demand and they can sell it immediately. Unfortunately, these are often empty promises.