News 2015

New and gently used household items can serve as the foundation for a new home and a new life for some MTSU students in the annual “Great Giveaway.” Raiders for Christ, an MTSU student organization, will accept donations of gently used and new furniture and other goods from 8:30 a.m. to midnight through Wednesday, Aug. 19, at its headquarters, 1105 E. Bell St. in Murfreesboro.
The items will be given to MTSU international students from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, Aug. 22.
“Most of those are new students to MTSU, but some of the international students will come back year after year,” said Sarah Johnson, director of women’s outreach for Raiders for Christ.
Johnson said the group needs such items as couches, tables, chairs, beds, dishes, pots and pans, bicycles, small appliances, sheets and pillowcases, pillows, eating utensils and umbrellas.
Donors are asked not to contribute televisions, computers or any perishable items.
RFC logo web“Almost all of the furniture gets taken, especially the beds,” said Johnson. “Bicycles go really well because most of them don’t have cars or any kind of transportation.”
Some contributors choose to go to discount stores and purchase sponges, mops, brooms, dishwashing liquid, towels and washcloths to donate to take a few housekeeping worries off the students’ checklists.
On Aug. 22, each student who lines up at the RFC office will receive two Post-it notes. They can write their names on the notes and tag two large items that they want while gathering as many small items as they desire. Volunteers with trucks will help the students transport the larger items to their residences.
Many items find their way back to Raiders for Christ for others to use when the international students graduate or return to their home countries.
“The students are really good about donating the items back when they’re finished and they go back home,” said Johnson.
To donate items or for more information, contact Raiders for Christ at 615-896-1529 or email Johnson at sarahfjohnson@yahoo.com.

As part of our ongoing effort to recruit and retain the very best employees, the Tennessee Department of Correction is proud to launch new signing bonus and employee referral programs. Beginning Monday, August 17, 2015, all new correctional officers and nurses joining the agency will receive a $600 signing bonus. In addition, the Department is simultaneously launching a referral program for current employees. TDOC employees will receive a $100 incentive for each new correctional officer or nurse they refer to the Department.
“Our new recruits frequently tell us that they heard about the great opportunities at TDOC from one of our current employees. The signing bonus and referral programs help us compete with other industries for the best and the brightest applicants and rewards the staff that helps us recruit them,” says Commissioner Derrick Schofield.
The Tennessee Department of Correction is the state’s largest law enforcement agency, with a non-negotiable mission of operating safe and secure prisons and providing effective community supervision in order to enhance public safety.

As a new school year begins, the Tennessee State Fire Marshal’s Office (SFMO) is urging Tennesseans to remember that closing a door during a fire is one of the fastest ways to stop fires from spreading. To help get the word out, the SFMO is highlighting our “Close The Door!” toolkit which is available for fire departments, educators and others to use in order to better prepare themselves in case of a fire emergency. The kit includes downloadable flyers, a press release with checklist and sample social media messages.
“A new school year is the perfect time for students, teachers and families to be reminded that simply closing a door  can prevent devastating fire loss,” said Tennessee Department of Commerce & Insurance Commissioner and State Fire Marshal Julie Mix McPeak.
A closed door hinders flames and smoke from spreading to other rooms and can help deprive a fire of the oxygen it needs to grow, limiting the structural damage a fire can cause and, most importantly, save lives.
Remember:
Close the bedroom door when sleeping, if possible.
Close doors behind you when escaping a room/building that’s on fire.
If you are unable to escape a building that is on fire, close all doors between you and the fire.  Use towels or sheets to seal the door cracks and cover air vents. Call the fire department to report your exact location.
Keep fire doors closed. These specialized doors are used to compartmentalize a building and prevent the spread of smoke and flames. Never wedge, disable, or prop open fire doors in apartments or other buildings.

All Motlow College locations – the Moore County campus and Fayetteville, McMinnville and Smyrna centers – will be closed part of the day Aug. 17 to permit faculty and staff to attend fall convocation. The Moore County campus and Fayetteville Center will open at 1:30 p.m. and the McMinnville Center and Smyrna Center will open at 2 p.m. Faculty and staff from all Motlow sites will meet on Motlow’s Moore County campus for the annual assembly, during which preparations are made for the fall semester. The convocation agenda includes welcoming remarks by Dr. Anthony Kinkel, president of the college, introduction of new employees, updates on college programs, recognition of faculty and staff accomplishments, presentations of service awards, and faculty discipline meetings.
This year’s convocation will mark the first academic year under Dr. Kinkel, who was recently selected to lead the College by the Tennessee Board of Regents following Dr. Marylou Apple’s retirement.
“We are looking forward to bringing the Motlow family together for the convocation,” said Dr. Cynthia Kelley, vice president for academic affairs. “The 2015-16 year is going to be exciting and convocation will be a great way to kick it off. Faculty and staff from all campuses will have the opportunity to come together and share ideas for the coming year.”
The final day that applications will be accepted for the fall 2015 semester is Aug. 17. Regular classes on all campuses begin Aug. 24.

Several items are on the agenda for tonight’s Cannon County Board Of Education regular monthly meeting.  The Board will consider transfer requests from Leigh Doney and Davetta Satchell will address the Board concerning her denied transfer request.  Mark Sunderhaus ENA Representative will address the Board.  The Board will look at police changes concerning student surveys, analysis and evaluations as well asbestos management. There will be a discussion of indemnity agreement for home school students wishing to participate in athletics.  The Board will also discuss surplus property and disposition and name a management team for Collaborative Conferencing.  Board member Bruce Daniel will address the Board concerning a flag in Robert A. Harris Gymnasium. The meeting will take place at the Woodbury Grammar School Cafeteria starting at 6:30 tonight.

The Cannon County Sheriff’s Department responded to a call of vandalism of property recently but were unable to locate the alleged vehicle involved.  According to Cannon County Sheriff’s Reports, Deputies were dispatched to an Iconium Road Residence in reference to the vandalism which had just occurred moments before.  Upon arrival Deputies spoke with Johnny Duncan who advised that his wife witnessed a black SUV drive by and then the SUV came back through and pulled into the yard and did a donut.  Mr Duncan stated that he saw this happening and ran out the door hollering and the vehicle sped on down Iconium Road.  Mr. Duncan stated it was a black Ford Expedition with dark tinted windows.  Mr. Duncan stated the vehicle also tore up a driveway further down Iconium Road.

Palmer pigweed continues to be a huge threat to crops in Cannon County. The UT Extension office has found Palmer in several fields within the County ranging from seedlings to mature plants. Producers have accepted the challenge to utilize residue products and over lapping herbicides to combat this glyphosate resistant weed. Birds and other wildlife are doing their part by spreading the seed. We have to stay current on the latest strategies and products to try to stay ahead of this “game changer”. University of Tennessee Weed Specialist, Dr. Larry Steckel will discuss control options to help area producers combat this troublesome weed. We plan to meet from 8 AM to 10 AM at Gordon Wade’s Farm in Jacksboro (3388 Jacksboro Rd. Morrison, TN), then drive to David Parkers to discuss control options in corn. Cannon and Warren Farmers Coop will provide snacks.  For more information about this event please call the UT Extension office at 615-563-2554

Recognizing the need to present a balanced budget with a semi healthy general fund balance to the Cannon County Commissioners as well as the State of Tennessee Comptroller’s Office, the Cannon County Budget Committee met for the 16th and final time to meet that goal.  Last week in a committee meeting, County Technical Advisory Service representative Ben Rodgers touched on some items that the State Comptroller’s Office will be looking for in a budget submission.  One of those items was the State wants all the counties to maintain a minimum fund balance and in Cannon County’s case the minimum would be $600,000.  However with a 19 cent property tax increase to help fund the expenditures the estimated ending fund balance was $243,895.00 which is considerably lower than what the state probably would want to see.  Tuesday night Committee member Glenn Steakley presented two different propositions to the Committee.  Both of the proposals was to cut last year’s spending and lower the property tax hike proposal from 19 cents to 15 cents.  The unanimous decision was made to cut 2.75% from last year’s spending totals by each county general department and raise the property tax to just 15 cents instead of 19 cents with the understanding that if the wheel tax ultimately passes 13 cents which is the amount equal to the property tax would be taken off the property tax.  This will give the estimated general fund balance of $538,678.00at the end of fiscal year.  The recommendation will now go before the entire Cannon County Commissioners to vote on in a special called meeting toward the end of this month.

The Auburntown Historical Society has announced they will meet next Thursday August 20th at the Auburntown Church of Christ Fellowship Hall.  Scarlett Griffith, the secretary for the Warren County Genealogy Association and a Daughters of the American Revolution member will speak on Christopher Cooper.  Christopher was a pioneer on Sander Fork Creek and a Revolutionary War Soldier.  The meeting will take place at 7:00.  

Mr. William “Mike” Smith, 72, of Woodbury passed away on August 9, 2015.  He was born in Woodbury, Tennessee on July 7, 1943.  He was preceded in death by his mother, Dorothy Smith.  He is survived by his father, William “Bill” Smith of Woodbury; one brother, Steve Smith; two nieces, Lindsay (Joe) Patterson and Blaire Smith; one great nephew, Gabriel Patterson all of Woodbury.
Mike grew up on his family’s farm in the Edgefield Community of Woodbury.  When Mike was a child he   suffered a tragic accident.  He was hit by a car getting off the school bus.  He was in a coma for three weeks before regaining consciousness.   The following year he contracted Polio.  He spent many months in the Junior League Home in Nashville.  While he was being treated he was confined to a device called an iron lung.  He was recognized on the front page of the Palm Sunday Paper to raise money and create awareness for Easter Seals.  His father headed the sale for many years.  Despite these obstacles Mike enjoyed doing many things on the farm, riding horses, hauling hay and feeding the livestock.  
Mike graduated from Central High School in the Class of 1962.  He always had a smile on his face and loved people.  He could and would visit and tell stories with people everywhere he went.  He never met a stranger.  His love of people led him to choose a career as a funeral director and embalmer.  He graduated from the Kentucky School of Mortuary Science in Louisville.  He came back to Tennessee and found a job with Hunter Funeral Home in Sparta.  He served his apprenticeship and earned his license.  During his time at Hunter’s he kept planning and dreaming about owning his own funeral home. 
Smith Funeral Home opened for business in May of 1971.  Mike loved helping the people of Woodbury and stayed active in the community and church.  He was a 43 year member of the Lion’s Club and lifelong member of the Woodbury Church of Christ.  He helped raise money for local charities and sponsored many youth sports teams.  Mike never had any children of his own but he made a point to help any child he could.  He let many of them do odd jobs around the funeral home and made sure they had something to eat and drink.  Mike also wanted to serve his community by becoming a City Alderman.  He was elected an Alderman and earned the title of Vice Mayor.  He later went on to become Mayor of Woodbury and served for many years.
Mike stayed active in his business and made many friends with other funeral directors through his membership with the Tennessee Funeral Directors Association and the Upper Cumberland Funeral Directors.  He was a board member with the Riverside Cemetery Association.  In 1981, his business burned and with the help of family and friends he was able to rebuild in a short time.  Mike’s health was an issue he struggled with his whole life.  He became ill several different times narrowly escaping death.  His health caused him to become a patient of NHC in Murfreesboro and later Bordeaux Long Term Care in Nashville for many years.  Even through these trials, Mike kept going and tried to stay positive.  Mike found rest and peace from his struggles on August 9th.
 Visitation will be held at Smith Funeral Home on August 12, 2015 from  4-8pm .  Funeral services will be held in the Smith Funeral Home chapel on August 13,  2015 at 10am.  Bro. Herb Alsup will officiate.  Interment will be in Riverside Cemetery.   Share your memories and condolences with the family at www.smithfuneralhomewoodbury.net   Smith Funeral Home, (615)563-5337