News 2015

The 4th Annual Earl Judkins Golf Classic will be Saturday, July 18 hosted by the Cantrell Cancer Benefit Foundation. It’s a benefit for Edith McReynolds who was diagnosed with Hodgkins Lymphoma in December 2014. She is the mother of five children including quintuplets who just graduated Cannon County High School and were active in the various sports programs.  She resides in Auburntown. All proceeds from this event will directly benefit Ms. McReynolds and her family. This Golf Classic begins with a shotgun start at 8:00 a.m. The entry fee is $75 for an individual golfer or $300 for a team of four. This includes 18 holes with cart and meal. Mulligans can be bought prior to the shotgun start. The entry deadline is Wednesday, July 15. The format is a 4-person A,B,C,D, Scramble/Own Team-Best Ball. For more information contact Tyler Cantrell at tcantrell@cosma.com. Phone 1-931-239-5948 or contact Riverwatch Golf Course to sign up at 1-931-761-8125. Donations may be made to the Cantrell Cancer Benefit Foundation. Mail to 625 Foster Road, Smithville, TN 37166

Tennessee Tech Golden Eagles Coach Watson Brown will provide opening remarks at a public education forum for aging services in Tennessee. The Tennessee Commission on Aging and Disability (TCAD)—in partnership with the Upper Cumberland Development District Area Agency on Aging—presents a free educational event: Tennessee for a Lifetime. “We are all living longer,” says Jim Shulman, Executive Director of TCAD, “so it is more important than ever to plan so we can enjoy our second half of life.”  The second event of its kind in a statewide series, Tennessee for a Lifetime will provide helpful, easy-to-understand information on a broad range of age- and health-related topics. These are lessons on aging for all ages, providing information on how to stay active, healthy and engaged in our communities for as long as possible. Topics will include:
    Aging in Place    
    TBI Scam and Fraud Defense
    Medicare    
    Nursing Homes/Assisted Living
    The Basics of a Healthy Diet    
    Social Security
In addition, there will be representatives from a variety of different organizations to help answer any individual questions or concerns regarding services such as Medicare, Social Security, and Veterans Services.
Tennessee for a Lifetime will take place in the Whitson-Hester Nursing Building on the campus of Tennessee Tech University on Saturday, July 25, 2015; doors open at 7:30 am, and the program runs from 8:30 am to noon. This event is free and open to the public, and a light, healthy breakfast will be provided. Participants are encouraged to register either online at www.tn4lifetime.org or by calling Jennifer Birdwell at 931-476-4164.
For more information about Tennessee for a Lifetime, you may also contact Anna Lea Cothron, Aging Commission Liaison, at 615-770-3901 or annalea.cothron@tn.gov.
 

The Cannon County community may have had to wait an extra week for it but the American Legion Post 279 delivered a very impressive fireworks celebration Saturday night at Dillon Park.  The town square and surrounding area was packed as spectators patiently waited for the fireworks show to start.  The afternoon started at 4:00 with music from gospel and bluegrass groups on the stage for entertainment.  Concessions were sold and a dunking booth got a few Cannon Countians wet.  The kids were kept entertained throughout the early afternoon with sno-cones and the various bouncy houses.  As the evening winded down, the fireworks started at 8:45 and the show lasted a good half hour.   A few more pictures are available on our WBRY Facebook.  Go check them out.
 

One of the main concerns of the Cannon County Budget Committee as in every fiscal year is the threat of rising property taxes as a means to bring in more revenue to cover the increase expenditures of County Government.  Last week during the Cannon County Budget Committee, Committee member and Cannon County Commissioner Brent Bush brought some ideas to the table.  One of those ideas was to bring some relief to taxpayers over the age of 65 in the form of the Property Tax Relief Program.  One of those programs, the Property Tax Freeze Program voted on in 2006 and enacted in 2007, allows the legislative body of any county to adopt a property tax freeze program under the provisions of the act.  The tax freeze would benefit the elderly homeowners ages 65 or older.  Combined annual income for a qualified person, their spouse and all other owners of the property cannot exceed $28,690.  Elderly homeowners must provide evidence of age.  They must own an use the property on which applying as primary residence.  As long as the tax freeze program is in place, a person must requalify annually.  The Budget Committee voted and approved to take the recommendation of a Property Tax Freeze for the elderly that qualify to the full County Commission to vote on in their meeting Saturday morning.

The American Red Cross urges eligible donors to help offset a seasonal decline in donations and prevent a shortage this summer by giving blood.  
During June, July and August, there are about two fewer donors than needed at each Red Cross blood drive. This can add up to more than 100,000 fewer donations during the summer. Many schools that host blood drives are out of session, and vacation schedules can make regular donors less available – both contributing to the seasonal decline.
Donors of all blood types – especially those with types AB, O negative, A negative and B negative – are needed to help ensure blood products are available to hospital patients this summer. Type AB donors have the universal plasma type, which can be given to patients of all blood types. Plasma helps maintain blood pressure and supplies critical proteins for clotting immunity. It is often needed for burn, trauma and cancer patients.
To make an appointment to give blood, download the Red Cross Blood Donor App, visit redcrossblood.org or call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767).
The Woodbury Lions Club will be hosting the bi-monthly American Red Cross Blood Drive this coming Thursday starting at noon until 6:00 at the Lions Club Building 540 West Adams Street

Save this date! On Saturday, August 1, the Arts Center of Cannon County will host a special evening of fun and games that includes aREVERSE RAFFLE & GOURMET DINNER.
 Throughout the evening there will be door prizes and games with the chances of winning extra tickets! Additionally there will be numerous gift baskets (valued at a minimum of $100 each) available for prizes and auctions. The evening will culminate with the drawing of the winning ticket for the $5000 Grand Prize! You don’t have to be present to win

As a mother, a first-generation college graduate, and a former educator, I understand the need for conservative education solutions that empower parents and students, not the federal government. That is why I led the charge against President Obama’s nationalized “free” community college proposal, why I authored legislation to simplify the education tax code, and why, yesterday I voted for the Student Success Act –a measure to restrict the Obama Administration’s reach into our local schools and replace the flawed No Child Left Behind law. This bill passed the House with near-unanimous Republican support in the last Congress but unfortunately there has been some misinformation about the bill this year ahead of the vote. I appreciated hearing from those of you who called and wrote my office to share your thoughts on this legislation and, today, I want to share with you about what the Student Success Act is and is not.
This measure is not a blanket extension of No Child Left Behind as some have falsely claimed. As National Review explains, it is a “conservative alternative” to the current law that will reduce the federal footprint on education and restore local control to our schools. That is why Members of Congress like Michele Bachmann, Trey Gowdy, and Scott DesJarlais joined me in supporting the measure when it first passed the House in 2013.
It is also why left-leaning groups like the AFL-CIO and the national teachers’ union oppose the bill and why President Obama has issued a callous veto threat of the measure. The President knows as well as I do that, if passed, this legislation will significantly limit his Administration’s ability to influence curricula and testing standards in our local schools.
The Student Success Act was not perfect. For example, I was disappointed to see the House reject an amendment to the bill that I supported which would have block-granted education funding to the states – allowing them to use these dollars for any lawful education purpose they wished.  However, this legislation still offered many conservative gains.
For example, the Student Success Act repeals the so-called “adequate yearly progress” accountability metric under No Child Left Behind that resulted in federal interventions and restructurings of local schools. The Heritage Foundation called this testing scheme “the cornerstone of No Child Left Behind.” Under our bill, this flawed standard would be erased for good
The legislation also includes language authored by Rep. Matt Salmon allowing parents to opt their child out of mandatory testing without the schools being punished for lack of participation. It additionally bans the federal government from requiring states to participate in one-size-fits-all standards like Common Core in order to receive federal grants and waivers.
Further, the Student Success Act eliminates 69 duplicative government programs that are authorized under existing law, instead offering one streamlined grant that school districts can use to fund tutoring, before or after school activities, and other academic support. The bill will also allow for responsible spending cuts – setting authorization levels at more than $1 billion below what is currently in law. I have long said that it is time to stop measuring success in education by how much money we spend and instead focus on how many students we graduate that are career and college ready – this bill marks an important step in that direction.
My own academic journey taught me that education works best when it is kept closest to the parent, the teacher, and the child. That is the spirit of the Student Success Act and that is why I proudly voted in support of this legislation.
Sincerely,
Diane Black
Member of Congress
PS – This week the House voted on another major item of legislation known as the 21st Century Cures Act. While I wholeheartedly supported the policies behind this measure, I voted against the bill because of this disingenuous way that it was funded. This legislation would have violated bipartisan spending agreements by calling for nearly $11 billion in new mandatory spending. I wanted you to hear straight from me why I opposed this measure, so I explained my vote in greater detail here.

July came with a bang, as it always does, and we now begin the countdown to the first day of school sometime in August.  But we’re not going to dwell on that now.  Summer Reading is what’s on our minds.  If you haven’t already signed up, come on in and do it today.  It’s not too late to join the program and start reading books for fun and prizes.Come to the library, get your program materials and start reading.  This year for children birth to 4 years and children 4 to 12 years the subject is Every Hero Has a Story.  For Teens, ages 12 to 17, the theme is Unmask.  Thetopic for adults, ages 18 and up, is Escape the Ordinary. 
Through June and July there will be NO story time at Adams Memorial Library, however story time is continuing at the Auburntown Branch.  Story Time will resume in August at Adams Memorial.  Until then you can attend the Auburntown story time and join the Summer Reading Program with your children.
July 14 we have our sixthsummer movie of the season.  We have a great crowd coming in for our weekly movie but we still have plenty of space for YOU!  Come out and enjoy a movie in the cool with popcorn and juice. 
All free and all for you.  Can’t wait until movie day to know what we’re showing?Come by or call the library to find out.  Due to licensing considerations, we can’t print the title in the paper, but you’ll love it.
 
 
Thursday, July 16, we have the premier summer event – THE POOL PARTY.  We know you enjoy reading, but this is really why you come for Summer Reading, to get in the water.  Everyone is welcome.  This year we’re also running a food drive for the Cannon County Food Bank.  Bring your donations of canned food items to the pool and if we get 50 cans or more, Miss Patti will jump in the pool.  She can’t jump in if you don’t bring the cans, so bring your canned goods and put Miss Patti in the pool.
 
The Family Story Time and Craft will be held on Saturday, July 18, at 10:30 a.m. at Adams Memorial Library.  Come by with your family for an event that everyone can enjoy.  It’s hard to find free events for the whole family, but you’ve found one now, so be sure not to miss it.
 
Don’t forget our ongoing program One Thousand Books before Kindergartenthat continues all year.  If you have a child of pre-kindergarten age, stop by the circulation desk and sign up.  You’ll get a packet of materials to keep a record of your child’s progress as well as games and activities.  This will be a wonderful addition to your child’s memory book.  Someday your child will be astonished at all the books she read when she was little and too young to remember reading.
 
Only a two more weeks to jump into the Summer Reading Program and then it’s over for another year. Don’t wait a year, come in now!  There’s still time to sign up and win a prize.  That is if reading the book isn’t prize enough.  Come in today!

Old Time, Bluegrass and Country music will fill the Historic Cannonsburgh Pioneer Village in Murfreesboro starting today.  The Annual Uncle Dave Macon Days features competitions and performances by legendary bluegrass artists.  The highlights of Friday features Russell Moore and 3rd Tyme out on the main stage at 7:00.  Legendary bluegrass musician Ralph Stanley is the recipient of this year’s Heritage Award.  He and his band will perform a one hour set today from 8 until 9 on the main stage.  Admission for Uncle Dave Macon Days is $10 for adults  and $5 for ages 55 and older today and tomorrow.  $5 for all adults on Sunday July 12th.  Ages 12 and younger are admitted free the entire weekend.A local artist will be among the many talented acts Robyn Taylor owner of BirdSong Studios on West High Street in Woodbury is scheduled to take the stage for a 45 minute performance Saturday evening starting at 6.  Robyn is one of the many notable acts the festival showcases Saturday night the Steeldrivers hit the main stage at 8:00 while Gospel music is the highlight on Sunday with Larry Cordle and Lonesome Standard Time closing out the festival Sunday night starting at 6:00.

Cannon County Sheriff’s Deputies didn’t need to review a store video after a Cannon County Woman was pulled over for suspicion of shoplifting recently.  According to Cannon County Sheriff’s Department reports.  Deputy Lee Thomas was dispatched to the Dollar General Store on Jim Cummings Hwy for a shoplifter that was sitting in the parking lot.  Before Deputy Thomas got to the store he was advised that the car had left the store and was traveling inbound to town.  Deputy Thomas was able to catch up to the car and made a traffic stop at the city limit on Hwy 53.  He then approached the car and told the driver later identified as Paula Renee Davis that he stopped her because the employee at the Dollar General thought she took some items without paying.  Deputy Thomas noticed several bottles of shampoo and body wash behind the driver seat in a plastic bag.  Ms. Davis said she brought some of those items from home and some of the items were what she had bought at the store.  All the items were in a Dollar General bag however. After Deputy Thomas advised Ms. Davis that he would go review the videos at the store and take out a warrant on her if he saw her stealing the items and gave her the choice between that and a release citation, Davis allegedly said she took them.  She was issued a release citation for theft under $500.00 and the property that she took outside of what she legally purchased were returned to the Dollar General.  Ms. Davis will answer to the charge in General Sessions Court August 4th