News 2015

The United Way of Rutherford and Cannon Counties recently hosted its Community Celebration, an annual meeting recognizing the organization’s impact and accomplishments over the most previous fiscal year. With a record-breaking fundraising year from July 1, 2014 – June 30, 2015, the United Way announced its plans to invest in over 60 local services impacting the areas of education, health and financial stability. The United Way also announced that $621,000 was saved by Rutherford and Cannon county residents through United Way’s partnership with the FamilyWize prescription discount program, $1,011,648 was returned into Rutherford and Cannon counties through the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program, and $3,487,515 were secured through corporate investments, individual investments, grants and special events from July 1, 2014 – June 30, 2015.
Phil Holt, 2014-15 United Way Board Chair, said, “The name United Way Celebration is very appropriate.  This event celebrates the positive impact being made in our community.”
Dr. Jill Austin with Middle Tennessee State University was recognized as Volunteer of the Year for the United Way of Rutherford and Cannon Counties. Additional recognition included Fifth Third Bank as recipient of the Community Impact Award. The Community Impact Award is evaluated on partnerships that advance the mission of United Way. Johnson Controls, Inc. received the Innovation Award for their creative engagement with United Way, and Standard Register received the Engagement Award for their outstanding participation in United Way volunteer events.
 The 2015-2016 incoming members for the United Way Board of Directors were also announced. The roster includes:
Billy Bruce
Facility Manager, UPS
Dr. Jim Calder
Faculty, MTSU
Louis Caputo
CEO, StoneCrest Medical Center
Sue Conley
CEO, DeKalb Community
Hospital and Stones River
Hospital (Cannon County)
Dr. Linda Gilbert
Director, Murfreesboro City
Schools
Jason King
Attorney, Kious, Rodgers, Barger, Holder & Kious
Ben Parsley
Attorney, Waldron, Fann, and Parsley
Dr. Liz Rhea
Community Volunteer/Retired Physician
David Tincher
Plant Manager, General Mills
Dr. David Urban
Dean, College of Business, MTSU
Jeffrey Woods
CEO, TrustPoint Hospital

A fugitive on the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation’s Top Ten Most Wanted list, Bryan James Cooke, was captured Tuesday morning in Jacksonville, Florida, a day after being added to the list. Early this morning, Cooke was arrested at a hotel in Jacksonville by officers with the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office. A Jeep that had been stolen from the residence of Gail and Gary Dodson in McMinnville was recovered in the parking lot of a nearby Jacksonville business.
Bryan Cooke was placed on the TBI’s Top Ten Most Wanted list on June 29th. He was wanted by the Warren County Sheriff’s Department and TBI on two counts of Criminal Homicide. Earlier the same day, Gail and Gary Dodson were found deceased in their home in Warren County. They were discovered after employees at their restaurant were concerned when the two did not show up for work. Warrants were later taken out against Cooke in connection with the deaths of the couple. Bond was set on these charges at $2,000,000.
Cooke is being held as a Fugitive from Justice by Florida authorities pending extradition.

With the fiscal year coming to a close, the County will be running on a continuing budget while the Cannon County Budget Committee finishes touching up the 2015-2016 budget in order to make a recommendation to the Cannon County Commission during their July meeting.  It’s well known over the past few years, the County’s general fund balance has been getting smaller and smaller while revenues have shown a small increase but expenditures have also shown an increase as well.  In the latest figures obtained Friday from the County Executive’s office, the County is expected to have a fund balance of only $116,588.00 heading into the new fiscal year. Take that figure add the estimated revenues that the new fiscal year is projected to bring in and subtract the expenditures which as of right now, the budget committee trimmed to only a $400,000 increase of which basically lies in Capital Outlay notes and Cannon County is estimated to have a fund balance in negative numbers $255,233.00 in the negative.  The Budget Committee will meet tonight to continue going through the proposed budget and continuing to make final cuts.  Tonight’s meeting will be at the Cannon County Courthouse at 5:00  

 The Cannon County Sheriff’s department has requested people be on the look out for a a white male, early twenties, 5′ 11″ inches tall, brown hair, blue eyes. Last seen in the 5000 block of Short Mtn Rd in Cannon County. This subject is wanted for auto theft and is considered to be armed and dangerous. He may or may not have facial hair and his clothing description is unknown at this time. His direction of travel is unknown at this time well. Anyone seeing a suspicious person matching this description in the Short Mtn Area is encouraged to call the dispatch center at 615-563-4322. The Sheriffs Dept believes he may look for another vehicle to steal to evade capture. Please secure your vehicles and lock your doors if you live in this area.
The Sheriffs Dept has not advised any new information other than they are continuing to follow leads. A suspect name has been identified but has not been released at this time

County unemployment rates for May 2015, released last week, show the rates increased in 92 counties, decreased in one county and remained the same in two. Cannon County was one of those counties in which the unemployment rate increased.  Out of an estimated workforce of 6080 people 5730 people were employed during the month of May while 350 people unemployed.  This gave Cannon County a 5.7 percent unemployment rate which was up five tenths of a percentage point from the 5.2 mark in April.  Other neighboring counties also showed a slight increase.  Coffee County is at 5.4 percent, Dekalb reported a 7.1 percent rate.  Rutherford had the smallest increase of the neighboring counties with a 4.6 percent rate up four tenths of a percent from May.  Warren is at 5.9 percent and Wilson is at 4.7 percent.  Last year at this time Cannon reported a 6 percent unemployment rate
Tennessee’s preliminary unemployment rate for May was 5.8 percent, two-tenths of one percentage point lower than the April revised rate of 6.0 percent. The U.S. preliminary rate for May was 5.5 percent, one-tenth of one percentage point higher than the prior month.

The DeKalb/Cannon County Amateur Radio Club will be conducting a Special Event Station during the Smithville Fiddlers Jamboree on Saturday, July 4th, 2015 from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM at the front entrance of the Justin Potter Library. Ham radio operators will utilize their skills to contact other amateur (Ham) stations throughout the US and worldwide to publicize and show local support for the Smithville Fiddlers Jamboree. These contacts will take place on the following frequencies in the Amateur Radio Bands: 14.280 (USB), 14.045 (CW), 7.275 (LSB) & 7.045 (CW) MHZ. The public is invited to come by and participate in this event. All amateurs in the area are asked to monitor 145.49 MHZ for more information. The DeKalb/Cannon County Amateur Radio Club is an organization of amateur radio operators from DeKalb and Surrounding Counties and is an affiliated club of the American Radio Relay League. Call 597-9563 for additional details and information.
 

The fiscal year is wrapping up and the Cannon County Commissioners have called a special meeting set for Monday night to approve last minute budget amendments and to approve the continuing budget resolution.  Amendments needing to be approved include the County Budget, Library, Sheriff’s Department, Solid Waste, Highway Department, and Board Of Education.  Other items on the agenda will be to discuss THC Select and appoint two new members to the Library Board.  Because it is a special called meeting the only items that can be discussed are the items on the agenda.  No new business or vote can be done concerning the details of a budget for the fiscal year 2015-2016 . The meeting Monday is set for 5:00 in the courtroom of the Cannon County Courthouse.

The Town of Woodbury and Cannon County are gearing up for a big July 4th weekend.  First on Friday will be the Fireworks Celebration.  Festivities will start at 4:00 in the afternoon with live music, patriotic music, games for the kids, a dunking booth with several county, and city officials along with teachers and coaches of Cannon County High School.  The American Legion Post 279 who is heading this event up this year will be selling hot dogs and drinks.  The Sons of the American Legion Squadron 279 will be selling snow-cones, strawberry short cakes with all the trimmings, action bracelets and United States Flags large and small.  The American Legion Post also announces that even Uncle Sam will be in attendance and everyone is encouraged to come out to the free celebration and get their picture taken with him.  

Summer is swinging along and here it is almost the end of June.  The end of June brings the beginning of July and the beginning of July is a National Holiday.  The library will be closed, Saturday, July 4, to celebrate our independence. 
Signups continue with the Summer Reading Program.  It’s not too late to join the program and start reading books for fun and prizes.  Come on in, 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.  The topic for adults, ages 18 and up, is Escape the Ordinary.  Every book counts toward the Summer Reading Program prizes and don’t forget to pick up a calendar with all the Summer Reading Program events listed.
 
Through June and July there will be NO story time 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.
 
June 30 we have our fourth summer movie of the season.  Did I say it was FREE?  It’s still free.  With FREE popcorn?  Lots of popcorn.  FREE air conditioning?  It’s sooooo cool.  Come to the Jennings Community Room to see the newest summer movie.  We have a great crowd coming by who are making the movie part of their summer vacation.  Make it part of your summer fun, too!  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 2, we have a Summer Reading Program event that fits in perfectly with the coming celebration of our national independence – Military Heroes of Cannon County.  Meet at the Courthouse at 1 p.m. for a tour of the county’s military heroes, then come to the library to see military equipment.  What will be here?  Come and find out.  Surprises are in store so don’t miss this.
 
Don’t forget our ongoing program One Thousand Books before Kindergarten that 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.
 
Summer is moving fast.  July is here!  Don’t miss the Summer Reading Program.  This month we’ll have our pool party and the grand finale.  Don’t hesitate!  Come to the library and sign up for Summer Reading.   There is still plenty to do.  Come to the library today and ask anyone at the desk to sign you up.

It has been an eventful and, at times, frustrating week in Congress. We saw a series of disappointing decisions handed down by the Supreme Court, but there was also good news – like the bipartisan House passage of legislation I supported to protect seniors from the worst provisions of Obamacare. I’m looking forward to visiting with many of you as I travel across the district in the days ahead, but first here’s a quick update on how I’m working on your behalf in Washington:Supreme Court Verdict in King v. Burwell I am profoundly disappointed in the Supreme Court’s decision upholding Obamacare in King v. Burwell. The wording of Obamacare makes clear that taxpayer-funded subsidies may only be administered on an insurance exchange “established by the state” but the Obama Administration has been doling out these subsidies in all 50 states, including places like Tennessee that did not set up a state-based exchange. With this misguided ruling, the Supreme Court has essentially bailed out Democrats in Congress from their own poorly crafted law.
As I told Fox 17 News last night (see HERE), the Supreme Court can issue a ruling, but it cannot change the truth. The truth is, Obamacare is a fundamentally broken law that is hurting too many Tennesseans and is failing to deliver on its most basic promises. In fact, the largest health insurer here in Tennessee is requesting a whopping 36 percent increase in premiums for next year. The Supreme Court’s decision makes clear that if Obamacare is to be stopped, it will require strong leadership from Congress. I have voted more than four dozen times to repeal Obamacare in part or in full, and we cannot stop now. I believe conservatives in Congress must redouble our efforts to erase this disastrous law and start over on patient-centered health reforms.Protecting You From Obamacare Security ThreatsThe Associated Press reported just last week that the Obama Administration is storing Obamacare applicants’ personal information in a “vast data warehouse” where it is being kept indefinitely. That’s pretty scary when you consider that this is the same Administration that failed to stop political targeting at the IRS and that oversaw the breach of 18 million federal employees’ records earlier this month. Earlier this week, I wrote in the Washington Examiner about legislation I introduced to protect your personal information from falling into the wrong hands on the Obamacare exchanges. I also had a chance to talk with one of the biggest names in conservative talk radio, Sean Hannity, about the Obama Administration’s hypocrisy on cyber security. You can listen to an excerpt of our interview HERE.More Bad News from the IRSThe hits keep coming at the IRS. A bombshell government watchdog report released last Wednesday found that the agency awarded $19 million in contracts to tax-delinquent corporations, despite such payments being banned under federal law. I spoke about the IRS’s latest scandal with The Washington Times and explained it this way: “When families in my district don’t pay their full tax bill by the filing deadline — even if it is the result of an honest mistake — they can expect a penalty. But apparently if you are a well-connected corporation that doesn’t pay up at tax time, the IRS rewards your delinquency with a government contract.”
If the IRS can afford to dole out millions in contracts to tax cheats, then we can afford to cut their bloated budget. Last year, I voted for legislation that cut $345 million in IRS funding – and we got it signed into law. Now, House Republicans are moving an appropriations bill through the committee process that would cut an additional $838 million from the agency’s budget. My colleagues and I on the Ways and Means Committee will continue to enforce aggressive oversight into the IRS’s affairs to ensure that hardworking Tennesseans who actually pay their taxes are not further defrauded by this agency’s incompetence.The Supreme Court’s Decision on MarriageToday, five Supreme Court justices silenced the voices of thousands of Tennesseans. I have always believed that marriage is a sacred promise between man, woman, and God. I respect that others may disagree and I believe that we should encourage a thoughtful, open dialogue about this issue in the individual states – not attempt to cut off debate by imposing a sweeping, fixed interpretation of marriage nationwide. Sadly, that is exactly what the court has done.
While the court’s decision was deeply misguided, we can be encouraged by its acknowledgment of religious freedom. As Justice Kennedy wrote in the majority opinion: “The First Amendment ensures that religious organizations and persons are given proper protection as they seek to teach the principles that are so fulfilling and so central to their lives and faiths.” Nothing in this ruling should be interpreted to force churches or faith-leaders to recognize a union that is fundamentally at odds with their beliefs. We will continue to follow enforcement of this ruling to make certain that this is the case.