News 2015

A DeKalb County woman is charged with TennCare fraud and theft of services for receiving healthcare insurance benefits through the program, even though she was not eligible for TennCare. The Office of Inspector General (OIG), with the assistance of the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office, today announced the arrest of Kimberly D. Griffin, 45, of Smithville. She is accused of reporting to the state that her minor child lived with her in order to appear eligible for TennCare benefits.
“It’s troubling when people misrepresent something about their current situation in order to qualify for TennCare when the program is meant for those truly in need,” Inspector General Manny Tyndall said.  “We are pursuing and prosecuting these cases across Tennessee.”
TennCare fraud is a Class E felony carrying a sentence of up to two years in prison.  Theft of services over $10,000 is a Class C felony punishable by up to six years in prison.  District Attorney General Bryant C. Dunaway is prosecuting.
 

The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency has announced its 2015-16 winter trout stocking schedule. TWRA plans to release approximately 90,000 rainbow trout into Tennessee waters from December through March. The program provides numerous close to home trout fishing opportunities for anglers during the winter months. These fisheries also provide a great opportunity to introduce children or first-time anglers to fishing.
The trout will average about 10 inches in length. The daily creel limit is seven, but there is no size limit

MTSU is again offering the community a chance to quickly learn a foreign language in just days to kick off the new year. The Center for Accelerated Language Acquisition is hosting accelerated five-day Spanish and Chinese classes Jan. 4-15 in the Paul W. Martin Sr. Honors Building.
The first course is $300 for the general public, $250 for MTSU faculty/staff and $175 for students. Any additional course taken is only $175 for any participant.
    Spanish, Part 1:  6-9:30 p.m. Jan. 4-8, Room 116 of the Honors Building.
    Spanish, Part 2:  6-9:30 p.m. Jan. 11-15, Room 116 of the Honors Building.
    Chinese, Part 1:  6-9:30 p.m. Jan. 11-15, Room 106 of the Honors Building.
Classes are for residents age 13 and older. To register and to view a video, go to www.mtsu.edu/cala and click on the “See Our Classes” button.
The center, also known as CALA, is the official language training operation of the University Honors College at Middle Tennessee State University.
CALA has spent more than a decade researching how the brain learns language best with the experts in the field of psychology and brain research.
Research shows the best way to learn a language is the same way you learned your native language — with lots of hands-on methods that are enjoyable and that take place in a fun, low-stress atmosphere, using movement, songs, games and stories.
 

The Cannon County Senior Center hosts Music Night tonight.  Doors open at 6:00.  Admission is $5.00.  Featured musical group is UPtown Country. You can find out more information on them by checking out their website http://uptowncountryband.weebly.com/

The Cannon County Commissioners through an 8-1-1 vote elected to appoint Tim Powers as the new school board member for district 2 replacing Frank Walkup who passed away in November.  Powers ran for election back in November 2014 and lost to Walkup.  Others who had turned in a resume to be considered for the school board position were Corey Davenport and John Basinger.  Powers will serve in the position until the County General Election in November of 2016.  Powers stated that he does intend to run for the position in that election.  Davenport had just wanted to serve out the rest of Walkup’s term.  Basinger did not attend the meeting. The appointment came during the regular monthly meeting of the Cannon County Commissioners.  In other items on the agenda, Penny Daniels, director of the veterans services office in Cannon County approached the commission about the hiring of a part time employee to help with the workload.  Daniels who works 20 hours a week stated with the implementation of a new computer program that she needs the help to get the veterans on file into that system and that the paper information needs to be purged and shredded.  The Commission agreed to make it a priority to look into it next budget year but at this time with funds low they could not make a commitment to funding the salary of the part time worker.
The Commission approved Charlie Bowman, Eva Woodlee, Fred Adams and Sandra Vickers as new agricultural committee members.  They will replace Orville Lewis, Pat Simpson, Martin Daniel and Peggy Miller on the committee as their terms have expired.
The Commission gave permission for the Fire Departments to apply for a community development block grant for the purchase of a fire tanker.  No money has been appropriated yet just the opportunity to see if the Fire Departments can get the grant first.  If the grant is awarded to the County, then the Commission will tackle the issue of appropriating money.
The Commission also approved to remove Mason Road from the County Road list.  Tony and Mary Mason own all the property on that short road.  Permission to remove the road had been granted by the Cannon County Planning Commission and the Highway Department.

The Cannon County Lions and Lionettes Basketball Teams will return to the Robert A Harris Gym for their first District game of the 2015-2016 Basketball Season.   They will host the Murfreesboro Central Magnet Tigers basketball teams.  The Lionettes and Central Magnet will battle for the first time since the classic region championship back in March in which the Lionettes won after Central Magnet swept both meetings of the season.  Central is doing some rebuilding after losing several key players to graduation.  The Lionettes are 1-5 to start the year and will need some big numbers from Kelli Davis and the post players in order to get a good start in the district standings. It’s a typical Central Magnet Tigers Boys team however, they did get a win this early in the season by beating Gordonsville.  Cannon County looks to rebound from a huge loss to Cookeville in the final night of the Mitch Wilson Classic back on Saturday.
Tip off of the Cannon County vs Central Magnet games are slated at 6:00 tonight.  WBRY AM-1540/FM 107.9 will have the live broadcast beginning at 5:50 for the coaches corner.  You can also hear the games streaming on the website at wbry.com and through WBRY by using the Tune In Radio app on your smart phones and tablets.

The start of the Christmas season officially arrives in Woodbury Saturday as the Woodbury Lions Club ushers in their Christmas parade featuring Santa Claus.  The day starts off with the Woodbury Lions Club Pancake Breakfast at the Woodbury Lions Club Building from 7A-10A,  All you can eat pancakes and sausage for $6 or $5.00 in advance of the breakfast.  Santa will be making an appearance and photos during the breakfast from 8-10 in the morning.  Next up will be the Lions Club Woodbury Christmas Parade.  Entries will line up in designated spots and come through town starting at 12 noon.  The day ends with the Woodbury Lions Club Tour of Homes.  Tickets are $7.00 and are available from any Lions Club Member or can be picked up Saturday from 3 to 7 at the Lions Club Building.   Homes participating in the Tour of Homes include Lois Larimer, Tim and Jessica Akers, Chris and Lydia Hancock, and the Song Bird Studios located on West High Street.  Also at 8:00 will be a musical performance at the Song Bird Studios Saturday night.  

Reservations are still available for the 2015 Christmas Gala at the Cannon County Senior Center.  The Gala will be held December 11th starting at 6:00.  Officials with the Senior Center advise those that are interested to hurry and make reservations, as tickets to the event are quickly selling and will be sold out soon just like previous years.  Dinner is $25.00 for guests.  Tickets can be purchase in the office but no money will be accepted at the door the night of the event.  There will be a silent auction as well entertainment.  This is one of the Senior Center’s biggest fundraisers.  Call 615-563-5304 for more information.

Tonight the Cannon County Commission will appoint a new school board member to replace the late Frank Walkup who passed away last month.  Frank represented the Auburntown and Short Mountain District after winning the position in an election last November.  The appointment will take place at the monthly meeting of the Cannon County Commissioners. Other items on the agenda
Commissioners will look to approve the new members of the Agricultural Committee.
Penny Daniels will address the Commission
Approve the CDBG for the purchase of a fire tanker
Mike Corley will address the Commission concerning pending litigation in regards to Carter Creek Road
The meeting will take place at 5:00 at the courtroom of the Cannon Courthouse

             Dr. Larry Steckel, UT Extension Weed Specialist, will provide the keynote presentation with his latest management strategies toward managing Palmer amaranth, which is becoming a costly weed to manage if strategies are not implemented early at the eleventh annual Middle Tennessee Grain Conference, January 28 at the Coffee County Fairgrounds, Manchester.
            Steckel, who is recognized as one of the foremost authorities in the southeast on herbicide resistant weeds, focuses his Extension education and research efforts on the best herbicides and application timing on controlling herbicide resistant weeds. Currently, Dr. Steckel maintains an extensive applied research program on weed management in agronomic crops in Tennessee. His research focus is on the study of the biology and management of
glyphosate-resistant horseweed, giant ragweed and another very troublesome pigweed species, Palmer amaranth. These three weeds, especially Palmer amaranth, are costing Tennessee growers in added cost and yields, to the point of abandoning once productive fields.
            Farmers planning to attend the conference can save money by pre-registering at the UT Cannon County Extension office by Noon, Monday, January 25. Pre- registration fee for the conference is ten dollars per person, which includes the program and materials, refreshments, lunch, a copy of the conference proceedings, and a grain conference cap. Conference day registration will begin at 7:30 am at a cost of twenty dollars per person.
            The conference will host a trade show of various agriculture suppliers beginning at 8:00 am with break-out presentations beginning at 9:00 am. Refreshments will be available throughout the day, and Tennessee Farmers Cooperative will sponsor lunch on-site provided by Christy “Q” Barbeque of Woodbury. This program, like all UT Extension programs, is open to all eligible persons regardless of race, color, national origin, sex, age, religion, disability or veteran status.
            An excellent slate of speakers will address management strategies for corn, wheat and soybean production for 2016 during the breakout sessions from 9:00 am until Noon. Included in the line-up will be will be Mr. Stephan Maupin, Director of Public Policy, Tennessee Farm Bureau Federation presenting the latest updates on EPA’s waters of the United States regulations and their impact on farmers. Mr. Adam Daugherty, District Conservationist, NRCS Coffee County, will discuss the latest on-farm results and benefits of local soil health demonstrations. Dr. Heather Kelly, UT Extension Plant Pathology Specialist, will address the latest recommendations for disease and fungicide management for corn, wheat and soybeans. Mr. Mark Bartel, President, Wilger Industries will address the sprayer technology and advancements for effective and safe pesticide applications. Dr. Debbie Joines, Director, UT Plant and Pest Center, will address the latest recommendations and economical approach to soil fertility and fertilizer management. Dr. Mike Buschermohle, UT Extension Precision Agriculture Specialist, and Ms. Lori Duncan, UT Extension Row Crop Sustainability Specialist will address implementing available variable rate technology and the associated technologies that can enhance precision farming. Mr. Chuck Danehower and Mr. Danny Morris, UT Extension Area Farm Management Specialist will present strategies to maximize essential crop input resources.
            Also new for 2016 will be Drew Lerner’s predictions for 2016 weather patterns. This will be a short fifteen minute audio/visual presentation following the keynote address.