News 2015

Cannon County Schools Closed Monday

Cannon County Sheriff’s Deputies searching for a weapon used in a previous crime ended up discovering a small mushroom growing operation at a Dickens Hill Road Residence recently.  According to Cannon County Sheriff’s Department reports Josh Gamberella made a recorded phone call from the Cannon County Jail to his wife Angel.  During the phone call Ms Gamberella advised that deputies were at their residence to get more guns.  She advised that deputies took the one they were ultimately searching for and the shotgun.  Then Josh asked if the deputies had seen the mushrooms in the house and Angel replied no.    Upon hearing the conversation a search warrant was obtained for the residence and all vehicles.  After searching the residence, the deputies came up empty, however when the search progressed to a shed outside the house that’s when the mushroom growing operation was found.  Ms. Gamberella along with Donna Presson who owned the residence were arrested at the scene.  Both along with Josh were charged with Manufacture/Sale/Delivery of a schedule 1 controlled substance, simple possession of a schedule 6 controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia.

The Region 4-AA basketball tournaments get started tonight as the higher seeded teams of District 7-AA and District 8-AA host first round games before heading back to Cookeville for the remainder of the tournament.  The must win to advance to the region semifinal round finds the Cannon County Lionettes who are 21-9 overall and the second seed out of district 8-AA will host the Bledsoe County Lady Warriors 19-13  and are the 3rd seed out of District 8-AA.  Bledsoe won the District 7-AA consolation game Valentines night beating Chattanooga Christian 64-36 but have struggled against some of the top rated girls team throughout the season.  Cannon took the second seed by virtue of being the lower seed of the championship matchup that was canceled this past Saturday.  The Lionettes will be looking for their fourth consecutive win.  Game time at Robert A Harris Gym starts tonight at 7:00 with the doors opening at 5:00.  Tickets are $5.00 and can only be purchased at the door on game night.  WBRY will have the live broadcast on AM-1540/FM96.7, through WBRY by using the Tune In App on smartphones and tablets and streaming live on the internet on our website at wbry.com  Also note the Cannon County Lions will be hosting Signal Mountain in the boys game at Robert A Harris Gymnasium.  Game time will start at 6:00  Tuesday evening  

All livestock producers should mark this date on your calendar Don’t miss this opportunity to get a complete check up on your herd bulls! Bull Soundness Exams (BSE) is affordable yet under-utilized by many producers. This one management practice can go a long way to guard against open females. Herd Bull Breeding Soundness Exams are scheduled for Saturday, March 14th at Dr. Willis’s Vet Clinic in Morrison. The exam will include vaccinations, deworming, physical examination, semen check by Dr. Mandy Willis, Large Animal Vet..
The event is sponsored by Pfizer, Rutherford Farmer’s Co-Op, Woodbury Livestock Market, Cannon County Cattlemen’s Association and UT Extension. Producers have the opportunity to test up to 2 bulls. The entire exam will be performed at a cost of $40.00/bull.
If you are interested in taking advantage of this opportunity, please call Dr. Willis to schedule an appointment to bring bulls in for testing. (931-409-3178). If you need more information call the Cannon County Extension Office at 563-2554.
 

The 2015-16 Tennessee hunting and fishing licenses are now on sale. Licenses are available at Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA) regional offices, license agents and on the TWRA website, www.tnwildlife.org. The new licenses annually go on sale each Feb. 18. The 2015-16 licenses are valid through February 2016. License sales provide the primary funding for the TWRA, which does not receive any funding from the state’s general fund (i.e. state sales tax). The 2014-15 licenses expire Feb. 28. Licenses purchased before July 1 are available at current prices.
Resident licenses may be purchased by persons who possess a valid Tennessee driver’s license; persons who have lived in Tennessee for 90 consecutive days with the genuine intent of making Tennessee their permanent home; military personnel on active duty in this state and their immediate families, who reside with them, regardless of resident status; students who are enrolled in a Tennessee school, college, or university for at least six months. A Social Security number is required to purchase a Tennessee hunting or fishing license.
Licenses may also be purchased online at TWRA’s website: www.tnwildlife.org or the TWRA On the Go App and charged to a credit card. Licenses may also be ordered by telephone and charged to a credit card by calling 1-888-814-8972. All licenses purchased by credit card will be charged a processing and handling fee.  The fees over the telephone are $7.50 for those licenses mailed and $6.25 for those not mailed. Through the internet, charges are $4.25 for those licenses mailed and $3 for self-prints.
To expedite telephone orders, the caller should have ready the name, address, physical description, Social Security number, driver’s license number, TWRA ID number (if renewal), and credit card number.
Licenses are printed on a special tear-resistant, water-proof paper.  In case of a lost license, duplicate licenses can be obtained from any REAL license agent for a $7 fee.

Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam has accepted the recommendation of TEMA Deputy Commissioner David Purkey to elevate to a Level II-State of Emergency in recognizing a major disaster in Tennessee. 
The Level II – State of Emergency activation is effective as of 3 p.m., CST, on 2/21/15.  The SEOC is receiving reports of major impacts to infrastructure, power and roads as a result of the overnight snow and ice storm and the current heavy rain in the state.
 Definition of Level II – State of Emergency
A major disaster as defined by TCA 58-2-101 as an event that will likely exceed local capabilities and require a broad range of state and federal assistance. The TEMP and the SEOC are activated in accordance with TCA 58-2-107(b)(2), and a decision by the Governor or his representative (Director of TEMA) declares a state of emergency. The full staff or most of the staff of the SEOC is activated, typically in a 24-hour continuous operation. This disaster may meet eligibility requirements for a federal disaster declaration under the provisions of the Stafford Act.
 
The heaviest impacts are in the Cumberland Plateau area of Tennessee with heavy damage reports and power outages in Cumberland, Fentress, Overton, Putnam and White counties.
 
Rain has diminished in West Tennessee but temperatures are expected to fall into the 20s tonight, resulting in slick roads, with a chance of snow on Sunday.  In Middle Tennessee and East Tennessee are reporting heavy rain and ice and snow still on the ground in many areas.
 RESPONSE ACTIONS
Tennessee National Guard as two Humvee crews, with four staff members, working on wellness checks in White County with another three crews, and six staff members, to be deployed.
 
Tennessee Highway Patrol reports slow-moving traffic in both directions on I-40 at the 301 to 320 mile-markers.  Hwy. 70 in White County, Hwy. 84 in Morgan County, U.S. 70 in Putnam County, from Cookeville to Monterey, are all reporting road issues.
 
Tennessee Division of Forestry has 20 chainsaw crews working in Putnam and Cumberland counties to clear debris.  Another three crews are in Morgan County and another four crews are in Scott County.  TDOT and VOAD also are assisting with chainsaw crews.
 
The American Red Cross and Tennessee Department of Human Services are identifying needs for mass sheltering due to power outages and mass feeding missions.
 
TEMA has set up a Shelter Management Task Force and a Debris Management Task Force to work with key state and private sector partners to identify areas of priority and dispatch personnel .
 
Tennessee Wildlife Resource Agency is doing wellness checks on I-40 on the Cumberland Plateau and in White County.
 Power Outages
Power outages have increased to just over 50,459 customers in 12 counties, including Cumberland (22,631), Fentress (10,557), Putnam (9,657), Franklin (1,903), White (1,560) and Overton (1,175)
 Fatalities (Since Feb. 16, 2015)Tennessee has 18, confirmed, weather-related fatalities:

Benton County – One (1) fatality: 64-year-old female, motor vehicle accident

Hamilton County – One (1) fatality: 63-year-old male, hypothermia related

Henry County – Two (2) fatalities: 64-year-old female, hypothermia related; 69-year-old male, hypothermia related

Hickman County (1) fatality: 67-year-old male, dialysis patient, unable to get to treatment

Knox County – Four (4) fatalities: 30-year-old male, motor vehicle accident; 75-year-old male, fire; 68-year-old female, fire; 47-year-old male, fire

Moore County – One (1) fatality: 73-year-old male, hypothermia

Overton County – One (1) fatality: 38-year-old female, motor vehicle accident

Roane County – One (1) fatality, 44-year-old male, hypothermia related

Sequatchie – One (1) fatality, 85-year-old male, hypothermia related

Shelby County – Three (3) fatalities: 48-year-old male, hypothermia related; (age unknown) male, hypothermia related; (demographics unknown), hypothermia related

Williamson County – Two (2) fatalities: 34-year-old female; 10-year-old male, motor vehicle accident
 
State Agencies working the storm response include: Environment & Conservations; Finance & Administration, General Services, Health, Human Services, National Guard, Tennessee Division of Forestry, Tennessee Highway Patrol, Tennessee Department of Transportation, Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency and Volunteer Tennessee.  Response support is also being provided from the American Red Cross, FEMA, National Weather Service, Tennessee Valley Authority and Volunteer Organizations Active in Disaster.
 

The District 8-AA basketball tournaments consolation and championship rounds were called off Saturday afternoon after being scheduled to play Saturday night.  The championship games involved the Cannon County Lions and Lionettes basketball teams but the teams will not get the chance to play for the title of tournament champs on the court as the show must move on to the Region 4-AA tournament.  What this means according to the TSSAA is that the seeds of the teams entering the games that were scheduled tonight will come into play in the region tournament.  For instance Central Magnet entered the championship contest as the number 3 seed of the tournament.  The Cannon County Lionettes were the number 5th seed.  Central will enter the region tournament as the number one seed of the District 8-AA section while Cannon will now be number two.  On the boys side the Cannon County Lions will enter the region tournament as the number one seed which Livingston is number two.  The first round of the region tournament is set to start Monday night at the higher seed.  Because both Cannon teams advanced to the championship games of the district tournament, they received an automatic first round home game.  Monday night in Woodbury the Cannon County Lionettes will play host to the Bledsoe County Lady Warriors.  Game time is slated for 7:00.  Tickets are $5.00 and may be only purchased at the door Monday night.  Gates will open at Cannon County High School Monday night at 5:00.   Tuesday night in Woodbury the Cannon County Lions will play host to the Signal Mountain Golden Eagles.  The game will tip off at 7:00.  Tickets are $5.00 for that game as well.

No district tournament championships…will post later when WBRY News officially finds out how the region tournament seeding will work now.

As the state chips out of the ice that wreaked havoc on traffic and electric service, bitterly cold temperatures are on the way. The Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) is asking local power distributors and their members to help conserve energy through Friday. 
As a TVA distributor, Middle Tennessee Electric Membership Corporation is encouraging its members to help out where they can. Officials are requesting their residential, commercial and industrial consumers, to help in the reduction through the end of the week. The reduction will assist TVA in continuing to provide power across their seven-state territory. All of TVA’s generation capabilities will be utilized to meet the peak power demand.
 
“As we have done through the last several rounds of cold weather, TVA will use all of our available generating sources to meet the expected high power demand, which will likely peak on Thursday morning,” said Jacinda Woodward, senior vice president of TVA Transmission and Power Supply. “As consumers of TVA power, we all can step up to help reduce power consumption and lower our own power bills at the same time.”
 
MTEMC reminds members there are some easy steps that can be taken to reduce their energy consumption while saving money at the same time.
           
In order to keep the heat in and the cold out, here are a couple of energy-saving tips:
 

If your home has southern-facing windows, open the curtains or blinds during the day to allow sunlight to naturally warm your home and close them in the evenings.

Keep your doors and windows closed as much as possible; to include overhead doors on attached garages.

Use a heavy-duty, clear plastic sheet on a frame or tape the plastic to the inside of your window frames during the cold times. Make sure the plastic is sealed as tight as possible to help reduce the chance of cold seeping in.

If you are able to, add a bead of caulk to your windows and weather stripping to doors to help seal any potential leaks.

If you have a fireplace, ensure the damper is closed unless you have a fire burning.

Lower your water heater temperature to 120 degrees Fahrenheit.
 
“These tips are just a few of the things members can do to get through this period of freezing weather while still managing their monthly energy consumption,” said Josh Clendenen, MTEMC communications coordinator.
 
For more energy saving tips like these, log on to www.mtemc.com.
 
Middle Tennessee Electric Membership Corporation is a member-owned, not-for-profit cooperative providing electricity to more than 200,000 residential and business members in Williamson, Wilson, Rutherford and Cannon counties.
 

As sub-zero temperatures continue to linger across Tennessee for the remainder of the week, the State Fire Marshal’s Office urges residents to stay safe when using portable heaters to keep warm. 
Portable heaters, which are commonly used during winter, can sometimes lead to tragedy. An estimated 900 portable heater fires in homes are reported to U.S. fire departments each year, according to the U.S. Fire Administration. In Tennessee, more than 3,100 heating fires occurred in Tennessee from 2009-2013, claiming the lives of 39 people, injuring 49 and damaging an estimated $32.7 million in property, according to figures from the Tennessee Fire Incident Reporting System (TFIRS).
 
Space heaters were involved in 59 percent of all of Tennessee’s heating fire deaths while 56 percent of all heating fires happened in just three months of the year – December, January, and February.
 
“We cannot stress enough the importance of following safety precautions when using portable space heating devices in your home,” said Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance Commissioner Julie Mix McPeak. “Keeping fire safety in mind this winter can help save lives and property.”
 
Following a few fire safety steps can prevent tragedy this winter:
 

Turn heaters off when you go to bed or leave a room.

Keep anything that can burn – including bedding, clothing, curtains, pets and people –at least three feet away from portable heaters.

Only use portable heaters from a recognized testing laboratory and with an automatic shut-off so that if they tip over, they will shut off.

Plug portable heaters directly into outlets and never into an extension cord or power strip.

Check the cord for fraying, cracking and look for broken wires or signs of overheating in the device itself.

Never run the heater cord (or any cord) under rugs or carpeting.
 
For the best protection from fire, use working smoke alarms on every level of your home, outside every sleeping area and in every bedroom, and interconnect them if possible. 
 
Test smoke alarms monthly and entirely replace any smoke alarm that is 10 years old or older. Develop and practice a home fire escape plan with every member of your household. Have two ways out of every room and a designated outside meeting place to gather in the event of an emergency.