News 2016

County unemployment rates for November 2016, released last week, show the rates decreased in 81 counties, increased in 10, and remained the same in four.
Cannon County’s unemployment rate for the month of November was 4.3 percent.  The rate was down four-tenths of a percentage point from October’s 4.7 percent.  Out of an estimated November work force of 6.180 people, 5910 were employed while 270 people in Cannon County were not employed.  Surrounding counties also showed a decrease in unemployment for the month of November.  Coffee County was at 4.7 percent while Dekalb County marked a 5.5 percent unemployment rate,  Rutherford County’s November unemployment rate was 3.6 percent.  Warren County was 4.4 percent and Wilson County ended the month of November with a 3.7 percent rate.  Cannon County’s November rate for 2015 was 5.3 percent.
Tennessee’s preliminary unemployment rate for November is 4.8 percent, unchanged from the previous month’s revised rate. The U.S. preliminary rate for November is 4.6 percent, decreasing three-tenths of a percentage point from the previous month.

The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency is now accepting entries for its 2017-18 photo contest for publication in the Tennessee Wildlife’s annual calendar issue. All interested photographers are invited to submit up to 10 of their best photos on fishing, hunting, boating, and wildlife species native to Tennessee
The photos will be reviewed for publication in the annual calendar edition of Tennessee Wildlife, which is the summer issue. If a photo is selected for the calendar edition, the photographer will receive a cash stipend of $60.         
Interested photographers must submit their photo entries by the March 17, 2017 deadline. Photos must be horizontal (landscape), in JPEG format, and submitted on a CD. They must be sized to print no smaller than 8-1/2×11 and resolution should be as least 300 pixels/inch.
Photographers must be sure to provide their name, address, phone number, and e-mail address with their disk. Disks cannot be returned.
Entries can be mailed to: Tennessee Wildlife Calendar Issue P.O. Box 40747 Nashville, TN  37204
 

The most popular scholarship giveaway is back! More than 1,500 families have signed up for the TNStars College Savings 529 Program $10,000 scholarship giveaway since December 1st! This month, ten Tennessee kids will win $1,000 college scholarships into TNStars accounts, just for entering online.
Tennessee residents age 21 and older can enter online at TNStars.com/Scholarship now through December 28th to win on behalf of a child age 18 or younger. One entry is good for the entire contest period. There is no purchase necessary to enter, but winners will need to establish a TNStars account where the scholarship will be deposited. The $1,000 prize can be used by the winning beneficiary to cover future post-secondary education expenses.
In addition to the scholarship giveaway, TNStars recently announced special holiday incentives for both new and existing accounts. Now through December 31st, those who open a new TNStars account with as little as $100 can get a $25 holiday gift added to their account. Or, both new and existing accounts can receive a special $100 gift for every $1,000 contributed to their TNStars account, up to a $500 gift. All incentives are for Tennessee residents only.
TNStars is designed to give Tennessee families high quality investment options at a low cost to help them put aside money for higher education expenses. Tennesseans can invest directly with the program and money can be withdrawn tax-free from a TNStars account as long as it is used for qualified post-secondary education expenses. Saving for College, LLC, a trusted national source for information on college savings plans, has named TNStars a top-ranked program for investment performance consistently since 2014.
A program of the Tennessee Treasury Department, TNStars encourages all to give the gift of the future this holiday. To enter the scholarship giveaway or to get more information on the program, visit TNStars.com.

I didn’t want to let another moment pass without taking the opportunity to wish you and your family a very Merry Christmas. 
Dave and I pray this holiday would be a special time of making new memories with the people you love most and, hopefully, finding a way to share your time, your talents, and your love with someone who needs it during this season of giving. 
This Christmas, let us also remember our brave men and women of the military who are away from home, defending the liberties we hold dear. It is because of their sacrifices that we are able to freely celebrate this joyous time of year. 
I am continually grateful for the opportunity to serve you in Congress, and I look forward to keeping in touch next year. 
From my family to yours, Merry Christmas and God bless.

Road construction won’t delay travelers during the Christmas and New Year’s holidays. The Tennessee Department of Transportation is once again halting all lane closure activity on interstates and state highways in anticipation of higher traffic volumes across the state.  
No temporary lane closures will be allowed for construction on Tennessee roadways beginning at today until 6:00 a.m. Tuesday, January 3, 2017.

“We expect over two million drivers to travel Tennessee roadways during the Christmas and New Year’s holidays,” said TDOT Commissioner John Schroer. “Keeping traffic moving and motorists arriving to their destinations safely is always our goal. Please wear your seatbelt, reduce your speed, avoid distractions, and never drink and drive.”

Except for a few long-term closures which must remain in place for safety, all construction related closures will be suspended during the holiday period.  Workers may still be on-site in some construction zones.  Drivers should obey all posted speed limits, particularly in construction areas.  Slower speeds are necessary in work zones due to the temporary layout of the roadway and will be enforced.  Drivers convicted of speeding through work zones where workers are present face a fine of $250 to $500, plus court fees and possible increased insurance premiums.

AAA predicts holiday travel will increase 3.1% in Tennessee this year, with over 2.2 million motorists expected to travel by automobile in the volunteer state between the Christmas and New Year’s holidays. According to AAA, 103.1 million Americans are expected to travel 50 miles or more, with a record 93.6 million expected to drive to their holiday destinations.

From your desktop or mobile device, get the latest construction activity and live streaming SmartWay traffic cameras at www.TNSmartWay.com/Traffic. Travelers can also dial 511 from any land-line or cellular phone for travel information, or follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/TN511 for statewide travel.

As always, drivers are reminded to use all motorist information tools wisely and Know Before You Go! by checking travel conditions before leaving for your destination.  Drivers should never tweet, text or talk on a cell phone while behind the wheel.

The staff of the Cannon County Senior Center welcomed Dr. Kim Tabor, guest speaker for their recent ‘Lunch and Learn’ event featuring a Q&A on diabetes awareness. Over 25 senior adults attended the luncheon asking Dr. Tabor questions on diet, exercise, medication, and holistic approaches to the treatment and prevention of diabetes. Dr. Kim Tabor is a family practice physician located in Smithville, Tennessee at Saint Thomas Medical Partners – DeKalb. Saint Thomas Stones River Hospital provided winter gloves to attendees, along with a warm welcome by hospital CEO Andy Wachtel.
“We are pleased to introduce Dr. Tabor to Cannon County,” said CEO Andy Wachtel, “and look forward to additional ways that Saint Thomas Stones River Hospital can serve the local community.”

While the holidays are a season of giving and well wishes for most, the Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance’s (TDCI) Division of Consumer Affairs warns consumers that scammers often use this time of year to prey upon the good cheer of others.

“Don’t let scammers steal the joy from your holiday season,” said TDCI Consumer Protection Director Cynthia Wiel. “Guard your personal information carefully and stay informed of the latest schemes and swindles. Remember, ‘if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is’ remains one of the best guidelines when it comes to avoiding scams.”

Tennesseans can fight back against scam artists by taking these basic precautions:

    Be suspicious of anyone requiring you to send money with prepaid money cards.
    When shopping online, use a credit card offering fraud protection instead of a debit card.
    Only shop on secure websites.  Look for https in the address (the extra “s” is for “secure”) and for a lock symbol.
    When it comes to charitable giving:
        Check to see if the charity is registered with the Tennessee Secretary of State.
        Avoid being pressured to make an immediate donation. Don’t hesitate to ask questions to get more information.
        Never write out a check or give cash to an individual solicitor. Write out checks to the name of the organization or use a credit card.

Many holiday scams involve phishing. Phishing is the act of tricking consumers into revealing information or performing actions they wouldn’t normally do online using phony email or social media posts. Cyberscammers tailor their emails and social messages with holiday themes in the hopes of tricking recipients into revealing personal information.

The Division of Consumer Affairs encourages consumers to be familiar with these common holiday scams:                                                                   

    UPS phishing scams: A phony notice from UPS says you have a package and need to fill out an attached form to get it delivered. The form may ask for personal or financial details that will go straight into the hands of the cyberscammer.
    Banking phishing scams: Cybercriminals craft emails to look like notices sent by actual banks in hopes of scamming busy and distracted consumers into providing their online banking usernames and passwords. From July to September of this year, McAfee Labs identified approximately 2,700 phishing URLs per day.
    SMS phishing scams: Scammers send fake messages via a text alert to a phone, notifying an unsuspecting consumer that his bank account has been compromised. The cybercriminals then direct the consumer to call a phone number to get it re-activated—and collects the user’s personal information including Social Security number, address, and account details.

    E-card scams: While sending electronic cards can be convenient and fun, beware if you must share additional information to open the card, or if the sender’s name is not apparent.
    Holiday job scams: Retailers and delivery services need extra help at the holidays, but beware of solicitations that require you to share personal information online or pay for a job lead. Apply in person or go to retailers’ main websites to find out who is hiring.
    Letters from Santa scams: Several trusted companies offer charming and personalized letters from Santa, but scammers mimic them to get personal information from unsuspecting parents. Check with www.bbb.org  to find out which ones are legitimate.
    Family emergency scams: Be cautious if you get a call or email from a family member or friend claiming to be in an accident, arrested, or hospitalized while traveling in another country. Never send money unless you confirm with another family member that it’s true.

For more consumer resources, or to file a complaint, contact the TDCI Division of Consumer Affairs at 800-342-8385 or visit WeHelpConsumers.tn.gov.
 

MTSU will be closed from Friday, Dec. 23, through Monday, Jan. 2, 2017, for the Christmas and New Year’s holidays.
Except for Public Safety, Facilities Services and other essential personnel, all university offices and departments will be closed during this time.
Closures will include the Cope Administration Building; James E. Walker Library; Student Health, Wellness and Recreation Center; Health Services and Campus Pharmacy; Student Union; Keathley University Center; James Union Building; MT Dining food services; and all academic buildings.
The university will reopen at 8 a.m. Tuesday, Jan. 3. Normal business hours are 8 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. The Campus Recreation Center reopens Jan. 3 at 6 a.m.
Murphy Center will be the site for the Lady Raiders 6 p.m. Dec. 28 basketball game against Central Michigan and the Blue Raiders 3 p.m. Jan. 1 Conference USA game against UAB. The Lady Raiders visit UAB at 2 p.m. Jan. 1.
Spring 2017 classes will resume for students and faculty Tuesday, Jan. 17.
 

Well over 100 people attended the dedication ceremony of the specially adapted smart home for Cannon County’s own hero, Army Sergeant Franz Walkup who was wounded in 2012 in Afghanistan.  The home is designed to adapt to the needs of retired Sgt. Walkup accomodating his ability to perform simple tasks of everyday life after he suffered major nerve damage to his legs and severe abdominal injuries.  The home was built through the R.I.S.E program of the Gary Sinse Foundation as it continues to honor America’s defenders, veterans, first responders, their families and those in need.  Through the Restoring Independence Supporting Empowerment program, specially adapted smart homes are being constructed for severely wounded veterans nationwide.  The Foundation along with their building partners have now constructed 31 homes for severely wounded veterans.  For more information about the Foundation and its many programs visit GarySinsefoundation.org.  Franz and his wife Shannon were handed the keys to their new home, where they plan to be completely moved in before the end of the holidays.   WBRY will replay the ceremony live starting at 9:00 Friday morning on AM-1540/Shine 107.1FM.  More pictures are available on the WBRY Facebook and Video clips will be added Friday.
 

U.S. Army Sgt. Franz Ulrich Walkup was born in Reutlingen, Germany on September 12, 1988 and moved to the United States in 2001. Today, Walkup lives in Woodbury, Tennessee. In fact, he is doing more than living in recent days, he is thriving.
The death of his older brother, 1st Lt. Frank Bland Walkup, who was killed in action in 2007 while serving in Iraq, inspired Franz to join the military and serve his country. He was deployed to Iraq for Operation New Dawn in 2010 with Bravo Company 1st Battalion 7th Field Artillery Regiment.
In 2012, after his first deployment, Franz married his wife Shannon Dawn Walkup, and was then assigned to the 3rd Platoon Destined Company, 2nd Battalion, 503rd Infantry Regiment, and 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team where he performed the duties of a Forward Observer. On September 29th, 2012 while deployed in the Wardak Province of Afghanistan, Franz sustained five gunshot wounds from Afghan National Army soldiers. He suffered injuries classified as polytrauma, including major nerve damage to his legs and severe abdominal injuries.
Franz was immediately flown to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center where he slowly recovered. While at Walter Reed, he was assigned to Alpha Company, Warrior Transition Brigade. He has spent the last year at the Colorado School of Trades where he pursued his passion for gun smithing, which he hopes will turn into a career.
On Thursday (12/22/16), Walkup will receive a brand new SPECIALLY ADAPTED SMART HOUSE built in his community of Woodbury, Tennessee thanks to a program called R.I.S.E. He looks forward to starting a family with Shannon in their new home.
Where: 254 Cannon Way, Woodbury, TN 37190
What: Gary Sinise Foundation’s R.I.S.E. program, along with our donors, including Bank of America, FedEx, Semper Fi Fund, The Home Depot Foundation, Phoenix Patriot Foundation, Honoring the Sacrifice and Boot Campaign, as well as our building partners, Shubert Design Furniture, CORE Brands, National Wood Flooring Association, National Tile Contractors Association, GE, Benjamin Moore, North American Van Lines, Sunbelt Rentals, NAHB, Crossville Tile, BrightView Landscapes, MAPEI and American Airlines, will join the Woodbury, TN community in turning over this specially adapted smart home to U.S. Army Sgt. Franz Walkup and his wife.
More:
Prior Dedication Ceremony Videos of Completed Gary Sinise Foundation’s Specially Adapted Smart Homes:

• Christian Brown Dedication: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ul3_odjmyjA
• Luis Avila Dedication: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yJ9E-k4oxJ0
• Guillermo Tejada Dedication: https://youtu.be/E78cB-yXUrI