News

Participants in next week’s race will take home a piece of Cannon County art. Local artist Chad Davis designed the 2019 Cannon Runs for Children event t-shirts.  The t-shirt features the “Spotted Saddle Horse,” a uniquely Cannon County illustration. This is a breed of horse that became famous in Cannon County in the 1970’s.  The horse’s spots may look familiar to you – one of the spots is in the shape of Cannon County.  The horse is decked out in running shoes and carries a pinwheel in her teeth, the national symbol for child abuse prevention.
Cannon Runs for Children will be held on Saturday, June 8, 2019 at Dillon Park in Woodbury.  Registration starts at 6:45 a.m., welcome and instructions at 7:15 a.m., and the race begins at 7:30 a.m.  New this year, the event will be free for children and youth age 18 and under.  The entry fees are $20 for adults and $15 for senior citizens.  The entry free price includes a t-shirt.  Event t-shirts will also be available for $15.

Chad Davis has been an artist since he was a child.  Mrs. Gwen Copeland was his high school art teacher who inspired him.  His Senior year at Cannon County High School he won the first art scholarship that was awarded.  He attended Middle Tennessee State University where he majored in Art.  Davis draws, paints, and does water color, sculpture, and wood burning.  He has designed the McMinnville City Triathlon awards for the last 5 years.  He does commissioned artwork such as family portraits and dog portraits.  Davis works in his family business, Composite Solutions, and his parents and brother reside in Woodbury.

“The Child Advocacy Center is grateful to Chad Davis for donating his time to creating beautiful unique artwork for the Cannon Runs for Children t-shirts,” said Child Advocacy Center director Sharon De Boer.

All contributions to Cannon Runs for Children will be used to provide services to Cannon County child abuse victims, child sexual abuse victims, drug endangered children and their non-offending parents and family members.

Runners and walkers are encouraged to pre-register online at cannoncac.org or through runsignup.com by searching Cannon Runs.  You may also register by contacting the Child Advocacy Center at (615) 563-9915 and requesting a registration form be emailed to you.

For more information about the event contact Cassell Galligan-Davis at the Cannon County Child Advocacy Center at (615) 563-9915 or cdavis@cannoncac.org.

Gassaway will be a busy place this Saturday, on the first Saturday of June everyone is from Gassaway and it’s HOMECOMING!  The decades old event is part community get-together, part music festival and a great way to enjoy the day. 
Start your day with the ham breakfast from 6am until 10am.   Watch or participate in the parade at 1:00pm. The fish supper will be served from 4:00 until 7:00.  At 9:00, games will be available for kids of all ages.  The stage area will be filled with entertainment beginning at 10:00am and continue into the evening hours.
 
The Gassaway Volunteer Fire Department will have the grills “fired” up with hamburgers and hot dogs all day.
 

The Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance’s (TDCI) Division of Consumer Affairs is proud to join the Administration for Community Living in promoting May as Older Americans Month. The theme of this year’s campaign is “Connect, Create, Contribute,” which encourages older adults and their communities to:

Connect with friends, family, and services that support participation.

Create by engaging in activities that promote learning, health, and personal enrichment.

Contribute time, talent, and life experience to benefit others.

Established in 1963, Older Americans Month aims to recognize and honor older Americans for their contributions to their communities. Older Americans Month is celebrated across the country through ceremonies, events, fairs, and other such activities. As part of Older Americans Month, TDCI’s Division of Consumer Affairs is sharing the following tips to help Tennessee consumers avoid scam and fraud tactics often aimed at seniors:
SUBSCRIPTION SCAMS
Some products are advertised as a free trial offer, but the fine print states that once the trial period is over you must cancel or you will be automatically charged a subscription fee. Often times, consumers don’t realize they’ve agreed to the subscription until they’ve been charged multiple times. To avoid this scam:

Find and read the terms and conditions for an offer. If you can’t find them or can’t understand what you’re agreeing to, don’t sign up.

Research and check reviews on the company and product being offered before signing up or entering payment.

Check your bank and credit card statements monthly to identify any fraudulent charges.

TECHNICAL SUPPORT SCAMS
Scammers claim to be computer technicians associated with well-known companies like Microsoft or Apple. They call or send pop-up messages warning of viruses or other computer problems. Consumers are urged to pay for the technician to gain remote access to the device in order to solve this problem.                                                                           
To avoid this typically unneeded and harmful scam:

Avoid clicking on any unexpected pop-ups, spam email, or urgent messages about problems with your computer.

Computer manufacturers will not include a contact number in an error or warning message and will not call you if there is a problem with your computer.

If a consumer falls victim to a technical support scam, a follow-up scam regarding a “tech support refund” is likely to occur. They will ask for your bank account or credit card information to issue a refund, but rather than depositing a refund, they take more money or will make fraudulent charges on the account.

GOVERNMENT IMPOSTER SCAMS
Fraudsters pretend to be from a government agency. They want to gain sensitive information or trick you into sending money or gift cards. Imposters often use ID “spoofing” technology to mask their real number, causing a consumer to think the call is from a legitimate source. Beware these common imposter scams:

IRS scam: Scammer may claim the IRS is filing a lawsuit in your name. They urge you to call back immediately to discuss your case.

Social Security Administration (SSA) scam: Scammer claims your social security number has been suspended and you need to provide your personal information to get the account reactivated.

Medicare card scam: Scammer claims you need to pay a fee or verify information to receive a new Medicare card. While new Medicare cards have been issued, the cards are provided automatically and at no cost to consumers.

FAMILY EMERGENCY SCAMS

In recent years, scammers have become craftier and may pose as relatives or friends in need of help. They’ll urge you to wire money immediately to help with an emergency—like getting out of jail, paying a hospital bill, or needing to leave a foreign country. Their goal is to provide a sense of urgency so that you send money quickly, before realizing it’s a scam. When faced with this situation: Resist the urge to act immediately, no matter how pressing the issue appears to be.

Verify the person’s identity by asking questions that a stranger couldn’t possibly know.

Call the phone number for the family member or friend that you know to be genuine to validate the call.

Check the story of the caller with someone else in your family or circle of friends, even if you’ve been told to keep it a secret.

Don’t wire money—send a check or money order by overnight delivery or courier.

IF YOU BECOME A VICTIM
Have you fallen victim to a scam or fraud? If so, follow these four steps:

Tell your family or caregivers so they can help you and warn your friends.

Call your bank or credit card company to change any associated account numbers and passwords.

Document the fraud by recording dates and the names of the people and organization with whom you spoke.

Report the fraud. Consumers are encouraged to report scams to their local police department or sheriff’s office, especially if you lost money or property or had your identity compromised. You can file a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission through their website or by calling 877-382-4357. You can also contact TDCI’s Division of Consumer Affairs through our website or by calling 615-741-4737.

The Division of Consumer Affairs conducts statewide educational presentations to help older Tennesseans identify and avoid scams. For a list of currently scheduled events, click here.
 

Unemployment rates for 94 of Tennessee’s 95 counties dropped in April 2019 according to data released by the Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development. The unemployment rate in Maury County remained unchanged for the month. 
Ninety-four counties have rates lower than 5 percent and only one county’s rate is higher than 5 percent.
 
Unemployment in Williamson County dipped below 2 percent in April. The county’s current rate of 1.9 percent marks a 0.5 of a percentage point drop from the previous month.
 
Cannon County’s rate for April was 2.4 percent, a reduction of six-tenths of a percent from March.  Only two of Cannon’s contiguous counties were lower, Rutherford and Wilson.
 
Clay County has the state’s highest rate in April at 5.6 percent, which is a 0.4 of a percentage point decrease from the previous month.
 
Statewide, unemployment remains at Tennessee’s historic low of 3.2 percent. It is the third consecutive month the rate has been at the record level.
 
You can find additional information about Tennessee labor statistics on the state’s workforce development website, Jobs4TN.gov.
 

With unusually high and potentially record-breaking heat predicted in much of Tennessee this holiday weekend, the Tennessee Department of Health wants to remind you of the following heat safety tips. 
Do NOT leave children in parked cars for any length of time.
 
Stay Cool:
•             Wear lightweight, light-colored clothing
•             Stay inside in air conditioning
•             Limit outdoor activities to cooler morning and evening hours
•             Seek shade outdoors
•             Pace yourself when doing outdoor activities
•             Wear sunscreen with SPF 15 or higher
 
Stay Hydrated:
•             Drink plenty of fluids and don’t wait until you’re thirsty to drink
•             Avoid sugary or alcoholic drinks, which actually cause you to lose body fluids
 
Stay Informed:
•             Follow local media and authorities for news about extreme heat alerts
•             Know the signs of heat-related illness
o             Signs of heat stroke include hot, red, dry or damp skin; fast, strong pulse; headache; dizziness; nausea; confusion; fainting and/or body temperature of 103º or higher. Heat stroke is a medical emergency – call 911 right away if you suspect someone’s having heat stroke.
o             Signs of heat exhaustion include heavy sweating; cold, pale, clammy skin; fast, weak pulse; nausea; cramps; weakness; dizziness; headache and/or fainting.
•             Monitor loved ones, especially those at high-risk for heat-related illness including infants and young children, adults over age 65 and people with medical issues.
 

Each year, many residents across the Upper Cumberland region struggle with the cost of high energy bills. As the region begins experiencing more days of summer-like temperatures, Upper Cumberland Human Resource Agency (UCHRA) is reminding residents that funds are still available to assist residents facing high energy bills. 
UCHRA is now taking applications for the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP). LIHEAP, a federally funded program, is administered by the Tennessee Housing Development Agency and is designed to assist low-income households in meeting home energy needs.
 
In order to qualify for LIHEAP assistance, applicants must submit income information, energy usage reports, and other documentation. On average, applicants receive a one-time payment of $350-$650 in LIHEAP assistance
 
For more information about LIHEAP assistance, please contact your local UCHRA office or call (931) 528-1127 for more information.
 
 

The Tennessee Department of Agriculture, United States Department of Agriculture – Animal and Plant Health Inspection Services, Tennessee Department of Health, and University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture (UTIA) have announced the detection of the invasive Asian longhorned tick in Tennessee. 
The Asian longhorned tick has now spread to 11 states. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that there is no evidence that the tick has transmitted pathogens to humans or animals in the U.S.
 
Two Asian longhorned ticks were recently found on a dog in Union County, and five were found on a cow in Roane County. In the U.S., the tick has been reported on 17 different mammal species.
 
“Tennessee has a relatively large amount and variety of ticks,” Dr. R.T. Trout Fryxell, Associate Professor of Medical and Veterinary Entomology for UTIA, said. “It is important to be diligent and keep an eye out for all ticks because many varieties can transmit pathogens or cause painful bites.”
 
Tips to prevent tick bites in animals and livestock include:

Coordinate with your veterinarian to determine appropriate pest prevention for pets and livestock.

Check pets and livestock for ticks frequently.

Remove any ticks by pulling from the attachment site of the tick bite with tweezers.

Monitor your pets and livestock for any changes in health.

 

If your animals are bitten by a tick, officials suggest putting the tick in a ziplock bag, writing down the date and where the tick was most likely encountered, and storing it in a freezer. If any symptoms of a tick-borne disease begin to develop, you should bring the tick to your veterinarian.
 
For additional information about the longhorned tick in the United States, click here. To find more information on tick-borne diseases, click here.
 

This was not a good week for the rock quarry operated by Southern Rock Manufacturing in Woodbury.
On Monday at 10:00am, Staci Jackson of Rockvale was traveling west on John Bragg Highway. She told Tennessee Highway Patrol, suddenly rock and clouds of dust began to rain down on her vehicle. This caused damaged to her vehicle hood and radiator.

According to Cannon County Emergency Management, rock from the quarry was blown out from apparent blasting traveled and across both lanes of John Bragg Highway and hit the moving vehicle.

No injuries were reported but several deep marks were observed on the highway because of the hard impact.

The State Fire Marshal’s Office responded Tuesday and deemed it necessary to order the immediate shutdown of all quarry operations for a minimum of five days, effective immediately.

Part of the reason involved the discovery of additional damage caused by the rock fragments, authorities said.

Blasting Conducted by: Hermitage Explosives Corp. of Nashville.

The investigation into the incident is ongoing.

Tennessee Wildlife Federation wants your litter pictures. Whether it’s in the woods, on the lake, along a river, or by the road, send the Federation your snapshots of the cans, bottles and outright trash that make our great outdoors a little less great. 
To submit your photos and help raise awareness of Tennessee’s litter problem, visit tnwf.org/litter.
 
According to Mike Butler of the Tennessee Wildlife Federation, “With the unofficial start of summer, we want Tennesseans to take and share photos of all the litter they see when they are outdoors. Litter is such a big and old problem that we’ve all become blind to how much of it there is in our lives every day.”
 
Litter is more than an eyesore. It has real, measurable effects on Tennesseans and the state’s wildlife, water, and wild places.
 
The Tennessee Department of Transportation estimates there are 100 million pieces of litter on Tennessee’s roads at any given moment and that 18 percent of it will end up in waterways. The Tennessee Valley Authority removed 230 tons of trash from the Tennessee River in 2018.
 
Studies regularly uncover new impacts to wildlife and habitats. For example, after decades of litter that sinks in water—glass, cans, and heavier plastics, such as those used for drink bottles—the beds of our lakes and rivers are fouled, potentially impacting important habitat for native fish.
 
Litter costs Tennesseans millions of dollars each year to clean up and costs others even more. Farmers suffer an estimated loss of $60 million a year and litter stunts the outdoor industry, which generates $21.6 billion in economic activity for the state.
 
Go to tnwf.org/litter and share your photos. And then please pick up the trash.
 
 

Tennessee’s state average gas price is $2.54 per gallon for regular unleaded making it the sixth lowest state average in the nation. Today’s average is three cents less than the average a week ago and six cents less than one month ago and 13 cents less than one year ago. 
The national gas price average today is $2.85, one cents less than last week’s average, one cent less than one month ago and seven cents less than this time last year.
 
Nearly 43 million Americans will start their summers on a high note with a Memorial Day weekend getaway. This long holiday weekend, marking the unofficial start of summer vacation season, will see the second-highest travel volume on record since AAA began tracking holiday travel volumes dating back to 2000, trailing only the bar set in 2005. Overall, an additional 1.5 million more people will take to the nation’s roads, rails and runways compared with last year, a 3.6% increase.