News

A Cannon County woman will be one of four riders from Middle Tennessee State University’s equestrian program who have qualified for the Intercollegiate Horse Shows Association nationals The event is begins today in New York. 
The riders, all horse science majors, are competing in Open Reining, Intermediate Horsemanship and Beginner Horsemanship in Western categories at the New York State Fairgrounds Expo Center.
 
All riders have advanced to the nationals by having high finishes in the regional held at MTSU’s Miller Coliseum in February and a semifinal held in Ocala, Florida, in March.
 
 
MTSU’s participants include:
 
• Mary Catherine Wade, a junior from Memphis, who will compete in Open Reining.
 
• Jenna Seal, a senior from Mississippi, who also will contend in Open Reining.
 
• Kailey Vande Kamp, a senior from Gallatin, who will be a contender in Intermediate Horsemanship.
 
• Kaylee Hayes, a junior from Woodbury, who will compete in Beginner Horsemanship.
 
“The semifinals are a pretty competitive event to prepare them for nationals,” Herrin said.
 
Wade earned Reserve Champion status at the regional, with Seal placing third in Open Reining. Hayes and Vande Kamp also were Reserve Champions.
 
Including horse science, MTSU has more than 300 combined undergraduate and graduate programs. The School of Agriculture is one of 11 College of Basic and Applied Sciences departments.
 
 

Are you a landowner looking to establish or enhance your woodland or a logger looking to improve your harvesting capacity? The Tennessee Department of Agriculture Division of Forestry is offering cost share programs to assist forest landowners and industry with improving forest health and sustainability. 
 Forestry programs under the Tennessee Agricultural Enhancement Program and Southern Pine Beetle Initiative were developed to promote long-term investments in Tennessee’s forests by providing cost share incentives to qualifying landowners. The programs promote sustainable forest management practices on family forestland, which provide multiple resource benefits such as timber, wildlife habitat, clean water, and soil protection.
 
Forest landowners are eligible to receive a 50% – 75% cost share reimbursement for funds spent with a combined maximum reimbursement of $15,000 per year. The landowner cost share sign-up period begins May 1 and ends May 31.
 
Tennessee Department of Forestry also offers Tennessee Agricultural Enhancement Program and Southern Pine Beetle Initiative financial assistance for forest industry to help protect stream habitats and overall water quality by utilizing forestry Best Management Practices. Forest industry practitioners, such as loggers and sawmill owners, are eligible to receive a 50% cost share reimbursement for funds spent.
                                                                                                                                                                                    
The programs each have a maximum reimbursement of $15,000 per year, allowing eligible recipients to receive up to $30,000. Tennessee Agricultural Enhancement Program cost share for forest industry is available for sign-up year-round, while Southern Pine Beetle Initiative sign-up period is between May 1 to May 31.
 
Those interested in forestry practices cost share programs should contact their local Area Forester to determine eligibility, implement a plan, and sign-up. For Area Forester contacts and more information about cost share programs.
 

The Tennessee Department of Health State Public Health Laboratory has confirmed two additional cases of measles in residents of East Tennessee. This brings the total number of measles cases in Tennessee in 2019 to three. The two new cases are associated with the first measles case in Tennessee this year which was announced April 18, and were identified as part of the ongoing contact investigation.TDH is providing information about measles and how to prevent it online at https://www.tn.gov/health/cedep/tennesee-measles.html. This page includes the number of measles cases in the state this year, which will be updated daily by 3 p.m. if additional cases are confirmed.
 
While this outbreak investigation is currently centered in East Tennessee, all Tennesseans should be aware of measles and its symptoms. Measles symptoms may include fever, runny nose, body aches, watery eyes and white spots in the mouth. Several days after these symptoms start, a red, spotty rash typically begins on the face and spreads over the body. Symptoms may develop any time in the 21 days following exposure to the illness. Nearly one in three measles patients will develop ear infections, diarrhea or pneumonia. Measles can be fatal in approximately one to two out of every 1,000 cases.
All Tennesseans are urged to ensure they are up-to date on vaccine, which is extremely effective in preventing infection. The measles virus is highly contagious and can stay airborne or live on surfaces for up to two hours. People recently infected with measles may not have any symptoms of illness, but can transmit the virus for about five days before the typical measles rash appears.
 

DeKalb/Cannon Co. Farm Service Agency County Executive Director Donny Green reminds local farmers and landowners of the importance of timely crop reporting.  Participation in most USDA programs requires annual reporting of crops and land use and requires a report of all cropland on a farm, even though the land may not be used for annually-tilled row crops.  
Field Grown and Ornamental Nursery crops have unique crop years. As a result, they also have unique crop reporting deadlines. Below are the crop year period and the acreage reporting deadline:
 
Nursery Crop Year 2020—-June 1, 2019 through May 31, 2020. 2020 Nursery Crop Reporting Deadline (field grown and container)—May 31, 2019
 
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact the office at (615) 597-8225, Ext. 2.
 

Eighty of Tennessee’s 95 counties recorded an unemployment rate in March 2019 that is lower compared to the same time last year according to newly released data from the Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development. Also, in the year-to-year comparison, the rates in nine counties held steady, while six counties saw increases. 
Comparing March 2019 statistics to the previous month, 69 counties experienced a slight uptick in unemployment, while rates decreased in 17 counties and remained the same in nine Tennessee counties. Cannon was one with the uptick.
  
Williamson County has the state’s lowest unemployment rate at 2.4 percent, which is a 0.3 of a percentage point increase from February but is still 0.1 of a percentage point lower than this time last year.
 
 
Clay County has the state’s highest unemployment rate in March at 6.0 percent, up 0.7 of a percentage point from the previous month. The latest rate is also up 0.8 percent from March 2018.
 
In Cannon County, 6,360 persons were working in March out of 6,560 who can work.  This results in 200 persons looking for employment resulting in a 3.0 percent rate of unemployment. In all of the surrounding counties, DeKalb has the highest unemployment rate of 4.9 percent. Rutherford with the lowest at 2.5 percent.
 
Statewide, unemployment remains at a historic low in Tennessee. The March 2019 seasonally adjusted rate of 3.2 percent is unchanged from February when unemployment reached an all-time low in the state.
 
Across the nation, unemployment in March also remained the same as the previous month at 3.8 percent.
 
You can find additional information about Tennessee labor statistics on the state’s workforce development website, Jobs4TN.gov.
 
 

In 2019, Tennessee soybean producers will have an opportunity to compete for awards as well as bragging rights in a new soybean yield contest, coordinated by the University of Tennessee Extension and supported by Tennessee checkoff funds. The purpose of the ‘Top Bean’ yield contest is to recognize high-yield producers, and to identify sound production practices utilized by these outstanding producers to increase soybean profitability for all growers. 

Producers may enter once in the Irrigated and Non-irrigated production contests with first and second place winners at each of the five (5) district levels and an overall ‘Top Bean’ Irrigated and Non-irrigated winner at the state level.

Contest field must be at least 10 acres in size and located in Tennessee, with three (3) acre minimum harvest area to calculate yield.

Interested producers should work with their local county Extension agent to return a completed contest entry form by Aug 1st and completed contest paperwork by Dec 1st.

There are no limitations on legal management practices, and producers will be asked to share their inputs as part of the completed contest paperwork.

A contest entry form is available at your local Extension office and online.  More complete contest rules may be found athttp://utcrops.com/soybean/SoyProdResources.html.

Dan Whittle a noted Journalist from Canalou, Missouri was also a war correspondent, radio talk show Co-Host, Crusader, co-founder and member of the Tennessee Journalism Hall of Fame, class of 2018, Author, Speaker, Nature Photographer and community Activist.                        
Whittle, age 74, of Smyrna, TN, passed away Thursday, April 25, 2019 at 5:00 a.m. after a lengthy battle with leukemia.     
                                                                                               
He worked as a reporter for The Nashville Banner, The Daily News Journal and was a regular contributor as a columnist to The Murfreesboro Post  and The Cannon Courier.
 
Dan would later author many articles about his coverage of the war praising veterans of the guard for their service and sacrifice during needed fund-raising drives to build a Fisher House at the Veterans Hospital in Murfreesboro, TN.  His concern for his fellow man continued through his journalistic efforts which bore his name, “Whittle Mania,” another fundraising effort eventually building 17 homes for the homeless, and providing much needed support for “The Room in the Inn,” a comforting home  where homeless could go for a shower and a good meal, and a good night’s sleep.
 
Dan is the author of three books; Canalou, People Culture, Bootheel Town; Music City, Talent behind the Stars, and a Biography, soon to be published, about his growing up childhood friend Missouri native Gary Lewis, a retired Navy Capt. Jet Pilot and successful Entrepreneur.
 
Funeral services will be Saturday, at 1:00 p.m. at Woodfin Chapel in Smyrna. Burial will be in Mapleview Cemetery.
 
Memorials may be made to The Dan Whittle, MTSU Journalism Scholarship fund at % Abby White, MTSU Box 51, 1301 E. Main, Murfreesboro, TN., 37132, The Tennessee Journalism Hall of Fame, Box 202, Lascassas, TN 37085, The Fisher House Foundation, Box 774, Brentwood, TN 37024-0774, or to Alive Hospice of Murfreesboro at Alive Hospice, Inc. 1718 Patterson Street, Nashville, TN 37203.
 

Inquiries from a County Commissioner about the fieldhouse for the high school’s baseball program has social media busy this week.   An anonymous complaint to the federal government on compliance issues could bring costs to the project.  
Director of Schools William F. Curtis has responded to the inquiry and made a copy available to all Commissioners (and the public).  The release is below:
 
 
April 25th, 2019
 
Cannon County Commissioners,
 
Commissioner Jeanine Floyd recently (Monday, April 22nd, 2019) sent me a list of questions concerning the CCHS Baseball Facility.  I believe that each Commissioner would be interested in our answers to these questions.
 
Thank you for your recent set of questions.  I would like to apologize for the delay, as I wanted to be very specific with researched answers, and our Budget Director was out of the office for a meeting yesterday. I will be glad to furnish you specifics as it relates to the CCHS Baseball Facility project.
 
Format –
Questions: 
RESPONSE:
 
“These plans are very hard to read. Do have anything more specific?”
RESPONSE:  This is what the architect completed for us.  This can be downloaded and then zoom in for closer inspection.
 
 
“Also, do the locker rooms have showers or bathrooms? Why is there just one locker room? I thought this would host traveling teams as well.”
RESPONSE:  Restrooms are included in the plans, however showers are not part of this plan. Athletes most always shower at home after the games, which is not just Baseball, but includes all sports, with the exception of Football.  Visiting Baseball Teams are usually dressed upon arrival, however, restrooms and additional locker rooms and restroom facilities are available at the Cannon County Community Center as suggested by the County Commissioners at a previous meeting.  CCHS Baseball Coach Colin Jones has been provided a key for this purpose.  As a High School Baseball Parent and former broadcaster of 4 years, I know of NO facility in the Upper Cumberland Region that allows use of their practice facility by any visiting teams.   
 
“Don’t you have more specific plans? These plans do not look complete as there are no specifications for height, width, wall size, measurements of doors, electrical and elevations.” 
RESPONSE:  This is what the architect completed for the CCHS Baseball Facility and was used by Mr. Russell Davenport of DavCo Construction Company during the construction of the facility.  Please contact Mr. Davenport at for additional specifications. A Certificate of Elevation was required by the Town of Woodbury Planning Commission and was generously provided as a donation to the project by Mr. Michael C. Roberts, RLC of Robert Land Surveying of Woodbury, Tennessee. A copy of this Certificate of Elevation is attached to this letter.
 
“Are girls going to be able to use this? Are you favoring boys sports over girls sports?” 
Response:  Procedures are currently being discussed and analyzed by CCHS Athletic Director Matt Cagle and CCHS Baseball Coach Colin Jones to permit use of the facility by CCHS Softball and Cannon County Middle School Softball Teams, as well as, the Cannon County Middle School Baseball Team when the facility is available.  Additionally, the Cannon County Schools Veterans Gym will now be available MORE to all the above teams (CCHS Softball, CCMS Softball, CCMS Baseball) since CCHS Baseball has an indoor facility.  There is NO “favoring” ANY Team over another one.  
 
“How much money is being spent?”
RESPONSE: CCHS Baseball Account is running all expenditures through their account at CCHS. The expected expenditure for this project after everything is completed is estimated at approximately $48,000.00.  All of which was donated by the donors, Citizens of Cannon County, and fundraising efforts by the CCHS Baseball Program.  
 
“Have you gone over your $20K allotted for architects this year? Are there encumbrances on that line item.”
RESPONSE: The architect fee for the CCHS Baseball Facility was $0.00. The architect service drawing was donated by the Town of Woodbury through the city architect as their contribution to the project.  As to the Budget Line Item 76100-304 (Architect’s Fees) it has NOT gone over the Budgeted Amount of $20,000.00.  The current amount is $18,747.45.  There are NO encumbrances on that line item.
 
“Has the Fire Marshall approve these plans?” 
RESPONSE: The Tennessee State Building Inspector for this region has inspected the footer, slab, and roughed in plumbing, which all passed his inspection. He is in the process of inspecting the framing and the electrical wiring.  The Tennessee State Fire Marshall for this region, Jennifer Harmon, was contacted and sent the architectural drawings.  She stated that one pull station is required at any exit, approved fire extinguishers be placed in the Locker Room and Practice Area, and that Exit Signs with Emergency Lighting be installed.  
 
“Are wood or steel 2×4’s used? Will there be heating and air in this building? How are these plans showing that this facility is ADA compliant?”
RESPONSE: Wood 2X6’s were used on the outer stud walls and Wood 2X4’s used on interior walls, as well as, engineered stamped trusses.  Arrangements are currently being made for air conditioning and heating for this facility. Architect has reviewed these plans for ADA Compliance, all doors are 3 feet wide, and the bathroom plans are drawn out as handicap accessible.  Mr. Russell Davenport of DavCo Construction is a licensed contractor and is knowledgeable via his training and construction experience on ADA Compliance.
 
“Did you use any county money to fund this building project?”
RESPONSE: The Cannon County Board of Education voted previously to fund $14,400.00 to pay for the Concrete on the facility from Capital Outlay Account # 76100. There was a slight overage on the concrete of $791.00 that the School System also paid on the project from this account.
I received an email on Tuesday, April 23rd, 2019 from the US Department of Justice, Assistant District Attorney Kara F. Sweet for the Middle District of Tennessee regarding an ADA complaint that was received by their office.  I am attaching a copy of this letter addressed to me.  Here are the first two paragraphs regarding the complaint:
 
 
April 23, 2019
Mr. William F. Curtis
Director of Schools
Cannon County School District
301 West Main Street
Woodbury, TN 37190
WilliamF.Curtis@ccstn.net
VIA EMAIL
 
Re: Americans with Disabilities Act Investigation – DJ# 204-71-76
 
Dear Director Curtis:
 
The U.S. Department of Justice (the “Department”) is investigating a complaint that the Cannon County School District is in the process of constructing a sports facility on county-owned property located at 10 Park Circle, Woodbury, Tennessee (the “Facility”), which is not in compliance with Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, 42 U.S.C. §§ 12131-12134 (the “ADA”), and/or the Department’s implementing regulation, 28 C.F.R. Part 35. Pursuant to the ADA, the Department is authorized to investigate alleged violations of Title II. 28 C.F.R. § 35.172. We also are authorized to take appropriate action, including filing suit in federal court to compel the enforcement of Title II of the ADA if voluntary compliance is not achieved, as well as to seek injunctive relief and monetary damages as appropriate. See 28 C.F.R. § 35.174.
 
The complaint alleges that the Facility does not comply with ADA accessibility requirements, including as to ramps, restrooms, locker rooms, parking, braille indicators and other accommodations that are required by the ADA. See 28 C.F.R. §§ 35.151; 2010 ADA Standards for Accessible Design. We understand that the Facility is intended to be used by the Cannon County High School’s baseball team, as well as for other events.
 
 
 
The complete copy of the letter including the10 points that the Cannon County Board of Education will reply to is attached.  I contacted the Cannon County Board of Education’s Legal Counsel, Mr. Michael R. Jennings of Jennings Law in Lebanon, TN on Tuesday evening, April 23rd, 2019 to address our response to the Department of Justice – Middle TN District regarding this ADA Compliance issue.  Also, please see the attachment received with the email of ADA Update: A Primer for State and Local Governments.  This booklet could be utilized as a resource for each Commissioner and specifically the ADA Committee.
 
I appreciate the opportunity to answer your questions.  The Cannon County High School Baseball Team Boosters will be conducting a fundraiser on Friday, April 26th, 2019 at the front entrance of the Cannon County Courthouse from 11:00 AM – 2:30 PM featuring a Taco Salad lunch, drink, and cookie for $7.00. Please come out and support these student athletes!
 
As the Chief Executive Officer employed by the Cannon County Board of Education, my role is to serve as the spokesman for the School System and Board, and to promote our schools’ MISSION – “Preparing All Students for Their Future” through our VISION – “The New E3 – Engaged in Excellence Every Day.”  I am doing just that, and asking for your support of those citizens that are in our schools, which you were elected to represent.  Working together we can make a difference in the lives of EVERY student in Cannon County Schools, and have the best possible school system for generations to come.
 
 
Sincerely,
William F. Curtis, Director
Cannon County Schools
 
Xc: Cannon County Commissioners; Cannon County Executive Brent Bush; Cannon County Board of Education; Local Cannon County Media; Michael R. Jennings – Attorney at Law.
 

A Woodbury Grammar School Custodian has been suspended without pay pending an investigation conducted by School Officials and Cannon County Sheriff’s Department for a violation of the District’s Technology Policy.  School Officials were notified yesterday and the investigation was began with the assistance of personnel from the Cannon County Sheriff’s Department. 

The budget committee for Cannon County Commission have schuled five meetings this month as work continues to craft a budget for fiscal year 2019-2020.On April 15th, board members reviewed budget requests from the County Fire Department, Emergency Management Agency, Board of Zoning Appeals and Rescue Squad.
On April 18th, County Commission, County Executive and County Buildings were on the agenda.
Monday, the budget committee heard presentations from Election Office, Preservation of Records, Medical Examiner, Ambulance Service, Adams Library and Community Center.
Many of the departments have submitted their budgets with no or little increases proposed.
The committee is planning a workshop session to continue their work, the date will be May 9th.