News

AAA projects 2.7 million Tennesseans will travel 50 miles or more during the upcoming year-end holiday travel period*, spanning from December 23^rd to January 1^st. This year’s total number of travelers is a 3% increase over last year and the second highest year-end travel forecast volume since 2000 when AAA began tracking holiday travel. 2019 remains the busiest Christmas and New Year’s travel period on record in Tennessee, with 2.8 million travelers.

TENNESSEE	Total	Auto	Air	Other
2023 (forecast)	2.7 million	2.5 million	74,668	107,569
2022	2.6 million	2.4 million	71,238	98,170
2021	2.5 million	2.4 million	60,932	80,389
2019	2.8 million	2.6 million	73,949	97,493

“AAA has seen steady year-over-year growth in travel demand, culminating with what is expected to be the second-busiest year-end holiday travel season both in Tennessee and nationwide,” said Debbie Haas, Vice President of Travel for AAA – The Auto Club Group. “Despite various inflationary pressures, Americans are still willing to budget for travel. With a record number of travelers, the roads, airports and cruise lines will be more crowded than normal. So, finalize your travel plans now, anticipate longer lines, and give yourself extra time to get to your destination.”

Bonnie Patterson, the director of Cannon County Schools, and the bus transportation supervisor, Lisa Black, would like to release the following information concerning weather-related closings.

The determination of School Closings or Delays is based on various factors.

• Actual Road Conditions – Winter weather often arrives overnight or early in the morning.
  When this occurs, Cannon County Schools Transportation Director, Mrs. Lisa Black, will
  contact the Cannon County E-911 Central Dispatch for road conditions. Cannon County
  E-911 information is based on information from Sheriff Deputies, the Tennessee
  Highway Patrol, and the Cannon County Road Department. Bus drivers and Spotters in
  all parts of the county are also contacted for information. Additionally, the director and
  bus transportation supervisor can check road conditions but will rely heavily on the above
  professionals for accurate information concerning all roadways in the county. When the
  call is made to close or delay schools, a Cannon County Schools Bright Arrow message
  will be sent to all who have signed up to receive alerts. (See additional information at the
  end of this press release concerning Bright Arrow messages), local Cannon County media
  are informed, and then the Nashville TV Stations.
• Forecast for the Day. – Cannon County School personnel use the National Weather
  Service Forecast for the day to determine if any weather is forecasted to move in and
  during the school day. The NWS – Nashville Office website is
  https://www.weather.gov/ohx/. Cannon County School bus drivers are NWS Storm
  Spotter trained. This helps during severe weather events, particularly in the spring.
  Remember severe weather can occur any time of the year. Cannon County School
  personnel constantly check the forecast for any weather that could change during school
  hours and each school is equipped with a weather radio that receives severe weather
  alerts.
• Surrounding Counties. Cannon County Schools also rely on information concerning
  weather that is received from surrounding counties. The director is in touch with fellow
  Directors of Schools in surrounding counties regarding weather conditions that could
  spread into Cannon County.
  Closings and Delays.
  When inclement weather is determined, the following information will sent out by Bright
  Arrow, local Cannon County media, Nashville TV stations, and social media.
• Cannon County Schools Closed – All school activities are canceled. A Cannon County
  Schools Bright Arrow message will be issued to all who have signed up to receive alerts,
  and local Cannon County media and Nashville TV stations will be notified. Also, posts
  will be made to the district and schools’ social media accounts. High School, Middle
  School, and Elementary Schools Sports game cancellations are determined on a case-bycase basis, depending on main road conditions. The Director makes the cancellation of
  sporting events of Cannon County Schools in consultation with the CCHS Principal,
  CCHS Athletic Director, CCMS Principal, CCMS Athletic Director, and Elementary
  School Principals.
• 2 Hours Late – Sometimes Cannon County Schools personnel need more time to
  determine whether to close or to see if road conditions will improve. When this occurs,
  school will be delayed by 2 hours. Here are a few examples of how this would affect the
  school day. If your school doors open regularly at 7 AM, they will open at 9 AM. If a
  bus usually picks up your child at 6:45 AM, the bus will pick up the student at 8:45 AM.
  If the school bell usually rings at 7:30 AM, it will ring at 9:30 AM. If a teacher has bus
  duty and typically reports at 6:55 AM, the teacher would report at 8:55 AM. You simply
  move everything up 2 hours. Cannon County Schools could possibly close if weather
  conditions worsen. If this occurs, an additional Cannon County Schools Bright Arrow
  message will be sent to all who have signed up to receive the alerts, along with a
  notification to local Cannon County media, Nashville TV stations, and social media.
• 1-Hour Delay – This is rarely used in our school system. If Cannon County Schools are
  going to be delayed, it will almost always be for 2 Hours Late.
• Other Weather-Related Delays: Sometimes weather events such as tornados and severe
  thunderstorm warnings could delay school dismissal or close early due to impending
  severe weather. This is handled on a case-by-case basis, and a Cannon County Schools
  Bright Arrow message to all who have signed up to receive the alerts will be sent along
  with a notification to local Cannon County media and Nashville TV stations along with
  social media.
  The Cannon County School District hopes this information will help parents, guardians,
  grandparents, and community members understand how decisions and determinations are made
  regarding weather events. Cannon County Director of Schools, Mrs. Bonnie Patterson,
  commented, “Our number one priority is to keep our students and staff safe, and we pledge to
  always “err on the side of caution” when making weather-related decisions.”
  How to sign up for Cannon County Schools Bright Arrow Alerts:

1. Go to http://www.ccstn.net/
2. Go to News & Announcements
3. Click on Bright Arrow – Sign Up for School Closure Information
4. Click To sign up for school closure information notices, click here for Bright Arrow SelfSignup.
5. Fill in your information – Email Address and Enter a password
6. Fill in your First Name, Last Name, Login Password, Login Password verification, Cell
   Phone Company, Email, and Hit Apply, OK., or Test. You will then get a Complete Page,
   depending on what you selected.
7. Now you will get the first alerts the Director of Schools will send out regarding school
   closures for weather and other important Cannon County Schools information!!
8. To Unsubscribe, log back in using your password and Unsubscribe!
   If a person has already signed up for Cannon County Schools Bright Arrow Alerts and has
   NOT been receiving Cannon County Schools Bright Arrow Alerts, they may have been
   “opted out.” To reinstate Cannon County Schools Bright Arrow Alerts, “Text the word
   ‘Yes’ to 87569.” This will “opt” the person back “in” to the Cannon County Schools Bright
   Arrow Alerts. If the person continues NOT to receive the Cannon County Schools Bright
   Arrow Alerts, go back to Step 1 and create a new account.

Bragging Rights for a good cause!

In the first ever Border Battle of high school alumni basketball between the two counties, Cannon County High School swept both men’s and women’s games Saturday night against DeKalb County in Smithville. Proceeds from the event are going to Project Graduation.

Featuring basketball stars from the past, the Cannon County Lions beat the DeKalb County Tigers 66 to 46 while the Cannon County Lionettes prevailed over the DeKalb County Lady Tigers 39 to 33. The DeKalb Tigers Alumni team was coached by Former educator and coach Mike Braswell while former Lady Tiger basketball star MaryAnn Puckett coached the Lady Tigers.

In the men’s alumni game, Cannon County led 17 to 8 after the 1st period, 34 to 20 at halftime, and 48 to 34 after the 3rd period before claiming a 66 to 46 victory over the DeKalb County Alumni team.

For DeKalb County, Trey Jones scored 9, Lucas Phillips 8, Ethan Roller 6, Justin Bone, Tanner Poss, Hayden Thomas, and Brayden Antoniak each with 4, Zackary Vincent 3, and Jordan Young and Colter Norris each with 2.

Cannon County only had six players in their lineup, and they were led in scoring by Brady Cunningham with 23 points followed by Lane Willis 13, Jacob Nave 12, Austin Brock with 11 and Trey Fann 7.

In the women’s game, Cannon County led 14 to 7 after the 1st period, 26 to 14 at halftime, and 32 to 17 after the 3rd period before defeating the Lady Tigers Alumni team 39 to 33.

For DeKalb County, Kelly Parkerson Pyburn scored 10, Casey Bogle Agee 6, Mallori Hart 4, Hannah Panter Bone 3, and Tonya George Lee, Stephanie Hart Williams, Danielle Tyson Horton, Jailyn Bolding, and Gracie Griffin each with 2.

Cannon County was led in scoring by Macy Clements and Amber Burnett each with 10, Erin Fann 9, Hope Young-8, and Dani Young 2.

The DCHS Alumni men’s roster included the following and their year of graduation:

Jacob Rankhorn-2004, Lucas Phillips-2013, Zackary Vincent-2013, Ethan Roller- 2014, Justin Bone-2015, Trey Jones-2018, Noah Martin-2019, Colter Norris-2019, Tanner Poss-2019, Hayden Thomas-2019, Brayden Antoniak-2022, Nathaniel Crook-2022, and Jordan Young-2022.

The DCHS Alumni women’s roster included the following and their year of graduation:

Tonya George Lee-1992, Casey Bogle Agee-1999, Kelly Parkerson Pyburn-1999, Stephanie Hart Williams- 2003, Brooke Hutchings-2012, Abbey Roller-2013, Danielle Tyson Horton-2014, Jailyn Bolding-2016, Hannah Panter Bone- 2017, Lydia Brown- 2019, Megan Cantrell- 2021, Gracie Griffin- 2021, and Mallori Hart- 2021.

The Cannon County High School Alumni men’s roster included the following and their year of graduation:

Josh Rhulen-2011, Jacob Nave-2015, Marshal McReynolds-2015, Austin Brock-2016, Trey Fann-2018, and Lane Willis-2018.

The Cannon County High School Alumni women’s roster included the following and their year of graduation.

Brandi Burnett-2005, Hope Young-2005, Amber Burnett-2007, Eden Fann-2007, Erin Fann-2010, Jordan Hollis- 2013, and Macy Clements-2014.

Special thanks to Media Partner, WJLE

AAA reminds consumers to properly secure and safely transport their real Christmas tree, as many Tennesseans are visiting tree lots and farms across the state in search of the perfect one.

AAA research has found that many consumers do not properly secure their tree when transporting it to its final destination. Nearly one in five real Christmas tree buyers reported previously having a tree fall off or out of their vehicle when trying to get it home.

“Our roadways can be dangerous enough during the holiday season with increased congestion and winter weather conditions – and that’s without the possibility of flying Christmas trees,” said Megan Cooper, spokeswoman for AAA – The Auto Club Group. “If not properly secured, trees can become dangerous projectiles that create hazardous conditions for all drivers on the roadway.”

The Potential Automotive Cost of Real Christmas Tree Mishaps

An improperly secured real Christmas tree can cost drivers as much as $1,500 in automotive repairs, including:

• Surface scratches – $100 to $150
• Replacement of rubber seals on two doors – $220 to $550 (seal costs vary widely with the vehicle make and model)
• Repaint a severely scratched roof – $500 to $1,500 (paint color, finish type, prep work, paint blending with adjacent panels and other factors affect this cost)

AAA offers the following tips to transport a real Christmas tree home safely:

• Plan Ahead – Before heading out to buy a real Christmas tree, make sure to bring strong rope or ratchet straps, an old blanket, gloves and of course – the right vehicle. One with a roof rack is ideal, but a pickup truck, SUV, van or minivan can work just as well.
• Wrap & Cover It – Once you’ve found the perfect tree, have the lot wrap it in netting before loading it. Loose branches can be secured with rope or twine to help protect the tree from damage. Prior to loading the tree, cover the roof with an old blanket to prevent scratches to the paint and protect the car from any damage.
• Trunk First – Place the tree on the roof rack or in the bed of the truck with the trunk facing the front of the car. If the vehicle does not have a roof rack and is large enough – place the tree inside.
• Secure It – Tie down the tree at its bottom, center and top using strong rope or nylon ratchet straps. Avoid using the nylon offered by many tree lots. Use fixed vehicle tie-down points and loop the rope or strap around the tree trunk above a branch to prevent any side-to-side or front-to-rear movement.
• Tug Test – Once tied down, give the tree several strong tugs from various angles to make sure it is secured in place and will not come loose.
• Nice & Easy – Drive slowly and take back roads if possible. Higher speeds can create significant airflow that can damage your tree or challenge even the best tie-down methods.

The U.S. House Committee on Financial Services, Subcommittee on Housing and Insurance held a hearing Wednesday entitled ‘Housing Affordability: Governmental Barriers and Market-Based Solutions.’ The hearing focused on the continuing affordability challenges that many currently face in both the single-family housing and rental markets. Witnesses discussed the factors that have contributed to those challenges, particularly government-created barriers such as restrictive land-use and zoning policies, and various market-based solutions.

Rep. Rose’s legislation, H.R. 5198, the Expansion of Attainable Homeownership Through Manufactured Housing Act of 2023, was one of the pieces of legislation that became a topic for discussion amongst witnesses and lawmakers. The bill, which Rep. Rose introduced in August of this year, would amend the definition of “manufactured home” in the National Manufactured Housing Construction and Safety Standards Act of 1974 by striking “built on a permanent chassis and.”

During the hearing, Rep. Rose gave the following remarks:

“The growing scarcity of affordable housing in this country for both homeowners and renters is a serious crisis. Helping to alleviate this crisis will require, as our hearing title suggests, knocking down government barriers that are standing in the way of helping to supply more affordable housing.

“One such government barrier to more affordable housing is HUD’s outdated requirement that manufactured housing be built on a permanent chassis. A permanent chassis allows manufactured housing to be more easily transported. This is helpful if a manufactured home will be moved multiple times during its lifetime.

“However, many manufactured homes are now built with the intention of being permanently placed in one location and thus do not need to be built with a permanent chassis.

“Eliminating the permanent chassis requirement for manufactured housing from the federal construction code administered by HUD will help to potentially save thousands of dollars on new manufactured homes made without a permanent chassis.

“I am proud to have introduced my bipartisan bill H.R. 5198 the Expansion of Attainable Homeownership Through Manufactured Housing Act of 2023 along with my colleague Congressman Correa of California that will eliminate this outdated requirement.

“I thank the Subcommittee for attaching H.R. 5198 to today’s hearing and look forward to working with my colleagues to advance this important piece of legislation.”

A joint investigation by special agents with the Drug Investigation Division of the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation and the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Department has resulted in the indictment of a Smithville man, in connection to the drug-related death of a DeKalb County man earlier this year.

On February 9th, agents joined deputies in investigating the death of William Wayne Graham. He was found deceased at a residence on Bright Hill Road. The investigation revealed that he died from acute combined drug toxicity, that included ethanol, alprazolam, cocaine, methamphetamine, and fentanyl. During the course of the investigation, investigators identified Scott Ferrell as the individual who provided the cocaine to the victim.

On November 27th, the DeKalb County Grand Jury returned indictments charging Scott Alan Ferrell with one count of Second Degree Murder, one count of Sale of Schedule II Narcotic, and one count of Delivery of Schedule II Narcotic. Ferrell has been arrested and booked into the DeKalb County Jail on a $500,000 bond.

In recognition of International Charity Fraud Awareness Week, Nov. 27 to Dec. 1, Secretary of State Tre Hargett is reminding Tennesseans of available resources from his office to help avoid scams when donating. “This time of year, many Tennesseans are in the giving spirit,” said Secretary Hargett. “Unfortunately, there are scammers who will try to take advantage of your generosity. Before donating this holiday season, it’s important to be an educated consumer with your charitable dollars.” To help Tennesseans avoid charity fraud and maximize their donation’s impact, the Secretary of State’s Division of Business and Charitable Organizations created Wise Giving Tips guidelines, which can be viewed at sos.tn.gov/charities. The Wise Giving Tips are: If a nonprofit asks you for a contribution, check if it’s registered with the State of Tennessee on the Secretary of State’s website sos.tn.gov/charities or by calling 615-741-2555. Take your time. Resist pressure to give on the spot. Ask questions. If an organization has a specific mission, ask how and who will benefit from your donation. If you are asked for a donation via text or email, verify the request is directly from the charity or nonprofit. Do your own research and don’t assume a social media or blog recommendation has been approved by the nonprofit. If you give through an app or website, make sure your donation goes directly to the organization. Avoid giving cash. Always ask for a receipt and if your contribution is tax-deductible. Pay close attention to the name of the nonprofit organization. There are many organizations with similar names. Don’t forget there are many ways to give, such as volunteering your time. If a paid fundraiser asks you for a donation, ask how much the fundraiser keeps and how much goes to the nonprofit. To see if a charity is registered with the Division of Business and Charitable Organizations or to report any false, misleading or deceptive fundraising activity, call 615-741-2555 or visit sos.tn.gov/charities.

Do you have cattle, sheep, goats, or equine animals?  If so, you could be eligible to receive payment under the Livestock Forage Program that is now underway and will continue through January 30, 2024. On Thursday, November 30th, FSA will have staff on-site at the Woodbury USDA Service Center located at 740 Old McMinnville Road, Woodbury. Local producers are invited to call 615-597-6225, extension 2 to make an appointment to file their Livestock Forage Program application in Woodbury. If you cannot visit the Woodbury USDA Service Center on November 30, you can still file your application at the Smithville USDA Service Center through January 30, 2024. The Smithville USDA Service Center is open Monday-Friday, 8:00 a.m.-4:30 p.m. and you do not need an appointment if you are applying at the Smithville USDA Service Center. The Livestock Forage Assistance Program (LFP) has been approved for DeKalb and Cannon counties due to recent and extreme drought conditions that have affected livestock grazing during the 2023 normal grazing period.  LFP provides compensation to eligible livestock producers that have suffered grazing losses for covered livestock on land with permanent vegetative cover or planted specifically for grazing. For a fact sheet about the Livestock Forage Program, you can visit https://www.fsa.usda.gov/Assets/USDA-FSA-Public/usdafiles/FactSheets/fsa_lfp_livestockforageprogramfactsheet_2022.pdf.

Each season, DTC Sports selects an outstanding player from the DTC service area for the DTC Communications Player of the Year. This year, the honor went to standout Cannon County High School senior Tucker Kyne.

Kyne was chosen based on his exceptional performance throughout the 2023 regular season, including being named DTC Sports Player of the Game for his performance against Marion County in Week 10.

Kyne showcased his versatility and dominance in both the offensive and defensive positions. Offensively, he primarily lined up as a tight end, where he caught the ball 33 times for 652 receiving yards and seven touchdowns and added five uncredited receptions in two-point conversions in the regular season.

On the defensive end, Kyne’s explosive first step and ability to disrupt the backfield have earned him the respect of teammates and opponents. He registered 27 tackles for loss, three sacks, and had two fumble recoveries returned for a touchdown from his defensive line spot. With multiple collegiate offers on the table, Kyne is poised to take his game to the next level, as several Division I college football programs have recognized his talent and potential. His decision on where to commit will be eagerly anticipated by fans and recruiters alike.

In addition to Kyne’s award, DTC Communications also presented Cannon County High School head football coach Matt Daniel and the Cannon County High School Football Program a check for $500 for having this year’s DTC Communications Player of the Year. Justin Mauldin of DTC Sports made the presentations to Kyne and Coach Daniel during a visit to the school after the conclusion of their season.

“DTC Communications is proud to be a community partner with the local schools in our service area, and we are equally proud to recognize the accomplishments of the outstanding student-athletes within the area,” said Chris Townson, CEO of DTC Communications. “I want to personally congratulate both Tucker Kyne and the Cannon County High School football team for their remarkable accomplishments throughout the 2023 high school football season.”

This recognition is a testament to Kyne’s impact on the field as he becomes the first Cannon County Lion in program history to win the DTC Player of the Year Award.

DTC Sports and DTC Communications are proud to recognize Cannon County High School senior tight end/defensive end Tucker Kyne as the DTC Communications Player of the Year. We proudly congratulate him and the Cannon County High School football team on their well-deserved accolades.

DTC Communications is proud to continue its long-standing support of its communities and the athletic programs within these communities.

DTC Communications is a member-owned telephone cooperative established in 1951. The cooperative supplies communication, entertainment, and home security products and services to residential and business customers, primarily throughout Middle Tennessee.