News

The Tennessee Highway Safety Office (THSO) will join various state and local partners today to launch Operation Incognito (OI) statewide. The OI campaign was developed this year to evolve Tennessee’s fourth statewide distracted driving enforcement initiative, known as “the bus tour.” Operation Incognito  will also promote National Traffic Incident Response Week, now thru November 17th. 
According to Tennessee Highway Safety Office Director Vic Donoho, “The primary focus of Operation Incognito is to reduce distracted driving, serious injury traffic crashes, and fatalities. A secondary focus will include saturations of high-risk construction and utility maintenance zones to increase awareness. Drivers are encouraged to protect roadway workers by staying focused and alert at all times.”
 
 

“Spread the joy of the holiday season by becoming a Secret Santa for needy children,” said Child Advocacy Center director Sharon De Boer.  “The Child Advocacy Center is looking for holiday sponsors to make Christmas a joyous time of the year for needy kids.” 
The holidays can become a burden for many families served by the Child Advocacy Center.  For example, a mother and her three children fled their home because their 8 year old daughter was being sexually abused.  Now her mom is now the sole provider and struggling to make ends meet.  She is worried there will be no Santa this year.
 
“The financial impact of child abuse is often forgotten,” said Jennifer Gamble, Child Advocacy Center Family Services Coordinator.  “For many of our families, this is the only opportunity for their children to experience the magic of Christmas.”
 
Your generosity helps provide a sense of normalcy for families who have been through so much.  There are three ways that you can get involved this holiday season:
 
• Sponsor an individual family with holiday gifts for the family and gift cards for food.
• Sponsor an individual family with a Visa, Wal-Mart, or grocery store gift cards.
• Sponsor the Child Advocacy Center through a special holiday donation or in-kind contribution.
 
 
The Child Advocacy Center is a 501c3 non-profit agency and all contributions to the Secret Santa program are tax deductible.  The Center works as a multidisciplinary team with the Department of Children’s Services, law enforcement, and the District Attorney’s Office to investigate and prosecute child abuse cases and help children and families heal from the trauma.
 
For information on how you can be a part of the magic of Christmas as a Secret Santa to an abused child, contact Cassell Galligan-Davis at the Cannon County Child Advocacy Center at (615) 563-9915.
 
 

“Spread the joy of the holiday season by becoming a Secret Santa for needy children,” said Child Advocacy Center director Sharon De Boer.  “The Child Advocacy Center is looking for holiday sponsors to make Christmas a joyous time of the year for needy kids.” 
The holidays can become a burden for many families served by the Child Advocacy Center.  For example, a mother and her three children fled their home because their 8 year old daughter was being sexually abused.  Now her mom is now the sole provider and struggling to make ends meet.  She is worried there will be no Santa this year.
 
“The financial impact of child abuse is often forgotten,” said Jennifer Gamble, Child Advocacy Center Family Services Coordinator.  “For many of our families, this is the only opportunity for their children to experience the magic of Christmas.”
 
Your generosity helps provide a sense of normalcy for families who have been through so much.  There are three ways that you can get involved this holiday season:
 
• Sponsor an individual family with holiday gifts for the family and gift cards for food.
• Sponsor an individual family with a Visa, Wal-Mart, or grocery store gift cards.
• Sponsor the Child Advocacy Center through a special holiday donation or in-kind contribution.
 
 
The Child Advocacy Center is a 501c3 non-profit agency and all contributions to the Secret Santa program are tax deductible.  The Center works as a multidisciplinary team with the Department of Children’s Services, law enforcement, and the District Attorney’s Office to investigate and prosecute child abuse cases and help children and families heal from the trauma.
 
For information on how you can be a part of the magic of Christmas as a Secret Santa to an abused child, contact Cassell Galligan-Davis at the Cannon County Child Advocacy Center at (615) 563-9915.
 
 

On Veteran’s Day, we will honor the brave men and women who have served our country, but did you know that some Tennessee veterans are now serving by producing the food we eat and the fiber we use? 
Tennessee has more than 400 farmer veterans. One of them is Dennis Scales, owner of Running Hog Farm in Rutherford County. Scales served in the United State Marine Corps, and now raises pastured, heritage breed hogs.
 
“Having the opportunity to do what I love while providing for my community is highly rewarding,” Scales said. “The local support for farmer veterans here in Tennessee is unmatched.”
 
The Farmer Veteran Coalition is one source of support for farmers like Scales. This national nonprofit organization offers the Farmer Veteran Fellowship Fund grant program, which provides direct financial assistance to veterans who are in their beginning years of farming and ranching. In 2018, Tennessee farmers received more Farmer Veteran Fellowship Fund grants than any other state.
 
“After all that our veterans have sacrificed for us, they deserve our support,” Agriculture Commissioner Jai Templeton said. “Our farmer veterans have given and continue to give for their communities. By purchasing local food, joining Community Supported Agriculture groups, and buying directly from the farm, we can give back.”
 
Are you looking to support farmer veterans the next time you buy groceries? Look for the Homegrown By Heroes label. Homegrown By Heroes is the official farmer veteran branding program of America. The label shows that agricultural products were produced by U.S. military veterans, and it can be found on more than 70 food items throughout the state.
 
Pick Tennessee is a service of the Tennessee Department of Agriculture that connects consumers to farms, farmers, farmers markets, artisan foods and farm related activities across the state. Look for the Homegrown By Heroes logo when visiting www.PickTNProducts.org and follow “PickTNProducts” on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
 

State Representative Clark Boyd recently met with Cannon County’s newly elected leaders, as well as officials from various state departments in efforts to better meet the needs of the county’s citizens. 
The meeting was held at the Cordell Hull Building earlier this week and included County Executive Brent Bush, Commissioners Kim Davenport, Jeannine Floyd, and Ronnie Mahaffey, as well as Director of Schools, Freddie Curtis.
 
Representative Boyd and the group met with officials from the Comptroller’s Office, Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development, Tennessee Department of Environment & Conservation, the Office of Research & Education Accountability, and the Tennessee Department of Transportation to determine how their strategic partnerships can better improve community conditions.
 
“The citizens of Cannon County have some very strong needs in these specific areas that we must continue to address,” said Representative Boyd. “Together, I know our newly elected leaders, myself, and the departments who participated in this meeting will work together and identify additional resources to better address the critical and evolving needs of Cannon County.”
 
 

Saturday is the day for eating, shopping, saluting and eating. 
The Mooretown Fire Department and their mighty Auxiliary are working early with another of their Fireman’s Breakfast at Woodland School. From country ham to choclate gravy, they have it all. Serving is from 6am -10am. Carryout orders are available by calling 615-542-0282 or 615-542-4108. Woodland School is located at 8383 Jim Cummings Highway, Bradyville.
 
The Parent Teacher Organization of West Side School is holding a Holiday Marketplace is Saturday from 9am until 2pm. Clothing, Jewelry, baked goods, crafts and more will be offered.  West Side is located at 3714 Murfreesboro Road in Readyville. 
 
The Cannon County Veterans Day Parade is Saturday. Represtatives from all branches of the service will participate. The traditional route begins at Middle Tennessee Electric and travels thru town starting at 1pm.
 
Sheepdog R&R is partnering with the citizens of the Auburntown at their Community Center in support of the Auburntown VFD and Cannon County Rescue Squad. Leading the culinary team will be Todd Hollandsworth of Auburntown. Menu: Chicken Fried Chicken w/Gravy, Mashed Potatoes, Fried Squash, White Beans and Rolls. Serving is from 11am – 7pm.
 
Enjoy the cool weather and support our many local events.
 

A joint investigation by Special Agents with the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, the Warren County Sheriff’s Department, and Tennessee Fire Investigation Services has resulted in the indictment of a McMinnville man on an arson charge. 
On March 22nd, TBI Special Agents joined investigators from Warren County and Fire Investigation Services in responding to a structure fire at 736 Depot Road in Rock Island. The structure was an outbuilding that was being utilized as a dwelling at that time. During the course of the investigation, Agents developed information that identified Billy Nelson as the individual responsible for setting the fire.
 
The Warren County Grand Jury returned an indictment charging Billy Ray Nelson with one count of Arson. Nelson was arrested this week and booked into the Warren County Jail on a $7,500 bond.
 

Veterans Day activities begin in Cannon County begin today. Veterans of Cannon County are guests for a special program beginning at 8:30am. Live music, special speaker Honorable Bob Corlew and announcement of Boys State, Girls State and Oratorical Contest 2018 awards. Special displays are scheduled thru and outside of the High School.
 
The Veterans Day Parade is scheduled for Saturday at 1:00pm. 
WBRY will have todays program and Saturday’s parade live on am 1540, fm 107.1 and streaming live on wbry.com.
 

Cannon County is one of the last counties to address courtroom security.  Visitors to the courthouse on the days when court is scheduled may have noticed some of the changes. 
Senator Mark Pody and Representative Clark Boyd yesterday announced that Cannon County will receive a grant in the amount of $5,715 from the Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC) Court Security Grant Program. Cannon County will also provide a ten percent match for the projects covered by the grant.
 
According to Senator Pody, “This grant will help enhance the safety of the Cannon County Courthouse for many years into the future. A safe environment for the judges, staff and community members who use the courthouse is very important, and I appreciate the work of Judge Taylor, Sheriff Young and other local officials who helped secure these funds.”
 
The breakdown of the projects and funds:

$4,500 for panic buttons;

$180 for a handheld metal detector;

$90 for a handheld mirror;

$270 for training; and

$675 for signage.

 
Representative Boyd commented, “I am grateful that our local courthouse was selected to receive this important funding to upgrade current security measures in place. These grant dollars will better address safety concerns for residents who visit our courthouse and also enable members of our local judicial system to focus on their important daily tasks instead of worrying about their well-being.”
 

As tornadoes tore through parts of Middle Tennessee Monday night into Tuesday morning, numerous first responders headed out to survey storm damage and help those impacted, once the threat passed.  
As the danger passed through, volunteers with the Auburntown Volunteer Fire Department headed to their building to grab their gear and noticed glass broken out and their building was broken into.
 
Entry into the building occurred sometime before the tornado hit the town. While the person or persons took items and tools that are important to the fire department, such as a cell phone. 
 
The burglar also stole flashlights, radios from the department, which they weren’t aware of until they arrived at the tornado damaged areas. They were forced to use their personal flashlights, and many had to use the lights on their cell phones. 
 
The department hopes someone comes forward with information about the break-in so they can get their gear back, but more than anything, they want the community to come together to let everyone know that this isn’t what they do in their community. They support each other, they don’t steal from each other
 
The fire department had already scheduled a fundraiser this weekend, and they hope with the money raised they can replace the gear that was stolen, and purchase other gear that is necessary to their service. 
 
Anyone with information about the crime is encouraged to reach out to the fire department, or the Cannon County Sheriff’s Department. 
 
Sheepdog R&R is partnering with the citizens of the Auburntown  at their Community Center in support of the Auburntown VFD and Cannon County Rescue Squad.
Leading the culinary team will be Todd Hollandsworth of Auburntown. Menu: Chicken Fried Chicken w/Gravy, Mashed Potatoes, Fried Squash, White Beans and Rolls.
 
All proceeds will be donated to the VFD and Rescue Squad to offset costs of equipment used by these unpaid volunteers to save life and property.
Sponsors & Volunteers are encouraged to contact Sheepdog R&R for further details. Sponsors will be recognized at the dinner and here. Sponsors: Dixie Belle Antiques of Smithville, Employees of Woodbury Dollar General and WBRY.