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As Cannon, so went the state on the major races in the November general election. Lee and Blackburn were dominate winners.During early and absentee and early voting, 2,199 cast ballots, on election day an additional 2,492 Cannon Countains cast ballots for a total of 4,691 voters.
For Governor:                   Bill Lee 3,473 (74.54%)                                 Karl Dean 1,157 (24.83%)
For US Senate:                  Marsha Blackburn 3,198 (68.82%)             Phil Bredesen 1,380 (29.70%)              
For US House:                   John Rose 3,043 (73.64%)                            Dawn Barlow 1,001 (24.23%)
State Senate:                     Mark Pody 3,435 (75.84%)                          Mary Alice Carfi 1,089 (24.05%)
State Representative:      Clark Boyd 3,303 (75.38%)                           Mark Cagle 1,074 (24.51%)
 

Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam and First Lady Crissy Haslam today joined Tennessee Department of Veterans Services Commissioner Many-Bears Grinder and Major General Terry “Max” Haston from the Tennessee Military Department to recognize five veteran state employees and more than 470,000 Tennessee veterans of all ages and eras. The Governor’s Veterans Day event was held on the second floor of the State Capitol in downtown Nashville.“Veterans bring a variety of life experiences, technical skills and varying degrees of leadership qualities which enrich our Departments,” Haslam said. “Their commitment to the mission and to public service is a tradition that is evolving into transformation and innovative state government. I thank this year’s honorees and all of the veterans who serve the citizens of Tennessee.”
“It is a great time for Tennessee veterans and I believe we are moving in the right direction in improving how we serve them,” Grinder said. “We are picking up momentum and veteran employees are a big part of the developing solutions to create innovative state government for citizens in the Volunteer State.”
“Today, we come together to appreciate a debt we can never fully repay,” Haston said. “Veterans Day is a day set aside to remember and honor every man and woman who has taken up arms to defend our country. We honor every Soldier, Sailor, Airman, Marine and Coast Guardsman who gave some of the best years of their lives to the service of the United States and stood ready to give life itself, on our behalf.”
There are currently 2,269 veterans working for the state and an estimated 470,390 veterans living in Tennessee.
 
Haslam recognized the achievements of five veteran state employees currently making a difference within their area of expertise with a combined 41 years of state service.
 
John Briggs is currently serving as Transportation Manager in the Aeronautics Division at the Tennessee Department of Transportation. Commander Briggs is also assigned to U.S. Navy Operational Support Center-Memphis. He has held various roles during his 20 year military career, which includes plans, operations, aviation and human resources as well as a recent deployment in support of Operation Freedom’s Sentinel in Afghanistan. In the Aeronautics Division, Briggs’ team has closed 689 projects in fiscal year 2018 and returned more than 7 million dollars in state and federal funds to the general aviation budget for capital improvement projects.
 
Don Coleman is currently serving as Human Resources Manager of the Employee Relations Unit at the Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance. Previously, Staff Sergeant Coleman worked as an Information Management Craftsman for more than ten years in the U.S. Air Force. Coleman’s team has established performance management clinics and offers one on one consultations. He has developed a supervisory boot camp which includes a refresher of respectful workplace, diversity awareness, preventing sexual harassment as well as generational and cultural awareness.
 
Angelo Giansante is currently serving as Park Manager at Hiwassee Ocoee Rivers State Park with the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation. Previously, Sergeant Giansante was a Motor Transport Operator in the U.S. Army with deployments to Afghanistan, Kuwait and Iraq in support of Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom. Giansante has expanded park programming, made critical infrastructure investments at multiples sites and more than tripled park visitation. Since 2011, Giansante has climbed the 125-foot pine trees to place cable and a camera to provide video of the bald eagle nests to millions of web viewers across the world.
 
William Houser is currently serving as a Veteran Resource Coordinator in the Knoxville field office with the Tennessee Department of Veterans Services. Previously, Master Sergeant Houser served more than 20 years in the U.S. Air Force in Cyber Systems Operations. His military service assignments in Iceland, South Korea and Iraq. This emerging leader offers claims assistance in Knoxville, but also drives more than two hours to Johnson City multiple times a week to support a staff that produces more than double the volume of fully developed claims than any other field office in the state.
Paul Nielsen is a Correctional Officer at the Turney Center Industrial Complex (TCIX) with the Tennessee Department of Correction. Previously, Specialist Nielsen was an Aircraft Structural Repairer in the U.S. Army with two deployments in Afghanistan within six years of military service. As a Correctional Officer, Nielsen laid his life on the line on April 9, 2017 to protect his fellow employees during a major disturbance at TCIX. Officer Nielsen responded to a call for assistance and witnessed a fellow officer in distress and under assault. As he and another officer tried to take control of the situation, they were overpowered by 16 inmates and held hostage for several hours before they were released. Paul sustained nine stab wounds and sustained other serious injuries.
 
 

Tennessee Department of Health statistics indicate that 1,268 individuals died from an opioid overdose in 2017. Of that number, 39 occurred in Cannon County. Thirty-nine parents, children, partners, siblings, and friends missing from our community. As these numbers continue to increase annually, the ripple effect being felt by the youngest members of our state and county is undeniable. A child’s exposure to the toxic level of stress associated with a family member’s addiction and subsequent death can be classified as an adverse childhood experience (ACE).Tennessee is committed to learning more about such adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), which also include other traumatic, violent or stressful events. ACEs can impact brain development and impose lasting health effects throughout the lifespan. Based on her research, pediatrician Nadine Burke Harris’s reports, “the profound discovery was that our patients with four or more ACEs were twice as likely to be overweight or obese and 32.6 times as likely to have been diagnosed with learning and behavioral problems.”
Middle Tennessee State University has the opportunity to integrate evidence based curriculum introducing ACEs into MTSU academic programs. The Center for Health and Human Services on campus has recently received funding from Tennessee Department of Children’s Services, through the Building Strong Brains Tennessee initiative, to give students in diverse program areas basic knowledge and understanding of the prevalence of ACEs in our community. The Child Development and Family Studies program will be among those implementing the “All Children Excelling through a Comprehensive Network of Trained Providers” curriculum, thus further expanding our students’ knowledge of the negative effects of ACEs and strategies to build resiliency in individuals.
 

Tennesseans will head to the polls across the state Tuesday to vote in the Nov. 6 general election. Voters in the state will decide our next governor and a seat in the United States Senate as well as numerous seats in the state senate and house.1,378,840 Tennesseans voted in person or absentee during the two-week early voting period which ended Thursday, November 1, 2018. A comprehensive breakdown and interactive map from the Division of Elections shows how this turnout compares to past election years.
Voters can download the GoVoteTN app, available in the App Store or Google Play, to view voter-specific information. Voters can find polling locations, view and mark sample ballots and much more. The platform is also available at GoVoteTN.com.
Polls open at various times depending on the county. Polls in Cannon County are open from 7am – 7pm. Here is a full list of when all 95 counties open. All polls in Tennessee close at 8 p.m. EDT / 7 p.m. CDT.
Being flexible may also help speed up the process. Midmorning and midafternoon are usually slower times at polling locations, while early morning, noon and 5 p.m. are peak times as people typically vote before work, after work or on their lunch breaks.
Tennesseans voting on Election Day should remember to bring valid photo identification with them to the polls. A driver’s license or photo ID issued by the Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security as well as photo IDs issued by Tennessee state government or the federal government are acceptable even if they are expired. College student IDs are not acceptable.
More information about what types of ID are acceptable can be found here: What ID is required when voting? or by calling toll free 1-877-850-4959.
 
Unofficial election results for the Nov. 6 general election will be posted at elections.tn.gov and these Twitter accounts:
 

Falling in line with May’s collection report, many counties in the Upper Cumberland saw little change compared to the previous month; reporting so-so sales tax collections for the month of June according to the Upper Cumberland Business Journal. Some counties, such as Pickett (32.5), Overton (17.1), and Smith (15.8), reported double-digit percentage gains in sales tax collections over the previous month. 
Pickett and Overton each have lead the UC region when it comes to reported sales tax collections. In the most recent quarter, those counties reported a 13.1- and 14.4-percent increase, respectively, over the previous year, noting a 22.3- and 10.8-percent change over the previous year. 
Meanwhile, Jackson (-28.3) and Van Buren (-19.1) counties reported double-digit losses percentage wise. 
Cannon (-0.5), Fentress (-1.8), Warren (-2.8), and White (-4.8) counties each reported marginal sales tax collection losses while Clay (5.4), Cumberland (3.1), DeKalb (5.0), Macon (2.9), and Putnam (4.4) counties each reported marginal percentage gains in June sales tax collections.  
In June Cannon County had sales tax collections of $427,238 off $1,968 of the May collection of $429,206.
 

National Diabetes Month starts this week, and more than 1 in 10 Tennesseans is diabetic. 
At 11 percent, the state has one of the highest rates of diabetes in the country, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
 
While diabetes can affect people of all age groups, experts are particularly concerned about gestational diabetes in women, or abnormal blood sugar levels during pregnancy.
 
An increasing body of research indicates the problem doesn’t stop when the baby is born, says Dr. Griffin Rodgers, director of the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases at the National Institutes of Health, so it’s important to take precautions.
 
“Women with a history of gestational diabetes can take modest but important steps for themselves and their children to prevent or delay the onset of Type 2 diabetes,” he advises. “Keep up healthy habits. See a dietician or a diabetic educator to guide them.”
Rodgers says about half of all women who had gestational diabetes will develop Type 2 diabetes later in life, and their children have a greater chance of becoming obese.
He recommends women and their families work to maintain healthy weights, with good nutrition and daily exercise.
Rodgers says the CDC doesn’t keep specific data for gestational diabetes, but it stands to reason that with a high rate of diabetes in Tennessee, the trend would include pregnant moms.
 
“In general, there’s a fairly good correlation between the prevalence of the disease in the state and the likelihood that the women in the state would follow that rate,” he states.
Diabetes can lead to such serious health problems as heart disease, blindness, kidney disease and limb amputations.
Experts believe as many as 161,000 Tennesseans have diabetes but are un-diagnosed.
 

The fire departments of Cannon County and the Tennessee State Fire Marshal’s Office (SFMO) reminds everyone to check their smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors when setting their clocks back one hour Sunday, Nov. 4, 2018, at 2 a.m. (CDT) when daylight saving time ends. 
“Smoke alarms have proven to save lives in the event of a home fire—but only if they are working,” said Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance Commissioner and State Fire Marshal Julie Mix McPeak. “As daylight saving time ends, we encourage Tennesseans to change the batteries in their smoke and carbon monoxide alarms.”
 
Most fatal fires occur at night while the victims are sleeping. The smoke and toxic gases generated by a fire can cause people to sleep more deeply which lessens the likelihood of surviving a fire. A working smoke alarm can double the chances of survival by increasing the amount of time persons have to escape fires in their homes.
 
To help ensure the safety of you and your loved ones, it is recommended that you replace the batteries twice a year in your smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors. This reduces the chance of alarms chirping to indicate low batteries. All too often, a battery is removed and not replaced, putting a home’s occupants at risk. There’s no way to predict when a fire will occur, so even one night without an operational smoke alarm can be dangerous.
 

A Coffee County man is charged with using another person’s identity in order to obtain controlled prescription drugs. 
The Office of Inspector General (OIG) with the assistance Rutherford County Sheriff’s Office yesterday announced the arrest of Terry Wayne Holliday, Jr., 39, of Manchester. A Coffee County indictment accuses him of nine counts of obtaining a controlled substance by fraud, 11 counts of identity theft and 11 counts of TennCare fraud.
 
Authorities say Holliday passed nine forged prescriptions which he created and used the identity of a TennCare enrollee without their consent. He was arrested in Rutherford County and transported to Coffee County where he was served with the charges.
 
“TennCare benefits are reserved for those truly in need,” Inspector General Kim Harmon said. “Using these benefits to fund the opioid epidemic will not be tolerated. We appreciate the healthcare providers, law enforcement and citizens who provide information about this type of TennCare fraud.”
 
District Attorney General Jennings H. Jones is prosecuting. Charges of TennCare fraud, obtaining a controlled substance by fraud and identity theft are class D felonies punishable by up to four years in prison per charge.
 
The OIG, which is separate from TennCare, began full operation in February 2005 and has investigated cases leading to more than $3 million being repaid to TennCare, with a total estimated cost avoidance of more than $163.6 million for TennCare, according to latest figures. To date, 3,038 people have been charged with TennCare fraud.
 
Through the OIG Cash for Tips Program established by the Legislature, Tennesseans can get cash rewards for TennCare fraud tips that lead to convictions.  Anyone can report suspected TennCare fraud by calling 1-800-433-3982, toll-free, from anywhere in Tennessee; or log on to www.tn.gov/tnoig/ and follow the prompts that read “Report TennCare Fraud.”
 

The state veterinarian has announced five new cases of horses sickened by West Nile Virus (WNV) in East Tennessee. 
Two horses in Washington County recently tested positive for WNV. Bradley, Cumberland, and Sullivan Counties are reporting one case in each county.  Sick horses cannot directly infect people with WNV.
 
Mosquitoes and other biting insects are responsible for transmission of WNV. Symptoms in horses may include fever, weakness, loss of appetite, or convulsions. The illness can cause lasting effects and, in some cases, can be fatal.
 
“Even though it is starting to feel like fall, mosquito-borne illnesses remain a health threat for horses in Tennessee,” State Veterinarian Dr. Charles Hatcher said. “Horse owners should take preventative measures to protect their livestock year-round. The vaccine for WNV is extremely effective. Your veterinarian can help you decide the best vaccination plan for your horse.”
 
Other tips include:
·        Never share needles, dental, or surgical equipment among different animals.
·        Eliminate standing water sources where insects may gather and breed.
·        Manage manure and disposal.
·        Apply fly sprays and insect repellants as needed.
 
The C. E. Kord Animal Health Diagnostic Laboratory now offers a full line of equine disease testing, including WNV, equine infectious anemia (EIA), equine herpes virus (EHV), equine protozoal myeloencephalitis (EPM), eastern equine encephalitis (EEE), and equine influenza virus (EIV). Contact your veterinarian for more information
 

Every 25 minutes a baby is born suffering from opioid withdrawal and 8.7 million children nationwide have a parent who suffers from a substance use disorder according to the American Academy of Pediatrics.  Children’s exposure to their parents drug use is impacting children across the nation. Here in Cannon and Rutherford Counties the number of drug exposed children is increasing annually. 
The Women’s World Summit Foundation is sponsoring the 8th annual 19 Days of Activism for the Prevention of Abuse and Violence Toward Children and Youth.  This international event happens every year from November 1-19.  For the 8th time, the Child Advocacy Center and local agencies that assist drug endangered children and child abuse victims are participating in the event. 
 
According to Child Advocacy Center Community Education Coordinator Brittnie Noble, “The local theme of the 2018 19 Days of Action is the impact on children of their parent’s use of opioids and other drugs. As millions of families struggle with substance abuse, children are left to pay the price.”
 
The Child Advocacy Center is a non-profit agency that serves victims of child abuse, child sexual abuse, and drug endangered children. The Center works as a multi-disciplinary team with the Department of Children’s Services, law enforcement, and the District Attorney’s Office to respond to child abuse cases.  The Drug Endangered Children program teaches families how to cope with addiction issues.  Services include alcohol and drug education, relapse prevention, anger management, parenting and communication skills, and stress management.
 
Child Advocacy Center Cannon County Coordinator Cassell Davis said, “Often the children’s caretakers are single parents or grandparents because one or more of the parents is incarcerated, or uninvolved due to their drug use.  As a result, these children and their caretakers often struggle physically, emotionally, socially, and financially.  At times, these children also begin to experiment with drugs themselves, and the services offered by the Child Advocacy Center help them through the treatment process and are free to the community.  The Advocacy Center also provides In Home Counseling, Drug and Alcohol Education, Work or School Intervention, Court Advocacy, and assistance with food, blankets, clothing, and any other forms of support the family may need.”
 
The 19 Days of Activism Campaign is a multi-issue coalition of diverse organizations and partners to help create public awareness and support at the local, national, and international level to educate the public about the plight of drug endangered children and their families.
 
During the 19 Days of Activism, the Child Advocacy Center has two goals.  The first goal is that the 19 partner agencies will sponsor press releases to educate our community about child abuse, with a focus on the impact of opioids and substance abuse on children. 
 
The Partner Agencies are:

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Middle Tennessee

Boys and Girls Club

Child Advocacy Center

Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) 

Department of Children Services

District Attorney’s Office for the 16th Judicial District

Domestic Violence Shelter

Family Center

Guidance Center

La Vergne Police Department

MTSU Child Development and Family Studies Program

Murfreesboro City Schools

Murfreesboro Police Department

NorthStar Pain Management

Nurses for Newborns

Prevention Coalition For Success

Primary Care and Hope Clinic

Rutherford County Fire Department

Rutherford County Sheriff’s Office

Smyrna Police Department

Stones River Recovery

 

The second goal is the Child Advocacy Center will sponsor Darkness to Light trainings to educate parents, grandparents, and professionals on how to protect children from child sexual abuse and what to do if a child discloses abuse.  Contact Brittnie Noble at the Child Advocacy Center to attend one of the Darkness to Light trainings or bring this child sexual abuse prevention training to your church, school, PTO, sports league, civic group, or business.
 
For more information on the 19 Days of Activism contact Brittnie Noble at (615) 867-9000 or visit the Women’s World Summit Foundation website at http://www.woman.ch/index.php?page=19daysofactivism.
 
Darkness to Light Child Sexual Abuse Prevention Trainings:
Date                                      Location                                              
November 6, 2018          Middle Tennessee State University 
November 8, 2018          Learning Zone
November 8, 2018          Cannon County S.A.V.E.
November 10, 2018        South East Baptist Church
November 13, 2018        Academy of Gateway
November 15, 2018        Little Miracles Child Care
November 19, 2018        Fellowship United Methodist Church