News

Tennessee corn farmers and landowners will be able to vote on a statewide checkoff referendum to consider a 1 cent per bushel assessment of corn sold. Voting for this assessment program will take place Nov. 28 and 29, 2018 at county UT Extension offices, which are usually open from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. If the referendum passes, the funds will be used to finance a program of research, education, market development, marketing, advertising, and other methods designed to promote the increased production, consumption, use, and sale of Tennessee corn products. 
The referendum is authorized by Agriculture Commissioner Jai Templeton at the request of the Tennessee Corn Growers Association, the state’s largest corn organization.
Tennessee corn producers or landowners who share in the production costs or the proceeds of the sale of corn are eligible to vote. 
The Tennessee Department of Agriculture will announce the referendum results Dec. 7. If passed, assessments will begin March 1, 2019. Producers who do not want to participate may request a refund of the assessed amount within 90 days of the sale. 
 

Sheriff’s deputies will join law enforcement officers throughout Tennessee to reduce traffic deaths and injuries during increased enforcement Tuesday and Friday on U.S. Highway 70 South across the state.The Tennessee Highway Safety Office is sponsoring the second “Safe on Seventy” campaign to increase traffic enforcement across U.S. Highway 70 statewide.
 
“The THSO is pleased to launch ‘Safe on Seventy’ again this year,” said THSO Director Vic Donoho. “This is a new, strategic initiative designed to target one of Tennessee’s most problematic highways. We look forward to working with the Tennessee Department of Safety & Homeland Security, Tennessee Department of Transportation and local law enforcement to decrease injury crashes and fatalities.”
 
U.S. Highway 70 stretches from West to East Tennessee spanning more than 500 miles statewide.
 
According to the Tennessee Integrated Traffic Analysis Network Division, Tuesdays and Fridays between 11 a.m. and 8 p.m. have been identified as high-crash periods on U.S. Highway 70.
 
Agencies participating in “Safe on Seventy” will collaborate during this time frame on Tuesday and Friday to combat distracted driving, aggressive driving, speeding and other high-risk driving behaviors. Participating agencies will also increase seat belt enforcement and commercial vehicle safety.
 
The THSO encourages the following safe driving behaviors.

Buckle up and ensure all child passengers are properly restrained.

Never drink and drive.

Rest well prior to driving long distances.

Avoid texting, social media use, video-chatting, and other forms of distracted driving.

Breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer deaths among Tennessee women, with approximately 5,000 new cases of breast cancer diagnosed each year in the state. The Tennessee Department of Health is reminding Tennesseans during Breast Cancer Awareness Month that early detection through regular screening and timely treatment can improve chances of survival of breast cancer.One in eight women with average risk factors will develop breast cancer in her lifetime. Women should begin regular screening with mammograms no later than the age of 50. Depending on risk factors, a woman may need to begin screening at an earlier age. The United States Preventive Service Task Force recommends screening with mammograms every other year for women of average risk of breast cancer, starting with a conversation with a health provider at age 40 and continuing through age 75.
Risk factors for breast cancer include:
• Family history of breast cancer
• Overweight, especially after menopause
• 50 years of age or older
• Previous personal history of cancer (especially breast or ovarian)
• Using hormone replacement therapy for an extended period of time
• Smoking
Tennesseans are fortunate to have the Tennessee Breast and Cervical Screening Program which provides free clinical services, mammogram screening and diagnostic testing to qualified uninsured and underinsured Tennesseans. In 2017, TBCSP provided services to more than 9,000 women across the state. Learn more about the program contact your local health department for information.

The first of two Tennessee young sportsman deer hunts for the 2018-19 season will be held the weekend of Oct. 27-28.Youth ages 6-16 years of age may participate. Participating youth can use gun, muzzleloader, and archery equipment.
Young sportsmen must be accompanied by a non-hunting adult, 21 or older who must remain in position to take immediate control of the hunting device. The adult must also comply with the fluorescent orange regulations as specified for legal hunters. Multiple youth may be accompanied by a single qualifying adult.
The TWRA makes the recommendation that all hunters obtain a 2018-19 Tennessee Hunting and Trapping Guide. The guide lists license requirements, the counties and bag limits for each of the different deer management units. The guide is available on the TWRA website.
 

With ten of the 14 Upper Cumberland counties represented, Upper Cumberland Human Resource Agency (UCHRA) board members Wednesday voted to changetheir bylaws and share a chairman and vice-chairman with the Upper Cumberland Development District (UCDD) according to the Upper Cumberland
Business Journal. Before this action can become official, the UCDD full board will have to vote at a December meeting to change their bylaws also. Each
agency will maintain its own separate secretary and treasurer.
The bylaws change will remove a clause that was added during a period of instability for both agencies that prohibited the agencies from having the same
person as an officer at both agencies.
Executive director Mark Farley suggested the change to the board as a way to streamline the bi-monthly meetings. Instead of stopping the meeting to switch
leaders, the new chair would be able to seamlessly transition from UCHRA business to UCDD business without interruption. The board also voted to prohibit the hiring of any former board member as a new employee for a period of 12 months after serving on the board. This bylaw change would not apply to current employees who serve on the board and this would not prohibit an employee from running for office and serving on the board, if elected.
Greg Wilson, Van Buren County Executive, was elected as chairman and Steve Jones, Macon County Mayor, was elected as vice-chair over bothagencies. They will immediately begin their terms over UCHRA but will not preside over UCDD until after the UCDD Board approves the bylaws change at the December meeting.
Josh Miller, Smithville Mayor, was elected UCHRA Treasurer and Mickey Robinson, Spencer Mayor, was elected UCHRA secretary.
Three mayors were appointed to serve on the policy council: James Mayberry, Crossville Mayor; Curtis Hayes, Livingston Mayor; and Ricky Shelton, Cookeville
Mayor. In Policy Council elections, Ben Danner, Overton County Executive, was elected as chair and Jimmy Haley, Warren County Executive, was elected as vice-chair.
Cannon, Fentress, Pickett and White counties were not represented at the meeting.
 

Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam and Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development Commissioner BurnsPhillips have released new labor statistics that showed unemployment across Tennessee continued at near-historic
low levels in September.
The state’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate of 3.6 percent in September mirrored the August 2018 rate and
is just 0.3 of a percentage point higher than Tennessee’s all-time low unemployment rate of 3.3 percent.
According to Governor Haslam, “For well over a year now Tennessee’s unemployment rate has reflected the state’s
strong economy and our skilled workforce. In Tennessee, we make things, and employers know that we have a
workforce ready for the needs of the manufacturing industry. That, plus our business-friendly environment, is
attracting more and more new employers to the state, creating new job opportunities for our citizens.”
Tennessee employers added 8,600 nonfarm jobs between August and September, including 2,300 new positions in
the manufacturing industry. Over the past 12 months, nonfarm employment has increased by 63,900 jobs.
The seasonally adjusted United States unemployment rate dipped down to 3.7 percent, a 0.2 of a percentage point
decrease from the August rate. In September 2017 the national rate was 4.2 percent.
The statewide unemployment rate is seasonally adjusted to eliminate the influences of weather, holidays, the
opening and closing of schools, and other recurring seasonal events from an economic time series.
Tennesseans looking to improve their employment situation can access the latest job openings, update their
resumes, and sharpen their job interview skills by visiting the state’s workforce development website.
 

Shortly after 5pm yesterday, Woodbury Fire and Police personal responded to a suspected house fire onWest Colonial Street in Woodbury.
According to Woodbury Police Chief Lowell Womack, the home was filled with smoke upon arrival of first responders. Early reports indicate the smoke was generally
centered around the electrical breaker box in the home. Residents and pets were cleared from the home while fire officials attempted to determine the origion fo the smoke.
No one was injuried. Sheriff’s department and county departments assisted in the effort.

Not everyone out Halloween night will be seeking treats. 
Tennessee Department of Correction officers will be keeping an eye on registered sex offenders to make sure they’re complying with rules that require them to stay away from children. Sue Siedentop, correctional administrator for TDOC, said the department enforces strict rules regarding sex offenders year round. But especially during Halloween, she said TDOC tries to provide an extra layer of accountability through “Operation Blackout.”
 
“Our officers do a great job ensuring that offenders adhere to the conditions of their supervision,” Siedentop said in a statement. “But during Halloween — when thousands of children are going to be going door to door — our officers will be out in the community to make sure that these kids have a safe night.” TDOC has about 3,300 registered sex offenders under its supervision. Rules to which they must agree on Halloween include:
 
TDOC officers will canvas the state, visiting offenders determined to be a high risk to make sure they’re in compliance.
 
In addition to the TDOC action, Siedentop recommends other tips for parents:
 
Being in their homes by 6 p.m.
 
Not having any Halloween decor
 
Keeping porch lights turned off
 
Not distributing any Halloween candy
 
Not attending any Halloween functions
 
Go with children when trick-or-treating
 
If children do go out alone, make sure you know where they will be trick-or-treating
 
Check the TBI Sex Offender Registry (https://www.tn.gov/tbi/general-information/redirect-tennessee-sex-offend…
registry-search.html) to know houses to avoid Contact local law enforcement if suspicious activity is spotted
If you see a known TDOC-supervised offender at a Halloween event or with decorations, call 1-844-TDC-FIND to report it.
 

With overnight temperatures dipping into the 30’s this week, UT Extension Agent BruceSteelman wants to remind area residents how temperatures can affect grasses.
The cool temperatures of fall are rapidly approaching. The cool weather is usually good
for grasses like tall fescue and orchardgrass. But sorghums used for forage can be toxic after a
frost. The frost causes the release of prussic acid, or cyanide. Small amounts of prussic acid can
be highly toxic to cattle. There are several things to know in order to prevent prussic acid
poisoning in your livestock.
Which species of grass have this problem? Forages in the Sorghum genus have this problem.
The three primary forages that we use in this genus are sorghum x sudangrass hybrids,
johnsongrass and forage sorghums. These are all warm-season grass species. Grasses like tall
fescue, orchardgrass, and annual ryegrass do not have the potential to produce prussic acid.
Other warm-season species such as bermudagrass, crabgrass, teffgrass and pearl millet also do
not have this problem.
What causes the problem? Leaves of these plants contain chemicals called glycosides
naturally occurring in the cells. When the plants are stressed, these chemicals break down to
release cyanide. Usually the stress we think of is frost, but it can also occur if the plants are
drought stressed.
Does prussic acid break down naturally? The prussic acid will break down over the course of
10 days to two weeks. Because of this, there is no danger of having prussic acid in sorghum x
sudangrass or johnsongrass if it has been dried enough to make hay. Waiting two week before
feeding will prevent any problem.
How can I avoid this problem? The best thing to do is avoid grazing sorghums when there is
the potential of frost. As we move into fall, it is best to cut these forage species for hay and
avoid any risk of prussic acid poisoning through grazing. If you decide to grazing, wait to graze
all of this forage until it is totally brown and dried.
What about tall fescue fields with patches of johnsongrass? This is often a difficult situation.
If there is plenty of tall fescue for cattle to eat, they will avoid consuming johnsongrass in the fall
because the tall fescue is much more palatable. Many fields across the southeast have small
patches of johnsongrass scattered throughout. But make sure there is plenty of tall fescue growth
for cattle to graze. If the johnsongrass begins to cover more than 25-30 percent of the ground,
you may want to stockpile this field and graze it after the johnsongrass is totally brown and dead.
This will prevent any prussic acid danger.

Registered voters have the opportunity to vote prior to the November general election. Theballot includes the governors race, a decision on in the United States Senate. Decisions also on
state senate and state house of representatives.
Early Voting begins today and continues through November 1st at the Election Office
(back of the old hospital, 301 West Main Street #244).
Early voting hours are Monday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday from 8am to 1pm /
Tuesday and Thursday 4:00pm to 7:00pm.