News

The Tennessee State Fire Marshal’s Office (SFMO) is raising awareness of key fire safety messages for National Fire Prevention Week (October 7-13). This year’s theme is “Look. Listen. Learn. Fire can happen anywhere.” This theme, which is created by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), aims to educate consumers on three basic but imperative steps needed to reduce the likelihood of fire—and teach consumers what to do if a fire should occur. 
Fire Prevention Week is observed each year during the week of October 9th to commemorate the Great Chicago Fire. This horrific fire, which occurred in 1871, killed more than 250 people, left 100,000 homeless, destroyed over 17,000 structures, and burned more than 2,000 acres of land.
 
To officially launch Fire Prevention Week in Tennessee, the SFMO partnered with several Tennessee fire departments, the Nashville Area Chapter of the American Red Cross, the Tennessee Division of Forestry, and the Tennessee Fire Service & Codes Enforcement Academy (TFACA) to host a Fire Prevention Week Kickoff event recently in Nashville.
 
“Fire Prevention Week is a long-standing tradition that prioritizes fire safety education,” said Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance Commissioner and State Fire Marshal Julie Mix McPeak. “This year’s theme is a great reminder that no one is immune to home fires, but there are precautions you can take to lessen your chances and ensure your family is safe should disaster strike.”
 
The SFMO and NFPA share the following tips to help you and your family stay fire safe:
 
LOOK
Fire can happen anywhere. Look around your home for places fire can happen.

In the kitchen, ensure items are kept away from the stovetop. Any food being cooked should be watched closely. Never leave food unattended on the stovetop.

When using heaters, keep them at least 3 feet away from anything that can burn. Always turn heaters off when going to bed or leaving the room.

Ensure all electrical work is done by a qualified electrician. Don’t use extension cords as a permanent solution and never run them under rugs or carpets.

  
LISTEN
Know the sound your smoke alarms make.

Make sure everyone in the home knows the sound of the smoke alarm and understands what to do if it sounds.

When a smoke alarm sounds, get out and stay out. Go to your designated meeting place and call 9-1-1.

Test all smoke alarms monthly and replace them if they are 10 years old or older.

LEARN
Learn two ways out of every room.

Create an escape plan with all members of the household. Draw a map of each level of the home and make sure you know two ways out of every room. The SFMO has a free fire escape plan grid with instructions and handy tips on keeping your family safe.

Practice day and nighttime home fire drills.

If you live in a high-rise or condo, ensure you know the evacuation procedures.

NFPA has sponsored Fire Prevention Week since 1922. In 1925, President Calvin Coolidge proclaimed Fire Prevention Week a national observance, making it the longest-running public health observance in the United States. For more information on Fire Prevention Week, visit nfpa.org/fpw.
 
Additional tips for keeping your family safe from the dangers of fire can be found at tn.gov/fire.
 

Not all topics on the agenda of the County Commission meeting Saturday were reviewed.  For the second time in the last two months the meeting was recessed.Woodbury Mayor Andy Duggin addressed the commissioners to reconsider their decision to not to pay the tipping fees for household trash collected from the county’s fifth district.  As Duggin reviewed the plan he was meet with hostility from some commissioners. The current decision from the county places them in violation of state statues.   After some discussion the commissioners voted to move the request to the county’s solid waste committee by a vote of 7-2.  However, at that point in the meeting no solid waste committee had been approved.
Fred Howell of the Industrial Development Board informed the commissioners the IDB will be needing office space in a few months. The commissioners moved review of that request to committee.  The Commissions did approve use of County Courthouse for meetings of the Industrial Development Board.
Ralph Harvey addressed the commissioners to request reconsideration of the distance ordinance on businesses selling beer.  After much discussion, commissioners voted to keep the current distance in place.
Many of the department head reports were not heard due to the recess of the meeting and many in attendance had a conflict with the re-scheduling of the end of the meeting.
 

 The new Tennessee State Museum at Bicentennial Capitol Mall State Park opened its doors to the public today with a ribbon cutting ceremony, comments by dignitaries and Museum officials, performances by area musicians and the participation of local schoolchildren. 
“A lot of work has gone into this project, and I’m pleased to say that it is on time and under budget,” Gov. Bill Haslam said. “Our goal was to build a museum that would 100 years from now reflect something that Tennesseans will be proud of and still be a vital part of Bicentennial Mall. I believe we’ve exceeded that goal with a space to showcase the rich history of our state and provide a memorable experience to visitors of all ages. This is an exciting day for Tennessee.”
 
The governor was joined by Tom Smith, chairman of the Douglas Henry State Museum Commission; Ashley Howell, executive director of the Tennessee State Museum; Drew Holcomb, singer-songwriter; students from the John Early Museum Magnet Middle School; the Tennessee State University Aristocrat of Bands; and U.S. Senator Lamar Alexander, who delivered the keynote address.
 
The senator was governor when the Museum opened in the James K. Polk building in 1981.
 
“Forty years ago, I walked across Tennessee in my campaign for governor, 1022 miles from Maryville to Mountain City to Memphis. My walk took six months,” Alexander said. “Today, in this magnificent new Tennessee State Museum you can walk across the state in 30 minutes and get to know the state pretty well. Even a short walk in the Children’s Gallery will give you a taste of the treasures assembled in this Museum or take a different kind of walk through the Tennessee Time Tunnel from prehistoric days until today.
 
“Our children need to learn American history and Tennessee history, so they can grow up knowing what it means to be an American and a Tennessean. Learning history helps to understand what is happening today and helps to navigate tomorrow.”
The Museum is comprised of six permanent exhibitions ranging from First Peoples beginning in 13,000 BCE to Present Day, six temporary galleries highlighting the work of Red Grooms, Tennessee’s Musical Heritage and WWI, among others, a Children’s Gallery, a Digital Learning Center, and more. It is free to the public and open until 8:00 p.m. on its opening day. Hours for the rest of opening weekend are Friday and Saturday, 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. CDT; Sunday, 1:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. CDT; and Monday, 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. CDT.
 
“Today, we open our doors, and we open our minds.” said Howell. “We open our minds to learn more about those who lived, and served and died; to learn more about creativity, ingenuity, and perseverance that shapes our history, art and culture. To the people of Tennessee, this is your Museum and these are your stories, and we can’t wait to welcome you all today and for the many years to come.
About the Tennessee State Museum:
For over 35 years, the Tennessee State Museum, one of the oldest and largest state museums in the nation, has been confined to the lower levels of the James K. Polk State Office Building.
In 2015, Gov. Bill Haslam proposed and the Tennessee General Assembly appropriated $120 million to build a new home for the museum with the additional funding to complete the project to be raised in private contributions.  To date, more than $30 million in private donations have been raised, and the construction of the new museum is running on time and on budget. 
 
The former Tennessee State Museum hosted approximately 115,000 visitors each year.  The new museum, which is located on the northwest corner of the Bicentennial Mall in Nashville, is expected to host more than 220,000 visitors annually, adding to the growing menu of memorable and educational opportunities Tennessee has to offer.
 
For more information about the new Tennessee State Museum, visit tnmuseum.org.
 

With campaign signs dotting the landscape across the state, it’s no secret that the midterms are around the corner. But a new poll from AARP indicates there’s something missing in the campaign rhetoric.The survey found 91 percent of Tennessee voters age 50 and older think Medicare is very important for people’s health in retirement, and almost as many prioritize Social Security benefits. While most people have a clear position on these programs, Rebecca Kelly, director of AARP Tennessee, said the state’s candidates for governor and U.S. Senate haven’t made their plans known for either program.
“None of the candidates right now for U.S. Senate or gubernatorial race are talking about the issues that people over 50 care most about,” she said, “and that is lowering health-care costs and strengthening and reforming Social Security.”
Phil Bredesen, the Democratic candidate for the open U.S. Senate seat, said he believes cost savings can be found in Medicare and Medicaid if the programs were made more efficient. Republican candidate Marsha Blackburn has said she’ll support President Donald Trump’s agenda, which in the past has proposed cutting the Medicare budget. The positions of the state’s candidates for governor are unclear.
Other priorities identified in the poll include continued protections for people with pre-existing health conditions, protecting older Americans from paying much higher prices for health coverage, and supporting an income-tax credit for family caregivers. Kelly noted that many of the issues raised in the poll affect people of all ages.
“These issues are not only important to people over 50, but multi-generations,” she said, “because many of us are caring for people older and younger than us, and health care is across the board. Prescription drug issues are across the board.”
On Oct. 15, Gubernatorial candidate Karl Dean and a representative from Bill Lee’s campaign will discuss aging issues with FiftyForward and the Nashville Council on Aging at the Patricia Hart Building in Nashville.
The AARP state report is online at aarp.org.
 
 

Congratulations to the Cannon County 4-H Poultry Judging teams! At the Central Region 4-H Poultry Judging Contest held in Lebanon the junior high team placed 3rd and the senior high team placed 1st. The senior high team will advance to the state judging contest held in Knoxville. Congratulations to the Cannon County 4-H Senior High Poultry Judging Team for winning 1st at the Central Region 4-H Poultry Judging Contest! Congratulations to William Davis for placing 7th high individual out of 77 junior high participants. Congratulations to my senior high team members:  Abbye Moore for placing 3rd high individual, Austin Grant for placing 5th high individual, and Will Byford for placing 7th high individual.  All nine 4-H members spent many hours practicing and it paid off. 
To learn more about the Cannon County 4-H, we invite you to tune in to  After 8 on WBRY, Tuesday mornings when the focus is on the work of the UT Extension Service.
 

The Mayor and Board of Alderman are crafting a way to address the solid waste needs of the town of Woodbury without the county’s transfer station.   In their meeting Tuesday night, Public Works Director Shane Gannon reviewed several options. Some of the items presented included: 
The continuation or end of providing commercial trash pickup for the town’s 23 dumpsters.
The possibility of changing residental pickup from two days weekly to three days weekly.
The change of route days could result in more labor for things like cleaning or patching streets, work in parks and other duties.
A possible change of moving the dumping from Rutherford County to Warren County.
 
Alderman will address of the suggestions and numbers that accompany them.  Decisions could come as early as the next meeting on November 6th.
 

The Federal Emergency Management Agency in coordination with the Federal Communications Commission, will conduct a nationwide test of the Emergency Alert System and Wireless Emergency Alerts on Wednesday, October 3, 2018. The Wireless Emergency Alert portion of the test, which will be sent to consumer cell phones, will begin at 1:18 p.m. The Emergency Alert System  portion of the test, which will be sent to radio and television, will follow at 1:20 p.m. This will be the fourth nationwide EAS test and the first nationwide WEA test. In light of the upcoming test, the agencies share the following key informational points: 
 
THE BASICS
 
• WHY: The purpose of the test is to ensure that EAS and WEA are both effective
means of warning the public about emergencies, particularly those on the national
level.
 
• HOW: The EAS and WEA test messages will be sent using FEMA’s Integrated Public
Alert and Warning System (IPAWS), a centralized Internet-based system administered
by FEMA that enables authorities to send authenticated emergency messages to the
public through multiple communications networks.
 
• WHO: FEMA will administer the test, in cooperation with the FCC and the National
Weather Service, and with the participation of the communications industry.
 
• WHEN: October 3, 2018, beginning at 1:18 p.m. on cell phones and 2:20 p.m.
on TV and radio. (This is the test back-up date; the test was previously postponed
due to response efforts to Hurricane Florence.)
 
The WEA test message will appear on consumers’ phones and read, “THIS IS A TEST of the National Wireless
Emergency Alert System. No action is needed.” Phones will display this national test using the header “Presidential Alert.” These nationwide alerts, established pursuant to the WARN Act of 2006, are meant for use in a national emergency and are the only type of alert that can be sent simultaneously nationwide by FEMA.
 

Education Commissioner Candice McQueen announced that the 2017-18 high school graduation rate held steady at 89.1 percent, which is the highest graduation rate on record for Tennessee. This year, more than 56 percent of districts with high schools saw their graduation rates improve when compared to last year’s rates. 
According to Commissioner McQueen, “Our schools and districts should be proud that once again we have hit our state’s highest graduation rate on record while still holding our students to high expectations. By continuing to raise the expectations, we are signaling that Tennessee students are leaving high school with the knowledge and skills to be successful in college and the workforce. This graduation rate is a testament to the work being done by teachers and students in schools across the state.”
 
 
Under the Haslam administration, Tennessee has set high expectations for both students and educators, and students have made significant gains as a result. As part of this work, the state transitioned to a more rigorous calculation for graduation rates in 2011, and even under the new criteria, rates have continued to rise.
 
Additionally, the state raised the bar for graduation expectations when the State Board of Education included participation in the ACT or SAT as a graduation requirement for Tennessee students.  This year’s results are the first to reflect this change in accountability.
 
Cannon County Director of Schools William F. Curtis stated, “Cannon County High School’s Graduation Rate is 89.8%.  We are above the 89.1% – the average of all high schools, which is the highest graduation rate on record for Tennessee. Many of our subgroups were over 90%, but we have much work to be done to get to the ultimate goal of 100%.  We set as a goal each year to be over 90%, but our goal is for EVERY student that starts as a Freshman at Cannon County High School to graduate and be prepared for their future though post-secondary opportunities. We desire to be ‘Engaged in Excellence Every Day.’  Excellence would be 100% of all students would graduate and go onto other post-secondary educational opportunities.  That is our goal to have all our students as TN Ready Graduates.”
 

Tennesseans are protected every day by public health workers dedicated to preventing the spread of rabies. Tennessee rabies prevention efforts include state laws requiring vaccination of cats and dogs, oral vaccination campaigns for wild raccoons, testing of potentially rabid animals and evaluation of possible rabies exposures in people and domestic animals. The Tennessee Department of Health is observing World Rabies Day reminding residents how to protect themselves, their families and their pets from rabies.According to Tennessee Department of Health Commissioner John Dreyzehner “In the early 1900s, more than 100 people died from rabies in the U.S. each year. By the 1990s, only one or two human rabies deaths were reported in   our country annually, thanks to modern preventive treatment and an effective vaccine. This triumph is due to the work of public health and the veterinary community in promoting and providing this life-saving preventive treatment and working to support laws and policies for its widespread and continued use.”
Rabies is a virus that infects the brain and spiral cord. It is spread through the saliva of an infected animal. Once disease develops, rabies is almost always fatal; however, rabies is 100 percent preventable if treated promptly before symptoms develop. Rabies preventive treatment is a series of shots called rabies post-exposure prophylaxis, or PEP.
In the United States, rabies in humans is very rare, but human exposures to animals that could carry rabies are relatively common. Every year approximately 40,000 – 50,000 people in the U.S. receive rabies preventive treatment after being exposed to a potentially rabid animal. Wild animals are the most common carriers of rabies in the U.S. In Tennessee, the most commonly identified rabid animals are bats, skunks and raccoons. Other wildlife and domestic animals can get rabies if they are bitten by an infected animal. If a person or pet is bitten by or exposed to another wild or domestic animal that could be rabid, do the following: • Immediately wash the wound with soap and water • See a health care provider for evaluation of any wounds • Contact your local health department to determine the risk of rabies and necessary follow-up
The mission of the Tennessee Department of Health is to protect, promote and improve the health and prosperity of people in Tennessee. TDH has facilities in all 95 counties and provides direct services for more than one in five Tennesseans annually as well as indirect services for everyone in the state, including emergency response to health threats, licensure of health professionals, regulation of health care facilities and inspection of food service establishments. Learn more about TDH services and programs at www.tn.gov/health.
 

A Bedford County man wanted by authorities and listed as one of Tennessee Bureau of Investigation’s Top 10 Most Wanted suspects was arrested by Murfreesboro Police on Saturday night.Jesse Ray Laurin, 32, was wanted by Shelbyville Police on a charge of second-degree murder of a Cannon County man in a fatal stabbing on September 26th, according to the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation.
Officers responded to the scene on Choctaw Drive just after 12:30 a.m. Wednesday. They attempted to perform life-saving measures on the victim, 25 year-old William Prater, but he later died from his injuries.
Funeral services for Prater were held Saturday.