News

A great old building in rural Rutherford County that is more than 100 years old, was some form of a country store located in the tiny hamlet of Milton, Tennessee, just off Highway 96 in Rutherford County – close to Lascassas has returned to life. 
 
Phillip and Alanna Vaught bought the community landmark in late February of the year at an auction.  Although it had stood empty for nearly a decade, the couple that lives nearby on a farm in Auburntown, Tennessee looked through the dirt, dust and cobwebs and saw a place that still had a soul and a story to tell. 
 
 
They knew it was where the community gathered through the years — for a soft drink, bottle of milk and to learn the latest news.  With that in mind, Alanna wanted it to be a place where people would continue to gather and make memories in Milton.
 
 
Alanna teaches in the School of Agriculture at Middle Tennessee State University and Phillip is an entrepreneur involved in a variety of businesses.
 
 
They have poured months of renovation, repair and plans into the building this year and plan to celebrate its opening on, Saturday, Oct. 13 with a day-long Fall Market and Craft Fair — more than 50 booths will be located in the building and outside on a lot next door. Additionally, there will be food trucks, homemade sweet treats, children’s activities, including a petting zoo and live music.
 
 
Starting in early November the building, which can accommodate up to 99 people, will be available for people to rent for events.
 

On Monday, September 24, the Tennessee Highway Safety Office (THSO) joined the Tennessee Department of Health, the Tennessee Highway Patrol (THP), local law enforcement, local officials, and community advocates for a special event at the Rutherford County Health Department in Murfreesboro to kick off National Child Passenger Safety Week. 
This celebratory event honored Dr. Robert Sanders, the Murfreesboro pediatrician known as “Dr. Seat Belt” due to his extraordinary role in the passage of Tennessee’s Child Passenger Protection Act in 1977. A historical marker was unveiled to commemorate Dr. Sanders and the implementation of this legislation 40 years ago. Installation of the marker was initiated by Dr. Charles E. Goodman, Jr., and sponsored by the Tennessee Medical Association.
 
According to Tennessee Highway Safety Office Director Vic Donoho, “It is an honor for our office to participate in this commemoration by supporting Dr. Charles Goodman and Mrs. Pat Sanders. The work of Dr. Robert Sanders paved the way for agencies like the Tn Highway Safety Office to educate local communities and further prevent child injuries and fatalities. Currently our supports over 100 fitting stations across the state. These fitting stations conduct over 200 community events throughout the year.”
 
Dr. Sanders was born in middle Tennessee and received his education from Vanderbilt University Medical School. He served as director of the Rutherford County Health Department for 25 years. He and his wife, Pat, lobbied the Tennessee General Assembly for several years to pass a mandatory child restraint law. At the time, car seat use was less than 15 percent, and car crashes were the leading cause of death for young children.
 
During the event, Tennessee Department of Health Deputy Commissioner Dr. Michael Waren said, “Forty years ago, Dr. Sanders, a public health pediatrician, helped Tennessee to lead the nation in saving children’s lives. We are proud to continue his legacy today and want to see every child in the right seat for every ride in any vehicle.”
 
 

Tennessee Department of Education Names 2018 Reward, Priority Schools 
 
Education Commissioner Candice McQueen announced today the 2018 Reward and Priority schools, which are two key designations under Tennessee’s school accountability system. This was the first year Tennessee implemented its new school accountability model, which was developed with educators and stakeholders across the state and which looks at multiple measures of success.
 
 
Reward status is the top distinction a school can earn in Tennessee. Reward schools are those that are improving overall student academic achievement and student growth for all students and for student groups, and they are identified annually. In 2018, 318 schools in 85 school districts – about 20 percent of schools in the state – earned Reward status.
 
 
Priority schools are identified at least every three years, and they are the schools most in need of support and improvement. Priority schools fall into the bottom 5 percent of schools in the state test scores over the past three years and have low graduation rates. Following legislation passed this spring, 2017-18 TNReady data was not used to identify Priority schools. The 2018 Priority list includes 82 schools across eight districts, and these schools are now eligible for additional funding and will be supported by the department, in coordination with their districts, in developing a plan to improve.
 
 
“In this first year with our new system, it is incredibly encouraging to see more than 300 of our schools are earning Reward status for how they are supporting our students’ academic achievement and growth,” Commissioner McQueen said. “At the same time, we see a number of places where we need to improve. Our new school improvement model takes a student-focused, evidence-based approach to tailor interventions for our Priority schools, and we will be working closely with these schools and their districts over the coming year to improve academic outcomes and strengthen whole-child services that support student success.”   
 
 
Tennessee’s new school accountability system was developed through a 16-month process of gathering feedback and hearing input from students, parents, teachers, administrators, and community members. Tennessee has designated Reward and Priority schools since 2012, but this was the first year with an updated methodology as required by the federal Every Student Succeeds Act. As part of federal requirements, the plan was submitted to and approved by the U.S. Department of Education.
 
 
The new accountability framework is based on principles that all schools can be successful and all Tennessee students must be served well. It includes a variety of measures, including chronic absenteeism and discipline, ACT performance, and TNReady scores, to make a determination. All schools are rated both on how they serve the full student population and how they are specifically serving student groups that have historically been underserved: students with disabilities, English learners, economically disadvantaged students, and black, Hispanic, and Native American students. This fall, the department will publish more information about how all schools perform on these measures as part of a new school dashboard that will be posted online to offer additional information to parents, educators, elected officials, and community leaders.
 
 
As part of Tennessee’s new accountability plan, all Priority schools will move into an evidence-based school improvement model, ranging from district-led plans to intervention by the state’s Achievement School District. To better support Tennessee’s lowest performing schools, the state has invested $20 million into school improvement over the last two years. This funding is specifically devoted for Priority schools.
 
 
To view the full list of 2018 Reward and Priority schools, visit the department’s website (here).
 
 
Director of Cannon County Schools Mr. William F. Curtis stated, “Cannon County Schools are not on any state list.  The Accountability Determinations of Cannon County Schools are:
  
Achievement Status:  Satisfactory
Subgroup Status:       Advancing
Final Determination:   Satisfactory
 
Our goal for every Cannon County School is to be ‘Exemplary,’ and to have ALL our schools be a ‘Reward School.’  We will continue with our mission to “Prepare ALL Our Students for Their Future” through our vision, the New E3 = ‘Engaged in Excellence Every Day!’ Our performance and growth on TNReady Assessments and other measures of progress in non-academic areas are extremely important to our school system.  Our focus is to become better in all aspects of achievement and growth and become one of the highest performing systems in the state of Tennessee!”
 

Tennessee Department of Education Names 2018 Reward, Priority Schools 
 
Education Commissioner Candice McQueen announced today the 2018 Reward and Priority schools, which are two key designations under Tennessee’s school accountability system. This was the first year Tennessee implemented its new school accountability model, which was developed with educators and stakeholders across the state and which looks at multiple measures of success.
 
 
Reward status is the top distinction a school can earn in Tennessee. Reward schools are those that are improving overall student academic achievement and student growth for all students and for student groups, and they are identified annually. In 2018, 318 schools in 85 school districts – about 20 percent of schools in the state – earned Reward status.
 
 
Priority schools are identified at least every three years, and they are the schools most in need of support and improvement. Priority schools fall into the bottom 5 percent of schools in the state test scores over the past three years and have low graduation rates. Following legislation passed this spring, 2017-18 TNReady data was not used to identify Priority schools. The 2018 Priority list includes 82 schools across eight districts, and these schools are now eligible for additional funding and will be supported by the department, in coordination with their districts, in developing a plan to improve.
 
 
“In this first year with our new system, it is incredibly encouraging to see more than 300 of our schools are earning Reward status for how they are supporting our students’ academic achievement and growth,” Commissioner McQueen said. “At the same time, we see a number of places where we need to improve. Our new school improvement model takes a student-focused, evidence-based approach to tailor interventions for our Priority schools, and we will be working closely with these schools and their districts over the coming year to improve academic outcomes and strengthen whole-child services that support student success.”   
 
 
Tennessee’s new school accountability system was developed through a 16-month process of gathering feedback and hearing input from students, parents, teachers, administrators, and community members. Tennessee has designated Reward and Priority schools since 2012, but this was the first year with an updated methodology as required by the federal Every Student Succeeds Act. As part of federal requirements, the plan was submitted to and approved by the U.S. Department of Education.
 
 
The new accountability framework is based on principles that all schools can be successful and all Tennessee students must be served well. It includes a variety of measures, including chronic absenteeism and discipline, ACT performance, and TNReady scores, to make a determination. All schools are rated both on how they serve the full student population and how they are specifically serving student groups that have historically been underserved: students with disabilities, English learners, economically disadvantaged students, and black, Hispanic, and Native American students. This fall, the department will publish more information about how all schools perform on these measures as part of a new school dashboard that will be posted online to offer additional information to parents, educators, elected officials, and community leaders.
 
 
As part of Tennessee’s new accountability plan, all Priority schools will move into an evidence-based school improvement model, ranging from district-led plans to intervention by the state’s Achievement School District. To better support Tennessee’s lowest performing schools, the state has invested $20 million into school improvement over the last two years. This funding is specifically devoted for Priority schools.
 
 
To view the full list of 2018 Reward and Priority schools, visit the department’s website (here).
 
 
Director of Cannon County Schools Mr. William F. Curtis stated, “Cannon County Schools are not on any state list.  The Accountability Determinations of Cannon County Schools are:
  
Achievement Status:  Satisfactory
Subgroup Status:       Advancing
Final Determination:   Satisfactory
 
Our goal for every Cannon County School is to be ‘Exemplary,’ and to have ALL our schools be a ‘Reward School.’  We will continue with our mission to “Prepare ALL Our Students for Their Future” through our vision, the New E3 = ‘Engaged in Excellence Every Day!’ Our performance and growth on TNReady Assessments and other measures of progress in non-academic areas are extremely important to our school system.  Our focus is to become better in all aspects of achievement and growth and become one of the highest performing systems in the state of Tennessee!”
 

The National Weather Service and several emergency officials will be in the Bradyville area Tuesday, examining storm damage in order to determine whether damage to multiple homes in Cannon County was caused by a tornado. 
Several homes were damaged by what may have been a tornado. People spent most of the evening starting clean-up. At least four homes and a barn along Bradyville Road were damaged. Several trees were damaged, and some power lines were brought down by the wind.
 
Some of the part of the roofs are missing. EMA Director Roy Sullivan said the rescue squad was doing a good job of helping people get their roofs covered.
 
Director of Schools William Curtis issued the following statement concerning reports of a stranded school bus in the area.
A small tornado touched down in the Bradyville Area of Cannon County around 4:30 PM this afternoon.  Initial reports from E-911 stated that a “School Bus” was in the vicinity and power lines and trees had the bus blocked.  Cannon County Schools Transportation Supervisor Lisa Black immediately called the bus drivers that drive in that area, and all bus drivers were accounted for.  Supervisor Black then went to the scene and discovered it was a RUTHERFORD COUNTY School Bus.  Fortunately, all students and the driver were safe, and were stranded in the area due to tress and power lines blocking the road.
 
There were NO Tornado Warnings from the National Weather Service.  So, it simply pays to be “weather aware” even if there are no warnings in a thunderstorm situation.  Cannon County Schools are currently working on being “Storm Ready” certified by the NOAA/National Weather Service.
 

The National Weather Service and several emergency officials will be in the Bradyville area Tuesday, examining storm damage in order to determine whether damage to multiple homes in Cannon County was caused by a tornado. 
Several homes were damaged by what may have been a tornado. People spent most of the evening starting clean-up. At least four homes and a barn along Bradyville Road were damaged. Several trees were damaged, and some power lines were brought down by the wind.
 
Some of the part of the roofs are missing. EMA Director Roy Sullivan said the rescue squad was doing a good job of helping people get their roofs covered.
 
Director of Schools William Curtis issued the following statement concerning reports of a stranded school bus in the area.
A small tornado touched down in the Bradyville Area of Cannon County around 4:30 PM this afternoon.  Initial reports from E-911 stated that a “School Bus” was in the vicinity and power lines and trees had the bus blocked.  Cannon County Schools Transportation Supervisor Lisa Black immediately called the bus drivers that drive in that area, and all bus drivers were accounted for.  Supervisor Black then went to the scene and discovered it was a RUTHERFORD COUNTY School Bus.  Fortunately, all students and the driver were safe, and were stranded in the area due to tress and power lines blocking the road.
 
There were NO Tornado Warnings from the National Weather Service.  So, it simply pays to be “weather aware” even if there are no warnings in a thunderstorm situation.  Cannon County Schools are currently working on being “Storm Ready” certified by the NOAA/National Weather Service.
 

Some of the high school students came from as far away as Pigeon Forge, Pikeville, Spencer, Baxter and McEwen, Tennessee. 
Others attending the first Raider Roundup Friday, Sept. 21, at Middle Tennessee State University were from Cannon County, and five other Middle Tennessee schools.
 
Sponsored by MT Engage, which is focused on enhancing MTSU student academic engagement, Raider Roundup brought nearly 300 students to campus to help prepare them for state Future Farmers of America competition.
 
From MTSU faculty, staff and students during a two-hour timeframe, they learned about agriculture mechanics, agronomy, dairy judging, equine science, veterinary science, floriculture and farm business management; and livestock, meats, poultry and soil evaluation.
 
“It has been incredible and exciting,” said Chaney Mosley, a first-year assistant professor in agricultural education for the School of Agriculture. “Our student volunteers and the level of engagement by our faculty made it all possible.”
About 60 MTSU students and the majority of agricultural faculty members assisted Mosley.
 
Department Director Jessica Carter and Bud Fischer, dean of the College of Basic and Applied Sciences, helped welcome the teenagers, who also took campus tours after lunch.
 
MTSU has more than 300 combined undergraduate and graduate programs.
 
 

The Historic Cannon County Chamber of Commerce had their annual fund raider scheduled for Saturday, however “Mother Nature” has determined which Saturday.  The National Weather Service is forecasting a sixty-percent chance of thunder storms in Middle Tennessee. The Color of Fall Car Show is always subject to the weather.  The show will now be held on the scheduled rain date of September 29th. 
Carolyn Motley, coordinator for the chamber said the following; “ If after all these years we’ve learned one thing above all others,  owners of show cars do not them to get dirty.  They will not take them out in the rain.”
 
All of the times have not changed, only the date. Registration for the show starts at 8:00am.  Judging of all registered vehicles will begin at Noon. Sixty-six trophies and six cash prizes will be awarded. For the first one-hundred to register, dash plaques and goody bags will be available. DTC (an underwriter of all chamber cruise in events during the year) will giveaway a 32 inch television.
 
If you have other questions about the car show contact Carolyn Motley at the Chamber, 615-563-2222.
 
 

 Education Commissioner Candice McQueen has announced the results from the third year of the Read to be Ready Summer Grant Program, which provides funding to educators to lead tuition-free, literacy-focused summer camps for students in need across the state. For the third year in a row, rising first, second, and third grade students who participated in the program showed gains in their reading comprehension and accuracy skills and increased their motivation to read.
 
 
Cannon County has written and received the grant for the past three years, providing a literacy based summer program for students. During the summer of 2018, six local educators served thirty of our students. Additionally, through the summer grant program, more than 500 high-quality books were sent home with our students, and each student, on average, received 21 new books for his or her home library. Our campers were able to take three field trips, as well as weekly walking trips to Adams Memorial Library. We had twelve guest speakers and community partners this summer.
 
 
“Once again, we have seen the powerful impact Read to be Ready summer camps can have on our students,” McQueen said. “The Read to be Ready Summer Grant program allows our students to develop the skills they need to become proficient readers, a skill that is essential for their lifelong success. By continuing this work together, we can continue this progress so every child is reading on grade-level by the time they leave third grade
 
 
Read to be Ready summer literacy camps are meant to help students enter the new school year excited and ready to learn without losing any valuable knowledge from the previous school year over the summer. To track success, the department required summer camps to conduct a pre- and post-survey and interview and a pre- and post-assessment on skills gained. The results show that on average, students’ ability to read accurately improved, which allowed students to spend less time analyzing words and pay more attention to meaning. As anticipated with an uptick in accuracy, students’ reading comprehension rate increased as well. This statistically significant increase in comprehension suggests that students were not sacrificing meaning and understanding of texts for the sake of increased accuracy. Additionally, students’ motivation to read also increased—this means students became more confident in their reading skills and began seeing themselves as readers.
 
 
 

Senate health committee Chairman Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) today said that Tennessee is set to receive $30.8 million to combat the opioid crisis.“Our communities are on the front lines of fighting the opioid crisis,” Alexander said. “This funding will help health centers in Tennessee, from Chattanooga to Memphis, hire more staff and ensure they are equipped to fight the crisis; provide more medication-assisted treatment to patients; help our rural communities tackle opioid addiction; and support programs that prevent more Tennesseans from becoming addicted to opioids. These grants are funded by appropriations legislation passed by Congress in March—we have placed unprecedented amounts of federal dollars toward the opioid crisis.” 
 
Alexander added: “Yesterday, the Senate passed an appropriations bill for the coming year that provides another $3.8 billion to fight opioids nationwide. On Monday, the Senate passed ‘landmark legislation’ I sponsored to help Tennessee succeed in combatting the worst public health crisis our nation is facing.”
 
The $30.8 million in grants announced today by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services are part of the $4.7 billion included in the Fiscal Year 2018 Omnibus Appropriations Bill Congress passed in March to fight the opioid crisis, of which $1 billion was for grants to states. The grants include$18.5 million from the State Opioid Response Grant to expand access to medication-assisted treatment and fund programs to reduce opioid overdose deaths, $6.1 million for 23 Tennessee health centers, $800,000 to give rural communities more tools in their fight against opioid, and $5 million for Centers of Disease Control and Prevention programs that aim to prevent more people from becoming addicted to opioids.
 
On Tuesday, the Senate passed the Fiscal Year 2019 Health and Human Services Appropriations Bill, which includes $3.8 billion to help combat the opioid crisis. This would mean Congress has approved roughly $8.5 billion for the opioids crisis within a few months. According to Senator Roy Blunt (R-Mo.), the chairman of the Appropriations subcommittee responsible for this bill, federal funding to help combat the opioid crisis has increased by nearly 1,300 percent over the past 4 years.
 
On Monday, the Senate passed 99-1 the Opioid Crisis Response Act, which Alexander has been the lead sponsor on, and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) called “landmark legislation.”