News

If you are one of over 500 persons who keep looking over your shoulder because of an unserved warrant, tomorrow could be a good day for you. 
Cannon County Court officers are declaring Wednesday, August 29th Amnesty Day. Persons wanted for misdemeanor or failure to appear warrants can come to court and have their cases hear, without fear of arrest. The 550 persons who fall into the categories have been sent letters.  Tomorrow those individuals may present the letter to a judicial commissioner and be issued a release on your own recognizance. No bond will need to be posted. Between the hours of 8:30am and 5:00pm, they will be seen by a judge and have the ability to settle their case.
 
The district attorney and public defenders will be in courthouse. The judge will appoint a public defender to those persons who qualify. Individuals may speak to the district attorney and try to resolve their case without an attorney.
 
The overall goals of Amnesty Day is to reduce the reduce the workload of the sheriff’s department and assist court officials to clear cases from the books going back over a decade.
 

The unemployment rate in 57 Tennessee counties improved in July 2018, according to statistics released today by the Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development.  
The unemployment rate remained the same in 19 counties when compared to June and the number of unemployed Tennesseans increased in 19 counties.
 
Labor and Work Force Commissioner Burns Phillips commented, “People are not working seasonal jobs, they’re out of town and not able to work, or they’ve just graduated and are looking for work. There are many factors that play a role in summer unemployment figures.”
 
Sixty-two counties had unemployment rates below 5.0 percent in July, while 33 counties had a rate of 5.0 percent or greater.
 
Once again, Williamson County had the lowest unemployment rate in Tennessee. The county’s July rate of 2.9 percent was down 0.1 of a percentage point when compared to the previous month.
 
Davidson County had the state’s second-lowest unemployment rate during July; it decreased by 0.1 of a percentage point and came in at 3.0 percent. The top ten counties with the lowest unemployment each had a rate of 3.5 percent on less.
 
Cannon County was just out of the top ten with a rate of 3.8, this was down just one-tenth of a point from June. This was something the county had in common with its five adjoining counties. All were off one-tenth of a point from June to July. In our region, DeKalb had the highest with 4.9 percent followed by Warren and Coffee.  Rutherford and Wilson had the lowest.
 
The workforce for Cannon County is 6,460 people of which 6,210 are employed, leaving a total of 240 people looking for work.
 
Weakly County experienced a significant jump in unemployment in July. Its rate of 7.6 percent was a 2.6 percent increase compared to June.
 
Eight of the top ten Tennessee counties with the lowest unemployment surround Davidson County, while Knox and Sevier Counties round out the list. Seven of the state’s counties with the highest unemployment rate is located in West Tennessee, with the remaining three in East Tennessee.
 
Tennesseans who are searching for employment may find a variety of valuable resources on the state’s workforce website. 
 
 

The Upper Cumberland Human Resource Agency’s (UCHRA) Executive Committee suddenly reversed the recommendation of its policy council and rescinded a proposed severance package that was to be offered to the agency’s former director, according to the Upper Cumberland Business Journal. 
The action took place in a Tuesday morning meeting that also saw the approval of a merger between UCHRA and the Upper Cumberland Development District (UCDD). With this vote, UCHRA attorney Danny Rader no longer has the authority previously granted to him to negotiate a severance package with former executive director Luke Collins, which was not to exceed $27,500.
 
In the policy council meeting, which was held first, lines were drawn between Collins’ supporters and detractors with each side sticking to their guns on how they thought a severance settlement should be handled. To date, Collins had refused to accept the previous offer that was on the table following the board’s June executive committee meeting.
 

Middle Tennessee Electric, the state’s largest electric cooperative, and United Communications, Middle Tennessee’s leading provider of fiber and fixed wireless internet services, today announced that they have partnered to expand broadband access to underserved areas across seven counties in Tennessee.  
The partnership allows the two organizations to combine their resources and decades of experience to offer affordable, high-speed internet services to members and customers in the coming years and improve quality of life for those in the areas they serve.
 
The announcement was made by Chris Jones, president and CEO of Middle Tennessee Electric, and William Bradford, president and CEO of United Communications, in conjunction with Bob Rolfe, Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development Commissioner, at the Peytonsville Volunteer Fire Department on August 24th.
 
This initiative is already under way and full implementation will be a multi-year process. Based on input from the community, the partnership will prioritize implementation in areas with the highest demand. It allows both organizations to build a world-class smart grid in the region, at the lowest possible cost, while not impacting Middle Tennessee Electric members’ electric rates, which are some of the lowest in the country.
 
“We’re proud to be the first electric cooperative to pursue a partnership of this kind in Tennessee and answer the calls we have long heard from our members. They want and need access to broadband service,” said Chris Jones, president and CEO of Middle Tennessee Electric. “United Communications is the ideal partner for us. They have already built an impressive fiber backbone throughout many areas we serve which will allow us to work together to more rapidly and cost effectively expand internet services.”
 
“We are grateful to Governor Haslam, our Tennessee legislature and the FCC for paving the way for local providers like Middle Tennessee Electric to meet the broadband access needs of our members,” Jones added.
 
“This partnership is about two local companies, who share common values, working together to provide a broadband solution for our area,” said William Bradford, president and CEO of United Communications. “Ultimately, this will be great for economic development, support smart grid and smart home technologies, and improve quality of life in Middle Tennessee.”
 
The Peytonsville fire hall is in the center of an area that has requested broadband for more than 17 years and recently received gigabit speed fiber, which will enhance firehouse operations and improve mission critical communication systems, among other benefits.
 
“Our community relies on well-trained volunteers to provide superior emergency services. Reliable broadband access has allowed us to incorporate multimedia instruction into a well-rounded training program for our firefighters,” said Brian Jones, Peytonsville Volunteer Fire Department fire chief.
 
Middle Tennessee Electric members can register to receive updates on the expansion plan and determine if they are already in a United service area by visiting https://service.united.net.
 
Additional information on the partnership can be found at www.United.net/MTEMC.
 

An agreement designed to better serve the recipients of resources offered by the Upper Cumberland Human Resource Agency and Upper Cumberland Development District was approved Tuesday during the agencies’ Executive Committee meetings.A shared management plan was agreed upon by the boards of both agencies. Over time, cost-saving measures outlined in the agreement stand to save the Agency more than $550,000 in costs by consolidating the administrative, finance, and management pools with those of the Upper Cumberland Development District.
 
Under the agreement, each entity will remain separate and will continue to be controlled by their respective bylaws and governing boards. No programs would be eliminated as a result of entering into the shared services agreement, according to Executive Director Mark Farley.
UCHRA’s Executive Committee and UCDD’s Executive Committee each approved the measure unanimously; solidifying the commitment to ensure each entity continues to serve the needs of the region.
 
Farley’s vision includes UCHRA shifting more of its focus on county-specific needs and ensuring county offices have the tools and resources necessary to help residents in need.
“I think we need to make the county offices the central focus of UCHRA,” Farley told members of the Agency’s Executive Committee Tuesday. “That’s where the service meets the clients and [the county coordinators] understand the needs of the clients.”
Farley is confident that the alignment will make a positive impact on the region. “Both agencies have dedicated staff, who when given the resources and direction they need, can make a substantial impact on the direction of the region as a whole.”
 
UCDD took on the management of UCHRA in March 2018. Following Tuesday’s decision, Farley, who has been serving as the interim director of UCHRA, will move into the permanent role of Executive Director for both agencies. Ginger Stout, UCDD’s Finance Director and interim Finance Director for UCHRA, will lead the Finance Department of both agencies as the Finance Director. A Deputy Director of Finance would be added to the finance team serving both entities.
 
Deputy Directors of each entity were also designated. Rebecca Harris, UCHRA’s Transportation Director,will serve as the Agency’s Deputy Director while Tommy Lee, UCDD’s Director of Economic and Community Development/Local Planning, will serve as the District’s Deputy Director.
 
Farley says any changes to existing programs would be for the better; providing the opportunity to grow new programs and ensure that there are no gaps in services and that all residents are able to receive the services they need.
 
“I would like to thank the board members for entrusting me with both agencies. The last several years have been very trying for the Board Members as they juggled their community responsibilities with the obligations of the region. This decision was not made lightly, but with great consideration for the citizens of the Upper Cumberland region. I appreciate the ongoing dedication of our board members who made this alignment possible.”
​
To commemorate the occasion, members of UCHRA’s and UCDD’s executive committees signed a resolution recognizing the shared services agreement between the two entities.
 

 Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam today announced a multi-phase plan, highlighted by a statewide listening tour, to improve delivery of the state’s elementary and secondary assessments known as TNReady. The goals of the engagement plan and tour are to:
 
1. Engage in an open conversation about assessment and ways to improve administration;
2. Gather feedback that can inform a smooth delivery of state assessments this school year and beyond, including feedback on the selection of the state’s next assessment partner to be chosen later this school year;
3. Discuss how to better provide schools, educators, parents and students with meaningful and timely results from assessments; and
4. Distinguish assessment content from delivery in an effort to focus on the value assessments can provide.
 
“Tennessee’s unprecedented improvement in education is the result of high academic standards and an assessment that measures knowledge of those standards,” Haslam said. “Without aligned assessments, we don’t know where our students stand and where we need to improve. We finally have a test that is aligned to Tennessee’s strong academic standards, and I don’t want recent assessment delivery issues to cause us to lose sight of why we have these tests in the first place. Delivering the test without disruption is essential and we must get it right. I am confident this listening tour and process will inform the critical work ahead of us.”
 
The listening tour will consist of six stops throughout the state and provide an opportunity for educators, school technology and assessment coordinators, and school district administrators to share information about recent challenges related to the online delivery of state assessments. Each meeting will encourage feedback on how the state can continue to improve its assessment; a discussion of steps made to-date to improve test administration in 2018-19; and a conversation on ways to improve test delivery through the oversight and selection of the state’s next assessment partner, which will occur later this school year. Haslam and Tennessee Department of Education Commissioner Candice McQueen will attend each leg of the tour.
 
Haslam has tapped former long-time educator, and former executive director of the Tennessee Organization of School Superintendents, Wayne Miller to facilitate the listening tour meetings and outcomes.
 
“As someone who has spent his entire career in public education, I know when difficult issues arise it often takes more listening than talking to resolve them and move forward in partnership and collaboration,” Miller said. “I am excited about the process the governor has put forward and honored to facilitate conversations with educators throughout the state. We are all in this together.”
 
To assist with the listening tour, Haslam has convened an educator advisory team to guide the feedback sessions with Miller. Advisory team members will participate in each meeting, gather information and feedback and develop a set of principles and recommendations for consideration by the governor as well as the next administration. The three-member advisory team includes:
 
Cicely Woodard, the 2018 Tennessee Teacher of the Year and a math teacher at Freedom Middle School in Franklin Special School District;
 
Derek Voiles, the 2017 Teacher of the Year and an English as a Second Language (ESL) teacher at Lincoln Heights Middle School in Hamblen County School and
 
Dr. Mike Winstead, the current Tennessee Superintendent of the Year and Maryville City Director of Schools.
 
“Tennessee educators are committed to improving educational outcomes for our students, and assessments are an important and necessary component for us to meet that commitment,” Woodard said. “I am appreciative of the governor’s recognition of the need to continue to get feedback, and I look forward to working with the governor and educators to improve assessment delivery.”
 
The listening tour will begin Friday, Aug. 24, in Knoxville and be followed by stops planned for Hamilton County, Shelby County, Williamson County, Greene County and Gibson County. Specific locations and times are being finalized.
 
Following the listening tour, the next phases of the process will include implementing feedback from the listening tour, refining the requirements of the state’s next assessment partner, providing on-the-ground oversight of the fall test administration, and developing opportunities for feedback from educators and stakeholders.
 
 

Motlow State Community College recently received a $4,500 donation from customers of the Middle Tennessee Natural Gas Utility District through the District’s “Project Hometown Help.” The donation is for the Automation and Robotics Training Center that is under construction at the Motlow McMinnville campus. 
Funds from the Hometown Help voluntary program, which come from an automatic rounding up of participating customers’ bills to the next highest whole dollar amount, are used to advance education, assist economic development, promote local charities and provide relief to the disabled and elderly for payment of natural gas bills. 
 

Being prepared for a home fire is particularly crucial for adults aged 65 and over. Statistics suggest this segment of the population faces increased risks for fire-related deaths and injuries. The Tennessee State Fire Marshal’s Office (SFMO) urges older adults and their caregivers to take necessary steps to stay safe from fire dangers.“We often think of children when it comes to fire safety education,” said Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance Commissioner and State Fire Marshal Julie Mix McPeak. “With the increasing prevalence of multi-generational households, we must ensure older adult family members also know what to do in the event of a fire.”
Despite only 16% of Tennessee’s population being 65 years old or older, data from the SFMO shows that this age group made up 41% of fire fatality victims in 2017. During this same time, nearly 51% of fatal structure fires had at least one victim who was 65 or older (28 fires).
Older adults are at a greater risk of fire death and injury because reduced mobility may slow their escape time and diminished hearing could make it difficult to detect the sound of the smoke alarm. In addition, some older adults may have hoarding tendencies. Collecting or keeping large amounts of items in the home can not only hinder a person from escaping a fire, but can deter first responders from being able to reach them in an emergency. In recent years there have been six fatal fires in Tennessee where hoarding was a contributing factor to the fire or to the spread of the fire according to state data.
To help the older adults in your life be prepared and protected from fire dangers, share these fire safety guidelines from the National Fire Protection Association:
Fire Safety Tips for Older Adults

Keep it low: Consider sleeping in a room on the ground floor in order to make emergency escape easier. When looking for an apartment or high-rise home, look for one with an automatic sprinkler system. Sprinklers can extinguish a home fire in less time than it takes for the fire department to arrive.                                                           

Sound the alarm: The majority of fatal fires occur when people are sleeping. Smoke can put you into a deeper sleep rather than waking you, therefore it’s important to have an early warning of a fire. You should have smoke alarms on every level of your home, including the basement. Install smoke alarms in hallways leading to bedrooms and inside every bedroom of your home. Ensure that you can hear the alarm by utilizing the test button. Test your smoke alarms regularly and replace the batteries once a year or consider alarms with long-life batteries. Smoke alarms that are over 10 years old need to be replaced. If anyone in your household is deaf or if your own hearing is diminished, consider installing a smoke alarm that uses a flashing light or vibration to alert you to a fire emergency.

Do the drill: Have a home fire escape plan with two ways out of every room and a designated meeting place outside. Practice your plan regularly. If you or someone you live with cannot escape alone, designate a member of the household to assist. Fire drills are also a good opportunity to make sure that everyone is able to hear and respond to smoke alarms.

Clear the way: Remove any items that may block your way out of the room or your home. Remember, your exit routes may change as new items are brought into the home.

Open up: Make sure that you are able to open all doors and windows in your home. Locks and pins should open easily from inside. If you have security bars on doors or windows, they should have emergency release devices inside so that they can be opened easily. Check to be sure that windows haven’t been sealed shut with paint or nails.

Stay connected: Keep a telephone near your bed, along with emergency phone numbers, so that you can communicate with emergency personnel if you’re trapped in your room by fire or smoke. Have glasses, hearing aids, wheelchairs, or canes nearby if applicable. 

Cook with care: Wear short, close-fitting or tightly rolled sleeves when cooking. Don’t leave cooking unattended on the stove. Use a timer to remind you of food in the oven. Check to see that the oven and stovetop are off before going to bed each night. Never use the oven to heat your home.

Give space heaters space: Keep space heaters three feet from anything that can burn, including furniture, blankets, pets, and yourself. Turn space heaters off when you leave the room and when you go to bed at night.

Eliminate careless smoking: Never smoke in bed or when drowsy. Refrain from smoking near an oxygen source, gas stove, or other flammable objects. Use deep, sturdy ashtrays and extinguish cigarette butts completely with water or sand before disposal.

For more information on how to make your home fire-safe, print the State Fire Marshal’s home fire safety checklist and escape grid.
 

Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam and Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development Commissioner Burns Phillips have released the statewide unemployment rate for July 2018, and for the third consecutive month the statistic has held steady at 3.5 percent.Tennessee’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate has not only remained unchanged since May, it mirrors the 3.5 percent recorded during the same time period in 2017.
Companies also continued the trend of new job creation across the state.  Between June and July, Tennessee employers bolstered the state’s economy by adding 2,500 new nonfarm jobs.
According to Governor Haslam, “Tennessee’s economy is truly holding its own right now.  The fact the unemployment rate has remained unchanged for three months, and Tennessee businesses continue to add new jobs, shows our workforce strategy over the last eight years is paying off for both citizens and businesses.”
Over the year, nonfarm employment in Tennessee has increased by 56,300 jobs. The largest increases occurred in the state’s leisure/hospitality, professional/business services, and education/health services sectors.
The state of Tennessee will release the August 2018 county unemployment data this Thursday. With that information we will have a more detailed report on Cannon and surrounding counties.
 

The season opener for Cannon County Lions Football was Friday night.  A large cheering crowd watched the Lions dominate the Bull Dogs of Red Boling Spring by a score of 47-6.  Junior Brady Cunningham was named defensive play of the game.Cannon travels to Gainsboro to face Jackson County next Friday night. Harold Patrick and Greg Mitchell will have the broadcast.