News

 Tennessee’s farmers markets create an economic and social bridge between the state’s rural communities and its major population centers. There are many ways for you to celebrate this vital role during National Farmers Market Week Aug. 5-11.
 
·        With 168 farmers markets listed on the Pick Tennessee website and mobile app, it is easy to find fresh foods and goods near you. Many markets will recognize the week with extra vendors, special guests and activities, food demonstrations, and even live music. Korean Veterans Bridge in Nashville will be lit green for the evenings of Aug. 10-11 to recognize the impact of farmers markets across Tennessee.
 
·        According to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), people who shop at farmers markets eat more fruits and vegetables than those who shop at grocery stores, and proximity to a farmers market is associated with a lower body mass index. Farmers markets also improve a community’s social health. Data from USDA surveys reveal that people who shop at farmers markets report 15 to 20 positive social interactions per visit, compared to 1 or 2 at a grocery store.
 
 
·        Significant economic benefits also reach to our most rural areas. Markets serve as incubators for small food and farm product businesses, giving rural entrepreneurs a platform to improve their products and business decision-making. The average American farmer receives about 17 cents for every dollar spent on food purchased through a grocery store, but farmers who sell at a farmers market earn about 90 cents. The benefit to agricultural communities is also social. In an industry where the average farmer’s age is over 60, 16 percent of all farmers market farmers are under 35.
 
·        Pick Tennessee is a free service of the Tennessee Department of Agriculture that connects consumers with Tennessee farmers, farmers markets, farm products, and activities, plus food and farm related products made in Tennessee.
 
·        The Tennessee’s farmers markets directory can be accessed at www.PickTNProducts.org and via the Pick TN mobile app. Follow Pick Tennessee on social media for seasonal updates and information about farm related events, activities, and products.
 
Cannon County’s Farmers Market is every Saturday morning from 6am – 11am at the Farmers Pavillon at the Arts Center of Cannon County located on John Bragg Highway at the city limits of Woodbury.
 
 

For children across Cannon County, registrations will end and school will soon be back in session which means increased traffic on roadways.  AAA’s School’s Open – Drive Carefully campaign urges drivers to not be caught off guard by the increased traffic during their commute.According to Stephanie Milani of Tennessee’s Auto Club“ As summer winds down, students are gearing up for a new school year. This means changes to their schedule, but can also mean changes to drivers’ routines as well.. “AAA’s campaign reminds us of the need for extra vigilance and patience so that everyone gets to their destination safely.”
AAA recommends drivers observe the following guidelines to help keep children safe: They want you to remember to STOP, DROP and PATROL…

STOP: Come to a complete stop. Research shows that more than one-third of drivers roll through stop signs in school zones or neighborhoods. Always come to a complete stop, checking carefully for children on sidewalks and in crosswalks before proceeding.

DROP: Drop distractions. Tennessee law prohibits the use of hand-held cell phones by drivers in active school zones. However, hand-held cell phones are not the only distraction to drivers. Anything that takes the drivers’ eyes off the road, hands off the wheel or mind of the task of driving is a distraction.

PATROL: Patrol or scan the road ahead more vigilantly. Increase your vigilance and scan ahead for students at the usual spots like bus stops, school zones and playgrounds, but also be alert for kids before and after school during the hours of 6 a.m. to 7 a.m. and from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. which is historically this the most dangerous times for student pedestrians.  
 
 

An investigation by Special Agents with the Drug Investigation Division of the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, working jointly with the Murfreesboro Police Department, Rutherford County Sheriff’s Office, and Federal Bureau of Investigation, has resulted in the arrest of two men from Glendale, Arizona.
During the month-long investigation, Agents and detectives developed information that a heroin source in Phoenix, Arizona, had arranged to sell two kilograms of heroin to an individual in Rutherford County. Undercover Agents and detectives arranged to make a purchase at a Murfreesboro location. On Thursday, a local source, identified as Perez Pedro Arce, arrived at that location with approximately two kilos of heroin. Another individual, Ahlan Wasohlan Aguirre Gonzalez, was in the car with Arce as they both arrived at that location.

On Thursday, Ahlan Wasohlan Aguirre Gonzalez and Perez Pedro Arce were each arrested and charged with one count of Manufacture, Sale, Delivery of Schedule 1 – Heroin. They were booked into the Rutherford County Jail. Bond for each man was set at $200,000.

Auburntown’s annual festival, Red Apple Days in Auburntown this weekend.  Music, pagents, dog shows, a cruise in are just a few of the items that fill a 20 hour period.  A special note for regular visitors to the Auburntown Lions Club (First Saturday) Fish Fry.  The club has decided to cease doing the events on a monthly basis.  Auburntown Mayor Roger Turney said, “Our club has dwindled down to 3 members, we should take a break.  I’m not going to say, this will be the last one.  We may come back for a special event.”
Friday – August 3rd
5:00 PM – Vendor & Games Opens
6:00 PM- 9:00 PM – Gospel Concert
Saturday – August 4th
7:00 AM – Running 1.4.U Red Apple Run 5K
9:00 AM – Vendor Walk & Kids Zone Opens
10:00 AM – All Day- Lions Club Fish Fry
10:30 AM – Paws 4 Special Needs Dog Show
12:00 PM – Miss Red Apple Days Pageant (Registration starts at 8 AM)
1:00 PM – Red Apple Days Cruise In
3:00 PM – Red Apple Days Parade
4:30 PM – Live Music by Dean & Sierrah Smith
5:30 PM – Live Music by Destination Rock
7:30 PM – Live Music by Drake Freeman
9:00 PM – Fireworks Show
For more information, www.redappledays.com

Your winners in the local races… Brent Bush – County Executive
Lana Jones – County Clerk
County Trustee – Norma Knox
Sheriff – Darrell Young
Circuit Court Clerk – Katina George
County Commission
District 1 – Jeannine Floyd and Russell Reed
District 2 – Corey Davenport and Karen Ashford
District 3 – Greg Mitchell and Jim Bush
District 4 – Brent Brandon and Randy Gannon
District 5 – Kim Davenport and Ronnie Mahaffey, Jr.
Cannon County Referendum was approved 60.9% to 39.91%
Complete details on the county totals on each newscast Friday on WBRY.  During the 8am hour, a recap on all precencts in the county on AM 1540, FM 107.1 and a special stream on wbry.com. (look in programming section, click the banner listed as Lions Live for the stream.)
 

Tennesseans will head to the polls across the state today to vote in the Aug. 2 primary.
626,894 Tennesseans voted in person or absentee during the two-week early voting period which ended Saturday.
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 in Cannon County will be open today from 7:00am until 7:00pm.
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.Election results
Unofficial election results for the Aug. 2 primary will be posted at elections.tn.gov . Cannon County’s numbers will be available at wbry.com

State law requires polling locations and the area within a 100-foot boundary surrounding each entrance remain campaign-free zones. Tennessee law prohibits the display or distribution of campaign materials and the solicitation of votes for or against any person, party or question on the ballot in these areas.
Frail, physically disabled or visibly pregnant voters should tell their polling officials if they are unable to wait in line to vote. The law allows them to move through the process faster.
People with questions or concerns about the voting process can go to GoVoteTN.com or call the Division of Elections toll-free at 1-877-850-4959..
WBRY will report the votes as they are counted.  Doug Combs and Harold Patrick will broadcast live from the Cannon County Courthouse tonight from the Cannon County Courthouse.  Coverage will begin at 7:00pm and the public is invited.  Coverage will be available on AM 1540, FM 107.1, streaming live on wbry.com and live updates on WBRY’s Facebook page.

Smoking will be prohibited in public housing units across Tennessee and the U.S. effective July 31, 2018. The smoke-free rule is part of a larger plan to decrease building maintenance and smoke-related damage costs, reduce the risk of accidental fires and create healthier environments by reducing exposure to secondhand smoke. The Tennessee Department of Health reminds Tennesseans who smoke that free help to quit smoking is available through the Tennessee Tobacco QuitLine. 
 
“Quitting smoking can be a challenge, but it can be done, and studies show those who use counseling services to help them kick the habit are twice as likely to succeed as those who try to quit alone,” said TDH Assistant Commissioner for Family Health and Wellness Morgan McDonald, MD. “Most smokers want to quit, and most people who quit have to try multiple times before they are successful. We want to do everything we can to make it easier for people to quit for their own health and the health of their loved ones.”
 
 
The Tennessee Tobacco QuitLine, 1-800-QUIT-NOW or 1-800-784-8669 is available for all Tennesseans who would like support in their efforts to quit tobacco use. The call and all program services are provided at no cost to participants and kept confidential. The Tennessee Tobacco QuitLine connects tobacco users to a trained quit counselor who helps each caller develop a personalized quit plan and provides ongoing one-on-one support and guidance to help them quit. Callers may also qualify for up to a two-week supply of nicotine replacement therapy patches at no charge.
 
 
The Tennessee Tobacco QuitLine is available seven days a week, with services offered in both English and Spanish. A language line is also available to accommodate callers who speak a language other than English or Spanish. Tennessee Tobacco QuitLine hours are Monday – Friday 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. EST, Saturday 9 a.m. – 6 p.m. EST and Sunday 11 a.m. – 5 p.m. EST. Enrollment can also be completed online at www.tnQuitLine.org.
 
 
TDH also offers the Baby and Me Tobacco Free program to help pregnant women quit smoking. This program offers incentives including vouchers for diapers for each month a participating woman is smoke-free up to one year after her baby’s birth. Supporting family members such as dads can also participate. Contact your local health department for enrollment information or visit www.babyandmetobaccofree.org/find-a-location/tennessee/.
 
 
The public housing smoking ban prohibits smoking tobacco products in all indoor common areas, administrative offices, living units and outdoor areas within 25 feet of the buildings. All current and incoming leaseholders will be required to sign a lease agreeing to the policy. The policy was announced in December 2016 by the Department of Housing and Urban Development; the agency gave the nation’s more than 3,300 local public housing authorities nearly 18 months to begin enforcement. The rule excludes residents living in homes under the Housing Choice Voucher Program, formerly known as Section 8.
 
 
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.
 
 

What can you do in twenty minutes? Monday afternoon the Cannon County Commission and Cannon County Schools came together on a lease agreement for the high school baseball team.
Cannon County Baseball Coach Colin Jones proposed the construction of a fieldhouse for use by the high school team.  The school’s field is located on the county fairgrounds beside the Woodbury Lions Club building.  Coach Jones assembled donors to finance the project and the last hurdle was a lease for the property where the fieldhouse will be located.

The called meeting of the commission purpose was to deal only with the consideration and approval of the lease.

In addition to the 8 of 10 commissioners present, the courtroom audience contained school officials, baseball players, their parents and concerned citizens.

The Tennessee Highway Patrol (THP) is partnering with the Tennessee Highway Safety Office (THSO), Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT), and local law enforcement agencies across Tennessee in an effort to keep one of the state’s busiest roads safe. Enforcement efforts will focus on U.S. Hwy 70 statewide. This is a strict traffic enforcement campaign that will take place on July 31 and August 3. This intensified enforcement effort is referred to as “Safe on Seventy.” U.S. Hwy. 70 runs West to East through 36 counties in Tennessee encompassing 538 miles. U.S. Hwy. 70 ends at the North Carolina state line. Along the route, the roadway runs parallel to several U.S. and state highways, including those in all three of the state’s major cities (Memphis, Nashville, and Knoxville). U.S. Hwy. 70 was the main travel route across the state prior to the development of Interstate 40. Today, traffic has increased on the highway due to motorists seeking alternate routes. As a result, traffic fatalities have increased.

“The Tennessee Highway Patrol is proud to participate in the “Safe on Seventy” campaign,” THP Colonel Dereck Stewart said. “I have challenged our troopers to think strategically and use all available resources to help reduce the number of traffic fatalities. We will enhance our enforcement efforts to combat reckless drivers that lead to injury or fatal crashes in Tennessee.” During the “Safe on Seventy” campaign, law enforcement agencies will have an increased presence on U.S. Hwy. 70, focusing on distracted driving. In addition, law enforcement will be checking for aggressive drivers, speeders, lack of seatbelt use, and
commercial vehicle safety. This is the first time the THP has teamed up with local law enforcement to ensure travelers will seen increased patrol along the highway.

“Safe on Seventy is a new, strategic initiative designed to target one of Tennessee’s most problematic highways,” said THSO Director Vic Donoho. “Using statewide crash data, the Tennessee’s Integrated Traffic Analysis Network Division (TITAN) identified Tuesdays and Fridays, between 11 AM and 8 PM, as high-crash periods on Highway 70. We encourage all roadway users to exercise caution and drive safely as we work to decrease the number of serious injury and fatal crashes that occur on Highway 70 during this timeframe.”

The Highway Patrol offers the following tips for safe travels on the roadways:
– Buckle up – a seatbelt is the most important safety feature in a vehicle;
– Obey all speed limits;
– Drive sober and alert;

Eliminate driver distractions such as texting, talking on the phone, adjusting the stereo – anything that can take your eyes off the road can lead to a crash;

– Get plenty of rest before setting out on a trip and allow plenty of time to reach your destination;

– Take steps before you leave to prepare your vehicle for the trip (i.e. checking tire pressure/condition and fluid levels).

On a five to two vote, a budget for fiscal year 2018-2019 for Cannon County has been approved for consideration by the State Comptroller’s office and the Cannon County Commission.
Budget committee members had questions for 911 Director Roy Sullivan. Most of the questions dealt with the daily operations in order to give some committee members a better understanding of the day to day workings and how it affects the budget.

William F. Curtis, Director of Schools and Bruce Daniel, School Board Chairman were there to explain their 0.75 tax rate request.  Concern from committee members focused with decreasing enrollment and the number of schools in operation. The budget (as presented) was $17,163,000 or 56% of all dollars coming into the county go to the school budget. Commissioner Steakley said he doesn’t feel more money is going to fix the problems.  Bruce Daniel stated they are in the education business, not the money saving business.

County Executive Mike Gannon suggested removing the county’s contribution out for Upper Cumberland Human Resources Agency and Upper Cumberland Development  District ($10,095). The committee removed it from the budget.  Other line item cuts to the budget were as follows:
46820 Income Tax:  Increased to $5,000 from 0.
52300 Property Assessor:  Line 169 cut $5,000 from $14,000 to $9,000.
52500 County Clerk: Line 161 cut $5,000 from $51,700 to $46,700.
54110 Sheriff’s Dept:  Line 205 cut $5,000 from $190,000 to $185,000.
54610 Medical Examiner:  Line 312 cut $5,000 from $9,000 to $4,000.
76100 Capital Outlay:  Line 799 for $117,000 to purchase a new ambulance was decreased to 0.

Total expenditure cuts to the General Fund:  $147,095.
Total revenue increase:  $5,000
The Committee agreed to put $10,000 was that cut previously for vehicle maintenance (338) back in the Ambulance Service budget, making this line a total of $20,000.
A motion was made to approve the above changes by James Adkins and seconded by Jim Bush. Voting yes: Jim Bush, James Adkins, Richie Hunter, Ronnie Mahaffey and Mark Barker.
Voting no:  Karen Ashford and Glenn Steakley
Motion passed.
A motion was made by Jim Bush and seconded by James Adkins for the following tax rate:
County General:         $1.31
Solid Waste:                   .16
Ambulance Svc:             .2239
Debt Svc:                        .005
School:                            .685
Total                           $2.3839

Voting yes for tax rate: Mark Barker, Jim Bush, James Adkins, Richie Hunter and Ronnie Mahaffey.
Voting no:  Karen Ashford and Glenn Steakley
Motion passed

The Committee requested the budgets to the Comptroller’s office.  Pending the response from the Comptroller’s office, the next stop will be to the County Commission or back to the budget committee for further revisions.