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Legislation sponsored by Senator Ken Yager (R-Kingston) that continues the Ambulance Service Provider Assessment Act has been signed into law by Governor Bill Haslam. This law allows the state to receive additional Medicaid funds to be distributed to local private and public ambulance services for transporting patients covered by the program.“I am pleased to see this law continued,” said Senator Yager. “This is especially beneficial to ambulance service providers and patients in rural communities which have a high number of TennCare patients. Rural ambulance services struggle financially, and these additional funds will help keep the doors open.”
This legislation is expected to bring in approximately $19.7 million in federal funds for ambulance services through the state’s TennCare Program. It is modeled after the successful Hospital Assessment Act which has prevented catastrophic TennCare cuts over the last seven years.
“This legislation has proven beneficial over the last year, and I look forward to seeing the increase quality of care continue as a result of our action on this bill,” added Yager.
 

A new industry interested in Woodbury could assist with solid waste and bring almost two dozen new jobs. During the May meeting of the Mayor and Board of Alderman started reviewing the options of a gasification plant. Over the past few weeks, Mayor Duggin has started researching the pros and cons of gasification plants.  Gasification is the process of cleanly burning trash for the purpose of generating energy. 360 Company has approached the town on becoming a location for a recycling facility.Other topics before the board Kevin Halpern addressed the board on the creation of a website for Woodbury government.  The board approved the closure of a portion of High Street  for their annual nursing home block party. 
 

Budgets, budgets, budgets are on the agenda for the May meeting of the Cannon County Board of Education. 
Perkins CTE budget, Food Service 2018-2019 budget, 2018-2019 IDEA budget, 2018-2019 Federal Programs budget, 2018-2019 Federal Programs budget and 2018-2019 GP Budget, if complete.
 
Other agenda items include; review of non-faculty cross-country coaches. Bryan Cofer will address the Board concerning Cooperative Purchasing Contracts. Connie Foster will address the Board concerning a gazebo at East Side School. The board is expected to act on TN Ready recommendation for final grading.
 
The meeting begins tonight at 6:30 in the cafeteria of Woodbury Grammar School.
 

The Tennessee General Assembly passed legislation this session funding three new judge positions in Tennessee. The new positions will be in the state’s 16th Judicial District, which includes Rutherford and Cannon counties; 19th Judicial District, which serves Montgomery and Robertson counties; and the 21st Judicial District, which includes Hickman, Lewis, Perry, and Williamson counties.“This investment in the judicial branch is critical to the fair and efficient administration of justice in the state. I want to express our sincere appreciation to the Tennessee General Assembly for their recognition and their willingness to fund these new positions that were much needed in these areas of the state,” said Chief Justice Jeff Bivins of the Tennessee Supreme Court.
Each year, the Tennessee Comptroller of the Treasury issues the Tennessee Judicial Weighted Caseload Study. The FY 2017 study showed a net deficit of 9.76 judges across the state. The three judicial districts receiving new judge positions this year have shown a deficit since 2013 and are the three districts showing the greatest need in our state.
“The addition of these three new positions will allow the judicial system to address the growing demands we are seeing across our state,” said Director Deborah Taylor Tate of the Administrative Office of the Courts. “A major factor in these increased demands is the impact the ongoing opioid crisis has upon every single court in the state, from criminal courts to juvenile and chancery courts handling the secondary affects like child abuse and neglect, bankruptcies, and other issues. We are grateful to the Legislature for recognizing the need and passing the legislation.”
The legislation is effective September 1, 2018 and the new judges will be appointed by the governor to serve until September 1, 2020. Elections for the new positions will be held in the August 2020 general election.
 

A ONE VEHICLE CRASH RESULTED IN THE DEATH OF A CANNON COUNTY MAN. 
AT APP. 7:25 THURSDAY NIGHT ON US HIGHWAY 70, TENNESSEE HIGHWAY PATROL REPORTED THE FOLLOWING;
 
THE DRIVER OF A 2004 CHEVROLET WAS TRAVELING EASTBOUND ON US HIGHWAY 70
SOUTH AND ATTEMPTED TO PASS A VEHICLE TO THE LEFT. THE SUBJECT OVERCORRECTED AND LOST CONTROL OF HIS VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WENT OFF THE ROAD TO THE RIGHT, STRIKING THE GUARDRAIL.
AFTER STRIKING THE GUARDRAIL, THE VEHICLE OVERTURNED SEVERAL TIMES COMING TO A STOP AT THE BOTTOM OF THE EMBANKMENT. 
 
PRONOUNCED DEAD AT THE SCENE WAS 28 YEAR OLD, JOHNATHAN W DARROW, A RESIDENT OF WOODBURY.
 
ACCORDING TO THE CRASH REPORT, DRINKING WAS INVOLVED AND TESTS HAVE BEEN REQUESTED BY LAW ENFORCEMENT. DARROW WAS WEARING A SEATBELT.  HOWEVER, THE REPORT INDICATES SAFETY RESTRAINTS WOULD NOT HAVE MADE A DIFFERENCE.
 
NO CITATIONS OR CRIMINAL CHARGES WERE ISSUED.
 
TROOPER CHRISTOPHER DELONG TENNESSEE HIGHWAY PATROL WAS THE INVESTIGATING OFFICER.
 

The Cannon County Commission has announced the agenda for the May meeting.  Items for consideration by the commissioners includes:A report from James Adkins on establishing a grievance committee, consider for approval Litter Grant resolution 2018-8 for the 2018-19 year and review quarterly reports, approve notaries, budget amendments and department reports.
According to Commission Chairman Mark Barker, the regular meeting is Thursday, May 3rd at 5:00pm. The meeting will be held in the courtroom of the Cannon County Courthouse.
 

Scouting programs in Cannon County received a boost Tuesday night when the Hilton Stone American Legion Post 279 served as the sponsor of the annual fund raiser. The post is sponsor for Troop 1180 (Boy Scouts, Girls Scouts, and Cub Scouts) in Cannon County.Commander Dave Faulkner was the master of ceremonies.  Scouts from Troop 1180 opened the ceremony by posting the Colors, leading the Pledge of Allegiance, The Scout Oath, and Scout Law, and the invocation.
Guest speaker for the program was Brent Bush, who was introduced by his son, Zach, an Eagle Scout.
Former Woodbury Chief of Police Tony Burnett received the “2018 Good Scout of the Year Award.” Burnett now serves as a local law enforcement liason for the State of Tennessee’s Highway Safety office.  The Good Scout is one of the organization’s highest awards. 
Seven table captains assisted with the event, Darryl Young, Lowell Womack, John House, Herb Alsup, Al Bugg Jr., Stan Hollandsworth, and Tim Bell.  Col. Jim Stone expressed thanks to all who participated including Ian Weir, Director or the Middle Tennessee Council Boy Scouts of America, the Trail of Tears District.
 

 As the prevalence of new construction continues to increase across the Volunteer State, Tennessee Governor Bill Haslam has declared May 2018 as Building Safety Month to increase public awareness of the critical role building codes play in ensuring fire and life safety. 
The International Code Council (ICC) created Building Safety Month 38 years ago to reinforce the importance of code adoption and celebrate the victories of building codes in saving lives during disasters. The Tennessee State Fire Marshal’s Office (SFMO) is proud to join Governor Haslam and the ICC in promoting the annual campaign.
“The importance of building codes cannot be overstated,” said State Fire Marshal and Tennessee Commerce & Insurance (TDCI) Commissioner Julie Mix McPeak.
 
“Ensuring that buildings are constructed to code helps to limit the risk of death, injury, and property damage. Our team of fire prevention experts work closely with homebuilders, contractors, and other construction industry trades to ensure Tennesseans are provided with the highest level of public safety.”
 
Codes officials in a variety of departments—building, fire, planning, and elsewhere—work hard to ensure buildings are constructed safely. Building Safety Month aims to bring recognition to the work of these professionals as they create safe, resilient, affordable, and energy efficient places for Tennesseans to live, work, learn, worship and play. “Fire inspectors with the State Fire Marshal’s Office have public safety as their No. 1 priority,” said McPeak. “Their hard work ensures the SFMO is fulfilling its mission of protecting consumers by reducing loss of life and property due to fire.”
 
In 2017, the SFMO completed 2,902 inspections of residential structures, issued 124,431 electrical permits, reviewed 879 building plans, and conducted 13,702 inspections of state buildings, commercial occupancies, high hazard buildings, jails, malls, and assembly spaces.
 
Building codes address all aspects of construction, including fire prevention, structural integrity, and energy efficiency, to name a few. Because these structures are being built with such resiliency, the risk of property damage is reduced which may provide property owners with lower insurance costs and save millions of taxpayer dollars in the wake of natural disasters.
 
The theme for Building Safety Month 2018 is “Building Codes Save Lives”, which brings awareness to the life-saving impact building codes have when disasters strike. The five-week-long campaign has weekly themes that showcase the importance of partnering with code officials, advancing communities through science, and technology and protecting communities from disasters.
 
One of the most effective ways to reduce the loss of property and life in fires is to use a fire sprinkler system. Fire sprinkler systems can limit heat, flames, and smoke until the fire department arrives on scene.
 
For more information on Building Safety Month, visit the International Code Council’s website: http://www.iccsafe.org/.
 
For more information on home fire sprinklers, visit the Home Fire Sprinkler Coalition’s website: www.homefiresprinkler.org.
 
 

This year saw a Republican primary for voters in Cannon County and 935 persons went to the polls. And her are the results. Only one race determined a winner yesterday, the Circuit Court Judge race: Nathan Nichols got 76.49% (693) of the votes and Barry R. Tidwell got 23.51% (213). In Rutherford County Barry R. Tidwell 73.03% (10,164) Nathan Nichols 26.7% (3,754). Total for both counties, Barry R. Tidwell 70% (10,377) Nathan S. Nichols 30.00% (4,447). 
The primary also saw a few names on the ballot that will be determined in August. County Executive Brent Bush got 98.67% of the votes; County Commissioner District 1 Jeannine Floyd got 95.42%; County Commissioner District 2 Corey Davenport 63.33% Paul Morgan 35.83%; County Commissioner District 5 Kim Davenport 97.92% Sheriff John House 91.71%
 

An area judge seeking re-election has retained counsel to represent him, based on wording in a campaign flyer sent to voters by the campaign of his opponent. Judge Barry Tidwell’s attorney denies wording in the flyer suggesting he allowed a convicted child rapist to reside in the same home as an 11-year-old child. Attorney Brad Hornsby, who represents Tidwell, said his client actually denied the defendant’s request to live with a family member and a minor child. In a published statement, Hornsby said the allegations in the flyer were either intentionally misleading or indicate incompetence on behalf of the other candidate.The flyer in question was distributed by the campaign of attorney Nathan Nichols, who currently works in the legal department at the City of Smyrna. Nichols said he stands by the allegations, and also said court records clearly show what actually happened. Nichols asserts that Tidwell did alter his opinion two weeks after issuing it, but only after being contacted by state authorities.