News

The National Weather Service Damage Assessment team has officially classified the severe weather that came through the Readyville area early Saturday morning as an EF-2 tornado with 130 mph winds.

All recovery operations for Sunday, April 2nd have been suspended. Cannon and Rutherford Sheriff’s Department are providing security tonight. Officials appreciate all the help from regional first responders and community volunteers.

STATUS OF OPERATIONS for Monday April 3rd

Per Cannon County Emergency Management Agency and Tennessee Emergency Management Agency. All work in the Readyville disaster zone on Monday will involve heavy equipment only. No volunteers will be allowed in the recovery area. Debris removal specialists from local, state, and private agencies will be operating many pieces of heavy equipment. Readyville street is expected to be closed for the next 4 days while debris removal takes place.

VOLUNTEERs

Volunteers are needed at Cannon North School (West Side). The school will need to be returned to operational status. Volunteers are needed to help with the process starting at 12:00pm. Volunteers needed to help provide meals for workers. All volunteers will need to register at New Hope Church of Christ.

DONATIONS

No donated items will be received at Cannon North on 04/03/23, other than food items. PODS will be available in the coming days to store donated items and provide temporary storage for local impacted residents.

Please feel free to reach out to Disaster Assistance Coordinator Brent Brandon at 615-691-0239 or email tbell@cannoncountyrescue.com if you wish to help.

Tim Bell, Unit Director, Cannon County Rescue Squad

ALL Cannon County Schools will be CLOSED on Monday, April 3rd, 2023 due to clean-up efforts in the Readyville, Tennessee tornado-damaged areas.

Director of Cannon County Schools – Mr. William Freddy Curtis stated, “ALL Cannon County Schools will be CLOSED on Monday, April 3rd, 2023 due to clean-up efforts in the Readyville, Tennessee tornado-damaged areas.  Various roads are CLOSED in and around the Readyville area and bus routes have also been affected.  Cannon North Elementary School is continuing to be used as a Red Cross Resource and Logistical Center through tomorrow, and Cannon County Middle School and Cannon County High School Students have also been impacted.  Additionally, Cannon County Schools will be allowing employees to assist tomorrow in cleanup efforts and logistical support.  Our desire is to help our local community in every way possible.  Cannon North Elementary School Personnel have been assisting cleanup and logistical support at their school since early Saturday Morning.  Cannon County Schools supports all efforts to ‘Support Readyville’ during this time of devastation for numerous students. The safety of our students and personnel is always our utmost priority. This will be our 7th Inclement Weather Day utilized in the 2022-2023 School Year.”

Storms crossed the Volunteer State overnight, one of the dozens of areas hit was in Cannon County in the Readyville community.

Volunteer First Responders continue to work in the Readyville Area assisting utility crews with road closures. Cannon County Rescue Squad is asking that people limit their travel to the area for the next few hours as much utility work is being completed.

The Squad appreciates all the offers for food, equipment, and supplies. Currently, they do not have a need for additional heavy equipment or other resources at this time. A temporary shelter and disaster assistance is being set up at Cannon North Elementary school (West Side). Please contact Brent Brandon with the American Red Cross 615-691-0239 to inquire about supplies needed for disaster relief.

Food will be available for those displaced and EMS workers at the school at noon.

The Rutherford County Sheriff’s Department reported the following:

Sgt. Jonathan McGee reported there were no storm-related deaths at this time. Deputies responded to Readyville where they observed numerous structures were damaged and/or collapsed about 2 a.m. Saturday.

Firefighters, paramedics and RCSO Deputies walked through the area of Readyville Street to make contact and check the welfare of residents.

One person was located in a collapsed structure. After they were removed they were transported to Ascension Rutherford St. Thomas Hospital for medical treatment. Other residents were treated on site for minor injuries.

Due to debris, downed trees, and downed power lines, Old Woodbury Road, Bivens Hill Road, Readyville Street and Lassiter Barker Road were closed to all non -essential traffic.

Day shift Sgt. Horne was notified and additional deputies were requested to assist. Patrol Sgt. Trey Nunley and Patrol Sgt. Jamie Holloway and Detective Sgt. Richard Brinkley responded to assist. There were 10 RCSO Deputies/Supervisors who came in to assist with the incident.

The Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) announced the legislative passage of the Lee
administration’s Transportation Modernization Act, a bill that will create a new strategy and invest $3.3 billion to accommodate Tennessee’s record growth, address traffic congestion and meet transportation needs across rural and urban communities. This historic legislation has received support from dozens of organizations across Tennessee and will now head to the Governor’s desk to be signed into law. 

The legislation will give TDOT the resources needed to solve the state’s current and future mobility challenges, including seeking the use of public-private partnerships to preserve state funds for rural infrastructure priorities, exploring Choice Lanes to decrease congestion and increase economic impact statewide, and expanding the alternative delivery model to save taxpayer dollars and deliver road projects more efficiently.

“Tennessee’s strategic transportation plan will prepare TDOT with the resources needed to build and maintain roads across our rural and urban communities,” said TDOT Commissioner Butch Eley. “We appreciate the support of the legislature and key partners as we pave the way for Tennessee’s continued prosperity.”

The plan received bi-partisan legislative support and was sponsored by Senate Majority Leader Jack Johnson (R – Franklin), Senate Transportation & Safety Chair Becky Massey (R – Knoxville), House Majority Leader William Lamberth (R – Portland), and House Transportation Chair Dan Howell (R – Cleveland).

With severe weather predicted for Middle Tennessee between 10 p.m. and 3 a.m. tonight, Middle Tennessee Electric (MTE) wants to remind its members to stay weather aware and be prepared. MTE’s Systems Control monitors the grid for outages 24/7, and crews are currently on standby to be dispatched if needed. To stay safe during potentially severe weather, MTE recommends taking the following precautions: Have multiple ways to receive weather alerts and invest in a battery-operated weather radio. Keep a flashlight nearby. Charge phones and other devices before severe weather arrives. Secure patio furniture, grills, umbrellas and trampolines in the event of strong winds. Avoid any downed power lines and report them to MTE. In the event of an outage, use caution with space heaters and backup generators. Space heaters should be kept away from flammable materials such as furniture or curtains and only be used in well-ventilated areas. Generators should be outside the home and can create a backfeed hazard for MTE line crews if not properly connected to the grid. Prepare a storm survival kit with items like canned food, bottled water, portable phone chargers, extra batteries and first aid supplies. If there are storm-related outages, members can report them through the myMTE app or web portal, by calling the MTE automated outage line at 877-777-9111 or calling Member Services at 877-777-9020.

UPDATE: Emily Warner/Jones has been found and returned to her family.

The Cannon County Sheriff’s Office is requesting assistance with the location of 15-year-old runaway juvenile, Emily Warner/Jones.

Emily has been missing since March 19th and officers have been unsuccessful at making any contact. According to information, she is believed to be in Rutherford County with an unknown male approximately 23 years old.

Anyone with information is urged to contact The Cannon County Sheriff’s Office or Cannon County Dispatch.

It is unknown what she was wearing at the time she left her residence in the Short Mountain community. Family reports that she may be wearing a bright red wig with shoulder length hair.

Members of the Sheriff’s office are looking for anyone with information concerning this incident and would ask that they contact the Cannon County Sheriff’s Office at 615-563-1000 or the Cannon County Dispatch centers non-emergancy line at 615-563-4322.

SOURCE: CCSO Facebook

America’s largest annual tree-planting event takes place this weekend across Tennessee. The day has been unanimously declared “Tennessee Tree Day 2023” by the Tennessee General Assembly and Governor Bill Lee, and it takes place on March 18. Over 8,000 Tennessee residents have signed up to plant more than 100,000 native trees during this event, organized by Tennessee Environmental Council, a non-profit organization.

“This is our 9th annual statewide tree-planting event, and it is inspiring to see so many Tennessee residents get involved, plant native trees and help improve our environment and communities,” says Jeffrey Barrie, CEO of Tennessee Environmental Council.

The Numbers:

• Total Tennessee counties participating: 95
• Total local tree-pick-up locations: 150
• Total planting locations: 8,000
• Total volunteers: more than 20,000
• Total native trees to be planted: 100,000

“Trees support clean air and water, increase property values, and provide cover and needed food, like nuts and berries, for wildlife,” said Patrick Fitzgerald, senior director of community habitat for the National Wildlife Federation, a long-time sponsor of the event. “NWF is proud to support this event year after year as a way to provide opportunities for all to learn about the environment and enjoy the many benefits of spending quality time outdoors in nature,” says Fitzgerald.

U.S. Rep. John Rose, a member of the House Committee on Agriculture, former Tennessee Commissioner of Agriculture, and local farmer, and Rep. Darren Soto, a member of the House Committee on Agriculture, has introduced the Black Vulture Relief Act of 2023. The bipartisan bill allows livestock producers to take black vultures without a permit if they believe the vulture will cause death or injury to their livestock.

“Black vultures are a nuisance to livestock farmers and ranchers and pose a deadly threat to young calves and other animals. The current patchwork of regulations regarding the black vulture permit application process ties farmers in red tape,” said Rep. Rose the bill’s sponsor. “My bipartisan bill, the Black Vulture Relief Act, will give relief to the farmers and ranchers fed up with these scavengers killing their livestock and eating into their profits.”

“Our farmers and ranchers are facing many obstacles as they work to care for their livestock. By allowing them to take black vultures without a permit before they harm their livestock, we are improving the likelihood of their success,” said Rep. Soto the bill’s co-lead.

In 1916, the United States and Canada entered into a treaty aimed at protecting birds that migrate between the two countries, which led to the Migratory Bird Treaty Act being enacted in 1918 to implement this treaty in the United States. The law makes it illegal to take nearly 1,100 species of migratory birds—including black vultures—without a permit. The Secretary of Interior is allowed to permit the taking of black vultures; however, Rep. Rose has spoken to many farmers who describe the black vulture depredation permit application process as being too cumbersome, time-consuming, and costly. 

“Black vultures attack livestock – especially young and vulnerable animals – which is a significant challenge for America’s farmers and ranchers,” said Sam Kieffer, American Farm Bureau Federation Vice President, Public Policy. “Rep. Rose’s legislation helps protect both livestock and migratory birds, like black vultures, which is why the American Farm Bureau strongly supports the Black Vulture Relief Act of 2023.”

“Thousands of cattle producers across the Southeast and Midwest lose livestock to black vulture depredation each year, and that’s on top of the pinch from severe inflation and extreme input costs. Just when many cow-calf producers are able to get ahead for the first time in years, these pressures are eating away at their profits. The added stress of livestock deaths and the fear of harsh federal penalties should not be another burden on the list,” said Director of National Cattlemen’s Beef Association Government Affairs Sigrid Johannes. “We appreciate Congressman Rose’s leadership on this commonsense bill to give cattle producers the flexibility they need to protect their livestock.”

“Black Vulture attacks on livestock, particularly newborn calves, costs livestock producers thousands in lost revenues and continue to increase in frequency. These predators are overpopulated, and this bill is an important step in managing these losses,” said Charles Hord, Tennessee Cattlemen’s Association Executive Vice President.

“We appreciate Congressman Rose filing this legislation in the hopes of alleviating the burden farmers are facing with growing black vulture populations and the resulting depredation of livestock around Tennessee,” said Tennessee Farm Bureau President Eric Mayberry. “It should be a fundamental right for farmers to protect their livestock when threatened by predatory actions of black vultures, and we believe this legislation is a step in the right direction.”

The bill is being supported by the American Farm Bureau Federation, National Cattlemen’s Association, Tennessee Farm Bureau Federation, Tennessee Cattlemen’s Beef Association, Virginia Farm Bureau Federation, and the American Sheep Industry Association (ASI).

Read the full text of the bill here.

A release from the Sheriff’s office gave details of a current campaign to slow sales of controlled substances to minors.

The Cannon County Sheriff’s Office and the 16th Judicial District Attorney’s Office have received complaints from the Cannon County school system as well as parents pertaining to minors being in possession of and using vapes and tobacco products that were sold to them by local businesses.

Over the past couple of weeks Cannon County Sheriffs Office Investigators Paul Reed and Billy Joe Crouch, along with Tennessee ABC, have conducted compliance checks in our community at every store that sells alcohol, tobacco, and vaping products in Cannon County.

Unfortunately, there were some businesses that did sell vapes, beer, and liquor to minors. These establishments were cited for these sales and are considered innocent until proven guilty in court.

 The Cannon County Sheriff’s Office will continue to conduct random compliance checks of all businesses selling these regulated items in hopes of keeping them out of the hands of our children.