News

Governor Bill Lee’s Executive Order 97 to enhance school safety included a revision to the School Safety Emergency Operations Planning process for all school districts.  Recently, the Cannon County Board of Education held a safety meeting with Cannon County Law Enforcement Officials, Cannon County Emergency Services Officials, and Cannon County Emergency Management Officials to discuss the recent safety audits, district and school emergency plans and safety enhancements made to Cannon County Schools.  Additional Safe School grant funding will be used to address areas of deficiencies identified by the Local Education Agency (i.e. Cannon County Schools) while conducting the school safety assessments.

Cannon County Schools Staff recently received Reunification training and School Safety for Educators, School Leaders, and Staff, by the Tennessee State Department of Safety and Homeland Security.  The SafeTN app can be found on the district website at www.ccstn.net .  This anonymous reporting system allows students, faculty, parents, and the public to easily and confidentially report concerns to help prevent violence in our schools and our communities. Tips can be submitted 24/7 through the mobile app from any compatible device. The Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security will review, assess, and then send all submissions to law enforcement, mental health crisis response teams, and/or school administrators for intervention based on the information received.  More information can be found at https://www.tn.gov/safety/homeland-security/safetn.html .

Keeping students and staff safe is the number one priority of our school district.  We will continue to work together with our community partners to provide a safe and supportive learning environment in a unified community.  

Middle Tennessee Electric (MTE) will take unprecedented steps during August to help alleviate the strain on its members from increased consumption and rising fuel costs from TVA, the cooperative’s power provider.   “The weather is beyond everyone’s control, and TVA’s Fuel Cost Adjustment is out of MTE’s control,” said Chris Jones, MTE’s CEO. “Unfortunately, both will impact member bills coming due in August. We recognize it, and we want to do what we can to help, which is why we are suspending disconnections for non-payment and eliminating all late fees from Aug. 1 until after Labor Day.”   Additionally, Jones said MTE will give members the flexibility to spread out payments. Installment plans enable members to pay a portion of their high bill balance and distribute the remaining balance out over up to a six-month period. The member will receive their regular monthly statement with the installment amount added.   “If there is one thing I would most strongly recommend to members this month, it would be to move to Levelized Billing,” Jones said. “We make this option available to most members, so just reach out, and we’ll set you up. If you get a high bill in August, you might be surprised how much lower your bill would be on Levelized Billing, and we can do that for you right away.”   Levelized Billing gives members the option to pay nearly the same amount on their bill each month, which removes extreme fluctuations caused by unpredictable weather or energy use. Similarly, Fixed Budget Billing takes those unexpected costs out of the equation and lets members pay a set amount each month, regardless of energy consumption. The cooperative also lets members select a bill due date that works best with their budget. Learn more about these options and others at mte.com/billing.    “MTE is here to answer any questions about your bill, how to save energy or making your home energy efficient,” Jones said. “Never hesitate to pick up the phone and call us or send us a message. As a not-for-profit cooperative, we’re here to be your energy experts and advisors. Our purpose is to make life better for our members.”   An important part of MTE’s SharingChange foundation is to help members who need financial assistance. Funding for energy assistance is provided for accounts year-round through several local help agencies. These local agencies handle the application process and administer the funds on behalf of MTE. MTE encourages members to utilize these agencies’ services during this high bill season. Those interested in learning more about these agencies should visit mte.com/CommunityEnergyAssistanceAgencies.  Members are encouraged to visit mte.com/EnergyTips for energy-saving tips and utilize the free myMTEMC app to monitor hourly and daily energy usage.

Tennessee’s traditional sales tax holiday on clothing, school supplies and computers begins at 12:01 a.m. on Friday, July 29 and ends at 11:59 p.m. on Sunday, July 31, 2022.

During this time clothing, school supplies and computers may be purchased tax free. Certain restrictions do apply. Items sold online are also eligible. Items must be purchased for personal use and not for business or trade.

CLOTHING

Tax exempt items include general apparel that costs $100 or less per item such as shirts, pants, socks, shoes, dresses, etc.

Non-exempt clothing includes apparel priced more than $100, items sold together such as shoes cannot be split up to stay beneath the $100 maximum. Items such as jewelry, handbags or sports and recreational equipment are not tax exempt.

SCHOOL SUPPLIES

Tax exempt items are School and art supplies with a purchase price of $100 or less per item, such as binders, backpacks, crayons, paper, pens, pencils, and rulers, and art supplies such as glazes, clay, paints, drawing pads, and artist paintbrushes.

Items not exempt are school and arts supplies priced at more than $100. Items normally sold together cannot be split up to stay beneath the $100 maximum.

COMPUTERS

Examples of tax exempt items are: computers for personal use with a purchase price of $1,500 or less. Laptop computers, if priced at $1,500 or less, also qualify as well as tablet computers.

Not exempt items include storage media, like flash drives and compact discs; individually purchased software; printer supplies and household appliances.

WE CARE CANNON

The annual effort to give all Cannon County Students to jump start on the school year, We Care Cannon is this Sunday. Hours of operation is from 2:00 – 5:00 pm at Cannon County High School. The event is free for all Cannon County students. The distribution line will be indoors. The student must be present to collect items, No Exceptions.

The State Veterinarian is advising horse owners to be alert after another confirmed case of Potomac Horse Fever (PHF) in Tennessee. This week’s detection in a horse in Wayne County is in addition to two cases earlier this month in DeKalb and Rutherford Counties.

“We are seeing an uptick in PHF cases in Tennessee compared to previous years,” State Veterinarian Dr. Samantha Beaty said. “This disease typically coincides with hot weather, which is why it’s common in the summer and early fall. Vaccination and minimizing risk can help horse owners protect their animals.”

Aquatic snail larvae and other intermediate hosts including flies are the source of the Neorickettsia risticii bacteria that causes PHF. Horses may be exposed when drinking from creeks, rivers, or ponds and can then suffer from anorexia, diarrhea, colic, fever, and laminitis. If your horse presents symptoms, contact your veterinarian immediately. If left untreated, PHF can be fatal.

There is a vaccine for PHF. Although it may not fully prevent infection in all cases, it does provide protection and minimizes the severity of disease if a horse is infected. Horse owners should consult their veterinarian to establish a vaccination schedule.

Potomac horse fever has not been found to directly transmit from horse to horse nor is it a known threat to human health.

Dr. Beaty suggests these practices to reduce exposure:
• Provide horses with clean, fresh drinking water at all times.
• Eliminate or at least minimize horse access to creeks, streams, or ponds
• Discuss vaccination options with your veterinarian.
• Eliminate standing water sources where disease-carrying insects may gather and breed.
• Turn off insect-attracting stable lights at night.

The State Veterinarian’s office seeks to prevent the spread of disease through import and movement requirements, livestock traceability, disaster mitigation, and the services of the C.E. Kord Animal Health Diagnostic Laboratory.

Emily House and Jesse Tucker Vaughn of Cannon County was recently recognized among 90 other 4-H members across Tennessee during Tennessee 4-H Roundup at the University of Tennessee at Martin with the Vol State award, the highest level of recognition a Tennessee 4-H member may achieve. Vol State is the final step in Tennessee’s three-level recognition program… Honor Club, All Stars and Vol State. Members are inducted in an impressive candlelight ceremony on the final night of Tennessee 4-H Roundup. The purpose of this award is to give deserved recognition to 4-H members and others on a statewide basis who have particularly outstanding records in project achievement, leadership and service in 4-H.

Vol State is presented to high school juniors and seniors in recognition of excellence in all phases of 4-H work, as well as service and leadership rendered in their communities. Through their years in 4-H, Emily and Jesse have been exceptional at everything they do. They have worked hard as a Cannon County 4-H Honor Club member organizing a service project where items were collected for the Cannon County SAVE House. In the Spring 2022, 117 Easter baskets were put together from the Cannon County Honor Club and given to residents at the Woodbury Health and Rehabilitation Center and Holiday House. Both girls have served as Cannon County Healthy Lifestyle’s Ambassador where they travel to Cannon County Elementary Schools influencing younger students not to smoke through 4-H Health Rocks and Tennessee Teens Talk Tobacco programs. This past year, both girls served as Health Rocks Mentors to Short Mountain and Woodbury Grammar 8^th grade students. Emily and Jesse both represent Cannon County 4-H well and we are proud of their many accomplishments since 4th grade.

Congratulations to Emily House and Jesse Tucker Vaughn for receiving the Vol State Award. Cannon County is honored to have such exceptional 4-H members! If you would like more information about the 4-H program, please contact 615-563-2554.

By Sarah Ferrell, UT Extension County Director and 4-H Youth Development Agent, For more information about 4-H listen to After 8, each Tuesday for the Farm & Family edition on WBRY.

Cannon County Elementary School (former Woodbury Grammar School) located at 530 West Adams Street, Woodbury, TN 37190 and Cannon County Middle School located at 511 Annie Cox Drive, Woodbury, TN 37190 would like to announce NEW Arrival and Dismissal Procedures for the 2022-2023 School Year.

Emily Hancock, Principal of Cannon County Elementary School and Cannon County Middle School stated, “As Principal at CCES/CCMS, I ask families to please be patient with the teachers and staff as we work through arrival and dismissal procedures with an increased number of students during the first few weeks of school. We will be working to make things flow as efficiently as possible. This will require flexibility and understanding from all parties involved. This includes sharing the message that Annie Cox Drive will be a ONE WAY Street by August 1^st, 2022, and being aware of increased traffic between 2:40 PM and 3:00 PM in the front of the school with buses entering onto West Adams Street. Also, Lehman Street will see an increase in Traffic. Please feel free to call 629-218-3201 or email emily.hancock@ccstn.net with questions, concerns or suggestions.”

The CCES/CCMS Arrival and Dismissal Procedures are as Follows:

Arrival & Dismissal Procedures: 

Important things to know about the upcoming 2022-2023 School Year is the traffic flow for parent pickup and drop off. Elementary & Middle School students will arrive & dismiss from the same locations, however, CCES Students will be in the cafeteria and CCMS Students will be in the gym until 7:30 AM.  

Arrival: 

The doors by the CCES/CCMS Gym will be open from 6:55 AM – 7:45 AM to welcome students who are car riders. After 7:45 AM, students will have to be signed-in at the Middle School Office or Elementary School Office. During the 2022-2023 school year, construction will be happening on the east side of the building. Buses will be dropping off at the front of the building. If you have a Cannon County High School student riding the bus from Cannon County Elementary, please have them meet at the front of the building at 7:00 AM. 

Dismissal: 

At 2:40 PM, the back doors will open for parent pickup at the same doors as the morning. Two lines will form and students will be called as parents/guardians are pulled up to the loading locations. Buses will be called as they arrive and dismiss from the front doors of Cannon County Elementary School. Walkers will be released from the front doors of Cannon County Elementary at 2:40 PM.  

Annie Cox Drive will be converted to a ONE WAY Street by August 1^st, 2022, and new signage will also be installed by that date. Pre-K Students will arrive and depart via College Street access south of the big playground (See Diagram). Parents please use caution as construction will be occurring on the east portion of our campus.

Governor Bill Lee has announced the appointment of Margie Quin as Commissioner for the Tennessee Department of Children’s Services (DCS), effective September 1. Quin will succeed Jennifer Nichols, who has served the department since 2019.

“Jennifer is a committed public servant who has faithfully served Tennesseans since the beginning of my administration, and her leadership has been crucial in our work to ensure every child in our state has a loving, permanent home,” said Lee. “As we continue these efforts, I am confident that Margie’s experience in both the nonprofit and law enforcement sectors will benefit Tennessee children and their families.”

Quin currently serves as the Chief Executive Officer of End Slavery Tennessee, a nonprofit organization focused on efforts to end human trafficking. Quin has more than 25 years of experience in law enforcement, including two decades as a special agent at the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI). Quin earned her bachelor’s degree at Auburn University and master’s degree at Cumberland University.

Nichols came to DCS after two decades as a prosecutor who tried many child abuse, child homicide and high-profile cases, the last being the Holly Bobo murder. While Nichols was Commissioner, the department’s Child Protective Services division was restructured to include specialized teams trained for triage and immediate response to crises involving serious child physical abuse. Nichols also implemented ChildStat, a statewide initiative that increases transparency and accountability by measuring and analyzing multiple data points for an integrated response by the juvenile justice, child programs, child protective services and legal teams. During Nichols’ tenure as Commissioner, DCS, the Tennessee Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services and the Administrative Office of the Courts, with support from the legislature, more than doubled the number of Tennessee’s Safe Baby Courts, specialized collaborative courts that provide resources and support for parents and babies zero to three.   

United Way of Rutherford & Cannon Counties (UWRCC) is awarding over $1 million in grants to 39 agency programs aligned with Bold Goals 2030 and demonstrating measurable progress toward these community goals.

In 2020, UWRCC adopted “Bold Goals 2030,” a strategic vision for making our community a stronger place for everyone who calls it home. Developed by key leaders, experts and community members, Bold Goals 2030 outlines key strategies that will help transform our community by addressing our most pressing needs.

“We are excited to partner with 39 programs in our community this year. These programs have been awarded a grant through a competitive process through our Community Impact Committee who feel that these programs will help us move the needle in our Bold Goals 2030 work. We look forward to continuing to make an impact in priority areas for our community,” shares Kristen Swann, Vice President of Collective Impact and Strategic Initiatives for United Way of Rutherford & Cannon Counties.

Thanks to Redstone Federal Credit Union, United Way of Rutherford and Cannon Counties will have the tools needed to track the meaningful and measurable improvements being made in the community. Redstone Federal Credit Union has provided a $22,500 grant over five years to provide the Clear Impact software to our community. This software will help measure shared outcomes among United Way’s grant recipients as well as track community-level data, while ensuring programs are being delivered in an equitable way.

“Redstone is excited to partner with the United Way in its efforts to support community organizations as they serve our neighbors and friends,’’ said Mike Panesi, Redstone’s Tennessee Vice President.

To learn more about United Way’s Bold Goals 2030, Grant Partners, or community impact, please visit yourlocaluw.org.

2022-2023 Grant Partners

Alive Hospice, Inc. – Nashville

Ann Campbell Early Learning Center

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Middle TN

Boys & Girls Clubs of Rutherford County

Cannon County Senior Citizens Center

Child Advocacy Center of Rutherford & Cannon Counties

City Schools Foundation

Discovery Center at Murfree Spring

Domestic Violence, Inc.

Dominion Financial Management

Doors of Hope

Insight Counseling Centers

Interfaith Dental Clinic Rutherford County

Kymari House

Legal Aid Society of Middle Tennessee

Mid-Cumberland Human Resource Agency

Nourish

Nurses for Newborns of Tennessee

Nurture the Next

Read To Succeed

Rutherford County Habitat for Humanity

Rutherford County Primary Care & Hope Clinic

Special Kids

STARS (Students Taking a Right Stand)

Stepping Stones Safe Haven

The Community Helpers of Rutherford County

The Family Center

The Salvation Army (Rutherford County)

Volunteer Behavioral Health Care

Waves, Inc.

Providing a safe and supportive learning environment where students are able to focus on skills needed for a successful future is the top priority of the Cannon County School district.   Bullying and internet safety prevention are part of Cannon County Schools’ School-Wide Positive Behavior Support program.  The school system has developed the following strategy statement regarding bullying behaviors:

“We recognize bullying as the deliberate use of any word, look, sign, or act that hurts a person’s body, feelings, or things. We also recognize bullying as a type of violence that occurs when someone uses his or her power unfairly and repeatedly to hurt someone else.”

To make our school violence-free and safe from bullying, we pledge

·        not to tolerate bullying

·        to intervene in incidents of bullying and strictly enforce rules against bullying

·        to empower students to report bullying behavior and to treat one another with respect.

As a part of the Bullying Prevention Program, students as well as all staff, participate in lessons designed to help him/her

·        define bullying and understand what behaviors are considered bullying

·        understand the effect of bullying behaviors and develop empathy for targeted students

·        learn ways to respond to bullying behavior

·        learn when and how to report bullying

·        learn the consequences the school has established for engaging in bullying behavior

The overall goal of the Bullying Prevention program is to empower students to report bullying behaviors and to give school staff the tools to recognize, intervene, and issue consequences for bullying behaviors they witness or hear about from students. Students who bully receive appropriate consequences to help them realize that bullying behavior isn’t appropriate and won’t be tolerated at school. 

Additionally, all students participate in lessons concerning internet safety.  Parents may also continue this conversation by using the “NetSmartz® Workshop” which may be found on the Cannon County School District’s homepage or “Stop Bullying.gov”.  “NetSmartz Workshop” is an interactive, educational program of the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children® (NCMEC) that provides age-appropriate resources to help teach children how to be safer on- and offline. The program is designed for children ages 5-17, parents and guardians, educators, and law enforcement. With resources such as videos, games, activity cards, and presentations, NetSmartz entertains while it educates provides information to parents on how to keep students cyber-safe.  You may access this information at www.ccstn.net  under “Departments-Coordinated School Health- Bullying Prevention”.  

Cannon County Schools also encourage the public to use the SafeTN platform which is a secure open-door platform where anyone can send in timps and access useful resources to help keep your school and community safe.  SafeTN is a secure, open door communications platform.  The anonymous reporting system allows students, faculty, parents, and the public to easily and confidentially report their concerns to help prevent violence in our schools and our communities. Tips can be submitted 24/7 through the mobile app from any compatible device. The Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security will review, assess, and then send all submissions to law enforcement, mental health crisis response teams, and/or school administrators for intervention based on the information received.

With SafeTN, you can anonymously report suspicious or criminal behavior and other safety concerns. You can do this by reporting observed threats, behaviors, or actions. Here is an example of some of the common behaviors and incidents to report:

• Assault
• Sexual misconduct
• Bragging about an upcoming planned attack
• Violence or planned violence
• Physical injury or harm to self or others
• Threats of violence

 SafeTN is free. Students, staff, parents, and the community need only to download the free mobile app on a compatible device.  You can find more information by visiting our district webpage. 

For questions regarding the Bullying Prevention program and how it is implemented, parents may contact their child’s school principal or school counselor.

The deadline for Tennessee voters to request a ballot to vote absentee by-mail for the Aug. 4 State and Federal Primary & State and County General Election is Thursday, July 28. “County election commissions are accepting absentee by-mail requests now for the Aug. 4 election,” said Secretary of State Tre Hargett. “If you meet one of the reasons under Tennessee state law to vote absentee by-mail and plan to do so, I encourage you to request and return your ballot early to ensure you meet the upcoming deadlines.” Voters must meet one of the 14 reasons under Tennessee law to vote absentee by-mail. One of the most common reasons is being 60 years or older. Other reasons include being outside the county where you are registered during early voting and on Election Day or being hospitalized, ill or physically disabled. For the complete list of legal reasons to vote absentee by-mail see the Guide to Absentee Voting on sos.tn.gov/elections.   To receive an absentee by-mail ballot, voters must submit a written request to their local election commission by mail, fax or email. Voters can find the contact information for their county election commission on the Secretary of State’s website, tnsos.org/elections/election_commissions.php.  Instructions for requesting an absentee by-mail ballot and a printable absentee by-mail ballot application are available in the Guide to Absentee Voting on sos.tn.gov/elections. Voters submitting their request by email must attach a scanned copy of their signature.   For the August election, voters casting their ballot absentee by-mail must also request either a Republican or Democratic primary ballot in order to cast a ballot in a primary election. You will only receive the general election ballot if a party is not specified.   Completed absentee by-mail ballots must be returned by mail to your local county election commission. Ballots must be received before the polls close on Election Day, Thursday, Aug. 4. Voters must provide proper postage to return their ballot. Please consult with your county election commission or the U.S. Postal Service to determine the postage needed. Tennessee voters can easily and securely track the status of their absentee by-mail ballot using the Secretary of State’s Absentee By-Mail Ballot Status Tracker tool. Through this tool, voters can track their absentee by-mail ballot’s status, starting when the county election commission mails your ballot to you and ending when the county election commission has received your completed ballot. Visit the Absentee By-Mail Ballot Status Tracker at tnmap.tn.gov/voterlookup/. For the latest information on the Aug. 4 election, follow the Secretary of State’s social media channels Twitter: @SecTreHargett, Facebook: Tennessee Secretary of State and Instagram: @tnsecofstate. For more information about voting absentee by-mail or tracking your ballot, go to GoVoteTN.gov, contact your local county election commission or call the Division of Elections toll-free at 1-877-850-4959.