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Human trafficking continues to be a public health concern in Tennessee. Through mid-December 2021, the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation’s Human Trafficking Hotline had received 1,185 tips or leads related to human trafficking concerns. This January, which is recognized as National Human Trafficking Awareness Month, the Tennessee Department of Health encourages Tennesseans to learn risk factors, red flags, and resources for human trafficking that could help save a life.

“Human trafficking continues to affect every corner of our state,” said Tennessee Department of Health Commissioner Dr. Lisa Piercey, MD, MBA, FAAP. “It is important we take every opportunity to raise awareness of human trafficking and identify victims and perpetrators quickly. Human trafficking happens in all communities, rural and urban, and often in ways many of us would not suspect. I am proud of the work our health department and leaders across Tennessee State Government have done to combat this growing crisis.”

The following signs may indicate that a person is the victim of human trafficking:
• Unable to leave or come and go as desired
• Unpaid or paid very little or only through tips for his/her work
• Excessively long and/or unusual work hours
• Not allowed breaks or subjected to unusual restrictions at work
• Few or no personal possessions and/or identification documents
• Lack of control of his/her own money
• Not allowed to speak for him/herself
• Numerous inconsistencies in his/her stories
• Fear, anxiety, nervousness, depression, paranoia, submissive behaviors
• Signs of physical and/or sexual abuse, physical restraint, confinement, or torture

If you think you may know someone who needs help or have met a potential victim of human trafficking, please contact the Tennessee Human Trafficking Hotline at 1-855-558-6484 or text “BeFree” to 233722. For more information on human trafficking, please visit https://www.acf.hhs.gov/otip/about/what-is-human-trafficking.

Tennessee continues to take a proactive approach to address this public health issue. New laws have been passed every year since 2011 to assist victims of human trafficking and increase punitive action against traffickers. Learn more about these laws at https://ithastostop.com/.

National Human Trafficking Awareness Day is recognized each year on January 11. Please join us to raise awareness of human trafficking by taking photos wearing blue and sharing them on social media, using the hashtag #WearBlueDayTN. For more information on the Blue Campaign, please visit https://www.dhs.gov/blue-campaign/wearblueday.

The mission of the Tennessee Department of Health is to protect, promote and improve the health and prosperity of people in Tennessee. Learn more about TDH services and programs at www.tn.gov/health.

Donny Green, County Executive Director of the DeKalb-Cannon County Farm Service Agency, says the DeKalb-Cannon FSA County Committee met in regular session on Thursday, December 9, 2021 to canvass and tabulate the ballots received in the 2021 Local Administrative Area (LAA) # 1 (DeKalb County) and LAA # 5 (Cannon County) county committee elections.

For LAA # 1, Jimmy Womack was elected to serve as Committee Member. Jimmy Herndon was elected to serve as the 1st Alternate for LAA # 1. For LAA # 5, Robert “Bob” Melton was elected to serve as Committee Member. Fred Adams was elected to serve as the 1st Alternate for LAA # 5. Elected members began their terms on January 1, 2022.

The DeKalb-Cannon FSA County Committee met on January 4^TH to conduct its Organizational Meeting. For 2022, the Committee selected R.V. Billings, Jr. as the Chairperson, and Robert Melton as the Vice-Chairperson. Jimmy Womack, Terry Young, and Grant Williams serve as members of the Committee. Mary Sanders serves as the Committee Advisor. The Committee meets on the second Tuesday of each month at 8:30 a.m. at the DeKalb-Cannon County USDA Service Center located at 647 Bright Hill Rd.

Green says that the DeKalb-Cannon FSA County Committee and office staff wish to express their appreciation to voters in LAA # 1 and LAA # 5 who participated in the election by voting and returning their ballots. “The local County Committees are a very important part of Farm Service Agency’s program delivery and administrative processes,” added Green.

For more information about FSA’s County Committees or other program inquiries, call 597-8225 (extension 2) or come by the DeKalb-Cannon County Farm Service Agency office at 647 Bright Hill Street in Smithville. You can also visit the agency’s web site at: www.fsa.usda.gov<http://www.fsa.usda.gov>.

Hours of snowfall followed by plunging temperatures bring little change for activities in Middle Tennessee.

Cannon County Schools and all surrounding counties are closed Friday.

Middle Tennessee State University will be closed Friday.

Cannon County’s basketball games scheduled for Friday with Smith County have been re-scheduled for Monday night.

The Cannon County Courthouse will be closed Friday.

Woodbury Town Hall will be closed Friday. If you experience a water emergency, call 615-563-2388.

The county’s solid waste facility will be closed Friday, due to weather conditions the sanitation trucks are not running, some citizens may not have their trash picked up until Monday.

The Cannon County Senior Center will be closed Friday.

The Cannon County Football Banquet scheduled for Saturday has been re-scheduled for Saturday, annuary 15^th.  The location will be announced later.

state offices on Friday, January 7 in all West, Middle and East Tennessee state offices.

State employees will utilize work from home capabilities where possible. State services offered online will remain available.

Hazardous travel conditions are expected to continue and worsen as temperatures drop into the teens and single digits. Roads will likely remain hazardous Friday into Saturday morning as temperatures stay below freezing.

Severe weather information is a service of Shelter Insurance.

UPDATE:

Tonight’s meeting of the County Commission has been re-scheduled for next Thursday, January 13^th.  The two public hearings, part of the agenda, have also been moved.

Woodbury Town Hall is closed today. 

If you have a water emergency, call 615-563-2388.

Woodbury Public Works has suspended trash pickup today.  Some residents may not see trucks back until Monday.

Circuit Court for today will not be in session.  Today’s docket has been re-scheduled for February 4^th.

Cannon County Senior Center is closed today.

…WINTER STORM WARNING IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 PM CST THIS EVENING…

* WHAT…Heavy snow expected. Total snow accumulations of 3 to 5

  inches, with locally higher amounts possible.

* WHERE…Portions of Middle Tennessee.

* WHEN…Until 8 PM CST this evening.

* IMPACTS…Travel could become very difficult. Plan on hazardous

  travel conditions developing this morning and continuing

  through Friday.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…

If you must travel, keep an extra flashlight, food, and water in

your vehicle in case of an emergency.

The latest road conditions for the state you are calling from can

be obtained by calling 5 1 1.

A Winter Storm Warning is in effect for most of Middle Tennessee

through this evening, with a Winter Weather Advisory across far

southern Middle Tennessee. Snow is expected to spread across the

area this morning and continue through the afternoon before ending,

with some sleet and freezing rain mixing with the snow across

southern Middle Tennessee. Snow accumulations of 3 to 5 inches, with

higher amounts possible, are anticipated along and north of I-40.

South of I-40, a light glaze of ice along with 1 to 3 inches of snow

is expected.

Hazardous travel conditions are expected to develop during the day

today and worsen tonight as temperatures drop into the teens and

single digits. Roads will likely remain hazardous Friday into

Saturday morning as temperatures stay below freezing.

Schools across Middle Tennessee are closing Thursday…

Cannon County, Coffee County, DeKalb, Rutherford, Warren and Wilson will be closed Thursday, January 6^th.  Middle Tennessee State University has also announced they will not have classes Thursday.

First United Methodist Church has canceled their food distribution scheduled for Thursday morning at the Arts Center.

WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 4 AM TO 4 PM

CST THURSDAY…

* WHAT…Snow accumulations 2 to 3 inches for most areas with locally higher amounts possible. The far southern counties of the Mid State are expected to have around 1 to 2 inches of snow mixed with light accumulations of sleet and freezing rain.

* WHERE…Across Middle Tennessee.

* WHEN…From 4 AM to 4 PM CST Thursday.

* IMPACTS…Plan on slippery road conditions. The hazardous conditions could impact the morning commute.

* ADDITIONAL DETAILS…Precipitation is expected to develop over the southwest counties of the Mid State before daybreak Thursday, then spread across the area through the early morning hours. Precipitation will start to develop during the morning rush hour for Nashville Metro. Some freezing rain and sleet will be mixed with the snow for areas south of Interstate 40, but any mixed precipitation will change to all snow.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…

Slow down and use caution while traveling. The latest road conditions for the state you are calling from can be obtained by calling 5 1 1.

Listen to WBRY AM 1540 / FM 107.1 for Severe Weather Alerts a service of Shelter Insurance.

The Tennessee Department of Transportation assures motorists it is stocked and ready to clear roadways of ice and snow. Salt supplies have been replenished in all 95 counties in preparation for the winter season, and crews have readied snow plows and brine trucks. Crews are already out today, pre-treating state routes and interstates ahead of Thursday’s snow. Please give them plenty of room to work.

“We prepare for winter weather months in advance,” TDOT Commissioner Joe Galbato said. “Our salt bins and our brine are fully stocked, and our employees are ready to mobilize in the event of inclement weather. Clearing our roadways as soon as we can is vital to keeping motorists safe and traffic moving in Tennessee.”

TDOT’s statewide 2021/2022 winter weather budget is $25.6 million and includes salt, salt brine, overtime for employees, and equipment maintenance. The department has salt vendors to refill salt bins as needed in all 95 Tennessee counties.

TDOT currently has nearly 200,000 tons of salt and more than 1.5 million gallons of salt brine ready for use. Salt brine is a salt/water mixture used for pre-treating roads before a winter storm or to melt snow on roadways when temperatures are hovering around the freezing mark. Salt is applied to roads once the snow has started to accumulate.

When snow hits Tennessee, TDOT ice and snow removal teams focus first on clearing interstates and heavily traveled state routes and specifically target areas vulnerable to freezing, such as hills, curves, ramps, bridges, and interchanges. During prolonged weather events, crews may have to clear roadways repeatedly.

For winter weather tips, travel information, and a regional breakdown of TDOT winter weather supplies and equipment, visit the TDOT website https://www.tn.gov/tdot/inclement-weather/ice—snow.html. We urge everyone to know before you go! Please check TDOT SmartWay for road conditions, incidents, and live traffic cameras. You can also follow @myTDOT on Facebook and Twitter for urgent traffic information.

The Tennessee Department of Health (TDH) announced the state has received shipments of the Merck and Pfizer oral antiviral treatments for COVID-19.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued an emergency use authorization for molnupirvar by Merck and an emergency use authorization for Paxlovid™ by Pfizer as oral antiviral treatments of COVID-19.

Early studies indicate these treatment options may reduce severe outcomes from COVID-19 including hospitalization or death. These treatments are recommended for individuals who are at high risk for progression to severe COVID-19 or have underlying medical conditions.

Consult with your physician about your risk factors when taking these treatments. Both drugs require a prescription.

The Tennessee Department of Health coordinated a distribution plan of molnupiravir and Paxlovid™ with Walmart pharmacies across the state. This treatment is free, and Tennesseans can visit www.walmart.com/covidmedication to find a participating Walmart pharmacy near them. Initial supply in the state is limited as the first allocation from the federal government was 5,000 courses of molnupiravir and 1,000 courses of Paxlovid™. TDH anticipates additional allocations in the coming weeks as production increases.

While antivirals may help treat COVID-19, vaccination is the best approach to prevent infection. Tennesseans age 5 and above are encouraged to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. Individuals ages 16 and above who received an mRNA vaccine may also be eligible for a booster shot at six months or more after they complete the initial series.

For adults ages 18 and older who received single-shot Johnson & Johnson vaccine, a booster dose is recommended at two or more months after the initial vaccine. More information on vaccine locations, including available vaccine products, is available at vaccines.gov.

The mission of the Tennessee Department of Health is to protect, promote and improve the health and prosperity of people in Tennessee. Learn more about TDH services and programs at www.tn.gov/health.

The Tennessee Highway Patrol (THP) will conduct a strict traffic safety enforcement campaign during the2021 New Year’s Eve holiday period beginning Friday, December 31, at 6:00 p.m. and concluding Sunday, January 2, at 11:59 p.m.  State troopers will perform traffic saturation patrols, seat belt, sobriety, and driver’s license checkpoints during the holiday.  All of Tennessee’s 95 counties will have troopers working to ensure a safe holiday.

“Our goal is to keep everyone safe on Tennessee roadways,” Colonel Matt Perry said.  “We will not tolerate drivers that endanger the public with their bad choices. Now is the time to start planning for your safe and sober ride.”

If you see unsafe driving, please report it by dialing *THP (*847) from your cell phone. This will get you in touch with one of our dispatch centers across the state.

During last year’s New Year’s holiday period, nine people were killed in eight traffic crashes on Tennessee roadways.  These crash fatalities included one motorcyclist, five passenger car occupants, and three pedestrians.

Over the 2020 New Year’sholiday period, State troopers arrested 104 individuals for alcohol-impaired driving.

For a list of Tennessee Highway Patrol checkpoints visit our website at https://www.tn.gov/safety/tnhp/checkpoints.html.

The Cannon County Rescue Squad, Inc. (CCRS) announced today it has been named a “2021 Top-Rated Nonprofit” by GreatNonprofits, the leading provider of user reviews of charities and nonprofits.  This is the second year in a row that the Rescue Squad has been recognized as a Top-Rated Nonprofit.

CCRS provides volunteer emergency rescue services that include vehicle rescue and extrication (i.e. Jaws-of-Life), water rescue, land search and rescue, life-treating animal rescues, technical rescue, confined space/cave rescue, farm rescue, disaster response, adverse weather response, community awareness projects, and emergency service training.  These services are provided by an all-volunteer team, made up of members of our community. 

“We are honored to be named a Top-Rated Nonprofit again for 2021,” says Tim Bell, Chief Operating Officer for CCRS.  “We are proud of our accomplishments this year, including the purchase of next generation battery-powered rescue tools, increasing our disaster response capabilities, improving our emergency communications technologies, and placing on order for a new rescue truck for the community.  This would not be possible without the men and women that volunteer their time to help others in need.  Improving our equipment capabilities comes from donations, foundation grants, fundraising, and local community support.”

The Top-Rated Nonprofit Award is based on the rating and number of reviews that CCRS received from donors and members of the public.  One reviewer had this to say: “The Cannon County Rescue Squad always goes above and beyond for the citizens of Cannon County. Whether it is helping our neighbors in need or serving at community events, the Cannon County Rescue Squad is always ready to assist. Cannon County is truly blessed to have these men and women that serve our community.”

GreatNonprofits is the leading website where people share stories about their personal experience on more than 1.6 million charities and nonprofits.  The GreatNonprofits Top-Rated Awards are the only awards for nonprofits determined by those who have direct experience with the charities, as donors, volunteers, and recipients of aid. 

For more information on becoming a volunteer responder with CCRS, visit our website at https://www.CannonCountyRescue.com/ To follow us on Facebook, like our page https://www.facebook.com/CannonCountyRescue and follow us on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/CannonCountyRescue/

During the holiday break the prep basketball teams of Cannon County are playing in the Smoky Mt. Classic in Gatlinburg. The Lionettes and Lions last played in the Classic in 2019.

The games are scheduled for Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday and will be on the campus of Gatlinburg-Pittman High School.

Tuesday, the Lionettes defeated the Lady Indians of Adair County Kentucky by a score of 61-43. The Lions lost to the Wildcats of Gallatin County Kentucky, 70-45. All games in the tournament are either in the afternoon or morning hours.

On Wednesday, the Lionettes played Ridgeview, Virginia and were defeated by a score of 70-53. The Lions faced Middle Tennessee Christian School and won the contest by a score of 58-39.

Game times for Thursday will be 9:00am for the Lionettes as they play Grace Christian Academy and 3:00pm for the Lions.

WBRY will broadcast the Cannon County games on AM 1540, FM 107.1 and streaming at www.wbry.com. Coverage will begin with pregame ten minutes prior to tip off. Due to the tournament schedule, no replays of the games will air. Teddy Taylor and Jeran Tenpenny will have the action.

Tennessee gas prices fell another 1.5 cents this week bringing the Tennessee Gas Price average to $2.99. Prices are now one cent cheaper than last month, but still 95 cents more than this time last year.   

Across the nation, gasoline prices fluctuated over the past few days as fears of an omicron-driven economic slowdown were countered by news of a severe fire at a major oil refinery. Last Thursday, four people were injured when a fire erupted at the Exxon Mobil Corp refinery in Baytown, Texas. The plant is one of the largest refining and petrochemical facilities in the United States. If the damage forces the plant offline for long, the disruption could push gasoline prices higher. Before the fire, the national average had declined steadily. Now the decline has slowed, but the national average for a gallon of gas still fell two cents on the week to $3.28.

“We should learn more in the coming days about the extent of the damage to the refinery,” said Stephanie Milani, Tennessee Public Affairs Director, AAA– The Auto Club Group. “If it can be back up and running in a few weeks, the effect could be minimal.  But if repairs take months, consumers could begin seeing higher prices again at the pump.”

National Gas Prices

Today’s national average of $3.28 is 11 cents less than a month ago and $1.03 more than a year ago.

National Oil Market Dynamics

At the close of last week’s formal trading session, WTI increased by $1.03 to settle at $73.79. Despite demand concerns over the omicron variant of COVID-19, crude prices increased after the EIA reported that total domestic crude stocks decreased by 4.7 million bbl last week to 423.6 million bbl. The current stock level is 15.2 percent lower than in December 2020, contributing to pressure on domestic crude prices. For this week, prices could continue to climb if EIA’s next weekly report shows another decrease in total stocks.