News

The Tennessee Highway Patrol (THP) plans to increase patrols and utilize a variety of traffic safety enforcement tools to reduce the number of crashes across the state during this year’s Memorial Day holiday period. The THP will conduct saturation patrols, seatbelt, and sobriety checkpoints, as well as increased visibility on high-crash corridors throughout the summer to reduce serious injury and fatal crashes. The 2024 Memorial Day holiday period will begin at 6 p.m. Friday, May 24, and will conclude at 5:59 a.m. Tuesday, May 28.

Over the Memorial Day weekend of 2023, there were 12 fatal crashes five were single-vehicle crashes, and seven were multiple-vehicle crashes resulting in 13 people killed in vehicular crashes during the weekend. Six were occupant fatalities not wearing safety restraints and nine of the traffic fatalities were in alcohol-related crashes. There were three motorcycle riders killed during last year’s Memorial Day holiday, one of the three riders was not wearing a helmet. There was also one ATV rider and two pedestrians killed during this time. There was a fatality every 6 hours and 27 minutes during the 2023 Memorial Day holiday period.

“We are committed to saving lives and preventing injuries on Tennessee roads. Memorial Day weekend is when we start seeing heavier traffic,” Colonel Matt Perry said. “This is the time of year for family vacations and outdoor activities. Our troopers will be focused on distracted driving, speeding, impaired driving, and seat belt laws during the holiday and throughout the summer months. I have instructed my district captains to use all resources available to ensure traffic safety. I am asking that all motorists help us make this a safe summer. You can do this by ignoring your phone, driving the speed limit, wearing your seat belt, and designating a sober driver. If you plan to drink, do not drive.”

“As we honor the heroes who gave the ultimate sacrifice this Memorial Day weekend, please remember to keep yourself and everyone in your vehicle safe,” said Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security Commissioner Jeff Long. “With your help and the Tennessee Highway Patrol’s education and enforcement efforts, we can make this a safe and enjoyable weekend for everyone.”

During last year’s Memorial Day holiday state troopers arrested 94 individuals on suspicion of Driving Under the Influence, made 7,829 traffic stops, issued 536 citations to motorists for violation of the seatbelt law, and issued 1,982 speeding citations.

Tennessee Comptroller of the Treasury Jason Mumpower is pleased to announce a significant accomplishment by nine Tennessee counties. These counties, which are audited by the Comptroller’s Division of Local Government Audit, have each received a clean audit report for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2023. The nine counties are Campbell, Cannon, Cumberland, Loudon, McMinn, Robertson, Sevier, Stewart, and Union.   The annual audits for these counties were completed without any findings. Audit findings are used to report on weaknesses, deficiencies, or areas of noncompliance within government operations.   All nine counties are being recognized today at the Tennessee County Services Association Legislative Conference in Gatlinburg.   “These nine counties have worked hard to ensure strong accounting procedures and a system of internal controls that protects public resources,” said Comptroller Mumpower. “A clean audit is not easy to achieve. Congratulations to all.”   This honor is especially noteworthy for Cumberland County which has earned a clean audit for three years in a row. Cannon, Campbell, and Sevier have received their second consecutive clean audits. It should also be noted that Loudon County has received a clean audit in six of the past seven fiscal years and Robertson County has received a clean audit in four of the past five fiscal years.   The 91 Tennessee counties audited by the Comptroller’s Office received a total of 325 findings in fiscal year 2023. This represents an average of 3.57 findings per county. In fiscal year 2022, Tennessee counties received an average of 3.38 findings in their annual audit reports. To view all Tennessee county audit reports, click here.

Gov. Bill Lee and Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC) Commissioner David Salyers today announced a $109,932 loan for the Town of Woodbury to improve water infrastructure.

The loan is one of four approved by the Tennessee Local Development Authority, with loans for the Tullahoma Utilities Authority, the City of Oak Ridge, and the City of Winchester bringing the total to $24.7 million.

“This program addresses water infrastructure in communities across our state,” Lee said. “We look forward to the results that will come from this assistance, and we thank local leaders for their initiative and good stewardship of the environment.”

“One of our greatest environmental responsibilities is ensuring quality water infrastructure, said Salyers. “We are glad we can assist local leaders across the state in meeting their needs.”

The Town of Woodbury loan comes from the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund Loan Program. The loan addresses the construction of a new water storage tank. The loan has a 20-year term at 2.30 percent interest. 

Through the State Revolving Fund Loan Program, communities, utility districts, and water and wastewater authorities can obtain loans with lower interest rates than through private financing. These low interest rate loans can vary from zero percent to below market rate, based on each community’s economic health.

This fiscal year, TDEC has awarded $48,608,182 in drinking water loans and $84,050,843 in clean water loans to meet the state’s infrastructure needs. During fiscal year 2023, TDEC awarded $47,345,000 in drinking water loans and $64,095,945 in clean water loans for a total of $111,440,945.

Tennessee’s Clean Water State Revolving Fund Loan Program has awarded more than $2 billion in low-interest loans since its inception in 1987. The state’s Drinking Water State Revolving Fund Loan Program has awarded more than $300 million in low-interest loans since its inception in 1996.

Donny Green, County Executive Director of the DeKalb-Cannon County Farm Service Agency (FSA), today announced that Cannon County has been approved to accept applications for the Emergency Conservation Program (ECP) to address agricultural damages resulting from the May 6 through May 9, 2024 high winds and flash flooding in specific areas of Cannon County.

The ECP signup will begin June 10 and will continue through July 15, 2024.

The specific damaged areas approved under this signup authorization are the following approved disaster events and general areas in and around the following:

            High Wind Damage (Southeast)                                  Flash Flooding Damage (West)

Pleasant View Rd.                                                              Hollis Creek Rd.
McMahan Rd.                                                                    Bradyville Rd.

Ivy Bluff Rd.                                                                      Readyville                                                           

Green says if you are in one of these specific approved areas of Cannon County and suffered storm related damage, you should complete an application for ECP cost-share assistance by visiting the DeKalb-Cannon County Farm Service Agency. Approved applicants may receive up to 75% cost-share of approved restoration activity. Limited resource, socially disadvantaged, and beginning farmers and ranchers may receive up to 90% cost-share. If you have already began emergency restoration activities, please make sure you are keeping records of all materials, labor, and other associated expenses.

Eligible practices under this program include: debris removal, grading, shaping or releveling, and fence
             replacement/restoration. Damages to residential or farm buildings are not covered under this program. In
             order to be eligible for assistance, an onsite inspection by USDA officials must reveal that there is at least
             a $1,000 of total storm related damage. Cost-share may include all reasonable expenses incurred
             including: materials, services, labor, equipment, and sales tax. All expenses must be documented and
             must be limited to restoring conservation structures and all other installations to a similar type and
             function before the disaster event.  

FSA county committees will evaluate applications based on an on-site inspection of the damaged land, taking into consideration the type and extent of damage. An on-site inspection does not guarantee that cost-share funding will be provided.

Farmers who have agricultural damages on cropland or pastureland, and would like to request cost share assistance to remove debris from cropland or pastureland and/or restore fencing for livestock can make application for USDA cost-share assistance by visiting the DeKalb-Cannon County Farm Service Agency office in Smithville. You may also call 615-597-8225, Ext. 2 for more information.

The Tennessee Highway Safety Office (THSO) has announced results from its annual roadside observational survey to determine the state’s average seat belt usage rate. This survey returned a statewide usage rate of 92 percent. The 2023 usage rate represents an increase of approximately 1.5 percent compared to Tennessee’s 2022 survey result of 90.5 percent. The 2023 survey result is Tennessee’s highest annual seat belt usage rate to date.

“Seat belts save lives,” said THSO Director Buddy Lewis. “The purpose of this annual survey is to help the THSO and traffic safety partners identify the demographics and areas of the state most in need of support to increase seat belt usage. Our goal is to reach as many drivers as possible to reduce traffic injuries and fatalities across Tennessee.”

Every year, the THSO works to improve the state’s seat belt usage rate by increasing occupant protection education through programs like Ollie Otter, Reduce TN Crashes, and other THSO grant-funded initiatives. The THSO also promotes the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s “Click It or Ticket” seat-belt enforcement campaign to remind citizens to buckle up.

Highlights from Tennessee’s 2023 seat belt survey are as follows.

• Research data was collected at 190 pre-identified roadway locations across Tennessee.
• Researchers observed almost 27,000 vehicle occupants.
• Vehicles observed included passenger cars, pickup trucks, vans, and SUVs.
• The highest usage rate was observed among occupants in sport utility vehicles (96.1 percent).
• The lowest usage rate was observed among occupants in pickup trucks (82.4 percent).
• Female occupants were observed to have a higher usage rate (97.6 percent) than males (88.4 percent).
• Front-seat passengers were observed to have a higher usage rate (93 percent) than drivers (91.8 percent).
• County-level usage rates exceeded 90 percent in 11 of 16 counties included in the survey’s sample.
• Davidson and Knox Counties tied for the highest usage rate (95.1 percent) among sampled counties.

This data was collected through an annual roadside observational survey conducted by the University of Tennessee’s Center for Transportation Research during the spring of 2023 in accordance with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s Uniform Criteria for State Observational Surveys of Seat Belt Use.

The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) announces that soybean producers may request a referendum to determine whether producers want the Secretary to conduct a referendum on the Soybean Promotion and Research Order (Order), as authorized under the Soybean Promotion, Research, and Consumer Information Act (Act). Participation in the request for referendum is voluntary. Producers should participate only if they wish to request a referendum on the program.

If at least 10 percent, not to exceed ⅕ of producers from any one State, of the 515,008 eligible producers determined by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) participate in the request for referendum, a referendum will be held within one year from that determination. If results of the request for referendum indicate that a referendum is not supported, a referendum will not be conducted. The results of the request for referendum will be published in a notice in the Federal Register.

Soybean producers may request a referendum during the 4-week period beginning May 6, 2024, and ending May 31, 2024.

To be eligible to participate in the request for referendum, producers must certify that they or the producer entity they are authorized to represent paid an assessment at any time between January 1, 2022, and December 31, 2023.

Form LS-51-1, Soybean Promotion and Research Order Request for Referendum, can be obtained from May 6, 2024, to May 31, 2024, by mail, FAX, or in person from Farm Service Agency (FSA) County Offices, or can be downloaded from https://www.ams.usda.gov/rules-regulations/researchpromotion/soybean . Completed forms and supporting documentation must be returned to the appropriate FSA County Office:

• By FAX or in person no later than COB on May 31, 2024.
• By mail postmarked by midnight on May 31, 2024, and must be received in the FSA County Office by COB on June 7, 2024.

Notice of the Request for Referendum was published in the February 2, 2024, Federal Register. For more information, contact Jeana Harbison, Research and Promotion Division; Livestock and Poultry Program, AMS, USDA; STOP 0249 – Room 2092-S; 1400 Independence Avenue, SW.; Washington, D.C. 20250-0249; tel. (202) 720-5705; or via the Internet at  https://www.ams.usda.gov/rules-regulations/research-promotion/soybean .

 

Donny Green, DeKalb-Cannon Co. Farm Service Agency County Executive Director, reminds local farmers and landowners of the importance of timely crop reporting.  Participation in most USDA programs requires annual reporting of crops and land use and requires a report of all cropland on a farm, even though the land may not be used for annually-tilled row crops. 

Field Grown and Ornamental Nursery crops have unique crop years. As a result, they also have unique crop reporting deadlines. Below are the crop year period and the acreage reporting deadline:

            Nursery Crop Year 2025—-June 1, 2024 through May 31, 2025

            2025 Nursery Crop Reporting Deadline (field grown and container)—May 31, 2024

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact our office at (615) 597-8225, Ext. 2.

On Monday, April 22, the Tennessee Highway Safety Office (THSO) is kicking off “Slow Down Tennessee,” a week-long campaign to help increase awareness and reduce speeding across Tennessee roadways. During this campaign, the THSO is offering yard signs free for public citizens to pick up at designated locations statewide. Signs will be distributed on a first-come, first-served basis. Supplies are limited. Click here to view the list of pick-up locations.

“We encourage everyone to pick up a ‘Slow Down Tennessee’ yard sign and help us spread awareness,” said Director Buddy Lewis of the THSO. “When we work together, we can make a difference in saving lives. Since the launch of this campaign in 2021, we’ve experienced a significant reduction in speed-related crashes statewide. Let’s keep up the good work.”

According to Tennessee’s Integrated Traffic Analysis Network (TITAN),

• In 2021, there were 11,758 crashes related to speeding, racing, reckless driving, or aggressive driving statewide.
• In 2022, there were 10,876 crashes related to speeding, racing, reckless driving, or aggressive driving statewide.
• In 2023, there were 9,965 crashes related to speeding, racing, reckless driving, or aggressive driving statewide.

“Despite acknowledging the dangers speed can have on roadway safety, drivers consistently report driving over the speed limit based on our research. That’s why reminders are so important,” said Tennessee Public Affairs Director Stephanie Milani of AAA – The Auto Club Group. “Speeding increases the severity of crashes when they do happen, and the dangers extend to everyone on the roadway – drivers, passengers, other vehicles, and pedestrians. Roadway safety is a shared responsibility, and we’re asking all Tennesseans to do their part to keep our roads safe.”

It’s time to Pick Tennessee Products and pick Tennessee strawberries. Strawberry season is underway. Most strawberry farms are planning to begin selling strawberries in mid-April.

In Cannon County, 6R Farms on Mankin Lane is listed as s strawberry producer.

Check out the list of local strawberry farms to find fresh berries near you.

With warm spring days in the forecast, Tennessee farms will quickly have fields turning red with juicy and sweet strawberries. If you are looking for the freshest berries, head straight to the farm.

“The strawberries are doing very well,” Shelby Vanatta of Cabin Hill Farm in Montgomery County said. “Our estimated date for opening is April 24.”

It’s always best to call a berry farm in advance to learn picking procedures and to determine availability. Depending on weather, the typical strawberry season lasts four to six weeks, so head to a farm now for the freshest, best tasting strawberries.

Support your local economy and buy fresh strawberries from your local farmer. Use the free Pick Tennessee mobile app or go to www.PickTNProducts.org to find a farm near you. Follow @PickTNProducts on Facebook, X, and Instagram to learn more about seasonal recipes, products, and activities.

In a release from the Governor’s Office

Today, Tennessee Governor Bill Lee joined five other governors in issuing the following joint statement opposing United Auto Workers (UAW)’s unionization campaign:

“We the Governors of Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Texas are highly concerned about the unionization campaign driven by misinformation and scare tactics that the UAW has brought into our states. As Governors, we have a responsibility to our constituents to speak up when we see special interests looking to come into our state and threaten our jobs and the values we live by. 

The reality is companies have choices when it comes to where to invest and bring jobs and opportunity. We have worked tirelessly on behalf of our constituents to bring good-paying jobs to our states. These jobs have become part of the fabric of the automotive manufacturing industry. Unionization would certainly put our states’ jobs in jeopardy – in fact, in this year already, all of the UAW automakers have announced layoffs. In America, we respect our workforce and we do not need to pay a third party to tell us who can pick up a box or flip a switch. No one wants to hear this, but it’s the ugly reality. We’ve seen it play out this way every single time a foreign automaker plant has been unionized; not one of those plants remains in operation. And we are seeing it in the fallout of the Detroit Three strike with those automakers rethinking investments and cutting jobs. Putting businesses in our states in that position is the last thing we want to do. 

The experience in our states is when employees have a direct relationship with their employers, that makes for a more positive working environment. They can advocate for themselves and what is important to them without outside influence. The UAW has come in making big promises to our constituents that they can’t deliver on. And we have serious reservations that the UAW leadership can represent our values. They proudly call themselves democratic socialists and seem more focused on helping President Biden get reelected than on the autoworker jobs being cut at plants they already represent. 

We want to keep good paying jobs and continue to grow the American auto manufacturing sector here. A successful unionization drive will stop this growth in its tracks, to the detriment of American workers.”

In addition to Gov. Lee, signatories include: Governor Kay Ivey (AL), Governor Brian Kemp (GA), Governor Tate Reeves (MS), Governor Henry McMaster (SC), and Governor Greg Abbott (TX).