News

The Tennessee Highway Patrol (THP) will conduct an aggressive traffic safety enforcement campaign during the 2020 New Year’s Eve holiday period beginning Wednesday, December 30, at 6:00 p.m. and concluding Sunday, January 3, at 11:59 p.m.  State troopers will perform saturation patrols, as well as seat belt, sobriety and driver license checkpoints during the holiday.  All of Tennessee’s 95 counties will have troopers working to ensure a safe holiday as we end 2020.

“Your safety is our priority,” said Tennessee Highway Patrol Colonel Matt Perry. “I have instructed my Captains across the state to assign troopers during peak times for crashes and driving under the influence incidents. We will not tolerate impaired drivers over New Year’s Eve or anytime.  State troopers will aggressively enforce the drinking and driving law.”

During last year’s New Year’s holiday period, five people were killed in five traffic crashes on Tennessee roads.  Of the five vehicular fatalities, two were single vehicle crashes, and three were multiple vehicle crashes. Two occupants killed were not wearing seat belts.  Alcohol was involved in three of the traffic deaths. State troopers have arrested 4,537 individuals for DUI from January 1^st through December 24^th, 2020.  In 2019, the number of arrests made during that time was 5,627.

Statewide sobriety and driver license checkpoints for the upcoming holiday are available on our website at https://www.tn.gov/safety/tnhp/checkpoints.html. We care about you!  Please buckle up and do not drink and drive.

Tennessee Governor Bill Lee today announced a call for the Tennessee General Assembly to convene for a special legislative session on January 19, 2021 to address urgent issues facing Tennessee students and schools in the 2021-22 school year.

Preliminary data projects an estimated 50% decrease in proficiency rates in 3rd grade reading and a projected 65% decrease in proficiency in math. This loss only exacerbates issues that existed prior to the pandemic, where only one third of Tennessee third graders were reading on grade level.

“We know that the COVID-19 pandemic has caused immense disruption for Tennessee’s students, educators, and districts, and the challenges they face must be addressed urgently,” said Gov. Lee. “Even before the virus hit, and despite years of improvement, too many of our state’s students were still unable to read on grade level. I’m calling on the legislature to join us in addressing these serious issues so we can equip our hardworking educators and districts with the resources and supports they need to set our students on the path to success.”

“As we have heard from districts since March, students need their teachers and schools like never before,” said Department of Education Commissioner Penny Schwinn. “No child’s future should suffer academically because of COVID-19. Not only as commissioner, but as a mother of two school-aged children, I am grateful for the bold solutions that our governor and legislature will provide for our students and schools across the state and the department stands ready to work together to accomplish this mission-critical work.”

“In addition to presenting a public health crisis and disrupting our economy, the coronavirus also created enormous obstacles for our parents, teachers and students. Tennessee has made tremendous improvements in education over the last decade. The virus has begun to put all of that at risk,” said Lieutenant Governor Randy McNally (R-Oak Ridge). “It is of paramount importance that we take steps to reverse the learning loss that has taken place and prevent any further erosion of our progress. I appreciate Governor Lee calling this special session to draw our focus on the pressing needs of education in this state. The Senate will work with the House and the Administration to address these issues in an expeditious and efficient manner to the benefit of our students and our teachers.”

“I support Gov. Lee’s call for a special session on education,” said House Speaker Cameron Sexton (R-Crossville). “The pandemic has caused considerable disruption for our students, teachers and schools.  Our goal is to make sure students are learning in the classroom, teachers have the resources they need, and our students have additional assistance in their educational journeys to improve their chances of success.”

“Over the past few years Tennessee has seen exciting growth in student achievement and we must take all necessary steps to make sure our students continue to learn through this ongoing pandemic,” said Senate Majority Leader Jack Johnson (R-Franklin). “I salute the governor for calling us into special session to address this important problem and thank him for his continued commitment to education.”

“As a parent of two children in the public school system and a Representative of so many thousands of other families, I know it is critical for us to have the best education system in the nation,” said House Majority Leader William Lamberth (R-Portland). “I appreciate the Governor calling us into Special Session to ensure our children and teachers have the support they need in these difficult times.”

During the special session, the legislature will be tasked to take up five key education issues: Learning Loss, Funding, Accountability, Literacy, and Teacher Pay. Details on each proposal will be released by the Department of Education in the near future, in addition to the department’s plans to implement a new literacy program, “Reading 360.” The program will leverage one-time federal relief funding to support a phonics-based approach to literacy and will ensure Tennessee districts, teachers, and families are equipped with tools and resources to help students read on grade level by third grade.

Tennessee state government continues to work to recover from interruptions to state services due to technology outages as a result of Christmas Day events in Nashville. As a result, many services are not yet available across the state.

Services impacted include (but may not be limited to):

• Tennessee child abuse hotline (telephone lines only; web referrals remain operational) 
• TennCare Connect
• Drivers’ license services 
• Adult protective services
• Animal Diagnostic Laboratory services at Ellington Agricultural Center
• Telephone services for applying for certain programs for people with intellectual or developmental disabilities.

To access information and updates on these and other state services, Tennesseans can go to the state’s main page (https://www.tn.gov) and search for a service or go to the MyTN app, the state’s application that includes information about many services.

State buildings in Davidson County will be closed on Monday, December 28. Telephone and internet services may also be affected in these buildings. Affected state employees have been advised of work plans to maintain government operations as effectively as possible.
 

The Tennessee Highway Patrol (THP) will conduct an aggressive traffic safety enforcement campaign during the Christmas holiday. Some plan to travel, while others will experience the holidays virtually. THP’s mission is to keep drivers safe when traveling.

This campaign is aimed at deterring impaired driving and reducing fatal crashes on Tennessee roadways. THP will focus our attention on distracted, reckless, speeding and unrestrained motorists. State troopers will perform saturation patrols, as well as seat belt, sobriety and driver license checkpoints.  All of Tennessee’s 95 counties will have troopers working to ensure a safe holiday. Please help us make this a joyful Christmas.

“The goal of the THP is to keep everyone who is traveling on Tennessee roadways safe,” said Colonel Matt Perry. “We do not want our troopers to knock on your door to deliver the tragic news that no one wants to receive. Therefore, state troopers will aggressively enforce the drinking and driving law. I wish for you and yours a wonderful Christmas and Happy New Year”

During last year’s Christmas holiday period, six people were killed in six traffic crashes on Tennessee roads.  Of the six vehicular fatalities, alcohol was involved in one of the traffic deaths. Two were passenger vehicle occupants, three were pedestrians and one was a motorcyclist. 

“This enforcement campaign is not at all about issuing citations,’” said Colonel Matt Perry. “It is about ensuring your safety, your family’s safety and the safety of everyone that is sharing the roadways. We care about you and the safety of all,” said Colonel Matt Perry.

Acting on Executive Order #70 that was issued Sunday night by Governor Lee, the Tennessee Secondary School Athletic Association (TSSAA) announced that effective immediately—attendance at high school ball games will be dramatically limited.

Executive Director Bernard Childress noted, “Pep bands, cheerleaders, and dance teams may not attend athletic contests while these restrictions remain in place. In accordance with the new Executive Order. The only attendees permitted at practices or games, in addition to the student-athletes on the team, are parents and immediate household members, first responders, coaching and team personnel, athletic officials, media and scouting personnel.”

Childress stressed that social distancing between persons from different households is required.

While the Executive Order does not mandate the use of masks, the Governor has encouraged masks, and the TSSAA COVID-19 Sports Regulations provision regarding the use of masks remains.

The Governor’s office conferred with TSSAA about these restrictions. TSSAA concurs with Governor’s office that these restrictions represent the best means for us to continue providing interscholastic athletic participation opportunities to our student-athletes while also doing our part to curb the spread of the virus.

Childress concluded, “We remain hopeful that we will soon begin to see a decline in the instances of infection and that our schools will soon be able to return to more normal operation of their athletic competition.”

These are minimum restrictions. Depending on particular school, facility, or community circumstances, school officials may require additional limitations on attendance.

COVID -19 stopped the York Institute boys game on December 8^th.  That game is scheduled for this afternoon at 2:00pm at Robert A. Harris Gymnasium at Cannon County High School.  The limited number of tickets will be sold at the door.

Teddy Taylor and Nolan Bell will have the action on your home for the Lions, pregame coverage begins at 1:45pm.

Governor Lee gave the following address Sunday night.

Good evening Tennesseans. It’s Christmas week, ordinarily a time when families across the state are gathering to celebrate. Unfortunately, these are not ordinary times. We are in a global pandemic that’s been crippling our country for months and now Tennessee is ground zero for a surge in sickness. I am speaking with you tonight because I want to be clear with where we are and what we need to do together to get through this.

We now have around 10,000 Tennesseans getting sick every day. To put that in perspective, that’s three times where we were around Halloween. Thousands of our neighbors are in the hospital tonight. More than 100 people are dying each day. We are in a war. With the arrivals of the first vaccine, we have launched an offensive that will end this war. But it is the next few weeks that is going to be the most critical for our state.

We have seen firsthand that Thanksgiving gatherings and extended time indoors have been the principal driver in spreading COVID-19 like wildfire. It only took a matter of days to see gatherings around Thanksgiving translate into a record level of sickness. Tennessee cannot sustain a similar surge after Christmas or New Year’s. Tonight, I am asking you to make some hard decisions.

I am asking you to not engage in indoor gatherings for the holidays that include anyone outside your household. Family time and celebrations are important. I understand deeply how much Tennessee families need each other. But we must do all that we can to blunt this surge and keep more Tennesseans from getting sick.

But beyond family gatherings and what I am asking you to do in your own home, we need to address public gatherings through these important weeks, as well.

I am signing an order that will limit indoor public gatherings to 10 people.

I believe high school sports are important for our kids and they should continue. In coordination with the TSSAA, we are limiting attendance at indoor sporting events.

We know that it is gatherings that have caused this surge. That is why we are making these decisions around gatherings that will help us blunt the rise in cases.

Additionally, I am asking business owners to let employees work from home for the next 30 days. If work from home is not available, masks should be worn at work. Plain and simple.

I want to talk about the importance of wearing masks around people who do not live in your home. Right now, 70% of Tennesseans are under a mask requirement. I commend the local officials who have implemented mask requirements. Because of that, 80% of Tennesseans report they wear their masks most or all of the time and I thank them for doing this. We need them to continue and the remaining 20% to wear a mask and protect their health.

Many think a statewide mandate would improve mask wearing, many think it would have the opposite effect. This has been a heavily politicized issue. Please do not get caught up in that and don’t misunderstand my belief in local government on this issue. Masks work and I want every Tennessean to wear one.

Tennesseans have two weapons that they must use in the next 30 days: only gather with your household and wear a mask.

The State of Tennessee will continue to mobilize every effective resource in this war. COVID testing is available to everyone free of charge. Vaccines are being delivered to every corner of the state. We are getting hundreds of thousands of vaccines out to our nursing home residents and health care workers so they can be vaccinated.

As our hospitals face this surge of sick Tennesseans, we have authorized the National Guard medics to work in hospitals and provide lifesaving care. We have established COVID specific nursing homes so that we protect the most vulnerable and help hospitals free up critical bedspace. We will continue to utilize every effective resource but government cannot do this alone.

We are in a cold, cruel phase of this pandemic. It will get worse before it gets better. I know you are tired. But we have got to double down. I am reminded of Winston Churchill’s words during the darkest days of World War II: “It would be foolish to disguise the gravity of the hour. It would be still more foolish to lose heart and courage.”

I believe in the courage of Tennesseans to face this darkest hour. I believe that victory will be ours and we have the power to determine how long this extends. If we each do our part, we will win and move to a new season of health and prosperity for our state.

I extend my heartfelt thanks to each Tennessean for their attention and care tonight. God bless the State of Tennessee.

Tennessee Department of Health COVID-19 testing sites across the state will begin offering self-testing kits to adults three days a week December 21, to allow staff members to transition to vaccination of frontline health care providers and first responders. Local county health departments will continue to offer COVID-19 testing five days a week at no charge for anyone who wishes to be tested.

“We’re making this transition so our Department of Health staff can assist with administration of safe and effective COVID-19 vaccines,” said Tennessee Health Commissioner Lisa Piercey, MD, MBA, FAAP. “State-run health departments currently collect an average of only 16 percent of all COVID-19 tests statewide, and our change will not affect the wide availability of testing through private providers in Tennessee. While the arrival of vaccines is welcome, it is imperative that we not let up on basic best practices and continue to protect each other by wearing masks, practicing social distancing and staying home when sick.”  

The new COVID-19 self-tests will be offered to adults on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays beginning Dec. 21. On these days, public health staff members at each TDH COVID-19 testing site will provide self-testing kits to adults who wish to be tested. Individuals will remain in their vehicles while completing paperwork and collecting their samples. Health departments will submit the samples for testing.

Adults tested with the new self-tests will register and receive their results online. The self-tests are not approved for use in children under age 18. Children and adults unable to register online can still receive the standard nasal swab COVID-19 tests on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

Test results may be available within 72 hours of arrival at the lab, depending on the volume of tests the testing lab receives. Information will be provided to participants at testing locations on what they can expect after being tested. This information is also available online at www.tn.gov/content/dam/tn/health/documents/cedep/novel-coronavirus/TestedGuidance.pdf. 

COVID-19 testing is widely available in Tennessee from local health departments and other health care providers. A map of COVID-19 testing sites across the state is available at www.tn.gov/content/tn/health/cedep/ncov/remote-assessment-sites.html. Hours of operation and contact information are provided for each site.

TDH county health departments will be closed and will not offer COVID-19 testing Dec. 24 – 25 and Dec. 31, 2020 – Jan. 1, 2021 in observance of the Christmas and New Year’s holidays.

Tennessee’s presidential electors met at the State Capitol today to cast their ballots for Donald J. Trump for President of the United States. “Tennessee’s electors casting ballots in the Electoral College is the last step in our electoral process,” said Secretary Hargett. “Tennessee had a safe, sensible and responsible election, thanks to the hard work and planning by our Division of Elections, the administrators and staff of our 95 county election commissions and all of the poll officials who stepped up to serve in their communities.” The Volunteer State has 11 of the total 538 electoral votes that make up the U.S. Electoral College. Each state gets two at-large electors and one elector for each congressional district. Tennessee has nine congressional districts.   By law, Tennessee is a winner-take-all state. In the Nov. 3, 2020, general election Donald J. Trump received 1,852,475 votes and Joseph R. Biden 1,143,711 received votes. Therefore, the presidential electors representing Tennessee were those chosen by the Tennessee Republican Party’s executive committee.  The electors who cast Tennessee’s U.S. Electoral College ballots were:  Congressional District 1: Paul Chapman Congressional District 2: Cindy Hatcher Congressional District 3: Tina Benkiser Congressional District 4: Dr. John Stanbery  Congressional District 5: Beverly Knight-Hurley Congressional District 6: Mary Ann Parks  Congressional District 7: Jim Looney  Congressional District 8: Kathy Bryson Congressional District 9: Terry Roland  At-Large: Scott Smith  At-Large: Julia Atchley-Pace. Click here to view the recorded live stream of Tennessee’s 2020 Electoral College.  For more information about the 2020 election including official results visit sos.tn.gov.

Mrs. Deia Sissom, Cafeteria Manager at Woodland Elementary School was named as “Employee of the Month” for December 2020 by Cannon County Schools. During the December Meeting of the Cannon County Board of Education on Thursday, December 10^th, 2020, Mrs. Sissom was recognized and presented a certificate by Cannon County Schools Director William F. Curtis for her service to the Cannon County School System.  Employees are nominated by School Principals or School District Supervisors and are voted on during monthly District Leadership and Supervisor meetings regarding individuals who exemplify the Vision and Mission of Cannon County Schools.

Cannon County Schools Food Service Supervisor, Mrs. Jennifer Insell stated, “Mrs. Deia Sissom is truly a blessing to all the students at Woodland Elementary School and also the entire community.  Deia serves as Cafeteria Manager at Woodland Elementary School and has been a loyal employee to Cannon County Schools for 23 years.  She takes great pride in doing her job well every day. Since the pandemic started in March, Deia and her staff have served over 1,250 breakfast and lunch meals per week to students in the Woodland community through the month of May. This is over 75% of her school population that attended meal distribution each week during the pandemic.  Deia and her exceptional staff have met every challenge such as, meal distribution during the pandemic, and virtual meal distribution on school buses!! Deia also understands the importance of breakfast each morning for her students.  This school year Woodland Elementary School started serving breakfast in the classroom to all students to help provide students with a great start to each school day.”

Insell continued, “Serving meals during these unprecedented times has been a huge undertaking for all Cannon County Schools Food Service employees. Deia and everyone at Woodland Elementary School has promoted this program.  Woodland Elementary School and Cannon County Schools truly believe that serving the whole child is tied to student success. I am blessed to be her supervisor. Deia is committed to our mission at Cannon County Schools. Our Food Service program considers her one of the best.”

Director of Cannon County Schools, Mr. William F. Curtis stated, “Mrs. Deia Sissom is one of those employees that demonstrates a “servant’s heart” ever day!  She has aided our School District and Woodland Elementary School by faithfully working to make sure that our Woodland Elementary School students are provided nourishing meals.  This commitment to her school has occurred during the COVID-19 pandemic during ‘Meal Distributions’ in the Spring and during virtual days this Fall.  She is an example of what our Cafeteria Workers and support staff do every day to help our Cannon County students achieve. Woodland Cafeteria Manager Deia Sissom  personifies OUR VISION – ‘Engaged in Excellence EVERY Day in EVERY Way!’ through our MISSION – ‘To Create a Unified Environment That Will Provide Opportunities for All Students to Reach Their Full Potential!’ Congratulations to Mrs. Deia Sissom for being an impactful ‘Team Player’ in our Cannon County Schools family and specifically Woodland Elementary School.”

ALL Cannon County Elementary Schools – Auburn Elementary School; East Side Elementary School; Short Mountain Elementary School; West Side Elementary School; Woodbury Grammar School; and Woodland Elementary School will cease On-Campus Learning on Monday, December 14th, through Friday, December 18th – Cannon County Schools are OFF for Christmas Holidays from December 19th, thru January 3rd, 2021.  Students will return to On-Campus Learning Monday, January 4th, 2021. ALL Cannon County Elementary School Students will be participating in Distance Learning during this time.  Cannon County High School was already participating in Distance Learning until January 4th, 2021.

Director of Cannon County Schools, William F. Curtis stated, “There has been another major surge in the number of positive cases and specifically contacts of COVID-19 with students and staff at our Cannon County Elementary Schools these past few days this week. We are following our ‘Continuous Learning Plan” regarding Distance Learning.  Currently, Cannon County is in the ‘Red Level’ as designated in the plan and the number of cases and contacts has been on an upward trend since Thanksgiving Break.”

Curtis continued, “We have been in consultation with the Tennessee Department of Health at the Local, Regional, and State levels which recommended the closure of our Cannon County Elementary Schools On-Campus Programs for allowing time for these possible exposures and cases to diminish. Our Cannon County Elementary School Students will transition to ‘Distance Learning’ on Monday, December 14th, 2020 through Friday, December 18th, 2020.  Cannon Elementary School Students will return to “On-Campus” learning Monday, January 4th, 2021. My expectation is that ALL Teachers will utilize the Google Meet platform and packets for ALL Elementary Students on Monday, December 14th, 2020 through Friday, December 18th, 2020 – 10 AM.  December 18th, 2020 is an ‘Abbreviated Day’ and Schools will close at 10 AM.  Cannon County Schools are OFF for Christmas Holidays – December 19th, 2020 thru January 3rd, 2021. School will be back in Session for On-Campus Learning on Monday, January 4th, 2021.  Parents and Guardians will be contacted by individual Cannon County Elementary School Officials via multiple means, and we sincerely appreciate their cooperation in these unprecedented times.” 

“Cannon County Elementary School Students Grades 4th-8th have already been provided a Chromebook for instruction and will be required to check-in daily with each teacher and complete assignments.  PreK-3rd Grade Students will utilize Google Classroom if that technology is available, and paper packets can be sent out and received at the Meal Distributions.  Tuesday, December 15th, 2020 will be a ‘FLEX DAY’ meaning Teachers will provide assignments to be completed independently and NO LIVE INSTUCTION will take place to allow teacher/staff time to aid in meal distribution and assemble packets if necessary.”

“GRAB-AND-GO BREAKFASTS AND LUNCHES will be distributed at each Cannon County Elementary School on Tuesday, December 15th, 2020 – 11 AM – Noon – Breakfasts & Lunches provided for 5 days.  CCHS students can pick up meals at ANY Elementary School.  CCHS is not a feeding site. A flyer is attached to this release and an additional separate Press Release regarding this program will be issued with more details.”                                                                                                       

Curtis concluded, “Cannon County Schools and specifically Cannon County Elementary Schools are very sorry for any inconvenience this may cause, but our students’, families’ and staff members’ health and safety is our number one concern at this time. Thank you for your understanding.  Cannon County Schools appreciates the hard work of our dedicated Cannon County Principals, Teachers, and Staff Members to continue the education of the children of OUR Cannon County Community during this pandemic event.  Everyone in OUR Cannon County Schools Family is striving to achieve OUR NEW VISION – ‘Engaged in Excellence EVERY Day in EVERY Way!’  We urge everyone to do what they can to prevent the spread of COVID-19 during this latest ’resurgence’ involving our students, faculties, and staff personnel.    Please contact your individual Cannon County Elementary Schools (Auburn Elementary School; East Side Elementary School; Short Mountain Elementary School; West Side Elementary School; Woodbury Grammar School; and Woodland Elementary School) for any additional needed information.”