The unemployment rates in each of Tennessee’s 95 counties decreased in September, according to new data released by the Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development. Cannon County continues to rank in the top ten counties with the lowest unemployment.
Twenty-seven counties recorded unemployment rates below 5%, while 68 counties have a rate of 5% or higher. There are no counties with an unemployment rate higher than 10% in September.
Once again, Moore County has the state’s lowest unemployment rate. Its September figure of 3.2% is 1.9 percentage points lower than the previous month’s rate.
Shelby County continues to have Tennessee’s highest unemployment. While its September rate is 9.9%, the new figure represents a drop of 3.7 percentage points from where it was in August.
Cannon County has 286 persons reporting as unemployed as unemployed. This gives Cannon an unemployment rate of 4.4 for September. The August rate was 6.1 percent, the new rate reflects a drop of 1.7. In neighboring counties, Coffee County’s rate is 5.3, DeKalb 6.1, Rutherford 5.4, Wilson 5.3 and Warren 6.0 percent.
The rate in Memphis dropped 4.2 percentage points to 12.1%. Nashville’s September rate is down 3.1 percentage points and sits at 7.5%. Knoxville saw a 2.4 percentage point drop in its rate which is now 5.8%. Unemployment in the Tri-Cities area stands at 5.3% for the month, down 1.9 percentage points from its revised August rate.
A complete analysis of the September 2020 unemployment data for each county and statistical area in Tennessee is available here.
Statewide, unemployment dropped to its lowest level in September since hitting an all-time high in April during the peak of COVID-19 business closures. The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for the month is 6.3%, a decrease of 2.3 percentage points from the revised August rate of 8.6%.
Unemployment also decreased nationally in September. The seasonally adjusted rate for the United States is 7.9%, down 0.5 of a percentage point from August’s revised rate of 8.4%. Tennessee’s unemployment rate is now 1.6 percentage points lower than the national rate.
Businesses across Tennessee are ready to help the state’s economy rebound by reemploying out of work individuals. Jobs4TN.gov, Tennessee’s workforce development website, currently has 219,000 open positions for all job skill levels.
Jobs4TN.gov also offers online assistance with writing a resume that will catch the attention of employers, advice on how to engage and impress during job interviews, and details about potential job training opportunities.
There are more than 80 American Job Centers across Tennessee that are open for business and offering job seekers one-on-one personalized assistance. Career specialists are ready to work with individuals to devise a reemployment plan that will help them rejoin the state’s workforce.
All the assistance is free to anyone who needs help finding a new job or career path.
A large group of 4-H members participated in this year’s Chick Chain.
The 4-H Chick Chain project is designed to teach 4-H members recommended management practices for growing and raising chickens. Congratulations to the Black Sex-Link Grand Champion winner from Woodland Elementary 7th grade, Addison Reed, and Rhode Island Red Grand Champion winner Hannah Simpson, West Side 6th grade. Congratulations also to the Black Sex-Link Reserve Champion from Woodbury Grammar 5th grade, Kinlee Underwood and Rhode Island Red Reserve Grand Champion Lillian Schwartz from East Side 5th grade.
Reserve and Grand Champion L-R: Addison Reed, Hannah Simpson, Kinlee Underwood and Lillian Schwartz
This year we also offered an egg evaluation contest where 15 youth participated by bringing a dozen eggs to be judged and the money raised from the egg contest went back to the 4-H members. The Grand Champion Eggs belonged to homeschool 5th grade, Ethan Sullivan, with the Reserve Champion Eggs belonging to Addison Reed. This year there were 19 participants which raised the chickens from April until October. Each member did an excellent job!
Ethan Sullivan and Addison Reed
We appreciate Jeffrey Goff with EXIT Reality Bob Lamb & Associates implementing the auction and previous 4-H Extension Agent, Michael Shirley owner of Family Pet Health judging the birds. This year our Grand and Reserve Champion prizes were donated along with feed for each participant by Woodbury Farmers’ Cooperative. Hunter Nunley with Woodbury Farmers’ Cooperative and Davy Sneed with DS Farm Supply each bought the grand champion pens and donated them back to the 4-H program to auction off again. This along with very generous bidders increased our average price for each bird from $18.75 last year to $33.75 this year. This made for a very successful show and auction. We truly appreciate the community support for this project and all money raised from the auction benefits the 4-H Chick Chain Program next year.
Cannon County Extension staff would like to thank the 4-H members, parents, volunteers, and buyers for making this year’s Chick Chain Show and Auction a huge success.
Registration is open now for any 4th-12th grader to raise chickens in 2021. If you would like to be added to the poultry buyer mailing list or for more information, call the UT Extension office at 615-563-2554.
As a collective school board, newly formed and eager to advocate for those for which we were chosen to serve, we want to better openly communicate with our community. With just over a month with four very new members in place, we believe that communication starts now.
Cannon County Board of Education members: Standing: Derrick Mullins, Jennifer Duggin, Seated: Aletha Thomas, Vice-Chairman, Javin Fann, Board Chairman and Wade McMackins, Chairman-Pro Tem
Cannon County is a beautiful and friendly community filled with good people who are proud to belong to such a place. We are loyal to our roots. We are amazingly supportive in times when some in our community are struggling and have loss. We rally around each other and cheer one another on. There are so many things that make Cannon County a very special place to live life.
Our school system in Cannon County is to be counted as one of the important things that makes our community special. Our principals are decorated professionals who have returned to their home community to lead our system to excellence. They are motivating and fearless leaders who we value and admire. Our teachers are fiercely hardworking and dedicated to the growth of each individual child. We commend our county’s teachers for their tireless effort, especially during this unprecedented time of a pandemic. The support staff that our schools have are motivated to go above and beyond to enhance the students’ school experience, despite being underpaid. We want them to know that we appreciate their support and hard work. We count each principal, teacher, and staff member as an enormous blessing!
Although Cannon County is uniquely special, like all communities, all schools, and all people, there can always be room for improvement. As a board, we recognize the need for imminent change and improvement in order for our children to have greater success. When we talk about bettering and creating more opportunities for the children of our county we consider that to begin within the school system. We are committed as a unified school board to work hand-in-hand with our Director of Schools, focusing on the tasks at hand that are laid before us. The foundation of the relationship we are building with him is one that is forward thinking, with our vision at the forefront of each decision. Excellence in Education Every Day and in Every Way!
With that being said, although it begins in our school system with us, your school board, as it’s leaders, the improvements that we are needing should be considered a community-wide initiative. We need loyalty and support like never before. It is time for us to rally as a strong and unified community for our children. Our students need the opportunities granted to them just as other districts and other counties have made available for their students. Our children deserve better and safer facilities that will provide a conducive environment in which to learn. Our students deserve the best we can give. Our children need us to step up and show up like never before.
Why do we as a community need to step and show up for the students of Cannon County?
1.Deteriorating facilities and grounds. Cannon County has seven schools for which they must maintain buildings and grounds. For a county and school district of our size and monetary budget, that is an enormous task. All but one of these buildings are 40+ years old, with the newer one approaching the 20 year mark. Almost all of these buildings have asbestos in the floors, ceilings, and pipes. Multiple schools have major septic and sewer issues. Some schools struggle to meet fire and accessibility codes. Repairs on the roofs, plumbing, and heating and air systems are endless. Students need safer and healthier environments in which to learn successfully!
2.Limited academic and extracurricular opportunities. In comparison to other counties and districts, Cannon County is limited in terms of a broad academic curriculum. Broadening our curriculums will better equip our college-bound students to succeed at the next level and allow them to be more competitive for scholarships. A large majority of our students could benefit from the broadening of the Career and Technical Education program. It’s time that we serve these students! More programs need to be added to our existing CTE program of study in order to better prepare our students for the workforce. Extending the availability of these types of classes to our middle grades would also provide endless opportunities to our students. Of course, we also want our students to also have the abilities to succeed athletically and in extracurricular clubs and organizations. Again, in comparison to other districts, we fall short.
3.Low test scores. Teachers teach and students learn. Yes, this is so true, but there are so many factors that affect the classroom and productivity that exists therein. This is tied to the environment in which students learn. As we have already spoken of, our facilities desperately need to improve. Resources for our children should be endless. But with the budget that is in place there is nowhere to cut costs in order to buy textbooks, let alone buy additional resources to complement the learning process.
4.Overworked supervisors and leaders. Over the course of the last month, we as a board have met with each supervisor that is employed with our school district. We sat with them and were in disbelief as to how each one has multiple hats and an unfathomable amount of responsibilities as they lead and care for our seven schools. Where most districts have one supervisor per one responsibility, in Cannon County we have just a handful of leaders with countless and never-ending responsibilities.
5.Students leaving and few students moving into the district. When you lose students, you lose money from the state and the budget suffers and so do our teachers, students, and staff. Why do we lose students? Why are new students not coming into our district? For all of the reasons that we have listed here and it has been made worse by the effects of the COVID pandemic.
So how can we remedy this? How can we as a community unify and rally for students?
A joint investment; an investment that may make us uncomfortable for a time but will lead to a future where things for our students and their future, and therefore for us, will be comfortable, affordable, safe, secure, competitive, and so much more.
The wheel tax; a fair tax that includes all involved; a community effort. The sales tax increase; again a fair tax; every purchase made in our county will in return help our county. Vote FOR both of these in order to help our schools and our children! The money generated by these unified community initiatives will be allocated to the schools, allowing buildings and facilities to be built and repaired, new resources to be available for students, district administrators not to be spread so thin, new programs to be added, and athletics to be grown on all levels. But most importantly, our children, our students will be able to be more competitive academically, athletically, and as they enter the adult world in the fashion as to which suits them best. They can enter the adult world knowing that their community rallied behind them with the best intentions and determination for them to succeed.
As we go to the polls this week and next week, let’s think about the future, not the past. Let’s think selflessly instead of selfishly; there is a big difference. Let us decide to take care of these problems that will inevitably bring change, together as a unified community instead of refusing to give and allowing outsiders to come in and change it for us. Let’s be okay with being uncomfortable for a time if it means a better future for our children.
It is our goal to be available, open, and to meet everyone with kindness and understanding. In the weeks and months to come we will be holding town halls in order for the community to get to know us better as a board and to discuss in truthful detail the issues that we are facing as a county school district. Please be anticipating the announcement of those events. We will be coming to you, our community, as a unified five-member school board, with the vision of “Excellence in Education Every Day and in Every Way.” We know the success of this vision begins with us and we are dedicated to leading our district as we all strive to make it a reality!
Governor Bill Lee and Education Commissioner Penny Schwinn have called for removing negative consequences for schools and educators associated with student assessments for the 2020-2021 school year. Student assessments will be conducted as planned.
“Given the unprecedented disruption that the COVID-19 pandemic and extended time away from the classroom has had on Tennessee’s students, my Administration will work with the General Assembly to bring forward a solution for this school year that alleviates any burdens associated with educator evaluations and school accountability metrics,” said Gov. Lee. “Accountability remains incredibly important for the education of Tennessee’s students, and we will keep this year’s assessments in place to ensure an accurate picture of where our students are and what supports are needed to regain learning loss and get them back on the path to success.”
“Due to COVID-19, Tennessee districts and schools experienced extended periods away from the classroom and missed critical instruction time during the spring. The department supports Governor Lee’s call for holding teachers and schools harmless from negative consequences associated with accountability measures this school year,” said Commissioner Schwinn. “Administering assessments to gauge student learning and ensuring strong accountability best enables us to meet the needs of all students, however we know the significant challenges our teachers and school and district leaders are facing and it remains critical to reward their good work. We look forward to working together with our elected officials on a solution for this school year that preserves our strong foundations while ensuring that every teacher feels supported in focusing on educating their students.”
The announcement comes on the heels of the Cannon County Board of Education passing two resolutions at their October meeting.
RESOLUTION – 01 – RESOLUTION OF THE CANNON COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION – IN SUPPORT OF A BASIC EDUCATION PROGRAM HOLD HARMLESS LEGISLATION FOR THE 2021-2022 SCHOOL YEAR
Summary: Supports and respectfully requeststhat BEP funding will not decrease for the 2021-2022 school year. The Cannon County Board of Education requests the BEP allocation amounts provided to districts for the 2021-2022 school year be equal to or greater than the allocations for the 2020-2021 school year. The BEP allocations should not be negatively impacted based on student ADM of the 2020-2021 school year.
and
RESOLUTION – 02 – RESOLUTION OF THE CANNON COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION – IN SUPPORT OF A MORATORIUM ON STATE STANDARDIZED TESTING FOR THE 2020-2021 SCHOOL YEAR.
Summary: Supports and respectfully requests a moratorium on state standardized testing and accountability associated with such testing for the 2020-2021 school year to include end-of-year examinations and formative assessments throughout the year. The Cannon County School District requests that, if state standardized testing does continue in some format for the 2020-2021 school year, the results of that testing be used as metrics of student progress rather than to determine district rankings and scoring statewide due to the disparity in learning methods that will be used across the state in light of COVID-19 and focus on recoupment of students’ academic and social/emotional skills lost during the extended school closure.
Director of Schools William F. Curtis hand delivered copies of the resolutions to State Rep. Clark Boyd, State Senator Mark Pody and U.S. Representative John Rose.
Around the nation voter turnout has been high. Voters across Tennessee and Cannon County are part of that movement. As of the close of polls on Oct. 15, the second day of early voting in Tennessee, 453,858 voters had cast their ballot for the November 3rd State and Federal General election.
“Over 10 percent of Tennessee voters have already voted, and this high turnout demonstrates the public’s confidence in Tennessee’s electoral process,” said Secretary of State Tre Hargett.
Early voting for the State and Federal General election runs Monday to Saturday until Thursday, October 29th. Election Day is Tuesday, November 3rd.
This was the view for Christian Grantham at 8:05 Wednesday morning. Photo: Christian Grantham
In Cannon County, first day voting set a record of 278 voters and second day was 219. If you traveled thru the square during voting hours, it was easy to notice the line. With safety measures in place and six-foot distancing between voters, the line quickly travels down Tatum Street on to Main.
According to the state’s Coordinator of Elections, Mark Goins, “Our office and election commissions across Tennessee have been preparing for this election and specifically the new challenges of running a safe election during COVID-19 since March. It is because of their hard work and diligent planning that we are seeing voters have a smooth voting experience.”
Tennessee voters can find their early voting and Election Day hours, polling locations and more with the GoVoteTN app or online at GoVoteTN.com. The GoVoteTN app is free to download in the App Store or Google Play.
In Cannon County, early voting hours are Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 8am until 1pm, Tuesdays and Thursdays are from 4 to 7 and Saturdays are from 8 till Noon. Cannon County Election Administrator Matt Teply has informed WBRY that on the final day of early voting, Thursday, October 29th hours for Cannon Countians will be from 8am until 7pm.
While visiting the polls, Tennesseans are encouraged to wear a face covering and maintaining a six-foot distance from poll officials and other voters. For more information about early voting in Tennessee, go to GoVoteTN.com or call the Division of Elections toll-free at 1-877-850-4959.
On Saturday, October 17, U.S. Representative John Rose (TN-06) will host a virtual Military Academy Day at 10:00 am CT. Rep. Rose, along with representatives from each branch of the U.S. Armed Forces, will give presentations regarding the military academy application and nominations process.
Representative Rose, his staff, and Academy Representatives will also be available to offer guidance and answer questions about academy applications and nominations.
Details for the event can be found below. You can register for the event HERE.
DATE: Saturday, October 17, 2020 TIME: 10:00 am CDT LOCATION: Zoom Meeting WHO: Open to public
The Distance Learning Program in Cannon County Schools will be limited on October 26th, 2020 except for students with Medical Exemptions. The Cannon County Board of Education voted at its October 8th, 2020 Meeting “To return to full Traditional/‘On-Campus’ Learning on Monday, October 26th, 2020 with exception of those with a Doctor’s Detailed Explanation or Quarantined due to COVID-19.”
Director of Schools – William F. Curtis stated, “The Cannon County Board of Education has given its guidance to me to curtail or limit the scope of distance learning. Their intent is to have students in one educational setting i.e. ‘On-Campus Learning” in the traditional school classroom setting. Many of our students have done well in a ‘synchronous’ or live setting utilizing Google Classroom and are there ‘live’ with their classroom teacher in a virtual setting. Other students who may have supplied school issued Chromebooks do not have adequate internet capability at their homes and must use WIFI hotspots at their respective school to download and upload assignments. These students are ‘asynchronous’ students and do not have that ‘live’ component with their teachers. Teachers are working twice as hard, if not three times as hard due to these circumstances. Some students have not checked in with their classes at all and others just a minimum amount. Their learning has been adversely effected, and the Cannon County Board of Education felt it was time to return to ‘On-Campus’ learning for all students.”
Curtis continued, “Our Team has developed a form – ‘Request For Continued Distance Learning’ to be filled out by a Physician for an exemption to allow a student to continue with Distance Learning as the Cannon County Board of Education allowed. The form can be accessed on the ccstn.net website and all schools and Principal’s will have copies at each school. Parents/Guardians should email the completed form to Cannon County Schools Nurse Leslie Pelham at the following e-mail address: Leslie.Pelham@ccstn.net. Upon approval or denial, the school will contact the parent/guardian for continued Distance Learning or a return to ‘On-Campus’ Learning.”
“We will continue to monitor the COVID-19 situation in our schools and in the county in general. Hopefully these numbers will continue to decrease, however should the numbers go the other way, we will be prepared to go to “Full Distance Learning” for ALL Students should the situation occur. Our Team continues to be in daily communication with the local office of the Tennessee Department of Health and the numbers are constantly changing.”
“I would like to give my sincere thanks to Teachers and Staff Personnel for their continuous hard work and persistence in this unprecedented time. We hope that each of our educators, support staffs, and students will have a greatly deserved FALL BREAK on October 19th – 23rd, 2020. We additionally appreciate our Parents/Guardians for their patience and willingness to work with our dedicated family of educators, who each day work to fulfill OUR NEW VISION – ‘Engaged in Excellence EVERY Day in EVERY Way!’ through our NEW MISSION – ‘To Create a Unified Environment That Will Provide Opportunities for All Students to Reach Their Full Potential!”
For a copy of the form to continue Distance Learning, clink the link below:
Tennessee will be among 14 central and southern U.S. states on Thursday, Oct., 15, 2020, coordinating the annual Great Central U.S. ShakeOutdrill to raise awareness about the importance of catastrophic earthquake preparedness.
The Tennessee Emergency Management Agency (TEMA) is working currently to register businesses, communities, individuals, organizations, and schools for the ShakeOut drill so they can learn how to prevent damage and injuries in the event of a catastrophic earthquake.
“Major earthquakes happen somewhere in the world every year, and major earthquakes have shaken and reshaped Tennessee’s geography,” TEMA Director Patrick Sheehan said. ”Most major cities and population centers across the world have some risk of earthquakes, but awareness of our hazards and risks is the first step for Tennesseans to make informed decisions about how to begin preparing themselves today. In the busyness of day-to-day life, it can be tough to carve out time to prepare, but families and communities can make themselves ready and more resilient by taking small steps beginning today.”
During the ShakeOut drill, participants will practice the Drop, Cover, and Hold On technique, which is the proper self-protection measure in an earthquake. The technique’s actions are:
DROP to the ground;
Take COVER under a sturdy desk or table, or cover your head and neck with your arms;
and,
HOLD ON until the shaking stops.
To date, more than 158,000 Tennessee participants have registered for the ShakeOut.
The ShakeOut is free and open-to-the-public. To participate, individuals and organizations can register at www.shakeout.org/centralus. Once registered, participants receive regular information on how to plan their drill and become better prepared for earthquakes and other disasters.
TEMA is coordinating the ShakeOut in Tennessee with the Central U.S. Earthquake Consortium and its Member and Associate States, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the U.S. Geological Survey, and dozens of other partners.
Other states participating in the ShakeOut include Alabama, Arkansas, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Nebraska, Missouri, Ohio, and Oklahoma.
Early voting hours in Cannon County are: Monday, Wednesday and Fridays, 8am – 1pm, Tuesday and Thursdays, 4pm -7pm and Saturdays, 8am – 1pm Election Commission office is located at: 301 West Main Street.
Early voting for the November 3rd State, Federal and County General election starts today, Wednesday, Oct. 14. Early voting runs Monday to Saturday until Thursday, Oct. 29. Early voting offers Tennesseans the flexibility of evening and Saturday hours, along with multiple polling locations in many counties. The first and last days of early voting are normally peak days. Voters looking to avoid the busiest days of early voting should plan to vote on days other than the first and last day of early voting. Tennessee voters can find their early voting and Election Day hours, polling locations, view and mark sample ballots and much more with the GoVoteTN app or online at GoVoteTN.com. The GoVoteTN app is free to download in the App Store or Google Play.
“Early voting offers Tennesseans the flexibility to choose their location and time to cast a ballot,” said Secretary of State Tre Hargett. “I encourage voters to do their part by wearing a face covering while taking advantage of Tennessee’s generous early voting period.” Voters need to bring valid (may or may not be current) photo identification to the polls. A Tennessee driver license or photo ID issued by the Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security, Tennessee state government or the federal government are acceptable even if they are expired. College student IDs are not acceptable. More information about what types of ID are acceptable can be found on sos.tn.gov by calling toll free 1-877-850-4959.
Tennessee state law requires polling locations and the area within a 100-foot boundary surrounding each entrance to remain campaign-free zones. This includes the display or distribution of campaign materials and the solicitation of votes for or against any person, party or question on the ballot in these areas. Voters wearing campaign-related clothing or paraphernalia will not be allowed within the 100-foot boundary. During early voting and on Election Day, Tennesseans are encouraged to wear a face covering and maintaining a six-foot distance from poll officials and other voters. Voters should expect to see signs with further safety instructions at their polling locations. All poll officials will be wearing face coverings and will be trained in social distancing measures.
The voter registration deadline to participate in the November election was Monday, Oct. 5. Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 3. For the latest information on the State and Federal General Election, follow our social media channels Twitter: @SecTreHargett, Facebook: Tennessee Secretary of State and Instagram: @tnsecofstate. For more information about early voting in Tennessee, go to GoVoteTN.com or call the Division of Elections toll-free at 1-877-850-4959.
Officials with the Tennessee Department of Transportation are announcing the resumption of Adopt-A-Highway cleanups statewide, beginning Sunday, October 11th. Cleanups have been paused since March due to the spread of COVID-19, and the program is resuming with additional procedures in place meant to keep volunteers safe. These include:
All volunteers must submit a new liability waiver which includes COVID-specific language.
Face masks must be worn at all times on TDOT right-of-way.
All volunteers will be given their own personal safety vest to wash and reuse.
No more than 10 volunteers are allowed to participate in a single cleanup event.
Volunteers must notify local TDOT staff of a cleanup event, at least 5 days in advance.
“The work our Adopt-A-Highway volunteers do is an invaluable part of our efforts to remove litter from our highways,” explained TDOT Commissioner Clay Bright. “These new procedures will allow those operations to resume in a safe manner.”
Adopt-A-Highway is a free program for the public to volunteer to clean up a 2 mile stretch of local state highway. Cleanups are conducted quarterly and reported to TDOT. Local department staff provides safety equipment, trash grabbers and bags. For the effort, TDOT installs free roadside recognition panels along every adopted area, naming the adoptive individual, group, or organization. For help getting started, program resources are available electronically on the TDOT website.
TDOT’s Adopt-A-Highway program began statewide on October 11, 1989, as a means for individuals, community groups and civic organizations to clean up their community and receive roadside recognition. The completely free program has grown over time, removing more than 12 million pounds of litter from Tennessee roadsides. Litter is an ugly, expensive problem for Tennessee, and TDOT is working hard to increase adopted roadside mileage. Today, more than 550 miles of roadside across the state have been adopted.
