News

An incident Sunday in Coffee County set in motion a chain of events resulting in death and injury. In a media conference, the TBI explained what they know so far;

The incident started this morning, at approximately 9:30 am when a subject, identified as Dangelo Dorsey, opened fire inside a vehicle traveling westbound on Interstate 24 near Beech Grove in Coffee County. Dorsey shot and killed one person, and shot and injured another in that vehicle.

Immediately following, traffic in the area stopped, and Dorsey attempted to carjack a nearby driver and, in the process, fired into her vehicle, striking her in the hand. A truck driver in that same immediate area also sustained a gunshot wound to the face.

From there, Dorsey carjacked a Ford Mustang, and ordered the two people inside – a man and a woman – to drive him to their home in Morrison. When they arrived, it appears Dorsey took two additional firearms from the home, swapped vehicles to a blue Toyota Rav4, and forced the man and woman to accompany him.

The situation escalated in the coming hours. At some point, and we’re still working to determine specifics, Dorsey shot and killed the male hostage and forced his body from the vehicle. Authorities later recovered him along Interstate 24 westbound near Exit 111-B.

Law enforcement from multiple local and state agencies worked tirelessly through the afternoon, using a variety of techniques, and, shortly after 3:30 pm CST located the vehicle traveling eastbound on I-24. A brief chase ensued, reaching speeds of approximately 100 miles an hour and at approximately 3:45 pm resulted in a crash, where Dorsey flipped the Rav4.

At that point, Dorsey took his own life. The female hostage was safely recovered.

TBI Agents continue to investigate several aspects of this incident, to include the original shootings, the carjackings, the shooting death of the male hostage, and Dorsey’s ultimate suicide. In turn, we will submit investigative findings to the District Attorneys General who’ve requested our involvement for their review.

Tonight, we continue to gather relevant information, evidence, and interviews. This will be a long and complex investigation, but that’s what we do as an agency. Our team will continue to work with our partners to determine, as best we can, the facts of these events. To that end, if anyone in the public has information, pictures, video, or details that might help our case, we’d appreciate a phone call. You can reach us at 1-800-TBI-FIND.

Again, on behalf of the Bureau and our law enforcement partners, I want to extend our deepest sympathies to the innocent lives that have been impacted by today’s set of events. We also want to thank drivers on I-24 for their patience. We know today’s work by law enforcement resulted in chaos, delays and inconvenience, but we must work diligently, with a focus on detail, to pursue justice in the memory and honor of those who were directly impacted by this series of crimes.

Time is running out to certify for relief payments from the Tennessee Business Relief Program. Federal Coronavirus Relief Funds have been set aside to assist Tennessee small businesses impacted by the COVID-19 crisis. The deadline to certify for a relief payment is Sept. 25, 2020.

Payments range from $2,500 to $30,000, depending on the amount of the business’ gross sales.

“The various forms of relief that have come available throughout the pandemic have been critical to the stability of many Upper Cumberland businesses,” said Megan Choate, UCDD’s Director of Lending and Economic Development. “We are thankful for the State’s realization of local needs and designation of the TN Business Relief Program to further assist eligible businesses during this time.”

In June, Governor Bill Lee announced the use of federal Coronavirus Relief Funds to assist Tennessee small businesses affected by the pandemic. Governor Lee has directed the Tennessee Department of Revenue to issue business relief payments through the state’s business relief program to small businesses for costs incurred as a result of mandatory business closures. An expansion to the Tennessee Business Relief Program was announced last month and included additional eligible business types.

Tennessee’s Department of Revenue has proactively identified potentially eligible businesses using information available in the state’s tax system and began notifying businesses last month. Businesses who have received a notification are to certify their business information on the TNTAP website. Once a business completes its certification and the department verifies eligibility, a relief payment will be issued.

If you previously submitted a certification form and received notification that your business was ineligible, there is no need to resubmit your information. If the department can confirm your eligibility under the expanded Tennessee Business Relief Program, you will automatically receive a relief payment as well as notice of this determination.

For assistance or more information about other available resources, please contact the Upper Cumberland Development District at (931) 432-4111 or the UC Small Business Development Center at (931) 520-6081.

If you have commercial nursery or floriculture crops, 2019 corn or soybean production, or livestock inventory and have not signed up in the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP), the signup deadline is Friday, September 11, 2020.

Additionally, the following recent commodity eligibility changes affect producers in our counties:1) all sheep are now eligible (previously, only sheep less than two years old were eligible) and, 2) nursery and floriculture crops are now eligible.

The application process is very simple and takes less than 10 minutes. To clarify, both sold and unsold livestock are eligible for payment under this program. There is no minimum number of livestock required to be owned to receive benefits under this program.

USDA Service Centers currently are not permitted to have customers in the building. You can telephone the offie at 615-597-8225, Ext. 2, email the office at donald.green@usda.gov, or apply online at www.farmers.gov/cfap.

Two Interim Members of the Cannon County Board of Education have been appointed by the Cannon County Commission on Thursday Evening, September 3^rd, 2020.  Appointed as the District 2 School Board Member is Mrs. Jennifer Duggin and District 5 School Board Member is Mrs. Aletha Thomas.

The 2^nd District School Board Member seat became vacant when Member Travis Turney, who was elected to the Cannon County Board of Education in August 2018 and was in the middle of his first term submitted his notice of resignation to Chairman Javin Fann and Director of Schools – William F. Curtis on August 14^th, 2020.

Mrs. Jennifer Duggin is married to Wade Duggin and lives in the Auburntown community. Wade and Jennifer have 3 boys, Jacob (Brittany) Duggin, Will (Brooke) Bailey and Austin Duggin. They have three granddaughters, two of which attend Auburn Elementary School in Auburntown, TN.  Jennifer attended Woodbury Grammar and is a 1992 graduate of Cannon County High School. She joined the military in 1991 and serves on Active Duty with the Tennessee Army National Guard in Nashville, TN.

The 5^th District School Board Member seat became vacant when Member Brian Elrod, who was also elected to the Cannon County Board of Education in August 2018 and was in the middle of his term recently moved out of District 5.  Mr. Elrod submitted his notice of resignation to Chairman Fann and Director Curtis also on August 14^th, 2020.

Mrs. Aletha Thomas is a native of Smith County, but has been a part of the Cannon County community since 2008. She has been married to Dr. Michael Thomas just shy of twenty years. Together they are the proud parents of Jackson, Nancy Caroline, and Sadie. Mrs. Thomas considers these three her greatest blessings and grandest adventures. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Human Ecology from Tennessee Tech University. Before becoming a full time stay at home mother, she was a Family and Consumer Sciences educator, teaching in Wilson County Schools, Gasconade R-II Schools in Missouri, and on the Dutch island of Saba in the Caribbean. Three years ago she accepted a position at Watertown High School where she originally began her career and continues there presently where she is the In School Suspension Coordinator. She also coaches cross country and tennis.

One of Mrs. Thomas’ greatest joys is giving back to the communities to which she belongs. She and Dr. Thomas have been instrumental in a twenty year mission work in the Caribbean on Saba, the island on which they lived for two years. Locally in Cannon County, Mrs. Thomas serves as the president for Cannon County Youth Dream, the non-profit organization that oversees and carries out the annual back to school initiative, We Care Cannon.

Director of Cannon County Schools, Mr. William F. Curtis, stated, “We are appreciative that these two outstanding individuals have been appointed by the Cannon County Commission and have qualified, or in the process of qualifying, to run on the November 3^rd, 2020 Ballot. Both individuals have committed themselves to achieve our MISSION – to ‘Prepare All Students for Their Future’ through our VISION – ‘E3 – Engaged in Excellence Every Day!’ We know that they will work diligently on behalf of all our Cannon County Schools’ Students, Educators, and Staffs in their service as Interim School Board Members.”

The Cannon County Commission acted on these vacancies of the Cannon County Board of Education District 2 position and District 5 position at the regular monthly meeting of the Cannon County Commission on Thursday, September 3rd, 2020 – 5:30 PM at the Cannon County Courthouse. Both Mrs. Duggin and Mrs. Thomas demonstrated interest in filling these Interim School Board Member positions and live in District 2 or District 5. They each discussed their interest with their respective County Commissioner.  District 2 Commissioner Karen Ashford nominated Mrs. Jennifer Duggin with strong encouragement from fellow District 2 Commissioner Corey Davenport. The full Cannon County Commission voted 8-0 (Commissioner Brent Brandon was absent and District 5 Commissioner seat remains vacant.) for Mrs. Duggin.  District 5 Commissioner Ronnie Mahaffey nominated Mrs. Aletha Thomas for the District 5 vacancy.  The full Commission then voted again 8-0 for Mrs. Thomas.  Those individuals will be sworn in by County Clerk Lana Jones and will serve until the Special Election is held on Tuesday, November 3rd, 2020 and the election is certified and new members sworn in. 

The following process will take place regarding the election of members to fulfill the remaining two years of the terms for the District 2 seat and District 5 seat on the Cannon County Board of Education; Interested candidates should come by the Election Commission Office, 301 W Main Street – Room #244, Woodbury, TN 37190, bring a copy of their High School Diploma, and pick up a petition.  The petition must be signed by 25 Registered Voters in the respective District.  The petition must be returned by NOON on September 9^th, 2020 to be eligible for their names to be placed on the Special Election Ballot for the November 3^rd, 2020 Election.  New elected members will take office after the election is certified and swearing in takes place.

The Cannon County Board of Education now consists of four (4) new members:

Mr. Wade McMackins – 1^st District; Mrs. Jennifer Duggin – 2^nd District; Mr. Derrick Mullins – 3^rd District; and Mrs. Aletha Thomas – 5^th District.  Former Chairman Javin Fann- 4^th District is the only returning School Board Member for this 2020-2022 Term of the Cannon County Board of Education.

Officers of the Cannon County Board of Education consisting of Chairman, Vice Chairman, and Chairman Pro Tem for 2020-2021 School Year will be elected at the September 10^th, 2020 – 6:30 PM Meeting of the Board at the Woodbury Grammar School Cafeteria.

Auburn Elementary School located at 150 Vantrease Avenue, Auburntown, Tennessee will cease On-Campus Learning from Tuesday, September 8^th, 2020 through Friday, September 18^th, 2020.  Students may return to On-Campus Learning on Monday, September 21^st, 2020. ALL Auburn Elementary Students will be participating in Distance Learning during this time.

Director of Cannon County Schools, Mr. William F. Curtis stated, “There has been a recent up-tick in the number of positive cases of COVID-19 with students and staff at Auburn Elementary School this past week.  The following Statistics indicate:  

Total Auburn School Students =    117

Total On-Campus Students     =       97

Total Distance Learning Students = 20

Students

Total Positive Cases = 10 Students or 9.7%

Total Contacts           = 14 Students or 14.43%

Total Pending Cases =   2 Students or   2.06%%

Total Cases/Contacts/Pending = 26 Students or 26.80412%

Staff – Total 21 Staff Full and Part-Time

Total Positive Cases = 1 or 4.7619%  

Pending Cases          = 2 or 9.5238%

Possible Contact       = 1 or 4.4719%

Total Staff Cases/Pending Cases/Pending Contacts = 4 or 19.04761%”

Curtis continued, “We have been in consultation with the Tennessee Department of Health, and they have recommended the closure of our Auburn Elementary School Campus for additional deep cleaning and allowing time for these possible exposures and cases to diminish. Our Auburn Elementary School Students will transition to ‘Distance Learning’ from Tuesday, September 8^th, 2020 through Friday, September 18^th, 2020.  Auburn Elementary School Students may return to “On-Campus” learning on Monday, September 21^st, 2020.  Cannon County High School Students living in the Auburntown Community will still have School Bus Service, departing from Auburn School at the regular time, and the same occurring in the afternoon. Parents of Auburn Elementary School have been contacted by School Officials via multiple means, and we sincerely appreciate their cooperation in these unprecedented times.  Auburn Elementary School Teachers will be contacting each family tomorrow morning (September 8^th, 2020) to see if students will need a Chromebook for these 2 weeks or an instructional paper packet. Auburn Elementary School will have a pickup on Wednesday morning, September 9^th, 2020 along with free meal distribution for children age 18 and under beginning at 9 AM. Cannon County Schools and specifically Auburn Elementary School is 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 Auburn Elementary School Principal Mrs. Melinda Crook, Teachers, and Staff Members to continue the education of the children of the Auburntown Community during this pandemic event.  Please contact Auburn Elementary School at 629-218-2173 for any additional needed information.”  

Yes! Breakfast and Lunch is now free To All Cannon County School Students. Yesterday – September 1^st, 2020, the U.S. Department of Agriculture extended all Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) and Seamless Summer Option (SSO) waivers through as late as December 31, 2020, dependent on available funding. The move allows Cannon County Schools Free and Reduced Lunch Program to offer meals to all children at no charge this fall to minimize the challenges of meal service during a pandemic. School Nutrition Directors are continuing to advocate for these waivers to be extended through School Year 2020-2021.

The announcement came less than one week after the School Nutrition Association’s (SNA) Board of Directors hosted a call with USDA officials to share urgent feedback from schools that have seen dramatic declines in student lunch participation in the opening weeks of school, leaving meal programs in dire financial circumstances. “Cannon County Schools greatly appreciate the USDA addressing the critical challenges shared by districts serving students on the frontlines these first weeks of school. These waivers will allow school nutrition professionals to focus on nourishing hungry children for success, rather than scrambling to process paperwork and verify eligibility in the midst of a pandemic. We look forward to continuing our dialogue with USDA to ensure school meal programs are equipped to meet the future needs of America’s students,” stated Mrs. Jennifer Insell – Cannon County Schools Food Service Supervisor.

She continued, “Today’s announcement brings a huge relief to our school meal program and the community we serve. Many of our families who might not qualify for free meals are still going through a tough time and are worried about how to keep food on the table. Now their children will have one less thing to worry about as they adjust to evolving in-school and remote learning scenarios. These waivers also eliminate a massive administrative burden for our school nutrition staff, allowing them to focus on feeding children.”

“Today’s move doesn’t simply help to increase food access, at a time when food insecurity and demand for hunger relief is rising. Allowing schools to serve all children free of charge also brings nutrition departments more revenue, as USDA reimburses them on a per-meal basis. “

“We are so excited to offer free meals to ALL students at our schools.” Jennifer Insell, Cannon County School Food Service Supervisor said. “We’re completely putting into place, a plan to make sure our community knows that everybody is welcome at our table again. Distance learners should call the school cafeteria at which they are enrolled, if they would like to set up a time to pick up meals at the school. We are working on a system to make meal access readily available for our distance learners.”

Director of Cannon County Schools – Mr. William F. Curtis stated, “Cannon County Schools is extremely appreciative to our Federal Officials to continue a VERY successful program from Summer 2020.  Thousands of meals were provided to ALL Cannon County children that came to our Meal Distribution sites.  Cannon County School Nutrition Program is self-funded through the USDA Child Nutrition Program through meal reimbursement.  NO local funding is expended for meal reimbursement. Cannon County Schools are certainly appreciative of the US Government assisting during these unprecedented times.”

Attorney General Herbert H. Slatery III announced Tuesday, Aug. 25 a $91 million multistate settlement with American Honda Motor Co. Inc. and Honda of America Mfg. Inc. (collectively “Honda”) over allegations Honda concealed safety issues related to defects in the frontal airbag systems installed in certain Honda and Acura vehicles sold in the United States.

The systems were designed and manufactured by Takata Corporation, a long-time Honda supplier, and were first installed in Honda vehicles in the 2001 model year.

The settlement concludes a multistate investigation into Honda’s alleged failure to inform regulators and consumers that the frontal airbags posed a significant risk of rupture, which could cause metal fragments to fly into the passenger compartments of many Honda and Acura vehicles.

The ruptures have resulted in at least 14 deaths and over 200 injuries in the United States alone. Since 2008, Honda has recalled approximately 12.9 million Honda and Acura vehicles equipped with the suspect inflators.

The state claimed Honda’s actions violated Tennessee Consumer Protection Act.

“What we have here is an unsafe safety feature,” said General Slatery. “Consumers have a right to know the vehicle they are driving is manufactured with components- in this case airbags-that do what they are designed to do – protect them, not possibly injure them.”

Under the terms of the consent judgment, which will be filed with Davidson County Circuit Court, Honda has agreed to pay the participating attorneys general a total of $91 million, of which Tennessee will receive $1,730,909.22. Honda also agreed to strong injunctive relief.

In addition to Tennessee, the multistate group, led by South Carolina, Arkansas, Connecticut, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Maryland, New Jersey, Oregon, South Dakota, and Texas, includes Alabama, Alaska, California, Colorado, Delaware, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Utah, Virginia, Washington, and Wisconsin.

Consumers who own a Honda or Acura vehicle are encouraged to visit Honda’s airbag recall website at https://hondaairbaginfo.com, or call its Customer Service toll-free number at (888) 234-2138.

Elsa Monzalvo, custodian for Cannon County Schools Central Office was named as “Employee of the Month” for August 2020 by Cannon County Schools. During the August Meeting of the Cannon County Board of Education, Monzalvo 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 Principal and Supervisor meetings regarding individuals who exemplify the Mission and Vision of Cannon County Schools.

Director of Cannon County Schools, William F. Curtis stated, “Mrs. Esa Monzalvo is one of the ‘unsung heroes’ in our school system.  She works when everyone is out of the Central Office and does essential work cleaning our facility.  This job is very vital for our school system and her service for each of our employees is sincerely appreciated.   Custodian Elsa Monzalvo personifies our Mission of Cannon County Schools of ‘Preparing All Students for their Future’ by most assuredly being ‘The New E3 – Engaged in Excellence Every Day.’  Congratulations to custodian Elsa Monzalvo for being an impactful ‘Team Player’ in our Cannon County Schools family and specifically Cannon County Schools Central Office.”

Governor Bill Lee today signed Executive Order No. 59 to extend certain, targeted provisions of Executive Order Nos. 36, 38, 49, 50, 54, and 55 through September 30, 2020 to facilitate the continued treatment and containment of COVID-19 through regulatory flexibility, promoting social distancing and wearing face coverings in public places, and protecting vulnerable populations.

Gov. Lee also signed Executive Order Nos. 60 and 61, which extend through September 30 provisions that allow for electronic government meetings subject to transparency safeguards and remote notarization and witnessing of documents, allowing for implementation of best practices developed during COVID-19 for providing live broadcasts of electronic meetings and safely conducting in-person transactions, respectively, beginning October 1.

Executive Order No. 59 extends previous provisions that:

• Urge persons to wear a cloth face covering in places where in close proximity to others, while facilitating local decision-making concerning face covering requirements;
• Urge social distancing and limit social and recreational gatherings of 50 or more persons, unless adequate social distancing can be maintained;
• Limit nursing home and long-term-care facility visitation, while providing a framework for safe, limited visitation, and continue the closure of senior centers;
• Provide that employers and businesses are expected to comply with the Governor’s Economic Recovery Group Guidelines (e.g., Tennessee Pledge) for operating safely (the 6 counties with locally run county health departments have authority to issue different directives on businesses/venues);
• Provide that bars may only serve customers seated at appropriately spaced tables and must follow the Economic Recovery Group Guidelines (e.g., Tennessee Pledge) for restaurants (the 6 counties with locally run county health departments have authority to issue different directives on businesses/venues);
• Continue access take-out alcohol sales to encourage carryout and delivery orders;
• Allow broad access to telehealth services;
• Increase opportunities for people to easily join the healthcare workforce;
• Facilitate increased testing and health care capacity;
• Extend deadlines and suspend certain in-person continuing education, gathering, or inspection requirements to avoid unnecessary person-to-person contact; and
• Increase opportunities to work remotely where appropriate.

Executive Order No. 60, as previously extended by Executive Order No. 51, is extended through September 30 and allows governing bodies to meet electronically regarding essential business as long as they provide electronic access to the public and meet the safeguards established in that order to ensure openness and transparency. The order ensures that governmental entities are able to carry out essential business in a safe, transparent way without creating large gatherings in a confined space and endangering persons, particularly those at increased risk of suffering severe illness from COVID-19, while requiring that governing bodies transition toward adopting best practices developed during the pandemic, like providing real-time, live public access to electronic meetings, beginning October 1.

Executive Order No. 61, as previously extended by Executive Order No. 52, is extended through September 30, and allows for remote notarization and remote witnessing of documents, subject to compliance with certain procedures. The order ensures that persons, and particularly populations especially vulnerable to COVID-19, including older adults and persons with compromised immune systems or serious chronic medical conditions, can continue to engage in commerce and execute legal documents without requiring in-person contact while also making preparations to implement best practices for a safe return to in-person transactions beginning October 1.

The full executive orders can be viewed here.

The Cannon County High School at Warren County football game scheduled for Friday evening, August 28^th, at 7 PM has been rescheduled for Thursday, August 27^th, at 7:00 PM in McMinnville, Tennessee.  This rescheduling is due to impending inclement weather forecasted for Friday night due to the remnants of Hurricane Laura. 

According to TSSAA, bout half of the 124 Week 2 games expected to take place across the state have already been rescheduled to Thursday night.

Our coverage of the Lions begins with Murphy’s Matchups at 6:00pm and Lions Roar with Coach Matt Daniel at 6:30pm. Wade McMackins and Dennis Jordan have the broadcast at 6:45pm on am1540, fm107.1 and streaming at wbry.com

Our coverage of area prep games will follow at 9:30pm with JT Plant on the TriStar Sports Radio Network.