Uncategorized

It is with profound sadness that the family of Michael Lynn Jones announce his passing on Saturday, August 29. 2020 at the age of 67 years.  He will be lovingly remembered by is wife of 49 years, Wanda; children, Kevin (Amy) and Dustin (Lauren); grandchildren, Alexander, Lucas, Juliet, Lila and Livy; mother, Bertha Jones; brother, Dale (Rita) Jones; mother-in-law, Donna Taylor; as well as numerous relatives and friends.  He was preceded in death by his father, Ralph Jones.

He loved with his whole heart.  Nothing was more important to him than his God, his wife, his sons, and their families.  His greatest joy in life was spending time with them.  His grandchildren were blessings that he thanked God for every day.  He will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved him.

Funeral services will be 2 pm Monday, August 31, 2020 in the Chapel of Woodbury Funeral Home with Bro. Bobby Wheeler officiating.  Interment will follow in Cherry Cemetery.  Visitation with his family will be from 4 pm until 8 pm Sunday, August 30, 2020. 

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Memorial Fund of Simmons Chapel Free Methodist Church, 3295 Hollow Springs Rd., Bradyville, Tn.  37026.

Woodbury Funeral Home, 615-563-2311 or to leave condolences for his family, please visit www.woodburyfuneralhome.net 

Providing a safe and supportive learning environment where students are able to focus on skills needed for a successful future is the top priority of the Cannon County School district.   Bullying and internet safety prevention are part of Cannon County Schools’ School-Wide Positive Behavior Support program.  The school system has developed the following strategy statement regarding bullying behaviors:

We recognize bullying as the deliberate use of any word, look, sign, or act that hurts a person’s body, feelings, or things. We also recognize bullying as a type of violence that occurs when someone uses his or her power unfairly and repeatedly to hurt someone else. 

To make our school violence-free and safe from bullying, we pledge

•        not to tolerate bullying

•        to intervene in incidents of bullying and strictly enforce rules against bullying

•        to empower students to report bullying behavior and to treat one another with respect

As a part of the Bullying Prevention Program, students as well as all staff, participate in lessons designed to help him/her

•        define bullying and understand what behaviors are considered bullying

•        understand the effect of bullying behaviors and develop empathy for targeted students

•        learn ways to respond to bullying behavior

•        learn when and how to report bullying

•        learn the consequences the school has established for engaging in bullying behavior

The overall goal of the Bullying Prevention program is to empower students to report bullying behaviors and to give school staff the tools to recognize, intervene, and issue consequences for bullying behaviors they witness or hear about from students. Students who bully receive appropriate consequences to help them realize that bullying behavior isn’t appropriate and won’t be tolerated at school. 

Additionally, all students participate in lessons concerning internet safety.  Parents may also continue this conversation by using the “NetSmartz® Workshop” which may be found on the Cannon County School District’s homepage or “Stop Bullying.gov”.  “NetSmartz Workshop” is an interactive, educational program of the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children® (NCMEC) that provides age-appropriate resources to help teach children how to be safer on- and offline. The program is designed for children ages 5-17, parents and guardians, educators, and law enforcement. With resources such as videos, games, activity cards, and presentations, NetSmartz entertains while it educates and provides information to parents on how to keep students cyber-safe.  You may access this information at www.ccstn.net  under “Departments-Coordinated School Health- Bullying Prevention”.  

Cannon County Schools also encourage the public to use the SafeTN platform which is a secure open-door platform where anyone can send in tips and access useful resources to help keep your school and community safe.  SafeTN is a secure, open door communications platform.  The anonymous reporting system allows students, faculty, parents, and the public to easily and confidentially report their concerns to help prevent violence in our schools and our communities. Tips can be submitted 24/7 through the mobile app from any compatible device. The Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security will review, assess, and then send all submissions to law enforcement, mental health crisis response teams, and/or school administrators for intervention based on the information received.

With SafeTN, you can anonymously report suspicious or criminal behavior and other safety concerns. You can do this by reporting observed threats, behaviors, or actions. Here is an example of some of the common behaviors and incidents to report:

• Assault

• Sexual misconduct

• Bragging about an upcoming planned attack

• Violence or planned violence

• Physical injury or harm to self or others

• Threats of violence

SafeTN is free. Students, staff, parents, and the community need only to download the free mobile app on a compatible device.  You can find more information by visiting our district webpage. 

For questions regarding the Bullying Prevention program and how it is implemented, parents may contact their child’s school principal or school counselor.

The Board of Education voted for a stop gap effort to move into the new fiscal year.

We reported (in an earlier story) about three options crafted by the Director of Schools and staff to adapt the budget for schools to match budget allocations from the County Commission.  School Board member Nathan Sanders offered an option four at Thursday night’s meeting of the Board of Education.

So far what we know about the new budget is the high school will lose four teachers, no new text books thru fiscal year 2012, the system’s capital outlay fund will be reduced from $300k to $150k. Art teachers and librarians will stay in place and Short Mountain School will not close.  Instructional coaches are gone, no LOE Performance bonuses, removed is a nursing position and one contract bus from the transportation department. Option 4 will also remove all growth positions. Option 4 will reduce less money from the school’s budget than the three offered by Director Curtis. Total savings is less than one-million dollars.

Chairman Javan Fann called the budget, “tight, very tight!”  “This will have us going into reserves and this will not look any better a year from now.”

Members of the audience at the board’s workshop earlier this week indicated very strongly that they did not want any of the current elementary schools to close in the county.

The board voted to officially request consideration of two actions from the Cannon County Commission. The first request is to increase the local option sales tax from 1.75 cents per one dollar spent to 2.75 cents, an increase of one cent.  The second request is an increase of the wheel tax to increase from $50.25 per vehicle to $75.00.  The decision on both requests would be in the hands of the voters of the county.  The commission would be responsible to adding the issues to the November 2020 ballot.

Chairman Javan Fann told the audience, I just hope nothing big goes wrong in the new year.  If so, he will know as Fann will remain on the board in the new year.  Sanders, who introduced the chosen option, is not running for re-election.

Middle Tennessee State University is spreading the message to prospective students and families about MT Tuition Free — an opportunity where first-time freshmen paying in-state tuition and attending full time can attend tuition free if they receive the Tennessee Education Lottery (HOPE) Scholarship and the maximum federal Pell Grant.

For eligible students, they could have no out-of-pocket costs for tuition and fees, and no student loans would be required.

With the lowest tuition and greatest value of the state’s three major comprehensive universities, tuition and fees at MTSU can be covered by federal aid and other scholarships for students who fall within the income and academic criteria set by state and federal governments.

To learn more about MT Tuition Free, visit https://www.mtsu.edu/tuition-free/.

Deb Sells, vice president of Student Affairs and vice provost of Enrollment and Academic Services, said the university is “delighted that students and their families are becoming aware of the ways in which an MTSU education could be tuition-free for low-income students — and that there is also a route for our high-ability students.”

“With MTSU’s low tuition, coupled with federal Pell Grant aid for low-income students, or coupled with one of our guaranteed academic scholarships for high- ability students, tuition and fees may be completed covered,” Sells added. “We want all Tennesseans to know that the community college isn’t the only route to a tuition-free degree.”

Enrollment coordinators in the MT One Stop can work with prospective qualifying students to ensure the students are connected with the appropriate aid and scholarship offerings based upon the student’s eligibility. New students are encouraged to work with those staff members to determine the best routes available to reduce a new freshman’s tuition and fees bill to $0 — and possibly leave some extra money to help cover expenses like housing, meal plans and books.

Support of the 2^nd Amendment and the fate of the Adams Office Building filled the bulk of discussion and action by County Commissioners during their Thursday night meeting.

Commissioner Corey Davenport proposed Resolution 2020-1, Declaring Cannon County as a Second Amendment Safe Haven County.  Sheriff Darryl Young voiced his support for the measure. Commissioners voted to approve the measure.

County Attorney Chris Coats addressed commissioners on developments in seeking a salutation to the fate of the Good Samaritan Hospital (now known as the Adams Office Building).   A meeting with the State Fire Marshall office, the County Executive and Director of Schools William Curtis and Chairman Javan Fann. Assistant Commission Bainbridge said a plan needs to be approved and providing updates to the state on sixty-day intervals.  Three areas of concern still remain, covering cane fiber tiles with a flame–retardant coating.  Updates to the fire alarm system and cap the current sprinkler system and have it de-compressed.

The state as well as local officials are concerned with the possibility of relocating the County Election Commission (one of the numerous occupants of the building) could have a negative effect on this year’s elections.  Three elections are scheduled in the county during this year.  The Fire Marshall’s office indicated if efforts of progress were produced on a regular basis, the deadline could be extended until November.

Commissioner Ronnie Mahaffey relayed to the Board that he felt the best remedy of solving the problem is turning the building over to the Board of Education. The Board has maintenance personnel to better address the issues.

Commissioner Ronnie Mahaffey -Resolution 2020-2, Donate Good Samaritan Hospital to the Board of Education.  The resolution failed by a vote of 3 in favor 6 against.

The commission accepted the resignation of 5^th Direct Commissioner Kim Davenport.  Davenport sighted health reasons for stepping down.

Citizens of the county’s fifth district who wish to submit names for consideration to fill the vacant seat on the commission should contact commission members to make their suggestions known.

Commissioners unanimously approved the appointment of Mike Reed to Library Board of Directors.

With the county continuing to solicit bids to repair the Adams Office Building, the decision was reached to recess the meeting until Tuesday, February 18^th.

Woodbury residents who normally have trash pickup on Thursday are being reminded to have their trash out for Wednesday pick-up this week. Because of the Thanksgiving holiday, the routes normally run on Thursday will be run on Wednesday, November 27^th instead. Public Works Director Shane Gannon says the change is being made this week so employees may spend Thanksgiving Day with their families.

Gannon also asked WBRY to remind everyone that Woodbury Town Hall will be closed November 28^th and 29^th in observance of the Thanksgiving holiday.