2016

A Cannon County subdivision suffering problems with a neighbor who won’t contain their threatening dogs aired their complaints out Saturday morning at the Cannon County Commission meeting.  A few of the residents of the neighborhood approached the Commission to see if there was anything the Commission could do in order to resolve the issue.  Paul Curless of Briley Circle stated that their neighbors Shawn and Lisa Hill own German Shepard dogs and even though an underground fence has been installed, it doesn’t keep the dogs from getting out and terrorizing the neighborhood.  Other residents gave accounts to the commission of encounters with these dogs and have had several talks with the Hills in order to come to a solution but nothing has helped.  Beverly Wheeler who also lives on Briley Circle  gave several instances where her mother and her dog would be out in the subdivision walking and would pass by the Hill’s residence where the dogs would come off the Hills property and surround the mother and their dog.  Other residents gave similar instances about the dogs.  
Although the Cannon County Commission could not do anything about the issue, the Cannon County Sheriff’s Department can.  Sheriff’s deputies have filed a report although no tickets or arrests have been made.  Sheriff Darrell Young advised the residents to call the Sheriff’s Department immediately once they see the dogs off the property and at that point citations can be written to the owners of the animals.
In actions of the Cannon County Commission.  The Commission voted to establish a new debt service fund for education.  A new fund for Medical Insurance.  Approved budget amendments for the Cannon County Sheriff’s Department, Senior Center, Blue Cross Blue Shield Medical Expense Fund, Sheriff’s Litter Pickup, and Department Commissary Fund.
The Commission tabled Resolution 2016-2 which is a resolution to support Governor Bill Haslam’s Insure Tennessee Initiative.

Cannon County Lionette basketball fans will have to watch the Lionettes play without the services of their leading scorer Kelli Davis.  Davis who injured her hand in the first game of the Sonic Sparta Shootout right after Christmas, initially got the report that it was a bad sprain.  Davis returned back to action first of January against Warren County and played in the loss last week in Baxter to Upperman.  After the game, Davis went for a second opinion and got the bad news that it was fractured and Davis will miss several games in order for it to heal up.  Friday night the Lionettes played Livingston and they missed Davis’s contributions.    Livingston used a full court press and got out to a big lead right away in the game at Robert A Harris gymnasium.  The Lionettes saw the full court press continuously for three quarters and didn’t have an answer for it as they fell to the Livingston Wildcats 83-48.  Maleah Scott led the Lionettes with 10 points.
Even though the Cannon County Lions lost to Upperman last Tuesday, they felt they were in good shape only losing by two and in the last second of the game in Baxter.  Livingston made them realize they still have a lot of work to do in order to get their team turned around.  The Lions who have struggled in the third quarter in most of their games continued to do so as Livingston turned a one point lead into a 14 point advantage outscoring the Lions 21-8 in the third quarter and winning 71-55.  The Lions are still winless in District 8-AA play.  Their next shot will be Tuesday in Smithville against rival Dekalb County.

During the last bloodmobile visit sponsored by the Woodbury Lions Club a local man passed a milestone in community service. Howard Witty donated his 200th pint of blood.  It takes 8 pints to make one gallon.  One pint is normally broken down into 3 units and can possibly be used in three different individuals contributing to saving their lives.  One can give whole blood every 56 days, or 6 times per year.  That would be 33 years and 4 months if you were able to give each time you were allowed, and possibly saving as many as 600 different people lives.  In the last fifteen years, Howard has only missed being able to give due to mission trips outside the United States and they can be counted on the fingers of one hand.  Very few individuals can lay claim to have donated 25 gallons of whole blood.  It is believed that Cannon County has more ten gallon donors by population than any other county in the state of Tennessee
The Woodbury Lions Club appreciates the donors who come in on a regular basis.  They also appreciate Howard Witty.  “We hope he will continue donating as long as he can and we hope to see him at the next blood drive on January 21, 2016. Bloodmobile Chairman Carl Hirlston said “the lives  he has helped save without knowing them or their names makes him a hero in the community, and the nation.” Hirlston added.
 

The United Way of Rutherford and Cannon Counties will host a Ribbon Cutting, presented by the Rutherford County Chamber of Commerce, on January 29, 2016, at 11:00 a.m. at the United Way office. The event, also serving as an open house for the United Way’s new office, will mark the beginning of the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program for 2016.  

The United Way VITA program is a free service that aids qualifying local residents in claiming their tax refund dollars. Beginning January 29, 2016, National Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) Awareness Day, Fifth Third Bank’s Financial Empowerment Mobile E-Bus will be available to file taxes at the Rutherford County Chamber of Commerce from 11:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. The partnership between United Way and Fifth Third’s E-Bus allows a 40-foot bus equipped with 12 computer stations to assist local residents in completing their taxes online using My Free Taxes.

Luis Parodi, Fifth Third Bank Community and Economic Development Manager, said, “We are excited to partner with the United Way of Rutherford and Cannon counties again this year to bring the Fifth Third E-Bus to the Rutherford County community.”

United Way 2016 VITA sites include Patterson Park Community Center and Smyrna Assembly Hall, and will be open to individuals and families with a household income less than $62,000 annually.

In 2016, $1,011,650 was returned back into Rutherford and Cannon counties through the United Way VITA program.

To schedule an appointment through the VITA program and find the E-Bus, visit www.yourlocalvita.org or call
(615) 971-8678.
 

MTSU’s School of Music continues its new Keyboard Artist Series Tuesday, Jan. 19, with a special free performance by School of Music professor Arunesh Nadgir in the university’s Wright Music Building.
Nadgir’s 8 p.m. free public concert, the fourth in the series, will be conducted inside the Wright Building’s Hinton Music Hall.
The coordinator of keyboard studies for MTSU’s renowned School of Music will perform “Sonata in E major” by Joseph Haydn, “Kreisleriana” by Robert Schumann, “Rain Tree Sketch II“ by Toru Takemitsu and “Sonata No. 3 in F sharp minor” by Alexander Scriabin.
“The Haydn E major sonata is very charming and sweet,” Nadgir explained. “Although the second movement has a more inward character, the outer movements are very light and carefree.”
Calling the Schumann piece “one of the great monumental achievements of the Romantic period” and the Takemitsu composition “a hauntingly beautiful work,” the professor added that each movement of Scriabin’s sonata, which the musician titled “States of the Soul,” “provides a glimpse into the human spirit.”
Nadgir has performed as a solo pianist and chamber musician in the United States, South America, Europe and Asia, in venues that include the Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall, and has participated in several international music events.
Nadgir, who’s taught piano students since he was 17, was a member of the faculties at the New England Conservatory Preparatory in Massachusetts, the Eastman School of Music in New York and the Palisades School of Music in New Jersey before joining MTSU’s School of Music.
He’s been featured in live broadcasts on Nashville’s public radio station, WPLN, and New York City’s flagship public radio station, WNYC, and his recent local performances have included concerts with the Murfreesboro Symphony Orchestra, the Stones River Chamber Players and the Grammy-nominated ALIAS Chamber Ensemble.
For more information on the new Keyboard Artist Series at MTSU, which features MTSU faculty and distinguished guest artists from around the world, visit www.mtsu.edu/music/keyboardseries.php.
For details on more MTSU School of Music concerts, call 615-898-2493
 

 The Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security announced the number of traffic fatalities in 2015 is the third lowest annual figure in Tennessee since 1963. The 2015 traffic fatality numbers are reported by all Tennessee law enforcement agencies to the Tennessee Highway Patrol (THP).
Preliminary figures indicate there were 965 vehicular deaths on Tennessee roadways in 2015. In 1963, there were 941 deaths. The 2015 fatality number includes 112 pedestrians and 10 pedal cyclists.
From 1964 to 2010, Tennessee averaged 1,234 deaths on roadways. Over the 46 year period, 1973 was the most tragic year, totaling 1,444 traffic deaths. From 2011 to 2015 under Governor Bill Haslam’s administration, the five year annual traffic fatality average has been 971, with those five years making up five of the six lowest years since 1963.
Nationwide preliminary figures indicate an increase of about 15 percent in 2015 compared to 2014.
“We are making great strides in reducing traffic fatalities with our data driven enforcement initiatives, public awareness efforts, and special programs,” Safety Commissioner Bill Gibbons said. “Our top goal continues to be the reduction of traffic fatalities. We are committed to enforcing our traffic laws and saving lives.”
THP Colonel Tracy Trott said state troopers’ commitment to enforcing DUI, seat belt, and distracted driving traffic laws is producing results. State troopers arrested 7,805 individuals on suspicion of DUI in 2015 and cited 114,047 individuals for not wearing their seat belts. Subsequently, there was a 20.9 percent drop in alcohol-related traffic fatalities in 2015 in Tennessee and a 3 percent drop in the percent of fatalities involving unrestrained motorists compared to 2014.
“Our focus and commitment to traffic enforcement and citicens’ safety are making a difference in Tennessee,” Trott said. “We are making great progress in reducing fatal incidents on Tennessee roadways, but we know there is more work needing to be done, and we are even more committed to citizens’ safety than ever before. We encourage Tennesseans to make safe choices. Buckle up, don’t drive impaired and don’t text while driving because we care.”

Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam last Wednesday announced “Tennessee Reconnect + Complete,” a Drive to 55 initiative focused on encouraging Tennessee adults with some college credit to return to college and complete their degree.
According to the Tennessee Higher Education Commission (THEC), approximately 940,000 Tennessee adults have enrolled in a postsecondary institution in the state and achieved some college credit but left before obtaining a degree or credential. Of those, nearly 110,000 Tennesseans have earned more than half the credit hours toward a degree during the past nine years, with 25,000 likely to have enough credits to graduate in only one additional semester.
“Between working full time, taking care of kids and paying the bills, going back to college can often seem like an unrealistic option for many Tennessee adults,” Haslam said. “We’ve challenged our universities, community and technical colleges to work even harder at finding new ways to assist busy adults, particularly those who left before graduating, to come back to school and achieve their dreams of getting a college degree or certificate.
“Data shows us that when adult students re-enter higher education they do very well, so it’s crucial that we find a way to help more of them succeed. It’s not only important to them but also to our employers and to our state.”
The Tennessee Reconnect + Complete initiative includes:
Comprehensive training for college and university leaders on best practices to serve adult students.
A targeted advertising and outreach campaign to reconnect with interested adults and help them return to school. (To view examples, please see video above and click here.)
A one-stop shop website, www.TNReconnect.gov, to assist adult students in connecting with the right college, finding financial assistance and utilizing prior learning experience to receive college credit.
“Taking that first step to find out how to reconnect and explore their options is often the hardest part for adults, so we are working to make it as easy and accessible as possible for folks to go back and complete their degrees,” Drive to 55 Executive Director Mike Krause said.
In 2013, Governor Haslam launched the Drive to 55 to increase the number of Tennesseans with a postsecondary degree or certificate to 55 percent by 2025. As a result, the Drive to 55 has:
Established the Tennessee Promise program, the nation’s first scholarship and mentorship program that provides high school graduates last-dollar scholarships to attend two years of community or technical college free of tuition and fees;
Reduced the number of college freshmen requiring remediation through the SAILS (Seamless Alignment and Integrated Learning Support) program;
Provided free technical college for adults through TCAT Reconnect Grants;
Created Tennessee Reconnect + Complete to help more adults return to college to complete unfinished degrees;
Developed a more comprehensive state approach to serving student veterans; and
Leveraged technology to enhance classroom instruction and college advising.
Tennessee now leads the nation in FAFSA (federal student aid) completion, comprising 40 percent of the nation’s total growth in 2015, and the size of the state’s freshman class in higher education grew by 10 percent in just one year.

A woman five months pregnant has been arrested by Smithville Police on drug charges including endangering a viable fetus
29 year old Amanda Faye Mooneyham is among three people who were taken into custody Saturday, January 9 by officers who found drugs and paraphernalia at the residence while serving a warrant on one of them in another case.
Smithville Police Chief Mark Collins said Mooneyham is charged with Possession of a Schedule VI drug for resale, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, Criminal Impersonation, and Viable Fetus as a victim.
28 year old Christopher Eugene Layne is charged with Possession with Intent to Sell Methamphetamine and 23 year old Brandon Michael Dearth is facing a charge of Simple Possession of a Schedule II drug.
According to Chief Collins, while police were attempting to serve a warrant on Layne, they found both Mooneyham and Dearth were also at the residence. Upon a search of their persons and vehicles Dearth was found to have a small bag which he claimed contained methamphetamine. Mooneyham had in her possession several baggies of a green leafy substance believed to be marijuana along with scales and several other drug paraphernalia items. When asked Mooneyham admitted to officers that she had smoked pot and did meth earlier in the day.
Bond for Layne is $20,000; $1,500 for Dearth; and $25,000 for Mooneyham. All three will make a court appearance on January 21.
(Source: wjle.com)

The Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC) is inviting Tennesseans to submit nominations for the 2016 Governor’s Environmental Stewardship Awards. The 2016 Awards will mark 30 years of recognizing Tennesseans who have taken outstanding action to protect the state’s diverse environment.
“The continued health of Tennessee’s air, land and water is critical to keeping our communities strong and vibrant places to live,” Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam said. “It is important to recognize the innovative efforts and projects that conserve and protect our natural resources, boosting opportunities for economic benefits and Tennessee’s overall sustainability.”
The Governor’s Environmental Stewardship Awards include ten unique categories: Building Green, Clean Air, Energy and Renewable Resources, Environmental Education and Outreach, Environmental Education and Outreach (school category), Land Use, Materials Management, Natural Heritage, Sustainable Performance, and Lifetime Achievement.
Any individual, business, organization, educational institution, or agency is eligible, provided it is located in Tennessee and the project was completed during the 2015 calendar year. All nominees must have a minimum of three consecutive years of overall environmental compliance with TDEC. Self-nominations are encouraged.
“The environment significantly impacts our daily lives and today’s efforts to ensure our communities remain healthy will affect future generations,” TDEC Environment and Conservation Commissioner Bob Martineau said. “Tennesseans continue to make great strides in protecting our environment and these annual awards are an opportunity to acknowledge the people and organizations that work so hard to increase stewardship efforts across the state.”
A panel of judges representing agricultural, conservation, forestry, environmental, and academic professionals will select award recipients based on criteria including level of project or program completion, innovation, and public education. The deadline for nominations is March 31, 2016. Award recipients will be announced in May 2016.
For more information about each category, judging criteria, and nomination forms, visit TDEC’s website at http://www.tn.gov/environment/topic/sp-gesa-governors-environmental-stew….

 When temperatures plunge across the Volunteer State, insurance claims for frozen pipe water damage are sure to follow. The Tennessee Department of Commerce & Insurance (TDCI) urges the public to act now to reduce the risk of freezing and bursting water pipes.
“You must be proactive to avoid becoming a victim of frozen water pipes,” TDCI Assistant Commissioner for Insurance Michael Humphreys said. “Most insurance companies do not cover frozen pipe damage that is due to negligence, such as failing to maintain an adequate temperature in the house when the ability to do so is there.”
Tennesseans can avoid thousands of dollars in winter home damage by utilizing the following basic precautions.
Before the freeze:
Review your insurance coverage. Check your policy and call your insurance agent or company for clarification on specific coverage.
Know how to shut off your water. Locate your main water shut-off valve. You may want to tag or label it so you do not have to search for it in an emergency.
Check sprinkler or irrigation systems. Make sure you have turned everything off and fully drained the system.
Identify your home’s freezing points. Check your home for pipes in areas that might be prone to freezing, such as crawl spaces, unheated rooms, basements, garages, and exterior walls.
Protect your pipes. Where pipes are exposed to cold, wrap them with insulation or electrical pipe heater (even fabric or newspaper can help).
Prevent pipes from freezing. Allow a small trickle of water to run overnight to keep pipes from freezing. Consider collecting the water for later use. The cost of a short-term trickle is much less costly than a repair of a burst pipe.
Keep your pipes warm. Open cabinet doors to expose pipes to warmer room temperatures to help keep them from freezing
If Your Pipes Freeze:
Shut off the water immediately. Don’t attempt to thaw pipes without first turning off the main shut-off valve.
Thaw pipes with warm air. You can melt the frozen water in the pipe by warming air around it with a hair dryer or space heater. Be sure not to leave          the space heater unattended and avoid the use of kerosene or open flames.
Be careful turning water back on. Once pipes are thawed, slowly turn the water back on and double check for any additional cracks and leaks.
If You Have Damage:
Contact your insurance agent or company as soon as possible. Determine what forms, documents, and data you will need to provide in order to process your claim.
Keep all receipts and damaged property for the adjuster to inspect. If possible, take photos or videos of the damage before making temporary repairs to protect your property from further damage. Don’t make permanent repairs. An insurance company may deny a claim if you make permanent repairs before an adjuster inspects the damage.
Remember, most insurance companies will not pay for damage to an unoccupied house unless you prepared your house for the freeze. If you’re           going to be away from your house and it might freeze, you must use reasonable care to heat the house or shut off the water supply and drain the water from plumbing, heating, and air conditioning systems.
Questions? We can help. Contact the TDCI Consumer Insurance Service Division at 1-800-342-4029 FREE or (615) 741-2218.