2018

With elder abuse being an ever-increasing problem, Tennessee Governor Bill Haslam has proclaimed June 15, 2018 as Elder Abuse Awareness Day in Tennessee. In honor of this day, the Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance’s (TDCI) Securities and Consumer Affairs divisions offer tips to help seniors avoid falling victim to identity theft and financial abuse.World Elder Abuse Awareness Day was created by the International Network for the Prevention of Elder Abuse and the World Health Organization of the United Nations in 2006 to bring awareness to the abuse, neglect, and exploitation of seniors. TDCI advocates for consumer protection such as the passage in 2017 of SBO511/HB1050 which revises the Anti-Phishing Act of 2006 by making it a Class A misdemeanor to send inaccurate or misleading caller ID information with the intent to defraud, harm or steal. Under the legislation, the Attorney General may seek a court order and recover a penalty of up to $10,000 per violation.
“Older adults are often victims of financial fraud and identity theft because they are vulnerable to scammers,” said TDCI Commissioner Julie Mix McPeak. “This vulnerability stems from the wealth they have accumulated over their careers, their tendency to be trusting, and their increasing isolation from family, friends, and caregivers. It is our responsibility as Tennesseans to keep a watchful eye out for signs of elder financial exploitation and promptly reporting any suspicions to the appropriate party.”
TDCI offers the following tips to help residents of the Volunteer State recognize and avoid financial exploitation and fraud:Senior Investor Tips

If a stranger asks for money, proceed with caution. Swindlers can take advantage of your good manners.

Make sure you invest with a licensed investment adviser. You can ensure a broker is licensed here.

Beware of salespeople who prey upon your fears. Fear can blind your good judgement. Only invest when you have all the facts and feel comfortable.

Don’t be embarrassed to report fraud or abuse. Every day you delay reporting fraud or abuse is another day the scammer is spending your money and finding new victims.
Identity Theft Prevention Tips

Never buy from a stranger who calls or visits unannounced.

Shred all paperwork containing any identifying information, healthcare information, banking information, or passwords.

Monitor bank and credit card statements.

Monitor your credit report.

Use direct deposit for benefit checks to prevent checks from being stolen.

Never give your credit card, banking, Social Security number, Medicare number, or other personal information over the phone, unless you initiated the call.
If you suspect that you might be a victim of securities or insurance fraud, or if you would like to file a complaint or speak with an investigator, please contact the Tennessee Securities Division – Financial Services Investigations Unit at (615) 741-5900 or visit ther website. Other types of elder abuse involving abuse, neglect or exploitation should be reported to the Tennessee Department of Human Services, Adult Protective Services Unit by phone at (888) 277-8366 or by visiting https://reportadultabuse.dhs.tn.gov/.
For more consumer tips, including additional resources on identity theft and other scams, visit the TDCI Consumer Affairs Division at www.tn.gov/consumer.

“The Child Advocacy Center set an ambitious goal to train 5% of the adult population in Rutherford and Cannon Counties how to protect children from child sexual abuse utilizing the Darkness to Light Curriculum,” said Child Advocacy Center director Sharon De Boer. Darkness to Light is a program that Child Advocacy Centers in Rutherford County, Cannon County, and across the nation utilize with the mission to prevent sexual abuse.

“The evidence based Darkness to Light training centers on teaching adults how to prevent, recognize, and respond to child sexual abuse in a responsible and appropriate manner.  By learning the 5 Steps to Preventing Child Sexual Abuse, community members will be prepared if they encounter an at risk child in our community,” said Community Education Coordinator Zach Sanders.

These five new trainers join a group of 29 authorized facilitators in Rutherford and Cannon Counties certified to teach the Darkness to Light curriculum.  National statistics state that 1 in 10 children will be sexually abused before their 18th birthday.  These 5 new trainers will work to educate the community to break this cycle of abuse, will you join them?
Dawana Guice:
Dawana Guice is a graduate of MTSU with a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology.  She is a former employee of the Department of Children’s Services, and is currently employed as the Drug Endangered Children Coordinator for the Child Advocacy Center.
Venessa Hyer:
Venessa Hyer is a graduate of MTSU with a Bachelor’s degree in Social Work.   As a Department of Children’s Services employee Hyer has spent five years working in Child Protective Services, and is a certified mentor with the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation training.
Brandie Justice:
Brandie Justice is a 13 veteran of the Department of Children’s Services with a degree in Social Work that she earned at Austin Peay State University.  Working as one of the department’s Team Leads, Justice is very passionate about ensuring the safety of children she serves.
Samantha Keeling:
Samantha Keeling works at Department of Children’s Services and The Next Door, and will be an adjunct professor in the coming months.  She holds undergraduate degrees in Sociology and Anthropology from Fisk University, a Master’s degree in Marriage and Family Therapy, and two years of doctoral work at Trevecca Nazarene University.
Hope Phelps:
Hope Phelps is an employee at the Department of Children’s Services with experience working in sexual assault, counseling at-risk teens, foster care, and volunteer supervision working with those experiencing homelessness.

“The Child Advocacy Center has been on the front lines with the Child Protective Investigative Team responding to child abuse and child sexual abuse cases for the last 18 years.  Darkness to Light is our hope that we can prevent child sexual abuse from happening.  We are excited that the new authorized Darkness to Light facilitators are available to train community groups.  Each of them brings a wealth of experience working with child sexual abuse victims and their families,” concluded De Boer.

Please contact Zach Sanders at the Child Advocacy Center to bring the Darkness to Light child sexual abuse prevention training to your church, school, business, non-profit agency, sports league, civic group, or other organization.  Sanders may be contacted at the Child Advocacy Center at 615-867-9000 or zsanders@cacrutherford.org.

Education Commissioner Candice McQueen has announced that 88 school districts and one postsecondary institution in Tennessee have received a total of $2.2 million through the Perkins Reserve Consolidated Grant. This new grant application for the 2018-19 school year combines funding streams from the Perkins Reserve Grant, the department’s New Skills for Youth (NSFY) grant, and the Experienced Professionals in the Classroom (EPIC) project to support the implementation of high-quality career pathways for Tennessee students. For the first time, districts could complete one application to be considered for these multiple grant opportunities.Cannon County is included in the program for Industry Certifications.  Coffee, DeKalb, Rutherford and Warren Counties are also recipients.
The Perkins Reserve Grant had five focus areas that each receives funding, including one focus area only available to community colleges that are members of the Tennessee Board of Regents. Additional funds associated with this grant will continue to provide current industry equipment to support new CTE programs in advanced manufacturing, health science, and agriculture. Furthermore, nearly $900,000 will support students earning industry-recognized certifications. The remaining funds were awarded to districts across the focus areas of:
·        work-based learning,
·        equipment to support career and technical education programs of study,
·        instructor licensure or testing site accreditation to support student capstone industry certifications,
·        exam fee assistance for student capstone industry certifications, and
·        development of an associate degree occupational educator preparation program at a community college (through the department’s EPIC project).
An initiative of J.P. Morgan Chase, the NSFY grant focuses on increasing the number of students who are prepared for careers in high-demand, high-wage jobs in their communities and across the state. The department awarded NSFY grants to districts to create or expand structural alignment between school districts, postsecondary partners, and employers that reduces the barriers for students earning a credential and preparing for careers. The NSFY grants focused on the following three priorities and awarded nearly half a million dollars across six districts:
·        college and career advisement for all students,
·        early college and career preparation opportunities for all students, and
·        postsecondary and industry partnerships with K-12.
Through the EPIC project, the department will assist Motlow State Community College in the development of a degree-granting occupational educator preparation program. This program will create new, reduced cost options for individuals interested in becoming Career and Technical Education (CTE) educators. Additionally, because the program would be degree-granting, this opportunity will allow prospective CTE educators without an associate or bachelor’s degree to apply for a Tennessee Reconnect grant to receive financial assistance and advising. Ultimately, with more high-quality CTE educators, more Tennessee students will be prepared for both college and career.
Complete information about all grant opportunities can be found in the Perkins Reserve Consolidated Grant announcement. A full list of award recipients can be found here. For more information about the Perkins Reserve Consolidated Grant, contact Bobby Sanborn, executive director of finance and reporting, at Bobby.Sanborn@tn.gov. For media inquiries, contact Sara Gast, director of communications, at (615) 532-6260 or Sara.Gast@tn.gov.

Cannon County Board of Education has announced the agenda for their next regular meeting this Thursday (June 14th).
New Head Football Coach will discuss the Touchdown Club and the need for a mower for the football field. The board will be asked to approve Josh Lance, and Jim Parker as non-faculty football coaches

Bonnie Patterson will address the Board concerning updated attendance policies and procedures to meet new state guidelines that become effective on July 1st.

To meet Fire Marshal requirements, the board is expected to approve scope of work to add new door hardware for West Side, Woodbury Grammar and Eastside schools. The installation of a security fence for Eastside is up for consideration.

Approve bids will be presented for consideration including the mowing bid, bus bid subject to approval of a budget amendment by the county commission.

And the budget for the next fiscal year is still on the agenda.  The board is expected to set a special called Board meeting to approve budget amendments.

The meeting is scheduled for Thursday evening at 6:30pm in the cafeteria of Woodbury Grammar School.

The nomination period for the 2018 Farm Service Agency (FSA) County Committee Elections is underway. The nomination period continues through August 1, 2018 according to Donny Green DeKalb/Cannon Farm Service Agency County Executive DirectorAccording to Green, “I encourage all producers to participate in the county committee election process by nominating candidates by the August 1 deadline,”. We are counting on as much participation as possible, because county committees are an important link between the farm community and the U.S. Department of Agriculture. We have seen a trend in recent years of increased nominations of minority, beginning farmers, and women producers and we hope that will continue.”
Committees apply their judgment and knowledge to make decisions on county commodity price-support loan eligibility, establishment of allotments and yields, conservation programs, disaster programs, employment and other farm program-related issues. Nationwide, there are more than 7,800 farmers and ranchers serving on FSA county committees. Committees consist of three to five members who are elected by eligible local producers.

To be eligible to serve on an FSA county committee, a person must participate or cooperate in a program administered by FSA, be eligible to vote in a county committee election and reside in the local administrative area in which the person is a candidate.
Nominees must reside in Local Administrative Area (LAA) for which they are seeking to be elected. For the 2018 Election, the DeKalb/Cannon County FSA County Committee Election will conduct elections in LAA-1 (DeKalb County) and LAA-5 (Cannon County). Below is the description of the LAA’s that will be conducting elections this year: Local Administrative Area # 5, the portions of Cannon County described as following:That portion of Cannon County that lies west of Highway 53 (a state highway that runs south from the DeKalb County line and north from the Coffee County Line).
Individuals may nominate themselves, or others, as a candidate. In addition, eligible candidates can be nominated by community-based and other organizations in the county where the election is being held before the close of the nomination period, especially groups representing socially disadvantaged farmers or ranchers.  Nominations and elections are open to all eligible candidates and voters without regard to race, color, religion, nation origin, age, sex, marital status or disability.  The nomination form (FSA-669A) is available at USDA Service Centers and online at: http://www.fsa.usda.gov/elections

Ballots will be mailed to all eligible voters in LAA’s # 1 and # 5 on November 5, 2018. Completed ballots must be returned, either in person or postmarked, no later December 3, 2018. For more information about FSA county committees, visit the DeKalb/Cannon County USDA Service Center or call 615-597-8225, extension 2.

Any joint venture between the Town of Woodbury and Cannon County on the issue of solid waste may have come to an abrupt end during the recent meeting of the Cannon County Commissioners.  After an update on the solid waste subcommittee comprised with members of the Mayor and Board of Alderman and the County Commission, commissioners voted to dissolve the subcommittee.The report from the subcommittee revealed that members decided they could not develop a plan until the County had taken action on the offered grants from the state.
The joint venture idea on dealing with the solid waste issue came from Judge Executive Mike Gannon and Mayor Andy Duggin.
 

In an effort to provide greater flexibility and clarity to Tennessee educators when planning for school safety emergencies, the Tennessee State Fire Marshal’s Office (SFMO) has announced new guidance for classroom safety in addition to the adoption of the National Fire Protection Association 2018 Life Safety Code rules for classroom safety measures.During annual inspections of classrooms, inspectors will no longer issue citations for barricade devices so long as the devices are not attached to a door nor deployed during an inspection. If a device is used for purposes other than security drills or lockdowns, this will be noted as a deficiency. Any alterations to classroom doors must comply with adopted codes.
“Tennessee school administrators and educators now have additional measures to help protect students in the event of an emergency,” said Tennessee Department of Commerce & Insurance Assistant Commissioner Gary Farley. “Classroom safety remains a priority of Commissioner Julie Mix McPeak and our team, and we encourage our partners to create comprehensive safety plans that fit the needs of individual schools.”
Fire safety measures have helped save lives in Tennessee schools. While Tennessee fire departments responded to an estimated annual average of 51 fires in educational facilities from 2013-17, no fire fatalities have been reported at a Tennessee school. The last school fire fatality in the U.S. occurred in 1958.
The SFMO shares this additional school safety information to aid school officials in providing the highest level of safety to students, staff, and visitors.DOORS AND ESCAPE ROUTES
Keep exit path widths open at least 48 inches. Exit doors must be easily recognized and shouldn’t be hidden with paint or decorations. Fire-rated doors cannot be propped open, locked, or chained and must have latches. SFMO inspectors will enforce the provisions of the adopted codes based on their observations during an inspection. If a classroom door or means of egress is obstructed at the time of inspection, the inspector will require the obstruction to be removed immediately. Any alterations to classroom doors must comply with adopted codes. SOURCES OF ELECTRICITY
Extension cords should not be used as permanent wiring so schools should always consider available power sources when planning the classroom configuration. Be sure any power strip is UL-listed as an overload protector, and take care to always use appropriate wattage bulbs in any lamp.FIRE AND SAFETY DRILLS
Fire drills and safety drills are one of the most important safety measures a school can take and are also recommended for homes. Two fire drills are required within the first 30 full school days and at least one once every 30 school days. Practice makes perfect! This will reduce panic and injuries.FIRE ALARMS
Fire alarms are an indispensable tool of fire safety and provide early detection of potential fire and notification to evacuate. While a bad actor may use fire alarms to create confusion, disabling fire alarms, discontinuing fire drills or altering our response to fire alarms in buildings is not a safe solution. It’s important to note that the Code allows for the elimination of manual fire alarm boxes with certain provisions.EXIT SIGNS AND EMERGENCY LIGHTS
Exit and emergency lights must be in good working order at all times. You can assist your school in reporting any non-functioning exit signs or emergency lights, or those in disrepair, to the appropriate school official. Nothing should obstruct visibility of these signs.SPRINKLERS
Items should never hang from, or obscure, any fire sprinkler heads. Fire sprinklers should not show signs of corrosion or leakage; and if they do, it should be reported to the appropriate school authority.FLAMMABLE ARTWORK AND TEACHING MATERIAL
Fire codes limit the amount of wall space that can be covered to 20 percent or 50 percent when the building has fire sprinklers. Fabrics or other flammable materials used as drapes also present fire risks. Such materials may be treated with a spray-on flame retardant. Remember, not all flame retardant applications last forever and must be reapplied periodically.
Questions? Contact the State Fire Marshal’s Office at 615-741-6246 or online at www.tn.gov/fire.
*Note: Not all schools are inspected by the SFMO. Some jurisdictions are overseen by their local fire department. A list of exempt jurisdictions can be found here.