News 2011

An estimated 5100 state jobs are in jeopardy under planned federal funding cuts to Tennessee.  The state Department of Finance and Administration
yesterday announced a 30 percent reduction in federal funding would  mean
four point five billion dollars in budget cuts.  The sharpest reductions
would be shouldered by TennCare, unemployment offices, local health
departments and services for people with intellectual disabilities.  Food
stamp benefits could also be reduced by as much as 578 million dollars.

The next Yes I Can Diabetes Self Management Workshop series,supervised by the MTSU’s Center for Health and Human Services will begin Wednesday
September 7th at the Primary Care and Hope Clinic located at 1453A Hope
Way in Murfreesboro.
The weekly workshops will be conducted from 9 to 11:30 in the morning each
Wednesday through October 12th.
“Yes I Can” is a free six session workshop series to help diabetics and
people with pre-diabetes symptoms improve their quality of life with
techniques and strategies to help manage the disease.  Focal points
include healthy eating, exercise, medications, preventing complications,
medications communication skills and more.
The sessions are limited to 20 people each.  Participants must be 18 or
older, and a doctor’s referral is not required to attend.
For more information or to register contact Jill Thomas at 615-494-8685.
 

A Cannon County woman has been charged with aggravated domestic assault after allegedly attacking a man with a knife.  According to police
reports, Julie Chambless of Hollow Springs Road went to Mr. Kenny Gooch’s
residence allegedly armed with a knife.  Ms Chambless was told to leave
but entered the residence and began fighting with Mr. Gooch.  Mr. Gooch as
a result of the fight recieved several cuts.  Cannon County Sheriff’s
Deputy Eric Moss was the arresting officer in the case.  Ms Chambless is
due to answer the charges on Tuesday November 1st

A reminder, don’t forget tonight is the spaghetti supper and Cultural Arts Display at the Cannon County Senior Center.  The event starts at 4:30 and
goes until 7:30 p.m.  Adult meals are $6.00 and children 3-12 years old
are $4.  Under 3 will eat free.  Takeout is available.
Proceeds from the event provide programs in Cannon County sponsored by the
Cannon County Family and Community Education club.  You may purchase
tickets from a member or you may make reservations by calling the UT
Extension office at 563-2554
 

After seeing the numbers and how they were effected following a 7.2 percent cut across the board in every county department, commissioner
Kevin Mooneyham pulled back his suggestion that he made at the County
Commission meeting last Tuesday.  Mooneyham at the end of the County
Commission meeting suggested that the Budget Committee needed to come up
with figures to balance the budget if there was not an increase in the
property tax rate to fund the budget.  At the request of County Executive
Mike Gannon, James Starnes, a full time auditor was brought in to look at
the numbers and as a result came up with the 7.2 percent cut.  After
Commissioner Mooneyham saw the numbers and heard testimonials about how
each department would be effected, he quickly suggested that the Committee
look at other ways to fund the budget.
When it came down to it the Committee agreed on a 12 cent property tax
increase.  Committee members Kevin George, Mark Barker, Clint Higgins and
Bill Jennings voted for the recommendation.  Committee member James Adkins
voted against it wanting the record to state he would have voted for a
bigger increase.  The increase will fund the appropriations in the amounts
as they were recommended during the last two Cannon County Commissioners
meetings.  If passed by the Cannon County Commissioners the property tax
would go from the current $2.32 to $2.44 per $100 of assessed property.
The recommendation will go before the Cannon County Commissioners in a
special called meeting tentatively scheduled for Thursday September 15th.

Ship Representatives from the Upper Cumberland Agency on Aging and Disability will be at the Cannon County Senior Center from 10A to noon
tomorrow to help counsel any Medicare questions or concerns.  Please
contact SHIP for an appointment at 1-877-801-0044 or contact the Cannon
Count Senior Center for more information.  SHIP is administered locally at
the Upper Cumberland Development District and covers all 14 Upper
Cumberland Counties

The General Session Court Docket today is a busy one.  Last Tuesday, the court session lasted until a little after 6:00, today’s court proceedings
is expected to last just as long.  59 people are schedule on the docket
with a total of 104 charges.  Some of the defendants with multiple charges
include.  Harry W, Brandon on charges of simple possession of schedule II
drugs (2 counts), possession of drug paraphenalia, and reckless
endangerment.  Regina Farless 5 counts of violation of probation and 1
count of worthless check.  Elisha Jenkins, 2 counts of violation of
probation, insurance law, misuse of registration, reckless driving, felony
evading arrest, and litering.  Marlin Christopher Prater, violation of
probation 4 counts, conspiracy to introduce contraband and possession of
legend drug.  Jeremy Lynn Tennpenny three counts of violation of
probation, suspended license, felony evading arrest and reckless
endangerment and failure to appear

The County Commissioners last Tuesday agreed to have all county departments trim cut and slice even more from their recommended budget
allotments in their recent turndown of the County Budget and the funding
of the budget recommendations of the Cannon County Budget Committee.
Tonight Committee members Kevin George, Clint Higgins, James Adkins, Bill
Jennings and chairman Mark Barker will meet for the 15th time during the
process and look into those cuts.  The meeting will start at 6:00 at the
Cannon County Courthouse in Woodbury.

The Unemployment Rate showed a slight decrease from June to July as the Tennessee Labor and Workforce Development released the July unemployment
rate last week.  Overall the State of Tennessee had a 9.8 percent
unemployment rate which stayed the same from the June rate.  The
unemployment rate showed a decrease in Cannon and 89 other counties in the
state while five counties showed an increase including Overton and Smith
County.
Cannon’s unemployment rate for July is 9.3 percent down from 10.2 percent
in June.  Of 6,770 people in the work force, 6,140 are employed while 630
are unemployed.  Neighboring counties show a decrease as well Rutherford
County is at 8.5 percent, while Wilson County is at 7.9 percent.  Coffee
County had a slight decrease to 10 percent.
Warren County’s July unemployment rate is 11.4 percent and Dekalb is at
9.7 percent. Lincoln County continues to provide the state’s lowest
unemployment rate at 9.8 percent, while Scott County remains Tennessee’s
highest unemployment rate at 19.8 percent.

Those that are seeking employment can benefit from the Career Coach.  The mobile job assistance unit will be at the back parking lot of the Adams
Memorial Library on Thursday September 8th from 10A-4P.  Staff members of
the coach are ready to help job seekers develop or improve resumes,
sharpen interview skills and find jobs.  There is no charge for the
service and no signups are required.  The Career Coach made it’s first
appearance in Cannon County in the Spring.