News 2011

Officials in conjunction with MTV’s three time award winning series Made will be at the Cannon County High School today hosting an open casting
call.  The show is based on finding kids who have unlimited potential but
may not realize their full potential due to intimidating obstacles from
shyness lack of self confidence or just plain fear itself.  Once the cast
is found, they undergo intensive training towards achieving their goals.
A mentor or life coach will support them and map out personalized training
schedules geared helping the young people learn valuable traits and
lessons.  The casting call usually lasts about 2 to 3 hours and after the
process the crew will review all interviews in the New York offices.  If a
student is picked, the parents and school would be notified and a meeting
between all three would be held with the crew.  The casting call starts
today at 3:00

Capella Healthcare and Saint Thomas Health have signed a Letter of Intent (LOI) to create an innovative venture that will improve healthcare throughout Middle Tennessee and Southern Kentucky, officials announced today. Based in Nashville, Saint Thomas Health includes five hospitals affiliated with Ascension Health Ministry, the largest Catholic system and the largest non-profit in the United States. Capella Healthcare, based in Franklin, operates 15 hospitals in seven states, including five in Tennessee. The pending partnership will result in the joint ownership and operation of Capella’s four Middle Tennessee hospitals and potentially additional healthcare facilities in a 60-county area of Middle Tennessee and Southern Kentucky.
Capella hospitals included in the joint venture are River Park Hospital in McMinnville, White County Community Hospital in Sparta, DeKalb Community Hospital in Smithville and Stones River Hospital in Woodbury, all in Tennessee. These hospitals will operate as part of the Saint Thomas Health Network, which will hold an equity interest. In addition, Saint Thomas Health will become the tertiary care partner for the hospitals within the new venture.
“This is a landmark partnership for us and the communities we serve,” said Mike Schatzlein, M.D. Saint Thomas Health president and chief executive officer. “We are partnering with Capella Healthcare and the outstanding physicians in the communities of their Middle Tennessee hospitals to expand and enhance services in the communities they serve. We look forward to providing support for the expansion of cardiac, neurosciences and other specialty services, as well as collaborate on strategies for the use of innovative technology and clinical integration.”
Capella will be the managing member and the majority partner in the new venture, and under the agreement, Capella will be the exclusive development partner for Saint Thomas Health across Middle Tennessee and Southern Kentucky.
Capella Healthcare CEO Dan Slipkovich stated, “Partnering with Saint Thomas Health, which is nationally recognized for its quality of care and innovative strategy, positions our Middle Tennessee hospitals for greater success as we seek to further expand services. This venture also provides a significant opportunity for Capella and Saint Thomas Health to jointly partner with additional hospitals that recognize the value of these kinds of partnerships, especially as accountable care and health reform continue to evolve. Our two organizations share a commitment to providing the highest quality of care for the individuals and communities we serve, and look forward to leveraging our strengths to expand our services.”
The LOI was formally signed today by Dr. Schatzlein and Slipkovich at the Saint Thomas Health Network Service Center. Officials expect the new partnership to begin operations on or before March 1, 2012, subject to customary closing conditions, including due diligence, further negotiations and execution of definitive agreements.

The TN Dept. of Labor Career Coach is coming to Woodbury Head Start on Friday, December 9 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
The Tennessee Career Coach is a mobile job assistance center.  At no cost
to you the coach will connect you with jobs.
Computers with Internet Access (basic instruction provided)
Resume Writing (bring one to revise or start from scratch)
Find Jobs in your area (search our jobs and on the internet)
Employer Recruiting (let us do your recruiting at no charge)
 For additional information visit www.getonthecoach.tn.gov

The United Way of Rutherford and Cannon Counties’ Women’s Initiative Council will host an informational social on December 8, 2011, from 6pm –
8 pm at Readyville Mill, located at 5418 Murfreesboro Road in Readyville,
TN.
The purpose of the Women’s Initiative Council is to further engage women
in the community to give, advocate, and volunteer with United Way. The
council is currently seeking to expand its membership within Cannon
County. The council has been actively involved with the Cannon County SAVE
program, including collecting needed items for the agency and also
providing domestic violence victims with bags of healthy meals for the
holidays. The council will also be hosting a reading rally in March 2012
for the Cannon County community.
Those planning to attend the informational social should RSVP to United
Way at Meagan.Flippin@uwrutherford.org or (615) 893-7303. There is no cost
to attend.

November was National Parent Involvement Month and has been designated for celebrating the important role parents play in their children’s education. According to the National Family, School, and Community Engagement Working Group (2009), “Engagement among families, schools, and the community is a shared responsibility. It reflects the many ways in which families, community organizations, and the schools engage with and support one another to ensure that every child is academically successful. It is continuous throughout a child’s life and happens everywhere children learn: at home, in school, and in the community.”  
Research conducted in this field has consistently found that families have a major influence on their child’s academic, social, and emotional development. Children profit when schools, families, and the community work together. They have better social skills, show improved behavior, and are more involved in school and community activities. Also, student achievement increases. Ultimately, a larger percentage of students graduate from high school and enroll in postsecondary education.
Dr. Joyce Epstein of the Johns Hopkins University has defined six ways families can be involved in their child’s education. These principles are the foundation for Tennessee’s Parent and Family Involvement Policy and are reflected in Cannon County’s Family and Community Engagement Plan. These standards aim to promote participation, raise awareness, and improve student achievement through increased parent involvement.
• Standard 1: Welcoming all families into the school community – Families are active participants in the life of the school, and feel welcomed, valued, and connected to each other, to school staff, and to what students are learning and doing in class and school.
• Standard 2: Communicating effectively — Families and school staff engage in regular, meaningful communication about student learning.
• Standard 3: Supporting student success — Families and school staff continuously work together to support students’ learning and healthy development both at home and at school, and have regular opportunities to strengthen their knowledge and skills to do so effectively.
• Standard 4: Speaking up for every child — Families are informed and enabled to be advocates for their own and other children, to ensure that students are treated fairly and have access to learning opportunities that will support their success.
• Standard 5: Sharing power — Families and school staff are equal partners with equal representation in decisions that affect students and families. Together, they inform, influence, and create policies, practices, and programs.
• Standard 6: Collaborating with community — Families and school staff work together with community members to connect students, families, and staff to expanded learning opportunities, community services, and civic participation
By understanding and applying these standards, the Cannon County School System organized its Parent Academy in 2010.  The purpose of the Parent Academy is to build a collaborative partnership based upon open communication and networking.  The membership is composed of two representatives from each school in the district.  Members meet monthly to discuss the programs and initiatives of the Cannon County School System.  Pictured below are members attending the November 18, 2011 Parent Academy Meeting. The Cannon County School System would like to express its appreciation to the members of the Parent Academy for their support of our school system.

Tonight the Cannon County High will host its 2nd financial aid night of the 2011-2012 school year from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. in the CCHS
cafeteria.
While much of the meeting will be geared toward seniors and their
parents, freshmen, sophomores, juniors and their parents are invited as
well.
Joe Myers, Director of Financial Aid at Motlow College and Melissa
Weatherford, Motlow College’s Scholarship/Work Study Coordinator, will be
on hand to discuss financial aid in general and financial aid issues
connected to Motlow College.
In addition,  Eric Farmer with the Tennessee
Student Assistance Corporation (Hope/Lottery Scholarship).
will be to on hand to discuss financial aid in general, and more
specifically,
the importance of timely filing of the FAFSA and issues surrounding the
Lottery Scholarship.
Other special guests include Chris Ayers, Coordinator of Student
Services/Financial Aid at the Tennessee Technology Center in Murfreesboro,
Staff Sergeant Dallas Mason of the United States Marine Corp., and Jamie
Ensley, Admissions Representative at Cumberland University.
For more information, please contact the CCHS Guidance Department today at
563-2144.

The annual Cannon County Cancer Tournament starts today at the Woodbury Grammar School.  The schedule of the midseason tournament gets underway at
4:15 this afternoon in the girls bracket as number 4 seed Woodland Lady
Warriors take on the 5th Seed Short Mountain Lady Bears.  Number 3 seed
Woodbury Lady Cubs will play the 6th seed Auburntown Lady Knights.,  In
the boys division.  The Woodbury Cubs will play the Eastside Tigers this
afternoon at 5:30 and the number 3 seed Auburntown will play the 6th seed
Short Mountain.  The Semifinals of the tournament are Thursday with the
Championship and consolation games on Saturday

American Red Cross officials are urging the public to think outside the box this holiday season. Tim Ryerson CEO of the Tennessee Valley Blood
Services Region says it’s the season of giving and theres one gift that
won’t cost a penny but means the world to a patient in need. Donating
blood can give someone an opportunity to spend another holiday with their
loved ones.
All blood types are needed to help maintain a sufficient blood supply,
especially type O negative. Type O negative blood, the universal blood
type, is always in high demand because it can be transfused to patients
with any blood type, especially in emergency situations.
Although the next Heart Of Tennessee Chapter of the American Red Cross
Blood Drive will take place here in Cannon County after the holidays there
are plenty of opportunities to donate in Murfreesboro and Smyrna during
the month of December.

The Christmas Spirit is alive in Woodbury today as a number of events are planned throughout the day. Saturday starts off with the Woodbury Lions Club Pancake Breakfast from 7A-10A.  All you can eat pancakes and sausage for $6.  Santa will be on hand for photo opportunities from 8A-10A.  The breakfast takes place at the Woodbury Lions Club building.  
The annual Woodbury Lions Club Christmas Parade will start at noon.  WBRY AM 1540/FM96.7 will broadcast the parade live from downtown Woodbury today at 12 noon
The annual Woodbury Lions Club Tour of Homes is set for Saturday, Dec. 3 from 4 until 8 p.m.Tickets at $5 each are available from Lions Club members or may be picked up a the Lions Memorial Building the day of the event.The complete list of the Tour can be found in the community calendar section of wbry.com
Free giveaway Saturday is today from 9A till 11A at the Cannon County Community Center 630 Lehman Street in Woodbury.  The event is hosted by the Cannon County Girl Scout Troop 1407 and 323.  Available items include Men women and children’s clothes, household items, toys and more  There is no cost for these items as everything is free
 

The Cannon County Basketball Teams are glad that the trip to Baxter is over as both the Lions and Lionettes were stung with big losses.  In the girls game, the Lionettes struggled from the field as the Lady Bees built a comfortable lead.  The Lady Bees placed 3 in double figures in their 50-36 win over the Cannon County Lionettes.  Abbey Sissom led the Lionettes with 10 points.  The Upperman Boys team hit everything they threw toward the basket including 7 3 pointers as Upperman handed the Lions their worst defeat in several years 84 to 33.  5 Bee players scored double figures.  Jarrett Melton led the Lions with 8 points.  Cannon’s record slips to 2-4 while the Lionettes are 6-1.  Next up on the schedule the Lions and Lionettes entertain Central Magnet School in Woodbury on Tuesday at 6:00.