News 2012

Former Administrator of Elections Stan Dobson is still the former administrator of elections.  None of the Cannon County Election Commission members made a motion to rescind the actions of July 2nd meeting that would’ve seen him return to the administrator chair.  Chairman Matt Studd informed the Commission of the Tennessee Code Annotated that dealt with notice of public meeting during last nights meeting of the Cannon County Election Commission.  Two days before the July meeting there was an item placed on the agenda for now former Election Commissioner Louise Mayo to address the other members of the Commission.  Ultimately that item led to the dismissal of Dobson from the head position.  Studd felt that the open records laws had been violated because of lack of notice to the public.  However it was pointed out that the former chairman never published an agenda.  Chairman Studd called for a motion to reverse the actions of the Commission’s decision.  No one on the Commission including new members James Hill or Corey Davenport would make the motion so the meeting moved on.  In other actions before the Commission.  The commission set the dates and times for early voting.  Early voting starts October 17th and the office hours for early voting will be Monday through Friday from 9AM to 1 in the afternoon.  Early voting hours will also be open on two various Thursdays from 4 in the afternoon until 7 in the evening.  One of those Thursdays will be November 1st.  Early voting house on Saturdays will be from 9 in the morning to 12:00 noon. The commission also approved the nursing home voting date which is also November 1st starting at 10 in the morning. they then tabled the approval of the absentee counting board and the mission statement.  The meeting adjourned at the Election Office after they locked the ballot boxes
 

Discussion of putting a referendum on the November  ballot for an increase in sales tax is on the agenda for tonight’s Cannon County Commissioners Meeting.  If a motion is made tonight and passed then the item will be voted on during the November 6th election.  Other items on the agenda will be to discuss the partnership of county corrections and the county, approve budget amendments for the Sheriff’s Department, talk with homeland security director Faye Morse and discuss keeping the commission meetings at once a month.  The Commission will also discuss lessening the distance requirement between a beer store and a church.  The Beer Board will meet at 5:00 to consider a request of the Short Mountain Market to sell beer even though there is a church within the required distance that would keep them from selling beer.  The Commissioners meeting will begin at 6:00.  Both meetings will take place at the Cannon County Courthouse

The Cannon County Historical Society will meet tonight at the Cannon Senior Center.  The Featured Speaker will be Audrey Rogers Cawthorn. She will be talking about the Hollow Springs Community of Cannon County which will include Gilley Hill, Bradyville and adjoining Coffee County.  She will talk about the Hollow Springs Churches, Country stores and the Hollow Springs Basketball team and the Hollow Springs School.  She will be assisted with former classmates and neighbors who will also share stories.  Refreshments will be served at 6:30 tonight followed by the program at 7:00  

If you’re confused about which government records you can see and how to get access to them in Tennessee, a special workshop at MTSU Tuesday, Sept. 11, can make the process clear.Attorney Elisha Hodge, counsel to the Tennessee Office of Open Records Counsel, will speak at 6:30 p.m. in Room 104 of the Bragg Mass Communication Building on campus.
She’ll speak briefly on public records in Tennessee, then open the floor to practical questions about using the law to obtain public information.
The event is free and sponsored by MTSU’s College of Mass Communication and the Middle Tennessee Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists.
It’s open to the public and should be of special interest to area journalists and journalism students, organizers said.
Tennessee law defines public records as “all documents,” in any format, made or received by any government agency in connection with official business. Tennessee’s Public Records Act gives every citizen the right to personally inspect any public record, unless state law specifically restricts or prohibits it.
Hodge served as open-records specialist for the Office of Open Records Counsel for almost two years before she was promoted to her current post in August 2009. She is the primary contact for citizens and local governments who have concerns about access to public records under the Tennessee Public Records Act.
The OORC, which operates under the state comptroller’s office, helps guide citizens to the correct offices and personnel to get the public records they need and works to resolve disputes over access to those records. The office also helps educate the public and local government about Tennessee public-records and open-meetings laws through workshops such as this one.
For more information about the operations of the Office of Open Records Counsel, including a list of frequently asked questions about open records in Tennessee, visit www.comptroller.tn.gov/openrecords.
For more information about the Sept. 11 workshop, contact Sharon Fitzgerald in the MTSU School of Journalism at sharon.fitzgerald@mtsu.edu.

Students planning to attend Tennessee Tech University next fall should apply for scholarships now.More than 550 scholarships are available to TTU students, and the time to apply for the 2013-2014 academic year is now. The scholarship application system is open until December 15.
TTU offers a variety of generous scholarships funded by the university and private donors. In fall 2012, more than a quarter of the freshmen class received nearly 800 academic scholarships worth more than $1.8 million.
After completing one scholarship application in ScholarWeb, TTU’s scholarship database, current and prospective students will be reviewed for all scholarships for which they meet the criteria. Students may search within ScholarWeb to determine their eligibility for different scholarships and see which ones require additional documentation, such as letters of recommendation or essays. Students can enter various academic information, such as major, ACT score and grade point average, to narrow the scholarship search.
The Financial Aid Office at TTU also helps students identify other available financial resources based on an individual’s needs. Basic information about the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA, grants, loans, work study programs and non-TTU funded scholarships, such as the Hope Scholarship, is available at www.tntech.edu/financialaid/home.
Prospective students, including incoming freshmen and transfer students, do not have to be admitted to TTU to apply for scholarships for 2013-2014. They can apply for admission to TTU and immediately apply for scholarships. Current TTU students are encouraged to apply for scholarships each year, as new or different opportunities may become available.
The scholarship application must be completed and submitted online by 11:59 p.m. December 15, 2012.
For more information or to apply for 2013-2014 scholarships, visit www.tntech.edu/scholarships/home/

The Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation is joining the Tennessee Department of Health to encourage Tennesseans and private water well owners in the state to observe Protect Your Groundwater Day on September 11.  Sponsored by the National Ground Water Association, in partnership with a variety of federal, state and local partners, Protect Your Groundwater Day highlights the importance of the state’s underground water resources.  It also is designed to raise awareness among private water well owners on the importance of yearly testing and proper well maintenance to prevent illness. 
“Protect Your Groundwater Day is a great time to reinforce the importance of good ground water quality,” said Environment and Conservation Commissioner Bob Martineau.  “In addition to private water wells, a large percentage of public systems in the state rely on ground water for its drinking water supply.  There are a number of steps Tennesseans can take to preserve and protect ground water for human and environmental needs.”  
Tennessee contains beautiful streams, rivers and lakes, and protecting the state’s unseen groundwater system also is important. Regional aquifers are large bodies of hidden underground water and supply a substantial amount of the state’s public and private drinking water.  
Tennesseans can do their part in promoting good stewardship of the state’s ground water by properly maintaining their home septic systems and any abandoned wells they own and through proper storage and the appropriate disposal of pharmaceuticals and personal care products or hazardous household waste, including common products such as gasoline, oil, paints, fertilizers, pesticides and cleaning products.  For a schedule of TDEC’s upcoming Household Hazardous Waste Collection events slated for this fall, please visit www.tn.gov/environment/swm/pdf/hazcoll.pdf.    
The safety requirements for public drinking water systems do not apply to private wells, so it is the responsibility of private water well owners to ensure their water is safe from contaminants.  For more information on the readily available resources for well owners and drillers, please visit TDEC’s Division of Water Resources at www.tn.gov/environment/dws.  The website contains several program links, including the list of Licensed Tennessee Well Drillers and Installers and the Tennessee Healthy Well Manual.   
According to the Department of Health, at least three outbreaks of waterborne illness related to the consumption of water from a private well or spring have been investigated in Tennessee since 2007.  These outbreaks resulted in 16 persons becoming ill. Recommendations to well owners include testing private water supplies annually for bacteria and chemical contaminants. In some areas where karst or limestone geology predominates, filtration through the earth is not effective; continuous purifying treatment such as home filtration, distillers or chlorinating systems are often necessary for drinking water to be reliably free of contamination.

The Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development is now accepting applications for Tennessee Downtowns, a competitive community improvement program for communities seeking to revitalize traditional commercial districts. The program is open to communities with downtown commercial districts established at least 50 years ago and whose citizens are ready to organize efforts for downtown revitalization. Applications are available online at www.tennesseemainstreet.org and must be completed by Thursday, Nov. 1.“A healthy downtown historic district is a sign of a vibrant local economy,” ECD Commissioner Bill Hagerty said.  “Making our downtowns even better places to live and work can pay dividends in terms of attracting new jobs and investment.”
Tennessee Downtowns is a tiered program affiliated with ECD’s Tennessee Main Street Program. Communities selected to participate in Tennessee Downtowns will form a volunteer committee of local citizens who will participate in an 18-month training curriculum supported by the National Main Street Center.  The curriculum is based on the successful “Main Street Four-Point Approach to Downtown Revitalizationtm” program and is designed to teach citizens about comprehensive, sustainable downtown revitalization and historic preservation. The training includes attendance at all regional workshops and a $15,000 grant to complete individualized downtown development projects. 
“The Tennessee Downtowns program launched in 2009 and has been an incredible asset to our rural communities,” Dan Hawk, ECD Rural Development director, said.  “This will be our third round of Tennessee Downtowns communities, and we hope the program will continue to be a vital asset to rural communities across the state.”
Communities participating in the Tennessee Downtowns program may wish to continue a self-initiated downtown revitalization effort at the end of the program or apply for certification in the Tennessee Main Street Program through the competitive application process. Successful completion of the Tennessee Downtowns program does not automatically result in qualification for the Main Street program.
Downtown revitalization is a comprehensive, incremental, self-help economic strategy that also focuses on developing public-private partnerships to enhance community livability and job creation, while maintaining the historic character of the district.
Tennessee’s Main Street program provides communities with technical assistance and guidance in developing long-term strategies that promote economic growth and development. The program provides information and assistance in forging public networking and training opportunities for downtown commercial districts. Tennessee Main Street communities are part of the National Main Street Center’s network.
To apply for the Tennessee Downtowns program or for more information, visit www.tennesseemainstreet.org. For questions about the program, please contact Amy New, 615.253.1948 or Amy.New@tn.gov.

On September 11, 2001, a bright autumn day was darkened by the worst attack on the American people in our history. Thousands of innocent men, women, and children perished when mighty towers collapsed in the heart of New York City and wreckage burned in Pennsylvania and at the Pentagon. They were family and friends, service members and first responders — and the tragedy of their loss left pain that will never fade and scars our country will never forget. More than a decade later, the world we live in is forever changed. But as we mark the anniversary of September 11, we remember what remains the same: our character as a Nation, our faith in one another, and our legacy as a country strengthened by service and selflessness. In the spirit that moved rescue workers and firefighters to charge into darkness and danger that September morning, we see the same sense of moral responsibility that drove countless Americans to give of themselves in the months that followed. We offered our neighbors a hand and lined up to give blood. Many helped our Nation rebuild and recover long after the dust had settled, donating and volunteering and helping survivors who had borne so much. We were united, and the outpouring of generosity reminded us that, through challenges that have spanned from acts of terrorism to natural disasters, we go forward together as one people.
Today, as we remember the victims, their families, and the heroes who stood up during one of our country’s darkest moments, I invite all Americans to reclaim that abiding spirit of compassion by serving their communities in the days and weeks ahead. From volunteering with a faith-based organization, to collecting food and clothing for those in need, to preparing care packages for our men and women in uniform, there are many ways to bring service into our everyday lives — and each of us can do something. To get involved and find a local service opportunity, visit www.Serve.gov, or www.Servir.gov for Spanish speakers.
Even the simplest act of kindness can be a way to honor those we have lost, and to help build stronger communities and a more resilient Nation. By joining together on this solemn anniversary, let us show that America’s sense of common purpose need not be a fleeting moment, but a lasting virtue — not just on one day, but every day.
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By a joint resolution approved December 18, 2001 (Public Law 107-89), the Congress has designated September 11 of each year as “Patriot Day,” and by Public Law 111-13, approved April 21, 2009, the Congress has requested the observance of September 11 as an annually recognized “National Day of Service and Remembrance.”
NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of America, do hereby proclaim September 11, 2012, as Patriot Day and National Day of Service and Remembrance. I call upon all departments, agencies, and instrumentalities of the United States to display the flag of the United States at half-staff on Patriot Day and National Day of Service and Remembrance in honor of the individuals who lost their lives on September 11, 2001. I invite the Governors of the United States and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico and interested organizations and individuals to join in this observance. I call upon the people of the United States to participate in community service in honor of those our Nation lost, to observe this day with appropriate ceremonies and activities, including remembrance services, and to observe a moment of silence beginning at 8:46 a.m. Eastern Daylight Time to honor the innocent victims who perished as a result of the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this
tenth day of September, in the year of our Lord two thousand twelve, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-seventh.

“Congratulations! You are our $100 million sweepstakes winner!” Sound familiar? Scams like this circulate daily. Their goal is to get your money or personal information. Whether you receive notification via telephone, e-mail or direct mail telling you that you have won foreign lotteries from Canada or from as far away as Europe, you are asked to reply with personal information in order to receive the winnings. Scammers take that information and you never get the lottery money – which never existed. These scammers also might tell you that you have to pay to cover taxes and service charges, asking you to wire money in order to receive your prize. 
If you receive a notification that you have won a lottery, remember that:
 
• If you didn’t enter the contest or lottery, it’s most likely a scam.
• Legitimate sweepstakes don’t require you to pay or buy anything to improve your chances of winning, or require you to pay “taxes” or “shipping and handling charges” to get your prize. If you have to pay for your prize, ignore the notification.
• Sponsors of legitimate contests identify themselves prominently.  
• It’s highly unlikely that you’ve won a big prize if your notification was mailed by bulk rate. Check the postmark on the envelope or postcard.
• Disreputable companies sometimes use a variation of an official or nationally recognized name to try to win your confidence in their offers.
• Signing up for a sweepstakes at a public location or event, through a publication or online, might subject you to unscrupulous prize promotion tactics. You also run the risk of your personal information being sold or shared with other marketers.
• Some contest promoters use a toll-free, “800” number that directs you to dial a pay-per-call “900” number. Charges for calls to “900” numbers may be very high.

The Cannon County Courthouse is expected to be packed tonight for a possible controversial meeting of the Cannon County Election Commission.  Two weeks ago, the Commission met and selected Mark Studd
as chairman filling the spot vacated by Lindberg Dennis.  Immediately Chairman Studd scheduled on the
agenda for tonight’s meeting  that was handed to current Cannon County Administrator of Elections Dorinda Mankin at the end of August, an item for the Commission to readdress actions taken during the July 2nd meeting concerning the Administrator of Elections position.  In that particular meeting former Cannon County Administrator of Election Stan Dobson was fired following a three to two vote.  Dobson is expected to be in the meeting and will speak to the commission.  Other items of note on the agenda will be for the Commission to review and call for a referendum that goes on the Woodbury City ballot for retail package stores to sell alcoholic beverages and approve poll workers and classifications, absentee counting board, and early voting dates and times.  A complete agenda can be found dated in our news section on August 30th on our website at wbry.com.  The meeting starts tonight at 5:30