News 2014

The second Young Sportsman Hunt will conclude the 2013-14 deer hunting season in Tennessee. The hunt is scheduled for Jan. 11-12.Youth, 6-16 years of age, may participate. The young sportsmen must be accompanied by a non-hunting adult at least 21 years of age who must remain in a position to take control of the hunting device.
The accompanying adult must comply with fluorescent orange regulations, as specified for legal hunters. Multiple youths may be accompanied by a single qualifying adult.
The first youth hunt of the season was held Oct. 26-27 and the young hunters had a harvest of 8,566. The gun season for deer for everyone across the state began on the permanent starting date of the Saturday before Thanksgiving.
Heading into the final regular hunting weekend of Jan. 4-5, there have been 157,850 deer harvested since the archery only season began on Sept. 28. A final harvest tally for 2013-14 will be completed in a few weeks following the completion of the Young Sportsman Hunt. 
Giles County is the leader with 4,942 deer harvested. Rounding out the top 10 counties are Fayette County 4,416, Henry County 4,248, Lincoln 4,210, Hardeman County 3,960, Maury County 3,796, Montgomery County 3,695, Franklin County 3,583, Carroll County 3,092, and Madison County 3,008.

The Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security today announced preliminary figures indicating the state has recorded 988 traffic fatalities in 2013. That’s a 2.7 percent decrease in vehicular deaths on Tennessee roadways last year compared to 2012, when there were 1,015 traffic fatalities. The 2013 traffic fatality numbers include vehicular deaths reported by all Tennessee law enforcement agencies.Last year’s preliminary number of 988 traffic-related deaths in Tennessee represents just the fourth time in 50 years vehicular fatalities have dropped below 1,000. In 2011, there were 937 traffic-related deaths on Tennessee roadways, representing the lowest figure since 1963.
“The decline in the number of traffic fatalities in 2013 indicates that Tennessee is moving in the right direction. Our focus on data driven deployment of state troopers to have the maximum impact on DUI and seat belt enforcement is paying off. We have much more work to do, though,” Commissioner Bill Gibbons said.
Impaired driving fatalities fell 26.7 percent from 2010 to 2013 in Tennessee. In 2013, preliminary statistics indicate 211 people were killed in alcohol-related crashes across the state (24.1 percent of the total). Tennessee state troopers increased their number of DUI arrests in 2013 to 6,428, a 90.4 percent increase over 2010.
Additionally, Tennessee state troopers issued 74,277 seat belt and child restraint device citations in 2013, a 135.1 percent increase from the 31,599 citations issued in 2010.  In Tennessee, unrestrained motorists accounted for 48.9 percent (364) of vehicle occupants killed in 2013.
Other contributing factors in fatal crashes included speed and distracted driving, with 184 and 167 deaths, respectively.
Of concern is the fact that pedestrian fatalities have increased by 25 percent over the past year from 68 in 2012 to 85 in 2013.
“In 2014, we will employ a predictive analytics model (C.R.A.S.H.) to look even more closely at where traffic crashes are most likely to occur and deploy our resources, both in educational efforts and enforcement. We hope that this new tool will help reduce serious injury and fatal crashes across the state,” Colonel Tracy Trott said. 
Preliminary statistics indicate one person has died on Tennessee roadways in 2014, compared to eight at this time last year.

Both Adams Memorial Library in Woodbury and Auburntown Branch Librarywill be closed on Friday, January 3rd, 2014, due to icy roads and bad
weather. Materials due on January 3rd and January 4th will now be due on
Monday, January 6th.

The second half of the high school basketball season begins tonight as the Cannon County Lions and Lionettes travel to McMinnville to meet the Warren County Pioneers and Lady Pioneer basketball teams.  The two teams hooked up right before the Christmas break in Woodbury with Cannon taking both games.  The Lionettes are coming off a 5th place finish in the huge Bulldog Bash Tournament in Chantilly Virginia while the Warren County Lady Pioneers grabbed the championship of the Watertown Christmas Tournament this past weekend.  The Cannon County Lions boys basketball team took 3rd in the Sonic Shootout in Sparta TN while the Warren County Pioneers did the same at the Watertown Christmas Tournament easily defeating Boyd Christian School 68-26 in a much anticipated basketball game since the start of the season.  Game time tonight will be at 6:00.  We will have the live broadcast on AM-1540/FM96.7 WBRY as well as on the website at wbry.com and through the Smartphones and Tablets at WBRY

A new round of winter weather is moving into Tennessee as many residents are still returning home from holiday visits or getting back into work routines. Wherever you’re driving, don’t pack up the car without including your emergency supplies! Snow, ice and sub-freezing temperatures of winter weather can come with little or no warning and can create treacherous driving conditions. The Department of Health is reminding Tennesseans to plan ahead to avoid dangerous winter travel problems.“We all need to be ready for winter driving conditions and the possibility of getting stuck or even stranded on the road by being prepared before a storm hits,” said TDH Commissioner John Dreyzehner, MD, MPH. “We can’t just hope someone else will arrive to help. We all need to have emergency plans and keep kits and warm clothes in our vehicles.”
Here are some suggestions on planning and preparing for driving in winter weather:

Keep at least a half-tank of gas in your vehicle at all times. This helps avoid ice in the tank and fuel lines and will allow you to keep power and heat in the vehicle if you find yourself lost or stranded.

Keep an emergency kit in the vehicle. This should include a blanket; water; food such as energy bars; a compact shovel; a windshield scraper and small broom; a flashlight with fresh batteries; first aid supplies; a charger for your cell phone; an ice scraper; booster cables; hand warmers; gloves and extra clothing. A bag of sand or kitty litter can help provide traction should you get stuck on a slick road.

Before traveling, have a mechanic inspect your vehicle to ensure it is road-worthy for winter. This should include a check of the battery, the anti-freeze and tires. Replace windshield wiper fluid with a wintertime mixture. Also ask for a check of the exhaust system; a leaky exhaust system could cause dangerous carbon monoxide to enter the passenger compartment.

Dress for the weather even though you’ll be inside a vehicle. Wear layers including warm socks, a scarf, a hat, gloves and shoes or boots you can walk in.

Carry an extra set of car keys in case you get locked out of your vehicle.

Don’t warm up your vehicle inside a closed garage; doing so could lead to carbon monoxide poisoning.

Make plans for meeting friends or loved ones before you start your trip. DON’T text and drive!

Always tell someone your travel route and when you plan to arrive and return. If road conditions are poor and you don’t have to drive, stay at home or use public transportation.

Keep an eye out for deer, especially at dusk and dawn. Deer-related traffic accidents are more common during fall and winter months.

Check road conditions before departing by visiting the Tennessee Department of Transportation’s SmartWay website www.tn.gov/tdot/tdotsmartway or calling the 5-1-1 driver information line. TDOT also offers multiple Twitter feeds and a SmartWay mobile app for smartphone users.

If you need help on the road, call *THP (*847) for assistance from the Tennessee Highway Patrol. Find road safety tips from THP online at www.tn.gov/safety/10things2know.shtml.
 

Support is available for adults grieving the losses of loved ones in Rutherford County. Alive Hospice’s Murfreesboro grief support group will begin meeting in January, and registration will continue until today or until the group is full. Call 615-346-8680 to register and for more information, including a detailed schedule and the location of group meetings. There is a cost of $40 for this eight-week group, but this fee may be waived due to financial need.
Alive Hospice’s Murfreesboro grief support group will meet on Tuesday evenings from 5:30 to 7 p.m. Adults grieving the loss of a parent, spouse, sibling or other loved one are invited to join the group.
Alive Hospice also offers individual counseling services for adults and children year-round. Grief support groups and individual counseling are available to anyone who has experienced a loss, regardless of whether a loved one was served by Alive Hospice. Call 615-346-8680 or visit www.alivehospice.org for more information about these services.
 

A Woodbury resident picked up a DUI on New Years Day after she recklessly drove by the scene of another traffic stop in Murfreesboro.  According to Murfreesboro Police reports 48 year old Cathy Lynn Smith of Woodbury was driving a Silver GMC Jimmy when she almost rear ended one of the Murfreesboro Patrol Cars conducting the traffic stop.  Smith came to a complete halt and sped off when Police approached her vehicle.  In doing so, she hit the median and sped off into the parking lot of a nearby apartment complex where she parked the vehicle.  After police got there, a passenger in the car 43 year old James William Yancey of Murfreesboro was standing at the rear of the vehicle.  Smith was still in the driver seat.  When questioned, Smith allegedly said that Yancey was driving the vehicle but that she just switched places to protect him as Yancey was intoxicated.  The problem was however, that Smith was intoxicated too.  Police asked her to perform field sobriety tests and she failed.  Yancey was also asked to perform the same tests too and he failed.  Smith was arrested and charged with DUI.  So much for protecting Yancey as police arrested him for DUI by allowance.  

The Cannon Senior Center will be offering the SilverSneaker Classic class on Tuesday nights beginning January 14th at 6:00. The Exercise room will also be open from 5:30-7:00. This is to provide an exercise option for our many “60+” people in the community who are still working. And, also, for our members who can’t attend some days because of other commitments.  

In a year that had deadly tornadoes, fierce wildfires and destructive floods in many states, the Tennessee Volunteer Region responded to 932 disasters in the region, part of the 146 large disaster relief efforts led by the American Red Cross in 42 states and territories between Jan. 1 and Dec. 1 in 2013. 
“This year, the Red Cross continued to serve the people of Middle and West Tennessee through the dedicated work of its staff and volunteers,” said Mike Cowles, chapter executive. “2013 was a busy year and we are so very thankful for everyone who supported our efforts to help those in need.”
 Here at Home
The Tennessee Volunteer Region has 3,731 volunteers and 41 Disaster Action Teams, made up of volunteers who are on call 24/7 to respond to disasters across 62 counties in Middle and Western Tennessee.  The agency also has 412 active emergency shelter agreements with schools, churches, community centers and other facilities to help provide emergency lodging after a large disaster such as a tornado, flood or severe storm.  The local Region has also trained 3,463 volunteers this year who have worked 213,610 hours for an estimated value of $4.73 million calculated as an in-kind donation of labor.
The Red Cross Service to Armed Forces division has facilitated 3,695 pre & post deployment briefings for military members and their families and delivered 1,593 emergency communication messages to service members over the past year.Behind the Numbers: Mobilizing Responses for Big Disasters
The Red Cross disaster responses across the country in 2013 included:

16,700 workers—many of them volunteers—providing care, comfort and support to those in need.

89,000 contacts by specially trained workers with disaster victims who needed mental health support or health services, which is more people than the amount of travelers who pass through Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport on an average day.

1.8 million meals and snacks, the equivalent of feeding the entire population of Philadelphia lunch in a day.

29,000 overnight stays in shelters for people forced from their homes by disasters, enough to fill the largest hotel in New York City for more than two weeks.

1 million relief items distributed, including more than 33,700 toothbrushes.

$74 million to more than 60 nonprofit partners to help people and communities recover from Superstorm Sandy.
 Flooding
In April, flooding struck 10,000 homes in 10 counties in Illinois. More than a thousand Red Cross volunteers provided shelter and food to displaced families and delivered relief supplies to those returning to waterlogged homes. In September, almost a half-year’s worth of rain fell in just three days across several counties in and around Boulder, Colo. Red Crossers responded and served more than 204,000 meals and snacks, handed out more than 249,000 relief items and provided about 15,000 health and mental health contacts. The Red Cross also provided a total of 3,800 shelter stays for people forced from their homes by the flooding.
 Tornados and Severe Storms
The largest and most deadly tornado outbreak in 2013 came in Oklahoma in May, when a series of tornadoes ripped through the state, and Red Cross workers were there to comfort the survivors, including the community of Moore, Okla., where two elementary schools were struck by a deadly EF-4 tornado. More than six months later, the Red Cross continues to help residents through long-term recovery centers and other community programs.
 
In addition, Mississippi was hit particularly hard by severe spring storms for the third year in a row, including a tornado that severely damaged the Red Cross building in Hattiesburg in February. Again in April, the Red Cross was there, opening shelters, providing food and water, and helping survivors recover. In November, dozens of tornadoes cut a path of destruction through the Midwest, damaging more than 1,000 homes and leaving hundreds of thousands without power during a cold snap.
 Wildfires
When wildfires threatened communities, the Red Cross offered evacuees a safe place to stay and supported first responders. In total, the Red Cross mobilized more than 2,000 workers to support 10 large wildfire responses in eight states during 2013, such as Colorado, Arizona, California and New Mexico.
 Home Fires
It’s not just the high-profile disasters that left thousands of people in need this year. The Red Cross also responded to more than 52,000 home fires across America, helping 226,000 people get back on their feet. For those who have suffered a home fire, the event can be just as devastating as the high profile disasters that get a large amount of national attention. Regardless of the size of the event, the Red Cross responds in the same way—with shelter, food and emotional support.
 International Disasters
In 2013, the American Red Cross assisted an estimated 1.3 million people affected by disasters in 24 countries outside of the U.S. These included storms and floods in the Philippines, Argentina, Bangladesh and Nigeria. Red Cross workers continue to respond to the ongoing humanitarian need created by the civil unrest in Syria, as well as needs caused by conflicts in other areas around the world. The Red Cross responded to food insecurity issues in Malawi and Zimbabwe and continued our earthquake recovery work in Haiti that has been ongoing since 2010. Additionally, the Red Cross continued its vital work in reconnecting families separated by conflict and disaster, reconnecting 886 families this year alone.
 
The work of the American Red Cross is made possible by donations. Donations can be made by visiting redcross.org, calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) or texting the word REDCROSS to 90999 to make a $10 donation. Contributions can also be sent by mail to a local Red Cross chapter or to the American Red Cross via P.O. Box 37243, Washington, DC 20013.
 

The ninth annual Middle Tennessee Grain Conference set for Thursday, January 30, at Coffee County’s Fairground in Manchester offers farmers insight to a number of emerging corn, soybean, and wheat production concerns.      The conference is scheduled to get underway with registration beginning at 7:30 am. Registration is twenty dollars at the door or farmers can pre-register for five dollars by Noon, Monday, January 27 through their local UT/TSU Extension office. Registration fees include the program and materials, refreshments, lunch, a copy of the conference proceedings, and a grain conference cap.            A trade show of various seed, chemical and equipment dealers will begin at 8:00 am followed by a slate of speakers addressing current production topics for corn, wheat and soybeans beginning at 9:00 am. Production topics for the upcoming conference include soil health, palmer pigweed management, Dicamba tolerant soybean issues, crop fungicide timing, grain market outlook, present and future precision agriculture technology. Lunch will be served on site.
Following lunch, Dr. Chad Lee, will provide the keynote presentation “Maximum Soybean Yields through Inputs”.  Dr. Lee, a professor of Agronomy in the Department of Plant Sciences at the University of Kentucky, is involved with the United Soybean Board’s Kitchen Sink Project.  The purpose of the project, which was conducted across multiple states, was to determine input recommendations for higher-yielding, higher quality soybeans.  Dr. Lee’s presentation titled, “Maximum Yield through Inputs” will expand on the project’s results.
            Following Dr. Lee’s presentation, participants can re-certify their private pesticide applicator certification needed to purchase and apply restricted-use pesticides. The training cost $15.00 to be paid at the time of the training by cash or checks payable to UT Extension. The training will take approximately one-hour.
Complete details on conference topics and pre-registration can be obtained at the Cannon County University of Tennessee Extension Office.