News 2016

The day is finally upon us as the Federal and State General Election will take place between the hours of 7A to 7P.  Out of 8900 registered voters in Cannon County, 2614 took part in early voting.  The remaining are eligible to come to the various polling places in which they are assigned and cast their vote for the Federal, State and even some local positions.
Polling precincts and places are as follows:
11- Westside Precinct will vote at the Westside Elementary School 3714 Murfreesboro Road
21-Auburntown Precinct will vote at the Auburntown Community Center 192 East Main Street Auburntown
22-Gassaway Precinct will vote at the Gassaway Community Center 270 Gassaway Main Street
23-Pleasant Ridge Precinct will vote at the Woodbury Grammar School 530 West Adams Street
24-Short Mountain 2 Precinct will vote at the Short Mountain Elementary School 5988 Short Mountain Road
32-Woodland Precinct votes at Woodland Elementary School 8383 Jim Cummings Hwy
41-Eastside Precinct votes at Eastside Elementary School 5658 McMinnville Hwy
42 Short Mountain 4 Precinct will vote at the Short Mountain Elementary School 5988 Short Mountain Road
51-Woodbury will vote at the Woodbury Grammar School 530 West Adams Street.
Please be prepared to show proof of identification when you go vote.  A voter must have a Tennessee or Federal government issued photo ID.  If no phot identification is provided, the voter will vote a provisional ballot and the voter will have until two business days after the election to return to the election commission office and show a valid photo I.D. or the ballot will be rejected.
WBRY will broadcast the live coverage of the results tonight starting at 7:00 on AM-1540/Shine 107.1 WBRY.

The Cannon County Historical Society will meet tonight at 6:30 at the Cannon County Senior Center 309 Lehman Street in Woodbury.
Cannon and Rutherford County Public Defender Gerald Melton will give an account of “Pump” Kersey and his Confederate band which was massacred at Half-Acre on Short Mountain in July 24 1864 by a Union force operating out of Liberty.    
The story of Hiram Taylor “Pomp” Kersey is one of the major Civil War encounters taking place in Cannon County.
The Meltons reside at Half-Acre or Mechanicsville in the Short Mountain area.  Their home is about one mile from the massacre scene and about half a mile in the other direction from the Melton Cemetery where Pomp was buried.
Gerald is a long time student of the War Between the States with particular interest in the Pomp Kersey story.  His presentation will be of much interest to all Cannon Countians and Civil War buffs.  
Refreshments will be served at 6:30, program begins at 7.

The record setting temperatures of the past week combined with rainfall far below average, has led to drought conditions across Tennessee. Those brown pastures and hayfields are not only lacking in nutritional grasses, but may actually contain some plants that are potentially toxic to livestock. During drought and other times of pasture shortage, animals will eat plants they might otherwise not, and the possibility of consuming toxic plants increases. Plants may be toxic to livestock because they are nitrate accumulators, cyanide (prussic acid) producers, or because of certain chemicals found naturally in the plant such as those in many weeds. Being able to identify what plants can be potential problems is a critical step in keeping livestock healthy during periods of dry weather. In Tennessee soils, application of nitrogen fertilizer is critical to establishing and maintaining a healthy, productive stand of grass. Unfortunately, in certain situations, these nitrates can accumulate in the stems of plants and cause major problems in livestock. Nitrate toxicity is caused by cattle consuming forages that contain higher than normal levels of nitrates or nitrites.
Certain plants have a higher tendency to accumulate nitrates than others. Summer annuals such as sorghum, Sudan grass, and millet normally receive high levels of nitrogen fertilization that contribute to nitrate accumulation. High levels are also frequently found in Bermuda grass. Weeds such as pigweed and ragweed are also prone to accumulate high levels of nitrates. Some plants have especially high levels of cyanide early in their growth phase or have the ability to concentrate high levels during times of stress such as a drought. A drought while the plant is in an active growing stage can cause release of cyanide acid (prussic acid) from its bound state within the plant. Potentially toxic levels can develop in most varieties of Sorghum, Sudan grass, and Johnsongrass.
Finally, many plants contain chemicals which make them toxic to livestock. Weeds such as perilla mint, jimsonweed, and the various nightshades contain toxins that can cause respiratory disease, decreased production, and even death. Animals will normally stay away from these plants if other grasses are available, however during periods of drought when other options are limited, they will often consume amounts that will be harmful. The hot, dry weather experienced recently can be hard on livestock, just as it can be to humans. Take some time to check your pastures and see what plants are there that might be potential problems.

The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency announces the availability of grant dollars to assist cities, schools, community organizations, civic groups, watershed organizations, and conservation groups, etc., with riparian tree planting projects.

All seedlings must be purchased through the Department of Agriculture, Division of Forestry. Tree planting season in Tennessee is December through March.

Five grants, at $500 each, are available for each of TWRA’s four regional Aquatic Habitat Protection projects (a total of $2,500 per region). The funds will be obligated as grants, so the grantee must have a nonprofit tax number. The projects are to be completed, the money spent, and a report submitted by June 30, 2017. In order to meet this deadline, TWRA will accept proposals through Nov. 30, 2016.

Grant proposals should include the applicant organization’s name, tax ID number, address, phone, and name of a contact person authorized to enter into contractual agreement on behalf of the organization.  The proposal should also include the name of the stream, county or counties involved, and the project area and description.

Contact Della Sawyers at (615) 781-6577 or by e-mail at Della.Sawyers@tn.gov with any questions. For additional information, interested persons may also contact a regional Aquatic Habitat Protection biologist which is in Region 2

David Sims

P O Box 41489

Nashville, TN  37204

(615) 781-6510
Email: David.M.Sims@tn.gov
 

Hours have not been set yet but Cannon County citizens will see a significant cut in the time that the Convenience Center is available due to necessary budget cuts mandated by the State Comptroller’s office.  The Budget Committee met Thursday a week ago to address the State Comptroller’s office mandates that the County gets themselves out of the current financial crisis that they are in.  State Comptroller’s office stated that the County must cut $100,000 out of expenditures within the next fiscal year.  The Budget Committee made a recommendation for cuts of the general fund and solid waste.  The County Commission Thursday considered those cuts.  Chancery Court Office asked the Commission not to affect their budget because they would have to cut employees hours and they are operating as low as they possibly can.  Sheriff’s Department has volunteered to look at their budget to see if anything can be cut but according to the CTAS office, the Sheriff’s Department’s maintenance of effort must be met.  
The motion was made and passed to get the County Departments to cut 2.58% in their expenditures and work with the Sheriff’s Department.  They will not cut the time or salary of the employees in the County Register of Deeds and Chancery Court.
The Commission also voted to make budget cuts of the Solid Waste Department.  County Executive Mike Gannon  pointed out that the Solid Waste Department makes up 5% of the total county budget.  81.5% of solid waste budget cannon be reduced because of volume of trash.  So any cuts will have to come from the 18.5% of the budget.  The cuts County Executive Gannon suggested included that one of the employees at the Convenience Center will be laid off.  The other two employees hours will be reduced to 32 hours each.  The Convenience Center hours in which it will be open will be reduced from 67 to 45 a week.  Hours have not been set as of yet.  Motion was made and passed.

A Cannon County man who got spooked after receiving a call from Idaho is now being sought after for stealing a car.  According to the Cannon County Sheriff’s Department, a deputy was dispatched in reference to a stolen car.  Upon arrival, he spoke with Angela Rogers who stated that Jeffery Poteet had been living with her and that she received a call from Idaho.  After she mention it to Poteet, he took off in her car.  Ms Rogers stated that she had not spoken with anyone from Idaho, however suspects Poteet may be wanted there.  Ms Rogers stated that she text Poteet and advised him if he was not back with her car within 15 minutes she was going to report it stolen.  Ms. Rogers advised that Mr. Poteet returned to the residence on foot and stated that her car and keys were across the road.  Ms. Rogers stated that she advised Mr. Poteet that he was going to have to get his belongings and vacate from her residence immediately.  At this time Ms. Rogers stated Mr. Poteet took off again, hurriedly, and took her vehicle again.
Vehicle is described as a 1997 Gold Nissan Altima missing grill with a chain holding hood closed, body damage/ dent on driver rear quarter panel near tail light.  Poteet is described approximately 5’5″ heavyset, short red hair and beard, glasses last seen wearing a gray shirt and blue shorts.
 

 
Nov. 8—Professional Development Day for teachers and staff, 7:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
                Board policy workshop, 5:30 p.m. at CCBOE
                Board meeting workshop, 6:30 p.m. at CCBOE
 
Nov. 10—School Board meeting, 6: 30 p.m. at WGS Cafeteria
 
Nov. 11—Veterans’ Day Program at CCHS
Nov. 12—School Surplus Auction, 9:00 a.m.
Nov. 14—Upper Cumberland Reading Foundation Annual Meeting at First Baptist Church, Woodbury, 
                  12:00-2:30 p.m.
                  Homeland Security Drill at West Side Fire Dept. @ 3:00 p.m.
 
Nov. 14-18-19-County Basketball Tournament
 
Nov. 15—New Teachers meeting, 3:00 p.m., CCBOE
 
Nov. 23-25—Thanksgiving Break
 
Nov. 28—Progress Reports
 
 Do you have one hour per month to help students in your community transition from high school to college? tnAchieves, local partnering organization to Gov. Haslam’s TN Promise, needs 9,000 mentors to work with high school students from the Class of 2017. Mentors remind students of important deadlines, serve as a trusted college resource and, most importantly, encourage students to reach their full potential. The time commitment is small, but the impact can be life changing for a first generation college student trying to navigate the college going process. Learn more or register at https://tnachieves.org/mentors/requirements/.  For the class of 2017, Cannon County needs 22 mentors; currently only 11 adults have registered to be mentors for these seniors.   Our students need you; please consider being a mentor and register today.
 
 

Whether I’m home in Tennessee or working up in Washington, I’m often asked, “Why doesn’t Congress get anything done?”  It’s an understandable question given that, six years after Republicans retook Congress from Nancy Pelosi’s control, Obamacare remains law, our national debt remains unacceptably high, and our borders are still unsecure. So I want to attempt to answer it as best I can. 
First, the gridlock in Washington is real and, in some ways, it’s gotten even worse. In fact, President Obama has vetoed more bills this Congress than in the first six years of his administration combined. But every time President Obama pulls out his veto pen, I see it as a small victory for conservatives – because it means Congressional Republicans did our job; we put legislation on the President’s desk and forced him to go on record and defend his decision to the American people. It also lets Americans see where the logjam exists in our federal government. If a bill passes the House, passes the Senate, and is vetoed by President Obama, then it isn’t Congress who is sitting on its hands and obstructing good ideas, it is the President.
After President Obama’s State of the Union address last year, I said this: “Our Republican majority in Washington will work its will. We will look for opportunities to find common ground, but we also won’t let veto threats and political posturing from a lame-duck White House stop us from pursuing a bold, conservative agenda.”
That is exactly what we have done. In fact, this Congress, my colleagues and I in the House of Representatives have passed more than 600 bills on the House floor; a double-digit increase over the 25 year average — and more than 200 of those bills have been signed into law. This includes legislation to combat the opioid epidemic, fight the scourge of human trafficking, and to enact tougher sanctions on North Korea just to name a few. 
This year, Congress also used a procedural tool known as “reconciliation” to advance an Obamacare repeal bill all the way to President Obama’s desk for the first time since the measure became law in 2010. After the President vetoed it, Congress held a vote to override the veto but lacked the two-thirds support required under the Constitution.

Many times, my colleagues and I in the House of Representatives took votes to advance conservative priorities, only to see these bills languish in the Senate. During the last Congress, when Harry Reid still wielded control over the upper chamber, House Republicans passed more than 350 bills — 98 percent with bipartisan support — that never received consideration by Senate Democrats. Even now, under Republican control, the Senate is still bogged down because of the filibuster rule, which requires a bill to have 60 votes to move forward; a difficult feat given that there are only 54 Republicans. That is why, for more than a year now, I have publicly urged Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell to drop this archaic rule. 
As a member of Congress, I can’t always control what President Obama, or even my Senate counterparts, may do — but I am responsible for my own record, and I’ve always asked Tennesseans to judge me by that standard. That is why, this Congress, I have:

• Authored and passed legislation to defund Planned Parenthood, the nation’s largest abortion provider
   
• Voted against a $1.1 trillion spending bill that continued Washington’s path to bankruptcy
   
• Wrote and unanimously passed an amendment to cut off funding to sanctuary cities
   
• Voted against implementation of President Obama’s dangerous nuclear agreement with Iran
   
• Cosponsored legislation to halt our refugee resettlement program until national security concerns can be fully addressed
   
• Authored and passed a bill to protect government discrimination against pro-life healthcare providers; and
   
• Worked with my Republican colleagues to develop “A Better Way” — a comprehensive plan offering conservative solutions to address our nation’s most pressing challenges, including a plan to replace Obamacare and to overhaul our broken tax code 

Solutions don’t always come quickly in Washington, but that doesn’t mean we give up. Sometimes, when it seems as though nothing is getting done, we just have to look more closely. As your representative, I’ll continue taking on the important battles and working to deliver results.

The Arts Center of Cannon County presents the local production of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, Directed by Drew and Christy Sanford, starting this weekend in Woodbury.  Chitty Chitty Bang Bang is rated G and sponsored by St. Thomas Stones River Hospital
Chitty Chitty Bang Bang is the story of an eccentric inventor named Caractacus Potts who, with the help of his children Jeremy and Jemima, sets about restoring an old race car from a scrap heap. Soon, they discover the car has magical properties including the ability to float and take flight. However, trouble occurs when the evil Baron Bomburst desires the magic car for himself.
Performances run November 4, 5, 11, 12, 18 & 19 at 7:30pM November 6 & 13 at 2:00pmand a special meet & greet performance tomorrow at 10:30 in the morning where you can mingle with the characters from Chitty Chitty Bang Bang from 9:30am-10:00am and enjoy complimentary coffee and hot chocolate. Snacks will also be available for purchase.
Tickets are available by calling the Arts Center Of Cannon County’s Box office  10:00a.m. to 4:00p.m., Tuesday through Saturday. 615-563-(ARTS) 2787.

The Cannon County Football Boosters  would like to publicly thank  all of our local businesses that have stepped up and supported the 2016 CCHS Lion’s football team. Whether it was by decorating your business for the Lion Pride Competition or donating money for the maroon and gold flags that were hung on the square for Homecoming, your support is appreciated.
In our Lion Pride Competition our winners were as follows: Best All Around- First National Bank, Best Window- Purrfectly Pawlished, Best Store Front- Melton Law Office. Other participants were: Briar Rose, Joe’s Place, Region’s Bank and Liquidation Outlet.
Businesses that donated for our maroon and gold flags were: Farm Bureau agent Ed Motlow, Tangles Salon, Purrfectly Pawlished, Hindman’s Body Shop, Vance Brother’s Auto, Cutting Edge, Davco Construction, First Bank, Woodbury Funeral Home, Anthony’s Florist, Exit Realty Gregory Goff, Community Wellness, Mane Image Salon, Napa Auto Parts, Jennings Jewelers and Cannon County Circuit & General Sessions Court. Thanks again for all of your support.