News 2016

It’s the countdown to open enrollment .  Visit the Cannon County Health Department to receive free, in person assistance with applying for health insurance.  The Cannon County Health Department has a certified application counselor available to assist with apply for insurance through the Health Insurance Marketplace for Affordable Care Act plans, TennCare and CoverKids.
Counselors will help you learn about plans for which you qualify based on your income and the number of people in your household.  You must apply for Marketplace plans during the open enrollment period beginning November 1st and running through January 31st 2017
You may qualify for a special enrollment period if any of the following happened to you outside of the open enrollment period:  losing exisiting health insurance, moving, getting married, or having a child.  You have 60 days from the time of the event to qualify for a special insurance enrollment.  
Call the Cannon County health Department to see about scheduling an appointment 615-563-4243.
 

Each summer, Middle Tennessee Electric Membership Corporation sends 15 high school juniors to spend a week exploring Washington, D.C., learning about government and cooperatives and developing their leadership skills. This opportunity is made possible thanks to a strong partnership with area high schools and English teachers.

Students are selected for the Washington Youth Tour Creative Writing and Scholarship Contest by writing a short story titled “Electric Cooperatives – Going Beyond the Wires” that explains how co-ops provide communities with much more than electric power.

Youth Tour delegates also have the opportunity to win a share of $16,000 in scholarships from MTEMC and Tennessee’s electric cooperatives.

MTEMC employees are currently in schools making presentations about the Washington Youth Tour Creative Writing and Scholarship Contest. If you know a high school Junior who is a talented writer, encourage them to participate. They could be 900 words away from the trip of a lifetime.

Contact Jay Sanders, Community Relations Coordinator at 615-494-1065 or email Jay.Sanders@mtemc.com to learn more about the Washington Youth Tour.

The Woodbury Lions Club will kick off their annual Pecan Sale on November 3rd.  For sale this year will be Pecan Halves, Walnuts, Fruit and Nut Mix and Cashews.  Again this year the Lions have found the very best products available.  Lion Clyde Bush, chairman of the sale, stated that he was able to secure this year’s crop of pecans which is the best crop in several years.  All these products will be available at the following locations in Woodbury:  Jennings Jewelers, Vance Bros. Car Lot, Farmers Co-op, County Court Clerks Office, Cannon County Senior Center, Dr. Trea Wessel’s Office, First Bank, Paul L. Reed Furniture Store, First National Bank, Regions Bank, Woodbury Funeral Home, Woodson’s Pharmacy, Cutting Edge Salon and through any Woodbury Lions Club Member.  
Profits from this fund raiser goes towards purchasing eye glasses, eye exams, eye surgeries, special equipment for the sight impaired, hearing exams and hearing aids for Cannon County residents who can not afford to pay for such on their own or with the help of their insurance.  
For more information call Clyde Bush at 615-563-2102 or Mark Vance at 615-563-6800.

Name number one didn’t work, neither did name number two as Murfreesboro Police arrested a Woodbury woman over the weekend for various charges including criminal impersonation.  According to Murfreesboro Police Reports, police conducted a traffic stop at 2020 South Church Street for failing to stop from a private drive.  When officers made contact with the passenger, 45 year old Anita A. Harden of Woodbury, she gave false information multiple times. An investigation revealed her true identity and she was showing two warrants out of Cannon County.  When Harden was transported to the Rutherford County Jail, she denied having anything illegal on her.  However when she was being processed at the jail, a female deputy found a glass pipe in her bra.  Harden tried to pass herself off with two aliases.  Tanya Dots and Anita Hawkins both of which were real names of people she was familiar with.  Harden is charged with Violation of Probation, theft over $1,000 both charges are from a case in Cannon County.  She is also charged with criminal impersonation and contraband in a penal facility.  She will answer to the latter two charges in Rutherford County General Sessions Court on December 15th
 

Please join Saint Thomas Stones River Hospital, Saint Thomas Cancer Care, and local businesses as they support Breast Cancer Awareness Month in October by wearing PINK on Tuesday, October 25th. A community media photo will be taken at 10:00am in front of Saint Thomas Stones River Hospital. We encourage everyone to attend. Pink Ribbon pins will be gifted to attendees.
Help us spread the word about this community event,join us in the fight against breast cancer.
For information on scheduling an annual 2D or 3D mammogram, call Saint Thomas Stones River Radiology at 615-563-7228.
 

Cannon County 4-H Award’s Reception was held on October 9, 2016 at the Cannon County Senior Center. Almost 50 youth were recognized along with Volunteer Leader of the Year – Rena House, Sponsor of the Year – Cannon County Cattlemen’s Association (accepted by Vice President, Davy Sneed), Friend of 4-H – Cannon County Sheriff’s Department (accepted by Chief Deputy, Anthony Young), Senior High Member of the Year – Bryson Bell and many others. The following classes were recognized as the Cannon County 4-H Club of the Year for their specific grade after competing against all other classes in that grade across the county: Patricia Pirtle -West Side 4th grade, Susan Nokes – Short Mountain 5th grade, Gay Burger – East Side 6th grade, Shane Hollandsworth – Short Mountain 7th grade and Emily Crook – Auburn 8th grade. Over 120 people were present and the 4-H members were excited to receive many well deserved awards. Cannon County 4-H Honor Club also took time to initiate six new members (Emma Grace Hughes, Kiley Hughes, Emily McCullough, Will Byford, Hunter Owen, and Ian DeArmond).  The 4-H Honor Club is organized statewide and provides recognition, primarily within counties, of junior high 4-H members who have demonstrated consistent leadership ability and have been active members in their clubs and communities. Tennessee 4-H Honor Club is one of three recognition levels that an outstanding 4-H member may achieve during their 4-H career. 4-H Honor Club membership is granted to those 4-H’ers who have shown exceptional 4-H project work and a willingness to share what they have learned with other 4-H members.

There will be a special called Cannon County Budget Committee meeting Thursday October 27 in the courtroom of the Cannon County Courthouse.  The meeting starts at 5:00

United Way’s most recent Annual Report is now available. The report highlights United Way’s impact on the community through collaborative initiatives and partnerships with community leaders, faith-based groups, corporations, nonprofit organizations and governments. United Way is building stronger communities by going beyond single-issue solutions and temporary fixes to create long-term, sustainable change that impacts the lives of thousands in Rutherford and Cannon counties.
This past year, nearly $700,000 was saved through the use of FamilyWize Prescription Discount Cards; LEGO™ Robotics was launched as a pilot after-school program in partnership with United Way and Murfreesboro City Schools; and United Way provided CharityTracker, a web-based software that streamlines client intake to provide accurate data records and real-time communication for any organization in the community. Currently, nearly 70 organizations are active on CharityTracker. More examples of United Way’s impact in the areas of education, health and financial stability can be found in this year’s annual report.
“It is our intent to be transparent with our supporters, and our annual report is a reflection of that value,” said Meagan Flippin, United Way President and CEO. “We are pleased to share a synopsis of this past year and the results provided in the community via this report.”
United Way has the unique ability to leverage investments for the greatest impact. For every $1 invested in United Way’s operation, $13 in value of services and impact are provided to the community. The 13 to 1 return on investment was influenced by the value of programs and services such as the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) Program, 2-1-1, FamilyWize Prescription Discount Program, the value of a volunteer and more.
The Annual Report is a communications tool developed in an effort to remain transparent and accountable to the community it serves. The comprehensive report is now available at http://www.yourlocaluw.org/annual-report. For more information about United Way, visit www.yourlocaluw.org or call 615-893-7303.

299 registered Cannon County voters have taken advantage of Early Voting for the upcoming November 8th Election.  Early voting hours this week will be Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 8A to 1P, Tuesday and Thursday from 4 to 7 and Saturday from 9A to 2P at the Cannon County Election Office 301 West Main Street Suite 244.  Call 563-5650 for more information.
 

It’s an exciting time to live in Tennessee’s 6th district. Our Gallatin Chamber of Commerce just celebrated 95 years of service to the local business community, the White County High School Marching Band was chosen to perform in the National Independence Day Parade in Washington, D.C., and Cookeville’s own Brent Carl Fleshman received national honors for his morning radio show in the Upper Cumberland. Even when the evening news headlines can be cause for gloom, we can be proud of all there is to celebrate right here in middle Tennessee. With that in mind, I want to share a few quick updates about the latest from back home and in Washington:
There He Goes Again
Yesterday President Obama went to Miami and attempted to give another sales pitch for Obamacare, ignoring the harsh reality that the healthcare law is collapsing in Tennessee and elsewhere around the country. Tennesseans saw the latest evidence of that just his month when we learned that insurance plans sold on the Obamacare exchange were limiting access to one of our major hospitals; separating patients from the doctors they know and trust.  The President’s speech was vintage Obama: he deflected responsibility for soaring premium rates and attempted to solve a government-created problem with an even bigger government “solution.” His answer to the latest Obamacare woes was a further expansion of the law. He insisted that “The problem is not that government is too involved in the process, the problem is we have not reached everybody and pulled them in.” Tennesseans know that further expanding an already failed law won’t fix its fundamental laws. That is why House Republicans have a real plan to repeal and replace Obamacare before it inflicts any further damage. 
Tell Me What You Think  
Take a look at THIS. It’s a short form, the size of a postcard, and with a willing partner in the White House who will join House Republicans in fighting to overhaul our tax code, it could be the only form you need to complete your taxes. Today, it takes the average family 13 hours just to prepare their tax returns. Imagine the money, time, and stress that Tennessee families could save if a single sheet of paper like that was all you needed. Our conservative plan to simplify the tax code could make a reality, but I need your help and input. I want to make sure that I’m representing YOU as best I can, so please take a minute to answer a quick, one-question survey and let me know what a fairer, flatter, and simpler tax code would mean for your life. You can complete the survey HERE. 
Small Businesses Doing Big Things
It has been a busy week as I traveled across Tennessee’s 6th district touring small businesses with large impacts on the 6th District economy. I began by I stopping in to see the newly expanded Jackson Kayak manufacturing facility in Sparta to get a firsthand look at their latest products and to hear about how they are bringing 250 additional jobs to the White County region. I also toured Bennett Industries in Cookeville–a full service manufacturer specializing in stainless steel fabrication, custom metal stamping, and welding. I even got to try my hand at welding while I was there.