News 2016

The Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC) is now accepting applications for Recycling and Waste Reduction Grants, as well as Recycling Rebates. The application period began July 1, 2016 and applications are due October 3, 2016.

“Recycling directly impacts manufacturers in Tennessee who reuse materials collected in their manufacturing process,” said TDEC Commissioner Bob Martineau. “The manufacturing industry is an essential element of our state’s economy, and we’re happy to help them reach their financial goals while protecting our environment. It’s a win-win.”

There are three separate offerings: Recycling Equipment Grants, Used Oil Grants and Recycling Rebates. TDEC is contacting local communities about the grant availability and will host workshops during the month of July to help communities understand the application process.

The grant programs were authorized by the Solid Waste Management Act of 1991 and funded by the Tennessee Solid Waste Management Fund. The fund, which is administered by the TDEC, receives its revenues from a state surcharge on each ton of municipal solid waste disposed in landfills and from a fee collected from new tires sold in Tennessee. The used oil grants are authorized by the Used Oil Collection Act and funded by the Used Oil Collection Fund. The Used Oil Collection Fund receives its revenues from a $0.02 fee on each quart of oil sold at wholesale.

The application deadline for the Used Oil, Recycling Equipment, and Recycling Rebate (Rebate is by invitation only) is 4:30 p.m. on Oct. 3 2016.  For more information or to obtain applications, please call Loretta Harrington at (615) 532-0086 or via email at Solid.Waste@tn.gov. For information about the grants, visit http://www.tn.gov/environment/article/sw-mm-grants-administration.
 

Come meet Sixth Congressional District candidate Joe Carr on July 12, 2016 at 6:00 PM at the Cannon County Courthouse.
Joe will be available for questions from the audience and would like to meet as many folks as possible. Light refreshments will be served
immediately following.

On July 2, 2016 14 officers from the Cannon County Sheriff’s Department and the
Woodbury Police Department conducted a safety and sobriety checkpoint on McMinnville
Highway from 9:00 pm to 11:00 pm with overtime provided by a grant through the Tennessee
Highway Safety Officer. Over 400 cars passed through the checkpoint and multiple violations
were cited. Citations include: four driving while license revoked, suspended, or canceled, one
headlight violation, two financial responsibility violations, three seat belt violations, and two
child restraint violations.
Also during the checkpoint Trevor Eli Smith of Woodbury, who admitted to drinking
when he passed through the checkpoint and was pulled to the side. Before officers reached his
vehicle, he fled the scene. He was apprehended shortly thereafter on Water Street after leading
officers on a brief chase through Woodbury. He was charged with Violation of Implied Consent
Law, Reckless Endangerment, two counts of Evading Arrest, and Vandalism. A DUI charge is
pending, awaiting blood results due to refusing to do any field sobriety tests. His bond was set at
$13,000 and his court date was set for September 6, 2016.
After the checkpoint some officers also conducted a saturation patrol in which three
speeding violations and one registration violation were cited.

The Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development announced Friday the eleven counties that will receive ThreeStar Competitive Enhancement Grants.

The grants will be used for a variety of local programs addressing public safety, health, education and workforce development.

The eleven communities receiving ThreeStar Competitive Enhancement Grants include Bedford, Cannon, Claiborne, Crockett, Giles, Greene, Hardeman, Henderson, Madison, Marion and McMinn counties.

“We’re excited to assist communities that are actively working to promote local education and workforce readiness, public safety initiatives as well as health and wellness programs,” TNECD Commissioner Randy Boyd said. “I can’t wait to see the results of these local initiatives, which are all innovative projects that will show that Tennessee communities are committed to investing in themselves, a vital step in spurring new investments from the private sector.”

In total, TNECD has awarded $250,000 to Tennessee communities through the ThreeStar Competitive Enhancement Grant program. The grants are part of TNECD’s Rural Economic Development Fund, launched last fall and designed to build capacity for transformative economic development strategies in rural Tennessee.

“The eleven communities receiving these grants have all put forward plans tailored to the needs of their counties. They range from a local career week to additional materials and equipment for their TCAT, as well as advanced manufacturing training courses,” Amy New, TNECD assistant commissioner for rural development, said. “These projects represent some of the best ideas coming from Team Tennessee. TNECD is proud to partner with these communities as they ready themselves for future investments and economic success.”

Funding for the ThreeStar Competitive Enhancement Grant program comes through one-time revenues in the department’s existing budget. The eleven counties selected were chosen out of 28 applications.

Each application was supported by the community’s senator and representatives in the Tennessee General Assembly.

All incoming and current Motlow State Community College students have until Aug. 1 to complete eight hours of community service in order to remain eligible for the Tennessee Promise scholarship.

“There are numerous ways that students can complete their community service hours, including job shadowing, cleaning local, state, and recreational parks, or by assisting local non-profit organizations,” said Jonathan Graham, Tennessee Promise coordinator at Motlow.

“Last year, Tennessee Promise students volunteered a total of 318,183 hours which, according to tnAchieves, resulted in a monetary value of $6,592,751.76 given back to the State of Tennessee by Tennessee Promise scholars,” Graham added.

Students who still need to complete their community service hours can visit the Motlow Tennessee Promise webpage at tnpromise.mscc.edu for an up-to-date listing of community service opportunities in their area.

Students can also visit the tnAchieves website, tnachieves.org, which lists a host of community service opportunities for students in their local region. Community service hours can be submitted to the tnAchieves website as well.

Students must complete the tnAchieves program in their county to access Tennessee Promise funding.

If you want to vote in the August 4 elections the last day to register to vote is today.  Registering can be done at the Election Offices at 301 West Main Street Suite 244.  
The August 4th Election consists of the Democratic and Republican Primary of the 46th District of the Tennessee House of Representatives, United States House Of Representatives 6th Congressional District.  Locally Zone 1, 2 and 3 County General Election of the Cannon County Road Commissioners, School Board Members District 1,2,3 and 4 and Cannon County Property Assessor.  There are several Judicial Retention Questions on the August 4th ballot as well for the Supreme Court, Court of Appeals and Court of Criminal Appeals.  Early Voting for the August Election runs July 15th through July 30th
Petitions for Mayor or Alderman of Woodbury and Auburntown are now available.  The Qualifying Deadline will be August 18th NOON.  The Election for these offices is November 8th.
 

Mailboxes continue to be the objects of vandalism around Cannon County recently.  According to Cannon County Sheriff’s Department reports a mailbox of a resident on Old Prospect Road was smashed.  The victim advised that her and her husband went to bed the previous night after letting the dogs out and going outside to smoke.  When they got up the next morning the victim found the mailbox was smashed.  Another mailbox was damaged on 1094 Manustown Road the next day.  Neither victims were able to provide any possible suspects or further information.  It is unclear if the two separate vandalism cases have any correlation to each other.
 

The 78th Annual Woodbury Lions Club Horse Show kicked off the 4th of July weekend in Woodbury Saturday night.  With temperatures in the mid 80s, spectators saw 247 registered horses compete in 38 classifications in a show that lasted around 7 and a half hours.  Competitiors came from all over the Mid South.   In addition to participants from local areas in Middle Tennessee, there were participants from Georgia, Alabama, South Carolina, and Mississippi.  There were also participants from Missouri and California.  The final class was the prestigious Rider’s Cup Walking Horse Stake Class Stallions, Mares or Geldings in which there were 6 horses competing.  The winner was Jose’s Power Broker ridden by Keith Blackburn of Rutledge Tennessee and owned by Dan and Susie Brown of Olive Hill Kentucky.
 

Fireworks continue Monday night weather permitting with the Cannon County Fireworks Celebration taking place starting at 4:00 at the Dillon Park in Woodbury.  There will be children’s events with bouncy houses and games available.  Vendors will be selling concessions.  There will be music throughout the afternoon and evening and the Fireworks will begin at dark weather permitting.  The event is free however you are asked to bring a canned food item to be given to the Cannon County Food Bank
 Event financed by the Town of Woodbury, City of Auburntown and Cannon County, event sponsored by The American Legion Post 279.

The State Fire Marshal’s Office (SFMO) invites Tennesseans to take a seat in the director’s chair and create a short video to draw awareness to the importance of fire safety. Through its inaugural Fire Prevention Video Contest, they hope to reach residents of all ages with life-saving messages using two new jingles that emphasize the necessity of smoke alarms and the major role a closed door can play in reducing fire damage.
“The Tennessee fire service has made extraordinary efforts in lowering our state’s fire mortality rate, but we need to find new, innovative approaches to keep up the momentum and promote fire prevention education,” said State Fire Marshal and Commerce & Insurance Commissioner Julie Mix McPeak. “We are challenging Tennesseans to use their creativity to produce a video that can help convey crucial fire safety messages to their fellow citizens in an exciting and effective way.”
The contest kicked off Friday and features prizes donated by Kidde that include a $500 check, a Kidde RemoteLync Home Monitoring Device, and a Kidde RemoteLync Wi-Fi Camera.
Contest participants are asked to create a one-minute video that illustrates the themes found in one or both of the SFMO’s new fire safety jingles
The contest is open to Tennessee residents of all ages, however participants 18 years and younger must submit written parental approval. Both individuals and groups (including fire departments) are eligible to submit entries. The videos must explore the fire safety topics featured in the jingles, be well researched, not demonstrate risky or unsafe behavior, and be both educational and entertaining.
Entries must be submitted by Sept. 30, 2016 to be considered for prizes. Winners will be announced the week of October 9th in conjunction with National Fire Prevention Week.