News 2016

Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam last week announced Advise TN, a program to increase the number of students accessing higher education by providing college counselors to 30 public high schools and 10,000 junior and senior students across the state this fall.
The new initiative, administered by the Tennessee Higher Education Commission (THEC), supports the state’s Drive to 55 campaign to increase the number of Tennesseans with a postsecondary degree or credential to 55 percent by 2025.
“As a result of Tennessee Promise, first-time freshmen enrollment has increased 25 percent at community colleges. We are changing the conversation in Tennessee around going to college, and there’s more we can do,” Haslam said. “Research tells us that having a school-wide culture of college-going – of students knowing that college isn’t only an option for them but it’s an expectation – is one of the best indicators of whether students will pursue higher education. This program will provide schools across the state with one more adult in students’ lives, focused on helping them navigate the transition from high school to college.”
Partner high schools will be selected through a competitive process based on a strong commitment to building a college-going culture. To be eligible for consideration, high schools must have a college-going rate that is less than the state average. For more information and to access an application, visit http://tn.gov/thec/topic/advisetn. The deadline for schools to apply is August 12.  
College advisors are being hired and trained this summer and will be placed with partner schools in fall 2016. They will work alongside the school’s counselors, educators, parents and local partners to implement college-access best practices and foster the school’s college-going culture, devise creative approaches to reach and connect with students, and, most importantly, assist students and their families as they navigate the college-going process. Advisors will supplement, not replace, existing high school counseling staff.
“Advise TN will complement the programs that have emerged statewide through the Drive to 55 by providing more resources, time, and individual focus to ensure postsecondary access and success,” THEC’s interim executive director Russ Deaton said. “We are all looking forward to this expanded school-level collaboration and ensuring that Tennessee’s college enrollment continues to grow.”
Advise TN was included in Haslam’s 2016-17 budget with funding of $2,455,800. High schools selected to participate in Advise TN are expected to develop sustainability plans to continue the program beyond initial state funding.

As the school year winds down, many Tennesseans are turning their attention to vacation planning. The Tennessee Department of Commerce & Insurance’s (TDCI) Division of Consumer Affairs wants to remind consumers to be wary of summer vacation scams.
“Vacation scams occur when a stranger offers you a free or discounted cruise, travel club membership, exotic resort stay or rental property in exchange for a large, upfront fee or deposit,” said TDCI Deputy Commissioner Bill Giannini. “If you accept, the scammer takes your money and/or personal identifying information, and you never receive the free or discounted offer. Tennessee consumers need to be diligent to avoid scams like these during the summer season.”
Consumers may receive scam offers via phone call, pamphlet, postcard, letter or email. To report a vacation scam, file a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission at www.ftccomplaintassistant.gov.
Tips to Avoid Vacation Scams and Identity Theft:
 Research before accepting free or discounted offers. If a stranger calls to offer you a free or discounted vacation package, do not offer personal information or payment without knowing all the facts. Request as much information as possible to validate the offer. If the caller refuses to answer your questions or replies with a scripted response, this is a red flag. A legitimate salesperson will answer your questions and allow you time to consider. When in doubt, write down the caller’s contact information and consider returning the call once you are sure the call is not a scam. If you believe you are being scammed, contact the Federal Trade Commission at www.ftccomplaintassistant.gov. You may also register for the National Do Not Call Registry at www.donotcall.gov.
Verify before you pay. Before paying a company or individual for your vacation travels, vacation package, rental property or timeshare, contact the Tennessee Division of Consumer Affairs at 800-342-8385 FREE or your local Better Business Bureau to ask if complaints have been filed against the company or individual. If you are considering leasing vacation property or purchasing a timeshare in Tennessee, verify the agent is properly licensed by visiting verify.tn.gov.
Read the fine print. Before signing any contract, read all the terms, conditions, policies and financial obligations. When you consider leasing or purchasing a property or timeshare, it is recommended to have a lawyer review the agreement or contract before signing.
NEVER wire money to strangers. When booking a vacation or renting property, avoid anyone who only accepts payment via wire transfer. Always use a secure method of payment, such as a credit card or legitimate online payment option.
Confirm your vacation package. If you purchased your vacation package through a third party, directly call the cruise line, resort, hotel, airline, etc., to confirm the prices, reservations, quality of accommodations, and the number of seats and/or rooms are correct.
Before leaving town, call your financial institution(s). Before traveling out of town for vacation, notify your credit card provider(s) and/or banking institution(s). If not, your card transactions may be declined, especially if your purchases don’t match your usual spending patterns.
Monitor your credit during vacation. Don’t go on hiatus from checking your credit reports and credit scores. If someone fraudulently opens an account in your name, you may not notice until your credit is damaged. Request a free credit report every year at www.annualcreditreport.com.  Unexpected changes in your credit scores are red flags indicating potential fraud.
When you return, check all receipts and statements. As soon as you return from vacation, reconcile your credit card and banking statements with your receipts. Extra charges are not necessarily fraudulent. Mistakes do happen, but regardless of whether a charge is an error or unauthorized, you should report the problem as soon as possible. For more consumer tips, visit www.tn.gov/consumer

Tennessee State Parks, in partnership with the Department of Agriculture Division of Forestry and The Nature Conservancy, is advising the public of a new policy regarding bringing firewood into parks.
Beginning June 1, Tennessee State Parks will advise visitors to use certified heat-treated wood. The new policy aims to prevent or slow the introduction of exotic insects or diseases into parks that could otherwise threaten the health of our trees and forests.
Visitors who want to have a campfire can bring certified heat-treated firewood into a park or use dead and down wood from an area adjacent to the fire. Manufactured fire logs will also be acceptable. Many parks, in conjunction with approved vendors, will have certified heat-treated firewood available for sale.
“Transportation of firewood is a primary pathway for the introduction of harmful pests and pathogens to Tennessee’s forests and woodlands,” said Jere Jeter, Tennessee State Forester with the Department of Agriculture. “We are pleased that State Parks has taken this important step to reduce the risks of new infestations and assist us with the protection of Tennessee’s trees.”
Forests cover more than 14 million acres, or 52 percent, of Tennessee. Insects can hide or lay eggs in firewood and spread widely if introduced into a park. Heat-treated firewood eliminates this danger by killing pests during the drying process and is safe for a campfire. It lights easily, burns well and is safe to cook over.
Insects and diseases hitchhiking undetected on firewood include the emerald ash borer, thousand cankers disease, hemlock woolly adelgid, gypsy moth and Asian longhorned beetle, among others. All have already killed tens of millions of trees in North America. The pests feed on trees like ash, black walnut, hemlock, oak and maple, disrupting the trees’ ability to transport water and nutrients. Infested trees soon die, which means impaired habitat for wildlife, a greater risk for wildfires, reduced timber values, and the loss of some of our state’s most beautiful places.
”We are happy to partner with these organizations to educate our guests about the risk of moving firewood and the dangers that it can create,” said Brock Hill, TDEC Deputy Commissioner for Parks and Conservation. “Since camping season is upon us, visitors should be aware of this new policy, and check with the park before arriving.”
Tennessee State Parks’ policy is similar to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park policy put into place in March 2015. All Tennessee State Parks that feature overnight accommodations will have information on-site about safe firewood. Visitors should contact specific parks to see if firewood is available to purchase on-site. If firewood is not available at a park, visitors should purchase certified heat-treated firewood before they arrive. Firewoodscout.org is an online directory for firewood vendors, including those who provide certified heart-treated firewood, and is searchable by zip code. Campers are also welcome to collect and burn dead and down wood found in a park.
“Our exceptional forests are a big part of what makes Tennessee’s State Parks beautiful,” said Trish Johnson, Director of Forest Conservation for The Nature Conservancy in Tennessee. “This new firewood policy for State Parks will decrease the risk of tree pests spreading into our parks, and keep our forests healthy for future generations to enjoy.”
Visit www.protecttnforests.org to learn more about the insects and wood and see a statewide map of where to find heat-treated wood. For information about individual parks, visit www.tnstateparks.com.

The middle of Woodbury is expected to be congested this weekend as the popular Cannon County Good Ole Days hits the courthouse square in its annual return to Woodbury.  The music and beauty pageant festival starts at 12 noon today with the Senior Center Choir and will conclude with the Gilley Brothers tomorrow evening starting around 8:00.  Pageants include the Senior Miss Pageant, Jr. Miss and Miss Teen Good Ole Days on Friday.  Baby Show, Little Miss Good Ole Days and Miss Good Ole Days on Saturday.  Music and Special performances highlight the two day event.  Nick and Patsy Nokes, Jonathan and Shelly Womack, Cannon Arts Dance Studio are a few of the music and talent scheduled to make an appearance during the Cannon County Senior Center hosted activity.
Friday May 20th:
12:00-12:30 Senior Center Choir
12:30-1:30 Senior Bingo
1:30-2:30 Senior Events 1
:00-2:30 School Events (Dillon Park)
2:30-3:00 Senior Ms. Pageant
3:15-3:45 Nick & Patsy Nokes
3:45-4:00 Ballroom Dancing
4:00-4:45 Porch People
5:00-6:30 Jr. Miss Pageant
6:45-7:15 Jonathan & Shelly Womack
7:30-8:30 Miss Teen Good Ole Days
9:00-10:30 Cripple Creek Review Band
Saturday May 21st:
7:00-9:00 Cannon Ball Run
9:00-11:30 Baby Show
11:30-12:15 Senior Symphony
12:00-12:30 Parade In Town
12:30-2:00 Cannon Arts Dance Studio
2:00-4:00 Dog Show (Back Stage)
2:15-3:15 The King’s Rumor
3:30-4:30 Little Miss Good Ole Days
4:45-5:45 UPC Band
6:00-7:30 Miss Good Ole Days
8:00-10:30 The Gilley Brothers

Battle of the Bluegrass Pulling Series Along With Mooretown Volunteer Fire Auxiliary, Inc. & Mooretown Volunteer Fire Department Presents
Our 3rd Annual Pulling Event at the Mooretown Fire Hall located at 473 Hollow Springs Rd, Woodbury TN May 21st, 2016 Starting at 6:00PM Admission Price: $10.00 each Children 5 and under free Concessions Provided Bring Your Chairs and enjoy some great pulling! Absolutely No Alcohol Permitted
Featured Classes Include:
Light Limited Super Stock Tractor
Work Stock Diesel Truck (2.5)
Pro Street Diesel Truck (2.6)
Pro Farm Tractors
Outlaw Super Stock Tractors
Special Class!!!

The Cannon County Sheriff’s Department made several incident reports of vandalism and theft recently.  According to reports Deputies responded to a Doolittle Road residence in reference to vandalism.  The owner of the residence stated that an unknown subject had egged his canyon star motor home.  He advised the motor home was sitting at the edge of his business by the iron gates last time that he had seen the vehicle without anything on it was two days prior.  The owner couldn’t provide any possible suspects and requested a report taken for a matter of record.

The Woodbury Lions Club will be hosting an American Red Cross Donor Appreciation Blood Drive for the Cannon County Community today at the Woodbury Lions Club Building from 9 this morning until 6 tonight.  May is the annual appreciation drive where the American Red Cross and the Woodbury Lions Club shows their appreciation to everyone who has given the gift of life throughout the various Blood Drives that have happened within the past year.  
There will be door prizes for all who donate and a drawing at the end of the drive for a grand prize $100 gift card.  Cannon County has always had good community wide blood drives and there is a great need for blood.  The area is encouraged to come out and participate today at the Woodbury Lions Club Building located on the corner of West Adams Street and West Lehman Street from 9A-6P today.

WBRY concludes it’s news series on the recent Cannon County Teacher recognitions which took place last Thursday at the Cannon County Board of Education meeting.  The recognitions also included the Leadership Academy Participants and those that completed the Academy.  Nathan Brazle, Crystal Kennedy and Annie Reed all participated in the Leadership Academy while Lydia Garrett, Julie Hackney, Shane Hollandsworth, Emily Hughes, Amber Phillips, Alysia Pitts, Melisha Simmons, Maria Vickers and Mary Beth Young completed Leadership Academy.
Teachers with perfect attendance was Ronny Burks, Loree DeArmond, Josh McMurry and Leslie Pursell
Non-teacher staff with perfect attendance during this school year were Connie Cantrell, Cheyrel Pursell and Teresa Scott
Core Coaches this year included Melinda Crook, Karen King, Marcia Melton, Melisha Simmons and Mary Beth Young
Retirees this year were David Brandon teaching in the school system 16 years, Mary Jean Cook after 29 years, Gwen Copeland 25 years, Gene McGee 16 years and Dianne McAllister who taught in the Cannon County School system for 30 years.
 

The birth of your baby will be one of the most memorable events in your life!  The Cannon County Health Department is now offering fun and informative prenatal workshops to share the latest baby information with expecting parents. The Cannon County Health Department will also be having a Baby Shower opened to all expecting mothers on May 18th from 2 P.M. until 4 P.M. To register for these workshops and to RSVP for the Baby Shower, please contact The Cannon County Health Department at 615-563-4243.
 

Cannon County School Teacher Recognition’s continue on WBRY news with the new teachers induction program year two.  The following teachers completed the program:  Britney Bourgeois, Amanda Francis, Lesa Johnson, and Ashley Pelham.  Participating in the program was Jonathan Odom, Amber Phillips, Heather Rowell, and Suzette Sanderfer.
Teachers of the Year were also recognized.  There are two categories for Teacher of the Year in the Grammar Schools Division which is composed of Pre-K through 4th grande and 5th through 8th grade.  Teachers of the year at the Building Level were:
Auburn: Regan Vaughn and Dianne McAllister
East Side: Ana Smith and Amy Underwood
Short Mountain: Judy Cootes and Stephanie Alexander
West Side: Kendria Smithson and Melissa Anderson
Woodbury Grammar: Rhonda Odom and Jeff Todd
Woodland:  Jessica Reed and Stacie Bryson
Cannon County High School Courtney Nichols
Teachers of the Year District
PK-4th grade: Ana Smith
5th-8th Grade: Stacie Bryson
9-12th: Courtney Nichols
State Teacher of the Year
Gay Burger who was one of 9 finalists for the State Teacher of the year
Schools that met their 2015 3rd grade reading goal
East Side: Connie Phillips
Short Mountain: Judy Cootes
West Side Brian Huddleston
Woodland: Laura Martindale
Auburn: Leslie Pursell improved reading by 3.9% but did not reach goal