News 2016

The Child Advocacy Center of Rutherford and Cannon Counties admires Scott Walker and Courtney Greene.  
Both shared in various forms of media their experiences of being sexually abused as children. Walker was abused by a neighbor and Green was assaulted by her church youth pastor
The Child Advocacy Center calls for  churches to get up to speed.  Schools and non-profit agencies that serve children conduct thorough criminal background checks on staff and volunteers that work with children.  Unfortunately, all churches do not provide the same protection to children.  A pedophile will go where there are children and where adults do not conduct the background checks on staff and volunteers that protect children.
The state needs to require churches to have criminal background checks for church staff and volunteers, like FBI fingerprint background checks.  Until the state requires this, churches need to protect children by adopting similar criminal background check policies as schools and non-profits.  Often churches tell us they cannot afford expensive criminal background checks.  We believe that you cannot afford not to conduct background checks.  Children are counting on us to keep them safe.  No church congregation wants to see any child in their church family sexually assaulted by a pedophile.  
The Child Advocacy Center of Rutherford County is available to assist churches and other organizations in developing policies and procedures by utilizing the Darkness to Light training curriculum.  In Rutherford and Cannon Counties, contact Ryan Wallace at the Child Advocacy Center of Rutherford County for Information on Darkness to Light training at 615-867-9000.
April is Child Abuse Prevention Month.  Get involved.  Attend an event in the community.  In Rutherford County, you can lace up your tennis shoes and join us for the Hometown Heroes Walk for Children on Friday, April 29 at 12:00 noon at the Murfreesboro Civic Plaza, downtown on square.   For more information or a walk registration form contact the Child Advocacy Center at 615-867-9000.

Last week the State Board of Education voted unanimously on final reading to approve new, Tennessee-specific academic standards for Mathematics and English language arts.

A multi-year public review culminated in a six month rigorous revision process led by the Standards Recommendation Committee (SRC), whose members were appointed by the Governor, Lt. Governor, and Speaker of the House of Representatives and confirmed by the General Assembly. The new K-12 Tennessee Academic Standards for mathematics and ELA standards were then heard on first reading at the January 2016 State Board of Education meeting.

These rigorous standards set grade-specific goals that exemplify what students are expected to know and be able to do by the end of a given grade or course.

“Tennessee’s new Academic Standards for math and ELA are comprehensive, rigorous, and a step forward for Tennessee students,” said Fielding Rolston, chairman of the State Board of Education. “We are very grateful to all of the parents, teachers, and leaders who took part in the public review process to help create these new standards.”

Tennesseans had multiple opportunities to provide feedback on the new standards. An initial online review period brought 131,424 reviews and 20,344 comments. A committee of math and ELA educators scrutinized each individual standard to update or revise them based on the public feedback and their classroom expertise.

The revised set of standards were then posted for a second public comment period in the fall of 2015. Following that public review, the SRC examined the revised standards and gathered additional feedback from regional meetings and roundtables with educators and parents. The higher education community and other stakeholders also provided input before the SRC completed their work and shared their recommendations with the State Board.

Between first and final reading, the Board continued to actively review and make refinements in both subjects. In English language arts, clarification was added regarding the progression of standards, and adjustments were made to add clarity to several of the glossary definitions. In math, additional clarification was added to specific standards regarding mathematical formulas and several Bridge Math standards were eliminated to further narrow the course content.

“These new and improved Tennessee Academic Standards will help ensure that our students are workforce and postsecondary ready,” said Dr. Sara Heyburn, Executive Director of the State Board of Education. “This has been a deep and thorough review process, and the quality of this work is impressive thanks to the commitment and engagement of so many Tennessee educators and parents.”

In October 2014, Governor Bill Haslam announced the creation of a public standards review website to offer feedback on the math and English language arts standards. This process was codified by the General Assembly in Public Chapter 423 of 2015, which refined the review process to include even more opportunities for input on the standards from the public and subject matter experts.

Monday, the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation released its 2015 ‘Crime in Tennessee’ report, revealing an overall decrease in reported instances of crime in the most recent reporting year.

The annual study compiles data reported from each law enforcement agency in the state through the Tennessee Incident Based Reporting System (TIBRS). The TBI’s sophisticated crime reporting system, in place since 1997, provides an updated and comprehensive picture of the successes and challenges facing communities across Tennessee.

Among the findings in the 2015 report:

    The total number of reported Group A incidents decreased by 2.1% year-to-year.
    Reported homicides increased by 9.4%.
    The number of Forcible Rape cases reported by law enforcement agencies increased by 2.4%.
    The number of Drug/Narcotic, Prostitution, and Burglary offenses all decreased in 2015’s study.
    Reported methamphetamine offenses increased from 4,362 in 2014 to 6,276 in 2015.
    Simple Assault accounted for 67.3% of all reported Domestic Violence offenses.

“We’re extremely thankful for our dedicated law enforcement partners,” said TBI Director Mark Gwyn. “Together, they helped us compile a thorough snapshot of crime in Tennessee. We now hope every department takes this information and works to further address the key crime issues facing their communities and our state.”

Before a landfill can locate in Cannon County, it will have to gain the approval of the majority vote of the Cannon County Commission thanks to the passage of Resolution 2016-9 which adopted the Jackson Law.  The motion was made and passed Saturday during the regular monthly meeting of the Cannon County Commission.  The matter was brought up due to Allied Waste’s upcoming closure of the landfill in Rutherford County.  A CTAS official told Rutherford County they should build a landfill in Cannon County as it is the only neighboring county without zoning laws.  The CTAS official noted there was 300 acres on Lockes Creek Road that would be a perfect spot for a landfill.  The Jackson Law prohibits any landfills without a two thirds majority vote from the County Commission.  The motion was unanimously approved.

In other actions by the Commission.  Robert D. Bush was appointed as County Historian.  The Commission approved the bid of $7,596.00 for a recording/PA system for the courtroom to replace the outdated system they have now.  Some of the parts of the sound system they have now no longer works.  Dottie Duggin, Hilda Parham and Charlene Odom were all approved as notaries.  Commission approved the Budget Amendments of the Sheriff’s Department.  They approved Resolution 2016-7 by majority vote.  This was a resolution to apply for a trail grant with the state.  The plan would be to build a walking trail around the fairgrounds.  This is a 80/20 grant with 80 percent funded by the state while the county would have to match 20%.  The 20% would be mostly in-kind labor furnished by the Sheriff’s Department and inmates.  There is no guarantee they would be awarded the grant and any costs outside of in-kind labor would be minimal.  Two commissioners, Russell Reed and Jim Bush voted against applying for the grant because of unsure cost issues on the county’s part.  Glenn Steakley voted for applying for the grant but stated that it was a great idea.  He also said that the grant would furnish a want for the county but not a need.  Steakley is all for this grant if it is awarded to Cannon County as long as they can manage the finances and he would like to see the projected costs if Cannon County gets the grant before they approve the final step.  The County Commission took no action on Resolution 2016-6  which was a resolution that would indicate Cannon County supports Senate Bill 1719 and House Bill 247 which calls for full time law enforcement, firefighters and emergency management employees and their families to receive a 25% discount on any college education from an accredited university in the State.  The Resolution 2016-8 that called for crediting TCRS for 9-1-1 was withdrawn.

April 19—ACT for 11th graders at CCHS
April 19—Professional Development day for all staff
April 19—CCHS Tennis match with Providence Christian at home, 3:30 p.m.
April 19—CCHS Baseball game with Smith Co. at home, 5:00 p.m.
April 19—CCHS Soccer match at Jackson Co., 6:00 p.m.
April 19—CCHS Softball game with Livingston at home, 4:30 p.m.
April 19—CCHS Tennis match at Livingston
April 21—CCHS Softball game at Macon Co., 5:00 p.m.
April 22—CCHS Tennis match at Coffee Co.
April 23—CCHS Baseball games at Eagleville, 2:00 p.m. (JV), 4:00 p.m. (varsity)
April 24-30—Senior Trip
April 25—Progress Reports go home
April 25—CCHS Baseball game with Dekalb Co. at home, 5:00 p.m.
April 26—CCHS Softball game at Dekalb Co., 4:30 p.m.
April 26—CCHS Baseball game at Dekalb Co., 5:30 p.m.
April 26—CCHS Soccer match at Central Magnet, 5:00 p.m.
April 27—WBRY Spotlight—Title I, Pre-K, and summer reading programs will be featured.
April 28—Recessed School Board meeting, 6:30 p.m.
May 2—CCHS Baseball game with York at home, 4:30 p.m.
May 2—CCHS Softball game with Franklin Co. at home, 7:00 p.m.
May 2-3—Tennis District Tournament (TEAM)
May 3—CCHS Baseball game at York
May 3—CCHS Soccer match with Dekalb Co. at home, 6:30 p.m.
May 5—CCHS Soccer match with Community H. S. at home (SENIOR NIGHT), 6:00 p.m.
May 5, 6 &9—Tennis District Tournament (INDIVIDUAL)
May 6-11—Softball District Tournament at Upperman
NOTE—May 6, 2016 will be a regular instructional day.  

I believe you deserve a representative in Congress who is accountable to you, who listens to your concerns, and who answers your questions. That is why I am holding a TeleTown Hall on MONDAY, April 18th, at 7 PM CST. I hope you and your family will make plans to dial in and tell me what’s on your mind.

In order to join the call, simply dial 877-229-8493 immediately before the scheduled start time. Then, when prompted, enter the participant passcode: 18578. I will kick off the call by giving an update on the latest developments in Congress, and then I will open the lines to take your questions.

Purchasing meats directly from local farms is easy to do. With this year’s “Fill Your Grill” contest from Pick Tennessee, it might also be free. 

Between April 15 and May 15, Facebook users can enter to win $200 worth of local meats from a nearby farm. The contest comes courtesy of Pick Tennessee Products, the Tennessee Department of Agriculture program that connects farmers directly to consumers. A total of 12 winners will be randomly chosen at noon on Monday, May 16 and notified by Pick Tennessee Products. This year’s contest is funded by the Tennessee “Ag Tag.” Fees generated by the cultural license plate support the Tennessee Agricultural Development Fund. All proceeds from the Ag Tag go back to Tennessee’s farm community, supporting programs for local farmers, farmers markets, and youth organizations like 4-H and FFA. 

The Tennessee Ag Tag celebrates its 20th anniversary this year. Last year “Fill Your Grill” garnered a total of 4,504 entries completed from each of Tennessee’s 95 counties with more than 700 towns represented. 

To enter, visit the Pick Tennessee Facebook page and click on the “Fill Your Grill” posting. Contestants must choose which farm they would visit to collect their meats and then submit that choice with their own contact information. Winners can choose what kinds of meats they want to purchase. Contestants simply need to be sure to choose the farm that offers what he or she wants, whether it’s beef, pork, lamb, goat, poultry—or some of everything. 

There is no cash prize. Entrants win the opportunity to go to a farm or local meats business and choose up to $200 of Tennessee meats. All funds will go directly to the farmer or business to reimburse them for their products

More information about the contest is available on the “Fill Your Grill” contest pages. Follow Pick Tennessee on Facebook, Twitter, and on the Web. The Pick Tennessee Products Website, www.PickTnProducts.org, also has a link to the contest on the home page. 

The Woodbury Police Department made the following arrests during the past week
Todd C. Smallie-Simple Possession Schedule 6 Drugs
Thomas Clayton Coleman-Simple Possession Schedule 2 methamphetamine, Driving While License Revoked 8th offense and possession of drug paraphernalia.
Melissa Luttrell-Possession of Drug Paraphernalia and simple possession of schedule 2 drugs
Dylan Pister Drug Paraphernalia, Simple Possession schedule 2 drugs.

A devious lottery scam involving the promise of cash prizes to winners in exchange for “small” payments threatens to make losers out of unsuspecting Tennessee senior citizens.
The Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance (TDCI) has commenced an investigation into the alleged wrongdoing and is warning senior citizens, their families, and caretakers about the lottery scam. .
In an alleged fraud being investigated by TDCI, a senior citizen living in an assisted living facility received a cold-call from a person(s) impersonating a lottery official and congratulating him on his lottery winnings. After establishing a relationship with the senior citizen, this person(s) allegedly sought to help him liquidate certain financial holdings to help him pay for “identity bonds,” taxes, and/or processing fees on his winnings.  
In addition to posing as representatives of this fake lottery, the swindlers have also impersonated federal government employees and major financial institutions
Tennesseans are encouraged to reach out to the TDCI if they have any questions or concerns about a potential fraud. Call us at (615) 741-4737 or 800-342-8385 FREE.
 

Tickets are now available for United Way’s signature fundraising event, Red, White and Bayou, presented by Ford of Murfreesboro. Celebrate the local United Way’s 60th Anniversary in the community at this outdoors, casual dinner reflective of the southern coastal culture.

The event is set for Saturday, May 21st at the Historic Oaklands Mansion in Murfreesboro, TN. A Sponsor’s Reception will be held at 5:30 p.m. with complimentary tours of the Mansion. An outdoor dinner will follow at 7:00 p.m. Jim ‘N Nick’s Barbeque is set to cater this year’s event with a menu consisted of Cajun and bayou inspired specialties.

Lisbeth Couser, Director of Engagement for United Way, said, “We are looking forward to celebrating 60 years of service to the community during this year’s Red White and Bayou.  As our community continues to grow, United Way is keeping pace to increase service and provide a better life for those we serve.”

Tickets are $75 each for dinner. Proceeds will benefit the United Way of Rutherford and Cannon Counties to make an impact in the areas of education, health and financial stability. For tickets and sponsorship benefits, please visit www.yourlocaluw.org/redwhiteandbayou.   

The deadline to RSVP is May 11, 2016. For more information, contact Lisbeth Couser at (615) 893-7303 or Lisbeth.Couser@yourlocaluw.org.