News

The Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) is reminding drivers that a new traffic pattern will be implemented on SR 55 at Interstate 24 following last weekend’s bridge demolition activities over I-24 at Exit 111 in Coffee County.

As of 6:00 a.m. on Monday, November 9, 2026, all SR 55 traffic was shifted onto the SR 55 North bridge. One lane of traffic in each direction will be maintained on that structure while crews remove and replace the existing SR 55 South bridge.

Motorists traveling through the area should be aware that during this phase of construction, traffic will no longer operate in its previous configuration. Drivers should expect narrower travel lanes, reduced speeds, and temporary traffic control measures as work continues.

This traffic shift represents the next major phase of the SR 55 bridge replacement project. While traffic will continue to move through the corridor, drivers should pay close attention to roadway signs and pavement markings as they adjust to the new pattern.

As part of the traffic shift:

• Traffic in both directions on SR 55 will utilize the SR 55 North bridge.
• One lane of travel will be maintained in each direction.
• Exit 111A will close once the new traffic pattern is in place.
• I-24 East traffic will now use Exit 111B to access SR 55; drivers are able to travel either northbound or southbound on SR 55 from that interchange ramp.

Traffic control devices and signage will direct motorists through the revised interchange configuration. The temporary traffic pattern will remain in place during construction of the new SR 55 South bridge.

As always, drivers are reminded to use all motorist information tools wisely and Know Before You Go! by checking travel conditions before leaving for your destination. Drivers should never tweet, text, or talk on a cell phone while behind the wheel. Get the latest construction activity traffic updates from the TDOT SmartWay Map. Travelers can also call 511 for statewide travel information. 

The Move Over Law was passed in 2006. The penalty for violating the law in Tennessee carries the possibility of up to 30 days in jail and a maximum fine of up to $500. 

The unofficial numbers from the November 3rd state/federal election in Cannon County.

Governor

Blackburn – 2494

Green – 1047

Hatley – 677

Pinkston – 85

Amendment 1

Yes – 3051

No- 1041

Amendment 2

Yes – 3351

No – 679

Amendment 3

Yes – 3351

No – 679

Senate

Hagerty – 3098

Bradshaw – 993

Chandler – 20

Gerena – 18

Hearn – 13

Jones – 29

US House

DesJarlais – 2884

Broderick – 983

Anders – 60

Faircloth – 52

TN House

Hale – 3076

Hawthorne – 959

Today is election day, polls are open from 7:00am until 7:00pm to cast votes in the state and federal general election.

Tennessee voters are reminded they can access the Secretary of State’s convenient toll-free Official Election Hotline or the Text to Report Voter Fraud system.

“In Tennessee, voters can count on the Division of Elections and their local county election commission to be trusted sources for accurate and timely election information,” said Secretary of State Tre Hargett. “If you have questions or concerns on Election Day, don’t hesitate to reach out to my office or your local election commission.” 

Tennessee voters can get answers to Election Day questions or report voting issues by calling the Division of Elections’ toll-free Official Election Hotline at 1-877-850-4959. Voters can also find contact information for their local county election commission at https://tnsos.org/elections/election_commissions.php.

Tennesseans can also access accurate Election Day information, including their polling location, voting dates, hours, sample ballots and more, on the Secretary of State’s GoVoteTN.gov website and free GoVoteTN app.

“Ensuring every eligible Tennessean can vote easily while maintaining the integrity of our elections remains our top priority,” said Coordinator of Elections Mark Goins. “If voters have questions or encounter an issue on Election Day, our office is here to help.”

The Secretary of State’s Text to Report Voter Fraud system provides Tennesseans with a convenient way to alert the Division of Elections about suspected voter fraud. Voters can also use the system to report Election Day issues or share feedback about their voting experience, whether positive or negative.

To use the Text to Report Voter Fraud system, text “TN” to 45995. Users will receive a secure link where they can submit their concerns directly to the Division of Elections. The Division of Elections then works with county election commissions, district attorneys, and other parties to take appropriate action.

For the latest information about the November 3 State and Federal General Election, visit GoVoteTN.gov.

The Tennessee Higher Education Commission (THEC) is reminding high school seniors that only days remain to apply for the TN Promise scholarship. Students must complete their application by Monday, November 2, 2026 to remain eligible for tuition-free college through TN Promise and receive personalized college admission offers through TN Direct Admissions.

TN Promise is a last-dollar scholarship that covers tuition and mandatory fees not already paid by the Pell Grant, HOPE Scholarship, or the Tennessee Student Assistance Award. Students may use the scholarship at Tennessee’s community colleges, Tennessee Colleges of Applied Technology (TCATs), and other eligible institutions.

This year, completing the TN Promise application also connects students to an expanded
TN Direct Admissions initiative, which provides automatic admission offers and estimated state and institutional financial aid from participating Tennessee colleges and universities.

Now in its second year, TN Direct Admissions has expanded statewide to include 63 institutions, serving eligible public, private, and homeschooled seniors.

Tennessee is the first state in the nation to pair proactive college admission offers with personalized financial aid estimates, giving students and families a clearer picture of their opportunities and the cost of pursuing education or training after high school.

Nearly 44,000 students in the Class of 2027 have already received personalized letters from Governor Bill Lee, with approximately 26,000 additional letters expected following the November 2 deadline. The number of students claiming their admission offers has already surpassed the total from the program’s inaugural year.

“Tennessee continues to lead the way in making higher education more accessible and affordable,” said Dr. Steven Gentile, THEC Executive Director. “With TN Promise and TN Direct Admissions working together, students have more opportunities than ever to explore their options, understand the financial support available, and take the next step toward a credential that leads to lifelong success.”

Students can apply for TN Promise through the THEC Student Portal. To create an account, students will need their name as it appears on their Social Security card, Social Security number, date of birth, and personal email address.

Students who receive a TN Direct Admissions letter have until June 1, 2027, to claim their spots at participating institutions.

For more information about TN Promise, TN Direct Admissions, and other financial aid opportunities, visit CollegeforTN.org.

Beginning Oct. 15, Tennesseans must obtain a free burn permit before burning leaves or natural debris or conducting prescribed burns. As wildfire season begins, the Tennessee Department of Agriculture Division of Forestry (TDF) encourages residents and visitors to observe National Fire Prevention Week by practicing fire prevention and exercising extra caution when burning outdoors. Tennessee averages about 1,000 wildfires each year, burning approximately 18,000 acres.

“More than 90% of wildfires in Tennessee are caused by human activities, including escaped debris burns,” State Forester Heather Slayton said. “That means individual actions matter – choosing to avoid burning on high fire danger days, getting a burn permit, taking steps to burn safely and staying with your fire until it is completely out can make a meaningful difference in preventing destructive wildfires in our state.”

TDF is Tennessee’s lead wildfire agency and is responsible by law for administering the burn permit system. Burn permits help TDF communicate when and where conditions are safe for burning and are issued only when fire danger is at an acceptable level. When hazardous conditions — such as high winds, very low humidity or extremely dry vegetation and debris — increase wildfire risk, TDF temporarily pauses permit issuance until conditions improve.

Burn permits are free and can be obtained at Burn Safe TN or by using the MyTN mobile app. Online permits are issued seven days a week from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. local time. Residents and visitors must obtain a permit on the day they plan to burn a leaf or debris pile of any size or conduct a prescribed burn. Burning without a permit is a prosecutable Class C misdemeanor. Fires must be completely extinguished before the permit expires and must never be left unattended.

Residents with limited internet access may call 1-877-350-BURN (2876) Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Central time for a burn permit. Callers may experience lengthy wait times when call volume is high, so online applications are encouraged.

Individuals within city limits should check with their municipality for additional restrictions before burning.

Residents seeking to dispose of debris from Winter Storm Fern or Hurricane Helene should contact their local government about alternatives to burning and use those options whenever possible.

Information about burning debris from natural disasters, as well as a list of materials that are not allowed to be burned, can be found on the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation’s website. Call 1-888-891-TDEC to report illegal burning.

Tennessee’s wildfire season typically runs from mid-October to mid-May, with activity peaking in fall and spring when humidity and precipitation are low and dry leaves and debris are abundant. Despite high summer temperatures, fire occurrence is very low from June through September because humidity is high and vegetation is green and moist.

Visit Safe Debris Burning in Tennessee for tips to burn safely and to protect communities from wildfires.

The American Red Cross says if a fire starts in your home, you may have as little as two minutes to escape.

A working smoke alarm provides early warning, but knowing what to do next matters just as much.

That is worth thinking about during Fire Prevention Week, Oct. 4-10.

Home fires happen every day. According to the American Red Cross, a home fire occurs somewhere in the United States about every minute and a half. On average, someone is injured in a home fire every hour, and someone dies about every three hours.

The good news is there are simple steps you can take now.

Start with your smoke alarms. Working smoke alarms can cut the risk of dying in a home fire nearly in half. Install alarms on every level of your home, inside bedrooms and outside sleeping areas, and test them every month.

Then ask a simple question:

If the alarm went off right now, would everyone know what to do?

Don’t Just Have a Plan. Practice It.

An emergency plan can look good on paper and still fall apart if no one has practiced it.

Walk through your home and identify two ways out of every room when possible. Make sure those routes are clear. Choose a safe place outside where everyone will meet.

Then practice.

The American Red Cross recommends practicing your home fire escape plan twice a year and timing your drill to see whether everyone can safely get out in less than two minutes.

For families, that also means making sure children recognize the sound of a smoke alarm and know what to do when they hear it.

For workplaces, schools, houses of worship and other organizations, the same principle applies. Know your exits. Identify your meeting place. Make sure people understand their roles. Decide who will call 911 and how you will account for everyone once you are outside.

Think about the people who may need additional help, including young children, older adults and people with disabilities or access and functional needs.

Practice the Decisions, Not Just the Route

A drill is not only about getting from point A to point B.

It is an opportunity to find the questions you have not answered yet.

What if the nearest exit is blocked?

Who helps a child or someone who needs assistance?

Where does everyone meet?

How do you know everyone made it out?

Who calls 911?

What happens if the emergency occurs when your normal routine has changed?

Those are much easier questions to answer before an alarm is sounding.

Take 15 Minutes This Week

You do not need a complicated exercise.

Take 15 minutes with your family, workplace or organization and:

• Test your smoke alarms.
• Walk your evacuation route.
• Identify a second way out when possible.
• Confirm your outside meeting place.
• Make sure everyone knows what to do when an alarm sounds.
• Identify anyone who may need additional assistance.
• Fix one thing you notice.

Preparedness is built by practicing small actions before they become urgent decisions.

Ready to Practice?

The American Red Cross offers free resources families can use to make and practice a home fire plan:

Download the American Red Cross Home Fire Escape Plan

Download the American Red Cross Home Fire Safety Checklist

Explore American Red Cross fire safety resources

Explore American Red Cross disaster preparedness resources in ASL

Walk the plan. Talk through the plan. Practice it.

That is one more way to Stay ReadyTN.

Tennessee agricultural producers will have a new opportunity to receive cost-share assistance through the Tennessee Agricultural Enhancement Program (TAEP) this year with the addition of a Livestock Fencing program.

The 2026-27 TAEP application window closes October 7th.

The new Livestock Fencing program will provide cost-share funding for eligible fencing investments that support livestock operations by strengthening their long-term viability through the installation of new permanent perimeter fencing and new permanent cross-fencing.

“Adding livestock fencing to TAEP gives more Tennessee livestock producers a way to invest in the infrastructure they need to manage their operations,” Agriculture Commissioner Andy Holt said. “As producers prepare to apply, I encourage them to review the requirements and eligible investments for the programs that fit their operations.”

For 2026-27, most TAEP programs offer a 50% cost share on eligible expenses, up to each program’s maximum reimbursement amount. Maximum reimbursements range from $3,000 to $12,000.

Other changes this year include reducing the minimum hay production requirement from 100 acres to 50 acres and reducing the minimum swine requirement from 1,000 head to 100 head. Additional items have also been added to the Livestock Equipment program.

TAEP programs available for the 2026-27 application cycle include Dairy Solutions, Farming Solutions (previously Livestock Solutions), Genetics, Hay Equipment, Hay Storage, Herd Health, Livestock Equipment, Livestock Fencing, Poultry Grower, Producer Diversification, Row Crop Solutions, Swine Producer, and Working Structures and Fence-line Systems.

Applications will be accepted online only during the application period. Producers should review program requirements and eligible investments before applying.

TAEP has invested more than $309 million in 97,855 producer projects since the program began in 2005, helping Tennessee agricultural producers make investments in their operations through cost-share assistance.

For application information, program requirements and eligible investments, visit the Tennessee Department of Agriculture’s TAEP webpage

Celebrate fall by clearing out clutter and giving unwanted items a second life! Join Recycle Right TN and Tennessee Environmental Council (TEC) for the Woodbury RecyclingRoundup, where you can recycle or donate hard-to-recycle materials free of charge. It’s an easy way to refresh your home, reduce waste, and support a cleaner, greener community.

Event Details:

Cannon County High School, 1 Lion Drive Woodbury, TN 37190

Saturday, October 3rd, 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM

Free and open to the public

Donations support TEC’s sustainability programs. (suggested donation: $10–$20) Click here to donate in advance. 

What Can You Bring?
We’ll be accepting a wide variety of items, including:

·  Recycling: mattresses, tires and rims, electronics, glass, cardboard, scrap metal, styrofoam, household batteries, ink cartridges.

·  Donation: Clean and gently used clothing, shoes, household goods, furniture, tools, medical supplies, crayons, and eyeglasses

·  Confidential paper shredding will also be available.

Click here for full event details. 

Volunteer Opportunities
We’re looking for volunteers to help make this event a success!Click here to register as a volunteer. Shifts range from 3.5 to 6.5 hours. Group and individual sign-ups are welcome. Community Service hours can be earned through this event.

Let’s welcome fall by decluttering responsibly and caring for the places where we live and work. If you have any questions, we’re happy to help. See you at the Roundup!

Customers of the Town of Woodbury Water Department were notified on September 28th of a problem with the drinking water and were advised to boil all water used for consumption.

The Department is pleased to report that the problem has been corrected and that it is no longer necessary to boil water as all test samples have returned negative.

Woodbury Water Department understands this was an inconvenience and greatly appreciates the customer’s patience. Our customers safety is always the main goal and these steps were taken for that to be ensured.

 You may contact Shane Gannon, Public Works Director, at 615-563-4221 with any comments or questions.

The Woodbury Water Department has experienced a leak on Hollow Springs Road causing a loss of line pressure in much of this area.  Due to this, a Boil Water Notice has been issued in the following areas: Hwy 53 South, Hollow Springs Road, Petty Gap Road, Woodland, Eastside, Hill Creek Road, Center Hill Road, and Short Mountain Road.

The leak has been repaired and samples have be collected.  When samples are returned, notice will be given that Boil Water Notice has been lifted.  Thank you for your patience as we work through this issue.  The safety of our customers is our priority.  Questions may be directed to Shane Gannon at 615-563-4221.

Cannon South Elementary will be virtual Tuesday, September 29, 2026

Cannon County Schools have been notified of a water leak in the Woodland Community resulting in a Water Boil Alert being in effect until further notice. So, out of an abundance of caution, Cannon South will be virtual Tuesday, September 29, 2026 for students – faculty and staff will report as regular.