News

The Tennessee Highway Safety Office (THSO) has joined AAA – The Auto Club Group to offer the Reduce TN Crashes Scholarship Award. The THSO has partnered with AAA – The Auto Club Group to provide one high school senior the opportunity to earn a $3,000 scholarship by working with the THSO’s Reduce TN Crashes program to improve driver safety within their local community.

All high school seniors in Tennessee are encouraged to apply. In order to be considered, the student must be nominated by a principal, teacher, mentor, or school resource officer. The student must be a current high school senior who demonstrates leadership qualities, driver safety skills, school involvement, and citizenship/volunteerism. The student must plan to attend a college or university in Tennessee.

In order to apply, the student must register his/her high school in the Reduce TN Crashes program at www.ReduceTNCrashes.org. The student must complete at least one traffic safety activity offered through the Reduce TN Crashes program during the school years of 2016 to 2020. In 500 words or less, the student must write an essay describing how he/she used at least one traffic safety activity to make a difference in a local community. The student nomination, essay, and all application information must be submitted to www.ReduceTNCrashes.org/scholarship by March 31, 2020. The scholarship award recipient will be announced in May 2020.

The Upper Cumberland Council on Children and Youth presents a lunch and learn at theCannon County Courthouse.

Screenings of Paper Tigers and Darkness to Light training is scheduled.  Paper Tigers follows a year in the life of an alternative high school that that has radically changed its approach to disciplining and working with its students becoming a promising model for how to break the cycles of poverty violence and disease that affect families.

Darkness to Light will be presented after lunch Darkness to Light deals with how to protect children from sexual abuse and is presented by the Brittany Noble Child Advocacy Center.

Date for the lunch and learn is Wednesday, January 22nd from 10:00 AM until 2:00 PM at the Cannon County Courthouse. Lunch will be provided you should RSVP Catherine Player, Youth Services officer email Catherine_Player@hotmail.com or you can Phone 615-563-8142 to register. You may attend one or both training sessions.

Ava has ascended to the top spot on the list of most popular names for baby girls born in Tennessee in 2019. William holds on to the number one spot as the most popular name chosen for baby boys in Tennessee for the 13th straight year.

The top 10 names Tennessee parents chose for their new babies born in 2019* are as follows:

Rank   Girls               Boys

1          Ava                  William

2          Olivia              Liam

3          Emma             Noah

4          Amelia            James

5          Harper            Elijah

6          Charlotte        Mason

7          Evelyn             Oliver

8          Elizabeth         John

9          Isabella           Wyatt

10        Ella                  Jackson

*provisional data

Ava returns to the top spot for names of baby girls after first reaching the number one ranking in 2017 and placing second in 2018. Ella is a new addition to the top ten list of girls’ names for 2019, with Abigail dropping from the list from the previous year. All other names in the top ten list for girls are the same as in 2018, but some have changed in ranking.

Wyatt is the new arrival on the top ten list of boys’ names for 2019, with Grayson falling off the list since 2018. William has been the most popular name chosen for baby boys in Tennessee since 2007. All other names in the top ten list for boys made the list in 2018 as well, but have changed in ranking.

Names chosen for babies are recorded and tallied by the dedicated team in the Tennessee Department of Health Division of Vital Records and Statistics. This division is responsible for records of all births, deaths, marriages and divorces in Tennessee and registers approximately 230,000 new records each year. Team members handle an average of 8,500 phone calls per month and issue more than 3,200 certificates every week.

“All Tennessee county health department locations can provide copies of birth and death records, offering an important and convenient service for Tennesseans,” said State Registrar Gray Bishop. “We remind new parents to make sure they have a copy of their child’s birth certificate before filing their 2019 income taxes so they can claim the exemption for the new additions to their families.”

Tennessee birth certificates and other vital records may be securely obtained online by placing an order through VitalChek, the only approved partner for providing Tennessee vital records. Visit the VitalChek website at www.vitalchek.com/.

The Tennessee Office of Vital Records is located on the first floor of the Andrew Johnson Tower at 710 James Robertson Parkway in Nashville. Walk-in hours are available Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Central time. The office is open for extended hours each Tuesday and Thursday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Central time. Learn more about the Tennessee Office of Vital Records including how request these records at www.tn.gov/health/health-program-areas/vital-records.html.  

For the first time since the TBI crime laboratories began keeping detailed statistics, methamphetamine eclipsed marijuana as the most-submitted drug in the state in 2019.

“Drug addiction continues to be a major issue in Tennessee, and I believe this sharp increase in methamphetamine has a connection to our state’s ongoing opioid epidemic,” said TBI Director David Rausch. “Drug abusers often flow from depressants to stimulants and back again. As more people struggle with opioid addiction many of them will – with time – seek out stimulants like methamphetamine. Unfortunately, those who run drug operations, often based outside the United States, know there’s an increased demand here. Alongside our local, state, and federal partners, we’ll keep doing what we can to dismantle these operations, but we’d also urge anyone struggling with drug problems to get help before addiction costs you your life.”

TBI’s crime laboratories in Memphis, Nashville, and Knoxville received a total of 9,795 submissions of marijuana in 2019, compared to 10,652 in 2018. Historically, the TBI analyzes approximately 10,000 submissions identified as marijuana every year.

Comparatively, methamphetamine has continued to trend significantly upward in recent years, increasing from 3,748 submissions in 2015 to 12,072 in 2019. That has occurred, however, at the same time the state has seen a sharp decline in the number of meth labs over the past decade, indicating an influx in imported methamphetamine.

“The drug trade continues to evolve,” said Tommy Farmer, TBI Special Agent-in-Charge of the Tennessee Dangerous Drugs Task Force. “Though we’ve seen an increase, recently, in stimulants in our state’s illicit drug supply, I’m encouraged we’ve made progress in addressing other illicit drugs, like opioids. This data, however, proves we have more work to do. We will continue to do what it takes to address this problem from the law enforcement side and stand prepared to help law enforcement agencies across the state in this collective fight.”

“While our state’s addiction crisis continues to evolve, it’s important to remember that treatment for substance use disorder is effective, and people do recover,” said Marie Williams, LCSW, Commissioner of the Tennessee Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services.  “We want to encourage everyone, whether you’re living with an addiction or you love someone who’s struggling, there is hope for a new life in recovery.”

Both state agencies encourage those struggling with substance abuse issues to take advantage of free and confidential resources available through the Tennessee REDLINE. More information can be found online at https://www.tn.gov/behavioral-health/news/2019/7/10/tn-redline-adds-new-text-communication-capability.html or by calling or texting 1-800-889-9789.

It is exciting when a child successfully manages to prepare a simple dish.  Cooking helps youth develop self-confidence and skills.  It requires hands on use of math concepts, planning, thinking and management.  It also requires youth to be attentive to details and following directions.  Youth can master these skills while having fun participating in the National 4-H Cornbread Cook-Off.

4^th grade 4-H Club members are invited to enter a recipe in the National Cornbread Cook-Off Competition.  The cornbread or cornbread dish recipe must contain at least one cup of Martha White Cornmeal.  It must also be cooked in Lodge Cast Iron cookware.

Recipes should be submitted to Marion County 4-H at 302 Betsy Pack Drive, Jasper, TN 37347 by March 1, 2020.  Recipes will initially be judged on the written recipe.  For a complete list of guidelines contact your 4-H agent or visit the National Cornbread Festival website at www.nationalcornbread.com.

Ten lucky finalist will be invited to prepare their recipe at the National Competition which will be held on April 26 , 2020 at the National Cornbread Contest in South Pittsburg.  Their finished cornbread recipes will be judged on creativity, flavor, texture, appetizing appearance, ease of preparation and appropriate use of products.  Prizes are as follows: 1^st Place – $500; 2^nd Place – $250; 3^rd Place – $100 and the other seven finalists will each receive $50.  All 10 finalists also receive special gifts from Lodge Cast Iron and Martha White.  The 4-H agent or 4-H Assistant and the teacher of the winning contestant will each receive $50.  Youth traveling more than 100 miles to competition will receive $100 travel money.

Past winning recipes include Razzle-Dazzle Cornbread, Apple-Sausage and Cheese Cornbread, Country Boy Cornbread and Stuffed Mexi-Melt Cornbread Muffins, to name a few.  Creativity is a must for developing a winning recipe.

This activity is an educational way for novice cooks to experience the joys of cooking, master skills and develop a lifelong love of good food and healthy eating.

A Coffee County man is charged with TennCare fraud and theft of services for allegedly under-reporting his income to that he and his family appeared to qualify for TennCare healthcare insurance benefits.  

The Office of Inspector General (OIG), in a joint effort with the Coffee County Sheriff’s Office has announced the arrest of 42-year-old James Smithey of Manchester. Authorities accuse Smithey of reporting a lower income than he was earning so that his family qualified for TennCare.

 “The TennCare program is designed to provide benefits for the residents of Tennessee who rightfully qualify,” Inspector Kim Harmon said.  “The Office of Inspector General has demonstrated a proven commitment through our diligent investigation process to ensure that our taxpayer’s money is being used properly.”

If convicted Smithey could face penalties of up to a maximum of 24 years in prison for the charges, which are Class D felonies.

The Office of Inspector General, which is separate from TennCare, began full operation in February 2005 and has investigated over 5,760 criminal cases leading to more than $10.8 million ordered in restitution to TennCare.  This has helped lead to a total estimated cost avoidance of more than $163.6 million for TennCare, according to the latest figures. To date, 3,134 people have been charged with TennCare fraud.

Through the Inspector General’s Cash for Tips Program established by the Legislature, Tennesseans can get cash rewards for TennCare fraud tips that lead to convictions.  Anyone can report suspected TennCare fraud by calling 1-800-433-3982, toll-free or by logging on to www.tn.gov/oig/ and following the prompts that read “Report TennCare Fraud.”

Michelle McClure, Special Education Assistant at West Side School was named as “Employee of the Month” for January 2020 during the January Meeting of the Board of Education. McClure was recognized at the meeting and presented a certificate by Cannon County Schools Director William F. Curtis for her service to the school system.  Employees are nominated by School Principals or School District Supervisors and are voted on during monthly Principal and Supervisor meetings regarding individuals who exemplify the Mission and Vision of Cannon County Schools.

West Side School Principal Karen King, nominated McClure stating, “Michelle is a jack of all trades. She helps with inclusion and small group instruction for our SPED kids as well as helping them continue with Physical Therapy and Occupational Therapy exercises as they are warranted in each Individualized Educational Plan. Every morning she immediately finds her students and she can be seen doing cross overs and scissor walks and number or letter jumps, along with whatever each child needs. She is extremely patient and loving with the students and has a great rapport with the staff.  In addition to her duties during school, she always helps after school with any activities we have going on. She and her husband build sets for Harvest Festivals and help with School Carnival, and she is ready and willing to help in any way she can. She is a very integral part of our school.”

Director of Cannon County Schools, William F. Curtis, commented “Mrs. Michelle McClure is an outstanding employee and goes beyond to serve the children of West Side School. Her belief in the success of every student in her care is her focus.  I believe Mrs. McClure greatly personifies our Mission of Cannon County Schools of ‘Preparing All Students for their Future’ by most assuredly being ‘The New E3 – Engaged in Excellence Every Day.’  Congratulations to Mrs. Michelle McClure for being an impactful ‘Team Player’ in our Cannon County Schools family.”

Donny Green, County Executive Director of the DeKalb/Cannon County Farm Service Agency, says the DeKalb/Cannon FSA County Committee met in regular session on to canvass and tabulate the ballots received in the 2019 Local Administrative Area (LAA) # 3 (DeKalb County) county committee election.

R.V. Billings, Jr. was elected to serve as Committee Member and Nathan Cook was elected as 1^st Alternate Committeeperson. Elected members began their terms on January 1, 2020.

The DeKalb/Cannon FSA County Committee met Tuesday to conduct its Organizational Meeting. The Committee selected R.V. Billings, Jr. as the Chairperson, and Javin Fann as the Vice-Chairperson for 2020. Jimmy Womack, Bob Melton, and Grant Williams serve as members of the Committee. Mary Sanders serves as the Committee Advisor. The Committee meets on the second Tuesday of each month at 8:30 a.m. at the DeKalb/Cannon County USDA Service Center located at 647 Bright Hill Rd.

Green says that the DeKalb/Cannon FSA County Committee and office staff wish to express their appreciation to voters in LAA # 3 who participated in the election by voting and returning their ballots. “The local County Committees are a very important part of Farm Service Agency’s program delivery and administrative processes,” added Green.

Town of Woodbury Board of Mayor and Alderman took action Tuesday night to continue improving the area’s water system.

A public hearing was held to provide information and solicit comments about the Town applying for a Drinking Water State Revolving Fund Loan. The loan will be in the amount of $800,000 to construct a new water storage tank. The new tank will replace the existing storage faciality on Parkers Hill.

Following the hearing, the board approved Resolution 2020-01. The resolution authorizing and providing for the financing of the construction of a water facilities project, including authorizing the execution of the applications, contractual agreements, and other necessary documents, and making certain representations, certifications, and pledges of certain revenue in connection with such financing.

Mayor Duggin gave the member of the Board of Alderman an update concerning the center crosswalk on the Main Street side of the public square.  A recent mishap resulted in injury to a pedestrian attempting to cross the street. Mayor Duggin pointed out that Main Street is more than just a street, it is also a state highway.

AAAny changes or improvements will need to involve the Tennessee Department of Transportation.  A meeting with state transportation officials is scheduled in the very near future.

Customers of Quick Shop Market will still have beer available following action at last night’s meeting of the Woodbury Beer Board.

Satishkumar D. Patel recently purchased Quick Shop Market at 106 E Main Street in Woodbury. A new beer license has to be issued with a change of ownership.  The board reviewed the application and the store was approved for “Off-Premise” consumption.