News

Gov. Bill Lee announced yesterday that Tennessee will provide paid family leave for state employees. The Governor signed an Executive Order directing the Tennessee Department of Human Resources to issue the new policy effective March 1.  

While 69% of full-time working Americans believe that receiving paid parental leave is important when looking for a job, only 17% of employees across the U.S. have access to it. One additional month of paid family leave is associated with a 13% drop in infant mortality.

This new policy confirms Tennessee state government’s position as a pro-family employer while also improving its ability to effectively serve taxpayers by reducing turnover rates for high performing employees and reducing long-term state health care costs.

The Arts Center of Cannon County has announced their 40th Anniversary Season features six blockbuster shows, and we are so excited to announce that the season will close with Rodgers & Hammerstein’s classic musical, CINDERELLA! 

2020 Season Tickets are on sale now, and $65 provides you with a year of entertainment and priority seating!

This year’s lineup includes;  Fiddler on the Roof, Honky Tonk Angels, Matilda, The Wedding Singer, Wait Until Dark and Cinderella.

The Arts Center is located on the John Bragg Highway at the city limits of Woodbury.

Flu has claimed the lives of two children in the state this season.  The state health department reports one child died in Middle Tennessee and one child in East Tennessee.  Youth and the elderly are most likely to be at risk from the flu.

Health officials indicate that it is never too late to have the flu vaccine.  The Tennessee Department of Health Department has flu vaccine available for the public at no charge.  The Cannon County office of the Health Department is located on Alexander Drive (near St. Thomas-Stones River Hospital.

Solving outstanding issues with the Adams Office building dominated the bulk of Saturday’s meeting of the Cannon County Commission.  The county is facing a deadline of May 19^th for completing the repairs on the building or facing action from the state.  The action would involve eviction for tenants of the building. At the request of County Executive Brent Bush, commissioners were given a report from Matthew Tucker with James C. Hailey and Company.  The company compiled a review of the building several years ago.

The Fire Marshall’s Office listed three areas of concern for bringing the building into compliance.

1. Sprinkler System – the system is not working, since the building is no longer a hospital, a sprinkler system is not required.  The system will need to have all sprinkler heads capped and have the system disabled.
2. Fire Alarm – the equipment needs adjustments and need to be connected to a monitoring system.
3. Cane Fiber ceiling tiles (which are highly flammable) needed to be removed.

 Commissioners were presented an estimate for James C. Hailey and Company assuming the management and repair project. The cost for the county is estimated at $200,000.00.

Discussion began among commissioners at this point. Chairman Greg Mitchell transferred the chair to vice-chairman Russell Reed, so he could comment.  Mitchell, who has 30 years of experience in property management, asked for commissioners to consider some parts of the building revisions be handled locally. For example, inmate labor being used to cap sprinkler heads as part of disabling the system.

Commissioner Jim Bush voiced concern that some work might cause issues, like disruption of asbestos.

Commissioners agreed to review the report from the engineering firm and continue to find a salutation during the February meeting.

County Attorney Coats advised the board that he was in the process of drafting a request to the State Fire Marshall office asking for additional time for completing.

In other action by commissioners, Nathan Luna was appointed to a four-year term on the Board of Zoning Appeals.

Chairman Mitchell reminded attendees at the meeting that office budgets for the 20-21 fiscal year are to be submitted for consideration by January 31^st.

The New Year brought new leadership to Middle Tennessee Natural Gas Utility District, as Jim Hodges retired and turned over the duties of Executive Vice President & CEO to Mike Davidson.  Davidson comes to the District after an extended career with the City of Cookeville, Tennessee. Davidson served as Cookeville City Manager from March 2015 through June 2019, and prior to that, he held the positions of Cookeville Finance Director and Director of Cookeville Gas Department.

In addition to new CEO Mike Davidson, Cliff Swoape has been promoted to Director of Human Resources & Communications effective with the new year.  Swoape has served the District since 1987 when he began work as a part-time meter painter while he went to college.  He has served as Property Maintenance, a Service Technician, a Customer Service Representative, and most recently as Manager of Safety & Training for twenty-two years.   Swoape resides in Woodbury with his wife Katherine, their children, and pets.   He is looking forward to his new role of caring for the District and its employees beyond just their safety and training needs.  Swoape said he remains committed to safety, customer service, and reliability always being top priorities for the District. 

Founded in Smithville in 1955, the District is the natural gas provider for all or portions of twenty-two counties in Middle and East Tennessee.  The District’s mission is to support the growth of the communities it serves by providing safe, reliable, and competitive natural gas service.  

The Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation is offering free radon test kits for Tennesseans to test their homes in January. Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee has proclaimed the month as “Radon Action Month.”

Radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the United States, and it is the No. 1 cause of lung cancer among non-smokers.

“We hope Tennesseans will take advantage of the offer of free test kits,” Dr. Kendra Abkowitz, director of the Office of Policy and Sustainable Practices at TDEC, said. “We want people to be aware of the potential for radon in their homes, that testing for it is free and easy, and that there are ways they can mitigate it if they find they have a radon problem.”

Radon is a colorless, odorless, naturally-occurring radioactive gas that threatens people’s health when it is trapped in confined spaces such as homes. It is produced by the breakdown of uranium in rocks and soils. The only way to know if it is in a home is to test for it.

For more information and to request a free test kit, visit https://www.tn.gov/environment/program-areas/opsp-policy-and-sustainable-practices/community-programs-and-services/radon/get-a-free-test-kit0.html or call 800-232-1139.

Radon does not generally present a health risk outdoors because it is diluted in the open air. Radon can, however, build up to dangerous levels inside a house. A house can act like a vacuum, drawing radon through foundation cracks and other openings. Radon may also be present in well water and can be released in a home when the water is used for showering and other household activity.  

During January, the U.S. Surgeon General and the Environmental Protection Agency urge all Americans to protect their health by testing their homes for radon. The TDEC Office of Policy and Sustainable Practices manages the TN Radon program, a statewide awareness and education initiative, where the goal is to educate the public about the risk of radon exposure in indoor environments.

Cannon County Schools will return Monday from the holiday break, regular season basketball action resumes tonight and tomorrow.

Tonight Cannon County will host Cascade, Lionettes tip off at 6pm followed by the Lions at 7:30.  Tomorrow night Cannon will host Warren County.

If you can’t be part of the home crowd at Robert A. Harris gymnasium, join Teddy Taylor with the action on am 1540, fm 107-1 and streaming at wbry dot com.

The broadcast begins with Coaches Corner at 5:50.

From the National Weather Service:

This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of Middle Tennessee.

Today and Tonight

A Flood Watch is in effect for Cannon County and all but far northwest Middle Tennessee this afternoon through Friday afternoon.

Rain will spread over the area this morning, with the rain becoming heavy at times this afternoon and evening. Rain will continue tonight before gradually diminishing on Friday. Rainfall totals ranging from around 1 inch over far northwest Middle Tennessee up to 3 to 4 inches in southeastern Middle Tennessee. These rainfall amounts could lead to flooding of roads and low lying areas, as well as rises on area rivers, creeks and streams.

Friday through Wednesday

A Flood Watch is in effect for Cannon and all of Middle Tennessee from this afternoon through Friday afternoon.

Rain is expected to continue but diminish in coverage and intensity on Friday. However, flooding will remain possible across the area due to the heavy rain expected Thursday afternoon into Thursday night.

A mix of light rain and light snow is possible across the area on Saturday, mainly in the afternoon and evening. A dusting of snow is possible in parts of the Upper Cumberland and northern Cumberland Plateau, but this remains highly uncertain. No accumulation is expected elsewhere.

A host of new laws are in effect as Tennessee starts the first business day of the new year. One of the most discussed is a measure that allows applicants to obtain a gun permit via online training. The previous law required in person training on the use of a firearm.

Another new law allows additional penalties for involving elder care in the state. If an older person dies as a result of gross neglect, prosecutors will be able to bring felony murder charges against someone involved.  

The so-called “Right to Shop” law on health care requires health insurance companies to disclose the amounts they will pay for services upfront, so people will have better knowledge of their out-of-pocket costs. Also in the area of health care, any prescription for opioids must be sent electronically from the doctor to the pharmacy. The measure also gives pharmacies a year to update their software to be compliant with the new law.

Other new laws affect items such as the operation of horse-drawn vehicles on state roadways, and another governing whether an employer-employee relationship exists in some arrangements.

The cost of living adjustment (COLA) will increase Social Security benefits by 1.6 percent in 2020, an average of about $24 per month for individuals, the Social Security Administration.

The increase for 2020 is notably less than the 2.8 percent bump received this year, but higher than the average over the past decade (1.4 percent).

The COLA will boost the average Social Security retirement benefit for a single person by $288 per year. The average retirement check is expected to be $1,479 in December 2019 before the COLA raises the benefit to $1,503 a month later, according to the administration.

“Social Security is the largest source of retirement income for most retirees, so this announcement of a 1.6 percent COLA increase, while modest, will help Social Security beneficiaries and their families as they try to keep up with rising prices,” AARP Chief Executive Officer Jo Ann Jenkins says. “Social Security’s annual COLA amount typically does not keep pace with all the increases in living expenses that most seniors face, including the costs of housing, food, transportation and, especially, health care and prescription drugs. AARP’s recent Rx Price Watch report found that retail drug prices increased by twice the rate of inflation during 2017, and have exceeded the inflation rate for at least 12 consecutive years.”

Social Security is paid for by a payroll tax on workers’ wages. Next year, the maximum amount of earnings subject to the Social Security tax will increase from $132,900 to $137,700.

The Social Security program does face long-term funding challenges. According to the 2019 annual report from the Social Security and Medicare Board of Trustees, the trust fund reserves that help pay for Social Security benefits will be fully depleted in 2035, unless Congress passes new legislation. Once those funds are exhausted, the program would only be able to pay out 80 percent of what each beneficiary should be getting.

“AARP will continue our advocacy for bipartisan solutions to help ensure the long-term solvency of the Social Security program, as well as adequate benefits for recipients,” Jenkins says. “We will also continue to fight for lower health care and prescription drug costs, which are eating up a growing share of Social Security benefits.”

For information about Social Security benefits and claiming strategies, those approaching retirement age may visit AARP’s Social Security Resource Center

Meanwhile, on November 8, 2019, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released the 2020 premiums, deductibles, and coinsurance amounts for the Medicare Part A and Part B programs.

Medicare Part B covers physician services, outpatient hospital services, certain home health services, durable medical equipment, and certain other medical and health services not covered by Medicare Part A. The Part B premium could affect individual Social Security benefits because it is deducted directly from benefit payments.

Each year the Medicare premiums, deductibles, and copayment rates are adjusted according to the Social Security Act. For 2020, the Medicare Part B monthly premiums and the annual deductible are higher than the 2019 amounts. The standard monthly premium for Medicare Part B enrollees will be $144.60 for 2020, an increase of $9.10 from $135.50 in 2019. The annual deductible for all Medicare Part B beneficiaries is $198 in 2020, an increase of $13 from the annual deductible of $185 in 2019.

The increase in the Part B premiums and deductible is largely due to rising spending on physician-administered drugs. These higher costs have a ripple effect and result in higher Part B premiums and deductible.