News

The Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development moves to a staggered schedule for unemployment claimants completing their weekly certifications. This change will spread out the number of people certifying over three days, creating a more responsive experience for claimants using Jobs4TN.gov.                       

More than 324,000 Tennesseans have applied for unemployment benefits over the last four weeks, creating an unprecedented demand on the unemployment computer system. While claimants can certify any day of the week, most choose Sunday, putting a workload 21 times the normal rate of usage onto the system.

Starting Sunday, April 19, claimants will have access to complete their weekly certifications according to the last digit of their social security number.

• Sunday                0, 1, 2, 3
• Monday               4, 5, 6
• Tuesday              7, 8, 9
• Wed. – Sat.        All numbers

When a claimant tries to certify and clicks the tab, if they are accessing the system on the correct day, it will allow them to proceed. If it is not the claimant’s scheduled day, the system will not let them certify.

If a claimant misses their scheduled day, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday are open certification days for any social security number.

Once a claimant completes the weekly certification process, their financial institution typically posts the benefit payment to their account or debit card within 48 to 72 hours.

For claimants who normally certify on Sunday, switching to a Monday or Tuesday certification will change the day of their weekly deposit.

Claimants must certify each week to ensure eligibility for benefit payments and to avoid the potential for overpayment. If someone does not certify for a particular week, they have five weeks to go back and do so, but the state is unable to process the payment for that week until they complete the missed certification.

Today, Tennessee Governor Bill Lee announced the creation of the Stimulus Financial Accountability Group to ensure proper fiscal management of stimulus funds received by the state through the Coronavirus Relief Fund created by the CARES Act. The State of Tennessee projects a distribution of approximately $2.3 billion from the Fund.

“The CARES Act has given our state critical relief to help mitigate the spread of COVID-19 and begin to reopen Tennessee’s economy,” said Gov. Lee. “We must ensure that these funds are spent wisely and effectively, and I’m grateful to the members of this group for their valuable input as we steward these resources and serve Tennesseans.”

Members of the group include:

• Governor Bill Lee
• Lieutenant Governor Randy McNally
• House Speaker Cameron Sexton
• Senator Bo Watson
• Senator Raumesh Akbari
• Representative Pat Marsh
• Representative Harold Love Jr.
• Justin P. Wilson, Comptroller of the Treasury
• Commissioner Butch Eley, Finance & Administration
• Stuart McWhorter, COVID-19 Unified Command

The first meeting of the Stimulus Financial Accountability Group will be held remotely on April 22^nd.

On March 27, President Trump signed the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. The largest relief package ever passed by the United State Congress, the CARES Act includes a broad array of provisions intended to support the nation’s healthcare system as well as provide direct relief to businesses, individuals, and state and local government.

Gov. Lee has appointed Department of Tourism Development Commissioner Mark Ezell to oversee the Economic Recovery Group who will work in coordination with several state departments, legislative leadership, local mayors, health care professionals, and representatives of impacted industries to develop a strategy to safely reboot the state economy.

The state will create industry-specific guidance so that businesses can be fully prepared to operate safely and protect their employees and customers. 

It is also important to hear from Tennesseans as solutions for economic recovery are developed. Please visit tn.gov to share how COVID-19 is affecting your business and what you need most from the state in this process. Additional information can be found here.

Members of the group include:

Mark Ezell, Director

Sammie Arnold, Chief of Staff

House Majority Leader William Lamberth (R – Portland)

Senate Majority Leader Jack Johnson (R – Franklin)

Brandon Gibson, Senior Advisor to Governor Lee

Bob Rolfe, Department of Economic and Community Development

Greg Gonzales, Department of Financial Institutions

David Gerregano, Department of Revenue

Dr. Charles Hatcher, Department of Agriculture

Dr. Jeff McCord, Department of Labor and Workforce Development

Hodgen Mainda, Department of Commerce and Insurance

Tony Niknejad, Governor’s Office

Brig. Gen. Scott Brower, COVID-19 Unified Command

Dr. Morgan McDonald, TN Dept. of Health, Deputy Commissioner

Butch Eley, Department of Finance & Administration

Jim Brown, National Federation of Independent Business 

Bradley Jackson, TN Chamber of Commerce

Beverly Robertson, President & CEO of the Memphis Chamber of Commerce

Rob Ikard, TN Grocers & Convenience Store Association

Rob Mortensen, TN Hospitality & Tourism Association

Colin Barrett, TN Bankers Association

Fred Robinson, TN Credit Union League

Dave Huneryager, TN Trucking Association

Will Cromer, TN Hospital Association

Mayor Kevin Davis, President of TN County Services Association

Mayor Jill Holland, President of TN Municipal League

Jeff Aiken, TN Farm Bureau

Tari Hughes, Center for Non-Profit Management

Roland Myers, TN Retail Association

Clay Crownover, President & CEO of Associated Builders & Contractors of Tennessee

Agriculture news and notes from County Agent Bruce Steelman – UT Extension Service.

Staying Healthy- I hope that everyone is staying safe and healthy and adjusting to the “new normal”. For those of us in Extension, whose job it is to plan and conduct educational events and dealing with many people in a day, these times are presenting a whole new set of challenges and rewards. For those of you who were signed up for the upcoming Master Beef class, please know we are eagerly looking forward to being able to re-schedule our class and getting together again.

For those of you who have not completed the Restricted-Use Pesticide Private Applicator Re-Certification class yet, please know that we will be getting in touch with you regarding the dates and times for re-certification sessions. Once we are able to resume business as usual when all gathering restrictions have been lifted we will schedule several re-certification meetings to get everyone taken care of by the June 30 deadline.

Soil Sampling- Normally, this is the time of year when those who want to complete a soil test come by the Extension Office and pick up a soil sample form and box. The good news is that the UT Soil Lab is still processing samples. With the Extension Office being closed, give me a call at 615-542-1364 and we will make sure to leave boxes, submission sheets, and instructions at the UT Cannon County Extension Office for clientele’s convenience. I am still conducting one on one farm visits and plans are being made to plant our annual corn and soybean variety plots. Things are looking up and we will get back to some type of normal in the near future.

Online Resources- During this time of social distancing, our Extension specialists and others have been working feverishly to provide information in new formats. I would like to make everyone aware of some sites with numerous helpful hints, publications, videos, and much more. Please go to the UT Cannon County Extension Facebook page for updates on all the programs offered by our office. Kristen, Sarah and myself are still working remotely and utilizing Facebook and our weekly Farm and Family radio show on Tuesday morning to update clientele.

For everything beef and forage please visit the UT Beef and Forage Center website at: http://utbeef.com/ here you will find some wonderful publications regarding forage planting, harvesting, and numerous articles about pasture weeds, fertilization, grazing, and much more. There are also numerous articles on the site from our Extension Vet. Dr. Strickland. Many of these articles are also on video on the site as well.

Gardening- Our Consumer Horticulture Specialist Dr. Natalie Bumgardner has created a wonderful one-stop shop for all things gardening. Please visit https://www.uthort.com/ and click on the Educational Resources tab. There will be eight subject tabs for you to select from ranging from flower gardening to insect and disease control.

Finally, with any questions regarding crops such as corn and soybeans, the ever popular UT Crops website is buzzing with activity. Please visit http://utcrops.com/ for the latest information regarding weed control, marketing, and emerging issues with our crops.

If you are active on Facebook, please visit the UT Cannon County facebook site for more information on other resources. If I can help you with anything, please reach out at tsteelm2@utk.edu or 615-542-1364 and I will be more than happy to help you any way I can. Again, stay safe and healthy and I look forward to seeing everyone very soon.

Today, Governor Bill Lee provided an update on Tennessee’s efforts regarding COVID-19 relief.

Gov. Lee’s daily press conferences can be viewed live this week Monday through Thursday at 3 p.m. CDT here. Gov. Lee has also established a website specific to COVID-19 updates which can be found here.

Key Updates

School Closure

Gov. Lee has called on schools to remain closed through the end of the school year. Students have lost significant learning time in their classrooms and the administration is committed to continuing to provide resources that keep our students engaged.

Time lost in the classroom also has implications on overall wellbeing, especially for at-risk and vulnerable student populations. Tennessee Department of Education Commissioner Penny Schwinn will convene a COVID-19 Child Wellbeing Task Force to engage communities and provide support for students.

Administration Actions

Expanded Testing Capacity

Gov. Lee has directed the Unified-Command group to rapidly expand Tennessee’s COVID-19 testing capacity to enable more Tennesseans to have improved access and make informed health decisions.

The expanded testing effort launches this weekend, April 18-19 with the Tennessee National Guard establishing 15 drive-through testing sites across the state. Drive-through testing sites will also be available during the weekends of April 25-26 and May 2-3. A full list of sites is available here, and additional information is available here.

Tennessee Department of Health nurses and Tennessee National Guard medics will perform tests at these drive-through sites and results are projected to be delivered to participants within 72 hours of testing. In addition to drive-through testing sites, Tennesseans can get a test free of charge, five days a week at every rural county health department in the state. 

Every Tennessean who isn’t feeling well – even outside of the traditional COVID-19 symptoms of cough, fever or difficulty breathing – should get tested.

Additional resources:

• What to expect after being tested for COVID-19
• What to do if your test results are negative
• What to do after being diagnosed with COVID-19

Current Department of Health Testing Results (as of 2 p.m. 4/15)

Confirmed Cases	Hospitalizations	Fatalities	Recovered	Total Tests
6,079	663	135	2,196	80,896

For more information on COVID-19 in Tennessee, please visit the Tennessee Department of Health’s website here.

Today, Tennessee Governor Bill Lee has “officially recommended all public schools remain closed until the End of the School Year 2019-2020” in response to the COVID-19 outbreak.  Lee made the recommendation during his daily update on Wednesday, April 15^th, 2020. He originally asked that schools remain closed through March 31, 2020, then revised it on March 23^rd, 2020 to close through April 24^th, 2020, and now today has recommended that schools remain close through the school year.

Commissioner of Education Penny Schwinn issued the following statement, “I appreciate the governor’s recommendation schools remain closed through the end of the school year to protect the health and safety of all Tennesseans. The coronavirus pandemic is constantly evolving, and we are only starting to see how this pandemic is affecting our children,” said Dr. Penny Schwinn. 

“Children being out of school for such a long time has significant implications for a child’s wellbeing, and this poses a different kind of challenge for all of us, as communities and as a state. There is critical work ahead, and I am honored to convene the COVID-19 Child Wellbeing Task Force in the coming weeks to focus state and local leaders on the wellbeing of Tennessee’s children.” 

Commissioner Schwinn will be convening a COVID-19 Child Wellbeing Task Force to support local leaders and communities in caring for our students, particularly those who are vulnerable or most at risk. Details about the Task Force will be announced in the coming weeks. 

 The Tennessee Department of Education has developed and designed a number of resources for optional, free use by local districts. This includes school closure toolkits; three times per week superintendent calls; instructional, daily programming on PBS and companion teacher, student and family guides; free access for all families to early childhood platform ReadyRosie; SchoolMealFinder website for families to locate meal services; a STEAM Resource Hub; as well as federal waivers with a focus on nutrition, accountability, and special education.

The Tennessee Department of Education has continually updated guidance to school districts posted on their website: https://www.tn.gov/education/health-and-safety/update-on-coronavirus.html.

Director of Cannon County Schools, Mr. William F. Curtis, stated, “Basically it is ‘three strikes and we are OUT!’ Here we are for the third time, closing Cannon County Schools due to the recommendation of Tennessee Governor Bill Lee because of COVID-19 concerns. We had previously announced our closure through April 3^rd, 2020, then we closed through April 24^th, 2020, and now with the final recommendation to close the remainder of the School Year 2019-2020.  So following this newest recommendation, Cannon County Schools will close our campuses through May 22^nd, 2020.” 

“This does not mean that the Meal Distribution Program and Instruction of Students will stop.  It is just the opposite!  Our Meal Distribution Program will continue on each Monday from 9 AM – 10 AM at EVERY Elementary School in Cannon County.  During this time, Instructional Packets are also delivered to parents, and our on-line programs with Teacher contacts with Cannon County Students will continue through May 22^nd, 2020.  These types of closures are unprecedented in modern Tennessee and United States History, and this situation continues to be evolving hourly and sometimes even more like every few minutes.  The Cannon County Schools Team is now on-notice that we have entered ‘Stage 4’ on the COVID-19 Timeline. School is NOT out for Summer Break! We will continue getting instruction to our students. This delivery has been occurring in multiple ways, and the Cannon County Schools Team is in intense contact with Tennessee Department of Education Officials, as to the type of instruction that we are offering to the 2,000+ students of Cannon County Schools through the remainder of the school year.  Our Cannon County Schools Family of Employees have been working incredibly hard for the past several weeks. Food Service Workers, Teachers, and School Staff Members have all been consistently working for the benefit of Cannon County students, and I am overwhelmed in my gratitude for them. This work will continue in the month of May 2020, and we will work with State Officials and specifically the newly formed COVID-19 Child Wellbeing Task Force. More details will be forthcoming in the next days and weeks to address these continuing needs of Cannon County families. We ask for your patience and understanding during this unique situation for Cannon County Schools.”

“Some of the big questions are in relation to Cannon County High School.  CCHS Teachers are working very hard virtually on-line with our students.  They have contacted failing students and have developed individualized programs to get those students passing.  CCHS Principal Courtney Nichols and the Administrative Staff are also working specifically with CCHS Seniors in the Class of 2020 to make sure they are on-track and passing classes to graduate on-time.  We have received recent guidance from the Tennessee State Board of Education and Tennessee Department of Education waiving certain requirements for Graduation for the Class of 2020.  Students grades will remain what they had on March 13^th, 2020, and students now have opportunities to increase their scores even more between now and May 15^th, 2020.  The Cannon County Board of Education is currently working on a suggested Resolution for Emergency Suspension of Board Policies and will act on that Resolution at the May 7^th, 2020 Meeting of the Cannon County Board of Education.”

Curtis continued, “Probably the most asked question about CCHS is regarding Prom 2020 and Graduation 2020.  These events are not cancelled, but are POSTPONED until a later date!  CCHS Principal Courtney Nichols have been working on a contingency plan for the past few weeks in the likelihood this event would occur.  Details about alternative dates and times will be forthcoming once the ‘stay at home’ recommendation is lifted and ‘mass gatherings’ are permitted.  The same is true for the Elementary Schools with PreK, Kindergarten, and 8^th Grade Graduations, etc.  Governor Bill Lee in his statement today, has given Local Education Agencies much flexibility regarding end of year procedures and activities, and more details and specifics regarding annual end of year activities will be forthcoming in the days and weeks ahead.”   

Parents/Guardians are reminded regarding the School Nutrition Program which is offering FREE meals to all children 18 years of age and under.  All are eligible to receive meals.

These meals will continue to be distributed on Mondays ONLY from 9 AM to 10 AM.   Instructional packets are also being distributed to Cannon County Elementary students during this time, as well as, on-line instructional opportunities.     

“Grab-and-Go” Breakfasts and Lunches will be distributed on Mondays with Breakfasts and Lunches provided for 5 days.  Cannon County Schools ask that parents/guardians please follow the instructions for traffic flow at each school and these are posted on the Cannon County Schools website at www.ccstn.net – click on the Meals-2-Go Tab at the top of the page.  Cannon County Schools asks that participates DO NOT EXIT THEIR VEHICLE – No “Walk-ups” are allowed for the protection of School Employees.

The distribution of children’s meals will be on each Monday following from 9:00 AM – 10:00 AM on this day ONLY.  Meals will be provided until Cannon County Schools are back in session.  The location of the meal distribution sites are:

•        Auburn School, 150 Vantrease Avenue, Auburntown, TN 37016;

•        East Side School, 970 Old McMinnville Highway, Woodbury, TN 37190;

•        Short Mountain School, 5988 Short Mountain Road, Woodbury, TN  37190;

•        West Side School, 3714 Murfreesboro Road, Readyville, TN  37149;

•        Woodbury Grammar School, 530 West Adams Street, Woodbury, TN 37190; and

•        Woodland School, 8383 Jim Cummings Highway, Bradyville, TN 37026.

Cannon County High School is NOT a feeding site, however, ANY Cannon County High School Student can pick up meals at ANY Elementary School in Cannon County!

Because of the COVID-19 concerns, Cannon County Schools desire to provide nutritious meals to the children of Cannon County during this school closure.  If you have specific questions or concerns please contact Cannon County Food Service Supervisor Jennifer Insell at 629-201-4809 – Email at Jennifer.Insell@ccstn.net or Cannon County Schools ESP Coordinator Lisa Black at 629-201-4805 – Email at Lisa.Black@ccstn.net.  Please leave a voice mail or Email.

“We continue to monitor the Coronavirus COVID-19 situation as it continues to develop in Tennessee, and specifically Cannon County.  Just remember, We ARE CANNON and know that OUR MISSION – “Preparing All Our Students for Their Future” through OUR VISION – “The New E3 – ‘Engaged in Excellence Every Day” motivates us to go forward to achieve our Overall Goal: PROVIDE A SAFE AND SUPPORTIVE LEARNING ENVIRONMENT!!  Even in challenging situations such as this unprecedented one Cannon County Schools shall succeed.”

County Agent Bruce Steelman has asked us to make you aware of the following Local Producers in Cannon County

Alanna Vaught – Dorper lambs for slaughter. Scheduled for kill in a couple of weeks. Lambs are weighing between 90-120 lbs. I will haul to processor. Price $2.50 a pound. You pick up meat and pay the processing fee or you can pick up live lamb here at farm. If interested, text me and I’ll send you the processors info so you can estimate processing fee (usually around $100 depending on smoking and curing options). I can also deliver within a reasonable distance.
615-653-6018.

Local eggs from Clark Hollis 931-239-8657

John Buyrl is selling meat hogs. They will be processed and ready for the freezer. Call him at 615-663-9712 to purchase one

Mr. Howell has a couple of beef to process in the coming weeks, give him a call if you are interested, 615-563-7654.

Honey! Honey! Honey! Honey available from Harold Duggin. Give him a call at 615-563-2491

Johnny Neely with Pork 615-542-7447, be about 190-200 pounds of processed pork packaged ready for your freezer and you can also let him know how you want it cut up.

Looking for fresh brown farm eggs? Support a local Cannon County 4-H member, Will Byford, as he is selling eggs for $2.50 per dozen. Will has raised birds through the Cannon County 4-H Chick Chain project.

Local custom beef, Kathy Hyatt at Hyatt Haven Farm 615-542-5926 and Angela Moore 615-464-7594 with Parker Family Beef.

Anyone with additional items, please email Bruce Steelman Tsteelm2@utk.edu or text at 615-542-1364 at the UT Cannon County Extension Office and items will be posted on the Extension Office Facebook page and reported during the 8 AM Tuesday morning Farm and Family radio program on WBRY.

Monday, Governor Bill Lee provided an update on Tennessee’s efforts regarding COVID-19 relief.

Gov. Lee’s daily press conferences can be viewed live this week Monday through Thursday at 3 p.m. CDT here. Gov. Lee has also established a website specific to COVID-19 updates which can be found here.

Key Updates

Stay at Home Order Extension

In cooperation with the guidance from the White House, Tennessee’s Stay at Home Order is extended through April 30. The updated executive order is available here.

The Unified Command Group will continue to consult with experts, analyze all available data, and monitor CDC recommendations for the remainder of this month. Beginning in May, a phased reboot of the economy in planned.

Creation of Economic Recovery Group

Gov. Lee announced the development of the Economic Recovery Group to focus on a phased reboot of the state economy. The group will be led by Tourism Commissioner Mark Ezell and will work in coordination with legislative leadership, local mayors, health care professionals, and representatives of impacted industries. The Economic Recovery Group will issue industry-specific guidance so that businesses can be prepared to operate safely and protect their employees and customers.

By formalizing an economic recovery specific group, this will ensure the Unified Command Group will continue their focused efforts of disease management, improving hospital and testing capacity, and increasing our PPE supply chain. The Unified Command Group will also be making recommendations to Gov. Lee about when and how to begin the phased-in reopening of the economy. 

Current Department of Health Testing Results (as of 2 p.m. 4/13)

Confirmed Cases	Hospitalizations	Fatalities	Recovered	Total Tests
5,610	579	109	1,671	76,195

According to information from the Tennessee Department of Health:

Cannon County cases remains at 7, 2 of those are now listed as recovered.

Coffee County has 11 cases, 4 have recovered,

DeKalb County with 10 cases, 3 recovered,

Rutherford 250, 84 recovered and 6 deaths,

Warren County 4,

Wilson County 143, 54 recovered and 1 fatality.

For more information on COVID-19 in Tennessee, please visit the Tennessee Department of Health’s website here.

The TN Council on Developmental Disabilities is pleased to announce a fiscal year 2020 COVID-19 Special Funding initiative through June 30, 2020.

Individuals with disabilities, families of people with disabilities, and disability non-profit organizations are encouraged to apply for one-time grants to use technology in innovative ways to support people with disabilities to continue their leadership development and help with connecting people with disabilities during the social distancing for COVID-19.  

Funds must be used to meet the needs of people with disabilities and/or their families by doing one or several of the following: promoting their health and well-being; providing opportunities for leadership development; creating activities that follow social distancing guidelines, and engagement with family, friends, and peers; decreasing anxiety due to social distancing; or increasing positive shared experiences.  

Activity categories that will be considered for funding:  

• Activities that target stress and anxiety reduction due to social distancing (e.g. technology for virtual visiting, facilitation of peer support groups)
• Adapting to COVID-19 (e.g., managing work and school at home, staying connected with family and friends)
• Meaningful virtual engagement during social distancing:
  • Arts and culture (e.g., classes teaching arts and crafts skills, remote performances, gardening while you’re home, cooking and meal prep)
  • Education and leadership activities (e.g., hosting speakers on topics about disability issues or the history of the disability movement, training on various technology devices or skills for self-advocates)
  • Health, fitness, and wellness (e.g., yoga, dance, aerobics; mindfulness and meditation; music or art classes)
• Other items needed for people experiencing social isolation
• Other items to support people’s access to health care during the COVID-19 outbreak (e.g., teaching a class on telehealth, developing a resource to explain COVID-19 and how to stay healthy)

Funding will be based on review of the application, but approval amounts are based on general funding levels approved for the Scholarship Fund which are $500 per individual, $1,000 per family, and $1,500 per agency. The funding is reimbursement only. Priority is given to individuals with disabilities and family members, especially those in rural areas.

Submit applications by 05/30/2020 by filling out this online application or downloading an application in a Word document and emailing to Alicia.cone@tn.gov.

County Executive Brent Bush has proclaimed April 11^th as “Cannon County’s Day of Prevention”. The proclamation is to recognize the combined efforts of the community, by way of public policies, strategies and resources that work to prevent substance abuse and suicides that has devastated families in our county.

Substance abuse prevention is an important component of the county’s comprehensive approach to behavioral health. Working together we can strengthen prevention efforts throughout the county.

The problem of substance abuse creates other community issues, such as mental health, physical health, domestic violence, human trafficking, child abuse, increased crime and other associated issues.

Many in the community have recognized that investing in substance abuse prevention is important and have become members of the Cannon County Substance Abuse Prevention Coalition (CCSAPC). One of the best investments we can make in our county’s future is to join forces to help build a safer, healthier, drug-free community. The CCSAPC is supported by local education, students, law enforcement, healthcare providers, media, businesses and concerned citizens.

Since we are currently under a stay-at-home Executive Order from our Governor, the activities that were planned cannot take place. These events and educational classes will be presented in the near future. However, we can take this day to search our hearts and make a personal commitment that we will come together to help educate, energize and empower Cannon Countians to do what they can to get involved and reverse the trends of deadly drug overdoses and suicides.

If you would like to learn more about this community-level effort or how you can help in the effort to save lives and build a better community, contact us at 615-542-8443 or e-mail at cannoncoalition@gmail.com .