News

A new grant will benefit studies at Cannon County High School.The Tennessee Valley Authority, in partnership with Bicentennial Volunteers Incorporated (a TVA retiree organization), recently awarded Cannon County High School $4989.27 for a STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) education project.
 
The grant award is a part of $580,000 in competitive STEM grants awarded to 161 schools across TVA’s seven-state service territory.   Principal Courtney Nichols commented, “This grant provides a great opportunity for our students. It allows them to expand their understanding of hydrogen as a fuel source.”
 
Across the valley, educators submitted projects large and small, to further their STEM education initiatives in the classroom. The project Cannon County High School submitted will investigate hydrogen as an energy source. The students will build model hydrogen powered cars to race. The title of the grant project is H2Go.
 
The competitive grant program provided teachers an opportunity to apply for funding up to $5,000 and preference was given to grant applications that explored TVA’s primary areas of focus: environment, energy, economic and career development and community problem solving. Schools who receive grant funding must receive their power from a TVA distributor.
 
“The goal of the program was to help further STEM education across the valley,” said Rachel Crickmar, TVA Community Relations Program Manager. “We knew this program would be popular and competitive and now we’re looking forward to seeing the impact these projects have.”
 
 

The Cannon County Election Commission will meet today and the election of a new chairman is on the agenda.The current chairman, Matt Studd, was not named to the local commission by the State Election Commission when it made appointments earlier this month.
The State Election Commission notified Matt Teply, Cannon County of Administrator of Elections, of the five members appointed to the local commission.
 
 They are:
• Dottie Jernigan Baskin, Republican
• Thomas W. Ganoe, Republican
• George Ronnie Orville Pittman, Republican
• Joan Banks-Shirley, Democrat
• Sue H. Patrick, Democrat
Baskin is the only new member of the local commission.
 
The State Election Commission is composed of seven members: four from the political party holding a majority of seats in the Tennessee General Assembly and three from the minority party. These individuals are elected for a term of four years. This is the only commission in Tennessee state government which is elected wholly by the Tennessee General Assembly.
 
To be eligible to serve on the State Election Commission one must be at least 25 years old, a resident of Tennessee for at least seven years, and a resident of the grand division of the state from which one seeks election for at least four years preceding the election. No more than any two members may be from the same grand division of the state.
 
The State Election Commission is responsible for appointing five county election commissioners for every county in the state. This is done on the first Monday in April in every odd-numbered year. After making such appointments, the state commissioners then monitor the activities and performance of the county election commissioners and shall remove a county election commissioner for violation of the oath of office or if that person is no longer qualified to hold the position.
 
Meeting Agenda for the Cannon County Election Commission Reorganization is this afternoon at 5:30 in the Election Commission office on Main Street.
 
 
 

Repairs, surplus equipment, tenure and more filled the agenda of the Cannon County Board of Education this week. 
The Auburn School septic upgrade project was rebid from last month.  One bid was received and approved.  The bid of Mike Hutchins Construction for $12,800, with work to be done over summer break.
 
A mobile classroom at Short Mountain School that had been declared as surplus was advertised for sale.  One bid was received, the board approved the bid of Lela Woodin for $201.00. The building has to be removed in 30 business days.
 
Jonathan Odom and Jeran Tenpenny with the High School program addressed the Board concerning refinishing the gym floor at Cannon County High School.  The board approved seeking bids for the project.
 
Karen King addressed the Board concerning the construction of an awning in the parent pick-up area at West Side School.  A motion was made and approved so King may proceed with the project. Funds will come from West Side School.
 
Three teachers have qualified for tenure this year, Paige Holt, Wendie Gentry, and Brian Huddleston.  The board granted tenure to these 3 teachers.
 
A motion was made by Javin Fann, seconded by Brian Elrod, to have Douglas Jennings score the evaluations on Director of Schools William Curtis and make the results public at the next board meeting.  Bruce Daniel made a motion, seconded by Brian Elrod, to take action on Curtis’s evaluation in May meeting. Voting yes were Brian Elrod, Travis Turney, Bruce Daniel, and Javin Fann.  Voting no was Nathan Sanders.
 
 
Budget hearings are scheduled for April 30th at 6:30 and May 2 at 7 PM.  Both of these hearings will take place at the Central Office.
 
Mr. Curtis reminded the Board about their joint workshop with the county commission on April 16.
 
 
The next Regular Board Meeting Workshop will be at the Central Office on Monday, May 6th. The next Regular Board Meeting will be Thursday, May 9th at Woodbury Grammar School Cafeteria.
 
 

A regional Town Hall with Congressman John Rose is scheduled for Monday, April 15th at the DeKalb County Courthouse.The townhall will be held in the downstairs courtroom. Doors open at 5:15 PM. Meeting begins at 5:30 PM.
All ages are invited to attend.
DeKalb County Courthouse 1 Public Square Smithville, Tennessee 
 

The next deadline for Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) applications to be considered for funding in fiscal year (FY) 2019 is May 10, 2019. USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) plans to invest up to $700 million for new enrollments and contract extensions in fiscal year 2019. The 2018 Farm Bill made several changes to this critical conservation program, which helps agricultural producers take the conservation activities on their farm or ranch to the next level. 
“CSP continues to be a very effective tool for private landowners working to achieve their conservation and management goals,” said Sheldon Hightower, Tennessee NRCS State Conservationist. “It is the largest conservation program in the United States with more than 70 million acres of productive agricultural and forest land enrolled.”
 
While applications are accepted throughout the year, interested producers should submit applications to their local NRCS office by May 10, 2019, to ensure their applications are considered for 2019 funding.
 
Changes to the Program
 
The 2018 Farm Bill authorizes NRCS to accept new CSP enrollments from now until 2023, and it makes some important improvements to the program. These updates include:
•NRCS now enrolls eligible, high ranking applications based on dollars rather than acres. For fiscal year2019, NRCS can spend up to $700 million in the program, which covers part of the cost for producersimplementing new conservation activities and maintaining their existing activities.
•Higher payment rates are now available for certain conservation activities, including cover crops andresource conserving crop rotations.
•CSP now provides specific support for organic and for transitioning to organic production activitiesand a special grassland conservation initiative for certain producers who have maintained croplandbase acres.

Tennessee Gas Prices continue to rise. Tennessee drivers are paying an average price of $2.52 per gallon for regular unleaded. Monday’s state average is five cents more than a week ago, 24 cents more than last month, and three cents higher than this time last year. 
The national gas price average stands at $2.74, which is an increase of a nickel on the week and is eight cents more than this time last year. And, compared to one month ago, gas prices are 28 cents more expensive. As demand holds steady and inventories continue to tighten, motorists continue to see gas prices increase in every region.  
 
“Gas prices are increasing across the country, but these changes vary by region,” said Jeanette Casselano, AAA spokesperson. “On the week, motorists in the West Coast, Rockies, Great Lakes and Central regions are seeing some of the largest weekly increases while prices mostly east of the Mississippi have made more moderate jumps.”  
 
 
 

The Tennessee Department of Transportation is joining states across the nation to ask motorists to “Drive like you work here” and Work with Us – move over and slow down for highway workers. TDOT will spread that message statewide during National Work Zone Awareness Week (April 8-12) in an effort to improve safety in Tennessee’s interstate and highway construction and maintenance work zones. 
According to TDOT Commissioner Clay Bright, “2016 was a tragic year for our TDOT family as three of our employees were struck and killed by passing motorists. Hundreds of TDOT employees are working on our highways each day. We need motorists to work with us by moving over and slowing down for TDOT workers or first responders working along our interstates and state routes.”
 
The spring and summer months provide perfect weather for highway work. Work zones include everything from major interstate widening projects to pothole patching and mowing. Motorists will encounter work zones across Tennessee in downtowns, along interstates and in rural areas. Last year in Tennessee, 20 people died in work zone crashes, including workers, drivers and passengers.
 
This Wednesday, April 10th, is “wear orange day”. Please show your support for National Work Zone Awareness by wearing orange.
 

If you are planning a garden this year, the local Extension office has a class scheduled for next month that may interest you. 
UT Extension’s Preserving Food Safely – Pressure Canning Class will be held on Saturday, May 18th at 10:00am, in the kitchen at the Cannon County Extension Office.
This class is designed for individuals with little or no experience canning. However, anyone who would like to brush up on their skills is welcome.
 
Only 10 spots are available! Registration fee is $30 and includes lunch, a copy of our canning book, and your pint of green beans to take home. Pressure canner gauge testing will also be available for an additional $5. Payment is due by May 10th.
 
To sign up, or for more information call 615-563-2554.
 

Crime victims in Tennessee and the advocates who serve them are being recognized this week in a series of statewide events. The Board of Parole, the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, the Department of Correction, and the Tennessee Rehabilitative Initiative in Correction (TRICOR) are again joining forces to host the events as part of the annual observance of National Crime Victims’ Rights Week. 
Parole Board Chairman Richard Montgomery commented; “The contributions of local law enforcement, victim advocates, prosecutors, and family services organizations all help create healing and hope for victims of crime. We are committed to honoring those contributions.”
 
Dickson County Sheriff Jeff Bledsoe was honored as the statewide Voice for Victims Award recipient for 2019.  The keynote speaker was Verna Wyatt, co-founder of Tennessee Voices for Victims. Additional events this week are taking place across the state.
 

April is the month for making sure your animal has their rabies shot. The vaccine $10 per animal and payment can only be made by cash or check. 
The mobile clinic will be traveling the county for the next three Saturdays.
This week, April 13th locations and time will be:
Auburntown School 8:30-9:00am
Gassaway Store 9:30am-10:00am
Short Mt School 10:15am-10:45am
Pleasant View 11:45-Noon
 
 
Saturday, April 20th; 
Westside School 8:30-9:00am 
Bradyville Church of Christ 9:15am-9:45am 
Ivy Bluff Methodist Church 10:15am-10:30am 
Woodland School 10:45am-11:15am
 
Saturday, April 27th; 
Sunny Slope Church 8:30am-9:30am 
Cannon County Courthouse 9:45-10:45am
 
The community pricing will also be honored in office for the month of April.  For more details call the Cannon County Animal Clinic (615)563-4022.