News

Your eyes are on the road and your hands are on the wheel, but are you still distracted? 
Research from the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety found that potentially unsafe mental distractions can persist for as long as 27 seconds after drivers use voice-based technology to dial, change music or send a text message. At 25 mph, drivers travel the length of nearly three football fields during this time. AAA urges drivers to put down their phone and avoid distractions when behind the wheel, especially now during April’s Distracted Driving Awareness Month.
 
“Most drivers believe that if their eyes are on the road and their hands are on the wheel, then they are focused on the drive,” said Stephanie Milani, Tennessee Public Affairs Director, AAA – The Auto Club Group. “But research proves that there are hidden dangers when using a cell phone or in-vehicle technology. Mental distractions last longer than you think and can cause a dangerous crash.”
 
Additional research also shows drivers talking on a cellphone are up to four times as likely to crash while those who text are up to eight times as likely to be involved in a crash. Despite the risk, drivers increasingly report using technology behind the wheel. Nearly half (49 percent) of drivers report recently talking on a hand-held phone while driving and nearly 35 percent have sent a text or email.
 
This behavior is in contradiction to the fact that nearly 58 percent of drivers say talking on a cellphone behind the wheel is a very serious threat to their personal safety, while 78 percent believe that texting is a significant danger.
 
“We have created a do as I say, not as I do culture on our roadways. Drivers understand the risk, they just don’t think they are the problem,” added Milani. “With more than 3,400 people killed in distracted driving crashes each year, it is time for drivers to be accountable. We can save lives”
 
AAA is committed to helping drivers curb the urge to engage in distracting behaviors behind the wheel. Any task that requires taking your eyes or attention off-the-road and hands off-the-wheel can present a dangerous risk on the roadway. That includes changing the radio, programming navigation or even enjoying a sandwich. In order to avoid distraction, AAA recommends:
 

Put aside Distractions. Never use text messaging, email, video games or internet functions, including those built into the vehicle, while driving.

Know where you’re going: Pre-program your GPS and adjust seats, mirrors, climate controls and sound systems before putting the car in motion.

Secure Items: Properly secure children and pets and store loose possessions and other items that could roll around in the car.

Snack Smart: Avoid messy foods that can be difficult to manage.

 
To learn more about the AAA Foundation’s research on how vehicle manufacturer’s in-vehicle technology, including Apple CarPlay and Google’s Android Auto systems, can create dangerous distractions for drivers behind the wheel, visit AAA.com/distraction.
 

The unemployment rate for each of Tennessee’s counties improved in February according to new information released Thursday by the Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development. 
Eighty of Tennessee’s 95 counties have an unemployment rate less than 5 percent, a marked improvement from January’s jobless numbers. 
 
With a rate of 5.9 percent, Lake County has the state’s highest rate of unemployment for February. The latest statistic represents a decrease of 3.4 percentage points from the previous month’s rate.
 
Tennessee’s seasonally adjusted statewide unemployment rate reached an all-time low of 3.2 percent in February. That figure bested the previous record low of 3.3 percent, which was the state’s unemployment rate between October and January.
 
Cannon County 6,510 persons eligible to work, 6,340 were working.   170 persons were not working or 2.7 percent.  In January the rate was 3.0 percent or a -0.3 improvement.  The average unemployment for the counties adjouring Cannon was 3.1.  DeKalb had the highest rate of 4.0 and Rutherford with the lowest at 2.3 percent.
 
Nationally, unemployment dropped to 3.8 percent, a 0.2 of a percentage point decrease from January’s revised rate of 4 percent.
 
Tennesseans searching for new or better employment opportunities can access more than 150,000 current job openings, as well as other job search tools on the state’s workforce development website, Jobs4TN.gov.
 

The Cannon County School District enjoyed a successful Spring 2019 Pre K and Kindergarten screening/registration for the 2019-2020 School Year. The event was held at the Cannon County Board of Education Central Office on Tuesday, March 26th and Thursday, March 28th.  Ninety-one (91) families participated in the process to ready their child to participate in either one of the four Cannon County Schools Volunteer Pre K classrooms or begin Kindergarten at one of our Cannon County Elementary Schools in Fall 2019.  During the screening process, each child had their hearing, vision, language, motor skills, and Pre K or Kindergarten skills screened.  
Any families who missed the screening/registration should follow the below procedures:
 
For Pre K students, come by the Board of Education at 301 West Main Street to see Kathy Mullins, Pre K Director, in order to fill out an application.  Be sure to bring with you proof of residence, official copy of birth certificate, immunization record with proof of physical, social security card, and verification of income. 
 
Students entering Kindergarten will need to go to their school of zone to register. 
 
According to Director Curtis, “We are looking forward to each child’s journey in Cannon County’s educational system.”
 
 

The Cannon County School District enjoyed a successful Spring 2019 Pre K and Kindergarten screening/registration for the 2019-2020 School Year. The event was held at the Cannon County Board of Education Central Office on Tuesday, March 26th and Thursday, March 28th.  Ninety-one (91) families participated in the process to ready their child to participate in either one of the four Cannon County Schools Volunteer Pre K classrooms or begin Kindergarten at one of our Cannon County Elementary Schools in Fall 2019.  During the screening process, each child had their hearing, vision, language, motor skills, and Pre K or Kindergarten skills screened.  
Any families who missed the screening/registration should follow the below procedures:
 
For Pre K students, come by the Board of Education at 301 West Main Street to see Kathy Mullins, Pre K Director, in order to fill out an application.  Be sure to bring with you proof of residence, official copy of birth certificate, immunization record with proof of physical, social security card, and verification of income. 
 
Students entering Kindergarten will need to go to their school of zone to register. 
 
According to Director Curtis, “We are looking forward to each child’s journey in Cannon County’s educational system.”
 
 

The Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance (TDCI) is advising Tennessee consumers to be wary of callers purporting to represent the Social Security Administration (SSA) or the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) in light of recent warnings from both agencies about nationwide telephone impersonation scams. 
Both agencies separately said they are currently investigating reports of individuals fraudulently claiming to represent the respective agencies in order to acquire consumers’ sensitive personal information, such as their Social Security numbers or banking information. The callers are using Caller ID cloaking technology to “spoof” the agencies’ legitimate numbers in order to make it appear as if the caller was an actual representative of the agency.
 
“As fraudulent phone calls have become more common, scammers have adapted their tactics in order to trick unsuspecting consumers into answering their phones,” said TDCI Commissioner Julie Mix McPeak. “While a threatening call from what appears to be the government is undoubtedly scary, consumers should always remain calm and remember that scammers often use emotion-provoking tactics to get your information and money. If you’re called by a scammer, don’t give out your personal information, immediately hang up and report the call.”
 
Scammers have used technology to increase the sophistication of their attacks. They have turned to “spoofing” phone numbers of people you may know, government agencies, or even your own phone number. Spoofing is when a caller intentionally falsifies the information transmitted to your caller ID to disguise their identity. To prevent falling victim of a scam, many consumers simply don’t answer the phone and review any voice mail messages to determine if a return call is appropriate.
 
While both scams are similar, there was no indication from either agency that the scams were related. To help Tennesseans avoid falling victim to either scam, TDCI shares the following information from both agencies and their Offices of Inspectors General (OIG):
 

The DHS scammers are falsely claiming they represent “U.S. Immigration” or other government entities. By altering Caller ID systems, they make it appear that the call is coming from the DHS HQ Operator number (202-282-8000) or the DHS Civil Rights and Civil Liberties (CRCL) number (202-401-1474). These scammers have frequently threatened victims with arrest unless they make payments to the scammers using a variety of methods. Anyone who believes they may have been a victim of this telephone spoofing scam is urged to call the DHS OIG Hotline (1-800-323-8603) or file a complaint online via the DHS OIG website www.oig.dhs.gov.

The SSA says its employees do occasionally contact people – generally those who have ongoing business with the agency – by telephone for business purposes. However, the SSA says its employees will never call and threaten to suspend a person’s benefits or promise to give benefit approval, or increase benefits, in exchange for the consumer’s personal information. The SSA says scammers are using technology to make it appear as if they were calling from the SSA’s national customer service number: 1 (800) 772-1213. If a person receives these calls from a scammer, he or she should hang up and report the information to the SSA’s fraud hotline at 1-800-269-0271 or online at https://oig.ssa.gov/report.

TIORA ANELLA GOWERENDANGERED CHILD ALERT
Missing:  March 26, 2019
Age Missing: 8
A Middle Tennessee Endangered Child Alert has been issued for 8 year-old Tiora Anella Gower. Tiora was last seen with her mother on March 26, 2019 in Davidson County, Tennessee. She is a white female, 4’10” tall and weighs 130 lbs. She has blonde hair and brown eyes. Tiora and her mother may be in the area of Dickerson Road or Brick Church Pike in Nashville, Tennessee.
If you have seen Tiora, please contact the Cannon County Sheriff’s Office at 615-563-4322 or TBI at 1-800-TBI-FIND.
 

Over 100 newly certified officers graduated from the Tennessee Law Enforcement Training Academy (TLETA) yesterday.  One of the graduates is an employee of the Cannon County Sheriff’s Office. 
Kreed Curtis was one of the one hundred who walked the line yesterday. Curtis started as a correction officer one year ago and become an officer in September of last year according to Sheriff Darryl Young.
 
Lincoln County Sheriff Murray Blackwelder was the guest speaker for the graduation.
 
Tennessee Law Enforcement Training Academy’s Basic Police School course provides technical and tactical expertise in addition to the ethical and professional standards needed to be a successful law enforcement officer. The newly certified officers have joined thousands of law enforcement officers who have studied at the Academy during its more than 50-year existence.
 
In addition to Cannon County’s Sheriff’s Office, graduates of Basic Police School Class 1859 will serve the police departments, sheriffs’ offices, and state agencies in our area including Murfreesboro, Rutherford County, Tennessee State Parks, Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency, Tullahoma and Wilson County.
 
For more information about the Tennessee Law Enforcement Training Academy, visit our website.
 

Commodity loans are currently available for producers of corn, wheat, and soybeans. Applicants must meet all eligibility requirements before receiving these USDA benefits. To be eligible, a producer must maintain continual beneficial interest in the crop from harvest through the earlier of the date the loan is repaid or Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) takes title to the commodity. Beneficial interest means retaining the ability to make decisions about the commodity; responsibility for loss or damage to the commodity; and title to the commodity. Once beneficial interest in a commodity is lost, the commodity is ineligible for loan – even if the producer regains beneficial interest. 
 
These loans provide producers with immediate financing on their stored commodities held as loan collateral. Instead of selling the crop immediately after harvest, these loans allow the producer to store the crop for a maximum of 9 months to allow for market gains in the event of a depressed market at the time of harvest. Applicants should allow 3-4 workdays for processing and disbursing the loan proceeds.
 
Loans can be approved beginning at harvest and until March 31 for wheat and, until May 31 for corn and soybeans. The 2018 crop year commodity loans rates for DeKalb and Cannon Counties are as follows:
 
                            Corn—$2.06 / bu.                  Soybeans—$5.16/ bu.            Wheat—$3.04/ bu.
 
For March 2019, the CCC interest rate for marketing assistance loans is 3.625%.
 
Violating provisions of a marketing assistance loan may trigger administrative actions, such as assessing liquidated damages, calling the loan and denial of future farm-stored loans.
 
For more information, call the DeKalb/Cannon County Farm Service Agency at 615-597-8225, extension 2.
 

On Thursday March 28, 2019 the Town of Woodbury Water Department will close Sunny Slope Road between McFerrin Street and Bryant Lane at 8:30 A.M.  This is required so that work may be completed on water and sewer lines.  Woodbury Water Department realizes that this is an inconvenience and will work to complete the work as quickly as possible so that the road will be reopened in a timely manner.  We thank you for your patience and understanding. Shane Gannon, Public Works Director, Town of Woodbury
 

Tennessee has the highest dementia-linked death rate in the country with 90.1 people per 100,000 of its population dying from dementia-related causes, reports financial news Web site 247wallst.com.  24/7 also found that the number of people living with dementia worldwide is projected to triple over the next 30 years. 
Six of the ten States with the Highest Dementia-Linked Death Rates are in the South.  Kentucky is second to Tennessee.
 
In 2017, 66.7 people per 100,000 people died from dementia-related causes in the United States, up from 30.5 dementia deaths per 100,000 people in 2000. The death rates from dementia-related causes were fairly steady between 2013 and 2016 but increased noticeably from 2016 to 2017 in all age groups at highest risk — 65 to 74, 75 to 84, and 85 and older — as well as all races.
 
Dementia-related death rates vary across states. Several states with highest dementia-related death rates are in the South, while several states with the lowest dementia-related death rates are in the West.