News

A Woodbury family would like to keep their tradition of growing their own food legally.  In this week’s meeting of the Woodbury Mayor and Board of Alderman, Michael Reed addressed the board.  He is a resident of 208 Murfreesboro Road for the last nine years.  His family leased a home and the adjoining 2.98 acres.  It has been his understand that the acreage was in the county while the home was located inside the town limits of Woodbury.

Reed explained to the Alderman in the area behind their home they have raised chicken (and eggs), they have raised cattle and harvested the beef for consumption.  Following a neighbors complaint, Woodbury Police visited the Reed family and advised them all of their property was inside the city limits.

The property owner reports they have not paid city taxes on the back acreage of the track and believed it was in the county.  Reed inquired to the Alderman if there was some type permit he could purchase to continue to keep the livestock and continue to feed his family.

Upon the board’s recommendation, the city attorney will investigate the status of the property and follow up at next month’s meeting.

In the meantime, Reed may keep the livestock on his property.  

The Tennessee Department of Agriculture is announcing a new structure for its division dedicated to supporting new and expanding agricultural and forestry businesses.

The renamed Business Development Division will prioritize agricultural economic development by increasing profitability and viability of farm and forest businesses, which are vital to Tennessee’s rural and overall economy.

Keith Harrison will lead the division as Assistant Commissioner. Harrison began his career at the Tennessee Department of Agriculture as an Agricultural Marketing Specialist in 1984 and served as Director of Marketing until the end of 2000. Harrison has served as agency’s Assistant Commissioner for Consumer and Industry Services, leading the regulatory programs affecting consumer protection and food safety until early 2019, when he shifted to leadership of the Business Development Division.

Focus areas will include international marketing, farm-direct marketing, and industry development. The division will also look to strengthen Tennessee’s agriculture industry through cost-share programs, such as the Agriculture Enterprise Fund and Specialty Crop Block Grants. The division will provide strategic direction and outreach for the Tennessee Agricultural Enhancement Program.

The division will also have a new Food Products Business Consultant. Mike Brown has been with the Tennessee Department of Agriculture since 2014, originally serving as Outreach Coordinator in the Consumer and Industry Services Division. As a business consultant, he is a resource for new and expanding food manufacturers by developing marketing opportunities. Brown has 36 years of experience in the food industry, and prior to joining the department, he worked as a food marketing and product development consultant.

Staff members in the Business Development Division will work to increase agricultural commodity processing and production capacity in the state to accommodate the growing demand and opportunity for direct and retail sales through incentives for upgrading and expanding facilities.

Road construction won’t slow motorists across Tennessee over the July 4^th holiday.  The Tennessee Department of Transportation will suspend all construction-related lane closures on interstates and state routes until Monday, July 8^th to provide maximum roadway capacity for holiday travelers.

TDOT Commissioner Clay Bright commented, “It is estimated that 985,000 motorists will travel Tennessee’s interstates and state routes this July 4^th holiday. To help motorists reach their destinations safely and without unnecessary delays, we are suspending lane closures during this holiday travel time.”

AAA projects a record breaking 48.9 million Americans will travel this Independence Day weekend, a 4.1% increase from last year. An estimated 985,000 Tennesseans will travel during the holiday, with an estimated 892,000 driving to their destinations.

This will be the first 4^th of July where it is illegal to shoot fireworks in the city limits of Woodbury.  The countywide celebration is the only event approved by city government.

The Tennessee State Fire Marshal’s Office is reminding residents of the Volunteer State about the dangers associated with consumer fireworks. The SFMO urges Tennesseans to leave the fireworks to the experts this Independence Day.

Shooting fireworks at home brings risks to lives, health, and property. According to the National Fire Protection Association, thousands of people, most often children and teens, are injured while using consumer fireworks each Fourth of July holiday. According to Tennessee fire data, fireworks caused 419 unintended fires that resulted in over $1 million in property damage from 2014-2018. Additionally, one civilian injury and three firefighters were injured in fireworks-related accidents during the same time period.

If you choose to shoot fireworks yourself, familiarize yourself with local fireworks laws first. Several counties and cities in the Volunteer State have ordinances and restrictions related to fireworks usage.

For more fire safety information, visit tn.gov/fire.

The Tennessee Beef Promotion Board will meet July 19th at 1 p.m.  at the Tennessee Beef Industry Council located at 530 Brandies Circle Suite A in Murfreesboro, Tenn.

The agenda includes a review and approval of minutes, industry reports, a review of board finances, annual committee reports, and a quarterly program update.

The meeting is open to the public. Individuals interested in addressing the board should plan to arrive early in order to be placed on the agenda.

The Tennessee Beef Promotion Board was created in 2012 by state law to oversee the collection and use of assessments paid by producers for the purpose of promoting beef and beef products in-state.

For more information, contact the Tennessee Department of Agriculture at 615-837-5160.

More Tennesseans are now eligible for free mental health services through the state’s Behavioral Health Safety Net program.  New, broader eligibility criteria took effect this week increasing the number of uninsured, underinsured, and indigent people who can receive services through the program.

Governor Bill Lee proposed and the Tennessee General Assembly approved $5 million in new state funding to provide safety net services to about 7,000 more Tennesseans.  As a result, the Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services was able to expand eligibility by widening the program’s income criteria from 100% of Federal Poverty Level to 138% Federal Poverty Level.

Since the program began in 2005, more than 168,000 individuals have received services through the safety net.  In recent years, the Behavioral Health Safety Net has served about 32,000 Tennesseans annually.

The Behavioral Health Safety Net provides essential mental health services including assessment and evaluation, case management, medication management, psychosocial rehabilitation, therapeutic interventions, and transportation to appointments.

Behavioral Health Safety Net services are provided through contracted community mental health centers at 146 office locations across Tennessee.

You’ll soon be having suds with your salsa at another restaurant in Woodbury.  In action last night before the Beer Board of Woodbury, the beer permit for Erick Moreno was approved. Moreno operates Mi Cocina Mexican Restaurant located at 112 East Main Street.

The permit is for On-Premise” consumption.

The Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security Driver Services Division has begun issuing Real ID driver license and identification cards effective yesterday.  All driver services centers are equipped and ready to issue the credentials to Tennesseans who decide to obtain the Real ID.

The REAL ID Act of 2005 establishes minimum security standards for license issuance and production and prohibits Federal agencies from accepting for certain purposes driver licenses and identification cards from states not meeting the Act’s minimum standards.

Beginning October 1, 2020, all persons must have a REAL ID license for accessing Federal buildings, entering nuclear facilities, and boarding federally regulated commercial aircraft.  This law is secure way for citizens to protect their identities.

Federal law requires that your first application to a Real ID compliant credential be made in person at one of our 44 driver services centers across the state.  Customers must have a valid license and the proof of the following documents when applying for a Real ID:

• Proof to establish citizenship or legal presence 
• Proof of your full Social Security Number
• Two proofs of Tennessee Residency

Tennesseans are not required to get a Real ID. You may have other identification forms such as a passport that will allow you to fly domestically. 

For a full list of required documents visit www.tsa.gov.  To learn more about Real ID and how it can benefit you, visit www.tnrealid.gov.

The Motlow State Testing Center will be offering nursing program applicants the opportunity to take the Health Education Systems Incorporated (HESI) exams at the Moore County, Fayetteville, McMinnville and Smyrna campuses, beginning in September, through January 2020.

Both the HESI Fundamental and the HESI A2 exams will be available.

The tests are the admission assessment for the College’s nursing program. To be considered for the program, all candidates without LPN licensure are required to take the HESI A2 Entrance Exam; those with LPN Licensure are required to take the HESI Fundamental Entrance Exam.

Appointments for the test can be scheduled beginning July 1.  The non-refundable payment for each test is due at the time of registration. Candidates are eligible to take the exam one time monthly throughout the testing period.

Individuals interested in applying to the program are responsible for submitting their best exam score to the Motlow Nursing Education Department by Jan. 31, 2020. For more information on the Motlow nursing program go to mscc.edu/nursing.

For more information and to register for the HESI exam go to mscc.edu/testing.

A state commission is awarding 32 grants for historic preservation and archaeological projects in Tennessee. The Tennessee Historical Commission made the announcement last week.

In adjoining Coffee County, Tennessee Division of Archaeology has been granted a $9,300 to fund an archaeological survey of Old Stone Fort State Archaeological Park.

Cannon County could benefit with a grant to the Upper Cumberland Development District. A $40,000 grant will fund a preservation specialist staff position for the Upper Cumberland Development District.