News

 The Tennessee Department of Agriculture recognizes Gov. Bill Lee and the Tennessee General Assembly for significant investments in agriculture included in the 2026–2027 state budget.

The approved budget includes key recurring investments that support agricultural innovation, education and food access, including $1 million for the Representative Johnny Shaw Tennessee Agricultural Innovation and Education Initiative and $500,000 for Cul2vate.

The budget also maintains recurring support the General Assembly provides each year for the Tennessee Agricultural Enhancement Program, the Agricultural Enterprise Fund, departmental programs and staffing that provide services to farmers, forest landowners and consumers across the state.

Additional non-recurring investments include $1.5 million for the Tennessee Association of Fairs and $250,000 for Urban Roots of Tennessee to expand agricultural outreach and community engagement in rural and urban communities.

“This budget reflects Tennessee’s strong commitment to agriculture and the families and communities these industries support every day,” Agriculture Commissioner Andy Holt said. “From grants and marketing opportunities to expanded services and food access initiatives, these investments support producers and help the department serve more Tennesseans more effectively. Agriculture and forestry contribute $103.8 billion annually to our state’s economy and remain our top industry, making these investments important to the future of our rural communities and the state as a whole.”

The budget also funds nine new Consumer and Industry Services inspector positions and nine new Forestry positions. The Consumer and Industry Services positions will strengthen regulatory oversight and support the integrity of agricultural markets across the state. Forestry funding will establish a Wildfire Resiliency Team to enhance protection of forest resources, property and public safety.

Additional capital investments include a Division of Forestry cooler in East Tennessee, along with improvements to the Porter Building and the L.H. “Cotton” Ivy Laboratory at the Ellington Agricultural Center in Nashville, to help the department meet current and future operational needs.

TDA also recognized the benefits of the passage of voluntary truth-in-labeling legislation and expressed appreciation to lawmakers for supporting the measure, which allows producers to certify that meat and meat products marketed as Tennessee-sourced come from livestock raised in Tennessee. The legislation is designed to provide added transparency and increase consumer confidence.

The mission of TDA is to serve, support, and promote agriculture and forestry.

U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) Executive Director Donny Green, in DeKalb and Cannon counties, reminds producers to report planted, prevented planted, and failed acres to establish or retain FSA program eligibility.

For planted crops, the following acreage reporting deadlines are applicable for DeKalb and Cannon counties for the 2026 crop year:

July 15:          corn, soybeans, cucumbers, okra, peppers, potatoes, pumpkins, squash,
                        strawberries, tomatoes, watermelons, cantaloupes, peas, and perennial forage (hay and pasture)

July 31:           hemp

Aug. 15:          green beans

Dec.  15:         fall-seeded small grains (wheat)

The following exceptions apply to the above acreage reporting dates:

• If the crop has not been planted by the above acreage reporting date, the acreage must be reported no later than 15 calendar days after planting is completed.
• If a producer acquires additional acreage after the above acreage reporting date, the acreage must be reported no later than 30 calendars days after purchase or acquiring the lease. Appropriate documentation must be provided to the county office.
• If a perennial forage crop is reported with the intended use of “cover only,” “green manure,” “left standing” or “seed,” the acreage must be reported by July 15, 2026.

Producers must report crop acreage they intended to plant but, due to natural disaster, were prevented from planting. Prevented planting acreage must be reported on form FSA-576, Notice of Loss, no later than 15 calendar days after the final planting date, as established by FSA and the Risk Management Agency. According to Green, the final planting date for corn is May 25, 2026 and the final planting date for soybeans is June 15, 2026.

Producers with failed acres should also use form FSA-576, Notice of Loss, to report failed acres. For losses on crops covered by the Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program and crop insurance, producers must file a Notice of Loss within 15 days of the occurrence of the disaster or when losses become apparent. Producers must timely file a Notice of Loss for failed acres on all crops including grasses.

Please visit the DeKalb/Cannon County FSA office or call 615-597-8225 to schedule an appointment to file your crop year 2026 crop acreage report. To find your local FSA office, visit www.farmers.gov .

Road Construction will not delay motorists traveling Tennessee’s highways this Memorial Day weekend. The Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) will suspend all construction-related lane closures on interstates and state routes from noon on Friday, May 22, through 6:00 a.m. on Tuesday, May 26. This will provide maximum roadway capacity for the record-breaking number of motorists expected to take a road trip in the state during the holiday weekend.

AAA predicts 950,000 Tennesseans will travel for Memorial Day, with the majority of travelers, 795,000, driving to their destination.

“We want to do our part to help everyone have a safe and enjoyable holiday weekend and to keep traffic flowing as smoothly and efficiently as possible,” said TDOT Commissioner Will Reid, P.E. “We also want to remind drivers that it is the law to move over and slow down for first responders and emergency vehicles, including TDOT HELP trucks that will be on patrol throughout the holiday weekend.”

Motorists may still encounter lane closures or restrictions while traveling through long-term construction projects. In addition, drivers should know that reduced speed limits will be in effect in work zones. Drivers convicted of speeding through work zones where workers are present face a fine of up to $500, plus court fees, and possibly increased insurance premiums.

Get the latest construction activity from your desktop or mobile device and live streaming SmartWay traffic cameras at www.TNSmartWay.com/Traffic. Travelers can also call 511 for travel information. As always, drivers are reminded to use all motorist information tools wisely and Know Before You Go! by checking travel conditions before leaving for their destination. Drivers should never tweet, text, or talk on a cell phone while behind the wheel.

Friday Tennessee State Parks dedicated the new Cardwell Mountain State Archaeological Park, making it the third archaeological park added to the state park system, preserving more than 5,000 years of Tennessee history.

The 534-acre property includes evidence of Native American life and settlements from the Late Archaic to Mississippian periods, including a 15-foot earthen monument built approximately 1,000 years ago. The park will protect these one-of-a-kind archaeological sites for generations to come.

Cardwell Mountain is a landmark in McMinnville and Warren County and sits atop Cumberland Caverns, a National Natural Landmark and one of the largest cave systems in the nation. The landscape shows where the Eastern Highland Rim meets the Cumberland Plateau.

“This is an extraordinary location for our newest state park,” said Brian Clifford, deputy commissioner for Conservation at the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation. “It combines a sense of history with the love of outdoor recreation, and we know Tennesseans will enjoy and appreciate all of what the park offers.”

The park will include a visitor center with educational exhibits and trails that allow visitors to learn about the archaeology and history of this part of the state. The land also shares the history of the Cardwell family, who lived on the mountain for 150 years and established apple orchards known in Warren County and beyond.

The park is not open to the public during the upcoming construction phase. Park staff, along with the Division of Archaeology in the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation, are carefully working to help protect this irreplaceable archaeological site. The park will be fully open when all staff, trails, and facilities are in place.

This milestone for Tennessee State Parks was made possible with support from TennGreen, The Conservation Fund, and The Nature Conservancy.

The new park is the latest step in Gov. Bill Lee’s broad conservation strategy for the state. A total of 14 new Tennessee State Parks will be established under Lee, setting the Tennessee record for the most state parks created by one administration.

Barney Ray Sissom, 79, of Woodbury went to his heavenly home on May 3, 2026 with his loving family by his side. He is the son of the late Homer & Hessie Duke Sissom.

He is survived by his wife of 32 years, Linda Brown Sissom of Woodbury; Children Rhonda Spry (Jay) Womack and Scottie (Christy) Sissom of Woodbury; Step-children, Keith Brown of Woodbury and Teresa (Mike) Adamson of Murfreesboro; Grandchildren, Amber Spry (Benjie) of Manchester, Andrea (Justin) Ortkiese of Woodbury, Abbey (Jimmy) Rhea of Watertown, Justin Spry of Woodbury, Brady, Maleah & Baylee Sissom all of Woodbury, Garrett & Gage Adamson, and Cade Brown all of Murfreesboro, and Ashton Witty and Analyn Brown both of Woodbury. He is also survived by 6 great-grandchildren, Josiah & Gracie Ortkiese, Weston, Barrett, Lawson & Jett Rhea; Brother, Edward Sissom; and Sister, Wanda Dailey.

In addition to his parents, he is preceded in death by sister, Donna M. Taylor; Brothers, Carl, Pharris, Ellis & Morgan Sissom; and Son-in-law, Rex Spry.

Mr. Sissom was a member of Woodbury Church of Christ and served in the United States Army. He retired from CSX Railroad. He enjoyed gardening, purple martins, spending time with family, focusing on the positive things in life and was best known by his grandchildren as “Pa Pudd”

Visitation will be Monday, May 4, 2026 from 3 to 8 pm at Woodbury Funeral Home. Graveside Services will be held Tuesday, May 5, 2026 at 10 am at Gilley Hill Cemetery in Bradyville with Bro. Edward Sissom officiating.

The family would like to thank NHC Homecare of McMinnville and Compassus Hospice for the exceptional care given.

Woodbury Funeral Home, 615-563-2311 or to leave memories and condolences for his family, please visit www.woodburyfuneralhome.net

WBRY continues the tradition of saluting members of the graduating class at Cannon County High School.  Listen for student profiles on the days and hours listed on AM 1540, FM 107.1 and streaming at WBRY.com.

Monday – May 4^th

9am     Lillian (Abi) Alexander

10am  Harlee Adams

11am  Elly Bain

12pm  Emma Barrett

1pm     Iasiah Bang

2pm     Ethan Barnes

3pm     Addison Brandensky

4pm     Jessie Bogle

5pm     Ryleigh Bryson

Tuesday – May 5th

9am     Jayda Blount

10am  Kylie Bogle

11am  Trinity Brown

12pm  Hayden Byford

1pm     Rowan Cranstan

2pm     Mavrike (Bode) Davenport

3pm     Caitlin Dearden

4pm     Catlin Dodd

5pm     Tased Franklin

Wednesday – May 6th

9am     Serenty Field

10am  Eli Garrett

11am  Amilia Gay (Val)

12pm  Avery Galland

1pm     Emmalee Gilley

2pm     William Graves

3pm     Jaysie Hackney

4pm     Chandler Hale

5pm     Jaiden Harris

Thursday, May 7th

9am Megan Jackoby

10am Fath Jones

11am Leah Jones

12pm Rachel House

1pm  Yosslin Herrera-Erozo

2pm  Carsen Henderson

3pm  Drake Hillis

4pm  Evan Lane

5pm Kattie Lack

Friday, May 8th

9am     Christian Larrado

10am  Emily Manus

11am  Gabrella Marcum

12pm  Destiny Marlow

1pm      Jessica Miller

2pm      Jaxsen Miles

3pm      Marshell Miller

4pm      Charles Moore

5pm      Sean Moore

Monday, May 11th

9am     Eli Morris

10am  Jacob Morris

11am  Kendra Murphy

12pm  Addison Nichols

1pm      Lilly Nichols

2pm      Emma Novack

3pm      Leonardo O’Neal

4pm      Brooklyn Parker

5pm     Matthew Phillips  

Tuesday, May 12^th

9am     Kaytlin Powers

10am  Memphis Reed

11am  Holly Robinson

12pm  Annalyse Satchel

1pm     Mylee Schwartz

2pm     Landon Smith

3pm     Adien Smith

4pm     Brett Smithson

5pm     Adien Sissom

Wednesday, May 13th

9am     Carolyn Smothermen

10am  Elizabeth Sturdivant

11am  Corbitt Taylor

12pm  Jaylan Tayler

1pm     Mason Thurman

2pm     Laila Underwood (Salutatorian)

3pm     Tessa Vantrease

4pm     Malich Walls

5pm     Evan Watson

Thursday, May 14th

9am Khloe Watson

10am Bo Williams

11am Ashton Whitty

12pm Jacob Winrotte

1pm  Aaron Yates

2pm  Hailey Young

3pm  Emily Manus

4pm Catlin Dodd

5pm Aaron Yates

Friday, May 15th 

9am Holly Robinson

10am Emma Barrett

11am Abi Alexander

12pm  Laila Underwood ( SAL)

1pm Amilia Gay ( VAL)

We will continue to update this list as new profiles are scheduled. Times are also posted on our Facebook page.

The Tennessee Department of Health is reminding everyone to take precautions to avoid tick bites and tick-borne diseases. Spring is the perfect time to get outside and enjoy the many beautiful state parks and other amazing locations Tennessee has to offer.

“This is a great time of the year for outdoor activities. It’s important to protect yourself from tick bites,” said Tennessee Health Commissioner Dr. John Dunn. “Simple precautions, like use of insect repellant and other steps, can help to reduce the risks of common tick-borne illnesses in Tennessee like Rocky Mountain spotted fever, ehrlichiosis, Lyme disease, and alpha-gal syndrome”.

Tips to avoid tick bites:

•     Know where ticks live: Ticks can be found in grassy, bushy or wooded areas. In these areas, staying on trails rather than venturing off trail can reduce tick exposures.
•     Treat clothing and gear: Treat boots, socks, clothing, and camp gear with 0.5% permethrin and allow to dry for at least two to four hours before you go out (follow label instructions). Permethrin is not a repellant but an acaricide that kills ticks on contact. Alternatively, you can buy permethrin-treated clothing and gear. Self-applied permethrin spray generally lasts for six washings or up to six weeks. Factory-treated clothing can last up to 70 washes.
•     Use insect repellants containing DEET, Picaridin, IR3535, Oil of Lemon Eucalyptus (OLE), para-methane-diol (PMD), or 2-undecanone on your skin, following all label recommendations for use. Do not use products containing OLE or PMD on children under 3 years old. Never apply any of these products around the mouth or eyes. Consult your healthcare provider if you have questions. If using sunscreen, apply sunscreen first and insect repellant second to maintain repellency.
•     Do a tick check after you come indoors. Check clothing and body (including hair and scalp) for attached ticks and shower within two hours to help remove unattached ticks.

Pathogens transmitted by ticks can cause mild, flu-like symptoms which can progress to serious illness with major consequences if left untreated.

“Fortunately antibiotics can treat tick-borne illnesses caused by bacteria including Rocky Mountain spotted fever, ehrlichiois and Lyme disease, but the best approach is to take precautions to reduce tick bites altogether.’’ saidTennessee State Epidemiologist, Dr. Mary-Margaret Fill.

For more information on tick-bite protection go to https://www.tn.gov/health/vector.html.

Seventy-nine of Tennessee’s 95 counties reported unemployment rates below 5% in February, even as most counties saw an increase in their rates over the previous month, according to new data from the Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development (TDLWD).   In 87 counties, unemployment rates for February were up when compared with January rates. Rates remained the same in five counties and decreased in three counties.   Williamson, Macon, and Cheatham counties recorded the state’s lowest unemployment rates for February at 3%. Williamson County’s rate was up three-tenths of a percentage point over the previous month, Macon’s rate was up one-tenth of a percentage point, and Cheatham’s rate was up two-tenths of a percentage point. Cannon County’s rate for February was 3.2%.  This was a two-tenths of a percentage point higher than the January rate of 3%.  This translates into 226 persons in Cannon County looking for work.   Pickett County recorded the state’s highest unemployment rate for February at 6.7%. That was an increase of seven-tenths of a percentage point over its January rate of 6%.   Perry County followed at 6.6%, down 4.7 percentage points from its January rate of 11.3%. Cocke County reported the third-highest rate for the month at 6.5%, an uptick of one-tenth of a percentage point.     Tennessee’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 3.6% in February. That rate was up slightly from the previous month but is still eight-tenths of a percentage point below the U.S. rate of 4.4%.   Unlike the statewide rate, county rates are not seasonally adjusted.   TDLWD has compiled an analysis of the February 2026 county unemployment data.   Tennessee is growing at a record pace, and with that growth comes an increase in construction projects across the state.   To help protect the workers building our communities, Tennessee OSHA is highlighting the National Safety Stand-Down to Prevent Falls in Construction, May 4-8, 2026. This important initiative encourages employers and workers to pause and focus on fall prevention, the leading cause of fatalities in construction. By taking time to discuss safety, we can help ensure Tennessee’s growth is built on a strong, safe foundation. Learn more about the National Safety Stand-Down here.   Tennessee will release statewide unemployment data for March on May 14, 2026, at 1:30 p.m. CDT.

The Tennessee Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (TDMHSAS) is encouraging Tennesseans to take part in National Prescription Drug Take Back Day on Saturday, April 25, from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. local time.

Take Back Day gives people a simple way to safely, securely, and anonymously dispose of unused, unwanted, or expired prescription and over-the-counter medications. Removing old medications from the home can help reduce the risk of misuse, addiction, and accidental poisoning, while also protecting Tennessee’s environment and waterways.

National Take Back Day events are held across the state in partnership with local law enforcement, prevention coalitions, and other community organizations. During take back events in 2025, Tennesseans safely and securely disposed of more than 31,000 pounds of medications.  You can find a Take Back Day event near you by visiting TNtogether.com/takebackday.  Cannon County’s drop off location will be Woodbury Drug Center on Main Street in Woodbury.

“National Prescription Drug Take Back Day is one of the simplest ways people can help prevent substance misuse and protect their families,” said TDMHSAS Commissioner Marie Williams, LCSW. “Most of us have unused or expired medications in a cabinet, drawer, or closet at home. Taking a few minutes to safely dispose of those medications can reduce the risk of misuse, keep potentially addictive substances out of the wrong hands, and make our communities safer.”

“We encourage Tennesseans to take part in this program,” said Commissioner David Salyers of the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation. “It makes it convenient to dispose of prescription drugs while keeping them out of our water supply. It’s important for health and the environment.”

For those who cannot attend a Take Back Day event, Tennessee also has hundreds of permanent prescription drug drop boxes across the state. These locations provide a safe, secure, and anonymous option for disposal year-round. There are nearly 400 permanent drop boxes with at least one in every county.  They are often located inside pharmacies or local law enforcement offices.

For more information and to find a Take Back Day event near you, visit TNtogether.com/takebackday.