2016

County unemployment rates for August 2016, released last week, show the rates decreased in 26 counties, increased in 58, and remained the same in 11 counties
Cannon County’s unemployment rate went up one-tenth of a percentage point in August.  Out of an estimated work force of 6190 people, 5880 people were employed while 300 were unemployed.  This gave Cannon County a 4.9 percent unemployment figure up from July’s 4.8 percent.  Surrounding counties unemployment rate also slightly up with Coffee County at 4.9 percent.  Rutherford County showed a 4 percent unemployment rate, Wilson stayed at 4 percent same as July while two counties, Warren’s 4.8 percent and Dekalb’s 5.8 percent were actually dropped from July’s rates.
Tennessee’s preliminary unemployment rate for August was 4.4 percent, increasing one tenth of a percentage point from the previous month’s revised rate. The U.S. preliminary rate for August was 4.9 percent, remaining unchanged from the previous month.

Today, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Tennessee announced that it is withdrawing from the exchange under the Affordable Care Act in the major parts of the state, including parts of District 46, effectively shedding about 112,000 Tennesseans from its rolls.  
 
Citing instability in the marketplace, the insurance company’s decision is the direct result of failed Republican leadership and Republicans’ inexplicable refusal to expand Medicaid and pass Insure Tennessee. 
 
“Working families across District 46 are now feeling the effects of Republicans leadership and incompetent representation,” said state House District 46 candidate Amelia Morrison Hipps.
 
“Because of Republicans like Mark Pody, who blocked access to affordable and quality health care from the very beginning, sole proprietors, entrepreneurs, and small business owners with individual policies are now being directly impacted,” she added.
 
Hipps noted that Republicans like Pody have turned away over $2.5 billion “of our own tax dollars, causing our neighbors to suffer, our local economies to hurt, rural hospitals to close putting people’s lives at risk, and the insurance marketplace in Tennessee to become increasingly unstable.”
 
States that have expanded Medicaid are experiencing economic growth. Kentucky’s expansion is estimated to have a cumulative positive impact of $30.1 billion its economy through the state’s fiscal year 2021.
 
“Mark Pody’s refusal to champion Insure Tennessee shows a complete lack of compassion for our families. Instead, he has spent his time in office railing against the federal government with futile resolutions and threats of lawsuits,” she added.
 
“Pody has turned his back on the people of District 46 in many ways.  He’s deprived working families of health care, blocked necessary resources from our classrooms, and kept people in poverty who deserve a higher wage,” Hipps said.  “It’s time for a new voice in District 46.”
 

A Woodbury Man who apparently got a little snack hungry was arrested over the weekend after Murfreesboro Police responded to a call at the Walmart on South Rutherford Blvd.  According to police reports 35 year old David Wayne Sieber Jr. was arrested after loss prevention officers witnessed him break into a box of doughnuts and consume a few.  He was also caught with razors on his person in which he attempted to steal.  While running a check on him, police discovered he had two arrest warrants including public intoxication.  Sieber was charged with Theft under $500 and will answer to the charge on November 16th in Rutherford County General Sessions Court.

The Tennessee School Boards Association (TSBA) hosted the Upper Cumberland Fall District Meeting on September
15 at DeKalb County High School in DeKalb County. “TSBA Fall District Meetings gives our staff the opportunity to
connect with school board members from every part of the state so that we not only hear their concerns but also
provide them with the support they need to help them make the best decisions for the children and schools in their
communities,” said TSBA Executive Director Tammy Grissom. Members of local boards of education and
superintendents from the region participated in a survey where they expressed their positions on issues such as charter
authorizer fees, BEP funding formula including a component for RTI2, using funds without seeking the approval of
the local funding body and allowing board members to electronically participate in board meetings more than two
times per year. The Tennessee Department of Education Leadership Team shared requirements, opportunities and
timeline for the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) Plan. District leaders also shared their success stories detailing
the implementation of innovative programs.
AREA STUDENT HONORED
Each year TSBA honors one student from each of its nine districts who has achieved distinction in the areas of
academics, community leadership, and engagement as part of its Student Recognition Award program. One of those
nine students will win the statewide Student Recognition Award to be presented at the TSBA Annual Convention in
November, which will include a $2,000 scholarship. The 2016 Upper Cumberland District winner is Adelia Birdwell
of Putnam County Schools. Currently a senior at Cookeville High School, Adelia has served at many local soccer
camps as an instructor for young and developing athletes and volunteered every summer at the Memorial Day
ceremony. She has also volunteered at the Cooking on the Square event, Habitat for Humanity Christmas dinner and
Toys for Tots. Adelia currently serves as the student body president and has participated in Leadership Putnam School
Climate conferences.
–more–
525 Brick Church Park Drive ❖ NASHVILLE, TN 37207 ❖ TELEPHONE (615) 815-3900 ❖ (800) 448-6465 ❖ FAX (615) 815-3911
www.tsba.net
Assisting school boards in effectively governing school districts
AREA BOARD MEMBERS EARN HONORS
Several Upper Cumberland District school board members earned TSBA Boardsmanship Awards in 2016. The
awards are presented to individual board members who have achieved one of five levels of boardsmanship standards
over the past year. The program is designed to recognize school board members for participation in board activities
beyond the local level through a commitment to training, willingness to participate in workshops and a volunteer
spirit. The Boardsmanship Award honors not only the quantity, but also the quality of participation. Levels I-IV are
given at Fall District Meetings, while Level V Boardsmanship is awarded at the association’s annual convention in
November. Upper Cumberland District board members who were honored for their achievements this year were:
LEVEL I
James Bennett, Warren County
Linda Armistead, Wilson County
LEVEL II
Celeste Gammon, Putnam County
Helen Martin, Warren County
Linda Armistead, Wilson County
LEVEL III
Kim Cravens, Putnam County
Dawn Fry, Putnam County
Tanya Bess, Warren County
Bill Robinson, Wilson County
LEVEL IV
Linda Blair, Warren County

4H Chick Chain Poultry Auction is Thursday morning at 9AM at the Cannon County Farmers Market Pavilion. The Pavilion is located at the Arts Center Of Cannon County  Please Support Cannon County 4Hers as they bring their best pullets to be judged and auctioned.  All proceeds will benefit future chick chain projects.  For more information call Sarah Malone, extension agent, at 563-2554.
 

The Biz Foundry, the Upper Cumberland’s entrepreneur center, will be hosting Co.Starters, a business bootcamp designed to turn business ideas into action. The program begins in October and is open to the public. It is encouraged for all entrepreneurs and start-up businesses looking to turn their business idea into reality.
 
Jeff Brown, The Biz Foundry President, remarked, “There are a lot of people out there with good ideas. Co.Starters is a proven way to build a business around those good ideas.”
 
What are the prerequisites? Just having a business idea ready to share and pursue in addition to a willingness to study, shape and fine-tune that idea in a supportive, collaborative, and welcoming environment. If you’re creative and community-minded, and you’re serious about turning your passion into a sustainable business, we want you for this program. Some topics we will cover include marketing, customer growth, IP, pricing, cash flow and business models.

The program will be held in Cookeville at The Biz Foundry located at 140 West 7th Street. Participants will meet for seven weeks on Wednesdays from 5:30PM – 8:30PM beginning October 5 and ending November 16.

The program will also be held in McMinnville at the McMinnville/Warren County Chamber at 110 S Court Square in the Community room. Participants will meet for seven weeks on Thursdays from 5:30PM – 8:30PM beginning October 6 and ending November 17.

The cost is $150 per person with discounts for two or more team members. Food, drinks and material will be provided for both programs at each location. Facilitators for the program are experienced entrepreneurs that are well-connected in the community. They will share the challenges faced while starting and growing their businesses and help participants take the next practical steps to start or grow their business.

For more information, call Mike at 912-713-3230, email mike@thebizfoundry.org, or visit the website at http://bit.ly/CoStartersBootCamp.

Buster visited with West Side and Auburn students on Monday, Woodland and East Side students on Tuesday, Woodbury Grammar and Head Start students on Wednesday and Short Mountain students on Thursday this week. 
Our students were taught a number of safety rules about bus stops, crossing the street, loading and unloading, riding safely to and from school. But most importantly students were taught all about the “Danger Zone” located in the 10 foot area around the bus where the bus driver cannot see the students. 
More information about Buster and his new friends in Cannon County can be found by contacting Lisa Black at the Cannon County Board of Education.
 

An investigation by Special Agents with the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation has resulted in the arrest of a Cannon County man for the July murder of his brother.
At the request of 16th District Attorney General Jennings Jones, TBI Special Agents, with the assistance of the Tennessee Highway Patrol and the Cannon County Sheriff’s Office, began investigating the July 10th death of 38-year-old Carl “Floyd” Young. During the course of the investigation, Agents developed information that on that day, Carl had been involved in a verbal and physical altercation with his brother Chad on Gunter Hollow Road in Woodbury. The investigation revealed that during that altercation, Chad fired a handgun at his brother while Carl was driving. The bullet struck Carl, killing him, and his vehicle wrecked in a field.
On Friday, the Cannon County Grand Jury returned indictments charging Chad Young, 32, with one count of Second Degree Murder and two counts of Tampering with Evidence. Young was arrested Friday afternoon and booked into the Cannon County Jail, where he is being held on a $250,000 bond.

This week is homecoming week for Cannon County High School as they celebrate Homecoming Friday night.  The Cannon County Football Boosters is wanting to make some nice maroon and gold flags to hang on the lamppost around the square for homecoming. They are asking local businesses to donate only $20 each for this.  To participate please get in touch with any of the Cannon County Football Booster Club members.   
 

The Cannon County Lions entered last Friday’s contest against Upperman High School banged up with two starters out of the game due to suffering concussions a week prior.  The team also had a couple of starters out due to disciplinary action.  Despite the absences of those players, the Lions still had a legitimate shot of getting an important win on the road.  The Lions had trouble staying on their side of the ball as the Bees put together a lengthy first possession drive including three defensive offsides penalties against the Lions.  The first drive ended with ball going back to the Lions.  In the second quarter first possession by Upperman, the  Bees mixed up the plays and scored to go up 7-0.  Next possession for the Lions on 2nd and 13 ball at their own 32 yard line, Upperman recovers a fumble and runs it back for a touchdown to lead 14-0.  In the third quarter Cannon pulls within a touchdown as quarterback Josh Walkup found Qwentin McMackins on a 36 yard pass play to trail 14-7.  Later in the third quarter the Bees score on a two play drive but missed the extra point.  The Lions couldn’t muster anymore offense and Upperman went on to win 20-7.  The Lions rushing game had 24 carries for a net total of only 36 yards.  Walkup was 5-14 for 70 yards, 1 touchdown and 1 interception.  Total yards of offense is 106 yards compared to 207 yards of total offense by Upperman.  The Lions will look forward to homecoming this Friday when their opponent will be Smith County.