2016

Cannon County has been chosen to receive $5,898 to supplement emergency food and shelter programs in the county under Phase 33 of the Emergency Food and Shelter National Board Program (EFSP).

The selection was made by a National Board that is chaired by the U. S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency and consists of representatives from American Red Cross; Catholic Charities, USA; National Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA; The Jewish Federations of North America, The Salvation Army; and, United Way Worldwide. The Local Board was charged to distribute funds appropriated by Congress to help expand the capacity of food and shelter programs in high-need areas around the country.

The Local Board, made up of representatives from the American Red Cross, Cannon County Government, Domestic Violence Program, United Way of Rutherford & Cannon Counties, and others, will determine how the funds awarded to Cannon County are distributed among the emergency food and shelter programs run by local service agencies in the area.  The Local Board is responsible for recommending agencies to receive these funds and any additional funds made available under this phase of the program.

Under the terms of the grant from the National Board, local agencies chosen to receive funds must 1) be private voluntary non-profits or units of government, 2) have an accounting system, 3) practice nondiscrimination, 4) have demonstrated the capability to deliver emergency food and/or shelter programs, and 5) if they are a private voluntary organization, they must have a voluntary board. Qualifying agencies are urged to apply.

The EFSP was authorized under the Stewart B. McKinney Homeless Assistance Act (P.L. 100-77 signed into law on July 24, 1987, since renamed the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act and subsequently reauthorized under P.L. 100-628, signed into law on November 7, 1988). Since 1983, in its 33-year history, the EFSP will have distributed $4.198 billion to over 14,000 human service agencies in more than 2,500 communities across the country through this collaborative effort between the private and public sectors.

Public or private voluntary agencies interested in applying for Emergency Food and Shelter Program funding should contact Randy Allen at the United Way of Rutherford and Cannon Counties at (615) 893-7303 or Randy.Allen@yourlocaluw.org for an application. The deadline to submit an application is 4:00 PM on Tuesday, August 9, 2016.
 

Many Tennesseans are ready to say goodbye to summer and hello to school. Tennessee farmers however, want everyone to know that summer is far from over. In fact, August is the peak month of growing season for most of the U.S. That’s why the first week is always National Farmers Market Week.
This year, the celebration is August 7-13. Many local farmers’ markets will host special events to remind customers that there’s still plenty of summer and summer produce left.
Tennessee’s fruit and vegetable producers have enjoyed an exceptionally abundant growing season this year. Summer produce will continue to flourish even as autumnal favorites like pumpkins and sweet potatoes roll into the marketplace.
Pick Tennessee Products, the Tennessee Department of Agriculture’s farmer to consumer program, offers several options to take advantage of farm fresh bounty long after the kids are back in school. Tips for successful farmers’ markets visits and a calculator to help customers convert farm measurements to familiar kitchen measures are available on the Pick Tennessee Website, www.picktnproducts.org.
“Southern in Season” is a brand new Pick Tennessee iBook available now for iPad, iPhone and Mac iBooks. The free digital, downloadable cookbook focuses on important tips for choosing, storing and using Tennessee grown or produced ingredients according to their harvest seasons. To download the free iBook, search “Southern In Season” or “Pick Tennessee” at the Apple iBook store. Links to Pick Tennessee website directories will help readers quickly find the featured farm products near their own homes.
Download the Pick TN mobile app, visit www.picktnproducts.org and follow Pick Tennessee on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and Pinterest.
 

Every time we turn on the news, we are reminded that – contrary to what some would have us believe – illegal immigration is NOT a victimless crime. It poses a true threat to our national security, our economy, and our very way of life. As the proud recipient of an A+ lifetime rating from the anti-amnesty group NumbersUSA, I’ve fought to confront this challenge head on. 
In Congress,  I co-wrote the SMART Border Act, legislation imposing tough, new border security standards. I authored an amendment passed by the House of Representatives to combat funding for sanctuary cities and, as a member of the House Border Security Caucus, I even traveled to the US-Mexico border so that I could meet with Customs and Border Patrol agents and survey our border security challenges with my own eyes.
Recently, some Tennesseans have come to me with questions about my views on illegal immigration, particularly as it pertains to granting drivers licenses to illegal immigrants. So today, I want you to know exactly where I stand.
I don’t support granting drivers licenses to illegal aliens, and my record proves it. But I’ve been around long enough to know how easy it is for political types to take a vote out of context or twist the intent of a bill for one’s own purposes. So here is the real story behind a vote of mine that’s been called into question: 
Some 15 years ago, Tennessee became host to an influx of legal refugees from the nation from of Somalia, with the greatest concentration of refugees relocating to Bedford County. While I’ve often warned of the risks of mass refugee resettlement within the United States – and voted against continued funding for this broken system just last year – in this case, these individuals were already at our doorstep and it became my job to ensure that Tennesseans were protected. 
This development created problems on our roadways, with unlicensed drivers putting citizens at risk. Law enforcement came to the state legislature and asked us to pass a bill ensuring that legal noncitizens in our state were required to take a test and learn the rules of the road just like everyone else. The resulting bill was SB3430, which passed the Tennessee state House in 2004. 
The bill did not grant drivers licenses to illegal immigrants, and Section 2 of the bill clearly stated that its benefits could only apply to those “legally present in the United States.”  Instead, it allowed noncitizens to apply for a driving certificate; one that was clearly labeled “FOR DRIVING PURPOSES ONLY. NOT VALID FOR IDENTIFICATION.”  The legislation was the most conservative option available in a Democratic controlled legislature and, at the time of its passage, it was hailed as one of the toughest laws in the nation limiting illegal immigrants’ access to licenses. 
In fact, when this bill came up for a vote, it received near unanimous support; passing by a vote of 32-0 in the Tennessee state senate and 96-2 in the state House. Republicans like Senator Mae Beavers, Representative Judd Matheny, and others joined me in honoring the requests of our law enforcement and supporting the bill. 
As we all know, however, good bills can yield unintended consequences. Years after this legislation’s passage, it became clear that, despite the bill’s meticulous wording and conservative support, it still was susceptible to fraud and abuse. That’s why, in 2007, I voted to scrap the law from our books. 
My position on illegal immigration has never changed. We have to secure our border, enforce our laws, combat sanctuary cities, and hold those who come here illegally accountable. On an issue as important as this, we have to get our facts straight. That’s why I wanted you to hear directly from me.

 The Tennessee Department of Insurance’s (TDCI) Consumer Insurance Services Section returned $1,577,917.59 to Tennessee consumers through the first half of 2016.  The restitution efforts were the result of TDCI insurance investigators mediating between insurance companies and policyholders to get denied claims overturned and paid for Tennessee policyholders.
“2016 is again shaping up to be a busy year as our team responds to consumer complaints and works diligently to advocate for Tennessee consumers from all walks of life,” TDCI Assistant Commissioner Insurance Division Michael Humphreys said. “We encourage Tennesseans to call us if they have questions or concerns about all types of insurance products and services.”Last year, more than $2.8 million was repaid in total to Tennessee consumers through the department’s restitution efforts.
In addition to TDCI’s restitution work, the Consumer Insurance Services (CIS) team has answered 12,012 calls and assisted with 462 written inquiries so far while handling 1,825 formal complaints. The CIS team also helped identify over $100,000 in life insurance benefits through TDCI’s new Lost Policy Service, which took effect in April 2016.
The majority of the complaint volume pertains to health-related issues with claim denials and delays being the top complaints.
The Department encourages policyholders to remember that filing a complaint or otherwise contacting TDCI is always an option if they are ever denied a claim or even have a question or concern about their insurance policies.
Consumers should always remember a few handy tips for working with their insurance companies:
Do your homework before purchasing a policy for any line of insurance.
Read the policies so you’ll know and understand its provisions before filing a claim.
Verify that the company and the agent are licensed in Tennessee before you buy. Visit our website to verify license status.
Look up complaint data to see how well a company is responding to consumer issues.
Homeowners should always keep pictures and/or receipts for all contents on your property. (Most fire losses leave nothing.) Digital tools such as MyHome Scr.APP.book lets you quickly capture images and descriptions of your belongings to help you determine how much insurance you need and for filing a claim.
For auto policies, know your coverage limits and what is required by state law. The WreckCheck app guides you through the steps to take following an auto accident.
For health policies, make sure your doctor and/or healthcare facility is participating in the network of your insurance carrier.
For life insurance policies, depending upon age and health status, you may or may not be eligible for certain products. If you have never purchased a life insurance policy before, you may seek the assistance of a licensed agent to help you make the choice that is best suited for your personal needs.
Questions? We can help. Contact us at 1-800-342-4029 or (615) 741-2218.
 

This weekend is  tax-free weekend in Tennessee, where shoppers won’t have to pay sales tax on clothing, school and art supplies that cost $100 or less per item and computers that cost $1,500 or less.

During these three days Tennessee shoppers can save nearly 10 percent on certain purchases.

“I want to encourage Tennessee families to take advantage of the Sales Tax Holiday because it was created with them in mind,” Gov. Bill Haslam said. “The weekend provides savings for families, especially as students are starting the new school year, and the holiday can provide relief on clothing, school and art supplies and computer purchases.”

The holiday begins today. and ends Sunday, July 31 at 11:59 p.m. During the designated three-day weekend, consumers will not pay state or local sales tax on clothing with a price of $100 or less per item, school and art supplies with a price of $100 or less per item, and computers with a price of $1,500 or less.

Please visit the Sales Tax Holiday Web site at www.tntaxholiday.com to learn more about the items exempt from sales tax.

Examples of exempt items include:

•Clothing: Shirts, dresses, pants, coats, gloves and mittens, hats and caps, hosiery, neckties, belts, sneakers, shoes, uniforms whether athletic or non-athletic and scarves

•School Supplies: Binders, book bags, calculators, tape, chalk, crayons, erasers, folders, glue, pens, pencils, lunch boxes, notebooks, paper, rulers and scissors

•Art Supplies: Clay and glazes; acrylic, tempera and oil paints; paintbrushes for artwork; sketch and drawing pads; and watercolors

•Computers: Central processing unit (CPU), along with various other components including monitor, keyboard, mouse, cables to connect components and preloaded software (Note: While the CPU may be purchased separately, other items must be part of a bundled computer package in order to be eligible.) iPads and other tablet computers are eligible for tax exemption, while smart phones and video game consoles are not.
 

The Cannon County Sheriff’s Department has announced Tuesday August 2nd that they will be participating in hosting a National Night Out Against Crime. National Night Out is an opportunity for residents to meet their neighbors, law enforcement officers, public officials, and other community service providers in an informal setting with the goal of increasing communication about crime prevention.  Cannon County, Woodbury Law Enforcement and First Responders will be on the square in front of the courthouse
Tuesday evening at 7;00 pm for the public to meet and mingle with. This is an effort for the people of our town and county to come meet the various departments and learn what they do and the people that serve you.
 

Today and Saturday will be the final two days for early voting for the August 4th election.  Early voting in Cannon County takes place at the Cannon County Election Offices located at 301 West Main Street Suite 244.  Friday’s hours are from 8-1 while Early Voting will take place Saturday starting at 8 and early voting will end Saturday evening at 6p.m. For more information call the Election Office at 563-5650
 

The We Care Cannon school supply distribution will be held Sunday at the Woodbury Grammar School from 2-5:00.  Volunteers that would like to help with the program Sunday should arrive at 12 noon for their assignments.  The We Care Cannon school supply distribution  is open to all Cannon County Students.  Must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.  Students attending will leave the event with everything they need in way of school supplies for the entire upcoming school year.

MTEMC workers are scheduled to be conducting work Sunday on electrical lines across 840 near exit 67, Couchville Pike. The work will result in rolling roadblocks beginning at 6 a.m. Sunday The work will be completed, weather permitting.
Law enforcement will be assist with the roadblocks, stopping traffic so the work can quickly and safely be performed by MTEMC crews.
Middle Tennessee Electric Membership Corporation is a member-owned, not-for-profit electric cooperative providing electricity to more than 211,000 residential and business members in Williamson, Wilson, Rutherford and Cannon counties.
 

The stereotype of the “little old lady” as scam victim is wrong, and Millennials are actually more vulnerable to scams than Baby Boomers. That’s the conclusion of new research by the BBB Institute for Marketplace Trust (BBB Institute). Marketplace scams affect one in four North American households each year at an estimated loss to individuals and families of $50 billion, yet most consumers believe they are invulnerable.
“This research is so vital, not only to stop scammers from hurting consumers, but to help businesses,” said Mary E. Power, president and CEO of the Council of Better Business Bureaus (CBBB). “That $50 billion ‘underground’ economy is stealing from the legitimate marketplace. Every dollar lost to a scam is a dollar not spent at a lawful, trustworthy business.”
The research, Cracking the Invulnerability Illusion: Stereotypes, Optimism Bias, and the Way Forward for Marketplace Scam Education, is based on a survey of more than 2,000 adults in the U.S. and Canada. Participants were asked about their perceived vulnerability to scams, who they think is most likely to be scammed, and about the factors that helped them to avoid being scammed. The participants did not know that BBB was the sponsor of the survey.
Download “Cracking the Invulnerability Illusion” at BBB.org/TruthAboutScams
“We’ve bought into stereotypes about scam victims – they’re usually seen as vulnerable and elderly, or gullible and poorly educated,” noted the paper’s co-author Emma Fletcher, product manager with the BBB Institute, CBBB’s foundation. “These stereotypes are strongly held… and they are wrong. We are all at risk, but younger and more educated individuals are actually the most likely to be scammed.”
“Optimism bias – the idea that we all think other people are more vulnerable than we are – is associated with risk-taking and failure to heed precautionary advice,” said co-author Rubens Pessanha, CBBB director of marketing research and insights. “Seniors may be the one group that does not suffer from optimism bias when it comes to scams. They’ve heard, loud and clear, that they are at risk. Seniors may very well be morescam savvy than others. They are also less impulsive buyers than younger consumers, and less likely to be making purchases online where so many scams take place.”
The new research also confirms some trends noted in BBB Scam Tracker, a crowd-sourced reporting tool. More than 30,000 consumers have reported details of scams to BBB since the site was launched in late 2015, and reports are shared with law enforcement to drive investigations. Of those consumers reporting scams to BBB Scam Tracker, 89% of seniors (age 65 and up) recognized the scam in time, while only 11% reported actually losing money. For those age 18-24, however, more than three times as many failed to recognize the scam – 34% reported losing money. Armed with this information, BBB is calling for a new direction for how society approaches the problem of fraud. The report recommends a three-pronged approach:
 
Leverage Technology, Crowdsourcing and Altruism: Targets of scams feel empowered when they can take back some control by reporting what has happened to them in order to help warn others. This altruistic impulse is the number one motivator for reporting scams. As noted in the report, “The voices and stories of others have the potential to normalize the problem in a positive way, shedding the shame and stigma of victimization with the message that, if it can happen to other people like me, it can happen to me.”
Take Aim at the Optimism Bias: Consumer education must heighten perceptions of personal risk and provide information that boosts confidence in one’s ability to protect oneself. Motivation to take protective action requires both the sense that one is vulnerable and the tools to do something about it. Effective public education must take a twofold approach; it must confront its audience with messaging that runs counter to stereotypes and perceived invulnerability, while simultaneously providing information that empowers individuals to avoid becoming victims.
Provide Preemptive Information: Survey participants, when asked what might have prevented them from being scammed, said knowing about different scam types and understanding common methods used by scammers prior to being targeted would have helped. Nearly 80% of respondents identified one of these two factors as most protective; only one in five felt doing research after being approached by a scammer was most protective.