2016

Woodbury Lions Club is hosting an American Red Cross Blood Drive today at the Woodbury Lions Club Building .
The American Red Cross has issued an emergency call for blood and platelets, urging all eligible donors to give now to replenish an extremely low summer blood supply.
Blood donations have fallen short of hospital needs for the past few months, resulting in about 39,000 fewer donations than what’s needed, as well as a significant draw down of the overall Red Cross blood supply. In addition, the Independence Day holiday may have caused many regular donors to postpone donations due to vacation plans. A recent Red Cross poll revealed that more than 75 percent of donors surveyed indicated vacation plans this summer, many of them occurring the weeks before and after July 4.
The Cannon County Comunity Wide Blood Drive has always been a reliable successful blood drive for the Red Cross.  The entire community is invited to come give the gift of life today from noon till 6 at the Woodbury Lions Club Building.

The Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development released the results of a comprehensive study on broadband access in Tennessee earlier today, and Middle Tennessee Electric is encouraged by the report’s findings and recommendations.
The study, which examines broadband use and availability, finds that regulatory barriers in the state restrict investment and reduce competition. The report specifically mentions a state law that prevents electric cooperatives from providing retail broadband.
“The study identifies regions of the state with significant broadband needs. These are the same communities served by co-ops like Middle Tennessee Electric,” said MTEMC President and CEO Chris Jones. “Despite our unique position, Tennessee state law prevents co-ops from providing broadband access to our members. We are confident that the legislature will act on the recommendations of this study, creating an environment that encourages investment, competition and, ultimately, greater access to broadband.”
“MTEMC is committed to improving lives in the communities we serve,” Jones. “We are excited to work with the state to identify real solutions that will benefit our members.”

The Adams Memorial Library is celebrating it’s 50th year of existence.  Saturday morning during the Cannon County Commission meeting, Herb Alsup of the Dr. and Mrs. J.F. Adams Memorial Association announced there’ll be an official celebration to take place later in the year. The expansion was highlighted.  Adams Memorial Library has had 4500 members until the expansion in 2012.  Since the expansion of the library, membership has now grown to 6500.  The library averages visits from 150 people a day and over 50000-80000 resources have been checked out.  Since the library opened on October 1st in 1966.  Plans are to have an official celebration on October 1st of this year.  It will take place at 11 in the morning and more will be announced as the date becomes closer.

Summer and the Summer Reading Program are coming to an end and the Adams Memorial Library will close early Thursday at 2:00 to set up for the Summer Reading Program’s final program event pool party.  The entire community is invited to the community pool from 3:30 to 6:00 Thursday afternoon to enjoy a water filled afternoon.  Hot dogs and drinks will be served for free and other snacks will be available to purchase from the pool snack stand.  
The staff also wants to remind the public that Bob Tarter the Animal Guy will be at the Adams Memorial Library this Saturday at 2:30 to showcase amazing and exotic animals, birds and reptiles.  Both programs are free and open to the public.

Greenhouse Ministries is hosting the annual Game Day Tailgating Event on Sept 12th at 315 South Academy Street.  You can help by inviting seven of your friends to sit with you and enjoy food, fun and fellowship.  The event will raise funds for Greenhouse to help reach the goal of $2.5 million which will go toward building facility and expanding offerings.  Email Julie Young at julie.young@greenhousemin.org if you would like to be a table host.  You can also call 615-494-0499.
 

 White County is the latest in Tennessee to be quarantined for an invasive pest targeting ash trees.

Officials have detected Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) in the eastern section of White County. An adult EAB beetle was recently captured in a trap near Old Railroad Grade Road. With this discovery, White County joins 48 other counties in quarantine with a prohibition on the movement of ash trees and ash tree products.

EAB is a destructive forest pest that was introduced from Asia into the United States in the 1990s. It was first detected in Tennessee in July 2010. EAB beetles can kill an ash tree within three years of the initial infestation.

Humans tend to contribute to the spread of EAB, unknowingly transporting the insects through infected nursery stock, firewood, unprocessed saw logs, and other ash products.

Citizens should report any symptomatic ash trees to TDA and follow these simple rules:

– Don’t transport any firewood, even within the state.

– Use firewood from local sources near where it will be burned.

– If you purchase firewood, make sure that it is labeled and certified to be pest free.

– Watch for signs of infestation in your ash trees.

Click here for a symptoms checklist and a map of quarantined counties.

TDA’s Division of Forestry estimates that there are 261 million ash trees on public and private land in Tennessee, potentially valued as high as $9 billion.
 

A Murfreesboro woman who had active warrants for her arrest in Cannon County was arrested over the weekend in Murfreesboro.  According to Murfreesboro Police Reports, Police were dispatched to a Murfreesboro residence for a welfare check on 27 year old Ashley Elizabeth Lee.  Upon arrival, they found Lee and ran a check on Lee.  Murfreesboro dispatch advised Lee had two warrants out of Cannon County for fraud and impersonation.  Lee was placed under arrest and transferred to Rutherford County Jail to be held for Cannon County.

Singer-songwriter Darryl Worley presents Hitmakers and Harleys tonight at Bumpus Harley Davidson 2250 NW Broad Street in Murfreesboro.  
The Concert will feature Worley along with fellow songwriters Rob Crosby, Casey Beathard and Phil O’Donnell for a night of music.  Funds raised will benefit the Darryl Worley Foundation with its currents and upcoming projects.
The concert starts tonight at 6:30.
 

The Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC) today announced that nine development districts will receive grants totaling more than $450,000 to support solid waste management activities in Tennessee communities.

“The support provided by Tennessee development district offices has been instrumental in the planning and implementation of the Solid Waste Management Act,” said TDEC Commissioner Bob Martineau. “We’re pleased to be able to continue our support of this important work.”

The grants include:

East Tennessee Development District                             $65,358
First Tennessee Development District                             $71,690
Greater Nashville Regional Council                                  $48,390
Memphis Area Association of Government                   $34,872
Northwest Tennessee Development District                 $54,609
South Central Tennessee Development District           $56,046
Southeast Tennessee Development District                  $47,753
Southwest Tennessee Development District                 $41,337
Upper Cumberland Development District                     $40,738

Development districts are important partners in TDEC’s implementation of its 2015-2025 Solid Waste and Materials Management Plan. The grant supports development districts in preparing valuable solid waste planning functions including compiling information about landfills, source reduction, composting and recycling for each of the 66 solid waste region’s annual progress report. The report is a planning and reporting tool required by the Solid Waste Management Act of 1991, which was the first comprehensive solid waste planning legislation in Tennessee history. The data is used to determine each region’s progress towards Tennessee’s goal to achieve 25 percent waste reduction in Class I landfill solid waste.

Local governments also receive technical assistance from development districts in designing, implementing, upgrading and maintaining solid waste programs, systems and facilities, including landfills, convenience centers and recycling centers.

Development District Grants were authorized by the Solid Waste Management Act of 1991 and are supported from the Tennessee Solid Waste Management Fund administered by TDEC. The Tennessee Solid Waste Management Fund receives its revenues from a tipping fee surcharge on each ton of solid waste disposed of in Class I landfills and from a pre-disposal fee on new tires sold in the state.

Camp Read to be Ready provides students with a total reading experience where books take life in relation to our community. Students are given the opportunity to read, think, talk, and write about various texts in relation to our focus of learning. The first session of Camp Read to be Readyallows students to experience Camp Reading Rangers. Twenty four students have spent their second week of camp as backyard naturalists. Students are learning about and discussing animals, insects, and plants in their native habitat. We have dug deep into the following books: Who Pooped in the Park? Great Smoky Mountains written by Steve Kemp, Flashlight written by Lizi Boyd, andBig Tracks, Little Tracks written by Millicent E. Selsam.
The ultimate goal for Camp Read to be Readyis to make books come to life for our students. Co-directors Melisha Simmons and MaryBeth Young as well as Troop Leaders Lori Christensen, Kathy Gannon, Emily Hughes, and Joy Pope are working toward this goal by creating movements, songs, and art that relate to our books. Campers have created their own sun catchers and examined the life cycles of insects. Troop leaders have allowed campers to evaluate animal tracks in order to determine the animal to which the tracks belong. Campers became scatologists in order to study and compare animal scat of herbivores, omnivores, insectivores, and carnivores. Campers also experimented with mold to see the rate at which mold grows and the animals that eat mold and other fungi.
To culminate the Camp Reading Ranger experience, campers traveled to Edgar Evins State Park in Silver Point, TN. Campers began their park experience with a half mile hike on the Evins Ridge Nature Trail. This hike was led by Tennessee’s State Naturalist, Randy Hedgepath. While Ranger Hedgepath is stationed in Montgomery Bell State Park, he traveled to Edgar Evins to ensure Cannon County studentsbecame backyard naturalists.
Campers also experienced a longhunter demonstration led by Park Ranger Brad Halfacre. During this experience, Ranger Halfacre taught campers about the differences between life in Tennessee today and during the early settlement of our state.  We looked at weapons longhunters used in their daily life and how they traded to meet the needs of their families.
Ranger Hedgepath and Ranger Halfacre took campers on a pontoon boat ride to emphasis the importance of water safety. Both rangers explained how Center Hill Lake was formed and the history of the area. Campers were also able to learn about the difference between poisonous and non-poisonous snakes in our area. Many campers were brave enough to pet a King Snake who lives at Edgar Evins. Thanks to Edgar Evans State Park and Tennessee Park Rangers, the books we have been reading came to life for all of the campers at Camp Read to be Ready.
There are some things you can do at home to help your child during the summer months. The single most important thing you can do to help your child succeed is to read with them for twenty minutes each day! Remember, the conversations you have with children about what they have read or heard are essential to their comprehension. There are some important things we can learn in our own backyards. Take time with your child to explore the outdoors near your home!