NASHVILLE, Tenn. – As National Voter Registration Day approaches, Secretary of State Tre Hargett is encouraging all eligible Tennesseans to register to vote. 

“It has never been easier to register or cast a ballot in Tennessee,” said Secretary Hargett. “If you have not already registered, National Voter Registration Day is a great opportunity to do so.”

National Voter Registration Day is Tuesday, Sept. 17. The voter registration deadline for the Nov. 5 State and Federal General Election is 11:59 p.m. on Oct. 7. The fastest way for eligible Tennesseans to register, update, or check their status is through the free GoVoteTN App or online at GoVoteTN.gov.  

Early voting for the Nov. 5 State and Federal General Election begins Oct. 16 and runs through Oct. 31. For more information, visit your trusted source for election information, GoVoteTN.gov, or download the free GoVoteTNApp.

This information was provided as a press release from the State of Tennessee and is published on our platforms as a community service. 

"Yesterday evening High school Principal Blake Skelton notified Sheriff Nick Weems of a 16-year-old female student that sent 'snap chats' to several students involving a handgun and threats. 

Sheriff Weems says he assigned SRO's (School Resource Officers) to immediately began an investigation on the matter. 

The 16-year-old old female was taken into custody by deputies shortly thereafter, where she has been charged and is being detained at the Perry County jail, until being placed in a juvenile detention center.

The Sheriff said that SRO's, deputies and his Jail Administrator April Morgan worked overnight through this morning on the incident. 

UPDATE: 9/6/24 at 8:00PM: From the Sheriff: 

"The Perry County Sheriff's office is getting calls and reports of several rumors, including a rumor of a hit list on the juvenile's phone, in the recent juvenile arrest for threats of mass violence. These rumors were not reported to law enforcement in the initial interviews, and until a forensic investigation of the phone is complete, we'll not comment on the rumors surrounding the investigation further publicly. 

If it is discovered that there is a hit list or any other crimes uncovered that may have occurred during the forensic investigation phase, all students and their parents included in any such list will be notified immediately.

The Perry County Sheriff's Office takes these threats seriously, and wants to remind the public that these are children involved. Extra care and privacy is necessary when performing these investigations. 

If you have first hand information that you believe will further the case along, we ask that you request to make a report to a Sheriff's Deputy through Perry County Dispatch, and they will forward information to the investigators involved.

The safety and the protection of the rights of all our citizens, including juveniles, is our focus.

We thank you for your support and concern, and ask that you please rest assured that this situation is being handled in a professional manner." 

The Sheriff says he wishes to thank Judge Moore and Clerk Joy Breeding for their swift assistance with this urgent matter. 

"Sheriff Weems wants to thank his team, principal Skelton , and all involved for coming forward. Weems said "the quick response by his officers, shows how serious we take threats on our children. We aren't playing. " PCSO News Release