News 2011

The United Way of Rutherford and Cannon Counties has announced a goal of $3 million for the 2011 fundraising campaign, which kicked off at the Rutherford County Chamber of Commerce August Business Before Hours held at Jason’s Deli on Thursday morning.  
“I am excited to work with the United Way, its Board of Directors and our dedicated Campaign Cabinet to help our agencies meet their goals and give them the ability to serve their clients,” said Tracy Toy, 2011 Campaign Chair. “With the support of our community during our last campaign, we were able to focus on the impact areas of education, income, health and rebuilding lives.”
 
The kick-off announcement also revealed that 13% ($378,958) of the $3 million goal has already been attained through the Pacesetter campaigns, which involves companies and organizations electing to conduct their campaigns prior to Thursday’s event in order to kick off the campaign with a portion of the goal already secured. The 2011 Pacesetter campaigns include:
 
Alive Hospice
Allstate Insurance
Boys and Girls Clubs of Rutherford County
Cannon County Senior Center
CASA of Rutherford County
Child Advocacy Center
Community Care of Rutherford County
Community Helpers
Discovery Center of Murfree Spring
Domestic Violence Program
Exchange Club Family Center, Inc.
FirstBank
FirstBank Smyrna
First Tennessee Bank
Guaranty Trust
HA Beasley & Company, PC, CPAs
Heritage Farms Dairy, Inc.
Legal Aid Society of Middle Tennessee and The Cumberlands
Regions Bank
Rich Products
Riverview Family Chiropractic
Rutherford County Emergency Food Bank
Salvation Army
Sam’s Club #6501
SEC
Smyrna- LaVergne Food Bank
Sonoco
Target #1126
Target #2360
United Way of Rutherford and Cannon Counties
United Way of Rutherford and Cannon Counties Board of Directors
Wal-Mart Super Center Store #5057
Wal-Mart Super Center Store #682
Wal-Mart Super Center Store #406
 
United Way’s campaign will span through the fall until December, with a celebration event planned for early 2012. The fundraising campaign secures pledges and donations via payroll deduction, cash, check, credit card or by raising funds through a special event or corporate gift.
 
The funding secured during the campaign will be allocated to 46 local non-profit agencies by more than 80 volunteers during spring 2012.
 
For more information on becoming involved with the United Way fundraising campaign, please contact (615) 893-7303 or visit www.uwrutherford.org.

The Cannon County Lionettes Soccer team opened their regular season on the road against Sequatchie County.  The Lady Indians outscore the Lionettes
shutting them out 5-0.  The Lionettes will travel to Carthage tonight for
a district game against Smith County.  Game time is at 6:00
The Cannon County Lionettes Volleyball team lost the set of matches to
Central Magnet of Murfreesboro to start the season.  Cannon won the first
set 25-22 but lost three in a row to take the loss 25-21, 25-23. 27-25 in
close fashion.  Rebekah Faulkner and Paulani Tarawa scored kills in the
contest while Ariana Kalaponi, Faith Sadler, Rebekah Faulkner, Isha Fish,
Paulani Tarawa made Aces and Rebekah Faulkner also blocked.
The JV team beat Central JV’s team in a 2-0 set 26-24 and 25-12.
The Lionettes will now travel to Carthage as well to face Smith County and
Upperman in two sets of matches tonight starting at 6:00.
Also on the sports plate for today, the Cannon County Junior High Lions
football team travel to Westmoreland for a 6:30 game against the Jr.
Eagles.
Jordan Turney turned in a team best 19.46, Brad Hutchins finished in 21.18
Matthew Turney followed with a 22.56 time as the Cannon County Lion cross
country team participated in a Jamboree Tuesday at the Cookeville Sanders
Ferry Park. The top three girls for Cannon County Macey Clements 26.55,
Madison Walkup 27.37 and Lauren Turney at 30.07.  Cannon County will open
the cross country season at Sharp Springs Park in Smyrna participating in
the Voyle Classic September 1st
 

The Veterans And Concerned Citizens for the Veterans of Cannon County will meet Thursday, August 25, 2011, at the Senior Citizens Center in Woodbury,
at 6:30 p.m.
This meeting will focus on the planning for the Veterans Day Program at
Cannon County High School on Friday, November 11, 2011; and the Veterans
Day Parade to Honor the Veterans on Saturday, November 12, 2011.
There will also be a  Special Ceremony in Front of the Court House at
11:00 AM, Saturday,where the names of the 61 men of Cannon County who gave
there lives for our country are read.  This will be the 19th year working
with CCHS faculty, staff, and students honoring our veterans.
 

Judge Susan Melton presided over Cannon County General Sessions Court Tuesday.  Some of the results of the various cases that appeared on the docket include: Andrew Scott Asbury pled to driving without a license.  He was sentenced to 30 days in jail.  That sentence was suspended upon equal time on probation, paying a $2.00 fine and the costs.
Larry Ricky Blair Jr. agreed to the violation of probation.  He was ordered to serve 10 days in jail and his probation was extended 11 months 29 days.
Jimmy Wayne Chapman pled guilty to domestic assault.  He was sentenced to 11 months 29 days in jail.  That sentence was suspended upon equal time on probation and paying the costs.
Glenn Allen Climer II charges of criminal trespass, resisting arrest, and aggravated child endangerment were bound over to the September term of the Grand Jury.
Dustin Tyler Culver pled guilty to DUI.  He was sentenced to 11 months 29 days in jail.  That sentence was partially suspended upon serving 40 days in jail, 10 months 19 days on probation, losing his license for 1 year, paying a $350.00 fine, and costs.  In another case Culver pled guilty to simple possession of a schedule VI drug.  He was sentenced to 11 months 29 days in jail.   That sentence was partially suspended upon serving 40 days in jail, 10 months 19 days on probation, paying a $250.00 fine and costs.
Dara A. Dillard’s charge of domestic assault was retired for 6 months.
Samuel Charles Dollar pled guilty to driving without insurance.  He was ordered to pay a $100.00 fine and costs. 
Timothy Eugene Ellis pled guilty to driving without a license.  He was sentenced to 30 days in jail and ordered to pay the costs.
Cory Wade Foster’s charge of theft over $500.00 was retired.
William Ronnie Hayes’ charge of hindering a secured creditor was retired for 12 months.  He was placed on probation for 11 months 29 days, ordered to pay $1138.90 in restitution, and the litigation tax.
Hugh Anderson Holliman’s charge of theft of conveyed rental property was retired for 12 months.  He was ordered to pay $700.00 in restitution.
Bridgette Shyanne Johnson agreed to the violation of probation.  She was ordered to serve 27 days in jail and her probation was extended 11 months 2 days.  In another case Johnson’s charge of public intoxication was retired for 6 months.  She was ordered to pay the litigation tax.
Twila W. Lack’s charges of promotion of manufacturing methamphetamine, simple possession of a schedule II drug, tampering with evidence, and possession paraphernalia were bound over to the September term of the Grand Jury.
Thomas Zeb Massey’s charge of driving on a suspended license was retired for 12 months.  He was ordered to pay the litigation tax.
Beverly Gene McLees charge of public intoxication was retired for 6 months.  She was ordered to pay the costs.
David Ray Murphy pled guilty under judicial diversion to assault.  He was sentenced to 11 months 29 days in jail.  That sentence was suspended upon equal time on probation and paying the costs.
Charles Scott Parker pled guilty under judicial diversion to assault.  He was sentenced to 11 months 29 days in jail.  That sentence was suspended upon equal time on probation and paying the costs.
Kermit James Peebles III pled guilty to DUI.  He was sentenced to 11 months 29 days in jail.  That sentence was partially suspended upon serving 48 hours in jail, 11 months 27 days on probation, losing his license for 1 year, paying a $350.00 fine and the costs.
Michelle Lynn Pyron’s charges of promotion of manufacturing methamphetamine, simple possession of schedule II drugs, and tampering with evidence were bound over to the September term of the Grand Jury.
Cameron Taylor Smith pled guilty under judicial diversion to possession of drug paraphernalia.  He was sentenced to 11 months 29 days in jail.  That sentence was suspended upon equal time on probation, paying the fines and costs.  In another case Smith pled guilty to speeding.  He was ordered to pay a $2.00 fine and the costs.
Donald Wayne Smith agreed to the violation of probation.  He was ordered to serve 21 days in jail and his probation was extended 11 months 15 days.
Jeffery Lynn Thomas’ charges of assault and public intoxication were set for retirement.
David Estil Tipton pled guilty to DUI.  He was sentenced to 11 months 29 days in jail.  That sentence was partially suspended upon serving 48 hours in jail, 11 months 27 days on probation, 24 hours of litter removal, losing his license for 1 year, paying a $350.00 fine and the costs.
John David Wallace Jr.’s charge of filing a false report was retired.
Jimmy Dean Robinson pled guilty to public intoxication.  He was sentenced to 10 days in jail and ordered to pay the costs.
 

A Developer who’s surety bonds expired before finishing the tar and chip of a road in a newly built subdivision was one of the topics of last
night’s Cannon County Planning Commission meeting.  The meeting took place
in the jury room of the Cannon County Courthouse so as not to conflict
with the special called Cannon County Commissioners meeting.
Chairman Boyd Barker, Vice-Chairman Thad Raines, Commissioners David
George, Jimmy Mingle, and Joe Sanders were present for the meeting.
The issue of the Cannon Downs subdivision was brought up.  Cannon Way, a
road in the subdivision off of Old Prospect Road that connects with Eugene
Reed Road is still a gravel road within the subdivision.  In the beginning
of building the subdivision there were 5 phases and the developer
identified as the CDR company disolved a business partnership.  During
that time the road had been graveled but never made it to the final step
of tarring and chipping it.
The Surety Bond for the project has now expired since it’s been three
years since it was issued.  One of the questions raised was who’s
responsibility was it to remind the Cannon County Planning Commission when
the bonds come up for renewal and the other question was how to go about
getting the developer to finish the tar and chip procedure of the road.
The developer claims that they don’t have the money to finish the project.
The motion was made to recommend that Cannon County Attorney Mike Corley
send a letter to the developer to start the process of getting the matter
fixed.  The motion passed.
Joe Hajik  came before the planning Commission.  Mr Hajik
purchased a home on 144 acres near Shady Lane and Cattle Gap Road in early
2000.   When the original use for the home never came to fruition, Mr
Hajik sold the house and 20 acres of land surrounding the house  In 2005,
with severe health issues, Mr. Hajik sold a real estate agent 124 acres of
the land but the agent talked Mr. Hajik into holding the mortgage on the
land. Recently the real estate agent bailed out of the deal giving Mr.
Hajik the land back.  Mr. Hajik would like to develop the remaining 124
acres but in order to do that he needs to extend the road to the property.
 There is an easement for this to be done however he has to get the owner
of the property and house he has already sold to sell the area on which
the easement is located as part of it is considered on her land.
The commissioners agreed once that Mr. Hajik has acquired the entire
easement, they will look into what needs to be done to get a road extended
into the property that Mr. Hajik is wanting to develop

The Cannon County Budget Committee recommended the same exact budget appropriations and tax rate to finance the budget appropriations to the Cannon County Commissioners last night that they did in July.  The result ended up being no different as the Commissioners once again turned down the budget and sent it back for more cuts.   County residents packed the courtroom of the courthouse Tuesday night for the special called meeting of the Cannon County Commissioners which delivered a lot of fireworks throughout budget discussions as well as through some of the resolutions that were voted on before the budget.
After roll call in which all Cannon County Commissioners were present, the first item of business was the adoption of redistricting plan for Cannon County.  As only one of two counties in the state of Tennessee to not have significant growth within the past year, redistricting didn’t need to be done.  The same borders and structures were adopted as last year. All commissioners approved and the motion carried.
Resolution 2011-14 To levy a litigation tax to support a victim offender mediation center in Cannon County.  State law says that a maximum of $1.00 can be levied per case.  The mediation center that the money would be earmarked for is Cannon County SAVE, the domestic violence program here in Cannon County.  The litigation tax would not only be paid for by those convicted of domestic assault charges but also would be paid for by any case in matters before the General Sessions Court and Juvenile Courts in Cannon County including any speeding tickets written in the county outside the Woodbury city limits.  After discussion about this, the motion passed 8 votes to 2 with Commissioners Kevin George and Jim Bush voting against the matter.
The last resolution, 2011-15, a resolution to require meetings of the Cannon County Homeland Security Committee was approved.  The resolution was brought to the table by Commissioner Todd Hollandsworth who stated that the homeland security has received grants totalling around $670,000.  The department has spent around $298,295.00 which leaves over $300,000 left.  Commissioner Hollandsworth would like to have the committee meet on a regular basis to make decisions on what to do with the rest of the money.  The Committee has not met since 2006.  Commissioner Hollandsworth proposed that the committee meet once a month.  The EMA Director is the only person that can sign the checks to spend any of the grant money that’s been left over The argument came over a section of the resolution that reads that the absence of the EMA Director to attend any HSC meeting shall not limit the Homeland Security Committee from taking action deemed in the best interest of the County.  In the event of the EMA Director’s absence, all duties and authority of that office that the County Executive may designate, which delegation of authority shall continue until the County Executive restores the authority of the EMA Director in writing.  Faye Morse, Cannon County EMA Director, took exception to that particular clause, by saying if she were to miss a meeting, then she would be replaced as the EMA Director until the County Executive restored her to director.  It was explained to her that the implications were to be only if she missed the meeting and she would be restored to her position immediately after the meeting was over.  The motion passed with only Commissioner Kevin George voting no.
The Cannon County Budget Committee met 13 times to work on the budget over the past 4 months.  They will end up meeting at least one more time after last night’s decision.  With most of the crowd on hand supporting a no property tax increase stance, the Commissioners discussed the recommendations of the budget committee.  After not approving the 20 cent increase to the property tax rate, the Commission turned around and approved a 15 cent property tax increase.  Voting to approve the rate increase were commissioners Mark Barker, Todd Hollandsworth, Jimmy Mingle, Clint Higgins, and Tony Neal.  Voting no were commissioners Bob Stoetzel, Kevin Mooneyham, Kevin George, Russell Reed and Jim Bush.  Since the vote was tied five to five County Executive Mike Gannon got the tiebreaking vote and voted yes.  However since the Commissioners could not agree on the appropriations recommendations,the property tax increase was rescinded and  the Commission decided to send the budget back to the Budget Committee.  All county departments will have to make more cuts on spending so the budget will balance out in keeping the property tax rate at the current $2.32.  The debate on the budget was a intense one to the point that one of the members of the audience was arrested by the Cannon County Sheriff’s Department and escorted from the grounds for acting in a disorderly manner for yelling at County Executive Mike Gannon.
The Budget Committee will possibly meet for the 14th time sometime toward the end of next week.

Registration is open for girls in grades five through 12 across middle Tennessee to attend the 15th annual MTSU Expanding Your Horizons in Science and Mathematics Conference. EYH, a hands-on science and math conference, is for middle-school girls in grades five through eight and high-school girls in grades nine through 12. It will be held Saturday, Oct. 22, from 8 a.m. until 3 p.m. at MTSU. EYH encourages girls to investigate math and science careers; to talk to women in these fields; participate in the activities; and meet other girls  nterested in math and science.
Prospective participants and their parents can complete the online registration and release forms on the MTSU EYH home page, www.mtsu.edu/eyh. Registration fee is $15 and registration scholarships are available.
 

More than 1,500 attended MTEMC’s Annual Meeting at Embassy Suites in Murfreesboro Saturday, making it the largest crowd to attend the event in more than 10 years. “This year’s meeting carried special significance for our cooperative and our members,” MTEMC President Frank Jennings said. “It marked our 75th year of providing power to our communities, and we were glad to see such a good turnout.”
Members re-elected three incumbents to their board of directors seats. Incumbents Steve Seger of Williamson County (District 1), Will Jordan of Rutherford County (District 2) and Gordon Bone of Wilson County (District 4) won re-election to their seats. This year’s candidates were confirmed by a voice vote from the membership during the business meeting.
“Since no director or nominating committee petitions were submitted before the deadline,” Jennings said, “there were no contested elections this year. This eliminated the need for voting by machine both in the district offices the week prior to the Annual Meeting and at the Annual Meeting.”
In an organizational meeting following the voting, the board re-elected Bone as chairman, and then elected Will Jordan of Rutherford County as vice chairman and Mike Woods of Rutherford County as secretary-treasurer. Mrs. Owen Layne of Rutherford County won the grand prize – a used 2005 Chevrolet Colorado extended cab pick-up truck.
 

The University of Tennessee Extension Office last week said 44 grant-funded jobs providing nutrition education for Tennesseans using food stamps will be eliminated due to a $2.9 million cut to funding. The affected workers in the Tennessee Nutrition and Consumer Education Program were notified Monday that their positions would be eliminated on Sept. 30,  One of those positions belonged to Ms. Erin Nichols of the Cannon County Extension Office. This the second round of jobs cuts this year at the extension service, which announced in January the loss of 60 positions due to state budget reductions. The extension gets funding from the U.S. Department of Agriculture for the nutrition education program through the Tennessee Department of Human Services. The program teaches families how to prepare healthy meals and use food stamps and other resources effectively.
 

Cannon County High School Girls Soccer and Volleyball teams get their season underway tonight.  The Volleyball team has matches in their backyard at Robert A Harris gymnasium as they host the Tigers from Central Magnet School in Murfreesboro.  The matches get underway starting at 5:00. The girls soccer team travel to Warrior County to face Bledsoe County.
Game time begins also at 5:00