News 2011

The Cannon County Lionettes held Dekalb County to 4 points in the first quarter and then turned around Friday night and held Coffee County to only five points in the first.  Problem was the Lionettes scored only 8 points in the first but overcame the slow start and turned things around by the second quarter and grabbed a 44-28 win on the road at Coffee County High School.  The Lionettes Abbey Sissom connected on 4 3-point shots and scored 23 points.  None of the Lady Raiders reached double figures in scoring.  The next game for the Lionettes will be Monday at the Sundrop Romp Tournament at Boyd Christian School at 11:30 in the morning Monday. The Coffee County Red Raiders swept the season series in the boys game with a 63-52 win over the Lions.  The Lions trailed by as many as 18 at times throughout the game as the Red Raiders connected from the outside hitting several three pointers throughout the game.  Cory Henley led the Lions who are now 3-8 with 15 points.  The Lions will now play Monday at 5:30 at the Sundrop Romp against Middle Tennessee Heat.  The game will also be at Boyd Christian School in McMinnville

On Monday, Dec. 19, water service will be temporarily out of service between 8 a.m. and 12 p.m., due to the repair of a bad water value. The general areas which will be affected include the following: State Route 64 past Burt Burgen, Dug Hollow Rd., Dickens Hill Rd., Lassiter Rd. and Hwy. 99.
We apologize for the inconveience  as we make these necessary repairs.

“Every year, the Child Advocacy Center comes alive with the true spirit of the holiday season,” said Executive Director Sharon De Boer. “After the sponsors delivered the gifts, the Child Advocacy Center looked like Santa’s workshop filled with presents for needy families.” 
Families picked up gifts and greeted Santa’s helpers with smiles, hugs, laughter, and tears of joy. 
 
“It is such a great feeling for our staff and volunteers knowing that all these families are going to celebrate a happy Christmas,” said De Boer. “The holidays are a particularly stressful time of year for many of the needy families we serve. We are very grateful to all of the Secret Santa’s who have made children’s Christmas wishes come true this holiday season.”
 
A retired grandmother could not contain her tears when she picked up the gifts for her four grandchildren she is raising alone on a fixed income.  She told Cannon County Coordinator Susan Lankheet she “never dreamed people could be so generous. I can’t wait to see the children’s faces when they see all of these presents on Christmas morning.”
 
One of the fathers picked up the gifts and said to Family Services Coordinator Jennifer Gamble, “I am a single father raising three kids and I am so blessed to be sponsored this year.  I know without the Child Advocacy Center my kids would not have any gifts.  This is helping us so much!”
 
It warmed the Child Advocacy Center staff’s hearts to know that all of these families had a happy ending to a very difficult year.
When asked why his family chose to sponsor a needy family this holiday season, Jeff Brown from Dempsey, Vantrease, and Follis responded, “Families supported by the Child Advocacy Center have been very deeply hurt.  By sponsoring a family, we hope we can help alleviate some of the hurt and demonstrate that someone cares about them, especially in such difficult circumstances.”
Lori Glaze from State Farm Payment Plan Management Team said that they sponsor needy families every year because, “These families have gone through trying times and if there is a little something we can do to help them out, we believe it’s our mission. We believe in being good neighbors of the community and enjoy looking for ways to give back.”
 
De Boer said, “It is the belief of the Child Advocacy Center that children deserve the best, especially in their times of crisis.  We want to thank Jeff and Lori and all of the Secret Santa’s for sharing that belief and making the holidays a joyous season for the families we serve.”
 
For additional information on ways you can get involved and help child abuse victims contact Susan Lankheet at the Cannon County Child Advocacy Center at 563-9915.
 

School may be starting Christmas Break but there won’t be any breaks in high school basketball. Tonight the Cannon County teams travel to nearby Manchester to play Coffee County. The Lionettes are 8-2 going into Red Raider country. The Lady Red Raiders are 5-7 having lost their last game to Lincoln County. The Lionettes won the earlier contest between the two teams 60-52.The Lions need to keep showing consistency and improvement. Even though the Lions are 3-7 they have shown agressiveness and consistency that will pay off in the win column in the near future. The Lions would like to start tonight with a win on the road against a Red Raider team that beat them in November 46-37 and are 7-5 on the year Game time will be at 6:00 tonight with the Coaches Corner at 5:45. You can listen to the games live on AM1540 FM 96.7 WBRY

Woodbury Grammar School created a partnership with Dr. Robbie Melton, the Associate Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs of the Tennessee Board of Regents eLearning Department. This partnership has allowed for new technological initiatives, increased educational technology, and teaching of best practices using the latest technology provided to the WGS faculty. Woodbury Grammar teachers have attended training at the Renaissance Center in Dickson and have been chosen to pilot some of the latest technology related to iPads and iPods. Our teachers are looking forward to what this special partnership holds for the future of our students.The faculty members of WGS are also participating in weekly Professional Learning Community (PLC) meetings. Teachers meet with grade-level colleagues, as well as teachers from other grade levels and administrators, to discuss the latest data, student behavior, celebrations, and concerns. The meetings engage teachers and administration simultaneously in learning. These individuals continuously seek and share knowledge and use it to act on what they learn. The goal of the learning communities is to enhance effectiveness as professionals so that students grow and benefit. This has proven to be a powerful approach; administrators from across the system have attended our PLCs to take back information for their own schools on how WGS faculty members collaborate with one another and conduct PLCs.
We are very proud of our own Alison Smith, who was a candidate for State Beta Reporter. Alison ran a great campaign with the slogan, “AlisoN Betaland.” Her skit won first place at the State Beta Convention. Congratulations to our outstanding Beta Club students!
WGS students are also using this season to give back to the community. Students have participated in the “Soles for Souls” campaign, donating shoes to those in need. We will also be conducting a food drive to collect food for a Christmas holiday meal for our school’s families who are in need.
Woodbury Grammar is extremely proud of its students’ growth and progress so far and for the community’s support in giving back. We are looking forward to what the rest of the year entails.
 

The United Way of Rutherford and Cannon Counties is offering several opportunities for year-end giving. 
The local organization, which announced last week that it projects to be within 4 percent of this year’s $3 million fundraising goal, is encouraging donors age 70 1/2 and older to make a direct tax-free rollover of up to $100,000 from an IRA to the local non-profit. This opportunity is available through Dec. 31. Those individuals who qualify should consult with their financial advisors about year-end giving in this form to United Way.
 
The agency’s Women’s Initiative Council also decorated a Christmas tree available for auction at Gaylord Opryland Hotel through the Hall of Trees program. The United Way tree features more than $1,000 in value of gifts such as Predators tickets and hotel accommodations. The tree is available for viewing and bidding at www.halloftrees.com. A coupon for the exhibit may be downloaded from the United Way website and the organization with the most coupons submitted will receive a $1,000 donation from Gaylord.
 
Leadership giving through United Way is an additional option that provides donors with a unique experience and impacts the community in a significant capacity. Leadership donors are recognized throughout the year and invited to attend exclusive events and programs. Leadership giving details are available at www.uwrutherford.org.
 
For more information, call 615-893-7303.

On Thursday January 5th Cannon County High School will be hosting a FAFSA workshop from 4 to 8 pm.  Eric Farmer with the Tennessee Student
Assistance Corporation will be on hand to help answer questions that
parents and students may have regarding the FAFSA.  The FAFSA or free
application for federal student aid should be filed by any high school
senior who is seeking financial aid grants or loans for the purpose of
attending college or trade school in the fall.  It is important that the
FAFSA is filed as soon as possible beginning January first due to limited
amounts of grant money available.  The meeting will begin at 4p and will
be held in a computer lab at the high school   Parents in attendance
should bring either a copy of their 2011 tax return or an estimate of
income tax dure for assistance with tax specific questions.  If school is
close due to inclement weather, the meeting will be canceled.  For more
information please contact the Cannon County High School Guidance office
at 563-2144
 

Judge Susan Melton presided over Cannon County General Sessions Court on Tuesday. Some of the results from the various cases that appeared on the docket included:Barry Wayne Bynum agreed to the violation of probation. He was ordered to serve 30 days and his probation was extended 5 months 28 days.
Randy Allen Caldwell pled guilty to possession of schedule II drugs. He was ordered to serve 11 months 29 days in jail, pay a $750.00 fine and the costs. In another case Caldwell pled guilty to driving on a suspended license. He was sentenced to 6 months in jail.
Joseph Michael Faulk’s charges of possession of drug paraphernalia, aggravated burglary, and theft over $500.00 were bound over to the January term of the Grand Jury.
Royce Avon Foster’s charges of theft over 1,000.00 and domestic assault was bound over to the January term of the Grand Jury.
Clifford Ferrell pled guilty to domestic assault. He was sentenced to 11 months 29 days in jail. That sentence was suspended upon equal time on probation, paying restitution and the costs. In another case Ferrell agreed to the violation of probation. His probation was extended 11 months 27 days.
Emanuel Gutierrez pled guilty to driving on a suspended license. He was sentenced to 6 months in jail. That sentence was suspended upon equal time on probation, and paying the costs.
Robert Lewis Judkins’ charges of assault on an officer and resisting arrest were bound over to the January term of the Grand Jury.
James R. Kaiser’s charges of aggravated assault X8 were bound over to the January term of the Grand Jury.
Kristopher B. King agreed to the violation of probation. He was ordered to serve 15 days in jail and his probation was extended 11 months 15 days.
Joyce Ann Leggett pled guilty to simple possession of a schedule III drug. She was sentenced to 11 months 29 days in jail. That sentence was suspended upon equal time on probation, paying a $750.00 fine and the costs.
Adam Levoy McClure’s charges of aggravated burglary, theft over $500.00, and tampering with evidence were bound over to the January term of the Grand Jury.
Kristopher Lynn Mullins-Cross pled guilty under judicial diversion to theft under $500.00. He was sentenced to 11 months 29 days in jail. That sentence was suspended upon equal time on probation, paying a $50.00 fine and the costs.
Bobby D. Sanders agreed to the violation of probation. He was ordered to serve his original sentence.
Regina Ann Smith’s diversion for simple possession of drugs was terminated. She was sentenced to 11 months 29 days in jail. That sentence was suspended upon equal time on probation, paying a $250.00 fine and the costs. In another case Smith agreed to the violation of probation. She was ordered to serve 14 days.
Russell Dale Walls charges of DUI, driving on a suspended license, and violation of the implied consent law were bound over the January term of the Grand Jury.
Eddy Ray Young pled under judicial diversion to possession of drug paraphernalia. Young was sentenced to 4 months 29 days in jail. That sentence was suspended upon equal time on probation, paying a $400.00 fine and the costs.
Justin Tyler Barrett’s diversion for simple possession was terminated. He pled to simple possession and was sentenced to 11 months 29 days in jail. That sentence was suspended upon equal time on probation, paying a $250.00 fine and the costs. In another case Barrett pled guilty 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 a $150.00 fine and the costs. In another case Barrett agreed to the violation of probation. He was ordered to serve 28 days and his probation was extended 11 months 1 day.
 

The Cannon County Commissioners decided the future of the REACH program will continue to go through the County Books after last night’s Cannon
County Commissioner meeting.  The REACH program presented a budget
amendment for a LEAPS Grant to be added to their budget.  The Leaps grant
totaled $56,225.00.  Linda Bedwell director of REACH handed the
commissioners some paperwork that indicated that she has the program
headed in the right direction as the money left over from last year
totaled a little over $13,000.  In other actions the commissioners granted
the recommendation of the Planning Commission to utilize the planning
services provided by the Upper Cumberland Development District.  This will
help the county take a serious look into zoning laws.  The Commission also
approved the debt management policy.  The policy directes offices that
borrow money to draft their own debt management policies with certain
mandatory provisions.  Those mandatory provisions are relative to
transparency professionals and conflicts.

Rivalries are supposed to be about the competitiveness between two schools who don’t like each other.  Last night the Cannon County Lionettes
squashed any competitive hopes that the Lady Tigers attempted to display.
The Lionettes only allowed 6 Dekalb points in the first half and ended up
winning 64-33.  Abbey Sissom was the focus of the Dekalb defense so Jordan
Hollis stepped up with her best career night of 16 points including two
three pointers.  The Boys game was what rivalry was all about.  The Lions
led throughout the game until the second half when Dekalb took advantage
of a few Cannon turnovers and gave themselves a ten point cushion.  Cannon
would come back but end up falling short 51-45.  Cory Henley had a team
high 13 points.  Jarrett Melton once calmed down contributed 9 points in
the loss.
The Lionettes are now 8-2 with a 2-2 mark in the district.   The Lions are
3 and 7 with a 1-3 District 8-AA record.  Both teams will be in action
Friday traveling to Manchester to play Coffee County High School