News 2011

In yesterday’s newscast, it was incorrectly reported that Edward, JoAnn, Joshua Johnson and KennyFults were arrested in connection of the alleged marijuana growing
operation off Short Mountain Road this past weekend. The correct names of
the people that were arrested in conjunction with the marijuana growing
operation on Payton Lane off of Short Mountain Road were Maurice Griffths
who is charged with manufacture marijuana along with possession of a
schedule 6 drug and Ricky Nokes who is charged with manufacturing
marijuana. Once again this was in connection with a marijuana growing
operation that was found Saturday while investigating a report of a stolen
tractor.
Monday, however, the Cannon County Sheriff’s Department arrested the
Johnsons and Kenny Fults in connection with a different marijuana growing
operation. During an aerial surveillance of the area while conducting a
followup investigation of Saturday’s findings, the Cannon County Sheriff’s
Department found 124 more marijuana plants along with a moonshine still
and a barrel full of sour mash whiskey. The operations were found at Big
Hill Road in Liberty. The marijuana plants were valued at $124,000.00
In connection with this case. Edward Johnson, JoAnn Johnson and Joshua
Lee Johnson have all been charged with manufacture of marijuana,
possession of a still and possession of drug paraphernalia. Kenny Fults
has been charged with manufacture of marijuana. Edward Johnson faces an
additional charge of theft over $1000 as a stolen lawnmower valued at over
$2000 was in his possession. All four are scheduled for General Sessions
Court on September 6th.

The BBB alerts of a scam targeting businesses in Middle Tennessee and Southern Kentucky.In this scheme, scammers are trying to trick businesses into helping them establish an identity for online “Classified Advertising” services. This allows the scammers to bypass verification controls put in place to prevent spam and online scams.
Here’s an example of how it works: The scammer contacts a restaurant and claims to be from the health department to set up a time for a health inspection. Before ending the call, the caller gives the restaurant employee a 5-digit confirmation code, which they say must be given to the health inspector. Another call is then received sometime later that day asking the restaurant employee to relay the confirmation number. If they do that, they’ve helped the scammers fulfill verification controls used by popular online shopping and advertising services.
To set up an advertisers account, users have to provide a phone number. Scammers, not wanting to tie their phone number to an account used for fraudulent purposes, will enter the telephone number of a legitimate business – in this example, that of a restaurant. (This scam can easily morph to other types of business and involve other regulatory agencies.) The scammer then receives a 5-digit verification code. At this point the scammer contacts a restaurant pretending to be a health inspector (Note: MOST restaurant health inspections are performed on a surprise basis). The goal of the scam is for the restaurant or business to read back the verification code when the automated phone call from the online service goes out (to verify the account). If they’re successful in doing that, they now have an account which isn’t tied to their number, and they’re free to scam other people.
The BBB is unaware of any instances where someone pretending to be a health inspector or employee of any other oversight organization has actually visited a business. Businesses, however, should be prepared for anything. To protect your business from phone scams, the following precautions should be used:
Have policies in place regarding unexpected visitors.
Train employees to ask for proper identification and report anything unusual to management immediately.
If you receive a phone call presenting as a governing agency, report the information to your BBB at www.goBBB.org and with the agency affected.

Middle Tennessee Electric offers members tips to curb energy use during hot weatherMiddle Tennessee Electric officials want to remind its members that hot temperatures can push electric bills upwards.
“With temperatures forecasted to be well above average today, it’s important to remember that we can’t control the weather, but we can curb our home’s energy usage,” MTEMC Communications Coordinator Todd Palmer said.
Palmer says that hotter weather makes your heat-and-air units, your homes biggest strain on your electric bill, run a lot harder.
“Since your heat-and-air unit accounts for more than 50 percent of your electric bill, the more it runs, the higher your bill will be,” Palmer said. “Turning the thermostat up even a degree can save you as much as three percent on your home’s electric bills.”
More tips can be found on the cooperative’s Web site at www.mtemc.com.
Middle Tennessee Electric serves power to its approximately 185,000 member customers in Cannon, Rutherford, Williamson and Wilson counties.
10 quick Ways to save today
1. Close the drapes on the sunny side of the house during the day. This will help cut down the natural heating of your home, which will cut back on the strain of your heat-and-air unit.
2. Set the thermostat to the highest comfortable temperature. Moving the thermostat up one degree means as much as a three-percent reduction in your electric bill.
3. Take a quick inventory of your home, and see what you might be able to turn off or unplug – cell phone chargers, TVs, lights when you leave a room.
4. Keep heating system filters clean.
5. Keep air vents clear of obstructions.
6. Compact fluorescent lamps can replace bulbs in most table lamps and will save up to 75 percent in lighting energy, produce more light and last up to 10 times longer.
7. Wash full loads of clothes in the coolest water possible. Rinse clothes in cold water.
8. Keep the temperature between 36 degrees and 40 degrees in the refrigerator and 0 degrees and 5 degrees in the freezer. Use a refrigerator/freezer thermometer to check the settings.
9. Stop the dryer as soon as clothes are dry, or use the moisture sensor control to automatically shut off the dryer. Overdrying wastes energy and sets in wrinkles.
10. Dry loads one right after another. You’ll use less energy because the dryer is already heated.

Across the state, Tennessee students scored higher in all subject areasand grade levels in grades three through eight on this year’s TCAP
achievement tests by comparison to the 2009-2010 results. Student math
scores grew by 7 percent and reading scores grew by 3.7%
Cannon County scores showed growth over last year in each of the four
areas of testing, In Reading Cannon County showed 1.079 percent growth in
scores. Cannon County had a 47% score in basic skills, proficient or
advanced skills was 39 percent.
In Math Cannon showed a 2.49 percent growth over last years scores, Social
Studies showed a 2.2 percent growth. The science area was the biggest
increase with a 2.5 percent growth including a 51 percent scored in either
proficient or advanced skills
Students in Grades 3-8 take the TCAP test each spring. The Achievement
test is a timed, multiple choice assessment that measures skills in
Reading, Language Arts, Mathematics, Science and Social Skills.

The Cannon County Historical Society is meeting tonight. Charlie Harrelland Ms. Bessie Miller will be the program presenters. Both are valued
members of the Cannon County Historical Society. Their subject will be
“Bradyville and Beyond. They will go over the history of the Bradyville
area, the past and present. Invormation will be shared about the Thomas
and Knox families and other Bradyville Families. Ms. Miller has been
working on a book about the area. The meeting will start at 6:30 for
finger foods and snacks. They encourage people attending the meeting to
bring food and enjoy the food and fellowship. The program will begin at
7:00 p.m.
The meeting will take place at the Adams Memorial Library in the basement
meeting room

The Cannon County Sheriff’s Department wishes to thank all the various lawenforcement agencies for their assistance in the searching and
apprehension of the two jail escapees last Wednesday. Sheriff Darrell
Young would like to thank the Rutherford County Sheriff’s Department for
the use of their dogs and manpower, also to the Murfreesboro Police
Department for their dogs and manpower. The Tennessee Bureau of
Investigation, Tennessee Highway Patrol, United States Marshalls and the
Woodbury Police Departments. All agencies responded without hesitation.
Sheriff Young would also like to thank Rite Aid, Dollar General Market,
First Stop Market, McDonald’s and Sonic for their help with food and water
for the men and women involved in the manhunt.
James Hill and Aubrey Sanders escaped from the Cannon County jail around
noon on Wednesday. They were caught and apprehended later Wednesday
night. A woman, Lisa Winslow was also charged with aiding and abetting
their escape.
All three are scheduled to make an appearance in General Sessions Court
Tuesday to be appointed an attorney. Their initial court date is August
2nd.

The National Weather Service has issued a Heat Advisory in effect fromNoon Monday till 7:00 Tuesday evening. Heat index readings are expected to reach
105-110 during the afternoon on Monday and Tuesday. The Readings will
peak in the afternoon hours. The National Weather Service advises the
first to suffer from the heat will be the children, the elderly and people
with chronic ailments. Heat exhaustion, heat cramps and heat stroke are
possible due to prolonged exposure to the heat. It is strongly suggested
to take extra precautions if you work or spend time outside when possible,
reschedule strenuous activities to early morning or evening. Know the
signs and symptoms of of heat exhaustion and heat stroke. Wear light
weight and loose fitted clothing when possible and drink plenty of water.
To reduce the risk during outdoor work, the occupational safety and health
administration recommends scheduling frequent rest breaks in shaded or air
conditioned environments. Anyone overcome by heat should be moved to a
cool and shaded location. Heat stroke is an emergency call 9-1-1 if and
when it occurs.

Transfer students will meet the same enrollment requirements as new students.All transfers will be reviewed annually.
Children must live with their legal guardian in order to attend school in Cannon County.
The Director of Schools must approve all transfers.
Principals shall allow credit for work transferred from other schools only when substantiated by official transcripts or successful completion of comprehensive written examinations approved, administered and graded by the principal or his/her designated representative..₁
In-county transfers
Beginning with the 2011-2012 school year, all students entering Kindergarten for the first time shall attend their school of zone. New out-of-zone transfers will not be approved.
Students, with a previously approved out-of-zone transfer, will be allowed to attend the out-of-zone school provided this transfer does not cause overcrowding.
Siblings of students with an approved out-of-zone transfer will be allowed to attend the out-of-zone school if the older sibling is still attending the out-of-zone school.
Out-of-county transfers
Out-of-county students requesting enrollment must be approved by the Principal and the Director of Schools and will be allowed, provided the transfer does not cause overcrowding.
Out-of-county students will be charged an annual, non-refundable tuition.
Parents must provide transportation to and from school.
Out-of-county transfers must be re-affirmed annually.
Director’s discretion will be used in placement of student(s).
The student must exhibit good attendance and good conduct to attend Cannon County Schools.
The deadline for requesting admission to Cannon County Schools is September 1 of each school year.
Other transfers
Employees who reside outside Cannon County will be allowed to bring their children to Cannon County Schools. Children shall attend the school where the employee works unless this causes overcrowding. Children of full-time, out-of-county, school employees will not be charged a fee.
An employee who resides in Cannon County will be allowed to take his/her children to the school where the employee works, if the school has available room and teaching capacity.
Director’s discretion will be used in the placement of students.
If a teacher or parent/guardian moves out of the county within the school year, his/her children will be allowed to remain in the Cannon County School System for the remainder of that school year.

United Way’s Success By 6 initative will be collecting school suppliesthrough August 5th. Supplies will be collected at the United Way office,
located on the second floor of the FirstBank building at 615 Memorial Blvd in Murfreesboro
between 9:00AM and 4:30P.M. Monday thru Friday.
Success By 6 is an early childhood initative of United Way of Rutherford
and Cannon Counties that focuses on healthy development and kindergarten
readiness.
United Way’s Success By 6 initiative requests donations of the following
items for this year’s school supply drive:
Backpacks, Pack of yellow #2 pencils, 24 County Crayola Crayons, 8 Count
Crayola Markers, White Elmer’s glue, Glue Sticks, Pocket Folders, 12″
ruler, loose wide rule notebook paper, wide rule spiral notebook, dry
erase markers and scissors. Monetary donations are also appreciated. For
more information, please contact Jennifer Smith at 893-7303

Saturday while investigating a reported theft of a tractor on Payton Lanein Cannon County, Cannon County Sheriff’s Deputy Brandon Gullett found
some green plants in a large black flower pot. Upon a closer look at the
plants, Deputy Gullett determined they were marijuana plants. After Cannon
County Sheriff Darrell Young arrived on the scene, he and Deputy Gullett
followed a trail going into the woods behind the residence and found
several marijuana plants growing in the ground and in some flower pots.
The owner of the residence denied the plants were his.
A total of 228 marijuana plants were discovered with a street value of an
estimated $228,000. The plants were taken to the Sheriff’s Office and
burned. Assisting in the investigation was Investigator Anthony Young,
Sgt. Randy Neal, Deputy Eric Moss and Jail Administrator Ed Brown.
Suspects in the case are being interviewed. Names will be released by the
Cannon County Sheriff’s Department once formal charges are placed. The
case is still under investigation.