News 2011

Amendments to the existing policy concerning people soliciting business on the square in Woodbury passed on first reading during the Town of Woodbury
Mayor and Board of Aldermen Tuesday night.  It was discovered recently
after looking into the codes and policies that peddlers could not set up
business on the town square.  The policy is amended to where anyone that
wants to set up on a temporary basis must submit a letter of request and
obtain a permit.  There will be some exceptions however such as non-profit
organizations and a blanket permit will be given to those who have
multiple vendor activity like the Good Ole Days. The matter will now go to
a public hearing in the January meeting and a second and final reading.
The board approved going forward with the Appalachian Regional Commission
Grant for a new Fire Hall.  Mayor Harold Patrick informed the board that
they have completed the preapplication process.  At first it was thought
that the grant would cover 70 percent of the cost.  After receiving
information back from the preapplication process it was discovered that
the grant funds just 50 percent of the costs.  Before the next step in the
application process could be complete, the Aldermen needed to decide on a
location for the fire hall.  After much discussion it was decided to put
the potential fire hall in the old Precision Auto Sports Building on
Alexander Drive.  The motion passed 4 to 3 with Aldermen Davis, Cason, and
Duggin voting against it
The board also approved a bid for the continued rehabilitation for the
town’s water system from Madewell Construction.  The costs of the project
will be over $460,000.  The town of Woodbury was awarded another Community
Development Block grant in recent months and this will pay for the water
system rehab work

Judge Susan Melton presided over Cannon County General Sessions Court on Tuesday. Some of the results of the various cases that appeared on the docket included:David Allen Bedwell’s charge of introduction of contraband into a penal institution was bound over to the 2012 term of the Grand Jury.
Derek Shawn Brewer 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.
Cody Blake Brown pled guilty to criminal trespass. He was sentenced to 30 days in jail. That sentence was suspended upon equal time on probation and paying the costs.
Barry Wayne Bynum’s charges of criminal conspiracy and theft over $1000.00 were bound over to the January term of the Grand Jury.
Shauna Carrick’s charges of theft under $500.00 X2 and forgery X10 were bound over to the January term of the Grand Jury.
Julia Jeanea Cope pled guilty to driving on a revoked license. She was sentenced to 30 days in jail. That sentence was suspended upon equal time on probation paying a $2.00 fine and the costs. In another case Cope pled guilty to disorderly conduct. She was sentenced to 30 days in jail. That sentence was suspended upon equal time on probation and paying the costs.
Drew Evin Henley pled guilty to hunting with an illegal weapon. He was sentenced to 60 days in jail. That sentence was suspended upon equal time on probation, paying a $25.00 fine and the costs.
Jesse Kifer agreed to the violation of probation. Kifer’s probation was extended 22 months 28 days and ordered to pay the costs.
Aaron Vincent Moon’s charge of public intoxication was bound over to the January term of the Grand Jury. In another case Moon was found in violation of probation and ordered to serve 10 days in jail.
Jason William Thomason entered a Nolo Contendere plea to domestic assault. He was sentenced to 6 months in jail. That sentence was partially suspended upon serving 13 days in jail, equal time on probation, and paying the costs.
Randy Lee Tombs pled guilty to bow hunting while accompanied by a person with a firearm. He was sentenced to 60 days in jail. That sentence was suspended upon equal time on probation, paying a $25.00 fine and the costs.
Tracey Leigh Vashist pled guilty to driving with a license. She was sentenced to 30 days in jail. That sentence was suspended upon equal time on probation, paying a $2.00 fine and the costs.
Kimberly Dawn Warren pled under judicial diversion to simple possession of schedule II drugs. 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.
Jonathan B. Womack agreed to the violation of probation. His probation was extended 11 months 29 days and he was ordered to pay the costs.

Updates on Cannon County Youth Dream Grants as well as the possible renewal of the Autism Grant highlight the agenda of the Cannon County
Board of Education’s monthly meeting tonight at the Cannon County
Courthouse.  Also on the agenda, Dianna Sapero is scheduled to speak to
the board about her children being able to ride the bus.  Marcia Melton
will present the 2012-2013 and 2013-2014 school year calendars.  Barbara
Corry and Connie Foster will recognize schools that have met 80/80.
Director of Schools Barbara Parker will give an update concerning the
state’s recent report card and commissioner’s visit.  The meeting starts
tonight at 6:00

Middle Tennessee Electric Membership Corporation’s Customers Care has donated $5,000 of its Operation Round Up funds to Cannon County S.A.V.E. 
“We are so blessed by the community support expressed through this donation,” Lisa Baird, director of Cannon County S.A.V.E. said. “These funds will help provide vital services to the families of the MTEMC service area.”
 Cannon County S.A.V.E. is the only non-profit agency providing free and confidential services to victims of domestic violence and sexual violence in the Cannon County community.
 
Operation Round Up began in 2003 and has distributed more than $5.3 million into MTEMC’s communities. The initiative “rounds up” members’ bills to the next highest dollar, with that extra change set aside for worthy causes. It is the responsibility of the Customers Care Board, which is composed of seven MTEMC members, to evaluate grant requests and send the money back to qualifying organizations.
 
Incoming contributions are tracked by county so the Customers Care Board can do its best to ensure money contributed by members in a certain county goes to that county. Any balances are carried over each month.
 
MTE Customers Care funds may not be used for political or expressly religious purposes, schools or school-related organizations.

Tennessee cattle producers will have a chance to vote in a statewide referendum Dec. 7 and 8 to consider an increase in the assessment to fund in-state promotions of beef. The Tennessee Department of Agriculture authorized the referendum earlier this year at the request of the Tennessee Cattlemen’s Association, the state’s largest cattle organization.  
Cattle producers can vote Dec. 7 from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Dec. 8 during normal business hours at the University of Tennessee Extension office in the county of their residence.
 
To vote in the referendum, producers must:

Be a resident of Tennessee

Produce or market beef or dairy cattle

Be at least 18 years old

Sign a legal affidavit attesting to eligibility
 
Cattle producers will vote on an increase of 50 cents in the assessment charged per head of cattle sold to support in-state research, education and promotion of beef. The measure requires a majority vote. Currently, cattle producers pay $1 per head to help build consumer demand for beef products nationally. The national beef program was authorized by a vote of cattle producers and implemented in 1985.
 
Tennessee ranks as one of the top beef producing states in the nation with nearly two million head of cattle. According to the USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service, cattle and calves generated $545 million in Tennessee farm cash receipts in 2010. There are approximately 47,000 cattle producers in the state.

The Congress has designated December 7th of each year as National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day.  During this day we honor the more than 3500
Americans killed or wounded during that deadly attack and pay tribute to
the heroes whose courage ensured our Nation would recover from this
vicious blow. Their tenacity helped define the Greatest Generation and
their valor fortified all who served during World War II. As a Nation, we
look to December 7, 1941, to draw strength from the example set by these
patriots and to honor all who have sacrificed for our freedoms.
In observance of this solemn day of remembrance and to honor our military
past and present with appropriate ceremonies and activities, President
Barack Obama encourages all Federal agencies and interested organizations,
groups, and individuals to fly the flag of the United States at half-staff
today in honor of those American patriots who died as a result of their
service at Pearl Harbor.

The Cannon County Health Department is hosting WIC Day on Thursday December 8th from 9A to 3P.  WIC is a federally funded nutrition
assistance program providing supplemental foods to low income pregnant
women, new mothers, breastfeeding mothers and children up to age five.
Participants use WIC benefits at authorized grocery stores to purchase
their food packages.  The program also provides nutrition education and
referrals to health care services.  The health department is located at
301 West Main Street.  Please call 615-563-4343 for an appointment.

Medicare’s open enrollment deadline is today.  Those who’ve waited until the last minute can still find help online at Medicare.gov or by calling
1-800-MEDICARE.  Consumers can switch between Medicare Advantage and
original Medicare or join or drop a Medicare prescription drug plan.  If
you’ve already made a selection or decide later on down the road that you
want to make a change starting this year you can switch into an Advantage
or prescription drug plan.  The old rule used to be that you’d have to
wait a whole year for the next open enrollment period.

The Lady Tigers of Central Magnet School of Murfreesboro received a welcome to District 8-AA Girls Basketball from the Cannon County Lionettes with a 64-37 thumping loss to the home team Cannon County last night.  The Lionettes shot consistently connecting on 27 of 56 including 8 3 pointers on the night.  Abbey Sissom rang up 24 points to lead all scorers.  Lindsay Reed put in 17 and Macy Clements contributed 8 points off the bench as Cannon ran their overall record to 7 and 1 The Cannon County Boys Team had a lot to prove to their coach.  After members of the team mentioned to Coach Rigsby they had quit playing in the blowout loss to Upperman on Friday, the Lions assured Coach Rigsby it would never happen again.  Tuesday night they proved their point with a 62-25 win over the Tigers of Central Magnet School. Cory Henley paced the Lions with 11 points.   Cannon will improve to 3 and 5 on the year heading to Jamestown to play the York Institute Dragons Friday.

Playing a winless basketball team  just might be what the Lions need in order to regroup and find their identity after a blowout loss in Baxter on
Friday.  Tonight the Cannon County Lions play new District 8-AA member
Murfreesboro Central Magnet School at Robert A Harris Gymnasium.  The
Central Tigers have yet to win a game and have been held to 25 points or
less in 5 of the seven games they have played this year.  The Lionettes
also suffered their first defeat of the year in Baxter Friday. They will
look to even up their district record against a Central Magnet Lady Tiger
team that has won 5 out of their last 6  and are 5 and 3 on the year.
WBRY AM 1540/FM 96.7 will broadcast the games live tonight beginning at
5:45 with the Coaches Corner and 6:00 for the tipoff.  The games will also
be available through our website live tonight at wbry.com