News 2012

The State Veterinarian has issued an order specifying conditions under which wild-appearing hogs are to be transported in the state. The order was issued in support of legislation passed this year by the Tennessee General Assembly and signed into law by Gov. Bill Haslam making it illegal to transport and release wild-appearing hogs without proper documentation. The new law goes into effect July 1.
“Wild hogs have the propensity to reproduce in great numbers, carry diseases, destroy crops and cause serious ecological damage,” state veterinarian Charles Hatcher said. “The purpose of the order is to help reduce the incidence of disease and to support efforts to prevent the illegal transportation and releasing of wild hogs.”
Wild hogs are typically two to three feet tall and up to five feet long with larger heads and heavier shoulders compared to domesticated breeds. Wild hogs also have smaller, pointed and heavily furred ears, longer snouts, tusks and straight tails.
Under the order, all wild-appearing swine being moved within the state must have one of the following:
·    A state or federally approved individual identification and proof that each hog has tested negative for Pseudorabies and Brucellosis within 90 days of movement.
·    Proof that each individual hog originated from a Validated Brucellosis-free and Qualifed Pseudorabies-negative herd.
·    A movement authorization number from the state veterinarian’s office.
Movement authorization numbers will be issued for wild-appearing swine being moved directly to slaughter, a quarantined facility, a veterinarian for testing or from one production facility to another. The order also provides for a movement authorization number to be issued for wild-appearing production swine that are raised for meat or breeding purposes. Production facilities for which movement authorization numbers are issued are subject to inspection by the department.
To receive a movement authorization number under this order, call the state veterinarian’s office at 615-837-5120.
 

Stones River Watershed Association will be co-hosting Boat Day events both this weekend and next. The first one will take place Saturday from 9A-1P at the Jefferson Springs Boat Ramp in Smyrna Turn left into Corps property from Jefferson Pike, immediately before crossing the bridge over the Stones River, on your way to S.R. 850
Boat Day Gives participants an opportunity to try out several different types of canoes and kayaks in a protected pool with supervision.  This event is designed to give participants an introduction to the recreational resource of the rivers and streams in the Stones River Watershed.  
Everyone is welcome  but children 10 or younger must be accompanied by a responsible adult while paddling.
 

The newly named director of the Upper Cumberland business accelerator, UC Success Now, will address the region’s entrepreneurial partners on Friday as the program launches its efforts to boost small business growth in the region.  
Crossville business owner Jeff Brown, director of UC Success Now, will manage the accelerator’s resources to help small businesses meet two goals: step up business growth funding and create jobs.
 
“I am truly excited to be a part of UC Success Now. For most of my career I have pushed for help for existing small businesses. Now I have the opportunity to lead the organization that provides that help in our 14-county region,” Brown said. “Roughly 86 percent of all new jobs are created by existing businesses. We need that job growth as soon as possible.”
 
In support of the governor’s commitment to business and job growth, the Tennessee Department of Economic Development has established nine accelerators statewide to aid small business and job growth efforts in defined geographical regions.
 
UC Success Now recently received $250,000 in grant funds from the Jobs4TN program to support viable businesses in the 14-county Upper Cumberland region that are capable of rapid growth and job creation, but need to develop different aspects of their business or raise capital in order to grow rapidly.  
 
UC Success Now is a partnership between Roane State Community College, Tennessee Tech University, Launch Tennessee, Startup TN, Tennessee Small Business Development Centers, and local chambers of commerce, governing bodies, bankers, investors and others committed to seeing job growth and greater access to capital for small businesses.
 
The partners will offer a combination of education, consulting, mentoring and guidance to businesses throughout the Upper Cumberland. The accelerator will have offices in Crossville at the Cumberland Business Incubator on Roane State’s Cumberland County campus and at Tennessee Tech in Cookeville.
 
“My entrepreneurial, governmental and economic development experience bring a view to the program that I think small businesses will appreciate. I have been in their shoes,” Brown said.
 
A longtime advocate of small businesses and an entrepreneur himself, Brown will offer a broad range of sales, management, leadership and planning expertise to entrepreneurs in the Upper Cumberland.
 
Brown has served as president of the Crossville Association of Realtors, director of the Knoxville Association of Realtors, president of Crossville Rotary and director for the Crossville Housing Authority. He has served at the chamber of commerce and he is a Cumberland County commissioner.
 
Brown has a bachelor’s degree in geology from Tennessee Tech, with a minor in business and finance. A resident of Crossville, he has various real estate and insurance certifications and is a founder of Prudential Southern Realty and Gold Service Insurance.
 
Friday’s activities will begin at 9 a.m. at the Cumberland Business Incubator, 2567 Cook Road. Participants will present examples of recent regional successes and learn more about UC Success Now resources.
 
Among the scheduled presenters are Ron Woody, county executive of Roane County; Mike Gannon, county executive of Cannon County; Ken Hall, director of the Monterey Depot; Billy Kaufman, owner of Short Mountain Distillery; and representatives of chambers of commerce in Campbell, Cumberland, Clay, Pickett and Jackson counties.
 

Water will roll off 10,000 rubber ducks’ backs when they race down Stones River during the annual Child Advocacy Center’s Rubber Duck Derby at 4:23 p.m. Saturday at the Sportsman’s Club.  
A free Family Fun Fest will kick-off the activities at 2 p.m. at the Sportsman’s Club at 1231 Medical Center Parkway. Events include fun events for children, the King of the Wing contest and music. Spectators are invited to watch the race from the Medical Center Parkway bridge.
 
The rubber ducks are being adopted at $5 apiece to raise funds for the Center whose staff helps child abuse victims in Rutherford and Cannon counties. The winning duck will earn its’ “parent” 5,000 bucks.
 
A large yellow duck has been visiting sites in Rutherford and Cannon counties to promote the race. The duck squatted this week at the Cannon County Courthouse, Gil’s Hardware in Smyrna and Wilson Bank in Murfreesboro. The duck will perch at Slick Pig Thursday, at Demos’ restaurant Friday at the Duck Derby Saturday.
Ducks may be adopted at Sudsy’s Car Wash, Demos’ restaurant and more than 50 other locations found at www.boroduckderby.com. People who adopted the next 15 winning ducks will receive prize packages valued at almost $20,000.
 
All proceeds will be used to fund the Child Advocacy Center who has helped 7,500 children in the past 12 years.
 
CAC Executive Director Sharon De Boer said the Duck Derby and the free Family Fun Festival is a wonderful family oriented event.
 
 “We have a blast at the Duck Derby,” De Boer said.  “It is fun for the children and their parents.  It is fun for the volunteers who dump ducks in the water, paint children’s faces, and work the games at the Fun Festival.  It is not too late to volunteer at the event.  You can volunteer by calling the Child Advocacy Center at 867-9000.”
 
 Visitors at the Family Fun Fest will be able to sample chicken wings by several vendors and vote for the favorite one during the Wing-Off competition. The vendor with the most votes will be crowned King of the Wing. Vendors include 4 Kings, Buffalo Wild Wings, Kirkenburt’s and Slick Pig.
 
Purity Milk will supply popsicles and water while Kona Ice will supply ice shavings. Ford of Murfreesboro will donate a public address system and water.
 
A surprise performance is scheduled as well.
 
Other Fun Fest events include:
·        Two bounce houses from Space Walk Murfreesboro.
·        A human Velcro wall and bungee hoop dunk inflatables from Pro Entertainment.
·        Inflatable from Black Dragon.
·        Booths for face painting and merchandise.
·        Games such as corn hole, ladder ball, tattoos, coloring station, bag toss, punch bag, a bag jump booth from R Property Management and a Lanes Trains and Automobiles bowling alley.
·        Rutherford County Sheriff’s Office’s K-9 unit will give a demonstration with the dogs.
·        Murfreesboro Fire Department’s Special Event Team will be there with a fire engine.
·        DJ Kyle will supply music.
·        Bravo Performance Academy will have a dance performance.
·        Cox Family Martial Arts will give a demonstration.
·        Siegel High School cheerleaders will perform.
·        Costume characters including the frog, Quackers the duck, Sudsy the duck, Hello Kitty and Sponge Bob.
·        Sudsy’s car will be available.
 
For more information, call CAC at 867-9000.
 

Local Activities for today include The Summer Reading Program welcomes Snow Bird to Cannon County.   The Channel 4 mascot will be at the Auburntown Community Center at 10 this morning and the Woodbury United Methodist at 1:00.  The Cannon County Board of Education will pick back up their June meeting tonight after a recess.  The board wanted to approve the bids for the Ag Pavillion and the HVAC system at Cannon County High School and the board will also approve the general budget for the 2012-2013 school year.  The meeting will start at 5:00 tonight at the Central Office The Hilton Stone American Legion Post 279, , will meet on Thursday, June 21, 2012, at the Senior Citizens Center in Woodbury. Dinner will be served at 5:45 p.m. The ladies of the Auxillary prepares the meals. Our regular meeting starts at 6:30 p.m. The theme for this week’s dinner is, “Country Viddles.”  

Judge Susan Melton presided over General Sessions Court on Tuesday.  Some of the results of the various cases that appeared on the docket included: Israel Guardado Baez pled guilty 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.
Michael Noah Barrett pled guilty 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.  In another case Barrett agreed to the violation of his probation.  His probation was extended 6 months.
Joseph Blair pled guilty to domestic assault.  He was sentenced to 11 months 29 days in jail.  That sentence was partially suspended upon serving 14 days, 11 months 15 days of probation, submitting to a DVI assessment and paying the costs.  In another case Blair pled guilty to violation of an order of protection.  He was sentenced to 11 months 29 days in jail.  That sentence was suspended upon equal time on probation and paying the costs.
Erica M. Escareno pled guilty to driving without 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.
Gary Eubanks’ charges of aggravated burglary and theft under $1,000.00 were bound over to the September term of the Grand Jury.
Jeffery Darnell Hedgepath, Jr. pled guilty 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.
Lisa Hickman agreed to the violation of her probation.  She was ordered to serve her original sentence of 11 months 29 days.
Kathy Leigh Johnson pled to driving without 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.
Jeffery A. Johnson pled guilty to reckless endangerment. He was sentenced to 11 months 29 days in jail.  That sentence was partially suspended upon serving 5 days in jail, equal time on probation, going to DUI safety school, paying a $525.00 fine and the costs.  In another case Johnson pled guilty to simple possession.  He 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.
Charles Markum Jr. pled guilty to harvesting a turkey without a tag.  He was fined $50.00 and the costs and his hunting privileges were revoked for 6 months.
Berry Wade Markum pled guilty to harvesting a turkey without a tag.  He was fined $50.00 and the costs and his hunting privileges were revoked for 6 months.  In another case Markum pled guilty to hunting from a motor vehicle.  He was fined $50.00 and the costs.
Janet Lynn Marren entered a Nolo Contendere to theft of merchandise less than $500.00.  She was sentenced to 6 months in jail.  That sentence was suspended upon equal time on probation, paying a $50.00 fine and the costs.
Stephen Wayne Matthews agreed to the violation of his probation.  He was ordered to serve 30 days and his probation was extended 10 months 29 days.
Roland Anthony Milligan’s charge of theft of services was retired for 11 months 29 days.  He was ordered to pay restitution and the costs.
Veronica Jean Mooneyham agreed to the violation of her probation.  Her probation was extended 11 months 29 days.
Thomas Avent Muncy 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, submitting to A&D screens, paying a $150.00 fine and the costs.
Paul Frank Rumsey agreed to the violation of his probation.  He was ordered to serve his original sentence of 17 months 29 days.
Jacob William Steele agreed to the violation of his probation.  He was ordered to serve 13 days and his probation was extended 17 months 5 days.
Zane Vincent Taber pled guilty to DUI.  He was sentenced to 11 months 29 days.  That sentence was partially suspended upon serving 21 days, 11 months 8 days on probation and paying all fines and the costs.
Wiley Daniel Thomas agreed to the violation of his probation.  He was ordered to serve 45 days and his probation was extended 9 months 15 days.
Joshua Lee Underwood agreed to the violation of his probation.  His probation was extended 11 months 15 days.
Angela Scott pled guilty to DUI 2nd.  She was sentenced to 11 months 29 days in jail.  That sentence was partially suspended upon serving 45 days in jail, equal time on probation, submitting to an A&D assessment, paying a $600.00 fine and the costs.
 

Today is the last day for the inaugural Stuff The Bus program. The collection of items for the literacy kits events through the United Way of Rutherford and Cannon Counties is expected to provide more than 500 local students with tools and resources for success.  The educational program is being focused on in order to provide the students not only with school supplies but also books and activites promoting literacry. Items needed to complete the literacy kits include: scissors (Fiskar brand), wide-ruled notebook paper, craft paper or handwriting paper, spiral-bound notebooks with wide ruled notebook paper,  24-count Crayola,crayons, number 2 pencils, Crayola markers, stickers, Elmer’s glue sticks  and Play- Doh.
Various locations are accepting donations for the Stuff the Bus program, including: FirstBank locations and Stones River Hospital of Woodbury.  Public collection sites will close today and kits will be distributed in backpacks to the students tomorrow through a school bus delivery system.
For more information on sponsoring a literacy kit for $10 today call 615-893-7303.

A national study puts Cannon County at number 37 out of Tennessee’s 95 counties when it comes to factors affecting health and life expectancy, including death rates, access to health care and healthy foods, economic and education factors, diet and smoking rates. The study, released in April by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute, analyzes factors within four categories — health behaviors, clinical care, social and economic factors and physical environment — each of which contain several measures.
Coffee County ranks 48th in the study. Bedford County is 61st, Franklin County was 27th, Warren County was 73rd, and Rutherford County came in at number 2. Williamson was number 1 overall and Grundy County was at the bottom of the list at 95

Two juveniles suspected of stealing a car from a residence in Woodbury were apprehended in Rutherford County yesterday Woodbury Police Patrolman Chris Brown, who was off duty at the time, was traveling on John Bragg Hwy, toward Murfreesboro, shortly after 9 a.m., when he observed a vehicle matching the description of the one reported as stolen, a 2006 Hyundia Elantra. Four people were in the car, which turned off the highway and then proceeded to Old Woodbury Pike, after the driver suspected they had been spotted.
Officer Brown contacted Cannon County Dispatch, who in turn notified the Rutherford County Sheriff’s Department. Officer Brown followed the vehicle on Old Woodbury Pike until Rutherford County authorities stopped it in the vicinity of Bud’s Tire Pros.
There were a total of four juveniles in the vehicle, two from Cannon County and two from Rutherford. Two of the four have been charged so far in connection with the car theft,
The car, valued at $10,000, was reported as stolen on June 16 from an address on Greenbrier St. in Woodbury. Patrolman Patrick Fann reported the owner left an extra set of keys in the console and had not locked it. She noticed it was missing when she was going to take her husband out to eat at around 2:30 p.m.
Officer Fann observed that after the car was stolen it was driven into a yard across the street from the victim’s residence and then went out of that driveway.
 

The Adams Memorial Library needs help from volunteers to help fill DVD cases after checkout and return the DVD’s to their shelves in the library. People that wish to help are asked to stop in for a volunteer application.  This Thursday brings another Summer Reading Program Feature to the Auburntown and Adams Libraries.  One of Middle Tennessee’s favorite mascots, Snowbird from Nashville Channel 4 will be in town starting at 10:30 a.m. and at the Woodbury United Methodist Church at 502 West High Street at 1:00.  This new location takes over the appearance scheduled at the Woodbury Head Start