News 2012

Several items on the agenda were presented to the Cannon County Board of Education during their June meeting last night at the Woodbury Grammar School .  On the hot topic of middle grade sports it was decided that  A committee will be formed to discuss Middle Grade Sports.  TMSAA representative Richard McWhirter was on hand earlier in the week to present the guidelines during a board workshop.  The principals at each of the Grammar Schools voiced their concerns in a meeting after the fact.  As a result of even more questions being brought up the committee was formed to meet and discuss the issue.  It was also decided to table any decision on whether or not to join the TMSAA until after August. The motion was made to approve a bus bid submitted by Cumberland Bus with a International Bus for $79,958.00
The motion was made to approve the mowing bid from Dustin’s Lawn Service for the  2012-2013 and 2013-2014 school years.  Dustin’s was the lowest bidder out of seven lawn mowing bids.
The 2012-2013 Food Service Budget and Federal Programs application and budget were approved.
The Board adopted a grievance procedure policy for teacher evaluations and the revised harrassment and bullying prevention procedure policy.
The Board approved the Trane Proposal of $105,736.00 to recommission the Woodbury Grammar School geo thermal HVAC System.  The Energy Efficient Schools Initiative Grant for $48,400.  This grant will help fund the $105,000 needed to recommission the geo thermal HVAC System.
The Board rejected the request of the in county transfer for Mr.and Mrs. Bryan Hughes from Woodland to Eastside.  Their daughter has ADHD and the parents felt that she would benefit in being in a small environment.  The motion to reject the request passed 3 votes to 1.  Board Member Cathy Hyatt voted against rejecting the request.  Board member Chris Blackburn recused himself from the vote.
The Board Approved the out of county transfer request made by Mr. and Mrs. Keith Young with the stipulation that they Young’s pay the $1000 fee up front before their children start at Eastside School.
Director of Schools Barbara Parker reported that the County Schools were awarded a $5,000 High Schools That work Grant.
The meeting was recessed until Thursday June 21st at the Central Office as there are two bids for approval, and the General Purpose Budget for the 2012-2013 fiscal year.
The bid will be opened June 19th at 2 and 2:30

The Tennessee Highway Patrol is urging motorists to take extra precautions as temperatures rise this weekend and throughout the summer months, and never leave children or pets in an unattended vehicle. On a typical sunny, summer day, experts say the temperature inside a car can reach potentially deadly levels within minutes. Even cool temperatures in the 60s can cause the temperature to rise well above 110 degrees Fahrenheit inside a vehicle. The inside temperature can rise almost 20 degrees within the first 10 minutes. On a mild day at 73 degrees outside, an SUV can heat up to 120 degrees in just 30 minutes. At 90 degrees outside, the interior of a vehicle can heat up to 160 degrees within several minutes. 
As of June 7, there have been at least three deaths of children in the United States due to hyperthermia. In 2011, there were at least 33 juvenile vehicular hyperthermia fatalities. In Tennessee, there have not been any hyperthermia-related deaths since 2010 (Source: San Francisco State University).
 
“There have already been three heat-related vehicular fatalities this year. We can prevent such tragedies by being vigilant and routinely making sure all occupants exit the vehicle when reaching your destination. Our goal is to prevent the senseless death of children who have been left in unattended vehicles,” Department of Safety and Homeland Security Commissioner Bill Gibbons said.
 
“Even if it’s just for a few moments, motorists should never leave a child in an unattended vehicle,” THP Colonel Tracy Trott said. Cracking the window to let air in does little to protect children from the effects of heat buildup in a parked car. Those who fail to fulfill their responsibility to children face criminal prosecution.”
 
Only 19 states, including Tennessee, have laws that prohibit leaving a child unattended in a vehicle.
 
TCA Code 39-15-401 provides that “any person who knowingly, other than by accidental means, treats a child under eighteen years of age in such a manner as to inflict injury commits a Class A misdemeanor. Class A misdemeanors carry a penalty of not greater than 11 months, 29 days or a fine up to $2,500, or both. If the abused child is six years of age or less, the penalty is a Class D felony.
 
TCA Code 39-13-212 states that criminally negligent homicide is a Class E felony.
 
TCA Code 39-15-402 carries a possible Class B or Class A felony for aggravated child abuse and aggravated child neglect or endangerment. Class A felonies can carry a penalty of not less than 15 no more than 60 years. In addition, the jury may assess a fine not to exceed $50,000.
TCA Code 55-10-803 (a) It is an offense for a person responsible for a child younger than seven (7) years of age to knowingly leave that child in a motor vehicle located on public property or while on the premises of any shopping center, trailer park, or any apartment house complex, or any other premises that is generally frequented by the public at large without being supervised in the motor vehicle by a person who is at least thirteen (13) years of age, if:

The conditions present a risk to the child’s health or safety;

The engine of the motor vehicle is running; or

The keys to the motor vehicle are located anywhere inside the passenger compartment of the vehicle.
(b) A violation of this section is a Class B misdemeanor punishable only by a fine of two hundred dollars ($200) for the first offense.
(c) A second or subsequent violation of this section is a Class B misdemeanor punishable only by a fine of five hundred dollars ($500).
 
Follow a few simple safety steps to make sure your child is safe this summer:

Dial 911 immediately if you see an unattended child in a car. EMS professionals are trained to determine if a child is in trouble.

Never leave a child unattended in a vehicle, even with the window slightly open.

Place a cell phone, PDA, purse, briefcase, gym bag or whatever is to be carried from the car, on the floor in front of a child in a backseat. This triggers adults to see children when they open the rear door and reach for their belongings. 

Teach children not to play in any vehicle.

Lock all vehicle doors and trunk after everyone has exited the vehicle – especially at home. Keep keys out of children’s reach. Cars are not playgrounds or babysitters.

Check vehicles and trunks FIRST if a child goes missing. (Source: Safekids.org)
Motorists should also take precautions in the event of a break down on a highway, especially with children or senior citizens in the vehicle. The Tennessee Highway Patrol suggests the following safety tips when traveling:

For highway emergencies, summon help immediately via cellular phone by dialing *THP (*847) to connect to the nearest THP District Headquarters.

Have a basic first aid/survival kit, including two-three bottles of water per person, in vehicle.

If vehicle begins to overheat, turn off the air conditioner.

If a break down occurs, steer your vehicle as far away from the flow of traffic as possible.
 

         Bestselling author Donna VanLiere wondered how breaking a childhood secret would have altered her life.As a young girl, two of VanLiere’s neighbors molested her on separate occasions. But she was too fearful to tell.
            “There’s so much shame, so much guilt on the part of the victim,” VanLiere explained. “Shame and guilt don’t belong to them but it’s still there.”
            She didn’t disclose the abuse until she confided in her husband, Troy. Since then, she wrote “Finding Grace,” about her “journey of grace” through pain and suffering and unexpected circumstances. She mentions the sexual abuse inflicted on her with hope it might help others.
The Williamson County resident also wrote “The Christmas Shoes” and works as an inspirational speaker.
Because of her experiences, she and her husband, and in-laws, David and Vick VanLiere, who own Sudsy’s Car Wash in Murfreesboro, became sponsors of the Child Advocacy Center’s annual rubber Duck Derby June 23 at the Sportsman’s Club on Medical Center Parkway.
            The Child Advocacy Centers of Rutherford and Cannon Counties has served more than 7,500 sexually abused and endangered children during the past 12 years.
            CAC Executive Director Sharon De Boer said nine of 10 children who are sexually abused do not report it.
            “By Donna VanLiere sharing her story, she is encouraging others to report sexual child abuse to an adult to report to the Department of Children’s Services,” De Boer said.
VanLiere said some children keep their secret because they fear the offender. They should know they can disclose the abuse to a trusted adult.           
            “The shame factor breaks your spirit,” VanLiere said. “If a child steps forward and breaks that abuse pattern, that’s when people go to jail. When light gets to that darkness, that’s when healing begins.”
            As parents, the VanLieres have told their two daughters and one son no one can see their private parts except the parents and their doctor.
             VanLiere advises the victim to speak to someone safe so the offender will never hurt another child.
            “All it takes is one small child who can break that cycle of abuse,” VanLiere said resolutely. “It’s important for them to know it wasn’t their fault. No one is going to blame them.”
           Many victims confide to VanLiere about sexual abuse they suffered as a child.
            “In the back of their minds, they think it was somehow their fault,” VanLiere said. “To hear someone say, ‘it’s not their fault and they did nothing wrong’ releases a wellspring of tears for women. It’s so crucial for the child to hear that. If I could have heard someone say that to me, it would have made my life completely different.”
            Her newest book, “The Good Dream,” debuting in July, is the story of a 30-year-old single woman in 1950 who discovers a hungry little boy “in circumstances no child should be in.”
             And she doesn’t want any other children to be sexually abused. She hopes people will support CAC’s mission by adopting a rubber duck for $5 apiece. The winning duck will win $5,000 donated by the VanLieres and Sudsy’s.
            “We want to make sure this doesn’t happen to another boy and girl,” VanLiere said.
 
 

Summer Reading Program is in full swing!  On Thursday, June 14th at 1 P.M., the staff from Edgar Evins State Park will be at the Headstart Gym ready to tell you all about summertime camping out.  They have promised us several surprises so please don’t miss this program!  If you haven’t signed up for summer reading program yet, it isn’t too late.  Pick up a form at either library outlet. 
Work is going well on the addition to the Adams Memorial Library.  A temporary wall has been constructed about 4 feet in from the old South Wall to keep construction dust down.  All of the fixtures and cabinets in the lower level meeting room have been removed and it is undergoing renovation.  Every day brings us a new surprise.  Many of you have asked if we will need to be closed during construction.  The answer is “yes”, but we will make every effort to keep providing service as much as possible and to close for as few days as possible.  We do not anticipate any closures upcoming in June,  July, or August, (except for 4th of July, of course), so please expect the both libraries to keep regular hours this summer.

The Cannon County Board of Education has several items on the agenda for their regular monthly meeting tonight that they will decide on whether to approve or not.  Some of those items include the budgets for food service and the federal programs, approval of the energy efficient schools initiative grant along with bus and mowing bids.  Other important items include Richard McWhirter from the Tennessee Middle School Athletic Association will be on hand to discuss Middle School sports and the board will review requests for in county transfers and out of county transfer students.  The meeting starts tonight at the Woodbury Grammar School at 6:00

Tonight the Cannon County Budget Committee is scheduled to go to work as they come close to finishing discussing the various budget requests with the various department heads.  On the budget line tonight will be the County Election Office.  The Cannon County Rescue Squad is the other department the Committee will review.  The Rescue Squad has a wish list budget this year of $10,585.00 which is $7500 more than they were budgeted during this fiscal year.  The $7500 increase is requested for other equipment.  The Budget Committee will be at work in the courthouse tonight starting at 6:00  

A few other activities and meetings today and tonight include.  The Summer Reading Program continues with a special afternoon at the Woodbury Head Start Gym.  NHECM Wildlife guy Bob Tarter will be on hand with his “creatures of the night”  The show is free and starts at 3:00.  The Cannon County Audit Committee in preparation for Tuesdays Cannon County Commissioner Meeting will meet tonight in the Jury Room of the Courthouse at 5:00.  The Executive Board of The American Legion Post 279 will meet tonight at 6:30 to concentrate on plans for the Kansas City Barbecue Society’s licensed BBQ cook off and craft show taking place in October.  The meeting takes place at the Cannon Senior Center.  

  The United Way of Rutherford and Cannon Counties is preparing to provide local students with backpacks of school supplies, books and activities and resources related to literacy through its inaugural Stuff the Bus program. Stuff the Bus, which will conclude June 20, is expected to assist more than 500 local students.
 
As one of its four impact areas, United Way is focusing on this educational program in order to provide the students not only with school supplies, but also books and activities promoting literacy. According to www.tn.gov, only 43.9% of third graders in Tennessee scored proficient or above in reading in 2011.
 
Items needed to complete the literacy kits include: scissors (Fiskar brand), paper (wide-ruled notebook paper), craft paper or handwriting paper, spiral-bound notebooks with wide ruled notebook paper, crayons (24-count Crayola), pencils (No. 2), markers (Crayola), stickers, glue sticks (Elmer’s) and Playdough.
 
Various locations are accepting donations for the Stuff the Bus program, including: LaVergne Library, Wilson Bank & Trust locations (Rutherford County), Ford of Murfreesboro, The Learning Circle, Dollar General (Cason Lane location), Sports*Com, Patterson Park, United Way of Rutherford and Cannon Counties, Linebaugh Library locations, Sam’s Club, the Rutherford County Courthouse, FirstBank locations (Rutherford and Cannon Counties), and Stones River Hospital of Woodbury.
 
Public collection sites will close on June 20, and kits will be sorted into backpacks and distributed to the students on June 21 through a school bus delivery system.
Additional sponsors and event partners include Nissan North America, Middle Tennessee Medical Center, Publix Super Markets and Publix Super Markets Charities, Regions Bank, First Book, the Learning Circle, Embassy Suites, the Boys & Girls Clubs of Rutherford County and the United Way Women’s Initiative Council.
 
For more information on sponsoring a literacy kit for $10, volunteering for the event or hosting an internal collection of literacy kits, please visit www.uwrutherford.org or call (615) 893-7303.

Summertime is here, and we’ve got lots of great river events coming up this month. Please join us as often as you can! 
What: Fishing Rodeo – hosted by TWRA and sponsored by TWRA and the American Legion (hot dogs, etc. provided)
Where: Woodbury’s Dillon Park
Who: Kids 12 and under. Must bring their own fishing poles.
When: Saturday, June 9, 8am to 11am
Why: Kids should get to know the river and learn how to fish!
 
What: Dedication of the Headwaters Wildlife Management Area
Where: Gunter Hollow Road (Short Mountain), Woodbury
From I-24 in Murfreesboro, take Exit 81-B for US 231 North toward Murfreesboro. Travel 1.4 miles and turn right onto Middle Tennessee Blvd. Proceed 1.4 miles, turn right onto US 70 S East/ TN-1 East/Mercury Blvd. Travel 23.7 miles, turn left onto TN 281 Center Hill Rd. Proceed 1.9 miles, turn left onto TN 146/Short Mountain Rd. Drive 4.9 miles, turn left at Gunter Hollow Rd. Travel 2 miles and look for signs at the barn.
When: Wednesday, June 13, 10am
Why: As reported in a wonderful article in The Tennessean, ecologically rich land on Short Mountain in Cannon County—the headwaters of the East Fork of the Stones River—will become available for public use for small game hunting, hiking, and wildlife viewing. (See attached invitation for more information.)
Who: Everyone! BUT attendees MUST RSVP by Friday, June 8 to Dee DeLucia at 615.781.6502 or dee.delucia@tn.gov
 
What: River Cleanup
Where: Manson Pike Trailhead on Murfreesboro’s Greenway
When: Saturday, June 16, 9am to Noon
Why: Debris from upstream collects above the dam at the historic Ransom Mill Dam pool.  A clean river bank will benefit Boat Day, the view from the pedestrian bridge over the West Fork of the Stones, and the Children’s Advocacy Center’s Duck Derby fund raiser at that site.
Who: Everyone!
 
What Boat Day – Smyrna
Where: Jefferson Springs Boat Ramp (Corps property)
Turn left into Corps property from Jefferson Pike, immediately before crossing the bridge over the Stones River, on your way to S.R. 850 (no address is posted for this site).
When: Saturday, June 23, 9am-1pm
Why: 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.  
Who: Everyone! But children 10 or younger must be accompanied by a responsible adult while paddling.
 
What: Boat Day – Murfreesboro
Where: Manson Pike Trailhead on Murfreesboro’s Greenway
When: Saturday, June 30, 9am to Noon.
Why: Our annual Boat Day, now a part of Murfreesboro Parks and Recreation’s calendar, gives participants an opportunity to try out several different types of canoes and kayaks in a protected pool on the West Fork of the Stones River.  This event is designed to give participants an introduction to the recreational resource of the rivers and streams in the Stones River Watershed.  Also available will be representatives from other river conservation groups
 Who: Everyone! But young children must be accompanied by a responsible adult while paddling.
 

Judge Susan Melton presided over General Sessions Court on Tuesday.  Some of the results of the various cases that appeared on the docked include:Mary Jane Abel pled guilty to public intoxication.  She was sentenced to 30 days in jail.  That sentence was suspended upon equal time on probation and paying the costs.
Joshua Allen Bryson 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.
Alyssa Marie Coleman agreed to the violation of probation.  She was ordered to serve 6 months in jail.  In another case Coleman was ordered to serve 10 days for contempt of court.  Coleman’s other charges of possession of a controlled substance without a prescription and contraband in a penal institution were bond over to the September term of the Grand Jury.
Clifford Shane Ferrell agreed to the revocation of probation.  He was ordered to serve his original sentence of 11 months 29 days.
Royce Avon Foster’s charge of domestic assault was bound over to the September term of the Grand Jury.
Alan B. Hayes’ charge of domestic assault was bound over to the September term of the Grand Jury.
Christopher Herrod’s charge of allowing an unlicensed drive to drive was retired for 6 months.  He was ordered to pay the costs.
Joshua Dewayne Holt’s charge of harassment was retired for 11 months 29 days.  He was ordered to pay the costs.
Rodney Hugh Janovsky agreed to the revocation.  He was ordered to serve 45 days and his probation was extended 9 months 14 days.
Demetria Rufina Leath’s charge of domestic assault was retired for 6 months.
Jason Ray Leath’s 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.
Johnny Nathaniel Mitchell agreed to the revocation of probation.  He was ordered to serve 30 days and his probation was extended 10 months 29 days.
Ronnie Nickens charge of criminal trespass was retired for 6 months.  He was ordered to pay restitution and the costs.
Michael Joe Sanders pled to attempted failure to appear.  He was sentenced to 11 months 29 days in jail.  That sentence was suspended upon equal time on probation, paying a $100.00 fine and the costs.
Randall Clark Smotherman pled guilty to public intoxication.  He was ordered to serve 30 days in jail.
Joseph Matthew Taylor pled guilty to two charges of DUI.  In each charge he was sentenced to 11 months 29 days in jail.  That sentence was partially suspended upon serving 48 hours in jail, equal time on probation, losing his license, paying a $350.00 fine and the costs.  In another case Taylor pled guilty to assault.  He was sentenced to 11 months 29 days in jail.  That sentence was partially suspended upon serving 48 hours, equal time on probation, and paying the costs.