News 2013

The Cannon County Commission started off their monthly meeting with every intention of filling the seat that was vacated by the late Bob Stoetzel who was serving the 5th district.  It was quickly pointed out that the agenda had not been published 7 days before the meeting so they could not legally appoint someone to fill the seat.  The agenda came out in the paper last Tuesday was only 5 days before Saturday’s meeting.  The matter has been put off until the November meeting.  Greg Fall and Chuck Holt were interested in filling the vacant seat and both were at the meeting. Anyone else interested in the position needs to contact one of the current Cannon County Commissioners so that they can include you in the consideration in November. The Commission heard various committee reports from the Industrial Board of Cannon County and the Cannon County Audit Committee
Randall Reid of the Industrial Board of Cannon County announced that the Board has reached an lease agreement with THC Select which will be beneficial to both side.  They are also in the running for FastTrac grant in which if awarded they will be using the money to make repairs on the roof, install a sprinkler system and repair some other projects for Crane Interiors.
Glenn Steakley chairman of the Cannon County Audit Committee reported that the Committee had set up standard operating procedures.  Steakley also noted that the Overton County government had set up an audit committee and the state of Tennessee recommended that their audit committee model their operations after Cannon County’s audit committee.  The last note of business that Chairman Steakley needed to get approved was that two of the current committee’s terms have expired and they needed to get two new appointments to fill the seats.  The commission voted unanimously to fill these vacancies with Jacqueline Pitts and Clyde Bush as recommended by the Audit Committee.  They will fill the seats vacated by Pat and Ed Sissom who’s terms on the Committee had expired..  The Commissioners also approved the Ambulance Service Resolution, Solid Waste Equipment Grant resolution and the budget amendments for the County General, Election office and library.
 

The good news is the Cannon County Lions High School football team is through with being opponents homecoming game for the rest of the year.  The bad news is the last homecoming game the Lions participated in resulted in their worst loss of the year so far.  Friday night the Cannon County Lions traveled to Carthage for a district game.  Smith County had won three in a row after starting the year 0-4 and  had shown improvement in the weeks leading up to the game.  The Owls scored first on a long offensive drive, then ten seconds after the Lions got the kickoff on the first play from the line of scrimmage, the Owls picked off a pass and returned it all the way for a touchdown.  More interceptions would plague the Lions as the Owl offense would turn them into points.  Overall two interceptions were run back for touchdowns.  The clock ran the entire second half as the Owls won 54-0.  Cannon County falls to 1-7 and has two home games left on the regular season.  Friday night the York Institute Dragons pull into Woodbury for a 7:00 contest at Fred Schwartz Field  

Plans for the Cannon County Country Christmas Merchants Open House came together as several merchants met Thursday night at the Courthouse to discuss the event.  This year the event will be November 22nd and 23rd.  Businesses will be open normal business hours on Friday but will stay open until 9 in the evening Friday.  As per the usual case Santa will arrive on the square at 5 p.m. Ride around the square with children and adults until 5:45 and then spend two hours getting pictures made with children from 6:00 to 8:00.  The stores participating in the open house will offer refreshments to the shoppers as well as door prizes.  Consumers are encouraged to do business with each participating retailer as there will be special discounts offered through the event.  Santa’s Elves will be providing music through the event starting at 4:00 Friday afternoon.  Saturday’s events include drawings for the various gift baskets that will be given away at 12 noon at Jennings Jewelers.  The event was such a success last year and organizers look for the same retail success again this year on November 22nd and 23rd.  

We are getting ready for a busy Halloween evening here at the Adams Memorial Library.  Because the street is often blocked to automobile traffic we will close at 4 p..m. that day in order to allow staff and patrons to exit the parking lot before the trick-or-treaters arrive.  College Street is such a busy area that in 2011 we had well over 1000 characters coming for their goodie bags.  If anyone cares to donate to the library for this event, please indicate that your donation is for Halloween supplies. 
Please pass the word……………we are looking for teens and tweens who are interested in starting a library book club.  Either call or come by to indicate your interest.  We want your input and ideas.
 
Remember that this is your library and we welcome suggestions of materials that we can purchase for the collections.  Please don’t stop suggesting.  At this time, we are able to almost buy everything that is suggested.  We are also buying some really beautiful books with memorial money we have received. 
 
Enjoy the change of seasons!

The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency is awarding $500 grants for riparian tree planting projects. The application deadline is November 30, 2013.   
Grants are available to cities, schools, community organizations, civic groups, watershed organizations, conservation groups, and the like. A grantee must have a nonprofit tax number. All seedlings must be purchased through the Division of Forestry. Projects must be completed by June 30, 2014.
 
Please see the attachment for more information. If you have any questions, please contact Della Sawyers at della.sawyers@tn.gov or 615-781-6577.
 
Good luck, and thanks for looking out for your watershed!
 
 

Dr. Oleksandr Osipchuk (Dr. Aleks) was honored at a welcome reception hosted by Stones River Hospital and Riverside recently. The reception gave staff, community leaders, and local businesses a chance to meet Riverside’s newest psychiatrist. Dr. Aleks was accompanied by his beautiful wife Linda and two children-Joy and Isaac. The reception included a chocolate fountain, delicate appetizers, and gourmet desserts catered by the dietary department at Stones River Hospital. 
“We are so very glad to have Dr. Aleks be a part of our fine hospital,” said Sue Conley-CEO of Stones River and DeKalb Community Hospitals, “He has been an excellent addition to our Gero-Psych Unit at Riverside and the patients and staff love him.”
 
“I am happy to be here (Riverside) and am eager to make a difference in the quality of life of my patients,” said Dr. Aleks, “I want them to be happy and hopeful.”
 
Dr. Aleks practices psychiatric medicine at the Riverside Gero-Psych Unit at Stones River Hospital.

Mark Pody and the committee members preparing the Cannon County Appreciation Day met Friday to put the final touches on the plans for the event. Appreciation Day will honor Cannon County’s first responders, (firefighters, rescue, law enforcement, ambulance personnel and 911 dispatchers)  The event will be held on Thursday, November 14, 2013 at the Community Center in Woodbury beginning at 6:00p.m.  Guest speakers will be Secretary of State, Tre Hargett; and Donnie Smith, Executive Administrative officer at TEMA. Representative Pody arranged for Teresa and Candice Stoetzel to be at the meeting in order to honor former Sheriff Robert “Bob” Stoetzel for his service to the law enforcement community in Cannon County.
Representative Pody wanted to express his appreciation for Sheriff Stoetzel. Bob was a career public servant. He began his law enforcement as an Oliver Springs Police Officer and later joined Tennessee Highway Patrol and was stationed in Cannon County. Bob was elected Sheriff of Cannon County serving from 1994 to 1998. Bob was also a veteran of the Navy where he served from 1968 to 1972.
Representative Pody presented Teresa with an American Flag in honor of Sheriff Stoetzel. The flag presented was flown from the steeple of the Tennessee State Capitol on October 16th, 2013.

The Cannon County Senior Center sponsored a senior health fair recently with the support of local businesses and healthcare providers such as Stones River Hospital and Riverside Center. The fair offered free health screenings and services for senior adults as well as giving out prizes and free gifts to all participants. 
“We are always glad to make a difference in the community, and in this case,  it benefited the health of our senior citizens,” said Sue Conley-CEO of Stones River and DeKalb Community Hospital, “Our staff was eager to come out and do screenings and blood draws for such a grateful and charming group of people. It was a great day.”
 
“We were very happy with the great turnout at this year’s fair,” Connie Rigsby of Cannon County Senior Center commented, “We have a great group of seniors here in Cannon County and they are really great to come out and support us.”
 
Guest speakers were featured throughout the morning with topics that focused on senior adults. The fair ended with a prize giveaway drawing from each participating sponsor.
 

Tuesday, October 15th, Cannon County High School’s Future Business Leaders of America club took thirty-seven members to LP Field and participated in the Titans Learning Lab. Students met and spoke with Titans Executives and toured LP Field. Members of the executive team included Mike Keith, Director of Broadcasting; Walter Overton, General Manager LP Field; Stuart Spears, VP of Business Operations & Sales, as well as members of the media and public relations staff. All students received a ticket to the Titans December 29th game and a t-shirt. One lucky member from the Cannon County High School group, Elleana Sissom, won two field passes to the December 29th game as well.

Motlow’s Moore County campus is hosting a ‘Pink-Out’ in support of Breast Cancer Awareness and other cancers on Monday, Oct. 28. The Student Affairs division, Student Government Association (SGA), Phi Theta Kappa (PTK) and Support Staff Council are all collaborating in this effort to bring more awareness to breast cancer. A Wall of Courage has been placed in the Forrester Student Center, and students and faculty are encouraged to sign the wall in order to show support for fighting cancer.
On Monday, Oct. 28, everyone is encouraged to wear pink. A balloon release on the Forrester lawn is scheduled for 1:45 p.m. A unity walk that will take one lap around campus will begin in front of the Ingram Administration Building at 2:00 p.m., and if it is raining, the walk will be moved to Nisbett Center. A social will take place in the cafeteria serving pink lemonade and cake at 2:30 p.m.