News 2017

A Woodbury man was arrested over the weekend in Murfreesboro after he left the scene of an accident.  According to Murfreesboro Police Reports, Police were called to Northfield and Memorial Blvd regarding a hit and run traffic crash.  While investigating, another officer conducted a traffic stop on East Northfield Blvd.  Officers made contact with the driver, 57 year old Ira Dean Hanes of Hayes Street in Woodbury.  Hayes admitted to having one drink and refused to perform field sobriety tests with the exception of one that he failed.   Mr. Hanes had no recollection of the crash just prior to his being pulled over.  Hanes was arrested and charged with DUI 2nd offense, leaving the scene of a crash and failure to appear.  He will answer to the DUI and leaving the scene charges April 6th in Rutherford County General Sessions Court.

There are only a few days left before regular registration ends and prices increase for the 6th Annual Special Kids Race presented by Murfreesboro Medical Clinic & Surgicenter (MMC) on Saturday, April 8, 2017, at MMC in Murfreesboro. Runners and walkers will have the opportunity to participate in one of three race distances: 15K, 5K or 1 Mile Family Fun Run. The event welcomes all levels of participants and encourages the whole family to get involved. Registration space is limited to the first 3,250 participants, and registrants can save $5 when they sign up by January 15.
The race is an annual fundraiser for the local nonprofit Special Kids Therapy & Nursing Center. Race participants can additionally help children with special needs by joining “impact Special Kids”, an online fundraising community that helps supporters turn their creative fundraising ideas into a reality. Impact members can participate as individuals or create their own team.
To register for the race, or discover more information about impact fundraising and the corporate challenge, visit specialkidsrace.org.
 

The first high school basketball contest of 2017 takes place tonight as the Cannon County Lions and Lionettes travel next door to McMinnville to play Warren County.  The Lionettes come off the holiday break with a 7-9 record and one of the wins came against Warren County in Woodbury back in November.  A win tonight would pull the Lionettes within one game of evening up their overall season record. The Cannon County Lions struggled against some tough competition over the last couple of weeks.  While Cannon almost beat Warren in the first game of the season series, a third place consolation game at the Sonic Shootout in Sparta belonged to Warren County who had no problem beating the Lions two weeks ago.
Tonight’s games will tip off at 6:00.  You can hear the games live on AM-1540/FM 107.1 WBRY and streaming live on wbry.com

The Arts Center of Cannon County announces auditions for PETER & THE STARCATCHER AUDITIONS
January 3 & 5 at 6:00pm
All roles available for ages 16+. See info below.
Directed by Tara Winton
Tony-winning Peter and the Starcatcher up-ends the century-old story of how a miserable orphan comes to be The Boy Who Would Not Grow Up (a.k.a. Peter Pan). A wildly theatrical adaptation of Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson’s best-selling novels, the play was conceived for the stage by Directors Roger Rees and Alex Timbers and written by Rick Elice with music by Wayne Barker. From marauding pirates and jungle tyrants to unwilling comrades and unlikely heroes, Peter and the Starcatcher playfully explores the depths of greed and despair and the bonds of friendship, duty, and love.
Audition Requirements:
The audition will consist of a cold read from the show.  Be ready to sing.  Nothing must be prepared before auditions.
Parts Available:
This is a 12 member ensemble and each person will play a multitude of parts.  
      * In search of one female, age 16-30 who is able to play a child.  
      * In search of 11 males ages 16 & up.  Looking for a diverse group of men of all shapes and sizes; strong performers who can create multiple characters.  
      * While this is not a musical, performers must be able to sing in a group.  
Important Dates:
Read Thru: Will be scheduled as soon as scripts are available.
Rehearsals: Will begin the week of April 17th and performers will be asked to come to the first rehearsal with parts memorized.
Show Dates: June 2-17 performances are on Fridays, Saturdays at7:30pm and Sundays at 2:00pm

The new year ushered in new laws in Tennessee. One includes those convicted of vehicular homicide where alcohol or drugs were involved. The new law that went into effect January 1st now makes those convicted ineligible for parole. Tougher sentences will be handed down to individuals convicted of robbing a pharmacy for controlled substances. The new sentences includes tougher charges of robbery, aggravated robbery and especially aggravated robbery.
There are changes in Tennessee’s gun laws. Now, residents between 18 and 20 will be allowed to get a handgun carry permit. However, the law only applies to those who are active service members in the military or veterans. Plus, those who want to get a lifetime permit will pay less, down from 500 to 200-dollars.
High school students will now be tested on their knowledge of American government history before they can graduate. A new state law requires a civics test for students before graduation. It’s the same test given to naturalized citizens.
Tennessee craft beer brewers can now sell their creations with higher alcohol content. Craft beers can now have up to eight-percent alcohol.
Social media harassment is now a punishable law. Posting so-called revenge porn online is now illegal.
 

Do you have cattle, sheep, or goats?  If so, you could be eligible to receive payment from the DeKalb/Cannon County Farm Service Agency. According to Donny Green, County Executive Director, signup for the Livestock Forage Program is now underway and will continue through January 30, 2017.     The Livestock Forage Assistance Program (LFP) has been approved for DeKalb and Cannon counties due to recent and extreme drought conditions that have affected livestock grazing during the 2016 normal grazing period.  LFP provides compensation to eligible livestock producers that have suffered grazing losses for covered livestock on land with permanent vegetative cover, or planted specifically for grazing.  
According to the U. S. Drought Monitor, DeKalb and Cannon counties were designated as D3 (Extreme Drought intensity) counties on November 22, 2016.  This designation qualifies eligible livestock producers in the county for three monthly payments.
Livestock producers operating in DeKalb and Cannon counties will need to visit the FSA office in Smithville to report their livestock inventory and complete their application. Customers are encouraged to call the office at 615-597-8225, Ext. 2 to provide some preliminary information that will be needed to process the application. Signup for the 2016 LFP will end on January 30, 2017.

Over $1200 worth of power tools and other items were stolen from a Cannon County residence recently.  According to Cannon County Sheriff’s Department reports, once deputies arrived at the scene they spoke with Allen Hayes.  Mr. Hayes stated that he had TVs and other property that had been stolen from the residence.  The deputies walked around the property as Mr. Hayes showed  them where the stolen property had been taken.  The property was searched for damage and an entry way for the suspects,  No visible signs of forced entry could be found.

The United Way of Rutherford and Cannon Counties will host a Ribbon Cutting, presented by the Rutherford County Chamber of Commerce, on January 31, 2017, at 11:00 a.m.  The event will be held at the Historic Murfreesboro Courthouse to mark the beginning of the United Way Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program for 2017.   The United Way VITA program is a free service that aids qualifying local residents in claiming their tax refund dollars. Beginning January 28, 2017, immediately following National Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) Awareness Day, the VITA sites at Patterson Park Community Center and the Smyrna Public Library will be open to individuals and families with a household income less than $64,000 annually.
Through the VITA program, residents can also file for free by visiting the Fifth Third Bank Financial Empowerment Mobile E-Bus. The 40-foot E-bus, equipped with 12 computers, will be stationed in front of the Historic Murfreesboro Courthouse on January 31, 2017, from 11:00 a.m. – 5:30 p.m to assist residents in completing their taxes online.  
In 2016, $1.2 million was returned back into Rutherford and Cannon counties through the United Way VITA program.
For additional details about the VITA program, visit www.yourlocalvita.org or call United Way’s information and referral specialist line, 2-1-1.

43 year old Steve Franklin Mabe Jr. was arrested on Wednesday, December 28 for theft of property over $1,000.  According to wjle.com Dekalb County Police took a report earlier in the day from an employee of Tractor Supply Company concerning the theft of a 42″ Cub Cadet riding mower and a 25 ton Country Line log splitter. Upon investigation it was determined that Mabe had taken the items without the consent of the business. Mabe’s bond is $20,000. His court date is January 12. (wjle.com)
 

A Watertown man led Coffee County Deputies on a high speed chase last week.  According to thunderradio.com, Coffee County Deputy Eric Clem observed a white Honda Accord traveling at a high rate of speed near the Highway 41 and Highway 55 intersection in Manchester. He observed the white Honda Accord pass another car on the outside shoulder, causing the operator of the other car to almost strike a semi-truck in the side. Clem tried to stop the Accord, but the driver sped off at a very high rate of speed going West on McArthur Street. The male driver ran the red light at Oak Drive and Highway 55 at a high rate of speed. Deputy Clem had initiated his emergency lights and sirens, but the vehicle continued to travel at a high rate of speed. As the pursuit continued near the high school the driver would not stop and due to the safety of other motorists and the deputy, Clem decided to “pit” the car. The “pit maneuver” worked and Clem was able to get the man stopped on New Tullahoma Highway in Manchester.
As the deputy approached the vehicle the driver would not comply with commands and that lead to him being pulled from his vehicle and placed into cuffs.
The man identified as Bradford Michael Gentry age 36 of Tracy Rd in Watertown was transported to a local hospital via ambulance to be evaluated medically.
Due to Clem’s patrol unit and Gentry’s car sustaining damage, the Tennessee Highway Patrol was called to work the accident scene. Trooper Tommy Lyles was advised of the situation and that Gentry was possibly under the influence.
Trooper Lyles charged the subject with DUI and blood was taken at a local hospital, with results pending. Deputy Clem charged Gentry with reckless endangerment, evading arrest and resisting arrest. His bond was set at $17,500 and a court date Jan 9, 2017.
(thunderradio1320.com)