News 2011

For the fourth time this basketball season the Cannon County Lionettes held an opponent to under 30 total points during a game.  Wednesday night the Lionettes began play in the Trousdale County Holiday tournament in Hartsville against St. Cecilia.  The Lionettes got off to a slow start but led at half 44-9.  Cannon would only allow 2 3rd quarter points controlling the game and winning 67-17.  Lionettes defense only allowed 6 St. Cecilia field goals all night long.  Lindsey Reed’s 17 and Abbey Sissom’s 14 led the way for the Lionettes scoring.  Also Pauliana Tarawa had a career night with 9 points. The Cannon County Lions were taught another lesson in playing all four quarters as the Lions let another game slip from their grasp.  This time the opponent was Pickett County.  Cannon County led by as many as 13 points and had the lead going into the fourth quarter.  Once again turnovers led to Pickett County Points as Pickett County came back from behind with under a minute left to lead by four.  After hitting clutch free throws, Pickett County completed the win 61-57.  Cannon had three players in double figures led by Cory Henley who tossed in 15 points, Justin Tobin netted 13 and Jarrett Melton had 11.  Cannon County will resume play today with the boys game scheduled at 2:30 and the Lionettes will play at 7:00 tonight at Trousdale County High School.
 

On Friday December 23, 2011 the Woodbury Police Department and the Cannon County Sheriff’s Department met together to conduct a safety and sobriety checkpoint. This roadblock was in conjunction with the Governors Highway Safety Office Booze it Loose it Campaign. Approximately 450 vehicles were checked during the roadblock. The goal was to keep the streets and highways safe for the holidays. This was the best attended roadblock ever between the two agencies as there were  twenty officers and deputies on the roadway. Overtime funds for the roadblock will be paid through the Governors Highway Office High Visibility Grant funds.

Back to Basketball right before the New Year’s as the Cannon County Lions and Lionettes will participate in the Trousdale County Holiday Tournament starting this afternoon.  The Lionettes fresh off their 3rd place finish in the Sundrop Romp before Christmas will take on a 4 and 5 St. Cecilia Academy Team out of Nashville.  The Scarabs have won 3 in a row against smaller schools entering the tournament.  Game time is scheduled to start at 4:00.  The Cannon County Lions will try to improve on a 5 and 10 record when they meet a 7 and 5 Pickett County Bobcat team from Byrdstown.  Cannon won two out of four at the Sundrop Romp while Pickett County has lost their last two in a row. Tipoff is scheduled for 5:30.  Both games will br broadcast beginning at 4:15 this afternoon on AM 1540/FM 96.7 WBRY

Blood Assurance and Stones River Hospital will host a blood drive today, The bloodmobile will be in the parking lot of the hospital. To be eligible to donate, you must be at least 17 years old (16 years old with parental consent), weigh at least 110 pounds and be in good health. The process usually takes about 30 minutes and includes a complimentary snack and t-shirt. Donors are asked to drink plenty of fluids – avoiding caffeine – and eat a meal that is rich in iron prior to donating.
As the regional blood center, Blood Assurance is the only provider of blood components to more than 50 hospitals and healthcare facilities throughout Alabama, Georgia, North Carolina and Tennessee. including Stones River Hospital.
Visitors at the blood drive will be eligible to register for the Blood Assurance monthly giveaway.
The blood drive will take place today from 11 this morning till 3:30 this afternoon
 

Now that Christmas is over, many are wondering what to do with the leftovers.  Leftover Christmas Trees that is.  There are several Christmas tree recycling centers in the Middle Tennessee area but in most centers you have to be a resident of that particular county to recycle the trees. Cannon County residents can take their leftover Christmas tree to the convenience center in Woodbury to put it in the chipper.  For fake Christmas trees, they can be placed in the dump.  Officials would like to remind residents that all ornaments, lights, and other decorations need to be removed off the tree before putting it in the chipper.
 

The Discovery Center at Murfree Spring will host its annual Countdown to noon from 10AM to noon December 31st.  Attendees are invited to wear their pajamas, create a resolution wall, play games and Zumba into the new year.  Once the clock strikes noon, balloons will be dropped from the ceiling. The cost is $6 for everyone 2 and older. For an additional $2 per child and $3 per adult, a pancake breakfast is available from 9:30 to 11:00AM.
December 31st is also the last day to explore the center’s run Jump and fly exhibit.  For more information call the Discovery Center in Murfreesboro at 615-893-2300
 

Cannon County’s unemployment rate dropped in November from 8.0 percent from October to 7.6 percent in November according to figures released last
week by the State.  Out of a labor force of 6700 people, 6100 Cannon
County residents were employed while 510 work force eligible were
unemployed.  In November 2010 Cannon Counties unemployment rate was 9.9
percent.  The unemployment rate continues to decrease in 79 Tennessee
Counties, four counties remained the same and 12 counties unemployment
rate increased.  Lincoln County still has the states lowest county
unemployment rate at 5.6 percent while Scott County continued to have the
state’s highest unemployment rate at 17.6 percent

The Tennessee Department of Agriculture is offering advice to consumers purchasing firewood this winter. When purchasing firewood, consumers need to take into consideration a variety of factors including the type of wood, its origin and the quantity.  
“Firewood can be purchased almost anywhere and in many varieties,” said Steve Scott, State Forester. “Consumers should educate themselves to make sure they get the best product for their money.”
 
The first factor to consider while purchasing firewood is the type of wood because different woods burn differently and produce varying amounts of heat. For example, oak burns slower and produces less smoke while pine burns faster and produces more soot and smoke. Educate yourself about the type of wood that will best serve your needs.
 
After deciding on the type of wood, be sure to ask retailers about the seasoning of the wood. Seasoning is the process of drying wood. Firewood typically takes nine months to become seasoned. Burning wood that has not been dried out properly or seasoned will produce less heat, burn poorly and create unnecessary soot and smoke.
 
Another factor to take into consideration when purchasing wood is the origin of the wood. This is important because buying wood from other states may transport invasive exotic insects into Tennessee. Consumers can help avoid potential problems by purchasing firewood locally harvested near where they plan to burn it.
 
“The Emerald Ash Borer and Thousand Cankers Disease are two examples of invasives that have devastated many native hardwood trees in the U.S. as a result of the transportation of infested wood products,” said Scott. “We continue to survey for both EAB and TCD since their discovery in Tennessee last year. Citizens can help slow the spread by burning firewood near where they buy it and by obeying county firewood quarantines.”
 
The last factor to consider when buying firewood is the quantity. Firewood has its own unit of measurement called a cord. Firewood must be sold by the cord or fractions of a cord starting at 1/8 of a cord. A cord of wood by law must equal 128 cubic feet. Be wary of terms such as face cord, rack, rick, tier, pile or truck-load, as these terms are not standardized in the sale of firewood. Some firewood dealers also try to sell firewood by the truckload. A typical pick-up truck cannot hold a cord of firewood. Rest assured, when purchasing firewood at brand retailers, there are established labeling protocols for firewood. 
 
If consumers follow these tips, they can feel confident that they purchased a local, worthy product that will keep them warm throughout the winter months.
 
For more information on EAB and TCD, visit http://www.tn.gov/agriculture/forestry/index.shtml. For more information on the TDA’s Weights & Measures Section, visit http://www.tn.gov/agriculture/regulatory/weightsandmeasures.shtml.

Park rangers and volunteers will present programs to commemorate the 149th anniversary of the Battle of Stones River beginning Dec. 26, 2011 through Jan. 2, 2012.The Battle of Stones River was one of the bloodiest and most significant battles in the Western theater of the Civil War. After three days of intense fighting, nearly one-third of the 81,000 men who fought here became casualties. It was the first step in a campaign that saw the capture of Chattanooga and Atlanta ending with Sherman’s “March to the Sea.”
From Monday through Friday, park rangers will present a guided walk at 10 a.m. followed by a daily program detailing the events of each day of the 1862 campaign at 1 p.m.
Daily programs will conclude with a guided caravan tour of the battlefield at 2 p.m.
On Saturday and Sunday, Dec. 31 and Jan. 1, 2012, living history programs featuring demonstrations by Union and Confederate infantry and artillery will tell the stories of the most pivotal battle actions through the stories of soldiers. Programs will be presented at 10 and 11 a.m., and 1, 2, and 3 p.m. daily.
Union artillery will take center stage on Jan. 2, 2012 with firings at 11 a.m., 1, 2, and 3 p.m. Between firings Union cannoneers will share their perspectives on the battle’s bloody climax of January 2, 1863.
A detailed schedule of these programs is available at www.nps.gov/stri/planyourvisit/anniversary.
These programs are part of a series of interpretive programs offered at the battlefield during the year. Stones River National Battlefield is located on the Old Nashville
Highway, northwest of Murfreesboro. Additional information is available at the visitor center, by calling 615-893-9501 or at the park website at www.nps.gov/stri.

If you received an e-reader for Christmas, don’t forget that the READSprogram paid by the state of Tennessee has lots of free e-books that you
can check out. You can find READS on your home computer by going to the
Adams Memorial Library website www.cannoncolibrary.org. While you are on
the website don’t miss looking at the Tennessee Electronic Library TEL.
There are lots of free materials available. The staff of the Cannon
County Libraries would like to say Happy New Year to everyone 2012 will
bring lots of new surprises for your Cannon County Library System