News 2012

Early Monday around 3 in the morning, the Ivy Bluff Methodist Church caught fire and burned to the ground.  After an investigation was done Tuesday, it was believed that the fire was intentionally set.  Cannon County Sheriff’s Department investigator Anthony Young and an Agent from the Tennessee State Bomb and Arson investigated the fire and Wednesday made an arrest in the case.  22 year old Ezra Marino from Morrison was arrested and charged with Arson Of  A Place Of Worship. The structure was valued at over $400,000.00 The investigation is still ongoing at this time as investigators are trying to find out the motive.  Marino was a member of the Church.  

The Board of Education decided to decline the offer for the solar panels to be affixed to the roof of the Woodbury Grammar School during last nights monthly meeting.  The solar panels were to be put on top of the roof at the Woodbury Grammar School by a private investor who wanted to lease the roof of the school for 15 years at $1,000 a year, install the solar roof panels and after year 16 the system would be given to the school.  Chris Blackburn made the motion to turn down the deal.  Bruce Daniel seconded the motion.  Daniel echoed that he didn’t turn down the project because of the solar energy, he just felt overall it wasn’t the right fit for the school system.  Blackburn agreed.  In other actions Thursday night.  The board approved the extended contract update and the report cards.  They approved moving forward with filing of liquidated damages against the Four Seasons Of Knoxville for work on the HVAC system.  Four Seasons finished the project 8 days late and there was a $100 per day late charge in which the Central Office will go after.  The next Board Meeting Workshop has tentatively been scheduled for November 6th at the Central Office.  However that might change with the fact of the 6th also being election day.  The next regular board meeting will be Thursday November 8th at 6 at the Woodbury Grammar School  

The Cannon County Commissioners will discuss naming a replacement for the late Coach Mike Mayfield on the Cannon County School Board during their monthly meeting.  Mayfield died recently after suffering injuries in a automobile accident.  Other items on the agenda will be to look at the various budget amendments submitted by the Cannon County Libraries, County Garage and General Budget Amendments on capital Outlay.  The Commissioners will also vote on the possibly approval of a community development block grant for a water line project on Basham Ridge, Finnie Simmons Road and the backside of Lake Anne Road.  They are also scheduled to talk to EMA Director Faye Morse about some Homeland Security issues and the Commission is looking to be updated on the waterline situation in Gassaway.  The meeting will take place Saturday at 10:00 in the morning at the Courtroom of the Cannon Courthouse.  

Area police are continuing to search for a man described as being a violent sex offender. 22-year-old Jason Blake Holt of Woodbury was last seen Saturday at Hullet’s Shell station on Woodbury Highway in Manchester when he removed his GPS monitoring device. Holt is 6’04, tall, hazel eyes, and strawberry blond hair. According to police, he has been convicted of three counts of attempted rape of a child. Holt is believed to be traveling with a female and two young children. Anyone knowing of Holt’s whereabouts is asked to contact the Manchester Police at 728-2099 or the sheriff’s department at 728-3591.

Stealing dog training pads landed a Cannon County man in trouble last week.  According to police reports, Luther Carl Hale Jr. of Woodbury walked into the Fred’s Discount Store on South McCrary Street and walked out headed to the back of a Woodbury Police patrol car under arrest.  Hale allegedly was caught with the Fred’s brand Dog Training Pads on his person.  Problem was he intended to steal them and not pay for them.  The $4.95 five finger discount led to theft of property charges to which Mr. Hale will answer to in Cannon County General Sessions Court on Tuesday November 27th

Judge Susan Melton presided over General Sessions Court on Tuesday.  Some of the results of the various cases that appeared on the docket included:Joshua Blake Cummings charge of domestic assault was retired for 6 months.  He was ordered to pay the costs.
Jeremy Jackson Grant’s charge of aggravated domestic assault was retired.  He was ordered to pay the litigation tax.
Cassidy Anne Bailey Horn’s charges of drug paraphernalia and assault were retired for 11 months 29 days.  She was ordered to pay the costs.
Jeremy Kenneth Leedom pled guilty to vandalism over $1000.00.  He was sentenced to 11 months 29 days in jail.  That sentence was suspended upon equal time on probation, paying $2000.00 in restitution and the costs.
Holly Marilyn Lorance pled guilty to simple possession of a schedule II drug.  She was sentenced to 11 months 29 days in jail.  That sentence was suspended upon equal time on probation, forfeiting seized property, paying a $750.00 fine and the costs.
Christopher Steven Reed pled guilty to disorderly conduct.  He was sentenced to 30 days in jail. 
Michael Joe Sanders agreed to the violation of probation.  He was ordered to serve his original sentence of 11 months 29 days.  Sanders also pled guilty to 4 counts of driving on a revoked license.  In each count he was sentenced to 11 months 29 days in jail and ordered to lose his license as directed by the department of safety.
A Capias was issued for Cory Wade Foster for failure to appear.

On Thursday, October 11th, Cannon County High School will be hosting its first financial aid night of the 2012-2013 school year.  The meeting will begin at 6:00PM and will be held in the school cafeteria.  Guests include representatives from The United States Marine Corp, The Tennessee Student Assistance Corp. (Lottery Scholarship), and The Tennessee Technology Center in Murfreesboro.   Any students and parents from grades 9-12 are welcome to attend.  If you have any questions, please contact the CCHS guidance office at 563-2144  

The Tennessee Department of Agriculture Division of Forestry and the Department of Commerce and Insurance’s Division of Fire Prevention are observing National Fire Prevention Week (Oct. 7-13), by reminding homeowners to follow simple safety practices to prevent forest fires. The official start of forest fire season in Tennessee is Oct. 15. 
“Burning vegetative material that has accumulated around the yard or using fire to clear an old field can be an efficient way to get rid of debris,” said John Kirksey, Fire Chief for the Division of Forestry. “However, this activity needs to be done safely. The division’s burn permitting system focuses attention on the safe use of fire for debris burning.”
 
Activities requiring a burning permit include unconfined outdoor burning of brush and leaves, untreated wood waste and burning to clear land. Burning permits are free of charge. Citizens can apply for burning permits online or by calling their local Division of Forestry office between the hours of 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. Forestry offices are listed in your local phone directory under state government, or can be found by visiting www.burnsafetn.org. The website also includes tips for safe debris burning and provides access to the online permitting system. Permit holders should also check for other restrictions in their locale.
 
Online permits will only be available for small scale burning of leaf and/or brush piles measuring less than 8 feet by 8 feet in dimensions.  These permits can be obtained on days that burn permits are being issued, including after-work hours and through the weekend, by going to www.burnsafetn.org.
 
 
“It only takes a couple of minutes to get a burn permit, whether one is obtained by calling in or online” said Kirksey. “Either way it’s important for citizens to know when, where and how it’s safe to conduct a debris burn, and the burn permitting system is our way of getting that information to them.”
 
Homeowners living in forested communities can take steps to protect themselves and their property. Keeping gutters and rooftops free of debris, maintaining at least two to five feet of none flammable material next to the foundation of the home and clearing away flammable brush at least 30 feet from the house are just a few simple examples of what homeowners can do.
 
Wildfires are occasionally started by out of control house fires. The state Fire Marshal’s Office is warning citizens to also be aware of fire hazards in their home.
 
“For many years, Tennessee has occupied an undesirable ranking in the country for fire deaths. Falling asleep while smoking in bed or in a comfortable chair remains a significant cause of fire deaths in Tennessee,” says Department of Commerce and Insurance Commissioner and State Fire Marshal Julie Mix McPeak. “Always make sure your home’s smoke detectors are functioning properly.”
 
Escaped debris burns are the leading cause of wildfires. Burning without a permit is a Class C misdemeanor punishable by up to 30 days in jail and/or a fine not to exceed $50. Wildfires caused by arson are a class C felony punishable by 3 to 15 years in prison and up to $10,000 fines. Anyone with information about suspected arson activity should call the state Fire Marshal’s Arson Hotline toll-free at 1-800-762-3017.
 
For more information, visit www.burnsafetn.org.

Here are the scores from the district game against Smith County on 10-8-2012.  
CCHS vs. Smith County
Set 1:  CCHS 20 – Smith County 25
Set 2:  CCHS 16 – Smith County 25
Set 3:  CCHS  8 – Smith County 25
 
Ace:  Emily Sissom -1, Rebekah Faulkner – 2, Ariana Kailiponi – 1, Marion Wallace – 1
Kills:  Rebekah Faulkner – 1
Assist:  Emily Sissom – 1, Ariana Kailiponi – 3
Tips:  Hannah Faulkner – 2, Rebekah Faulkner – 4, Ariana Kailiponi – 5, Marion Wallace – 2
Digs:  Hannah Faulkner – 1, Emily Sissom – 1, Ariana Kailiponi – 1, Marion Wallace – 2

With one of the Cannon County Election Commission members unable to attend the regular monthly meeting last night due to illness, the Election Commission tabled a couple of items until a full Election Commission could be present.  Sue Patrick, Jackie Gannon and Corey Davenport along with Chairman Matt Studd were present, Commission member James Hill could not attend the meeting.  The Commission approved the accounting board workers.  They also approved the new poll workers for the upcoming election.  The Commission then approved the poll workers for each precinct and designated the person at each precinct to represent the Democratic and Republican parties.  They also approved the specific times for voting during Election Day which is from 7 in the morning until 7 in the evening.  Commissioners Jackie Gannon and Corey Davenport went through approximately 40 new voter registrations and found no errors.  The Commissioners voted to table the discussion and adoption of the Mission Statement along with the memorandum of understanding issue until the next meeting when all commissioners are present.  The Commission discussed the usage of the Election Offices during Early Voting and Election Day.  The State Fire Marshal has given the building the green light to stay open during early voting and throughout the Election Day if the doors that connect to the Ambulance Service remain unlocked.  There will be a smoke alarm installed in time for the Early Voting.  There was some concerns raised during early voting in the last election in August that there was a lot going on in the Election Offices to the point that some people were distracted and couldn’t concentrate in reading through the ballot.  Steps will be taken to keep distractions to a minimum, however with foot traffic in and out of the building due to other various offices housed in the same building there’s only so much that can be done.    The Commission voted to move November’s meeting from the 12 to the 19th so in addition to taking care of the normal business on the agenda they will also certify the election.