News 2013

The Tennessee Highway Patrol will be conducting driver license checkpoints today on State Route 53 in Cannon County.  Recognizing the danger presented to the public by drivers that are under the influence and unqualified drivers, Troopers will concentrate their efforts on vehicles being operated by drivers that violate the driver license laws of Tennessee.  The Tennessee Highway Patrol has found driver license checkpoints to be an effective means of enforcing driver license laws of Tennessee while ensuring the protection of all motorists

With the first week of the 2013-2014 high school basketball season underway, the Cannon County Lions and Lionettes will load the bus up and head to Spencer to Van Buren County High School and participate in two games each.  First on the schedule at 3:30 will be the 2-0 Cannon County Lionettes to meet the Sale Creek Lady Panthers from the Chattanooga area, then the 2-0 Cannon County Boys will face the Sale Creek boys team at 5:00.  The host teams will finish out the last day of the Hall of Fame Games at 6:30 with the Cannon County Lionettes returning to the floor to meet Van Buren Lady Eagles while the boys will face Van Buren County at 8:00  WBRY AM-1540/FM 96.7 will carry the entire afternoon and evening broadcasts.  You can also listen online at wbry.com and on your smartphone through the Tune In Radio app at WBRY  

During the month of October, the Woodbury Lions Club held their annual Coat Drive.  Now it’s time to give the coats to the people who need them in Cannon County.  Saturday the Woodbury Lions Club sponsors Coats for Cannon.  This is a community project that will take place from 9A to 2P at the Woodbury Lions Club Building.  All sizes of coats are available.  You must be present to receive a coat.  Proof of residency in Cannon County is required.  Driver’s license, voter registration card, and utility bill are all acceptable proofs.  Parents please bring your children if they are in need of a good warm coat.  For more information about Saturday’s Coats For Cannon Giveaway please call Sue Patrick at 615-563-1328  

Free Food giveaway on Saturday, Nov. 16th   beginning at 10:00 a.m. in the parking lot of First Methodist Church, 502 West High Street, Woodbury, TN. Please bring your own box, laundry basket, or container to put the food in. There are no pre-qualifications, everyone is welcome. (Maximum of two families per vehicle.)  This will be a “drive thru” distribution. Cars should line up on High Street coming up the hill from College Street.  Each car will be directed through the parking lot of First Methodist and out through the First Baptist Church parking lot. For more information, contact the church office at: 563-2135.  

With two commissioners absent,at Tuesday nights monthly Cannon County Commissioners meeting,  the majority vote needed to appoint a County Commissioner to the 5th District stood at 5 votes.  At  the end of the vote, one Commissioner changed his vote to vote in Chuck Holt to serve the remainder of the term which was open due to the unfortunate passing of Bob Stoetzel,  Two other people were nominated  Andy Parker and Greg Fauls.   However Neither man were present at the meeting.  Holt was sworn in immediately after the vote. In other actions of the Commissioners They presented a plaque to Teresa Stoetzel in honor of Bob Stoetzel .  Stoetzel served on the Cannon County Commission before his passing in September.  
Approved the budget amendment submitted by the Cannon County Election Office
Approved a resolution that would put commissary money from the Sheriff’s Department  into Debt Service fund rather than the county general fund.  The idea of it would be that the money would help fund an expansion of the Cannon County Jail in the future.  TCI which is the state organization that oversees Tennessee’s Jails has been threatening against certification of the jail unless there’s a plan of action in place resulting in expansion as the jail is overcrowded.
The Cannon County Executive’s Office received a certified letter from Middle Tennessee Electric  which stated the Company had to replace a  electric pole recently that had fallen down at the Dixie Youth Baseball Fields.  The poles at the fields are nearly 40 years old and there are some that need to be totally replaced as it poses a safety hazard.  The first step is to get an inspector to inspect the condition of these poles and make recommendations.   There is a grant program through the Clean Tennessee Energy grant that can be used for lights and recreation.  The application period is now until the first of the year.  If Cannon County is awarded the grant , there should be enough money awarded to update the poles and do some other renovations.  
The Commission also voted to send the Short Mountain Distillery a bill from the services provided by the Cannon County Sheriff’s Department for traffic control and patrol during the Music In The Middle event last month.  The bill amounts to over $3000.00.

Our spotlight on the Cannon Country Christmas Merchants Open House continues today.  Each day we will spotlight the businesses participating in the November 22nd and 23rd event.  Today’s spotlight is on the Banks.  All three local banks in Woodbury are taking part in the festivities.  Even though regular banking hours will be observed, the doors are open for existing and potential customers to drop by and check out the various checking account options, investment opportunties and loan possibilities are available.  First National Bank of Woodbury located at 801 West Main Street , Regions Bank at 200 West Water Street and First Bank the Woodbury Branch housed at 101 West Main Street each offer unique, professional banking services to their customers with services tailored to each person’s distinguished needs.  Stop by and visit the banks Friday November 22nd to see what each has to offer.  Everyone can register for the business baskets to be given away at noon on the square.  There will be refreshments and other door prizes throughout the evening November 22nd  

A light agenda is on tap for tonight’s Cannon County Board Of Education meeting.  Karen King, principal of the Westside School will address the board in regards to a copy machine lease.  The Board will be asked to approve the Senior Trip Schedule.  Approve Energy Policy and approve the Eastside School’s application for the General Mills Grant.  The meeting takes place at the Woodbury Grammar School’s Cafeteria starting at 6:00 tonight  

Cannon County High School will be hosting its second financial aid night of the 2013-2014 school year tonight.  The meeting will begin at 5:30 and will be held in the school cafeteria.  Guests include representatives from the United States Army, The United States Air Force, Cumberland University, Middle Tennessee State University and the Tennessee Student Assistance Corp which is the Lottery Scholarship.  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 last time the Cannon County Lionettes Basketball team featured a Division I College Basketball signee was back in 1989 when Julie Powell continued her education and basketball career at Vanderbilt University.  The newest member to join her signed basketball scholarship papers a little closer to Woodbury.  Tuesday morning two time Miss Basketball finalist Abbey Sissom sat at a table decked out in the blue and white colors that belong to Middle Tennessee State University and signed her scholarship papers  in front of her Cannon County High School Basketball family that included her Lionette teammates, coaches, Lions basketball team, friends and immediate family members  The Senior will move on to play for Coach Rick Insell starting in 2014-2015.  For now, Sissom is the leader of the Lionettes basketball team and has averaged 19.5 points per game in just two games into the new season.  Sissom will get to add to her stats Friday in another Hall of Fame Basketball marathon.  The Lionettes will tip off the 4 game set with a game against Sale Creek starting at 3:30 at Van Buren County High School, while the Lions will follow at 5:00.  The Lionettes will then play the Van Buren County host team at 6:30 and the Lions will finish the night against Van Buren County at 8:00  

Donny Green, County Executive Director of the DeKalb/Cannon County Farm Service Agency (FSA), says that a printing/mailing contractor, hired to print and mail ballots nationwide for the Farm Service Agency, erroneously formatted the 2013 Farm Service Agency County Committee Election Ballots that were mailed out last week. As a result, the following notice was issued by the Farm Service Agency National Office: “Recently you should have received a ballot for FSA County Committee election. As you may have noticed, your ballot was incorrectly printed with your name and address shown on the back of the actual ballot. This was a misprint, and these ballots cannot be used. Please destroy or recycle the ballot dated 07-03-13. If you have already voted, your ballot will be destroyed unopened. You will be receiving a new one by mid-December with a corrected election date. Please watch your mail for the new ballot and vote for the COC candidate of your choice. We apologize for the inconvenience.”
Green wants all of DeKalb and Cannon counties eligible voters to be aware of this printing mistake and that they should not purchase postage or travel to the county office to return these invalid ballots that were erroneously printed by the private contractor. “We want our eligible voters to have confidence in our County Committee Election process that has been the model of integrity allowing local farmers and ranchers to have a voice in local FSA program delivery and office administration. FSA’s County Committee is uniquely designed to allow farmers and ranchers to elect their peers who make decisions at the grassroots level,” says Green.
The DeKalb and Cannon County FSA Committees want to encourage voters in the Local Administrative Areas (LAA’s) up for election this year to be watching for the corrected ballots that will be mailed out by mid-December. It is vitally important that voters take the time to vote when these corrected ballots are received. As the Farm Service Agency gets more information on this matter and the corrective actions, additional news releases will be publicized