News 2014

County unemployment rates for October 2014, released recently, show the rate decreased in 80 counties, increased in 10 counties, and remained the same in five counties.   Cannon County was one of the counties in which the rate decreased.  Out of an estimated 6,510 people in the workforce 6170 people were employed and 340 people were unemployed bringing the October unemployment rate for the county to 5.3 percent.  That figure is down three tenths of a percentage point from the September figure of 5.6 percent.  Three of the five neighboring counties unemployment rate also decreased Wilson at 4.8, Rutherford was also at 4.8 while Coffee County was at 5.6 percent.  Dekalb’s unemployment figure stayed the same at 6.1 percent while Warren County slightly had an unemployment rate increase to 6.9 percent.   Last year at this time Cannon’s unemployment rate was at 6.9 percent Tennessee’s unemployment rate for October was 7.1 percent, two tenths of one percentage point lower than the 7.3 September revised rate. The U.S. preliminary rate for October was 5.8 percent, down from 5.9 percent in September.
The state and national unemployment rates are seasonally adjusted while the county unemployment rates are not. Seasonal adjustment is a statistical technique that eliminates the influences of weather, holidays, the opening and closing of schools, and other recurring seasonal events from economic time series.
 

AGENDA CANNON COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION
December 11, 2014
Central Office Board Room
6:30 PM
“Stand Up for Public Schools” – TSBA Video clip
1. Approve Agenda. – 1 minute
2. Consent Agenda – 1 minute
a. Approve the minutes of the November 13, 2014 meeting of the Board
b. Approve Bus trips #2225, #2239, and #2245
c. Approve Andrea Alexander as assistant boys basketball coach at East Side School
3. Candidate for tenure – Ana Smith – 2 minutes
4. Director’s Comments. – 2 minutes
a. Financial Report
b. Announcements
5. Chairman’s Comments. – 2 minutes
a. Set date for Board retreat (Jan. 24, Jan. 31, or Feb. 7)
6. The next Regular Board Meeting Workshop will be at the Central Office on Tuesday, January 6, 2015 at 6:30 PM. The next Regular Board Meeting will be Thursday, January 8, 2015 at 6:30 PM at Woodbury Grammar School.
Reception following Board meeting

Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam Thursday evening hosted the 12th annual “Tennessee Season to Remember” ceremony at First Baptist Church in Nashville to honor victims of homicide. Haslam was joined by several state and local public safety officials. During the ceremony, families from across Tennessee placed ornaments on memorial wreaths in honor of their loved ones. 
“We want these families who have suffered unimaginable loss to know that Tennesseans support them, and we hope the simple act of hanging an ornament in the name of a loved one can provide some comfort this holiday season,” Haslam said.
 
The memorial wreaths will be displayed in the Tennessee State Capitol throughout the holiday season.
 
District Attorney General Mike Dunavant, who serves Tennessee’s 25th Judicial District in west Tennessee, shared his own story as a survivor of a homicide victim. In 2008, Dunavant’s wife, Jackie, was killed in a vehicular homicide accident in Lauderdale County. Dunavant, who was first elected in 2006 and was recently re-elected to a second term, has been a tireless advocate for victims of crime. He has since remarried to Marianne Dunavant, whose fiancé was murdered in 2007 during a restaurant robbery in Nashville. The Dunavants share a passion for advocating for the rights of crime victims. They both serve on the Board of Directors for Tennessee Voices for Victims, a victims’ advocacy organization.
 
Former Sen. Charlotte Burks and former Tennessee First Lady Andrea Conte placed the first ornaments on the wreaths. Burks’ husband, Sen. Tommy Burks, was murdered in 1998. Conte started the “Tennessee Season to Remember” Ceremony in 2002.
 
Representatives from the Tennessee Association of Chiefs of Police and the Tennessee Sheriffs’ Association also placed ornaments on the wreaths in honor of the victims and the survivors they assist throughout the year.
 
Musician Sylvia Hutton provided musical entertainment.
 
The Tennessee Board of Parole, Tennessee Department of Correction, Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security, Tennessee Department of Finance and Administration’s Office of Criminal Justice Programs, Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, Tennessee Secretary of State’s Office, Tennessee Department of Treasury, Tennessee Attorney General’s Office, Tennessee District Attorneys General Conference, Tennessee Rehabilitative Initiative in Correction (TRICOR), and victims’ advocacy groups You Have the Power and Tennessee Voices for Victims organized this year’s event.

Two undefeated high school girls basketball teams that loved to shoot the three got together Friday night in a duel that would be a key game early in the District 8-AA standings.  Before a packed house in Murfreesboro, the crowd was treated to a marquee matchup to begin the evening between the Cannon County Lionettes and the Central Magnet Lady Tigers.  The Lady Tigers would jump out to a 7 point cushion at the end of the first period but no lead was safe.  The Lionettes were able to keep post player Ola Obi out of the first half as they held her scoreless, however the perimeter lit up the three point shot in a low scoring first half as Central Magnet had a halftime lead of 17-15.  In the second half Obi collected all 15 of her points in the paint while Claudia Smith hit some key threes in a third quarter stretch.  The Lady Tigers got out to their biggest lead of 9 before Kendra Maynard hit a wide open shot to cut it to 6 with 20 seconds left.  That’s as close as the Lionettes would get as Central Magnet protected their home floor with a 52-46 win.  Maynard led the Lionettes with 15 points while Erin McReynolds netted 14 in the loss.  Central goes to 12-0 on the year and they are out to a 2-0 start in District 8-AA play.  Cannon suffers their first loss to go 6-1 and 0-1 in district play. In other District 8-AA scores Upperman 71 Dekalb 53. Livingston  72 Macon County 38. Smith County 55 York Institute 29.
It was a slam dunk of a win.  Even though Austin Martin didn’t get the start, the post player came into the game and provided steady rebounding, blocked several shots and before the night was done finished with an exclamation two handed slam that sent the Cannon County crowd into a standing ovation when he was taken out of the ball game with a couple minutes left to go.  Cannon was never threatened in their game against Central Magnet.  Once the Lions got going it turned into a game of transition fastbreak basketball.  Josh Ruehlan finished with a game high 21 points and proved that if calmed down, he can be a major threat just by himself.  AJ Daniel was aggressive on defense which enabled him to get several takeaways which he turned into points.  Cannon coasted to a 59-37 win over Central.  Jacob Nave also scored in double figures with 10 points.  The Lions are now 5-2 on the year.  Other scores in District 8-AA.  Upperman sent Dekalb their first loss with a 69-56 win, while Macon County took a close 74-71 victory over Livingston.
Saturday night the two ball teams will be back in Woodbury as they host the Coffee County Red Raiders and Lady Red Raiders for a 6:00 tipoff.  Cannon swept the Raiders in Manchester last month.  WBRY will have the live broadcast at 5:50 for Coaches Corner on AM-1540/FM96.7, streaming online at wbry.com and through WBRY on your smartphones and tablets using the Tune In Radio App.

The Cannon County Lionettes open up the district portion of their basketball schedule tonight when they meet the Central Magnet Lady Tigers.  The matchup features two undefeated basketball teams and two of the top teams in District 8-AA.  Central Magnet is 11-0 and bring back a veteran group that have won 20 plus games the last two consecutive seasons.  Among the 11 wins, Central beat Riverdale by one and this past Monday night beat Upperman by two.  Cannon has been able to collect wins against Cookeville, Coffee County and Warren County en route to a 6-0 mark.  While Central has played 2 games in the last three days, this will be the first game since the Lionettes participated in the Mitch Wilson Classic last Saturday.   The Central boys basketball team is showing signs of another long year.  The Murfreesboro team is just 2 and 8 this year.  Central Magnet won just two games all year long last season.  The Lions come into the game 4-2.  After losing a heartbreaker to East Nashville, the Lions rebounded with a win against Middle Tennessee Christian School in the second night of the Mitch Wilson Classic.  Central Magnet is 0-1 in district play after getting beat by Upperman 68-36
Tonight’s contest starts at 6:00 in Murfreesboro.  WBRY will have the coverage of the game beginning at 5:50 with Coaches Corner.  You can also hear the game streaming live online at wbry.com and through WBRY on smartphones and tablets by using the TuneIn Radio app
 

Holiday Fun comes to The Arts Center of Cannon County as they present HONKY TONK ANGELS Holiday Spectacular December 5-14 This holiday sequel to the hugely popular show, The Honky Tonk Angels continues the comic escapades of three good ole country gals as they re-unite for a Christmas show like none other at “The Hillbilly Heaven Club” in Nashville. There are many surprising twists and turns in this musical comedy revue, including a gospel soul sister who also happens to be a psychic manicurist. Songs include a Motown Christmas medley, country classics like Coat of Many Colors by Dolly Parton and comedy hits such as Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer. Directed by Matt Smith, this show features Arts Center favorites Mary Ellen Smith, Stephanie Sarsfield, Anna Flatt, and Jessica Hunter. Performance dates are Dec. 5, 6, 7, 12, 13, & 14. Tickets are $30 per person and include dinner, drink, dessert and the show.
The Honky Tonk Angels Holiday Spectacular is sponsored by Smith Funeral Home.
Performances: For Friday and Saturday performances, dinner starts at 6:30PM with the show beginning at 7:30pm. For Sunday performances, dinner starts at 1:00PM and the show begins at 2:00PM. To make reservations call 615-563-2787 or online at artscenterofcc.com.

The Woodbury Lions Club Annual Tour of Homes is part of Lions Club Day Saturday and will take place throughout Woodbury and Cannon County.  People interested in the tour can purchase tickets Saturday morning at the Lions Club Pancake Breakfast that takes place at the Woodbury Lions Club Building from 7A-10A.  If you don’t make it to the breakfast,  you can purchase tickets beginning at 3:30 in the afternoon at the Cannon County University of Tennessee Extension Office on Lehman Street. Normally you can purchase them at the Woodbury Lions Club building.  However the building has been reserved for a private function Saturday afternoon and evening.  On the Tour Of Homes schedule for this year will be Jeanne Melton’s home on Hollis Creek Road.  Krista Trails residence on Ivy Bluff Road and the Beaverdam House on Houston Lane are three of the featured houses on this year’s tour.  The Rustic Elegance Event Center on Doolittle, as well as the Oscar’s Speed Shop on East Main is on the tour.  The tour also features stops at the Ivy Bluff Methodist Church and the Adams Memorial Library.  Tickets are $7.00.  Saturday gets started with the Lions Club Pancake Breakfast from 7-10A and the annual Christmas Parade which starts at noon in Woodbury.  WBRY AM-1540/FM96.7 will have live coverage of the parade.  The parade will also be streamed online at wbry.com and through WBRY by the Tune In Radio app on your smart phones and tablets.

Some people don’t take it too well when told that their music is too loud.  Especially if there’s alcohol involved.  A Cannon County woman found that out the hard way after telling her son to turn his stereo down recently.  According to Cannon County Sheriff’s Department reports, Deputy Randy Wildes and Deputy Doc Smith were dispatched to a Hopewell Road residence for a domestic disturbance.  When deputies turned on the Road they passed Mr. Nathan I. Mann who was walking down the road with a dog.  Mann told deputies that he got into an argument with his mother and was told he had to leave.  After bringing Mann back to the residence, they talked with his mother Ms. Sally Connell.  She told deputies that she went to her son’s room to tell him to turn his stereo down, he refused.  She stated that she unplugged it but that didn’t last for long as he plugged it back in and turned it up even louder.  Ms. Connell then took the stereo out of his room.  Mann then came out of the room and struck at her and then pushed her.  Then Mann headed for the kitchen and slammed a glass lid on the counter until it broke and started punching holes in the kitchen and dining room walls.  After all that he then threatened Ms. Connell.  Deputies noticed an odor of alcohol coming from Mann and even though he stated that he wasn’t drunk and hadn’t drank that much at all, he was having trouble understanding what the deputies were telling him.  Mann was charged with public intoxication and domestic violence for attempting to strike his mother.

The Cannon County Commissioners will meet for their monthly meeting Thursday at 5:00 in the courtroom of the Cannon County Courthouse.  Items on the agenda include Commissioner Todd Hollandsworth will address the commission, Approve a resolution for a $50,000 loan for the Cannon County Sheriff’s Department for necessary computer software.  Approve a resolution for a $52,500 loan for Ambulance Service.  Budget Amendments for County General Budget.  Approve the changing of the name of a bridge on Highway 53 from Connell Creek Bridge to Gribble Morris Bridge.
 

Former Cannon County Basketball standout Emily Sissom was announced earlier today as a nominee for the 2015 Allstate WBCA Good Works Team®..  Sissom currently plays basketball at Union University in Jackson Tennessee For the third year, Allstate and the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) are recognizing a select group of women’s college basketball student-athletes who stand out for their charitable achievements and community involvement. The players nominated for this prestigious honor are committed to enriching the lives of others while contributing to the greater good of their communities.
Sissom boasts an impressive resume of community service accomplishments, which include:
Volunteering at the Hub Club, an inner city ministry that is a part of the local Area Relief Ministries
Leading her teammates in the annual Campus and Community day at Union which send out hundreds of students and teams into the community to serve schools, ministries, widows, etc. with many different needs
Contributing to the Carl Perkins Child Abuse Center’s Christmas with the Kids event
From this year’s list of 93 nominees, a final roster of 10 award recipients – comprised of five players from the Division I level and five players from Divisions II, III and the NAIA – will be announced in February.