News 2015

Consistency is the key to any basketball team’s season success.  The Cannon County Lions are struggling with consistency and it showed Tuesday night as they lost to the Pickett County Bobcats 63-50 in the second round of the Sonic Shootout in Sparta Tennessee at White County High School.  After a great opening game Monday night which resulted in a 14 point win, the Lions turned around and couldn’t repeat the shooting performance that netted them their sixth victory of the season.  It was Pickett County who shot well from the floor as they led from start to finish in the game.  Three players scored in double figures Briar Jakes and Austin Martin scored 15 each while Austin Duggin finished with 11.  The loss puts the Lions in the consolation game Wednesday starting at 5:00.

The Cannon County Lionettes might have lost to Warren County Tuesday morning in the second round of the 8th Annual Sonic Shootout at White County High School in Sparta Tennessee but they have good reason to be confident that the next time they see the team from McMinnville that they can get a win against their border rival.  After losing 40-28 at Warren County before Thanksgiving earlier this year without Autumn King in the lineup, King was in the starting five for the second contest between the two teams however missing from the roster was leading scorer Kelli Davis who suffered a hand injury in Monday’s game and Hayley Mooneyham a senior post player who normally gives solid minutes when in a game.  Mooneyham was ailing from a respiratory infection.  Even with the two players out of Tuesday’s game, Cannon kept pace with Warren in the first quarter as the teams traded the lead six times during the first period.  Warren held a two point lead 17-15 at the end of the quarter.  A second quarter collapse by the Lionettes would end up costing them the chance to tie the series at a game apiece when the Lady Pioneers exploded on a 17-0 run.  Free throws was another factor not only in the second quarter but in the entire game as the Lionettes hit 14 out of 24 attempts.  Lady Pioneers guard Saydee Winfree got in a zone hitting two consecutive three point shots to start the run.  Lionettes fell behind by as many as 17 before making a run of their own in the fourth quarter.  Maleah Scott was the catalyst in the comeback creating Lady Pioneer turnovers and turning them into points on the offensive end.  Cannon pulled as close as five before Warren closed things out.  Warren County advanced to the fifth place game with a 61-49 win over the Lionettes. Scott finished with a game high 16 points, Autumn King added 14, T Cannon will play in the 7th place game Wednesday morning at 9:30 at White County High School.

Dog’s name is Griffen went missing three days ago. He’s a brindle pitbull with a white chest and white feet and a little white chin. He was last seen by B Tenpenny Rd and L Witty Rd in Woodbury. He’s microchipped, about 65 lbs, has a black collar on with white paw prints on it, he’s is also neutered. Call  Madison Dryden at 818.391.0272 or Kurtis Dryden  at 818.405.2246.

More mailbox vandalism occurred recently in Cannon County.  One incident happened on Parchcorn Hollow Road residence.  A deputy was sent to the scene and met the father of the victim who had replaced the mailbox and just wanted to file a report about the issue.  The second incident of mailbox vandalism happened at a Harmony Lane residence.  When the deputy got to the scene the owner was getting the new mail box ready to install.  The old mailbox was laying on the ground damaged.  The owner stated that this was the 4th mailbox she has had to replace.  Sheriff’s Department is investigating.  

The Cannon County Board of Commissioners will meet in a special session Tuesday January 5th at 5:00 in the courtroom of the Cannon County Courthouse.  Only item on the agenda to be discussed and voted on concerns resolution 2016-1 which is a resolution approving a referendum to add a one cent increase to sales tax.    

Children in court custody who have lived with abuse and neglect lack the confidence, understanding and words to express heir needs and wishes to the court.  Court Appointed Special Advocate volunteers also known as CASA are the child’s independent voice in court.  Conservatively it is estimated that 1 in 4 girls and 1 in 6 boys are victims of abuse. CASA of the Upper Cumberland’s has an ambitious goal–a qualified court appointed advocate available for every victim in the counties they serve.  
CASA conducts volunteer trainings three times a year.  A candidate 21 or older will have a interview scheduled.  References will be contacted and a background check is done.
Approximately 30 hours of training will prepare trainees for advocacy.  Among the topics covered are abuse and neglect past and present.  Investigation guidelines and reports to the court and Case Studies.  After completing course work, the trainee is sworn-in by the judge of juvenile court.  The new CASA advocate then has the court’s authority to speak with, and request information from, anyone who has information about the child’s circumstances.  
The CASA Volunteer Coordinator will match the new advocate to an available case and will provide any support needed as the volunteer advocate gains confidence.  The need for advocates are urgent.  To submit an application go to the website www.uchracasa4children.com or leave a message at 931-520-9540 or email dones @uchra.com
 

A Tennessee agency is looking for information from victims of crime in an effort to better meet their needs. The state has created an online survey that officials hope crime victims will respond to. The website address is: www.TNsurvivorsurvey.org, and the survey will be available until February 1, 2016.   “People who have been victims of crime have a range of service needs, from emotional or psychological recovery to more tangible needs as well as assistance in navigating the justice system,” Office of Criminal Justice Programs (OCJP) Director Bill Scollon said. “Improving services for crime victims starts with identifying unmet needs so that services can be developed to better meet these types of needs and to make sure people are aware of and have access to them.”
The OCJP, part of the Department of Finance and Administration, created the survey specifically to identify any needs for service expansion and/or outreach to underserved victims. The survey is part of a larger strategic planning process, which has included victim service providers, law enforcement, prosecution, judges, and other community partners.
Once needs and gaps are identified, OCJP can consider how funding could positively impact the response to victims of crime in communities throughout Tennessee.
 

While it was downpouring rain outside of Roy Sewell Gymnasium in Sparta Tennessee, the Cannon County Lions made sure it was downpouring three pointers inside the gym during their first round matchup against the Chattanooga Howard Hustlin Tigers Monday afternoon, in the 8th annual Sonic Shootout at White County High School.  Of the 13 points scored in the first quarter by the entire Lion basketball team, 11 of those belonged to Austin Duggin who had a career day for the Lions scoring a game high 26 points.  Duggin picked up the scoring slack left by freshman guard Charlie Parrish who was out of action after an appendectomy performed on Christmas Eve.  Austin Martin provided a little thunder on the inside owning the post blocking a total of 8 shots and scoring 20 points as well as Cannon County defeated Chattanooga Howard 67-53.  Duggin connected on his first five consecutive attempts and finished the first half with 8-12 and 20 points.  Brandon Miles and Briar Jakes each scored 7.  Anton Knox turned in four points and Trey Fann connected for two points as Cannon County advances to the winners bracket and the semifinals of the tournament.  The team will now meet Pickett County Tuesday who beat Warren County 72-56.  Tipoff slated to begin Tuesday evening at 5:00 at White County High School in Sparta. The Cannon County Lionettes worked hard right before Christmas to win the Clinton Tournament Championship and even their record at 7-7 gaining some much needed confidence as they get focused and ready for the second half of the season.  Monday afternoon however their first opponent Lebanon Lady Blue Devils were trying to accomplish the same goal after going 7-6 before Monday’s 8th Annual Sonic Shootout in Sparta at White County High School.  Size made the difference of the game between the two teams as Lebanon boasted 4 post players all used in their playing rotation from 6 foot to 6’3″.  The Lionettes didn’t have an answer to the size and lost 71-37 to Lebanon.  Kelli Davis scored a team high 17 in the loss while Tori Knox added 11.  Cannon will now start off the second day of the Shootout bright and early at 9:30 Tuesday morning as they get a rematch from an early season contest when they face Warren County who lost only by four to Clarkrange.  
Both games will be broadcast live on AM-1540/FM 107.9 WBRY streaming live on wbry.com and through WBRY by using the smart phones and tablets with the Tune In Radio app.

Holiday Basketball Classics are apt to change at any moment.  Such is the case for this weeks Sonic Shootout at Sparta High School in Sparta, a tournament that the Cannon County Lions and Lionettes are set to participate in starting today.  The Cannon County Lionettes will play in the third game of the tournament today with the tipoff at 12:30 this afternoon, while the Cannon County boys team will see action on the court of Sparta High School this afternoon at 2:00.  The games will be broadcast live on internet only through the website www.readyontheradio.com  The games will be replayed schedule permitting on Tuesday AM-1540/FM107.9. You can also hear the games live streaming on wbry.com and through WBRY by using the TUNE IN radio app.  

County unemployment rates for November 2015, released last week, show the rates decreased in 12 counties, increased in 59, and remained the same in 24 counties Cannon County’s unemployment rate for the month of November is 5.4%.  Out of an estimated workforce of 6030 people, 5710 people were employed while 320 were unemployed. Several surrounding counties showed a slight decrease in their unemployment figures.  Warren County with the most significant as theirs dropped fourth-tenths of a percentage point to 4.3 while Wilson stayed the same at 4.4 percent.  Rutherford was at 4.2 percent.  Dekalb is at 6.7 percent. and Coffee showed a 5.2 percent unemployment rate
Tennessee’s preliminary unemployment rate for November was 5.6 percent, unchanged from the previous month. The U.S. preliminary rate for November was 5 percent, also unchanged from October.