News 2015

November 25-27—Thanksgiving BreakNovember 27-28—Mitch Wilson Classic—at CCHS
November 30—Progress Reports
December 3—Elementary basketball:  West Side at East Side, Short Mtn. at WGS, Auburn at Woodland
December 7—Cancer Tournament played at CCHS
December 10—Cancer Tournament played at CCHS
December 12—Cancer Tournament played at CCHS

If you asked the Cannon County Lions boys basketball team if they’d like a do-over of Thursday night’s game to Van Buren County, they would probably say yes.  Saturday the team participated in the Hall of Fame games and demonstrated on the floor why Thursday’s effort could be misleading.  Four players scored in double figures as Cannon beat Signal Mountain 80-66.  The Lions led by Charlie Parrish’s second quarter scoring surge opened a 48-32 lead by half.  Parrish finished with 15 while Briar Jakes added 10 Austin Martin had a team high 16 and Austin Duggin score 14.  Martin and Parrish continued to impress in the second game against Bledsoe County.  Austin dominated the boards collected another 16 points in the 69-42 win against the team from Pikeville.  Parrish finished with 10.  Cole George came off the bench to add 8 and Dale Thompson pulled down several rebounds in the closing period to help perserve the win.  The Lions are now 2-1 and both teams will travel next door to McMinnville Tuesday night for a set of games against Warren County.  Tip off will be at 6:00.
 

In just the first three games of the basketball season, the Cannon County Lionettes have experienced most scenairos that most teams take all season long to undergo.  First came the blowout loss to Van Buren County back on Thursday, then Saturday in Carthage the Lionettes experienced a heartbreaking loss and a blowout win.  The Lionettes played two games during the Hall of Fame games at Smith County Middle and High School.  In the opening game, the Lionettes fought back and forth with Signal Mountain.  Cannon had an opportunity to win the game in regulation before an uncontested layup at the buzzer sent the game in overtime tied at 57.  The Lady Eagles scored the first four points of the extra period and kept one step ahead of the Lionettes winning 67-62.  Kelli Davis scored a team high 27 points and Maleah Scott added 11.  In the second game, after racing out to a 15 point halftime lead over Bledsoe County, the Lionettes went to sleep in the third quarter and allowed the Lady Warriors to get back in the game.  In the fourth quarter however Davis put the team on her shoulders and guided the Lionettes to their first win of the season 60-46.  Freshman point guard Tori Knox added 12 points to go along with Davis’s game high 27.

A Morrison woman was arrested recently after she left the scene of an accident.  According to Cannon County Sheriff’s Department Reports, Sheriff’s deputies responded to a two vehicle accident.  After making contact with Ms. Amber Sanders, she stated that a silver mid size truck was traveling the opposite direction and side swiped her vehicle damaging the left side of the hood and the left mirror.  Ms Sanders stopped the vehicle being driven by a Ms Debra Walls.  Ms Walls had said to her that she didn’t want the law there and that she didn’t want a report.  Ms Sanders also advised that Ms Walls stated she had to get her husband to the hospital due to problems from a previous wreck.  Ms Walls left the scene and took her husband to St. Thomas Stones River Hospital where she was taken into custody for driving on revoked license and leaving the scene of an accident.  

Donny Green, County Executive Director of the DeKalb/Cannon County Farm Service Agency, announces that the 2015 FSA county committee elections are underway as ballots were mailed to eligible voters in Local Administrative Area (LAA) # 1 of DeKalb County and Local Administrative Area # 5 of Cannon County on November 9th.   In LAA # 1 (DeKalb Co.), Stephen (Steve) Officer and Randall West have been certified as eligible candidates. In LAA # 5 (Cannon Co.), Robert (Bob) Melton has been certified as an eligible candidate. One candidate will be elected to fill each of the LAA’s.
    “The FSA county committee system is unique among government agencies, because it allows producers to make important decisions concerning the local administration of federal farm programs,” said Green.  “I urge all eligible farmers and ranchers, especially minorities and women, to get involved and make a real difference in their communities by voting in this year’s elections.”
Committee members apply their knowledge and judgment to make decisions on disaster and conservation payments, establishment of allotments and yields, producer appeals, employing FSA county executive directors and other local issues.  FSA committees operate within official regulations designed to carry out federal laws.
 
To be an eligible voter, farmers and ranchers must participate or cooperate in FSA programs.  A person who is not of legal voting age, but supervises and conducts the farming operations of an entire farm, can also vote.  Agricultural producers in each country submitted candidate names during the nomination period held last summer.  
 Eligible voters in DeKalb County LAA # 1 or Cannon County LAA # 5 who did not receive a ballot can obtain a ballot at their local USDA Service Center.  December 7, 2015 is the last day for voters to submit ballots in person to local USDA Service Centers.  Ballots returned by mail must be postmarked no later than December 7, 2015.  Newly elected committee members and alternates take office January 1st, 2016.

Motlow College will be closed in observance of the Thanksgiving holiday from Thursday, Nov. 26, through Sunday, Nov. 29, according to college officials. The closing applies to computer labs, libraries and other facilities at all Motlow College campuses, including the Moore County campus and the Fayetteville, McMinnville and Smyrna centers.
There will be no classes on Wednesday, Nov. 25, although Motlow facilities will remain open. Classes scheduled for Thursday, Nov. 26 through Saturday, Nov. 28 will also not be meeting.
All classes will resume their normal schedules, and all campuses their normal hours, on Monday, Nov. 30.

Brandon “Pete” Geesling, a wildlife officer for the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency in Warren County, was one of five veteran state employees recognized during a Veterans Day observance event held recently at the Tennessee Tower Plaza.          Previously, Geesling served as a sergeant in the U.S. Marine Corps. He was a combat engineer which included a deployment to support Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Gov. Bill Haslam and his wife, Crissy, joined officials from the Department of Veterans Affairs and the Tennessee Military to honor Tennessee’s veterans working in state government. Officials from each of the agencies with honorees had representatives introduce the recipient. TWRA Executive Director Ed Carter introduced Geesling for his presentation.
Geesling has worked for TWRA for eight years and has been selected as Officer of the Year in District 31. Recently, his investigative efforts led to the prosecution of several individuals involved in one of the largest deer poaching rings in the state. The case resulted in close to 130 charges. Most recently, Geesling traveled to South Carolina to work with emergency agencies involved in rescue efforts in the aftermath of Hurricane Joaquin.
The TWRA recipient was recognized with four other veteran employees representing the departments of Human Resources, Environment and Conservation, Tennessee Higher Education Commission, and Finance and Administration.
 

MTSU jazz students, faculty and alumni will be joined by special Nashville guests to jazz up a classic for the holiday season, performing “The Jazz Nutcracker” on Monday, Nov. 23, as part of the 2015-16 MTSU Jazz Artist Series.The performance, which will feature the Tennessee Jazz Collective, is set for 7:30 p.m. Nov. 23 in Hinton Hall in the university’s Wright Music Building.
Tickets are $10 for the public. Admission is free for MTSU students, faculty and staff with a valid ID, and discounts for area music students and educators also are available.
A searchable campus parking map is available at http://tinyurl.com/MTSUParking2015-16.
Russian composer Peter Ilich Tchaikovsky created “The Nutcracker Suite” for ballet in 1891. Jazz greats Duke Ellington and Billy Strayhorn worked it into a nine-movement jazz orchestra piece in 1960, creating an instant and treasured classic.
“This familiar holiday suite will come alive with a jazz orchestra comprising MTSU jazz faculty members, alumni, students and area jazz musicians, including Josh Harner, Mike Parkinson and Jim Williamson on trumpet, Roy Agee and Josh Scalf on trombone and Matt Davich on lead alto/clarinet,” said Jamey Simmons, director of jazz studies in MTSU’s School of Music.
Jazz radio personality Austin Bealmear, whose syndicated program, “Jazz on the Side,” airs locally each Sunday on WMOT-FM 89.5, will serve as master of ceremonies for the evening.
Concertgoers can reserve advance tickets by calling 615-898-2724 or emailing Simmons at james.simmons@mtsu.edu. Tickets also can be purchased at the door.
Now in its 17th season, the MTSU Jazz Artist Series brings internationally renowned jazz artists to campus for performances and educational workshops. Past guest artists have included some of the most important musicians and educators in jazz history.
The series’ 2016 performances include the MTSU jazz faculty’s “The Music of Wayne Shorter” Feb. 18 and a visit from saxophonist Steve Wilson March 19 as part of the daylong MTSU Illinois Jacquet Jazz Festival.
Both are scheduled for 7:30 p.m. in Hinton Hall.
For more information about MTSU’s Jazz Artist Series, visit www.mtsu.edu/music/jazzseries.php. For details on more MTSU School of Music performances, call 615-898-2493 or visit the School of Music’s Concert Calendar online.

The Cannon County Lions and Lionettes basketball teams will get an opportunity to come out of Saturday’s games with a chance to win two games each and end the weekend with a winning record.  After dropping two difficult games to Van Buren County at Robert Harris Gymnasium the Woodbury teams will focus their attention to Smith County High School when they meet another Eagle team in Signal Mountain located near Chattanooga.  The two schools met in 2014 when the Cannon County Lions traveled to meet Signal Mountain in a region tournament first round contest.  Game time is set to tip off at 3:00.  The day won’t be over after that set of games as the next set of games for the teams moves to Smith County Middle School for the second set of contests against the Bledsoe County Warriors.   WBRY AM-1540 FM 107.9 will have the live broadcasts of all the games tonight  You can also hear the games live on our website wbry.com and through the smart phones and tablets through WBRY by using the Tune In Radio App.

Merchants of the town of Woodbury will be ushering in the holiday shopping season this weekend as the 25th annual Cannon County Country Christmas starts today.  Stores that are participating in the event will be open special hours until 9:00 this evening.  Iron Pig Antiques has announced they will be giving away a gift to the first 25 people who come by the store starting at 4 this afternoon.  Briar Rose Flowers and Gifts also has announced that they will be bringing in a special guest tonight.  All participating merchants will be offering consumers door prizes, and freshly prepared refreshments. throughout the evening.  Santa Claus will be in attendance starting at 5 this evening and there will photo opportunities available.  Wagon rides around the square and Christmas music will be played directly from the courthouse to keep the atmosphere festive for the season.   WBRY-AM-1540/FM 107.9 will be broadcasting interviews from some of the merchants taking part in tonight’s event mixed in with Christmas music during the Cannon County Country Christmas Radio Special.  This will air between 5-7 this evening and repeat from 7-9.