News 2015

Guns, marijuana and drug paraphernalia were all discovered after a traffic stop conducted by County sherrif’s deputies recently.  According to Sheriff’s reports, deputies conducted a traffic stop on Centerhill Road on a white Cadillac car that had crossed the center yellow line several times.  The driver Jeannie White stated they were coming home from Gatlinburg and had been driving for a long time.  While running the drivers license through dispatch, the passenger Don Alan Brown was speaking to a deputy and the deputy noticed a gun in the floor.  Mr. Brown was asked about the weapon and he advised that there were two others in the vehicle.  Mr Brown was asked to exit the vehicle and upon his exiting there was an odor of Marijuana coming from the passenger compartment.  Mr. Brown admitted there were narcotics in the car.  Inside the passenger door, deputies found a cigarette pack with 2 half smoke marijuana cigarettes in it.  Inside the glove box there was a Ziploc bag with a piece of paper with marijuana inside along with three packs of rolling papers.  In the floor of th passenger side there was a Ruger.45 long colt inside of a zipped bag.  In the back seat there was a 9mm Hi-Point and in the trunk a Taurus .38 special.  On Mr. Brown’s person was 6 .45 long colt bullets along with a loaded 9mm Hi-Point magazine with 7 rounds.  The Ruger and Taurus were purchased by Mr Brown with his debit card but were registered to White.  After speaking with Ms White at the Sheriff’s Office she was advised that the weapons were being seized an the process to file a hearing with the Department of Safety.  Mr. Brown was arrested for Simple Possession of Marijuana and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.  He will answer to the charges May 5th in Cannon County General Sessions Court.  

An MTSU alumnus who flew into World War II and Cold War aviation history will discuss his adventures in a free public lecture on campus Thursday, April 2. Retired U.S. Air Force Col. William J. “Greg” Gregory is set to speak at 5:30 p.m. April 2 on “Leading and Living in Turbulent Times: The Cuban Missile Crisis, Vietnam, and the Development of Aviation.”
His talk is set in Room 204 of MTSU’s Todd Hall, and a free public reception will follow. Gregory flew his first airplane as an MTSU student in 1940 and went on to fly missions over North Africa and Europe in the U.S. Army Air Corps during World War II.
When the U.S. Air Force was created, he served as the commander of the high-altitude reconnaissance U-2 squadron, which first identified the Soviet arms build-up during the Cuban Missile Crisis in 1962 and the mounting tensions in Vietnam.
The experiences gave him a unique and personal perspective on leading and living in the turbulent decades of the 1960s and 1970s.
Gregory served for more than 30 years in the U.S. Air Force as a commander and pilot. He did not earn his degree from MTSU because he left school as a junior to join the military, but he’s kept close ties to the university, even creating a scholarship for students from Trousdale and Macon counties.
He retired from active duty in 1975 and worked for 15 years as assistant director of workers’ compensation in the Texas attorney general’s office. Now, at age 93, Gregory is an avid cyclist and world traveler as well as a self-described “devoted grandfather.”
Gregory’s visit is part of the College of Liberal Arts Military Lecture Series. For more information, contact Connie Huddleston at connie.huddleston@mtsu.edu.
 

A member of the Tennessee Highway Patrol’s East Bureau Interdiction Plus team arrested two men on drug related charges in Coffee County last Friday, March 27.Driver Osman Mohamed, 40, of Kansas City, Kan., and passenger Sheikh Abdulqadir, 57, of Kansas City, Mo., were arrested and charged with possession of schedule IV drugs with intent to resale. They were transported to the Coffee County jail. 
While patrolling a stretch of Interstate 24 in Coffee County, Trooper Brent McCawley stopped a Toyota Corolla for littering near the 109 mile marker on the westbound side of the interstate. Upon initial contact, the investigating trooper immediately noticed nervous behavior from the occupants. They supposedly had been to Atlanta after visiting a friend.
After several suspicious indicators, Trooper McCawley requested and received consent to search the vehicle. Trooper McCawley and Trooper Gavin Sullivan, who responded to the scene to assist, then discovered five large boxes in the trunk of the vehicle. The driver stated that the boxes contained tea leaves.  However, after further investigation, the troopers found that the boxes were packed with “KHAT” – a plant-based drug containing hallucinogenic compounds. 
The total weight of the drugs was approximately 11 pounds.

April is Autism Awareness Month, and all four Motlow College campuses will host autism-related events on Thursday, April 2, in order to educate the public on autism. The Student Government Association, along with the offices of Disability Services, Student Services, and Student and Campus Relations; invite faculty, staff, administration, students, and the public to be active participants in the day’s events, which include walks, receptions and guest speakers. Literature on autism will be available and door prizes will be given away on all campuses.
“Motlow College has joined in the national celebration and awareness campaign spotlighting autism,” said Sheri Mason, assistant director for student services. “We invite each of you to join in the celebration by educating yourself and others, embracing differences, and committing to support your campus event.”
The Moore County campus activity will begin at 1:30 p.m. with an awareness walk starting at the Crouch Center. Walkers will circle the campus loop road and return to Crouch for a reception in the Crouch Center lobby.
The Fayetteville Center event will begin at 3 p.m. Following the walk, Ms. Julie Miller, representative of the local Autism Society and co-founder of Coldwater Autism Awareness Ministries, will speak. A reception, sponsored by Angie’s Catering, will follow and the Fayetteville campus library will feature displays on autism.
The McMinnville Center event begins at 12:30 p.m. After the walk, there will be a reception in the McMinnville Center lobby.
The Smyrna Center event will begin with a walk at 1 p.m., followed by door prizes. An information table will be available to the internal and external community.
This year marks the 50-year celebration of the Autism Society, the society that puts a face, a name, and hope to autism.
The Autism Society is the nation’s leading grassroots autism organization and exists to improve the lives of all affected by autism through increased public awareness about the day-to-day issues faced by people with autism spectrum disorders. Additionally, the society advocates for appropriate services for individuals across the lifespan, and provides the latest information regarding treatment, education, research and advocacy.
 

The Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC) is inviting Tennesseans to submit nominations for the Governor’s 2015 Environmental Stewardship Awards. The deadline to submit nominations is March 31. The awards, which recognize Tennesseans who go above and beyond to protect the state’s diverse environment, cover 10 categories: Building Green; Clean Air; Energy and Renewable Resources; Environmental Education and Outreach; Environmental Education and Outreach (school category); Land Use; Materials Management; Natural Heritage; Sustainable Performance and Lifetime Achievement.
Any individual, business, organization, educational institution or agency is eligible, provided they are located in Tennessee and projects were completed during the 2014 calendar year. All nominees must have a minimum of three consecutive years in overall environmental compliance with the Department of Environment and Conservation. Self-nominations are encouraged.
A panel of judges representing agricultural, conservation, forestry, environmental and academic professionals will select award recipients based on criteria including on-the-ground achievement, innovation and public education. The deadline for nominations is March 31, 2015. Award recipients will be announced in May 2015.
For more information about each category, judging criteria and nomination forms, visit TDEC’s website at http://www.tn.gov/environment/gov-awards.shtml.
 

The recent winter storms were hard on Tennessee’s landscape. Heavy ice brought down limbs and trees across the state. Brush pile burning is one of the best ways for landowners to clean up woody debris from the storms. The Tennessee Department of Agriculture Division of Forestry is reminding citizens that outdoor burning requires a permit through May 15.
If you are burning a leaf or brush pile that is smaller than 8 feet by 8 feet in size, log on to www.burnsafetn.org to secure a permit.
For a larger burn, apply for a permit by calling your local Division of Forestry burn permit phone number  is 931-635-2757 Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Once you have obtained a burn permit, remember these tips:
Develop a bare-soil perimeter around the fire.
    Notify neighbors and local fire departments in advance.
    Have a leaf rake and access to water for fire control.
    Be aware that wind can blow the fire in the wrong direction.
    Stay with the fire until it is extinguished. It is illegal to leave an open fire unattended.
In 2014, debris fires that got out of control were the leading cause of wildfires in Tennessee, burning 5,366 acres statewide.
Burning debris without a permit is a Class C misdemeanor punishable by a fine and jail time.
Arson was the second leading cause of wildfires last year but accounted for the most acreage damaged, with 7,800 acres burned. Wildland arson is a class C felony punishable by up to 15 years in prison and up to $10,000 in fines. Anyone with information about suspected arson activity should call the state Fire Marshal’s Arson Hotline toll-free at 1-800-762-3017.
 

Those Easter baskets are often filled with candy and colorful eggs. However, there is one type of gift you should avoid during the holiday—baby chicks and ducklings. Live poultry commonly carry Salmonella germs. When humans handle the birds, the bacteria can spread. Exposure to Salmonella commonly causes extreme abdominal upset. In severe cases, the illness can be fatal. According to the Centers for Disease Control, approximately 400 people die each year with acute salmonellosis.
Children, the elderly, and people with other health conditions are most susceptible to a severe reaction.
“Live poultry may have Salmonella germs in their droppings and on their bodies even when they appear healthy and clean,” Tennessee Department of Health Epidemiologist Tim Jones, MD said. “Those germs can also get on cages, coops, feed and water dishes and other items where the birds live and roam and can be found on the hands, shoes and clothing of people who handle the birds or work or play around them. We recommend families leave handling of live poultry to people trained in their appropriate care.”
This is the time of year when chicks and ducklings arrive at local feed and farm stores. The Tennessee Department of Agriculture and the Tennessee Department of Health aim to educate customers on the risks of handling poultry, as well as the long-term commitment required for proper animal care.
“We’re working with feed suppliers and businesses to ensure the safety of the animals and people who may come in contact with them,” State Veterinarian Dr. Charles Hatcher said. “Our goal is to support backyard flocks and youth poultry projects like the 4-H Chick Chain while also informing the consumer.”
Do not let children younger than five, elderly persons, or people with weak immune systems handle chicks, ducklings or other live poultry. If you do come into contact with a bird, wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water immediately after.

CANNON COUNTY ELECTION COMMISSION MEETING WHEN:          April 13th, 2015WHERE:        Cannon County CourthouseTIME:             5:30 PM
 Agenda:
 
1. Call to Order
2. Opening Prayer (Volunteer)
3. Pledge of Allegianceto theU.S. Flag
4.   Open the floor for nominations for the 2015-2017 Election Commission Chairman
5.   Open the floor for nominations for the 2015-2017 Election Commission Secretary
6.   Open the floor for nominations for the 2015-2017 Administrator of Elections
7.   Read and approve March 2015 Election Commission Meeting Minutes
8.  Adjourn
 
Next Meeting on: T.B.D.

The Cannon County Lions Baseball team will try to get their overall record one step closer to even when they travel to Murfreesboro today to play District powerhouse Central Magnet. The Lions are overall 3-5 and 2-2 in district play having split the series between themselves Smith County and York Institute.  Today’s game will start at 5:00 with the back to back home game against the Tigers tomorrow at the Dixie Youth Fields in Woodbury also at 5:00.  Central plays their home games at Sports Com.  WBRY will have the live broadcast of todays game on AM-1540/FM96.7 also streaming live on wbry.com and through WBRY on your smartphones and tablets using the TuneIn Radio App.  

County unemployment rates for February 2015, released today, show the rates decreased in 95 counties. In Cannon County out of an estimated 5,860 people 5,510 people were employed while 350 people were unemployed.  That brought the February unemployment rate to 6 percent which is one whole percentage point lower than the January rate of 7 percent.  Surrounding counties Coffee County went from 6.7 percent in January to 5.8 percent in February. Dekalb also decreased 8-tenths of a percentage point to 7.8 percent.  Rutherford has the lowest unemployment rate of all surrounding counties with 4.7 percent Warren is now at 6.4 percent while Wilson also dropped to 5.1 percent
Tennessee’s preliminary unemployment rate for February was 6.6 percent, one-tenth of one percentage point lower than the January revised rate of 6.7 percent. The U.S. preliminary rate for February was 5.5 percent, down two-tenths of one percentage point from the prior month.