State Troopers, Cannon County Sheriff Department Personnel, Members of the Woodbury Police Department and Warren County Sheriff’s Department, American Legion Post 279, State Representative Mark Pody, State Senator Mae Beavers and members of the Darby Prater family all gathered Saturday afternoon for the unveiling of the naming of the stretch of the four lane highway between Woodbury and the Warren County Line as the Ira Darby Prater Memorial Highway. Mr. Prater was a Cannon County Sheriff’s Deputy who in January 1996 was killed while on duty in icy conditions. Representative Pody mentioned in his comments that it’s almost the 20th anniversary of the incident. Cannon County Commissioner Glenn Steakley gave a small speech at the ceremony as did Cannon County Sheriff Darryl Young who worked with Mr. Prater when Prater was a member of the Sheriff’s Department and Young was with the Woodbury Police Department. Darby’s brother Shane Prater who is currently working with the Smyrna Police Department thanked all those that had a hand in the naming of the highway in honor of his brother. The Cannon County Boy Scout Troop presented the colors at the ceremony.
