Home of LORI TATAKIS 128th YEAR - NO. 4 WEDNESDAY, MAY 23, 2012 TWO SECTIONS - 50¢ PER COPY Senior Awards Over 125 to handed out at graduate from Cannon Co. High CCHS Friday See pictures and See pictures, pages 16-17 stories, page 14 Drug dealers’ land now public’s property KEVIN HALPERN Morris Roller and Jeffory Carl including hunting and wildlife Pea Ridge Wildlife Management Two more new wildlife areas Courier Co-Editor Young, who were convicted of viewing. Area, off of Troy Cripps Road, are along Gunter Hollow Road. Nearly 1,000 acres of land in drug manufacturing and Additional uses still under and will be incorporated into that One has 196 acres, and the other Cannon County once owned by distribution charges in 2007. Both consideration include hiking and existing WMA. 64 acres. convicted drug dealers will soon are currently serving time in a horseback riding. A smaller area near the Cannon- Following years of negotiations, become public use areas. federal prison. A ceremony to unveil the new DeKalb County line encompasses the federal government gifted the The land, comprised of over The new public use areas will wildlife management areas will 51.52 acres off Pea Ridge Rd. land to the State of Tennessee. four separate areas of property, is be managed by the Tennessee be held at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, The second largest wilderness The deal was finalized in April. located on Short Mountain and Wildlife Resources Agency and June 13. area runs mostly along the south The land gift from the federal was forfeited to the federal will initially be available for a The largest area, approximately side of Stones River Road and government during the trial of variety of public activities, 400 acres, is west of the current contains approximately 266 acres. See LAND, page 9 Good Ole Days rock the Square TONY STINNETT photo Lindsey Reed, left, and Frannie Jenkins will graduate at the Top of the Class when Cannon County High School holds commencement exercises Friday at 7 p.m. Reed is Valedictorian and Jenkins is Salutatorian. Students of the Cannon Arts Dance Studio perform on the Main Stage during Good Ole Days Saturday (May 19). Several acts filled the stages and provided entertainment during the Top of the Class 2012 two-day festival in Woodbury. Event features something for all Reed, Jenkins earn highest CCHS honors TONY STINNETT great deal of time preparing for Courier Co-Editor her opportunity to compete in the TONY STINNETT Valedictorian," Reed said. "I was hoping to be in the Whether it is music, pageants, Miss Teen Pageant Friday. Courier Co-Editor Top 10, but I never dreamed I would be that high. I parades, food or just reminiscing “It’s fun and the pageants are Lindsey Reed and Frannie Jenkins did not aspire did not set out to be Valedictorian. I just tried to do with friends, Cannon County's always a big deal,” she said. to become the top graduates of their senior class what my mom (Greta Reed) instilled in me. Mom is annual Good Ole Days has See EVENT, page 9 when they began their high school experience. a teacher so she had an influence. I had to do well something for everyone. Doing what their mothers instilled in them landed and I wanted to do well. I don't like to get bad Hundreds of folks flocked to Reed and Jenkins at the top of their class when grades." the historic downtown square in Cannon County holds commencement exercises for Jenkins' also gained motivation from her mother Woodbury to enjoy the current the Class of 2012 at Schwartz Field Friday at 7 p.m. (Christy Jenkins). version of the Good Ole Days last Reed will graduate as Cannon County's "I really never tried to be Valedictorian or Friday and Saturday. The festival Valedictorian, and Jenkins will be Salutatorian as Salutatorian or anything like that," Jenkins said. "I has endured changes through the they close one chapter of their life and begin wanted to keep my grades high because I knew that years but the current two-day another. The Class of 2012 includes 135 graduates. was important. It just seemed like doing well at format at least whets the appetite Reed, who also starred for the Lionettes on the school and doing homework is what you were of those who look forward to it hardwood, is just the third Cannon County supposed to do. My mother put a great emphasis on throughout the year. basketball player to achieve status of Valedictorian. doing well in school. I wanted to make her proud." "Good Ole Days used to be four She said she was shocked when her name was called Reed, who was second in her eighth-grade class at days, then they moved it off the over the school's intercom system when the Top 20 East Side, already has been accepted into Tennessee Square and it was not the same," students were announced. Colin Jones said. "They brought it "I was shocked when they called my name as See CLASS, page 9 back to the Square and made it a two-day event. More people seem to come when it is on the Square County’s bank balance shows $1M swing like it is now." Some people like Good Ole KEVIN HALPERN bank balance of $153,645. That year runs from July 1 to June 30 of Days for the food. Courier Co-Editor has been the low point for the next year. “You can get some of the best As is the case with every person FY2011-2012. At the beginning of June 2011 food here,” said Charlie Parrish. or business, the amount of money The county began the month of the county had a General Fund “I just like coming to see people Cannon County has in the bank April with $1,292,021 in the bank, balance of $1,055,876. By July 1 of and listen to the music. It's pretty changes constantly. an increase of more than $1 in six last year it had dropped to good this year." TONY STINNETT photos During the current fiscal year, months. $756,308. Bands, dancers, cloggers, Funnel cakes are always a big musicians and others filled the for example, there has been a The major reason for the large On Aug. 1 the balance was hit during Good Ole Days swing of over $1 million in the swing is the times of the year $280,796, Sept. 1 - $219,959, Oct. 1 stages throughout the weekend to and Amber Hunt enjoyed county’s General Fund bank people pay their property taxes, - $182,475, Nov. 1 - $153,645 and provide entertainment. Pageants account balance. which is mostly during the first Dec. 1 - $177,534. are always a big draw and this one of the festival's top sweet Last November the General six months of the calendar year. year was no different. treats during Saturday's Fund began the month with a However, the county’s fiscal See BANK, page 9 Laura Beth Nichols spent a festivities. INSIDE: Cannon Sports, Page 13 PAGE 2 CANNON COURIER MAY 23, 2012 CANNON OBITUARIES Deborah Bynum Perry Milton (Juicy) Parker S. Scott Solomon Deborah Janette Bynum Perry. 52, died Monday, May 7, Milton (Juicy) Parker, 84, died Saturday, May 12, 2012 at S. Scott Solomon, 94, died Sunday, May 13, 2012 at his 2012 at Middle Tennessee Medical Center. his Woodbury home. home in Woodbury. A resident of Murfreesboro, she was a Cannon County A Cannon County native, he member of the Church of Born in Hebron, IN, Mr. Solomon was a member of the native. Christ where he was baptized by his Uncle Charlie Powell Pleasant View Baptist Church, a veteran of the Army Mrs. Perry was a member of the 7th Day in 1943, He was a veteran of the Korean War serving in WWII and was a farmer. Adventist Church, a veteran of the Army, where he served in the Army in the Medical Survivors include his wife of 64 years, Ilene and was a retired Lab Tech at Alvin C. Corp. Mr. Parker was a farmer and retired Solomon of Woodbury; children, Sharon York Medical Center in Murfreesboro. from TDOT. Juicy was a fiddle player and May (Mike) McClean of Plymouth, IN., Survivors include her husband of 27 comedian where he played all across Duane (Linda) Solomon of Woodbury and years, Charley Perry of Murfreesboro; Middle Tennessee. Patricia (Tom) Klier of Woodbury; daughter and son-in-law, Stacie Perry and Yon Yoeun Survivors include his brother, Grover (Mary) Parker of grandchildren, Mary Ann Hickman, Chris Solomon, of Nashville; 2 grandchildren, Anya and Braylon Yoeun of Woodbury; nieces and nephews, Houston (Martha) Parker, McKenzie Solomon, Deana Allred, Jake Allred, Samantha Nashville; parents, Bobby and Betty Bedwell Bynum of Brenda (Teddy) Rains, Denton Parker, Lynn Parker and Solomon; great grandchildren, Katie and Tyler Hickman, Woodbury; siblings, Margie Mears of Murfreesboro, Kathy Thomas Parker all of Woodbury; Kenny Kirby of GA., Tristan and Amaya Solomon. Thompson, Randy, Ricky, David, Michael and Barry Beverly Moorman of VA., Dale Parker of Brentwood; great He was preceded in death by his parents, Charles and Bynum all of Woodbury; special aunt, Carol Petry of nephews and niece, Brad Parker, Macy Scott and Luke Harriet Lee Solomon; sons, Dennis and Steven Solomon Murfreesboro; sister-in-law, Dana Lynn Nipper; brothers- Parker. and granddaughter, Stephanie Solomon; seven brothers in-law, James and Gentry Perry; pets, Zeus and Leroy He was preceded in death by his parents, Thomas C.