Fall Sports Section Check out the line-ups for 2016 at CCHS See Pages 13-20 Home of KELLY BEASLEY 132rd YEAR - NO. 7 Tuesday, August 23, 2016 TWO SECTIONS - 75¢ PER COPY Scoreboard ready to light up MIKE WEST photos Cannon County High School’s new scoreboard is now in place at Fred Schwartz fi eld just in time for the opening of football season. It replaces a scoreboard that was damaged by lightning. Workers from Middle Tennessee Electric removed the old scoreboard and replaced it with a new one ready for action at CCHS Lion’s season opener. Roaring down the rails Sissom brothers kept em sizzling Plans fi nalized for new health offi ce Plans were unveiled for conference room and offi c- the new Cannon County es, along with space for an Health Department build- additional clerk. ing during celebration for “The layout will be so National Health Center much bett er,” Fox said. Week. “Our current building is The new structure will be divided up in a way it’s built on property adjoining just not functional.” Saint Thomas Stones River Cannon County is part Hospital with construction of the Upper Cumberland scheduled to begin next Primary Care Project that Railroads carried the Ed, Barney and Morgan Sissom brothers across much of the country during their 100+ spring with a fall comple- provides services for more years of service. tion date. than 25,000 people. “It will have much more “We are currently 130 For most Americans growing up back into his train, when a switch- to the supply area, gave him a new usable space,” said An- percent of our goals,” in the 19th and 20th century, the man didn’t properly set the switch pair of work boots, and put him to drea Fox, Cannon County she said, and the addi- railroad was a symbol of adventure (a short length of movable rail that work immediately. Eighteen hours Health Director. “The fl oor tion will help even more and travel, but for 3 boys from the can be turned to allow trains to later he returned home to Wood- plan is so much bett er.” in reduction of unneces- same family in Cannon County, it turn off into another track). He still bury, slept an hour and got up and The new health depart- sary hospitalizations and became a way of life. Morgan Sis- has a scar on his forehead from the began another day of work. ment will feature fi ve clin- unnecessary visits to the som, Barney Sissom, and Edward accident. Morgan loved living in Despite the long, hard physical ic rooms, a large lab, two emergency room all white Sissom all retired from railroad jobs Virginia and enjoyed the beautiful work, he helped his brother, Bar- dental treatment rooms, See HEALTH, Page 9 with a collective total of 100+ years mountains that he was able to see ney, get a job there a few months of service. on his routes, but when he retired later. In those days, before Inter- Morgan Began his career in 1968 he moved back with his family to state 24, and the four-lane High- in Melvinville, MI as a brakeman, Tennessee in 2002. way to Murfreesboro, the drive to in the transportation department Ed’s career started in the spring Nashville and back was on two lane for Northfork Western. A few years 1974, fi rst with L&N, which through roads. They would carpool, Leav- later, He went to Roanoke, Virginia, mergers became CSX, when as a ing Woodbury early in the morning as an engineer for Northfork South- long distance truck driver, he de- and sometimes working as much as ern, where he “drove” the train cided to stop in Nashville and put 18 hours. from the terminal in Bluefi eld, VA in his application. A few weeks In those days, most of the work to Bristol, TN. later he received a lett er telling him of putt ing down wood ties and steel His biggest challenge was try- to come to Nashville to take a three rails, was done by sheer brute man- ing to stop the trains from hitt ing hour test. Another few weeks past, ual labor. As older workers retired, vehicles, whose drivers had decid- another lett er asked him to come Barney and Ed were able to “bid” ed they could ignore signals and take a physical. He fi nished the on job openings, in the “mainte- MIKE WEST photo run through train crossings ahead physical and was told to take the nance of way” department, which Left, Andrea Fox, health department director, and Am- of the train. Unfortunately, some- lett er to the H R Director. is responsible for track building ber Milligan discuss the building project with County times, he was not successful. Though he was not dressed to and maintenance. Executive Mike Gannon. Morgan did have another train work, the H R Director took him See SISSOM, Page 9 See Cannon Blast on Page 7 EARN CREDIT FOR WHAT YOU KNOW DESIGN YOUR OWN DEGREE Adult Degree ONLINE CLASSES Completion Program 0816-3168 / Middle Tennessee State University does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, MTSU.EDU/ADCP national origin, sex, or disability. See our full policy at www.mtsu.edu/titleix. PAGE 2 CANNON COURIER AUGUST 23 2016 CANNON COURIER OBITUARIES James C “Big Jim” Harris Mitchell Denney Douglas Lloyd Seabaugh James C. “Big Jim” Harris, age 84 of Nashville, passed Mr. Mitchell Lee “Mitch” Douglas Lloyd Seabaugh, age 76, passed away August away peacefully surrounded by his family on August 12, Denney, 28, of Woodbury 10 2016. He was a native of Advance Missouri and a 2016. He was born in Murfreesboro, the adored son of the passed away on August resident of Rutherford County. Douglas served in the late Howard and Gladys Williams Harris. After graduating 11, 2016. He was born in United States Navy and worked as the Director of Quality Lascassas High School, he joined the United States Air Nashville, TN on December Control with the U.S. Tobacco Company Force to see the world. 10, 1987. He was preceded in death by his father, John Douglas was preceded in death by his parents, Pyrtle A 20 year Air Force veteran, he proudly served his country Michael Denney and a and Ruth Masters Seabaugh; sisters Deloris Krauss, in occupied Germany and during the Korean and Vietnam brother, Joshua Denney. Annie Jenson and grandson, Dustin Dakota Birch. He wars. He later worked for the United States Postal Service, is survived by his wife, Marie LaFever Seabaugh; sons, retiring in 1992 after 20 years of service. He is survived by his Douglas (Finny) Seabaugh II, Brent Seabaugh. Step-on mother, Janice K. Denney Jerry (Melody) Alexander; daughters Tammy Allen, Big Jim was passionate about many things; including his of Woodbury; brother, Tara (Eddie) Toombs, Tanya (Danny) Toombs; brothers politics, as a proud Yellow Dog Democrat, fi shing, eating John (Wendy) Denney of Pyrtle Seabaugh, George Seabaugh, Harold Seabaugh; fried green tomatoes, good practical jokes, and most Nashville; sister, Patricia sisters Mary Francis, Kay Thiele, Marlene Scott ; thirteen importantly, gett ing a “good deal”! He was truly one of a (Marc) Gonzalez of Kansas City, MO; nieces and nephew, grandchildren and six great-grandchildren. kind and will be missed by all who knew him. Morgan, Izabel and Vitt oria Denney and Matt hew Gonzalez; also by several aunts, uncles, and cousins. Visitation with the family will be 4:00-8:00 PM, Sunday, Survivors include his wife of 64 years, Margaret Shipp August 14, 2016 at Jennings and Ayers Funeral Home. Harris, daughters, Kathy Juarez and husband Fred of Mitch was a graduate of CCHS. He earned a black belt in Graveside service will be 2:00 PM, Tuesday, August Shertz , TX, Jamie Jones and husband John of Berea, the Bushido style of karate. He loved listening to music 16, 2016 at Stars and Stripes Veterans Cemetery in KY; a son, Keith Harris and wife Irma of Nashville; and playing his guitar. He also liked to watch movies. Bloomfi eld, Missouri. fi ve grandchildren, Danielle, Amy, Valerie, Katie, and Mitch had been helping to care for his mother since the Benjamin; fi ve great-grandchildren and sisters, Lorene death of his father last year. Arrangements are under the direction of Jennings and Givens of Nashville and Clara Arnold of Lascassas. A Ayers Funeral Home, 820 South Church St, Murfreesboro beloved son, Kevin Harris preceded him in death in 1988 Visitation with the family will be held at Smith Funeral TN 37130, 615-893-2422. Please leave online condolences while serving as a missionary in Brazil. Home on Wednesday, August 17, 2016 from 4-8 pm. at www.jenningsandayers.com The family will hold a private funeral later. In lieu of The family would be honored for you to join us to celebrate fl owers memorial donations may be made to the charity Cannon Courier, August 23. 2016 Big Jim’s life by sharing your special memories and stories. of your choice. Contact Smith Funeral Home to donate. Woodbury, Tennessee A visitation will be Wednesday night from 4:00 until 8:00 Condolences and memories may be shared at www. pm at Woodfi n Memorial Chapel. Funeral services will smithfuneralhomewoodbury.net Smith Funeral Home, be 11:00am Thursday at Woodfi n Memorial Chapel with 615-563-5337 ALL 400 PERMITS ISSUED AT Charles McKnight offi ciating. Burial with military honors DRAWING FOR will be in Roselawn Memorial Gardens. Cannon Courier, August 23 2016 Woodbury, Tennesee 2016-17 SANDHILL CRANE The family requests memorials be made to help Vietnam HUNTING SEASON veterans by giving to the Tennessee Fisher House Foundation, P.O.