Home of Bett y Johnson 132nd YEAR - NO. 45 Tuesday, May 23, 2017 TWO SECTIONS - 75¢ PER COPY MIKE WEST photos Good Ole Days drew a “thumbs up” from President Trump Friday, May 19 as the annual event kicked off featuring a ton of colorful booths and exhibits including the “Love Train” circling Woodbury’s Square. Please note the image of Trump and Pence was on the side of the famous Trump campaign bus which was sponsored by the Cannon County Republican Party. Special Graduation Ageless horsewoman section Eleanor Bell’s been making ‘The Ride’ Let the caps fl y and the celebration begin… to Short Mountain across 5 decades That’s right, it’s almost time for Cannon County KEN BECK of worked out to her advantage. High School’s Class of The Cannon Courier “He really belonged to my brother [Douglas], 2017 to graduate. but he was afraid of horses,” said the Woodbury In honor of the im- As a youngster growing up down on Hur- Central High School class of 1951 graduate. pending ceremonies, the ricane Creek, Eleanor Anna Nichols wanted a “I’d just always been around them, but I ac- Cannon Courier is fea- horse of her own more than anything. tually didn’t get into riding horses till my hus- turing a special gradu- Oh, she got to sit in the saddle behind her band, Forrest, died in 1976, and we had four ation section beginning schoolteacher and would pester her brother for horses. The kids was determined to go in The on Page 17 of today’s rides on his horse, but it wasn’t until halfway Ride, and I wouldn’t let ’em go unless I was with edition. through her 84 years that she fi nally began to them. I still ride with anybody that will let me Graduation ceremo- make up for lost ground. ride with ’em, mostly family,” said Bell, who nies are set for 7 p.m. Fri- Today, Eleanor Nichols Bell, a member of participated in her fi rst Ride to Short Mountain day, May 26 at the CCHS the Cannon County Walking Horse Association in the 1970s. football fi eld. Each se- (CCWHA), can’t wait to saddle up and once “Doug McCrary and my husband [one of the nior was allowed chairs more head for Short Mountain in the upcoming fi rst board members of the CCWHA after they for fi ve guests inside the Memorial Day Ride. purchased the land for the campground] rode football fi eld’s fence. Ad- The ageless horsewoman, who hangs her together a lot. My husband was buried on a ditional family members spurs on Pleasant Ridge, recollects she fi rst Saturday. On Sunday afternoon Doug came to will be able to sit in the jumped on the back of a horse when she was 5. my house. He didn’t say, ‘Do you want to ride?’ bleachers or bring their “My daddy’s sister, Rilla Frank Nichols, was He said, ‘Go to the barn and saddle your horse. own chair and sit any- the school teacher at Jones Chapel School. I rode We’re going riding.’ He was really the one who where outside the fence. to school behind her on her horse,” said Bell, encouraged me to ride.” No one will be al- who was born in Dodger Hollow to Doak Nich- Besides the Memorial Day and Labor Day lowed inside the fenced ols and Rena Mai Davenport Nichols. rides, Bells noted, “We’ll have a one-day remem- Eleanor Bell, an active equestrian at 84, hugs area without a ticket un- “I used to follow my dad in the garden. I brance ride in the spring and that’s when I wear her beloved horse, Commotion, 33, whom she til after the graduation would ask him to let me ride the mule while he ribbons with my sons’ [Jeff and Ricky] names on has raised since birth. The saddle partners have ceremony. was plowing. Sometimes he would let me, and it, and we have the Halloween Ride in October.” made “The Ride” from Woodbury to Short If it rains, graduation sometimes he’d send me to the house. He didn’t The Ride begins at the Woodbury fairgrounds Mountain on numerous Memorial Day and La- will be in the CCHS have no use for a horse, just mules. at 11 a.m. and proceeds through town before bor Day weekends. “He’s a big pet,” she says of gymnasium. A couple of years later, Eleanor’s father did taking a left on Highway 53. Horses and rid- her steed. “Me and him get along prett y good.” get a horse that they named Terry, and that sort See AGELESS, Page 9 Photos by KEN BECK Scouts to the rescue Rhonda Braswell, Scout limbs, new tree growth ger be covered by layers Leader, Pack 108, from and large dead trees. and layers of leaves and Murfreesboro, and fi rst Troop/Pack 1180 of broken limbs,” Rhonda cousin, Bernie Brazle from Woodbury came to her aid, said. Cannon County each had committ ing to work May Rhonda and Bernie Bras- a common goal. It was to 13th, from 8:30 a.m. to well each want to thank place a memorial stone for 1:30 p.m By noon, the job the Woodbury Boy Scouts their great-great-grandfa- was fi nished. Bernie and and leader Josh Reinhart. ther, Dempsey Braswell in Rhonda fed them pulled “All the boys worked to- the Braswell Cemetery on pork barbecue provided gether as one team to get Dry Creek Road. by Troop 398, Murfrees- the job done. Also, thanks After placing the stone boro. to the Kirby family at the with the help of 8 other More than 60 bags of Love-Cantrell Funeral cousins in Cannon/DeKalb leaves were collected and Home for allowing them to County, Rhonda decided countless limbs and trees work on/near their proper- to go further by creating were cut and moved off ty,” Rhonda said. a “project” for Boy Scouts the cemetery site. In the Thanks to all the and Cub Scouts to clear out process, the volunteers un- Braswell family and an L-shaped piece of the covered some 23 to 26 un- close friend, Mike Gann, cemetery. marked graves. who cleaned off several of The graveyard section “Although no one will the headstones that had, Boy Scouts and Cub Scouts from Troop/Pack 1180 of Woodbury came to the aid on the in the back and down one probably ever know their over the years, turned cleanup of the Braswell Cemetery on Dry Creek Road. The Scouts collected 60 bags side was full of broken identity, they will no lon- See SCOUTS, Page 9 of leaves and countless tree branches at the cemetery. See Cannon Blast on Page 7 MTSUNews.com Your best source for all things MTSU Redesigned from the ground up • Mobile-friendly • Breaking news • Content from 20+ magazines • Student voices PAGE 2 CANNON COURIER MAY 23 2017 CCANNONA N N O N COURIERC O U R I E R MEMORIALS O B I T U A R I E S Nellis Marie Ferrell Sharon Belle Odom Nellie Marie Ferrell, age 69, of Woodbury passed away Sharon Belle Odom, Woodbury, died Monday, May 8, Monday, May 15, 2017 at St. Thomas Rutherford Hospital. 2017. She died from heart complications following a She was a native of Dekalb Co. surgical procedure. She was born at home in Wathena, KS, the daughter of Belle Ellen Banks and Verle Snodgrass. Survivors include her husband of 55 years, Paul H. Ferrell Sharon is survived by her husband, Troy Odom. of Woodbury; Daughter, Viva Gail Johnson of Smithville; 3 Grandchildren, Brad (Brandy) Johnson of McMinnville, She is also survived by her three children, Martha Melissa Johnson of Cookeville, & Debra Johnson of Kirkhart, Christina Rodgers, and Charles Kelly and two McMinnville; Siblings, Jennie Herman of Smithville, Mary step children, Jason Odom and Chris Odom. She had 7 Chapman of Smithville, & Jo Helen Melton of La Vergne; 4 grandchildren: Cheyenne Brabec, Casey, Chase and Blake Great Grandchildren & 2 Step Great Grandchildren. Also Kelly, Julia, Riley and Rebecca Odom surviving are several nieces and nephews. Perhaps you sent a lovely card, Sharon is also survived by 8 siblings: Rita Colograssi, Or sat quietly in a chair. She was preceded in death by her parents, Jones Vernon Pamela Nix, Cindy Arlint, Vernon Noah, Laura Bone, Perhaps you sent a fl oral piece, Johnson & Mai Lawrence Johnson; and brothers, Willie, Paula Savago, Tammy Levario and Randy Snodgrass. If so, we saw it there. Frank, Fred, & Issac Johnson. Perhaps you spoke the kindest words She was preceded in death by 2 siblings: Veronica Reffi tt As any friends could say. Mrs. Ferrell was a member of the Baptist church and was a and Con Snodgrass. Perhaps you were not there at all, seamstress at Colonial Corporation and Valdor. She loved Sharon graduated from Seaman Highschool in Topeka, Just thought of us this day. fl owers and working in her garden. KS and worked many years as a very talented seamstress Whatever you did Funeral Services will be 3 PM Thursday, May 18, 2017 in as well as the owner of Sharon’s Unique Boutique in To console our hearts, the Chapel of Woodbury Funeral Home with Bro. Greg Woodbury. Sharon loved fi shing, gardening, cooking, We thank you so much, Mitchell offi ciating. Interment will follow at Mt. Aarat volunteering at the Canon Outreach and Thrift Store, and Whatever the part.