West: Newspaper kicks off Cannon BLAST

By MIKE WEST

Spring SEEMS to be here. Well, at least the Easter bunny has come and gone and that's usually a sure sign that spring is here.

Another sure sign is all the events planned for this month. That's why we at The Cannon Courier are kicking off the winter cobwebs on the Cannon Blast. Check it out on Page 7 of today's edition.

As usual, we are counting on our readers to supplement this list of upcoming events. You can email them to news@cannoncourier.com or fax them to 563-2519.

Speaking of sure signs of spring, it's almost time for Cannon County High School's annual Senior Class Trip on April 21-27. Hurrah!!!

That's another great thing Cannon County has going for it. Students can still look forward to a special senior trip that will give them memories for years. That's a rite that still applies here in comparison to many other school systems … Rutherford County for example. They haven't had senior trips in Murfreesboro for decades.

I'm envious. I could stand a trip to the beach right now to shake off the effects of a too-long winter.

Speaking of Senior Class Trips, my Uncle John went on a great one back in the day. Among the places his Woodbury High School class went was to Natural Bridge, Virginia.

"Once owned by Thomas Jefferson, surveyed by a young George Washington, and traversed by Civil War soldiers _ the Natural Bridge is a portal to history."

Sounds thrilling? We'll maybe. There was no Disney World in those days. All I know is that "Unc" had a great time on his trip and still remembers it to this day.

These days there are all sorts of events ongoing in Woodbury and the month of April just marks the start.

One of the biggest is the Stones River Relay on April 6. It starts with a run, then a bike ride and concludes with paddle down Stones River to the Readyville Mill. Even if you aren't in shape to participate, it's fun to watch the competitors cross the finish line. (And there is always the eating afterwards…)

And don't forget the book signing by Hilda Stuart on April 15 at the Arts Center of Cannon County.

A book signing, you say?

Oh, there's gonna be more than a book signing going on that evening.

Hilda, mother of country music recording star Marty Stuart "HINT, HINT" and mother-in-law to internationally-acclaimed singing sensation Connie Smith, has focused her camera to record milestone moments in her remarkable family's history.

On the schedule to perform is world famous banjo picker Leroy Troy along with "secret, special guests" (see above.)

That sounds like fun!

For more fun, check out the Cannon Blast on Page 7 of today's Courier.