West: Exercise center a good plan

Not all of us can be skinny like the Courier’s Tony Stinnett.

While I am in perfect physical condition (sure) Cannon County is in need of exercise opportunities.

The Cannon County Health Council has begun a drive to meet that need.

Why? Just think about it. To begin with Cannon ranks as 82nd for access to exercise facilities. Our schools do have gyms and playgrounds and there is the growing list of gym facilities at the Senior Citizens Center, but there is little for the in-between group that comprises most of the county’s residents.

Let’s see.... There are the basketball, tennis courts and playground on the hilltop at Brown-Spurlock Park and the walking trail at Dillon Park. All are nice (and generally underused) facilities. Let us also not forget the swimming pool at Cannon Community Center.

Those facilities offer little other than walking tracks for mature adults.

What the Health Council is looking for is a year-round, all-weather workout facility.

The group does have a centrally located site in mind but they aren’t disclosing it yet.

What they do need at this point, is your suggestions. The council is interested in your input. Please comment to: cannongym@gmail.com.

Some points need to be considered.

First, would you be willing to pay similar to other gyms in our area with month to month membership rates at $35 for families and $20 for individuals, or a daily fee of $3?

There may be an annual membership for $350 for families and $220 for individuals. County employees and individuals who are 62 years of age and over are half off those rates.

What are your ideas? All suggestions and comments will be shared during the next Cannon County Health Council meeting.

Here’s a couple more points for you to ponder.

Other Cannon County health rankings include: 62nd in adult obesity and 55th in physical inactivity. That’s not good.
Please comment to cannongym@gmail.com.

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We must note, with regret, the passing of Nolan “Dude” Northcutt.

I will never forget the first time I met him on a formal basis. Of course, I had seen him in action plenty of times working on my grandfathers’ cars. They both drove Chrysler products (Plymouth) and Dude was renowned for his vehicular knowledge.

That day, I was looking for Mr. Northcutt _ the Mayor of Woodbury _ just to introduce myself. I was a young reporter who had just been assigned Woodbury as part of my beat and I looked the part, with notebook in hand and camera around my neck.

Dude regarded me with a wary eye along side the car he was working on. He wasn’t about to acknowledge he was mayor. Then I reeled off my family heritage to which he responded with a grin (and after wiping off his hands) and a handshake.

He was quite a Dude....

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Here’s a bit of good news from the Board of Education ...

Recently, they banned photography, videotaping and audiotaping of school board meetings.

This week they rescinded that action in so far as the news media is concerned. That means our job is a little easier and our reporting more accurate. I can scribble with the best of them, but sometimes that tape comes in handy.