West: Sgt. Walkup coming home

By MIKE WEST/Courier Editor

We received some great news this week.

Sgt. Franz Ulrich Walkup is coming home for a visit.

A parade is being prepared in his honor at 1 p.m. Sunday, May 19 in Woodbury. And an "event" featuring band, "61 Seconds," will follow.

And just in case you have been out of contact with the rest of the world for the past several months … Franz is a valiant soldier who was repeatedly wounded in Afghanistan.

He has been healing for months since he was shot.

During his long hospital stay he has been visited by President Barack Obama, Vice President Joe Biden, generals, sports heroes and by friends and family. Most important is the constant vigilance of his wife, Shannon Dawn Walkup.

Get ready to give him a big welcome back home.



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Now that spring is finally here, get ready for some major events in Woodbury.

The SAVE Fest, set for Saturday, May 4, starts out the list. A couple of up-and-coming musicians head up the list of entertainers set for the Square.

There's Jesse Whitley, the son of the late Keith Whitley and Lorrie Morgan, who will perform. Whitley will be followed by Lance Chandler, "The Black Collar Outlaw."

Both young men are kicking up enough interest that journalists from a Country Music magazine will be in Woodbury to watch their performances.

And we shouldn't forget Good Ole Days on Friday, May 17 and Saturday, May 18.

Toss the Cannon Ball events in with that and you've got something for everybody from baby aged on up. Literally. There is, after all, a baby show. There's a beauty contest as well, along with a parade, craft show, food and entertainment of all sorts. Heck, there's even a dog show.

And just what is the Cannon Ball?

It's not to be confused with "The Cannon Ball Run" that old Burt Reynolds film, it is instead a foot race, a 5K one to be exact.

Whew, so be ready.



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Speaking of special events … The Farmers Market opens Saturday, May 15, in the parking lot of the Arts Center of Cannon County.

The market features homegrown vegetables, fruits and more. It's so popular that people have been calling the Cannon Courier since February to find out when it opens.

So, get ready.



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And in conclusion… There's an upcoming event that's special to the staff of The Cannon Courier. The newspaper is on the brink of celebrating its birthday … 129th birthday to be exact.

That makes The Courier the oldest business in Woodbury, way outdistancing any competition. And what does that mean to us?

We're gonna keep on pluggin' and reporting the news for our readers in Cannon County and across the nation.

Thank you! We are ready for many, many more years.