Southern Middle TN Today News with Tom Price 9-30-24

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Daily News from MuleTown to Music City and beyond. Listen to Tom Price read the news of the day from Kennedy Broadcasting, WKOM & WKRM Radio.

WKOM/WKRM Radio
Southern Middle Tennessee Today
News Copy for September 30, 2024

All news stories are aggregated from various sources and modified for time and content. Original sources are cited.
We start with local news…
Jane Doe Identified (CDH)
A woman found dead four years ago is nameless no longer, Nashville police announced.
Ashley Fuller, 19, of Columbia, has been identified as the person whose body was found in an abandoned home on Highway 70 South on Thanksgiving Day 2020, police said in a news release Thursday.
Her identity remained a mystery for nearly three years until the Tennessee Bureau of Investigations created a forensic rendering of her face and wrist tattoo — a semi-colon with a heart in place of a dot.
A family member saw the rendering and contacted the Nashville Police Department's Cold Case Unit. Police positively identified Fuller with her dental records.
No foul play is suspected in Fuller's death, but the Medical Examiner's Office will conduct a review to determine her official cause of death, the news release said. Police initially believed she died from an accidental drug overdose, according to a news release from 2023.
Fuller is the third cold case victim to be identified in recent months.
Earlier this month, police identified Donald Elden Verhalen as the man who died in 1993 after he fell and suffered a serious head injury. In July, a homicide victim pulled from the Cumberland River 26 years ago was identified as Diane Minor.

Teen Fisherman Rescued (MauryCountySource)
On Thursday evening, the Maury County Fire Department responded to a reported teenager fallen down an embankment to the edge of the Duck River while attempting to go fishing.
The patient experienced an extremity injury that required the patient to be extracted in a stokes basket along with a rope system. A Maury Regional EMS Paramedic Supervisor attended to the patient and a 3:1 haul system was set up on the roadway. Firefighters extracted the patient and delivered them to an awaiting ambulance with serious, but non life-threatening injuries.
The Maury County Fire Department says they have training in this specific location with this specific scenario which led to the rescue being completed quickly and efficiently.

County Approves Powers Relief Act (CDH)
The Maury County Commission has approved a resolution to change how it receives certain funds via new development through the County Powers Relief Act.
Commissioners approved the resolution earlier this month in its second and final reading.
The approval would exonerate the county's use of the Adequate Facilities Tax effective at the end of regular business hours Oct. 31, with the County Powers Relief Act taking effect the following day Nov. 1.
Discussion was minimal prior to the Monday, Sept. 16 vote, but District 5 commissioner Scott Sumners asked if the county's Adequate Facilities Tax Committee would disband, or rather adapt to the new format and remain.
Maury County Attorney Daniel Murphy responded saying he was unsure if the committee would be required under the County Powers Relief Act versus the Private Act.
"The Adequate Facilities board, to my knowledge, has never met, and if it has it's only met once," Murphy said. "It is required by the Private Act to remain in place as long as there are entities or properties out there seeking clarification on their square footage. So that board would need to stay in place, though I don't know how long that would be."
Under the new code, taxes will be based on the floor area of a new development at a rate of $1.50 per square foot for residences and $12.50 per square foot up to 150,000 for commercial property.
"I can't let this be voted on without saying a big 'thank you' to every commissioner in this room, but also the commissioners in the prior commission who started this fight several years ago," Commissioner Ray Jeter said.
"It's been over three years in the making, and a lot of us fought this battle. It's not exactly what we wanted, but it's better than what we had, and we agree with that. This is a big deal for the people of Maury County, a big deal for our schools and how we are going to fund our growth. I appreciate every commissioner who fought this battle."
The final verdict resulted in a unanimous 22 votes in favor of the County Powers Relief Act.

CSCC Has Increased Enrollment for Fall (CDH)
Columbia State Community College kicked off the Fall 2024 semester with the largest enrollment increase since the COVID-19 pandemic. As of the 14-day census, Columbia State was leading the state community college enrollment.
“We are excited about the growth,” said Dr. Janet F. Smith, Columbia State president. “I am especially appreciative of the faculty and staff who have worked throughout the spring, summer and fall to recruit and enroll students.”
Columbia State saw a 17.7% increase in total applications for the Fall 2024 semester. Fourteen-day census numbers show a 10.6% increase in overall headcount since Fall 2023; and up 6.7% over the past three-year average.
Full-time equivalency enrollment is up 5.7% over Fall 2023. FTE is the formula that determines how many students are attending full-time.
Other notable enrollment increases include: first-time freshmen enrollment up 5.5%; high school dual enrollment students up 29.2%; and adult (non-traditional) students up 10.7%.
“We are so proud that Columbia State faculty and staff truly model our mission of changing lives through teaching, learning and service to all citizens of southern Middle Tennessee,” said Cissy Holt, Columbia State vice president of Student Affairs. “By being student-ready and working together as one college supporting the citizens of our service area and beyond, we were able to meet our goals. It has been amazing to have so many students on our campuses since classes began August 26. Our students have been engaged and are so excited to be at Columbia State. Their enthusiasm is contagious.”
Due to the college’s continuous growth, Columbia State has continued its partnership with the TMA Group | Franklin Transit Authority to provide free public transit rides for Columbia State Williamson Campus students through the “Show I.D. – Ride for Free” campaign.
In addition, the college opened the new Arts & Technology building on the Williamson Campus in Spring 2024; and recently broke ground on the new Southern Regional Technology Center on the Columbia Campus, which is slated to open in Fall 2027.
Columbia State enrolled 5,656 students comprised of 2,700 full-time students and 1,304 freshmen. Final enrollment numbers are to be determined by the Tennessee Board of Regents.

Fall Festival to Return (Press Release)
Columbia Main Street announced, that due to the inclement weather that moved through Middle Tennessee this past weekend, the Second Annual Fall Fest has been postponed until October 12th. The event will take place from 2:00 pm to 8:00 pm in downtown Columbia. This event, presented in partnership with Kiwanis of Columbia, promises a day filled with family-friendly activities in the heart of downtown.
This community festival includes FREE admission to listen to live entertainment, enjoy a FUN ZONE for all ages, pose in front of Tri-Green’s tractor photo booth, watch the Miss Maury County FALL FEST pageant, and paint a mini pumpkin!
In conjunction with Fall Fest, the Kiwanis Club of Columbia is proud to present the Annual Kiwanis Chili Cookoff from 3-5PM on the square. This autumn tradition brings chefs from all over Maury County to decide whose chili reigns supreme. Tickets are $10 each at the event and children 10 and under are free. Also, be sure to visit the Kiwanis Kids Zone at Fall Fest for face painting, complimentary snow cones, inflatables, and more!
Additionally, attendees can support local businesses by shopping with artisan-craft vendors, eating from delicious food trucks, or pre-registering to participate in the Miss Maury County FALL FEST pageant.
“Bring a lawn chair and your dancing shoes because you’re going to be singing along and having a great time with each of the bands,” says Kelli Johnson, Columbia Main Street Manager.
"We are excited to expand FALL FEST this year by closing down the entire square, providing ample space for attendees to fully immerse themselves in the festivities while exploring all that downtown Columbia has to offer," said Johnson. “We are privileged to partner with so many local businesses and organizations that work hard to produce amazing products, excellent food, and great customer experiences that help transform events like this that create memorable moments for those in attendance. We hope that you enjoy the craft vendors, food trucks, the bands, and all the activities for every age.” For more information about the Second Annual FALL FEST, including how to participate or volunteer, please visit columbiamainstreet.com or follow Columbia Main Street on social media.
It has been announced this morning as well, that the candelight tour of the Athenaeum historic site has been cancelled due to weather as well.

DUI Checkpoint (Press Release)
The Tennessee Highway Patrol will be conducting sobriety roadside safety checkpoints during the week of October 4th on State RT. 50 at the 0 Mile Marker in Maury County starting at 10:00PM .
Impaired driving is a serious crime that kills more than 16,000 people and injures 305,000 people every year in the United States. Troopers will evaluate drivers for signs of alcohol or drug impairment. Troopers will target those who operate a vehicle while impaired and take corrective actions for other violations observed while ensuring the protection of all motorists.
The Tennessee Highway Patrol recognizes that sobriety checkpoints are highly visible and effective tools in the battle against impaired driving.

Room in the Inn Octoberfest Fundraiser (Press Release)
Mark your calendars, Columbia – Room in the Inn’s biggest fundraiser of the year is just around the corner! On October 4th, the community is invited to join in the Oktoberfest festivities and support a fantastic local cause.
Room in the Inn is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing shelter, resources, and hope to single mothers and their children in need. Their latest project, Grace House, aims to create a safe, supportive living space with individual beds, private bedrooms and bathrooms, a community kitchen, and laundry facilities. All proceeds from this year’s Oktoberfest event will go directly towards the construction of Grace House, making a real difference in the lives of local families.
So what can you expect at this year’s Oktoberfest celebration? Plenty of fun, food, and community spirit! The event will take place on October 4 at Riverwalk Park in Columbia from 6pm -10pm. Guests will be able to enjoy local craft beer tastings, delicious fare from food trucks, live music, and traditional Oktoberfest games and activities. Riverwalk Park is located at 102 Riverside Drive, Columbia.

Apple Fest (Press Release)
Bright Apple is set to host the first ever Apple Fest on Saturday, Nov. 2, 2024, from noon-3 p.m. The event will take place at Iglesia Una Esperanza Viva Church, located at 2628 Pulaski Highway in Columbia. The event is being held to raise funds to support Bright Apple’s mission to provide healthy snacks for students in Maury County.
Attendees will enjoy tacos and dessert. They can also participate in an apple tasting of treats such as apple cider and donuts, apple butter, homemade applesauce and fried apple pies. There will be plenty of family fun with outdoor games and festivities, a fall-themed photo booth, live band, face painting and temporary tattoos. Kids can even try bobbing for apples!
“Our board of directors and volunteers are excited for this first ever Apple Fest and are rallying together to make it a special time for folks to get together for great food and good fun for our mission,” said Lisa Ciesliga, Director of Development for Bright Apple.
Bright Apple is a nonprofit organization that provides healthy snacks for students in Maury County each school day. The snacks help students concentrate during the school day as many students have lunch at school, but don’t eat again until the following day.
School schedules vary and some children eat lunch early or late in the day and feel hungry before or after lunch. It is Bright Apple’s mission to focus on feeding children so they can focus on learning.
“We conducted a survey earlier this year with our teachers and administrators,” Ciesliga said. “Out of the 103 responses we received, 100 percent said that the healthy snacks contribute to better student focus and attention in class.”
Since 2019, Bright Apple has provided over 850,000 healthy snacks to students in Maury County. Bright Apple proudly serves the students of J.R. Baker Elementary, Joseph Brown Elementary, Highland Park Elementary, Mt. Pleasant Elementary and Riverside Elementary. Bright Apple’s newest school, Randolph Howell Elementary, was added to the roster this school year.
Howell Elementary Principal Marisa Massey says the snacks have been very well received and the teachers are appreciative.
“It really equals the playing field when everyone has a healthy snack during the school day,” Massey said. “Kids can’t learn when they are hungry. As a school, we want to give students what they need academically, emotionally and physically. The snacks from Bright Apple help us do that. It truly makes a difference.”
It costs just $5 a month to provide snacks for one student each school day. Bright Apple has relationships with food distributors to have USDA Smart Snacks such as apples, bananas, pears and cheese and crackers sent directly to participating schools. The goal for Bright Apple’s first ever Apple Fest is to raise enough money to fund one school for the entire school year.
“Every contribution we receive from Apple Fest means so much more than a yummy fruit for our students in class. It means dignity staying intact, better classroom atmosphere, behavior issues decreasing, teacher satisfaction and most importantly, learning success for our students,” Ciesliga said.
Apple Fest Tickets can be purchased online for $25 per person/all ages. Table sponsorships are available for $200 and include admission for eight table guests as well as the opportunity to have an informational booth at the event. For more information about Apple Fest and to purchase tickets, visit BrightApple.org or send an email to [e-mail].

Maury County Clerk Satellite Office (Press Release)
The Maury County Clerk’s office can now help residents with renewals of license plates or placards each Wednesday from 8am to 3:30pm at the Maury County Senior Center located at 1020 Maury County Park Dr.
Please drive around to the back of the building and look for the car tag renewal sign near the back door.
Forms of payment include credit/debit card or check – no cash.
Any Maury County Resident can use this office.
All other transactions will still need to be done through the main office located at 10 Public Square.
Also, you can renew online at TNCountyClerk.com or at kiosks in Spring Hill City Hall or Mt. Pleasant Courthouse.

And now, Your Hometown Memorials, Sponsored by Oakes & Nichols Funeral Home…

Mrs. Linda Messick Craig, 75, died Saturday, September 28, 2024 at her residence in Lewisburg. Funeral services will be conducted Tuesday, October 1 at 3:00 PM at Oakes & Nichols Funeral Home. Burial will follow at Rose Hill Cemetery. The family will visit with friends Tuesday, October 1, from 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM at Oakes & Nichols Funeral Home.

Mrs. Dot Mayfield, 91, retired cafeteria manager for Columbia Academy, and resident of Columbia, died Tuesday, September 24 at her residence. Funeral services will be conducted Thursday October 3 at 12:00 PM at Oakes & Nichols Funeral Home. Burial will follow at Palestine Cemetery. The family will visit with friends Thursday October 3 from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM at Oakes & Nichols Funeral Home.

And now, news from around the state…

Winfield Dunn Passes (Tennessean)
Winfield Dunn, who in 1971 became the state's first Republican governor in half a century, died on Saturday. He was 97.
Though Dunn only served one term, he remained a stalwart of the Tennessee GOP over his lifetime, ushering in an era of increasing Republican success after decades of Democratic control in the state.
At the request of the Dunn family, Gov. Bill Lee's office announced Dunn's death late Saturday.
“Governor Winfield Dunn was, simply put, a genuine statesman,” Lee said in a statement. “He was a true servant of the people of Tennessee. He led with principled integrity, a strong faith, and a gracious love for others. Our state is a better place because of his service and leadership. Maria and I join all Tennesseans in honoring Governor Dunn’s life, and we pray for Betty and the Dunn family in the days ahead."
Trained as a dentist, Dunn dove into Tennessee politics as relative novice among a slate of Republicans testing the waters in the early and mid-1960s as state political winds shifted. He first won the Shelby County Republican Party chairmanship, and later launched his gubernatorial campaign after failing to recruit a GOP candidate from West Tennessee.
Dunn rose through the primary despite relative statewide obscurity — media reports at the time sometimes referred to him as "Winfield Who" — but capitalized on his personality and public speaking talent in the 1970 general election, where more than one-third of his total votes came from Shelby County.
"We hoped to gain a foothold," Dunn said in a 2017 Inside Politics interview. "We had no control in the legislature. Suddenly becoming a governor of the state, a Republican found himself in a peculiar position."
During his time in office, Dunn was often thwarted by the opposition party, as the state House was controlled by Democrats.
Notably, Dunn crafted a bipartisan administration, filling positions with people aligned with both political parties, harkening back to a promise of an "era of partnership, not partisanship" he made in his 1971 inauguration speech.
Dunn reshaped some of Tennessee government into what it is today, including creating the Department of General Services and the Department of Banking.
He signed into law the Natural Area Preservation Act in 1971, which established legal protections for areas like Radnor Lake and Fall Creek Falls and continues to protect more than 100,000 acres in more than 80 state natural areas.
Establishing a statewide kindergarten system and the Tennessee Housing Development Agency were also highlights of his term, Dunn later said in a 2016 interview with the Secretary of State's office.
"I'm extremely proud of having fought, very tenaciously, and won the opportunity to create the Department of Economic and Community Develoment in our state, which is responsible for so much of the beautiful growth that has taken place in Tennessee," Dunn said.
He frequently sparred with the Democratic legislative majority over his veto power, which he exercised dozens of times, including nixing funding for a medical school at East Tennessee State University. It was a decision that would come back to haunt his future political prospects.
Dunn later expressed regret for not exercising that veto power over the so-called "Tennessee Plan," which allowed a governor to appoint appellate court judges. The system was later expanded to include the Tennessee Supreme Court. Dunn later called the plan, which he signed off on, unconstitutional, arguing Tennesseans should be allowed to choose their judges by popular vote.
His gubernatorial legacy will likely be noted for ushering in decades of two-party politics in a state after years of single-party control.
"I would say that during my administration, we demonstrated to the people of Tennessee that the Republican Party could be a constructive, productive political element and the Republican party has fared very well in the years since my term," Dunn said in a 2016 interview with the Secretary of State's office.
As news broke Saturday of Dunn's death, many of Tennessee's leading politicians paid tribute to his legacy.
"He was a favorite son of West Tennessee who, through his service, inspired so many people all across the state of Tennessee. We are especially thinking about Betty, his favorite first lady and best girl, whom you rarely saw without him, and whose life exemplified a life well-lived," said U.S. Rep. David Kustoff, R-Tennessee, in a statement. "I was honored to travel, campaign, and work with Governor Dunn on many occasions, and I always came away understanding that public service done right has the ability to change the lives of so many people."

Final Story of the Day (Maury County Source)
As the weather cools down and the Fall Equinox comes around, Nashville Zoo is back with the wildest costume party in town. For its third year in a row, BOOZe at the Zoo will include unlimited drink samples, costumes, adult trick-or-treating, a live DJ, and plenty of party animals. Nashville Zoo’s spooktacular adults-only costume party is Thursday, October 10 from 6:30 pm to 9:30 pm. Tickets are on sale now and can be purchased on Nashville Zoo’s website, www.nashvillezoo.org.