Southern Middle TN Today News with Tom Price 10-4-24

What is Front Porch Radio - Southern Middle TN Today News with Tom Price?

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 October 4, 2024

All news stories are aggregated from various sources and modified for time and content. Original sources are cited.
We start with local news…
Judicial Center Dedicated (CDH)
Beginning a new chapter of the county's modern history, county and city officials celebrated Tuesday the unveiling of the long-awaited Maury County Judicial Center on South Main Street.
The two-story judicial center, plus a basement, now stands at the former site of The Daily Herald newspaper, which was demolished two years ago almost to the day of the ribbon cutting celebration Tuesday.
Over 100 people, including local officials, county chamber members and supporters attended a ribbon-cutting ceremony and self-guided tour of the approximately $36 million facility that will relieve Columbia's iconic, but overcrowded, historic courthouse at the center of the town square.
The new facility offers six courtrooms, private consultation areas for attorneys and clients, judges' administrative chambers, holding cells on the lower level and general meeting rooms.
General Sessions Court Judge Bobby Sands said the new facility will make the courts’ daily operations more efficient and provide greater safety and privacy for attorneys and clients.
Former Maury County Commission Chairman Don Morrow, who spearheaded the project when he served on the commission, said he remembers talk about building a new courts facility as far back as 1994 with some estimates reaching almost $40 million.
Addressing the crowd, Morrow said he is proud to see the facility come to fruition after a long time planning and debating about funding.
"We funded this building for $36 million without using property taxes. I feel like this building represents new South progress. Signs were once posted at Columbia city limits that read, 'Old South Charm, New South Progress,' I think that explains it well," Morrow said.
"This is a free building, a gift to tax payers ... we are lucky and blessed to have this facility."
Maury County Commission Chairman Kevin Markham introduced project leaders, welcomed guests and congratulated Maury County Commissioners present and past, or those responsible for erecting the facility.
Former commission chairman Eric Previti praised the efforts of the commission in supporting the funding of the building during the ceremony.
Jamie Spencer, president of Hewlett Spencer, explained the concept behind the interior design of the building, adorned with historic photos displayed on frosted glass along the dramatically long corridors on the first and second floors of the complex.
"The art displays pay homage to old Maury County in a modern building," Spencer said.
The historic photos depict collections from the Maury County Archives, compiled by former Maury County Archives Director Bob Duncan, the current archives staff, and Maury County Historian JoAnn McClellan.
Spencer also explained that light fixtures from The Daily Herald building were preserved, refurbished and hung in each foyer at the entrance of all six courtrooms, three on the first floor and three on the second floor.
Juvenile Court Judge Doug Chapman toured the facility with his family on Tuesday, calling it a "functional" building above all.
"This facility will bring enhanced safety to the courthouse, functionality, provide private meeting spaces and provide six courtrooms that will allow us to hear multiple cases leading to shorter backlogs," Chapman said.
The old historic courthouse in Columbia will still house the mayor's office and some court clerks, while the first floor will be turned into a museum.
The new court facility will open officially to accommodate staff and the public on Oct. 14.

Wounded Warrior Ride (TheNewsTN)
Break out the flags and patriotic garb and pick out your spot along the road for the 16th annual Wounded Warrior Soldier Ride this Friday and Saturday mornings.
The Wounded Warrior Soldier Ride is a multi-day event designed to help warriors build confidence and strength by incorporating skill-building practices that accommodate all ability levels.
Their ride actually begins months earlier when they begin to work on getting in shape for the ride. During that time, they’re not only getting in shape for the ride, they’re beginning another stage of healing from their wounds by connecting with other “wounded warriors.”
They find increased motivation, confidence, self-esteem, solace and new doors begin to open for them. As they learn to handle and care for the equipment, all provided free, the warriors also find comfort working again with other veterans who are all at different skill and fitness levels.
On Friday, Oct. 4, the 2024 Soldier Ride will begin at 9 a.m. leaving from Grace Chapel on Southall Road. The route goes through the countryside of Southwest Williamson County ending at the Water Valley Community Center located at 4849 Leipers Creek Road in Williamsport, where they will be served a hearty lunch.
Each year Saturday’s ride is made in memory of U.S. Army Master Sgt. James “Tre" Ponder, who was killed in Afghanistan in 2005. It begins at his alma mater, Battle Ground Academy, where he graduated in 1987.
The soldiers will enjoy breakfast provided by the BGA baseball team before a brief program and the 8:30 a.m. start of the ride.
From BGA, they’ll ride through Franklin neighborhoods heading to Berry’s Chapel Church of Christ for a brief water and snack break and music provided by the Mt. Juliet Christian Academy Marching Band. When the soldiers leave the church they head through neighborhoods that take them to Westhaven for another water and snack stop and celebration by Westhaven residents.
From Westhaven the soldiers, some wearing prosthetics and many riding bicycles adapted to their injuries, head to downtown Franklin returning to BGA for lunch.
Each year hundreds of residents line the streets and roads waving their flags, shouting thanks and encouraging the wounded warriors to keep on keeping on.
Each year the veteran soldiers participating in the ride, comment on how pleasantly surprised they are at the warm welcome they receive from the residents of Williamson and Maury County. Get out early and give them another warm welcome.

Charging Station Opens Downtown (MSM)
On Monday, Sept. 23, the city of Columbia held an opening ceremony for a new electric-car charging bank, located in the county parking lot at the corner of Woodland and East 7th Streets. The city collaborated with Columbia Power and Water Systems (CPWS), accepting a $300,000 grant from the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) and the Tennessee Department of Environmental Conservation (TDEC) to install the Fast Charging Stations for electric vehicles.
The charging stations feature Level 3 DC Fast Chargers, which can provide an 80 percent charge to a standard EV in just 15-20 minutes. This rapid charging capability allows EV drivers to power up quickly during short stops, making electric-vehicle travel more convenient than ever.
Columbia is one of 12 cities chosen, as part of a statewide project, to receive a share of the $5.2 million set aside by TVA and TDEC to develop Tennessee’s Direct Current Fast Charging (DCFC) infrastructure. This project is part of a broader initiative to create a multi-state electric vehicle fast-charging network along major highways and interstates.
“These charging stations represent a crucial step in Columbia’s efforts to support the growth of electric vehicles and contribute to a cleaner, more sustainable future for our city and state,” said Columbia Mayor Chaz Molder. “By working alongside partners like CPWS, TVA, and TDEC, we are able to position Columbia at the forefront of green energy initiatives.”
Jonathan Hardin, president and CEO of CPWS, thanked the county and city governments for facilitating this accomplishment for electric-vehicle infrastructure.
“We all operate under the umbrella of responsible stewardship and progressive thinking facilitated by the Tennessee Valley Authority and the State of Tennessee, and local efforts are capably supported by the South-Central Tennessee Development District, among others,” Hardin said. “CPWS staff was entirely responsible for building this charging station and we are excited that EV drivers will have their charging needs efficiently met in Maury County. Once here, we are excited they get to experience the gem that is our beloved town of Columbia!”
Chris Templeton, Customer Service Manager for TVA, emphasized the importance of TVA’s growing Fast Charge Network, which is in the process of building 32 charging stations at 13 sites (including Columbia) across the state. The TVA’s final plan for the Fast Charge Network is to build fast-charging stations every 50 miles along major highways and interstates over its seven-state service area by 2026.
“Congratulations to Columbia on becoming the 39th installation site,” he said. “We look forward to the positive impact this will bring to the community.”
Chuck Yoest, Deputy Director of TDEC’s Office of Energy Programs, added, “We at TDEC look forward to continuing our
great partnership with TVA to build out a network of charging stations that will put Tennessee on the map as an EV epicenter of the United States.”

Columbia State Performance Series (Press Release)
Columbia State Community College is excited to announce the 22nd season of its popular Performance Series sponsored by First Farmers and Merchants Bank, showcasing a dynamic lineup of talented artists at the 500-seat Cherry Theater on the Columbia Campus. Audiences can look forward to memorable performances, with the added perks of free parking and a complimentary art exhibit at the Pryor Art Gallery before each show.

"This season of the Performance Series at Columbia State is a true celebration of musical artistry, showcasing exceptional talent that transcends genres and generations," said Tammy Rosson, director of events and alumni relations at Columbia State. "Each performance offers something truly special, whether it's the soulful harmonies of Rockland Road, the powerful vocals of Wendy Moten, the fresh take on traditional country from The Malpass Brothers, the nostalgic yet modern sound of Admiral Radio, the dynamic piano mastery of Ryan & Ryan or the timeless swing of Big Bad Voodoo Daddy. We’re excited to welcome our community to the Cherry Theater for what promises to be an unforgettable season of entertainment!"

Tickets are $35, which includes all fees. Free and convenient parking is available along with a free art exhibition in the Pryor Art Gallery before each performance.

Learn more and purchase tickets: ColumbiaState.edu/PerformanceSeries or call the box office at 931.540.2879.

Spring Hill Local Passport (Press Release)
The Spring Hill Chamber of Commerce, in partnership with Listerhill Credit Union, is excited to announce the launch of the "Think, Shop, Explore Local Passport" campaign, an initiative designed to encourage residents and visitors to explore and support the diverse range of local businesses in Spring Hill. This exciting campaign will run from October 1 to October 31, 2024, offering participants a chance to win a grand prize haul valued at thousands of dollars!
How to Participate: Starting October 1st, visitors can pick up their Local Passport at any participating business or the Spring Hill Chamber Welcome Center, located at 5326 Main Street, Suite G. To qualify for the grand prize, participants simply need to collect stickers from a minimum of 15 participating businesses and return their completed passports by October 31, 2024, to the Welcome Center. Those who complete their passports entirely will be entered into the grand prize drawing twice – doubling their chances of winning!
Participating Businesses: The campaign features an array of local stops, including restaurants, retail shops, health centers, and more. Some of the featured stops include:
Aha Indian Grill
The Awaken House
The Spot Burgers & Beers
Hampton Inn Spring Hill
Lighthill Meats
TriStar ER Spring Hill
Williamson Health / Bone and Joint Institute
And many more!
A comprehensive list of all participating businesses and an interactive map is available online, guiding participants on their local adventure.
Community Photo Stops: For an extra entry into the grand prize drawing, participants can take photos at designated community photo stops, including the Spring Hill Library, City Hall, and Fischer Park. Simply post your photo on Instagram or Facebook using the hashtag #SHPassport24 to earn an additional chance to win!
Grand Prize Details: The grand prize haul includes an incredible assortment of gifts and vouchers from participating businesses, offering one lucky winner a prize worth thousands of dollars! This includes gifts from notable local businesses such as Listerhill Credit Union, Towhee Club & Birdsong Social, Brunch Collective, and many others.
How to Submit Your Passport: Once you have collected at least 15 stickers, return your passport to the Spring Hill Chamber Welcome Center (5326 Main Street, Suite G) by October 31, 2024. A dropbox is available for after-hours submissions, ensuring that everyone has a chance to participate.
Get Ready to Think, Shop, and Explore Local! The "Think, Shop, Explore Local Passport" campaign is an excellent way to discover new businesses, support our local economy, and engage with the Spring Hill community. So grab your passport, explore all that Spring Hill has to offer, and get ready for a fun-filled October with plenty of opportunities to win big!
For more information, visit Spring Hill Chamber website or contact the Spring Hill Chamber Welcome Center at [phone].

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

Patricia Joan Lewellen Owens, 90, a resident of Columbia, died Monday, September 30, 2024 at NHC Maury Regional Transitional Care.
A celebration of life service will be held at a later date. Online condolences may be extended at www.oakesandnichols.com.

And now, news from around the state…
Biden Provides Federal Aid for East TN (Tennessean)
President Joe Biden announced Oct. 2 a major disaster declaration for Tennessee. The Federal Emergency Management Agency will provide federal disaster assistance for Hurricane Helene relief.
Biden previously recognized the emergency and approved federal funding for those hurt by the storm. This elevated declaration "provides a wide range of federal assistance programs for individuals and public infrastructure, including funds for both emergency and permanent work," according to FEMA.
Federal funding will be available for those in the hardest-hit counties: Carter, Cocke, Greene, Hamblen, Hawkins, Johnson, Unicoi and Washington.
Grants can be used for housing and repairs, low-cost loans to cover uninsured property losses and other programs to help individuals and business owners recover.
Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee declared a state of emergency in Tennessee on Sept. 27, and requested money and assistance from FEMA, which the agency approved on Sept. 28.
The first round of federal assistance includes a 75% reimbursement for restoration work in Carter, Cocke, Greene, Hamblen, Johnson and Unicoi counties, and a 75% reimbursement for evacuation and shelter support in Hawkins and Washington counties. The remaining 25% will be a combination of local and state funds.
On Sept. 30, Lee wrote to the Biden administration again to request an expedited major disaster declaration, which was approved in Georgia, Florida, North Carolina and South Carolina after their requests that preceded Lee's ask that was approved Oct. 2.

Mini Moon (Tennessean)
Earth is set to have a visitor in its orbit in the form of a "mini-moon" also known as asteroid 2024 PT5 over the next couple of months. The asteroid is set to take a similar orbital path that a moon does around a planet and will remain in Earth's celestial atmosphere until November. And while it may be a mini-moon, won't be as visible to the naked eye as our lunar compatriot is.
Mini-moons aren't uncommon events, it happens when a small body, like an asteroid, "acquires negative geocentric energy for weeks or a few months," according to Space.com. These events happen two different ways, the website wrote.
First are long episodes when the object completes one or more revolutions about our planet, with these gravitational engagements lasting one or more years.
The second type are short episodes where it does not complete a full revolution. These temporary captures can last days, weeks or even a few months.
These events do happen fairly frequently, with several events happening per decade.
The small asteroid was discovered on Aug. 7 by the Asteroid Terrestrial-impact Last Alert System (ATLAS), a NASA-funded program.
Asteroid 2024 PT5 is expected to enter Earth's gravitational pull on Sunday, Sept. 29, and stay with us until Monday, Nov. 25. After it will escape Earth's orbit and be pulled toward the sun before continuing its travels around our solar system.
The mini-moon is about the size of a bus actually. Asteroid 2024 PT5 measures in at about 33 feet in diameter.

Final Story of the Day (Maury County Source)
While Oktoberfest is going on in Riverwalk Park, downtown Columbia will be as lively as ever as citizens gather for another festive First Fridays on the square.
As always, First Fridays main events will run from 5-8 p.m. This includes an assortment of craft vendors set up along West 7th Street, buskers performing music on street corners and a whole lot more.
Baxter's Mercantile, 808 S. Garden St., will host its annual Witches Night Out featuring food samples from Italy, as well as mulled cider drinks. Come dressed in your best wizardry wardrobe and get your picture taken with characters from the Harry Potter series.
Gallery 48, 107 W. 7th St., will host an art show featuring the works of local 3-D artist Nicola Stadler from 5-8 p.m., which will include live demonstrations of how she creates her art.