Southern Middle TN Today News with Tom Price 10-30-24

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 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…
Boys and Girls Club Waives Fees (MSM)
Boys & Girls Clubs of South Central Tennessee, a leading youth development organization, has announced a major initiative to waive all membership fees for its current teen members and for new teen enrollees. This bold move is part of the Club’s commitment to ensuring that no young person is prevented from accessing vital programs due to financial barriers. The initiative will expand access to the Club’s transformative programs for teens in Maury and Giles County, where the demand for youth services continues to rise.
“I think the fee structure can definitely be a barrier for some families, ” said Haley Johnson, Teen Services Director. “Especially for teens who might think, ‘My parents can’t afford this,’ or feel unsure about asking because they’re not sure if their family can handle the cost. Eliminating that barrier really creates a more level playing field, giving more kids access to the mentorship and resources we provide.”
As a mother herself, Johnson understands the impact: “Twenty-five dollars a week adds up — over a month, that’s $100, which could be daycare or gas money. For some families, $25 to $65 a week could mean the difference between paying a bill or keeping the lights on. Removing these fees for middle and high-schoolers helps lift that financial burden off parents.”
“Our mission is to support the whole family,” Johnson added. “By easing the financial strain, we help parents manage other responsibilities, like sports and extracurriculars. We don’t want teens to have to choose between coming to the Club and pursuing what they love — they should be able to do both.”
Recent data highlights the need for expanded services as Tennessee ranks 41st in the nation for youth mental health. One in five teens has seriously contemplated suicide, underscoring the urgent need for mental health support. Every day, over 170,000 children in the state return to homes without adult supervision, including more than 4,130 children living in poverty in Maury and Giles counties. Among them, nearly 17% are under 5 years old. For older students in middle and high school over 60% of depend on free or reduced-price lunches. A 8.6% dropout rate compounds their risk, both mentally and economically.
The fee waiver for teens is just the beginning of Boys and Girls Club’s broader plans to expand its reach. Ginny Wright, CEO of BGCSCTN, noted that recent fundraising efforts, including a highly successful gala that raised over $300,000, have positioned the Club to increase its capacity.
“We’re planning to serve more and more kids across the communities in our region. Waiving fees for teens is the first step in this expansion, and we plan to reduce fees for all other members in the near future,” Wright explained. “No child should miss out on opportunities to grow, learn, and succeed due to financial constraints. By removing these barriers, we’re ensuring that more young people in our community have access to the support they need to achieve success in school, in life, and beyond.”
When asked about the teen membership fee waiver, long-time staff member Ms. Shirlene from the Columbia Center shared, “I think this is one of the most generous and impactful ideas we’ve had in a long time. I really believe it will boost our membership, and I’m excited to see how it grows.”
Although the initiative is expected to boost membership, it also compounds the challenge of keeping teens engaged with the Club’s programs. Haley Johnson shared her thoughts on the anticipated rise in teen participation: “Serving more middle and high school students does come with challenges. By the time kids reach us, they’ve usually found some extracurricular passion, whether it’s sports or other activities. This means they’re not always at Club, but it gives us the opportunity to support them outside of it.”
“The real challenge,” she continued, “is staying relevant to them without interfering with their activities. How do we encourage them to come to the Club after they’ve had a long day of practice? That’s something I’m looking forward to figuring out.”
Founded in 1999, Boys & Girls Clubs of South Central Tennessee serves more than 1,500 youth annually across three Clubhouse sites and eleven school-based locations. In partnership with Maury County Public Schools since 2016, the Club has expanded its reach to provide vital services to children and families throughout the region.
For more information about Boys & Girls Clubs of South Central Tennessee and its programs, please visit bcgsctn.org.

TN Ag Extension (WKOM Audio 5:55)
Yesterday, the annual country classroom for 4th graders was held at the Tennessee Ag Extension in Spring Hill. To learn more about it, WKOM/WKRM’s Clayton Harris stopped by and spoke to Nancy Delk, Women’s Leadership Chairman at Tennessee Farm Bureau and Woodard Elementary students Hadley Howell and Millie Conners…

Former Fire Chief Files Federal Suit Against City (MSM)
Former Columbia Fire Chief Ty Cobb has filed a federal civil rights lawsuit contesting his termination, claiming whistleblower status and retaliation on the city’s part.
The lawsuit was filed in Tennessee Middle District Court on Oct. 23 and no hearing date has been set.
In the filing, Cobb claims he was retaliated against by City Manager Tony Massey after reporting what he believed to be illegal activity in the response to the May 2023 shooting hoax at Columbia Central High School. Former firefighter Roy Brooks was charged with carrying a weapon on school property after responding with an AR-15 rifle to the scene, despite not being a member of any law enforcement team. The charge against Brooks was later dismissed.
The lawsuit claims that Cobb’s firing was retaliatory in nature for having “engaged in constitutionally protected speech” and that the “protected speech was a motivating factor in defendants’ adverse employment actions.”
Cobb was terminated as chief of Columbia Fire & Rescue on March 12, 2024, by Massey. In the letter of termination, Massey stated allegations that included “a message falsely accusing the chief of police of being involved in an attempted break-in at the apartment of the person who sent the text” and “a message offering to pay for favorable news stories which would benefit your interest.”
Cobb, who had previously served a 30-day suspension in late 2023, won an order in Chancery Court in August for a hearing before Columbia’s Civil Service Board after originally being denied such a hearing. That hearing has yet to take place.
The lawsuit requests back pay, damages for loss of benefits, unspecified punitive damages for “stress and anxiety” and that Cobb be reinstated to his former position.
Cobb’s attorney, Robert Bigelow of Nashville, stated that reinstatement was Cobb’s ultimate goal.
“Mr. Cobb ultimately hopes that this will lead to him getting his job back. He very much misses what he has done for so long and what he loved doing. He hopes he can get back to it,” Bigelow said.
Officials with the City of Columbia declined comment, citing pending litigation.

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: Right now, 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 www.springhillchamber.com or contact the Spring Hill Chamber Welcome Center at [phone].

Breakfast with the Mayors (Press Release)
Join Maury Alliance on November 19th at 8:30am at the Memorial Building located at 308 W. 7th Street in Columbia for their annual Breakfast with the Mayors event. Sponsored by John Maher Builders and Fairfield by Marriott of Columbia, learn about what is happening in your community directly from the mayors. County Mayor Sheila Butt, Columbia Mayor Chaz Molder, Spring Hill Mayor Jim Hagaman, and Mt. Pleasant Mayor Bill White will be on hand to talk about their communities and answer questions. Admission is $25 for Maury Alliance Members and $30 for non-members. You must register by November 12th. You can do so by visiting www.mauryalliance.com.

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

Sam Jackson Whiteside, 86, lifelong farmer, died Tuesday, October 29, 2024 at his residence in the Dry Fork Community.
Funeral services will be conducted Friday, November 1, 2024 at 2:00 PM at Oakes & Nichols Funeral Home. Burial will follow in Worley Cemetery. The family will visit with friends Thursday, October 31, 2024 from 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM and Friday, November 1, 2024 from 1:00 PM until time of the services at Oakes & Nichols Funeral Home.

Brenda Charlene Leach, 73, former cake decorator for Publix, and resident of Columbia, died Wednesday, October 23, 2024 at her residence.
Funeral services will be conducted on Saturday, November 2, 2024 at 1:00 PM at Oakes & Nichols Funeral Home. Entombment will follow at Polk Memorial Gardens. The family will visit with friends Saturday from 11:00 AM until the time of service at Oakes & Nichols Funeral Home. 

Kenneth Eugene Davis, 67, retired self-employed stone mason and resident of Hampshire, passed away Friday, October 25, 2024 at his residence.
Funeral services will be conducted Sunday, November 3, 2024 at 2:00 p.m. at Oakes & Nichols Funeral Home. Burial will follow at Davis Cemetery. The family will visit with friends Saturday, November 2, 2024 from 4:00 PM till 8:00 PM at Oakes & Nichols Funeral Home. 

Virgil Woodard White, 85, retired operator for Texas Eastern and lifelong resident of Columbia, died Monday, October 28, 2024 at Maury Regional Medical Center.
Funeral services will be conducted Saturday, November 2, 2024 at 10:00 AM at Oakes & Nichols Funeral Home. Burial will follow at Knob Creek Cemetery with military honors provided by the Herbert Griffin American Legion Post 19 . The family will visit with friends Friday, November 1, 2024 from 3:00 PM till 8:00 PM, and on Saturday from 9:00 AM till the time of service at Oakes & Nichols Funeral Home.

And now, news from around the state…
Freedom Tour (Tennessean)
A line of voters stretched nearly halfway around Veterans Plaza in Clarksville on Friday as a crowd of 60 greeted a bright red bus carrying top Republican leaders – including Gov. Bill Lee – with campaign signs and cheers. 
Top state and federal GOP leaders are making their closing arguments to Tennessee voters in the final weeks leading up to Election Day on a “Tennessee Freedom Tour” scheduled to visit 43 Tennessee counties in nearly 50 stops. A stop was made in Columbia on Monday.
“I’ve been a governor when President Trump was the president, and I’ve been a governor when Biden and Harris were in office,” Lee told the crowd in Clarksville. “We need President Trump.” 
Organized and funded by the Tennessee Republican Party, many of the tour stops are led by House Speaker Cameron Sexton, R-Crossville. Gov. Bill Lee joined the bus for a few days last week, as did Lt. Gov. Randy McNally, U.S. Reps. John Rose, Mark Green, David Kustoff and Tim Burchett, and dozens of state House and Senate members. Conservative WTN talk radio host Matt Murphy also joined for a day. 
Their message is simple: go vote.
“This election is very easy: this is about freedom,” Sexton said during the Clarksville stop. “It’s about personal freedom, economic freedom, education freedom and your Second Amendment.”
State leaders tout their work keeping taxes low without adding debt to the state budget, reducing regulations for individuals and businesses, offering new pathways to prosperity through education and career training options, and lowering the state poverty rate. 
But the message isn’t just about state politics. Trump and Vance are the largest names on the bus.
At Hendersonville City Hall on Thursday, bold blue Trump flags fluttered in the breeze as strains of Alabama’s "Dixieland Delight" wafted through the crowd.
Wearing a T-shirt with an image of Trump with fist raised and the words “Fight, fight, fight!” state House Majority Leader William Lamberth, R-Portland, pointed out the high stakes of the election.
At the close of each stop, Sexton invites attendees to sign the bus in Sharpie – and it’s beginning to fill up with names. 
For their part, Tennessee's legislative Democrats have been crisscrossing the state on what they are calling a "Cost-Cutting Caravan" where they are highlighting their initiatives to help the middle class and other priorities for the upcoming 114th Tennessee General Assembly. The Democratic proposals including ending the sales tax on groceries, raising the minimum wage and expanding health care access.

Final Story of the Day (Maury County Source)
If you’re trying to figure out where you will take your family trick-or-treating this year, check out Haunting in the District in downtown Columbia.
Haunting in the District is a free trick-or-treating event for kids 12 and under held on W.7th Street just off the square. The event will last from 6-8pm.
There will be lots of candy, a petting zoo, kid’s zone and more. Check www.experiencemaury.com for additional information.