Southern Middle TN Today News with Tom Price 9-27-24

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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 27, 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.

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 yesterday, that due to the inclement weather that is moing through Middle Tennessee this 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.

Four New Docs at MRMC (MSM)
Maury Regional Medical Center recently announced the addition of four physicians to its various offices.
Brett Begley, MD, a cardiologist with Ascension Saint Thomas Heart Columbia, has joined the medical staff.
Dr. Begley received his medical degree from Ross University School of Medicine in St. Michael, Barbados. He completed a residency at Michigan State University, Corewell Health, Grand Rapids, Mich., and a fellowship in cardiovascular disease at Canton Medical Education Foundation, Aultman Hospital in Canton, Ohio, in Cardiovascular Disease. He is board certified in internal medicine.
Ascension Saint Thomas Heart Columbia is located at 1222 Trotwood Avenue, Suite 211, in Columbia, Tennessee. Office hours are Monday–Friday from 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. To make an appointment, call [phone].
With the addition of Dr. Begley, the medical staff at Maury Regional Health includes 15 heart specialists with expertise in general cardiology, interventional cardiology and electrophysiology. The Heart Center offers a vast array of cardiac services ranging from diagnostic and interventional procedures to pacemaker and defibrillator implants, and recently invested $1.9 million to enhance cardiac services, which included new state-of-the-art technology in its cardiac catheterization labs.
Emily Jenkins, MD, a specialist in medical oncology and hematology, has joined the staff at Maury Regional Medical Center. She is associated with Tennessee Oncology at the Maury Regional Cancer Center.
Dr. Jenkins received her medical degree from the University of Virginia, School of Medicine, Charlottesville, VA. She completed a residency and a fellowship in hematology and oncology at University of North Carolina Medical Center, Chapel Hill, NC.  Dr. Jenkins is board certified in Internal Medicine, Hematology & Medical Oncology.
Dr. Jenkins joins Varun Dhulipala, MD, Romany Johnpulle, MD, and Mark Messenger, MD in the Tennessee Oncology practice in Columbia.
The office is located at the Columbia Mall in the Maury Regional Cancer Center, 808 South James Campbell Boulevard. The office hours are Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m. For more information, call [phone].
Also, Bethany Summerford, MD and Ankur Vaidya, MD, have joined the medical staff at Maury Regional Medical Center as hospital medicine physicians and are both affiliated with the Maury Regional Medical Group.
Dr. Summerford completed medical school at University of Mississippi School of Medicine in Jackson, MS. She completed her residency at University of Miami, Jackson Health System in Miami, Fla.
Dr. Vaidya completed medical school at University of Maryland School of Medicine in Baltimore, Md. He completed his residency at the University of Miami, Jackson Health System in Miami, Fla.
Maury Regional Medical Group, an affiliate of Maury Regional Health, is the provider for Maury Regional’s hospital medicine program. These physicians are specialists who devote their time and expertise to adult and pediatric patients exclusively within the hospital setting. The hospital medicine physicians are trained in internal medicine and pediatrics and can care for patients ranging from infants to the elderly.

Bridge Named After Model Citizen and other County News (MSM)
The Maury County Commission passed a resolution on Sept. 16 to name a bridge after Hampshire’s John Andrew Booker. The State bridge runs over Cathey’s Creek on Love Branch Road.
Booker was born in 1944 and went to schools in Columbia, finishing at the all-black Carver-Smith High School. He served in the Navy during the Vietnam War and returned to Hampshire. After working at a few other businesses, he settled at Columbia Gulf Transmission and worked there for 27 years until he retired. In 1965 he married Lillian Joann Booker and they had four children. When Lillian was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 1980, Booker took care of her until his death in 2011.
Booker was very active in the common life of Hampshire. He was an adult leader in the Boy Scouts, the president of the PTA, a Rotarian, a volunteer firefighter and an involved member of the Pleasant Union Church of Christ, where he led building and maintenance projects. Booker also founded the Godfathers motorcycle club, to which County Commissioner Gary Stovall belongs.
“I knew him a long time,” Stovall reminisced about his time with Booker. “He had a servant’s heart there.”
Commissioner Aaron Miller sponsored the resolution to name the bridge. One of Booker’s sons had asked Miller about a memorial for his father, so the commissioner put out a call for testimonies about his life and character. They needed only three testimonies to start the process, but Miller was quickly swamped with them.
“There was an absolute outpouring from neighbors, friends, and family, with these anecdotal stories of Mr. Booker going out of his way to help his neighbors,” Miller said. “[It] could be the middle of the night, could be him coming home from work – whatever it was, he was always looking for opportunities to serve his neighbors.”
Miller brought out another purpose for the memorial while speaking to the Commission. When Miller was in the military, a senior officer told him that military medals are meant not only to reward the recipient, but also to inspire other people to emulate their good deeds.
“Every time somebody drives over that bridge, or walks by that bridge, they’re gonna see that plaque and say, ‘Hey, I wonder what that guy did? Why is he being honored?’ ” Miller said. “I just hope this bridge honors his legacy and his memory, and also inspires other members of the community to act in the same ways that he did.”
In other county government business, commissioners selected Ray Jeter to serve as chairman pro tempore (vice chairman) for the next year, as well as approving Tim Holt and Tony Greene to the Civil Service Board, Beverly Rayburn to the Adequate Facilities Tax Board, Jeter, Gabe Howard and Kathey Grodi to the Audit Committee, Cindy Hestla and Carl McCullen to the Ethics Board and Benny Bolton and Cindy Johnson to the Park Board.
Also approved on second reading was the adoption of an impact fee on new construction, something Maury County has been pursuing for years. Earlier in 2024, the General Assembly passed a law allowing counties with high population growth in the last U.S. Census to add an impact fee of up to $1.50 per square foot on residential construction and commercial construction, up to 150,000 square feet.
The new fee will take effect on Nov. 1, 2024, and will not apply to any builders who have already received permits for construction as of the end of October.
“A big, big thank you to every commissioner in this room and the pervious commissioners who started this fight… It’s been over three years in the making. It’s a big deal for the people of Maury County, our schools and how we’re going to fund our growth,” Jeter said.
A request by Maury Regional Medical Center to issue $100 million in bonds for upcoming projects at the hospital was also approved. The hospital will pay off the bonds, per an inter-local agreement between MRMC and the county.
Grant funding of $433,287.04 for the Maury County Health Department and $3,267,322.33 in American Rescue Plan funds for the Maury County Water System and the City of Mt. Pleasant was also approved by commissioners.

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.

Mt. Pleasant Bicentennial (Press Release)
In honor of Mount Pleasant’s 200th anniversary, the community will host a Bicentennial Home Tour on September 27 and 28, 2024, from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM. This special event will offer an exclusive look inside some of the town’s most beautiful and historic buildings providing a unique opportunity to experience the rich history and charm of Mount Pleasant.
The Bicentennial Home Tour will feature a carefully curated selection of homes that represent the diverse architectural heritage of Mount Pleasant.
“This tour is not just about viewing beautiful homes; it’s about celebrating our community’s legacy and the people who have shaped it over the past 200 years,” said Haverly Pennington, Director of Main Street Mount Pleasant. “We’re excited to share Mount Pleasant’s history with residents and visitors alike.”
Event Details:
Dates: September 27 & 28, 2024
Time: 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM
Location: Various homes throughout Mount Pleasant
Tickets: Available for purchase at Mount Pleasant Visitors Center and Maury County Visitors Center for $35. 

Proceeds from the event will benefit Main Street Mount Pleasant. For more information on Main Street Mount Pleasant, tickets, or volunteer roles, please visit the Mount Pleasant Visitors Center at 205 N. Main Street Mount Pleasant, TN.
“We are grateful for the support of our Co-Chair Jennifer Graham and volunteers who are helping to make this event a success,” said Haverly Pennington. “Their commitment to Mount Pleasant’s future is a testament to the spirit of our community.”
Come celebrate Mount Pleasant’s rich past and bright future!

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.
And now, Your Hometown Memorials, Sponsored by Oakes & Nichols Funeral Home…
Evelyn Jett Brewer, 83, and resident of Columbia, died Friday, September 20, 2024 at Poplar Estates Assisted Living.
Visitation 1:00 PM to 2:00 PM Monday, September 30 at Oakes and Nichols Funeral Home followed by graveside service at 3:00 PM at Lynnwood Cemetery in Lynnville.

Joann Barrett Johnson Coffey, 84, retired secretary for Columbia State Community College and a longtime resident of Cleveland and Columbia died Tuesday, September 24, 2024 at Maury Regional Medical Center.
A graveside service will be conducted Saturday, September 28, 2024 at 1:00 PM EST at Sunset Memorial Gardens in Cleveland, Tennessee.

Sammie Dot Grimes Mayfield, 91, retired cafeteria manager for Columbia Academy, and resident of Columbia, died Tuesday, September 24, 2024 at her residence.
Funeral services will be conducted Thursday October 3, 2024 at 12:00 PM at Oakes & Nichols Funeral Home. Burial will follow at Palestine Cemetery. The family will visit with friends Thursday October 3, 2024 from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM at Oakes & Nichols Funeral Home. 

And now, news from around the state…
Vandy Expanding to NYC (Tennessean)
Vanderbilt University's nationwide footprint is expanding to New York City.
The school, which announced an expansion to southern Florida earlier this month, said Thursday that it entered into a lease agreement with The General Theological Seminary to take over its historic campus in the Chelsea neighborhood — including 13 buildings and approximately 150,000 square feet.
Vanderbilt is still in the process of receiving approval for the lease and any future programming from New York state government.
“To properly provide a transformative education to our students, and help our scholars and researchers achieve their greatest ambitions and most meaningful impact, we must make the broadest and richest range of opportunities available to them — wherever those opportunities exist,” Chancellor Daniel Diermeier said in a statement. “As home to leading institutions in finance, media, technology and the arts, and as a jumping-off point to the rest of the world, New York offers unbounded opportunities.”
Vanderbilt University reported that approximately 7,800 alumni and 740 current students live in or are from the New York area.
Last year, the university created a "regional administrative hub" in New York for its Development and Alumni Relations, the Office of Career Advancement and Education and the Office of Enrollment Affairs. That office will relocate to the Chelsea campus.
The university said other programming details are still in the early stages and would be pending state approval. A faculty advisory committee has convened to discuss how best to utilize the campus, led by Vice Provost for Undergraduate Education Tiffiny Tung. Undergraduate cost of attendance is $94,000, according to Vanderbilt's website and its Opportunity Vanderbilt program provides financial aid to applicants from households that earn less than $150,000 a year.
The General Theological Seminary plans to continue limited operations on the Chelsea campus with two-week intensive classes and maintaining some office space. Vanderbilt emphasized that the seminary will remain a completely separate entity, despite their proximity on the campus.
"This agreement ensures that GTS will maintain a year-round presence and will continue to provide future leadership for The Episcopal Church in our historic home," GTS President Ian Markham said in a statement. "We believe that Vanderbilt shares our commitment to be a strong partner to the neighborhood and local community.”
New York isn't the only city Vanderbilt is eyeing for its growth plans.
Earlier this month, Vanderbilt also advanced its plan to build a 300,000-square foot graduate campus in West Palm Beach, Fla. On Sept. 5, the West Palm Beach City Commission gave the university seven parcels of land worth at least $12.8 million, according to the Palm Beach Post.
The university told the Palm Beach Post that its outpost there would focus on finance and technology degrees, planning to enroll around 1,000 students and employ between 100-150 faculty members.
Vanderbilt estimated that the campus will generate $7.1 billion in economic activity over the next quarter century and create 5,600 one-time construction jobs.
Both potential new campuses fit into Vanderbilt's ongoing mission to “bring the world to Vanderbilt and Vanderbilt to the world.”

Final Story of the Day (Maury County Source)
Did you know Columbia has its very own comic convention chock full of vintage toys, comic books, video games and perhaps a few caped crusaders all dressed up.
The Columbia Comic Book Expo will take place on Saturday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the National Guard Armory center at 844 N. James M. Campbell Blvd.
Now in its fifth year, the Columbia expo celebrates all things geek and pop culture, not to mention a great way to spend a Saturday afternoon tapping into that inner child.
Guests can browse and purchase a wide range of items from Lego sets to Star Wars, Marvel, DC, anime, vintage posters and other collectibles. Also be sure to dress in your favorite cosplay for the event's cosplay contest.
Admission is $5 with free parking and food trucks available for a quick bite.