Southern Middle TN Today News with Tom Price 8-26-24

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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 August 26, 2024

All news stories are aggregated from various sources and modified for time and content. Original sources are cited.
We start with local news…
Communications Workers Strike (CDH)
AT&T workers in Columbia, who are members of the Communications Workers of America, are still standing on the picket line, asking for better contract negotiations from the company that employs tens of thousands of workers.
Late last week, over 17,000 CWA workers across the Southeast enacted "an unfair labor practice strike" in protest of AT&T’s, quote "bad faith bargaining tactics," according to a CWA media release.
CWA District 3 members in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee walked off the job last Friday and remain on the picket line.
Columbia facility technician Todd Heard, Local CWA 3803 member of over 27 years, said the company needs to "bring the right people" to the bargaining table, though he was not specific about contract stipulations.
Local CWA 3803 represents 122 workers in Southern Middle Tennessee, including those in Columbia, Pulaski, Hohenwald and the surrounding area. In Nashville alone, at least 800 members are striking with a total of about 2,500 workers striking across the state. 
Heard, who stood by over a dozen members at the Columbia AT&T location on Armstrong, said members walked out of the AT&T sites in the city at 2 p.m. last Friday and are hoping to see some solutions.
Aundra Jones, who serves as a digital technician and has been with the company for 29 years, said he wishes the company were more "sympathetic to employees."
"They need to be more sympathetic to employees after all that we've put in. There are a lot of things we'd like to have like [changes] to health insurance like too large deductibles and co-pay plans," Jones said.
"Negotiations began in late June and AT&T has refused to bargain over mandatory subjects and has failed to send a representative with authority to make decisions," the CWA media release said.
“I have been in close contact with CWA District 3 Vice President Richard Honeycutt, and I have complete faith in our bargaining team," CWA President Claude Cummings Jr. said.
"I have told AT&T executives that the striking workers and the bargaining team have my full support. I expect AT&T to treat every member with respect and to send representatives to the table who have authority to bargain and who are serious about bargaining in good faith.”
AT&T disputed the union's accusations in a news release and said the company reached agreements in three other union negotiations this year that cover 13,000 employees. The company stated that the Southeastern strike impacts 15,000 workers rather than the 17,000 claimed by the union.
The strike involves technicians, customer service representatives and others who work with AT&T’s residential and business telecommunications network in the region.
The union said it filed a complaint with the National Labor Relations Board because, among other issues, AT&T sent representatives to negotiations who did not have the authority to make decisions.
“We have been met at the table by company representatives who were unable to explain their own bargaining proposals and did not seem to have the actual bargaining authority required,” said Richard Honeycutt, vice president of the union's 3rd District.
With customer service representatives and AT&T installation and maintenance technicians on the strike line, the company is using subcontractors to keep their network running, the release said.
“During the strike, AT&T has been sending undertrained managers and contractors to perform highly technical work,” Honeycutt said in a press release.
“Our members have seen them at work in their communities and documented unsafe practices, including failure to wear proper safety equipment, failure to secure ladders and other equipment, putting the worker and nearby vehicles and pedestrians at risk, and failure to mark work areas with safety cones. We are encouraging members of the public to use extra caution when encountering these worksites.”

Chris Cummins New Fire Chief (Press Release)
The City of Columbia has announced the appointment of Interim Fire Chief Chris Cummins as the new full-time Chief of Columbia Fire & Rescue, effective September 3, 2024. With a distinguished career at Columbia Fire & Rescue and a steadfast commitment to public safety, Chief Cummins brings invaluable experience and leadership to his new role.
Chief Cummins commented, “The fire service is founded on a strong legacy and tradition. The history of those who came before us is part of our story, and our actions today will become part of their legacy. I am both honored and privileged to help build this foundation, ensuring that our work will positively impact future generations.”

Chief Cummins has over three decades of experience with Columbia Fire & Rescue. He began his career with the department in 1990 as a firefighter and steadily rose through the ranks, serving as a Fire Engineer/Driver, Captain, Assistant Chief of Suppression, and ultimately as Deputy Chief before retiring in May 2021. Additionally, Cummins has
served over twenty years in total as a volunteer firefighter in both Maury and Lawrence Counties. Following his retirement, Cummins was rehired in August of 2021 in a part-time capacity, where he contributed significantly to facilitating FEMA/TEMA transitions, conducting training, securing grants, and implementing hazard mitigation strategies.
He was appointed to the position of Interim Chief in March of 2024.

Mayor Chaz Molder stated, "We are fortunate to have Chris Cummins continue his outstanding service to our in his role as Chief of Columbia Fire & Rescue on a permanent basis. The improved morale and improvements in other metrics during his time as interim chief are the result of his leadership and the respect he has within the department and everywhere else in between. His experience and dedication to public safety make him the ideal leader for Columbia Fire & Rescue."

As the full-time Fire Chief, Cummins will oversee all aspects of Columbia Fire & Rescue, including emergency response operations, training programs, and community outreach initiatives. He will work closely with city officials and department personnel to ensure the safety and well-being of all residents and visitors.

City Manager Tony Massey said, “I am pleased to announce that Chris Cummins has been selected as the permanent Fire Chief for the City of Columbia. He has done an outstanding job in the role of Interim Chief. He brings experience, integrity, and dedication to the position. He will lead the department effectively into the future.”

Throughout his career, Chief Cummins has demonstrated exceptional leadership and a strong ability to manage crisis situations effectively. As he assumes his new role as full-time Fire Chief, the City of Columbia is confident in his ability to guide the department with integrity, skill, and a deep commitment to the community.
Maury County Ed Score Trend Up (CDH)
Maury County Public Schools Superintendent Lisa Ventura praised improvements in the district’s state achievement TCAP scores, recently released by the Tennessee Department of Education.
The district experienced improvements in reading, math and science scores with a slight dip in social studies, Ventura announced at a Maury County Chamber & Economic Alliance education forum Wednesday at Mule Town Lumberyard in Columbia's Arts District.
"We are still trending up," Ventura said.
According to the 2024 State Report Card, students in grades 3-5 in MCPS scored 31% proficient in English and Language Arts and 33.2% proficient in math, which is up from 2023 scores.
In 2023, the same batch of students scored 28.4% proficient in reading (ELA) and 28.2% proficient in math.
In 2018, MCPS students scored 24.8% proficient in reading and 21.6% proficient in math on TCAP, which landed the district in the bottom 5% lowest performing districts in the state designating the district as "In Need of Improvement." However, an improvement in scores over the years has buoyed the district to its current designation of "Satisfactory," according to the 2024 State Report Card.
Even though district scores have inched ahead each year, MCPS still lags behind the state average of 38.9% proficiency in reading and 39.7% proficiency in math.
"Some don't realize that it takes a lot of students improving to move a percentage point," Ventura said. "That's a large number of students that had to make gains to bring up the aggregate average. That's something to be proud of."
A panel of education professionals from Maury County Public Schools joined Ventura in discussing key issues at the Maury Alliance education forum Wednesday. Panelists included Amy Roberts Supervisor of College, Career & Technical Education, Michelle Gilbert director of Director of Teaching, Learning & Assessment and county finance director Doug Lukonen, who talked about school funding.
President of Maury Alliance Wil Evans moderated the event and also unveiled the MCPS annual Education Report generated by Maury Alliance crammed with statistics and facts about the district's enrollment, demographics, funding, academic performance and other trends during the 2022-23 school year.
Ventura attributes the steady increase in achievement to the district's "laser focus" on reading and reading interventions. Students undergo benchmark assessments throughout the year and receive reading interventions such as visiting a reading specialist and attending intensive reading summer camp instruction if they fall behind.
Ventura also said that she supports limiting the amount of testing teachers are required to perform that could hinder their time spent on instruction.
"We have to have some testing, but we need to decrease the amount of assessments," Ventura said.
She also pointed out that although the district still has a ways to go to catch up to the state average in reading proficiency, TCAP is only a "snapshot" of a student's performance.
"This [achievement test] is just a snapshot of one day of a child's life on one academic test," Ventura said. "I think that gets lost in the vernacular in our state and in our nation."
Columbia Mayor Chaz Molder who attended the forum said the progress is encouraging.
"I am pleased to see the progress reported in the Maury Alliance public-ed scorecard, and even more pleased to have heard district leadership in promoting the progress and successes, while also articulating a vision that will work towards improvements for the system as a whole," Molder said.
"I appreciate the Maury Alliance for recognizing the importance of public education in our community. So goes our public school system, so goes our community. And, we must all work together to improve our local school district at every opportunity."
Ventura also addressed the problem of chronic absenteeism among students across the school district at a rate of 21% absenteeism during the 2023-24 school year, according to the 2023 State Report Card, significantly up from 13.9% in 2018.
"At one time, parents used to plan according to the school calendar, but now parents do not plan according to the school calendar. If they have a deal on a condo in Destin, they pull their child out for a week. School is important. You don't want your child out for five days," Ventura said. "I don't want to shame or guilt parents, but we need them in school."
Ventura said "schools are the heart of our community," containing the future parents, leaders and workers in the community.
"I wish you could see what happens in schools every day," Ventura said to the group of business professionals. "They are magical places. It's amazing how hard teachers work for your child and grandchildren."
Ventura praised the innovative programs occurring within school buildings each day, specifically citing Mt. Pleasant STEM High School's farm equipment simulators along with other CTE programs across the district. From reading in the classroom to hands-on-activities and dual enrollment programs with colleges, Ventura said, "It's a lot to do. Your child should be tired at the end of the day."
Roberts also discussed how MCPS prepares students for the workforce by offering many skill training programs in CTE from recording music, to building robots, to operating farm equipment, to building and creating products. She highlighted the large number of students who are able to participate in dual enrollment at Columbia State Community College and receive their Associate's degree upon graduation.
However, Roberts said her dream would be for the district to house a centralized facility where all students can have the chance to participate in STEM, CTE and entrepreneurial endeavors in an equal way across the district much like surrounding districts like Williamson County Schools.
Ventura also highlighted the importance of a dedicated staff in the district's upward trajectory to higher achievement.
"We have a staff who loves kids as much as I love kids and who look at the whole child," Ventura said.

Tri-Star Academy (WKOM Audio 1:15)
On Friday, Acton Tri-Star Academy, a new school in Spring Hill opened. Candace Lewis of the Spring Hill Chamber was on hand to speak to the academy’s Rachel Odgen…

New Maury Regional Cardiologist (MauryCountySource)
Maury Regional Medical Center (MRMC) has welcomed Victoria Thomas Martin, an interventional cardiologist with Ascension Saint Thomas Heart Columbia, to the medical staff.
Dr. Martin received her medical degree from the University of Chicago-Pritzker School of Medicine, Chicago, IL. She completed her residency at Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN. She also completed fellowships at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, in both cardiovascular disease and interventional cardiology. She 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. to 4:30 p.m. To make an appointment, call 931.777.2300.
The medical staff at Maury Regional Health includes 14 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.
The medical center has been recognized as a Chest Pain Center with PCI by the American College of Cardiology and holds certification in the treatment of heart failure from The Joint Commission. In addition, U.S. News & World Report has recognized the medical center as a high performing hospital for heart attack treatment for 2023-2024.

And now, Your Hometown Memorials, Sponsored by Oakes & Nichols Funeral Home…
Mildred Cox Grissim, 97, longtime resident of Columbia, died Wednesday, August 21, 2024 at Life Care Center of Columbia.
A private graveside service will be conducted Monday, August 26, 2024 at Polk Memorial Gardens.
Memorials may be made to Maury County Public Library 211 West 8th Street, Columbia, TN 38401. Online condolences may be extended at www.oakesandnichols.com.

Now, news from around the state…
Archery Available in Middle Tennessee (Press Release)
Middle Tennessee archery hunters who want to hone their skills prior to the upcoming deer hunting season have options. The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA) maintains and partners in several archery ranges in the mid-state area for sportsmen to utilize.
TWRA archery ranges are located at Cheatham WMA Firing and Archery Range, the Montgomery County Shooting Complex, and the Stones River Hunter Education Center. Information and fees for each of these ranges can be found in the Tennessee Fishing, Hunting and Trapping Guide at tnwildlife.org.
The TWRA also partners with local municipalities and parks to provide opportunity for archers in Williamson, Maury, and Dickson Counties.
The archery range at Yanahli Park in Maury County has been open for two years. TWRA partnered with Maury County Parks to build this ADA compliant archery range at Yanahli Park located in Columbia, TN at 922 Iron Bridge Road. The range features eight shooting stations, a concrete shooting platform and walkway to access targets from 15 to 50 yards. No broadheads are allowed. The range is open during park hours, and there is no cost to access the range. .
TWRA and Montgomery Bell State Park partnered to create a target archery range on park property. The range features eight stations allowing archers to shoot from 20 to 50 yards in a wooded setting. No broadheads are allowed on the range. The range is open during park hours and there is no cost to access the range. Montgomery Bell State Park is located at 1020 Jackson Hill Road, Burns, TN. The visitor center phone is 615-797-9052. To find the archery range continue past the visitor center on Jackson Hill Rd. Coordinates to the range are: 36.0814096, -87.2750781.
The Ag Expo Archery Park at the Williamson County Ag Expo serves Franklin and the surrounding area. The archery range was constructed in a partnership between the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency and Williamson County in 2013. The range features 10 stations, ranging in distance from 10 to 60 yards and is open during daylight hours. Arrows equipped with broadheads are not allowed, and there is no cost to access the range. The Ag Expo Archery Park is located at 4201 Long Ln, Franklin, TN. Coordinates to the range are: 35.8604667, -86.8242843.
The 2024-25 deer season begins with a 3-day hunt on August 23-25. This is a antlered only archery hunt and open to private lands and select Wildlife Management Areas. Check the Tennessee Fishing, Hunting, and Trapping Guide at tnwildlife.org for participating management areas.
The traditional opening date for the statewide archery season is the fourth Saturday in September. This year, it falls on September 28, 2024.

Final Story of the Day (Maury County Source)
The season surrounding the Sept. 13, 2024 release of "Postcards From Texas," Miranda Lambert's ninth studio album — and first as an artist signed to Republic Records — will include an honor from the 2024 People's Choice Country Awards two weeks after her album release.
Lambert will receive "The Country Icon" Award at the event airing live on Sept. 26 from the Grand Ole Opry House in Nashville.
Notably, the "Country Icon" award was given to the late Toby Keith during 2023's inaugural People's Choice Country Awards ceremony.
"A tour de force in country music for more than 20 years, Miranda Lambert's groundbreaking albums continue to capture the hearts of fans around the world," said Jen Neal, Executive Vice President of Live Events and Specials at NBCUniversal Entertainment. "We're so excited to celebrate her career, fierce individualism and innovation in the industry with the Country Icon Award."
Over two decades, Lambert has distinguished herself as a three-time Grammy winner, a record-setting 39-time Academy of Country Music award winner, plus the recipient of 14 Country Music Association awards. She has also achieved seven No. 1 albums and 10 No. 1 radio hits. Moreover, she's succeeded as a successful businesswoman and entrepreneur, including her MuttNation Foundation, which has raised nearly $10 million for rescue animal advocacy.