Southern Middle TN Today News with Tom Price 7-23-24

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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 July 23, 2024

All news stories are aggregated from various sources and modified for time and content. Original sources are cited.
We start with local news…
Sobriety Checkpoint (Press Release)
The Spring Hill Police Department will conduct a sobriety checkpoint beginning on Friday, July 26th from 11 pm until 1 am.
This checkpoint will be located on Main St. close to Crossings Blvd.
A Tennessee Supreme Court ruling requires this notification.
Year to date the SHPD has made 87 arrests for driving under the influence. Please remember to choose a sober ride.

Maury Regional Promotes Malone to CNO (Press Release)
Maury Regional Health is pleased to announce the promotion of Cathy Malone, MMHC, BSN, to its senior leadership team, assuming the role of chief nursing officer (CNO).
“Cathy has consistently demonstrated outstanding leadership, exceptional clinical skills and a deep commitment to patient care,” said Maury Regional CEO, Dr. Martin Chaney, MD. “Her vision and dedication will undoubtedly drive an ongoing positive impact at Maury Regional Health.”
Malone has more than 29 years of experience, with 23 at Maury Regional Health, most recently serving as assistant CNO since January 2023 and previously as administrative director of cardiovascular services. During her leadership at Maury Regional Health, her accomplishments have included opening a new Critical Care floor, achieving the Gold Beacon Award for Critical Care, enhancing heart and surgical services, sleep center accreditation, telemetry implementation, development of the Short Stay Unit and assisting in attaining designation as a Magnet® organization, one of only two in Middle Tennessee and seven throughout the state. Malone received her BSN at Austin Peay State University and her Master of Management in Health Care at Vanderbilt University’s Owen Graduate School of Management.
“I am extremely honored and excited to accept the role of chief nursing officer,” said Malone. “I look forward to working closely with our incredible nursing team to continue building on our success and delivering the highest quality care to our patients.”
Maury Regional Medical Center has attained Magnet® designation from the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC). The Magnet® program recognizes quality patient care, nursing excellence and professional practice. The environment in a Magnet® facility benefits both patients and staff with benefits like improved clinical outcomes and higher workplace and job satisfaction.
Maury Regional Medical Center is the only hospital in Tennessee, and one out of 79 hospitals nationwide, to receive the excellence in patient safety and outstanding patient experience awards from Healthgrades® in 2024.

Maury Regional Soundwave Treatment (MSM)
Maury Regional Medical Center (MRMC) now offers an innovative treatment called intravascular lithotripsy (IVL), which is a safe, efficient and proven treatment for heart (or cardiovascular) disease, specifically related to calcium buildup in heart arteries.
Each year, almost 700,000 people die from heart disease, which is the leading cause of death for both men and women in the United States. As people suffering from coronary artery disease age, plaque in the arteries evolves into calcium deposits that narrow and harden the artery, limiting blood flow to the heart.
IVL was inspired by the principles of kidney stone treatment, or urological lithotripsy (UL), but was adapted by Shockwave Medical, Inc. to tackle calcium buildup in the cardiovascular system. Lithotripsy uses ultrasonic energy or shockwaves to gently and safely break calcifications.   
In April, David Houff, MD, a board-certified specialist in cardiovascular disease and interventional cardiology on MRMC’s medical staff, completed the first ostial disease case in the state of Tennessee, utilizing the Shockwave Intravascular Lithotripsy System alongside a specialized dual-balloon by Ostial Corporation called the FLASH Aorto-Ostial Angioplasty System. Ostial disease, a blockage in the very first segment of an artery, is well-known to be associated with high restenosis rates, which is when a blockage to blood flow recurs after initially being opened. With the combination of these newly implemented technologies, MRMC is providing advanced coronary solutions to their patients and referring physicians.
“Being the first hospital in Tennessee to use these combined technologies (Shockwave’s IVL and Ostial Corporation’s dual-balloon) for ostial disease is rewarding for our staff and demonstrates our commitment to leveraging proven innovations in healthcare for a great patient experience and stronger outcomes,” said CEO Martin Chaney, MD.
“The cardiology team at Maury Regional Medical Center is committed to giving our patients access to the latest cardiovascular innovations to treat heart disease,” said Houff. “Empowered by this novel shockwave IVL technology, we are excited to be treating some of the most complex forms of heart disease in our most challenging patient cases, all while remaining committed to improving patient outcomes for the benefit of the Maury County and surrounding communities.”
As southern Middle Tennessee’s only Heart Center, Maury Regional Medical Center provides a vast array of cardiac services that include interventional procedures as well as pacemaker and defibrillator implants. Physicians are members of Vanderbilt Heart-Columbia and Ascension Saint Thomas Heart Columbia who are complemented by a highly skilled and experienced team that strives to achieve the best possible outcomes.

CPJI Sponsoring Civil Rights Attorney Fred Gray (Press Release)
The Columbia Peace and Justice Initiative (CPJI) will be hosting an evening with Civil Rights activist and Presidential Medal of Freedom recipient attorney Fred Gray on Thursday, September 19 at 6 p.m. The event will be held at Maury Hills Church, located at 101 Unity Drive in Columbia.
“It is an honor and a privilege to have such an iconic defender of civil rights share his experiences, noting how far we have come and the work that lies before us,” said CPJI President Trent Ogilvie. “CPJI is dedicated to bringing awareness and unity to our community through a multitude of initiatives, and we are grateful to Mr. Gray for his support of our endeavors.”
Fred D. Gray is the senior partner of the law firm of Gray, Langford, Sapp, McGowan, Gray, Gray & Nathanson, P.C., with offices in both Montgomery and Tuskegee. He is a pioneer of the Civil Rights Movement, a native of Montgomery, Alabama, and resides in Tuskegee with his wife Carol. Mr. Gray’s life mission has been to destroy racial segregation wherever he finds it, and that is what he continues to do. He has practiced law since 1954, specializing in civil rights litigation, and continues to practice today at the age of 93.
He has been a cooperating attorney with the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) and Legal Defense Fund Inc. since 1956. He represented many civil rights icons and organizations, including the victims of the Tuskegee Syphilis Study, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Rosa Parks, Claudette Colvin, Congressman John Lewis, the Freedom Riders and Walkers, Selma to Montgomery Marchers, NAACP, Southern Christian Leadership Conference, Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC), Congress of Racial Equality (CORE) and others.
Attorney Gray is the recipient of many honorary degrees and awards. On July 7, 2022, President Joe Biden awarded Mr. Gray the Presidential Medal of Freedom, which is the highest award a civilian can receive. In 2023, he received the American Bar Association’s Medal, which is its highest award given and was also awarded the Legal Defense Fund’s Thurgood Marshall Lifetime Achievement Award. He has served as president of the National Bar Association and Alabama Bar Association and is the current president of the Tuskegee Human & Civil Rights Multicultural Center.
During his 69-year legal career Attorney Gray filed suits to end discrimination in public transportation, voting rights, rights of members in non-profit organizations, right to public education without discrimination from kindergarten to graduate schools, right of students to obtain an education and not be expelled without a hearing, equal access to farm subsidies, health care, the right to serve on civil juries and many others.
Proceeds from this CPJI Legacy Fundraiser, which will replace the traditional Legacy Luncheon in 2024, will support the completion of the Thurgood Marshall Roundabout coming in 2025 in partnership with the City of Columbia. The roundabout will feature a sculpture of Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall created by renowned sculptor David Alan Clark. It will be located at the intersection of South Main Street and East 8th Street, a gateway to the historic Black business district and the epicenter of the 1946 Columbia Race Riot, a pivotal moment in Columbia’s history that sent shockwaves across the nation.
The February 24, 1946, confrontation culminated in the NAACP sending young attorney Thurgood Marshall to Columbia to defend 25 individuals who went to trial, held mainly in Lawrenceburg. Marshall fell ill before the trial commenced but remained involved from New York and returned to Columbia in November of that year to represent the last two defendants. During this time, Marshall was confronted by a lynch mob in Columbia and narrowly escaped death, an experience shared in nearly every account of Marshall’s life. Ultimately, 23 of the 25 individuals charged were acquitted for lack of evidence and two were charged with lesser counts.
Marshall’s dedication to protecting the rights of all citizens earned him the nickname “Mr. Civil Rights.” His distinguished career included successfully having the Supreme Court declare segregation in public schools unconstitutional (Brown v Board of Education, 1954),
President Lyndon B. Johnson nominated Marshall as the first African American to serve on the U.S. Supreme Court in 1967.
“By commemorating Thurgood Marshall, we not only highlight the national significance of these events but also their deep local impact, enhancing the story’s relevance and underscoring its importance in the broader context of American history,” said CPJI Legacy Event Chair Russ Adcox.
Sponsorship opportunities are currently available. For more information, contact Russ Adcox at [e-mail] or 931.628.0736. Individual tickets are $55 and may be purchased at cpji.org.

Columbia State Leadership (Press Release)
Columbia State Community College’s Office of Workforce and Continuing Education leadership development program is designed to benefit new and emerging leaders to help them develop the necessary skills and a toolkit of resources to help them excel as they move into and grow in their leadership roles.
“I am extremely proud to be bringing this program to our communities,” said Melody Murphy, Columbia State Workforce and Continuing Education director. With ‘Now Hiring’ posted on almost every storefront, it is becoming harder for employers to find and keep good employees. This program is an excellent opportunity for a company to identify dedicated employees' value and hard work and build them up through this program for leadership and supervision roles.”
The Columbia State Leadership for Operational Excellence program nurtures success and provides participants with the skills and resources for them to excel as leaders within their organizations.
Topics covered will include leadership styles, generations and teams, employee engagement and productivity, communication and leading your team, business finance and budgets, presentation skills and networking as well as delivering outcomes and managing change.
“Many of us have seen firsthand how promoting internally for these positions based on performance can be problematic, because doing a job and leading others to do a job are very different things that require somewhat different skill sets,” Murphy said. “This program aims to give participants the necessary leadership skills to be successful leaders.”  
Registration is now open for the program, which consists of eight full-day sessions with two full days conducted back-to-back. Participants should plan to attend all sessions, which will take place at Columbia State’s Williamson Campus. The program begins in August with the dates of August 8 – 9, September 12 – 13, October 3 – 4 and November 14 – 15. Cost is $2,995, with lunch provided.
To register, please visit https://www.campusce.net/columbiastate/course/course.aspx?catId=23.
For more information, please contact Murphy at [e-mail].

Columbia 101 (Press Release)
The City of Columbia is pleased to announce the launch of Columbia 101, an innovative program designed to engage residents with local government and community services. Participants in Columbia 101 will have the unique opportunity to interact closely with city officials and staff, gaining firsthand knowledge of how municipal services are delivered and learning about avenues for community involvement and advocacy.
This consecutive two-day program will be open to all City of Columbia and Maury County residents and offered twice per year, with the official kick-off occurring on September 17th and September 18th. Participants can expect to begin each day at City Hall before learning more about all 12 city departments and touring select city facilities, such as the Fire & Rescue and Public Works Departments.
Applications for Columbia 101 are available now and will close on Friday, August 9th at 4:00 pm. Learn more and apply today at https://www.columbiatn.com

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…   
Elaina Jamison McMinnis, 34, Probation/Parole Officer 3 with the State of Tennessee Department of Corrections, died Friday, July 19, 2024 at Southern Tennessee Regional Health Systems in Lawrenceburg from the results of an automobile accident. 
Funeral services will be conducted Wednesday, July 24, 2024 at 2:00 PM at Oakes & Nichols Funeral Home.  Burial will follow at Polk Memorial Gardens.  Family will visit with friends Tuesday from 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM and Wednesday from 12:00 noon until time of the services at Oakes & Nichols Funeral Home.
Memorials may be made to the Maury County Animal Shelter 1233 Mapleash Avenue, Columbia, TN 38401.  Online condolences may be extended at www.oakesandnichols.com.

Now, news from around the state…
TN Dem Delegates Support Harris (Tennessean)
Tennessee Democratic National Convention delegates are ready to throw their support behind Vice President Kamala Harris as their new presidential nominee after President Joe Biden announced Sunday he would drop his reelection campaign.
On a Sunday afternoon call, the Tennessee delegates unanimously voted to support Harris for the Democratic presidential nomination, three delegates said, a signal of a fast-moving effort to coalesce behind the vice president in the hours after Biden dropped out.
Megan Lange, a DNC delegate for the Tennessee Congressional District 6, said she feels "strongly" the Volunteer State delegation will unite behind the vice president.
"Her name is already out there. She's connected with donors and voters in a large way," said Lange, a member of the Tennessee Democratic Party Executive Committee. "She has the stage presence that is needed, and we have 107 days left until Election Day. That is more than enough time for someone who has such a strong platform to simply expand it."
The DNC, which will be held in Chicago in four weeks, is now shaping up to emerge as one of the most historic political conventions in modern American politics.
Tennessee delegates were previously pledged to nominate Biden, who won Tennessee's spring primary, but Democratic bylaws do not legally require them to stick to that pledge.
With Biden out of the mix and open convention in play, Democrats could see a brokered convention, a rarity in U.S. politics. However, many Tennessee Democrats are already pledging their support to Harris. If a cohesive Harris coalition emerges among delegates, it could stave off a heated, drawn-out convention.
"She has the experience and unmatched ability to prosecute the case against Trump/Vance and their Project 2025," said Chris Anderson, a Tennessee delegate from Chattanooga and member of the Tennessee Democratic Party Executive Committee.
Tennessee's delegation was already scheduled to meet on a 3 p.m. CDT convention logistics call when Biden's announcement and Harris endorsement dropped in quick succession. Soon, the call turned into endorsement talks, and Tennessee's delegation appeared to be the first delegation to formally endorse Harris on Sunday.
For Kyler Gilkey, a Tennessee delegate from Memphis, it was an easy vote to make, given her vice presidential experience. Though Biden's Sunday announcement threw the U.S. political sphere into disarray, Gilkey praised the president for his decision to step aside during a pivotal presidential election.
"The Democratic Party isn't about one person. It's not about just Joe Biden," Gilkey said. "For him to give up his position as president for another term, it's telling of the idea of the Democratic Party and what we stand for. It was easy for me to put my full support by the vice president. She has been doing this job and understands what it takes. I feel like she will be capable on day one."
Freda Player, a delegate and Metro Nashville School Board member, said she "cannot wait" to nominate Harris in Chicago, noting Harris' experience in local, state and federal politics.
“This is the most consequential election of our liftime," Player said, calling Harris the "future" of the Democratic Party. "Democracy is on the line."
As the Biden news broke on Sunday, some warned an open nomination could throw the Democrats into total disarray. Lange is confident the party can pivot to a new ticket in time to mount a serious autumn challenge against former President Donald Trump. "People have short memories," Lange said.
"I'm not worried about the timing," Lange said. "I do believe there will be young women and young voters of color who will be more energized by the idea of voting for someone who looks like them and experiences life more like them."

Leiper’s Fork Model for Rural Success (Tennessean)
During a recent event that closed with a sing-a-long to You Are My Sunshine, the Leiper’s Fork Foundation along with Middle Tennessee State University’s Center for Historic Preservation gathered to celebrate a community milestone.
Hosted at Fox & Locke, the event unveiled Leiper's Fork's new guidebook, “Charting Your Own Vision: Lessons From Leiper’s Fork." Officials are hopeful the free, 20-page guidebook will help other small towns and rural communities interested in following the Leiper’s Fork model of success.
The guidebook features ways to build strong reciprocal partnerships with governmental agencies and private businesses to capitalize on a community so it becomes a tourist destination without creating a huge advertising budget, local officials said.
“Leiper’s Fork is the heart of a living cultural landscape—the place where the beat of commerce, community life, music, faith and education keeps the community alive and vibrant,” said Tennessee State Historian Carroll Van West.
Though it is constantly referred to as one of the gems of Middle Tennessee, Leiper’s Fork grew from an unknown village to become a best practice tourism/economic development study for small town representatives across the U.S., according Mark Ezell, commissioner of the Tennessee Department of Tourist Development.
From its initial founding in 1818, about 30 miles south of Nashville, the town has grown and flourished. Recent preservation efforts were led by local philanthropist Aubrey Preston, who has purchased about 200 acres on both ends of town over the past 20 years and placed them into a land trust, which officials say has preserved the small town's history and charm.
According to the guidebook's committee, which includes Preston, West and Laura S. Holder, a part-time federal liaison for the Tennessee Civil War National Heritage Area, the community of about 650 people remains committed to preserving the culture of the people who currently live and have lived there for generations. The guidebook, they said, recognizes that communities are living landscapes first and tourist destinations second. 
“This booklet is about a movement,” West said of the guidebook. “It began when residents and newcomers were determined that their village would not become just another rural “anywhere USA” place. Instead, they chose to take their past, their traditions, their different opinions and their strong sense of community to chisel out a pathway to lasting progress, in step with the changing times but paying due respect to those who came before.”
The guidebook lays out a set of instructions for other small towns to ensure they can boost their tourism in a way that still protects the charm of living in a small town. One of the sections speaks to the importance of partnerships with not only the community, but with those trying to aid in its success.
"Since everyone has a stake in the outcome, all partners need to support and participate," the guidebook says. "The best partners are those who are willing to share the workload, share a similar vision, and have an incentive to make the community a better place."
Members of the community and state and local government officials, along with local merchants, attended the recent event to learn how they’ve helped to not only grow their community in size, but make it profitable. After he purchased the land on both sides of town, Preston has been continuously involved in the community through his planning efforts and businesses that help the growing town, officials noted.
His efforts attracted others to not only aid in the preservation efforts, but open business to help make it the tourist destination it is today. For Preston, this meant purchasing the original Puckett's Grocery Store in the 1990s to ensure it wouldn't be sold and turned into a chain, he said, noting that he made sure it would keep its original charm.
Ezell, Williamson County Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Matt Largen, Williamson County Mayor Rogers Anderson and Preston all gave remarks during the event and explained how the guidebook would help to revolutionize small towns in Tennessee and beyond.
“This book happened because of the vision and commitment of Dr. Carroll Van West and MTSU’s Center for Historic Preservation.” Preston said. “It’s been great to be part of a team that’s helped our community accomplish so much." In the past two decades, the work of this dedicated team has ensured that Leiper's Fork has not only preserved its history, but also flourished enough to become a successful tourist destination.
"I just want to say thank you to everyone who’s made it possible.”

Final Story of the Day (Maury County Source)
 Ten-time Country Music Association Musician of the Year Mac McAnally is set to take the stage of the iconic Ryman Auditorium on January 31, 2025, for “An Evening with Mac McAnally.” This highly anticipated event promises an unforgettable night of music and storytelling, taking the audience on a captivating journey through decades of musical excellence.
As a guitarist and longtime member of Jimmy Buffett’s Coral Reefer Band, McAnally continues to tour with sold-out shows across the country entertaining his fans and Parrotheads, keeping the spirit of his longtime friend and collaborator Buffett alive.
Fans can purchase their tickets at www.axs.com.