Southern Middle TN Today News with Tom Price 8-14-24

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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.

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Southern Middle Tennessee Today
News Copy for August 14, 2024

All news stories are aggregated from various sources and modified for time and content. Original sources are cited.
We start with local news…
Accused Teacher Case Dismissed (MSM)
A 16-count indictment against a Maury County teacher was dismissed last week after prosecutors said they could not meet the burden of proof.
Kenny L. Anderson Jr., of Columbia, was indicted in February 2024 by a grand jury on 16 charges that allegedly took place between 2020 and 2023, including rape, incest and sexual abuse by an authority figure.
On Wednesday, Aug. 7, the charges were dismissed in Judge Caleb Bayless’ court.
District Attorney General Brent Cooper, in a statement to Main Street Maury, said, “After a thorough review of the case, we felt that we would have difficulty carrying our burden of proof, at this time. Unfortunately, these type of cases rarely have any independent physical evidence and rely solely on the word of one party against another. Proof beyond a reasonable doubt is a very high burden, often requiring more.”
Anderson had been free on $200,000 bond since his arrest. He was suspended by Maury County Public Schools in August 2023 after an investigation into the allegations began. MCPS has not yet commented regarding Anderson’s job status.

Columbia Man Charged in Assault Case (TheNewsTN)
A Columbia man has been found guilty of reckless aggravated assault and other crimes after he ran over a Franklin police officer on Interstate 65 in 2022.
Initially, 28-year-old Roy Gene Nicholson, III, was charged with aggravated assault on a first responder, for which he was found not guilty, instead being found guilty of the lesser charge.
Nicholson was also found guilty of three other charges: evading arrest with a deadly weapon (vehicle), possession of marijuana with the intent to sell, and possession of a firearm during the commission of a dangerous felony.
Nicholson's convictions were returned after nearly three hours of jury deliberation on Friday, the last of a three-day trial presided over by Williamson County Circuit Judge Deanna Johnson.
Defense attorney E. Kendall White IV White told The NEWS that he was “disappointed” with the verdict and plans on appealing the verdict, citing numerous “constitutional issues.”

Lt. Hall Mourned (MauryCountySource)
On Monday, the Columbia Police Department announced the passing of Retired Lieutenant Walter Hall.
Lieutenant Hall honorably served the citizens of Columbia for thirty-one years.
During service to the community, he served in many capacities including detective, sergeant, and lieutenant. Lieutenant Hall played a significant role in starting the Columbia Police Department’s Honor Guard, and served as the first commander.
Lieutenant Hall also served for many years as the commander of the SWAT Unit.

New PILOT in Mt. Pleasant (MSM)
An unnamed plastics company could soon invest over $15 million into Mount Pleasant’s economy and create 35 new jobs.
The numbers were presented to the Mount Pleasant City Commission at its July 16 meeting as part of a request for a PILOT (Payment In Lieu Of Taxes) program). Under the program, companies can receive tax benefits for a limited period of time as an incentive to invest in the local economy.
The company, listed with a codename of Major Oak in the PILOT documents available on the city’s website, could move into the Cherry Grove industrial site of Mount Pleasant. According to Maury Alliance, “Cherry Glen Industrial Park is located directly off Highway 43… and has 234 certified acres available for development with numerous options for lot configurations, ranging in size from approximately 10 to 150 acres. The site includes four internal roadways for convenient site access and all major utilities have been extended to provide access to each available lot.”
Maury Alliance further states that since 2014, three new companies have located their operations within Cherry Glen Industrial Park: Smalticeram USA, Inc, The Doug Jeffords Company Inc, and Fuel Total Systems.
“We work with the state of Tennessee and the TVA economic development team to help attract the right type of businesses that fit well within the community to locate here,” said Travis Groth, Maury Alliance Vice President/Economic Development. “When a PILOT agreement is considered or proposed, there is a comprehensive cost benefit analysis performed upfront to make sure the community is going to come out in a positive way.”
The proposal presented to Mount Pleasant commissioners states in part that “Project Major Oak is in the plastics industry and expects to make a capital investment of $15,150,000” and “expects to employ 35 employees, with a weighted average salary for its employees of $43,383.”
The agreement states that the city will provide a 50 percent abatement in ad valorem taxes on the company’s property for a five-year period. The estimated economic impact of the company is $10.95 for every $1 of investment, according to the PILOT documents.
Mount Pleasant’s commissioners unanimously gave their approval to the proposal.
“I appreciate what y’all do for our city, not only our city but our county,” Commissioner Mike David told Groth, who spoke at the meeting regarding the PILOT. “Without y’all, we wouldn’t be here.”
The PILOT is also subject to approval from Maury County’s Industrial Development Board. That group is next scheduled to meet on Thursday, Aug. 15 at 9 a.m. at First Farmers & Merchants Bank in Columbia. Whether the PILOT will be voted upon then was not immediately known.

New School Turf (MSM)
High school football preseason preparation winds down across Tennessee, with season openers set for Aug. 23.
Before that, though, there’s the traditional slate of jamborees – a series of shortened matchups, typically played under game conditions, ideally with a number of teams gathering at one location for fans to be able to conveniently see multiple squads in action.
A pair of those will take place locally Friday, as Mt. Pleasant’s new artificial surface will be the highlight for the Maury County Jamboree that includes all four of the county’s public school programs along with Centennial, Christ Presbyterian Academy and Lawrence County.
“We’re excited to have everyone in the county come out and get their dress rehearsal in and figure out what they need to work on and get corrected for their season opener, and to showcase our new facility and the new field turf,” fourth-year Tigers coach Kit Hartsfield said.
Mt. Pleasant, which will face Lawrence County – Hartsfield’s alma mater – in the 9 p.m. finale Friday, will be the first of the Maury County Public School high school programs to officially compete on its resurfaced field when Wayne County visits in Week 1. Battle Creek, which opened to freshmen and sophomores earlier this month, also has artificial turf, but will only play a junior varsity schedule this fall.
Columbia Central and Spring Hill will each have new surfaces for the 2025 season.
“It’s nice to see the county trying to help us catch up to some of the surrounding counties,” Hartsfield said. “Education and school is important, and athletics is sort of the front door of that.”
Battle Creek and Spring Hill will square off in a JV contest Friday at 6 p.m., followed by the Raiders’ varsity and Centennial at 7 p.m. and Columbia Central/CPA at 8 p.m. ahead of the hosts and the Wildcats.
“I want to see us line up and execute. I want to see the boys play hard from whistle to whistle, to come out and show what Battle Creek football is all about,” Grizzlies coach Justin Burum said. “We’ve had a great summer, a great few scrimmages. Now it’s time to put it all together and show Maury County.”
Hartsfield is enthused over his team getting extended exposure on the new surface ahead of actual competition.
“I think once we’re able to get on the field and get used to it, that ability to put your foot in the ground and go with confidence without feeling like it’s going to slip out from under you is going to be important,” he said.
Upgrades – new lights and a new track adjacent to the field – will also be visible at Columbia Academy, as the Bulldogs take on Richland at 8 p.m. Friday following a Lewis County/Cornersville two-period contest at 7 p.m.
“Talking to several coaches this past offseason, we looked at an opportunity to do something a little different,” CA coach Seth Anderson said of hosting an event after typically playing elsewhere the week before the season begins. “Hopefully we’ll grow it a little bit next year. Our goal is to get eight teams and just grow it.”
Both Independence and Summit will host final preseason tuneups Friday as well, as defending Class 4A state titlist Pearl-Cohn visits the Eagles while the Spartans take on Tullahoma. Both matchups begin at 6 p.m.

Maury County Fair (MauryCountySource)
The Maury County Fair will return on Thursday, August 29th and run until Monday, September 2nd, 2024.
All the family fun and entertainment you love will soon be back!
This year, the fair festivities begins with a Rodeo, taking place on Thursday of Fair Week. Several other popular events will be happening like the junk car jump and run and the Saturday motocross races.
In addition to the back arena fun, all your favorite animal shows and exhibitor competitions are back this year too! The kids zone will see a variety of live, exotic animals and science shows that will amaze kids of every age.
Address: Maury County Fair & Exposition
1018 Maury County Park Dr. Columbia, TN 38401
For more on the fair and updates, visit maurycountyfair.com.

Sculpture Unveiled in Arts District (Press Release)
The City of Columbia unveiled three new public art sculptures in the
Columbia Arts District Friday, August 9, 2024. The sculptures were created by local artists Whitney Herrington and Ricaurte Sculptures. These towering sculptures sit atop new art pedestals on South Garden Street that were constructed as part of the Arts District Streetscape Project completed eight months ago. The Streetscape transformation included wide sidewalks, designated street parking, a one-way-traffic pattern, landscaping, lighting, benches, and five art pedestals in designated ‘gathering’ areas.

“Today, we celebrate not just the unveiling of these magnificent sculptures, but the enrichment of our community's artistic soul,” said Columbia Mayor Chaz Molder. “Public art is more than just aesthetic beauty; it's a catalyst for connection, inspiration, and shared experience. These new pieces, created by our talented local artists, transform our Arts District into a vibrant hub where residents and visitors alike can gather, appreciate, and be inspired. They are a testament to the power of art to bring us together and create a stronger, more vibrant Columbia.”

One sculpture unveiled today was created by Whitney Herrington called ‘Dancing Poppies’. This metal art piece marks a significant evolution in Herrington’s artistic journey, transforming the vibrant energy
of her well-known, two-dimensional murals and paintings into a dynamic, three-dimensional form.
“This sculpture is inspired by poppies and the florals I use in my murals,” commented Herrington. “‘Dancing Poppies’ is a celebration of growth, both of the subject and my own artistic practice, as I continue to explore the possibilities of public sculpture/art.”

The other two sculptures unveiled were "Steelgill" and "Independence", a family collaboration of local artists -father and sons - Rommel, Nicholas, and Cory Ricaurte of Ricaurte Sculptures. Their sculptures are made completely of stainless steel with bronze complements and finished with patinas that will interact with the environment to create different hues over the years. All the forming was done by hand and with simple tools.

“The design of ‘Independence’ was inspired by breaking away from societal constraints and being true to yourself,” stated Nicholas Ricaurte. “The design of ‘Steelgill’ is inspired by our love of nature and the
importance of conservation highlighting the Duck River and other water bodies."

Additional sculptures will be installed and unveiled in the coming months to fill the remaining two art
pedestals on South Garden Street in the Columbia Arts District.

State of Education Panel Discussion (Press Release)
Join Maury Alliance on Wednesday, August 21 at 11:30 am for their annual Education Lunch featuring a State of Public Education and the 2024 Education Report.
 
During this year's event Maury Alliance President & CEO, Wil Evans will lead a panel discussion with representatives from Maury County Public Schools. They will discuss the current state of public education, Career and Technical Education (CTE) Programs and the Inaugural 2024 Education Report, which will be released during the event.

Panelists include:

Lisa Ventura, MCPS Superintendent

Amy Roberts, MCPS Career & Technical Education Supervisor

Michelle Gilbert, MCPS Director of Teaching, Learning & Assessment

For more information and to register, visit www.mauryalliance.com. Registration closes on Monday, August 19th a noon.

Columbia Academy Lecture (Press Release)
Columbia Academy will host an event detailing the history and architecture of the Columbia Arsenal and details found from the recently discovered blueprints housed at the National Archives in College Park, Md.
The presentation will consist of a panel including: architect Justin Lowe of Centric Architecture, Columbia Academy President Dr. James A. Thomas, and me, County Archivist Tom Price.
Built in 1890 by the United States Government, the 67-acre campus was an active military installation known as the Columbia Arsenal and originally consisted of 10 buildings, six of which remain today. The arsenal closed shortly after the Spanish-American War in 1901 and transitioned into Columbia Military Academy in 1904. In 1979, the academy was turned over to a board from local Churches of Christ as they established Columbia Academy, a now PreK-12th grade private Christian school.
The lecture will take place in the Polk Hall (Upper School) Auditorium on Thursday, September 5th from 7:00-8:30 p.m. This free event is open to the public, and no tickets are necessary for admittance.

THP Sobriety Checkpoint (Press Release)
The Tennessee Highway Patrol will be conducting sobriety roadside safety checkpoints during the week of August 16th on State Route 50 East, .2 Miles East of the 19 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.

Blood Drive (MauryCountySource)
The City of Columbia and Blood Assurance are hosting a blood drive on August 16th from 10am – 3pm at Riverwalk Park.
Schedule your appointment at www.bloodassurance.org/riverwalk or come down between the hours of 10-3pm to donate.
Riverwalk Park is located at 102 Riverside Drive, Columbia.
Did you know that one donation can save up to three lives and that Blood Assurance keeps the donations local? This means your donation will directly impact your community. Plus you get a free tote bag as a very special “Thank you”
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…
Cheryl Lynn Powell Church, 71, retired Clerk & Master for Maury County, and resident of Columbia, died Wednesday, August 7, 2024 at Maury Regional Medical Center.
A Memorial service will be conducted Saturday, August 17, 2024 at 2:00 p.m. at Riverside United Methodist Church with Rev. Tony Brown officiating. The family will visit with friends Saturday, August 17, 2024 from 12:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. at Riverside United Methodist Church. 
Mary Frances Campbell Hancock, passed away on Saturday, August 10th.
Visitation will be held at Oakes and Nichols Funeral Home Wednesday, August 14 from 4-8 and Thursday August 15 at 11 with a memorial service to follow at noon. 

Brian William Safian, 77, retired Medical Technologist for Centennial Medical Center, and resident of Burns, TN, died Monday, August 12, 2024 at his residence.
Funeral services will be conducted Friday, August 16, 2024 at 1:30 p.m. at Oakes & Nichols Funeral Home. Burial will follow in Stand Cemetery with military honors provided by Herbert Griffin American Legion Post 19. The family will visit with friends Thursday from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. and again on Friday from 11:30 a.m. till time of service at the funeral home. 

Now, news from around the state…
Ft. Campbell Soldier Found Guilty of Treason (Tennessean)
A Fort Campbell intelligence analyst admitted to selling military information to a Chinese co-conspirator on Tuesday.
Korbein Schultz, who was a sergeant at the U.S. Army site just across the Kentucky border, pleaded guilty to all six felonies he was charged with five months ago.
U.S. District Judge Aleta Trauger will sentence Schultz on Jan. 23. The three charges for unlawful export of defense articles to China carry the most severe possible punishment with a maximum 20-year prison sentence and $1 million fine.
Schultz is also required to surrender any property or money "traceable" to his crimes, and he is prohibited from profiting off his crimes in the future.
"You can't go out and write a book and make a million dollars," Trauger told him.
An FBI special agent revealed new details of Schultz' crimes as he read the facts of the case. While Schultz' indictment had identified his co-conspirator in China as a purported geopolitical consulting firm employee, the FBI agent said Tuesday the person worked for the Chinese government.
The agent said Schultz realized at some point that the co-conspirator's pretense of working for a consulting firm was a lie and that the person worked for the Chinese government. Mary-Kathryn Harcombe, Schultz's appointed attorney, said he thinks while he ought to have known, he never fully realized this.
Some of the information Schultz sold his co-conspirator related to how the U.S. would respond to an invasion of Taiwan and what it learned from Russia's war with Ukraine. He received $200 for providing the co-conspirator the document that provided that information. He also provided information about the presence of U.S. troops in South Korea and the Philippines.
The agent also said that Schultz tried to recruit a higher ranking Army employee into his scheme with the Chinese co-conspirator to get ahold of more sensitive information.
In a news release from the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Middle District of Tennessee, Executive Assistant Director Robert Wells of the FBI’s National Security Branch said the Chinese government is "aggressively targeting our military personnel."
“This Soldier swore an oath to faithfully discharge his duties, to include protecting national defense information," Brig. Gen. Rhett R. Cox, commanding general of the Army Counterintelligence Command, said in the news release. "Not only did he fail in his sworn duty, but he placed personal gain above his duty to our country and disclosed information that could give advantage to a foreign nation, putting his fellow Soldiers in jeopardy."
In sum, Schultz gave away information about advanced military helicopters, high-mobility artillery rocket systems, defensive missile systems and Chinese military tactics, as well as the tactics, techniques and procedures manuals for the F-22A fighter jet and intercontinental missiles, in exchange for $42,000, prosecutors say.
The co-conspirator baited Schultz with promises of perks and leveraged his apparent love of auto racing and desire for wealth, based on the indictment. Schultz once told the co-conspirator he "wished he could be 'Jason Bourne,'" according to his indictment.
Schultz, 25, appeared in court just before 1 p.m. Tuesday wearing a green jumpsuit and shackled at the ankles. Several onlookers, some of whom were from Fort Campbell, were seated in the gallery.

Welcome back to Southern Middle Tennessee Today!
Final Story of the Day (Maury County Source)
A recent list of the best zoos ranked Memphis among the top three in the country.
Newsweek just announced its ranking of the top ten zoos in the United States. Of the zoos included, six are from the South and only one is from Tennessee.
The Memphis Zoo, which opened in 1906, has been a staple of the Memphis area for over 100 years. There are 76 acres of land dedicated to the zoo within Overton Park. The zoo has 19 different exhibits in the three zones of the park.
Here are the zoos ranked on Newsweek's list:
North Carolina Zoo in Asheboro, North Carolina
Memphis Zoo in Memphis, Tennessee
San Antonio Zoo in San Antonio, Texas
Brookfield Zoo in Chicago, Illinois
Denver Zoo Conservation Alliance in Denver, Colorado
Alabama Gulf Coast Zoo in Gulf Shores, Alabama
San Diego Zoo in San Diego, California
The Cincinnati Zoo in Cincinnati, Ohio
St. Louis Zoo in St. Louis, Missouri
Audubon Zoo in New Orleans, Louisiana