Southern Middle TN Today News with Tom Price 11-5-24

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 November 5, 2024

All news stories are aggregated from various sources and modified for time and content. Original sources are cited.
We start with local news…
Over 50% Maurians Vote Early (MSM)
Over 50 percent of Maury County’s registered voters made their voices heard ahead of time by taking advantage of early voting, according to the Maury County Election Commission.
Election officials stated that 36,992 votes were cast during the early voting period, which ended on Oct. 31.
Statewide as of Oct. 31, the last day of early voting, there had been 2,214,870 early and absentee votes cast, according to the Tennessee Secretary of State’s office, representing 45.9 percent turnout. While that represents a 2.89 percent decrease in early voting from the 2020 election, a number of Tennessee’s counties – including Maury – have seen increases.
Maury County’s early turnout, according to the Secretary of State’s website, showed a 14.21 percent increase from 2020, as of the Oct. 31 numbers. That percent increase was the fifth highest among Tennessee’s 95 counties, trailing only Carter, DeKalb, Greene and Warren counties.
“It was huge,” Chief Deputy Erin Shouse said of the early voting turnout locally. “It’s like 51, 52 percent. We have been so busy.”
Statewide and county-level information on early voting turnout is available online at sos.tn.gov. Early voting results will not be released until after the Nov. 5 general election.
You can listen to local, regional, and national election results starting at 7:00 tonight, right here on 101.7 WKOM radio.

Cobb vs. City of Columbia (CDH)
The city of Columbia has filed an appeal against a judge's ruling that the city should grant former Columbia Fire Chief Ty Cobb a civil service hearing, following his sudden termination in March.
Cobb filed a lawsuit against the city in April for not pursuing a civil service hearing ahead of his termination.
According to a March city termination letter, Cobb was terminated due to "continuation of insubordinate behavior," as cited by Columbia City Manager Tony Massey. Cobb was terminated a little over four months after he was previously suspended for 30 days without pay in late October 2023, due to "insubordination," with a year's probation.
Cobb asked the city for a civil service hearing by email on March 15. His request was denied, according to lawsuit documents because Cobb was considered a "department head" instead of a civil servant. Department heads are not subject to a civil service hearing, according to the city's charter.
The lawsuit, filed by Cobb's attorney John Mark Windle, argues that Cobb's position was not classified as a "department head," but rather a civil service position, claiming he should have been granted a civil service hearing as part of due process.
In a March 12 letter to Cobb, Massey cites according to Section 7.10 of the city charter, "full time employees of the city other than the City Manager, Assistant City Manager, and all department heads" are declared to be civil service employees," which would be subject to the conditions of civil employees.
"As a result, you are not a Civil Service employee and not entitled to a hearing," Massey writes.
Windle counters the claim in a March 15 letter to the city.
"Chapter 2 of the city code establishes the departments for the City of Columbia," a letter from Windle writes. "The City of Columbia fire department is not a specifically established city department as enumerated under the City of Columbia Charter and/or Code and, instead, falls under the supervision of the Department of Public Safety, which has jurisdiction and supervision over both the police and fire departments."
On Aug. 2, Judge David Allen ordered that the city schedule a civil service hearing for Cobb, declaring that Cobb is entitled to a civil hearing.
The city filed an appeal on that judgement Aug. 21 in the Appeals Court of Tennessee Middle Division in Nashville.
The city also filed a motion for a stay of judgement to be heard on Nov. 14, pending the appeal.
A March 12 termination letter, which was signed and submitted by City Manager Tony Massey, references Cobb's 30-day suspension starting Oct. 30, which also included a year of probation.
During that probationary period, Massey states in the letter that Cobb continued "insubordinate" behavior, then lists behaviors in bullets points.
"Since that time, a concerned citizen has presented to the city numerous text messages from you evidencing a continuation of such insubordinate behavior as well as an effort by you to undermine and impede the successful operation of the City of Columbia," the March 12 letter says.
The letter goes on to list examples of text messages shared by the citizen, who was not named, which include as follows:
"A message calling another city employee 'dumbass'
"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
"A message offering to pay for favorable news stories which would benefit your interest"
"Such unacceptable activities, which have occurred while you are on probation, cannot and will not be tolerated, especially not from a department head of the City of Columbia," the letter says.
The Daily Herald issued an open records request regarding Cobb's termination, which revealed images of the text messages in question.
These messages were shared with city staff by a "concerned citizen," who asked to remain nameless due to fear of retaliation.
In a March 6 email sent by the citizen to Massey, the citizen claims that someone attempted to break into the citizen's apartment.
"I have since been told by a city official that CPD, EMS and another individual was behind this crime. This is extremely concerning to me given that fact that it's coming from a city official and not just from anyone else," the citizen said in the email.
The cell phone images show the name "Tyler Brown," which the citizen and Massey confirmed was an alias used by Cobb.
"He was using the alias as Tyler Brown and the City of Columbia was able to confirm that in the text messages," Massey said.
Text in the messages under the alias show the term "dumbass" used regarding a city employee, as well as another accusation accusing Police Chief Jeremy Alsup of being involved in an attempted break-in and offering a $50 payment in return for favorable news stories, which the citizen declined.
In March, the city appointed former Deputy Chief Chris Cummins as its current interim chief to replace Cobb.
Cobb also filed a federal lawsuit in the Tennessee Middle District Court on Oct. 23 against the city of Columbia and Tony Massey, claiming violation of civil rights.
The federal suit argues that Cobb was fired in retaliation because of reporting concerns as a "whistleblower" that ex-firefighter Roy Brooks, carried a weapon, unauthorized as a civilian, on a school campus after a statewide school shooting hoax May 3, 2023.
A case against Brooks, who was indicted, was later dropped.

Mt. Pleasant Water Loss (CDH)
Mt. Pleasant continues its work in partnership with Columbia Power and Water Systems to repair leaks within its water system, which had reported to be draining 400,000 gallons per day.
The leakages were identified over the course of several studies dating back multiple years, particularly Winter Storm Elliot in December of 2022, according to CPWS Director Jonathan Hardin.
In January, it was discovered that winter weather had caused further damaging effects over the system's life cycle, some of which dates back more than 40 years, Hardin said.
"When you are serving rate payers, you need them to know all of the ways you are trying to return value to them. That's important," Hardin said. "It was during that particular event where Mt. Pleasant, basically, put out a cry for help. A lot of utility systems at that time had found themselves in a pickle, which was no fault of their own, but just needed assistance. Our directive was pretty much 'Find where you can help and help.'"
Once the current leakages were identified, the choice became whether to seek the route of new infrastructure and expand Mt. Pleasant's water plant capacity or plug the leak, Hardin said. The city chose the latter.
"There are utilities and entities in the business related to water where, instead of trying to find and fix leaks, they'll just try to get more water. A lot of times it's born out of, 'Why would we spend a bunch of money to find leaks on our infrastructure when we can just get more from the source to make up for how much is leaking?'" Hardin said. "That's not responsible management of natural resources."
Mt. Pleasant City Manager Phillip Grooms said repairs continue being made to fix the leakages.
CPWS Director Jonathan Hardin said, while several leaks were identified throughout the system, one of the worst was just a few hundred feet from the main plant.
"The one prominent leak that was discovered was a break that occurred very close to the plant," Hardin said. "Just within a few hundred feet, there was an area of leakage discovered over the course of working with them and helping with the plant. Then there were some smaller leaks that, once identified and fixed, amounted to a substantial amount of water savings."
Historically, Mt. Pleasant has experienced a 50% water loss, Grooms said. In addition to working to reduce that number with these repairs, Mt. Pleasant remains diligent in giving the customer a fair rate, he said.
Also, upgrades to the city's utilities are ongoing.
"We did a professional rate study a few years back and are implementing that," Grooms said. "We built a water treatment plant going on 10 years ago, and we are finishing upgrades to our wastewater treatment plant. But a lot of people don't realize in the middle of all this we still have the aging distribution lines, aging sewer, and we are all the time looking at our models, capital improvement plans and funding sources."
Grooms said the leakage repairs are halfway completed.
"We are working through those service lines and are about halfway through," Grooms said.
Grooms noted that Columbia Power and Water Systems can provide the city with 200,000 gallons of water when an emergency arises, and can be available in the future as the city grows.
On average, Mt. Pleasant Gas and Water Department currently uses an average of 1.4 million gallons of water per day, according to a recent city press release.
"Our partnership with Columbia Power and Water is great, because we get 200,000 gallons [from them], which we don't need right now, but we take it if we have a line break, or our tanks have fallen. It's also for future growth, because we have a lot of potential there for us that we can build off in the future," Grooms said.
Mt. Pleasant obtains its water from ground water under the influence of surface water, coming from natural springs located south and southeast of the City of Mount Pleasant. A small amount of water comes from Columbia Water and Power Systems. Water is processed through the City of Mount Pleasant Water Treatment Plant.
Although 40% of the leakage points have been identified, Grooms said there is still "a long way to go."
"We're halfway through, but still looking at other areas as to where our water is going and all kinds of things to where we can better study our system on a daily basis," Grooms said.
Hardin said "good work and collaboration needs to be noted" in making the repairs.
"We need to show folks how hard we work together to return value to rate payers, ensure the integrity of our systems and also protect the integrity of the water source we are getting the water from," Hardin said.
"In Columbia, that's the Duck River, whereas in Mt. Pleasant it's ground water supply, which is also finite and something you need to value and protect."

Maury Regional Foundation and Family Center Partner (Press Release)
For more than 15 years, the Maury Regional Health Care Foundation has partnered with The Family Center to provide critical support to individuals and families in need of medication assistance to treat illnesses like diabetes, viral infections and others, improving the health outcomes and quality of life of Maury County residents.
The Family Center’s medication assistance program — with support of the Foundation — is designed to support low-income individuals who may struggle to afford their prescriptions. By covering essential medication costs, The Family Center helps community members receive the care they need, without the financial burden.
“We are incredibly grateful to the Maury Regional Health Care Foundation,” said Dawn Taylor, executive director of The Family Center. “Their support has been invaluable in sustaining our medication assistance program. Many of our clients face difficult choices between paying for their prescriptions or other basic needs, and this program provides them with the relief they need to be stable and healthy.”
To participate in the medication assistance program, individuals or families can apply through The Family Center. If approved, they will then transfer their prescriptions to a designated pharmacy located in Columbia, where their prescriptions will be filled. This streamlined approach allows participants to focus on their health while the organization covers the cost of their essential prescriptions. This does not cover narcotics or painkillers and has an annual limit of $250.
“The Family Center’s dedication to meeting the health and well-being needs of our community aligns with our mission,” said Patrick Harlan of the Maury Regional Health Care Foundation. “By supporting their medication assistance program, we’re helping our community stay healthy and prevent or manage serious illnesses.”
Founded in 1994, The Family Center is celebrating their 30th anniversary this year. They are a longstanding nonprofit that takes a holistic approach to supporting their community, aiming to enhance stability and health. Over the years, it has evolved into a multi-faceted organization addressing various community needs, especially during times of economic hardship and in support of children and the unhoused population. In addition to medication assistance, they offer a variety of programs that range from providing financial support for rent or utilities and assistance with food, eyeglasses and more.
Fall marks a busy season for The Family Center. In 2023, they provided 141 backpacks with school supplies to children in Maury County, 807 turkeys for households for Thanksgiving and gifts for 1,236 children for the holidays through a program called Santa’s Workshop. In 2024, that number is expected to grow.
To learn more about The Family Center and how you can support their programs, including volunteering, visit FamilyCenter.org/Programs or call 931.388.3840.
The Maury Regional Health Care Foundation works to expand health care services and community outreach programs throughout southern Middle Tennessee. Thanks to the generous support of donors, the Foundation has provided more than $5.1 million in programs and services throughout the region since its formation in 2006.
To learn more about the Maury Regional Health Care Foundation and how you can support their programs like medication assistance, visit MauryRegional.com/Foundation. 

GM Grant Drives Beautification in Columbia (Press Release)
The City of Columbia is pleased to announce the successful completion of the Columbia Infrastructure and Greenspace Improvement Project in downtown Columbia. This project, made possible through a partnership with Columbia Main Street, was funded by General Motors through the GM on Main Street Grant.
Earlier this year, General Motors awarded five $50,000 grants to nonprofit organizations and municipal government entities near GM facilities, including the City of Columbia. The improvements enhance both the safety and aesthetic appeal of the downtown district.
Columbia Main Street Director Kelli Johnson remarked, “As a nationally recognized Main Street program, Columbia Main Street was eligible to apply for the GM on Main Street grant, which supports innovative place-making projects in downtown districts. We were honored to be one of only five recipients selected this year and are thrilled with the partnership between the City of Columbia, General Motors, and Columbia Main Street to create improvements that enhance both the safety and beauty of our downtown area through this grant initiative.”
Multiple city departments contributed to the success of this project including Development Services, Public Works, Parks and Recreation, and Tourism & Marketing, all playing essential roles in designing and implementing these improvements. Their collaborative efforts with Columbia Main Street were instrumental in transforming the vision into a reality.
“This project underscores Columbia’s dedication to people-centered development,” stated Mayor Chaz Molder. “By prioritizing pedestrian safety and creating more green spaces, we are enhancing not only the beauty, but also the connectivity of our downtown. I’m grateful for the teamwork and support that made these upgrades possible, and I look forward to seeing our community thrive in this revitalized space.”
As a result of this project, downtown has seen significant improvements, including curb extensions at three intersections on the public square, increased greenspace, bicycle racks, and two informational kiosks. Curb extensions, an innovative traffic-calming measure, enhance pedestrian safety by reducing crossing distances and slowing motorists. The additional greenspace offers passive areas for relaxation and enjoyment, while the informational kiosks provide visitors with details about local businesses, attractions, and Columbia's unique history, fostering a stronger sense of place.
City Manager Tony Massey stated, “We are grateful to General Motors for providing this grant opportunity. These improvements are a testament to the strength of our partnerships and our dedication to enhancing the quality of life in Columbia.”

And now, Your Hometown Memorials, Sponsored by Oakes & Nichols Funeral Home…
Mrs. Olive Gray “Sunny” Houser, 73, resident of Columbia, died Wednesday at Maury Regional Medical Center. The family will visit with friends Tuesday from 4:00 PM till 6:00 PM at Oakes & Nichols Funeral Home.
John Cheairs Porter died on Thursday, October 31, 2024, at his home in Richmond, Virginia.
Visitation will be held Wednesday, November 6th in the Parish Hall at St. Peter’s Episcopal Church from 3-5pm. Graveside services will be held on Thursday, November 7th at St. John’s Cemetery at 10am.

Ruth Helen Pitts Rogers Curry, 85, retired loan officer for First Farmers & Merchants and resident of Columbia, passed away on Saturday, November 2, 2024 at her residence.
Funeral services will be conducted Wednesday, November 6, 2024 at 1:00 PM at Oakes & Nichols Funeral Home. Burial will follow in Polk Memorial Gardens. The family will visit with friends Wednesday, November 6, 2024 from 11:00 AM until time of the services at Oakes & Nichols Funeral Home.

And now, news from around the state…
Vandy Grad Wins Nobel Prize (Tennessean)

When the phone rang the morning of Oct. 9, John Jumper was wide awake.
He knew he had a chance of winning the Nobel Prize in chemistry that day — around 10%, by his estimate — but he planned to sleep in to offset the anxious wait until winners were announced. Needless to say, that didn't go to plan.
He got the call that he won around 30 minutes before his colleagues found out at Google DeepMind Technologies, where he works as its American director. A recording of that call, posted on the Nobel Prize website, captured the first reaction of a rather astonished Jumper as he bumped into the cleaning crew at his house.
"It's absolutely extraordinary," he said when asked how he was feeling about the news.
Jumper got in the car to race through traffic to his office, located in London. By then, the news had spread that he and DeepMind co-founder and CEO Demis Hassabis received the internationally renowned prize for using artificial intelligence to predict how proteins are structured. Their work built upon a previous breakthrough by David Baker, a biochemist at the University of Washington School of Medicine, who also received the prize with them.
Jumper, a 2007 Vanderbilt University graduate, and his colleagues gathered at their office around noon that day to take it all in.
"They emptied the local supermarkets of sparkling wine so that we could have a celebration," Jumper told The Tennessean in an Oct. 31 interview.
The son of engineers, Jumper grew up on a quiet 10-acre plot outside Little Rock, Arkansas, with a deep love for science instilled in him. When it came time to apply for college in the early 2000s, he was elated when he learned he got a scholarship to attend Vanderbilt.
"What I learned at Vanderbilt … really has been the foundation of how I think about scientific problems," Jumper said.
He went on to earn a physics degree before eventually finding his way into computational biology at DeepMind. That's when he set his mind on helping scientists master the chemical structures of proteins, often called "the building blocks of life."
Jumper likened proteins to nanomachines inside cells that drive most of their processes, explaining that the function of a protein is determined by its shape. Those shapes are incredibly complex. The first protein structures were determined in the 1950s. In the 70 years that followed, scientists have tried solve the problem of understanding and sequencing proteins.
The first part of the research that won this year's Nobel Prize in chemistry came from Baker in 2003. He successfully used the 20 different amino acids that typically compose proteins to design a new protein unlike any other. His research group went on to create proteins that can be used for a wide variety of things, including pharmaceuticals, vaccines and tiny sensors.
The problem with researching and sequencing proteins is the amount of time, people and money it takes. As an example, Jumper said it may take one year and $100,000 to determine the complex shape of just one protein. To date, there are around 200,000 known protein structures.
Jumper and a small team at DeepMind built upon Baker's research and the vast array of known protein structures, and created an AI program to help speed up the research process.
"What we’ve built is ... a system that uses that data and predicts what you would get if you were to determine the structure of a protein," he said. "It will predict it in about 5 minutes instead of a year."
The AI model, which Jumper and Hassabis first presented in 2020, is called AlphaFold2. They recently released AlphaFold3. The system is widely available and something scientists can use to conduct their own research around the globe.
Jumper said he's most excited to see what this means for research into things like medicine, health, drug design and beyond. He's also looking forward to seeing how scientists and researchers using AI continue to drive breakthroughs.
"I think this kind of story is going to continue," he said. "AI is going to make us better at science."

Final Story of the Day (Maury County Source)
The City of Columbia has announce the upcoming Pancake Breakfast fundraiser on November 30th to support the Columbia Police Department’s annual “Shop with a Cop” program!
Tickets are just $10 each, with all proceeds going toward making this holiday season brighter for local families in need. Tickets can picked up at the Police Department downtown at 707 N Main St. or from any City of Columbia Police Officer!
“Shop with a Cop” is a special initiative that builds positive connections between law enforcement and the community by giving children the chance to shop for holiday gifts with police officers. It’s a memorable experience that fosters trust and brings joy to those who need it most.