Southern Middle TN Today News with Tom Price 11-8-24

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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 November 8, 2024

All news stories are aggregated from various sources and modified for time and content. Original sources are cited.
We start with local news…
Columbia Man Indicted After Running Over Cop (TheNewsTN)
A Columbia man has been sentenced to five years in prison for running over a Franklin Police officer in 2022.
As previously reported in August, a three-day jury trial found 28-year-old Roy Gene Nicholson, III guilty of reckless aggravated assault, 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 was arrested in 2022 after he fled from a traffic stop on Interstate 65, and in doing so, ran over Franklin police officer, now Sergeant, Dustyn Stevens.
Sgt. Stevens testified both during the trial and the Oct. 28 sentencing hearing where he spoke of both the personal and professional impacts that the incident has had on him.
Stevens testified about his continued physical and emotional pain from the 2022 incident, and said that he had been subjected to “constant slander and liable” by the defense who “labeled me as a racist, as a violator of brides, as someone that targets African American males,” in what he characterized as a “humiliation.”
“It's certainly a hard pill to swallow, knowing that I spent more time and Vanderbilt [University Medical Center’s] emergency [room] than the defendant was in custody,” Stevens said.
Nicholson remained free on a $40,000 bond following his conviction, but following his sentencing, that bond was revoked by the bonding company. The court then imposed a new $1,000 bond which was made by his family after he was briefly placed into custody and then released.
Nicholson's mother and girlfriend testified as character witnesses for the defendant.
Williamson County Circuit Judge Deanna B. Johnson made that ruling in order to give the opportunity for Nicholson to get his affairs in order and continue to financially support his girlfriend who is weeks away from birthing the couple's second child.
"I'm going to show you some grace on this reporting issue because I know you've got a baby coming," Johnson said, and ordered Nicholson to turn himself in on Jan. 2, 2025.
In June of 2022, Nicholson was also indicted on federal charges of possession of marijuana with intent to distribute and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. 
According to court documents filed in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Tennessee, prosecutors are moving to dismiss the federal charges following Nicholson's state sentencing.
"Sergeant Stevens not only faced both a physical and emotional battle on April 24, 2022, but as both a police officer and victim in the case, was forced to relive this trauma repeatedly during court proceedings for over two years," Assistant District Attorney Carlin Hess stated in an email. 
"We’d do well to remember that crime victims are often forced to do the same every day while navigating the waters of our criminal justice system. I am thankful for not only Sergeant Stevens’ courage and resolve in doing so, but also for those thousands of crime victims who do so throughout our country in courtrooms every day in hopes of getting to the truth and helping achieve justice”
Nicholson's defense attorney E. Kendall White IV declined to comment on the outcome of his client's state case, but stated that he will appeal the ruling.

Mt. Pleasant Caregiver Charged With Abuse (MSM)
Special agents assigned to the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation’s Medicaid Fraud Control Division have obtained an indictment for a Nashville woman accused of assaulting a vulnerable adult in her care.
On Jan. 12, 2024, after receiving a referral from Adult Protective Services, TBI agents opened an investigation into an incident, a week prior, involving Janice Marie Garrett, 64, who worked as a caregiver at a residential facility in Mount Pleasant. The investigation revealed that Garrett allegedly physically abused a vulnerable adult in her care.
On June 11, the Maury County Grand Jury returned an indictment, charging Garrett with one count of Abuse of an Elderly or Vulnerable Adult. On Monday, Oct. 28, Garrett surrendered to authorities at the Maury County Jail, where authorities booked her into jail on $20,000 bond. No court date has been set.

Spring Hill Lab Owner Convicted in Fraud (MSM)
After a seven-week trial, a jury last week found defendants Fadel Alshalabi, 57, of Waxhaw, N.C., and Samuel Harris, 30, of American Fork, Utah, guilty of conspiracy to violate and violations of the Anti-Kickback Statute, arising out of a multi-million dollar, multi-state Medicare and Medicaid fraud scheme, announced Thomas J. Jaworski, Acting United States Attorney for the Middle District of Tennessee. Alshalabi was also convicted of money laundering.
Alshalabi was the owner and Chief Executive Officer of a series of laboratories based in Spring Hill called Crestar Labs, LLC. Harris was the owner of Flojo Recruiting d/b/a Secure Health, a Utah-based marketing company that contracted with Crestar Labs.
According to the evidence presented at trial, the co-conspirators entered into sham contracts and paid illegal kickbacks in exchange for laboratory genetic tests. This included targeting and recruiting elderly and low-income patients who were federal health care program beneficiaries in order to obtain their genetic material for conducting genetic tests.  Marketers, who were not health care professionals, obtained buccal swabs of DNA from patients at senior health fairs, door-to-door marketing, low-income housing and elsewhere. The tests were then approved by purported telemedicine doctors who were paid kickbacks in exchange for signing off on the laboratory orders sent to Crestar Labs. Alshalabi and co-conspirators paid marketers kickbacks for the genetic testing samples and doctor orders. During the conspiracy, Alshalabi and his co-conspirators billed Medicare and Medicaid over $100 million for laboratory tests procured through the payment of these illegal kickbacks.
“Decisions to order health care items and services should not be coerced and influenced by the payment of illegal kickbacks. These defendants’ criminal scheme to pay and receive kickbacks corrupts our country’s healthcare system and costs the taxpayers millions of dollars that should go to pay for legitimate health care services for the elderly and poor,” said Jaworski. “I commend our prosecutors and law enforcement partners for their dedication to pursuing justice and protecting our taxpayer funded programs from those who commit fraud for personal gain.”
“These defendants disregarded the medical needs of patients and orchestrated a kickback scheme that undermined the integrity of federal health care programs,” said Kelly J. Blackmon, Special Agent in Charge at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG). “HHS-OIG and our law enforcement partners will continue to work tirelessly to hold individuals accountable for exploiting federal health care programs.”
“Medicare and Medicaid Fraud Schemes threaten our health care system and our public safety,” said Special Agent in Charge Joe Carrico of the FBI Nashville Field Office. “These guilty verdicts demonstrate that the FBI and our law enforcement partners will aggressively fight back to protect the integrity of our federal health care programs.”
Alshalabi and Harris will be sentenced on March 5 and 6, 2025. At sentencing, Alshalabi and Harris each face up to 10 years in prison on the counts of violating the Anti-Kickback Statute and up to 5 years in prison on conspiracy to violate the Anti-Kickback Statute. Alshalabi also faces up to 10 years in prison on the money laundering counts. The defendants were acquitted on separate counts of health care fraud.

Nissan Making Big Cuts (CDH)
Nissan Motor will cut 9,000 jobs and 20% of its global manufacturing capacity, the automaker said on Thursday, as it scrambles to reduce costs by $2.6 billion in the current fiscal year amid a sales slump in China and the U.S.
Nissan, which has its U.S. corporate headquarters in Franklin, announced it will cut 400 billion yen from its balance sheet to stabilize losses. But company officials did not specify whether its largest manufacturing facility, the Nissan Smyrna Vehicle Assembly Plant, will be affected.
Nissan builds the Leaf, Maxima, Murano, Pathfinder, Rogue and QX60 in Smyrna and produces engine parts at the Decherd Powertrain Plant. The company said it will reduce global production by a fifth.
CEO Makoto Uchida forfeited 50% of his monthly salary beginning this month to demonstrate the firm's commitment to improving its finances.
"Facing a severe situation, Nissan is taking urgent measures to turnaround its performance and create a leaner, more resilient business capable of swiftly adapting to changes in the market," the company said in a Thursday statement.
The plans underline the vulnerability of Japan's third-largest automaker, having never fully recovered from the disarray that led to the 2018 ouster of former chairman Carlos Ghosn and scaling back of the partnership with Renault SA.
Nissan cut its annual profit outlook by 70% to 150 billion yen ($975 million) on Thursday, the second time it lowered the forecast this year. Like many foreign automakers, it is struggling in China where BYD and other local manufacturers are gobbling up market share with affordable EVs and hybrids that boast advanced technology.
"To achieve healthy growth in the future, the company will implement a structure to secure sustainable profitability and cash generation, even with a projected annual sales of 3.5 million units by fiscal year 2026," Nissan's statement said.
But Nissan's graver problem may be in the United States, where it lacks a credible line-up of hybrid cars. That's in contrast to Japanese rival Toyota, which has seen a boom in demand for gasoline-petrol hybrid cars.
Nissan misread demand for hybrids in the United States, CEO Makoto Uchida told a press conference.
"We didn't foresee HEVs ramping up this rapidly," he said, referring to hybrid EVs.
"We did start to understand this trend towards the end of last fiscal year," he said, adding that making some changes to core models didn't go as smoothly as planned.
The Yokohama-based company is planning to cut 9,000 jobs, equivalent to 6.7% of its 133,580 global employees.
"These turnaround measures do not imply that the company is shrinking," Uchida said. "Nissan will restructure its business to become leaner and more resilient, while also reorganizing management to respond quickly and flexibly to changes in the business environment."

MRMC Accredited in Breast Ultrasound (MSM)
The Maury Regional Women’s Center announced that it has earned the prestigious American College of Radiology (ACR) accreditation for breast ultrasound and ultrasound-guided biopsy. This reaccreditation, effective until 2028, recognizes the center’s commitment to providing high-quality imaging and diagnostic services that meet or exceed national standards in radiology.
“Receiving this accreditation from the American College of Radiology highlights the dedication and experience of our team at the Women’s Center,” said CEO Martin Chaney, MD. “Almost every family has been impacted by breast cancer, including my own. The Women’s Center strives for excellence every day to serve the women of our community — especially women who are high-risk for breast cancer and for those undergoing breast ultrasound and biopsy procedures.”
Ultrasound imaging is a noninvasive medical test that uses high-frequency sound waves to produce images of internal body parts to help physicians diagnose and better treat medical conditions. Ultrasound imaging of the breast produces a picture of the internal structures of the breast. An ultrasound-guided biopsy is a procedure that uses ultrasound imaging to guide a needle to extract a tissue sample for analysis.
The ACR is a professional medical society that accredits facilities based on rigorous peer-review evaluations conducted by board-certified radiologists and medical physicists. This comprehensive review process assesses the qualifications of personnel, equipment performance, quality control procedures and overall quality assurance. The accreditation is recognized as a national gold standard in radiology, validating Maury Regional Women’s Center’s ongoing dedication to quality, safety and patient care.
This accreditation also reflects Maury Regional Women’s Center’s continuous efforts to maintain the highest levels of precision and accuracy in diagnostics imaging. Breast ultrasound and ultrasound-guided biopsies are critical tools for early detection and diagnosis of breast cancer, allowing physicians to identify and address concerns swiftly and effectively.
The Women’s Center, located in the Pavilion at Maury Regional Medical Center, provides a convenient, private and pleasant environment for women’s health services, such as 3D mammography, breast biopsy, breast ultrasound and bone density studies.
For more information about Maury Regional’s Women’s Center and its accredited imaging services, visit MauryRegional.com/Women.

City of Columbia to Unveil New Sculptures (Press Release)
The City of Columbia is excited to announce the unveiling of two new sculptures in the heart of the Columbia Arts District. This special event will showcase the talents of local artists Kevin Hale and Joseph Hazelwood. The unveiling will take place on Wednesday, November 13, at 3:00 PM in the Columbia Arts District. The event will begin with a brief ceremony and an introduction of the artists, followed by the unveiling of all three sculptures. The community is invited to celebrate these additions to the landscape of our local Arts District.
The unveiling will take place on November 13th at 3:00pm on the corner of S. Garden and 11th Streets in the Columbia Arts District.

Spring Hill HS Veteran’s Day Program (MSM)
Maj. Douglas Harter will be the keynote speaker at the annual Spring Hill High School Veterans Day program. Harter is the Executive Officer for the Regimental Support Squadron, 278th Armored Cavalry Regiment of the Tennessee Army National Guard in Columbia. He served as an enlisted infantryman in the United States Marine Corps from 1991-95 and has served in numerous leadership positions in the Tennessee Army National Guard prior to his current appointment.
Harter’s many awards and decorations include the Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal (2), Army Achievement Medal (4), Marine Good Conduct Medal, and National Defense Service Medal (2), among others.
The school’s Army JROTC color guard will present the colors and the award-winning SHHS Band will perform. The SHHS Choir will sing “In Flanders Fields,” based on the poem by Maj. John McCrae, M.D. Veterans will be honored and remembered.
The program will take place in the school’s gymnasium at 10 a.m. on Monday, Nov. 11, 2024. Veterans and the general public are invited to attend.

Breakfast with the Mayors (Press Release)
Join Maury Alliance on November 19th at 8:30am at the Memorial Building located at 308 W. 7th Street in Columbia for their annual Breakfast with the Mayors event. Sponsored by John Maher Builders and Fairfield by Marriott of Columbia, learn about what is happening in your community directly from the mayors. County Mayor Sheila Butt, Columbia Mayor Chaz Molder, Spring Hill Mayor Jim Hagaman, and Mt. Pleasant Mayor Bill White will be on hand to talk about their communities and answer questions. Admission is $25 for Maury Alliance Members and $30 for non-members. You must register by November 12th. You can do so by visiting www.mauryalliance.com.

And now, Your Hometown Memorials, Sponsored by Oakes & Nichols Funeral Home…
Mrs. Mary Ellen Elias Helton, 84, former owner and operator of Ellen’s Catering Service, and resident of Murfreesboro, died Tuesday, October 29 at NHC Murfreesboro. Funeral services will be conducted Saturday at 2:00 PM at Oakes & Nichols Funeral Home. Burial will follow at Lynnwood Cemetery. The family will visit with friends Saturday from 12:00 PM till 2:00 PM at Oakes & Nichols Funeral Home.

Mr. Thomas Hodge “Tommy” Cook III, 83, retired co-owner of Moody's Tire & Auto Service in Franklin, and lifelong resident of Columbia, died Thursday at Maury Regional Medical Center. Funeral services will be conducted Monday at 3:00 PM at Oakes & Nichols Funeral Home. Burial will follow at Polk Memorial Gardens. The family will visit with friends Monday from 1:00 PM till 3:00 PM at Oakes & Nichols Funeral Home.
Carmen Marie Lunn Ford, 39, Family Nurse Practitioner for Vanderbilt Heart of Columbia, and lifelong resident of Columbia, passed away at home after a short battle with cancer, on Wednesday, November 6, 2024.
Funeral services will be conducted Tuesday, November 12, 2024 at 11:00 AM at Columbia First Cumberland Presbyterian Church. Burial will follow at Polk Memorial Gardens. The family will visit with friends Monday, November 11, 2024 from 4:00 PM till 8:00 PM at Oakes & Nichols Funeral Home.

And now, news from around the state…
Tennesseans Being Considered for Cabinet (Tennessean)
Secretary of State Bill Hagerty?
The Tennessee senator is reportedly being considered as a top candidate to lead the Department of State under the incoming Trump administration, according to Axios reporting this week.
Former U.S. Ambassador to Germany Richard Grenell and Trump's former national security adviser Robert O'Brien are among the other candidates being considered. Hagerty served as U.S. Ambassador to Japan during Trump's first administration.
If Hagerty were tapped for the position and resigned as Tennessee senator, it would leave a vacancy for Gov. Bill Lee to fill. Under state law, Lee would tap a temporary replacement until the next general November election, which would be in 2026, when Hagerty's U.S. Senate seat is up for election.
U.S. Rep. Mark Green, R-Clarksville, is reportedly considered a top contender to lead the U.S. Department of Homeland Security in the new Trump administration, Reuters reported this week.
Green is currently chair of the House Homeland Security Committee, and was nominated by Trump during his first term to serve as Secretary of the Army, but withdrew.

Real ID (Press Release)
The REAL ID Act of 2005, which requires anyone 18 years old or older to have a REAL ID or other federally issued photo ID, such as a passport, to enter certain Federal buildings, military bases and nuclear power plants or board commercial flights within the United States, will go into effect on May 7, 2025.
The Department of Safety and Homeland Security began issuing REAL IDs on July 1, 2019. Of Tennessee's 5.8 million valid credentials, 1.6 million are not currently REAL ID compliant. Tennesseans are encouraged to decide before the implementation date to avoid the potential influx of customers to Driver Services Centers.
To apply for a REAL ID, customers must bring proof of U.S. citizenship or legal presence, proof of your Social Security Number, and two proofs of Tennessee residency. If your name has changed, you must also bring a certified legal document supporting the name change. All documents must be original or certified. Photocopies will not be accepted. A complete list of accepted documents can be found at tnrealid.gov.
Federal law requires REAL ID applications to be made in person. If you have a Tennessee Driver License or ID, you can apply for a REAL ID at a Driver Services Center or a participating County Clerk. If you do not have a Tennessee Driver License or ID, you must apply for a REAL ID at a Driver Services Center.
Obtaining a REAL ID is optional. Regular Tennessee driver licenses will continue to be accepted for general identification purposes such as driving, purchasing alcohol or tobacco products, applying for federal benefits, voting, accessing hospitals, post offices, banks, federal courts, etc.
If you are getting a Tennessee license for the first time or it is time to renew your license, the cost to get a REAL ID is $28.00. If you get a REAL ID outside of your renewal period, there is an additional duplication fee of either $8 or $12 depending on your license classification. 
For more information about Tennessee REAL ID, visit tnrealid.gov.
Final Story of the Day (Maury County Source)
The country’s largest lantern festival Zoolumination, presented by Anheuser-Busch, returns even brighter to Nashville Zoo this holiday season. The festival begins November 14, 2024, and runs through February 9, 2025. New this year, Nashville Zoo will have a brand-new ice rink for visitors to enjoy while they experience the glow of more than 1,000 authentic, custom-made silk lanterns. The Smashville Ice Rink is presented by Nashville Predators and in honor of American figure skater, Olympic gold medalist, and Nashville Zoo board member Scott Hamilton. Tickets are on sale now and can be purchased at www.nashvillezoo.org.