Southern Middle TN Today News with Tom Price 12-6-24

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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 December 6, 2024

All news stories are aggregated from various sources and modified for time and content. Original sources are cited.
We start with local news…
Petainer Expands to Mt. Pleasant (Press Release)
Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee, Department of Economic and Community Development Commissioner Stuart C. McWhorter and Petainer Manufacturing USA, Inc. officials announced today the company will expand to a new location at 315 Joe Frank Porter Drive in Mt. Pleasant, Tennessee. 
Petainer will invest $10 million through the expansion, creating 35 new jobs at the Cherry Glen Industrial Park, a Select Tennessee Certified Site in Maury County. Upon completion, the project will more than double Petainer’s headcount statewide. 
With over 35 years of experience in designing and manufacturing cost-efficient products, Petainer offers a wide range of lightweight, sustainable PET packaging, solutions to help companies in the Americas, Europe, and Asia grow their business and reduce their carbon footprint. PET is an acronym for polyethylene terephthalate, a colourless, transparent polymer that is almost unbreakable and can be recycled well.
Since 2020, TNECD has supported 15 economic development projects in Maury County, resulting in more than 3,700 job commitments and nearly $5 billion in capital investment. 
QUOTES 
“What happens in rural Tennessee matters to all Tennesseans, and I thank Petainer for choosing to invest in the Volunteer State. Petainer’s commitment to creating new jobs for the highly skilled workers in Mt. Pleasant and Maury County will have a significant impact by expanding opportunity for families in the region.” – Gov. Bill Lee 
“Petainer could have chosen any one of its global locations to expand; however, this company chose Tennessee, which is a testament to the state’s skilled workforce, strong business climate and the overall quality of life experienced here. I thank this company for its continued commitment to the Volunteer State and look forward to seeing the growth that follows today’s announcement.” – TNECD Commissioner Stuart C. McWhorter 
“Our investment in Mt. Pleasant, Tennessee, underscores Petainer’s commitment to supporting sustainable growth in the Americas. This strategic location allows us to better serve our customers, expand our portfolio, and continue delivering innovative, eco-friendly packaging solutions that reduce environmental impact while driving economic development in the region.” – Chris McEwan, President of Petainer Americas 
“Team Maury is excited to announce Petainer’s expansion in Maury County. Increasing the footprint of existing industry is one of our economic development goals. This expansion in Cherry Glen Industrial Park with the potential of becoming Petainer’s North American Headquarters is a good step in that direction.” – Maury County Mayor Sheila Butt 
“Development at Cherry Glen Industrial Park, a Select Tennessee Certified Site, continues to grow and flourish. We appreciate the high-quality jobs that Petainer is bringing to the community and would like to express our sincere gratitude for the teamwork and partnerships that brought this announcement to fruition.” – Mt. Pleasant Mayor Bill White 
Petainer Manufacturing USA, Inc. has been established in Tennessee since 2022, aiming to expand its portfolio, which includes water cooler bottles, kegs, wine bottles, and preforms for on-site blowing — all manufactured with 100% recyclable and BPA-free PET. These products are distributed across the USA, Canada, and key markets in Latin America. 

Capley GOP Caucus Secretary (MSM)
State Rep. Kip Capley, R-Summertown, has been reelected to serve as House Republican Caucus Secretary during the 114th Tennessee General Assembly.
In his role as secretary, Capley will preside in the absence of the caucus chairman and vice-chairman. He will also be responsible for tracking discussion items from caucus meetings, and distributing communications related to these items and other important issues as directed by the caucus chairman or by action of the caucus.
“I thank my fellow members of the House Republican Caucus for reelecting me to serve as secretary,” Capley said. “It’s a great privilege advocating for conservative principles in the State House, and I’m excited to continue our work making Tennessee an even better place to live, work and raise a family.”
Capley has served as secretary since 2023. He was first elected in 2022 to represent House District 71, which includes Wayne and part of Hardin, Lawrence and Maury counties.
“Representative Capley’s expertise, strong character, and willingness to work with others makes him an essential member of our caucus as we strive to build a better future for our state,” said House Speaker Cameron Sexton, R-Crossville.
The 114th General Assembly is scheduled to convene on Jan. 14, 2025.

Ultium Raises Money for Breast Cancer (MSM)
Ultium Cells recently announced that its first annual Breast Cancer Awareness fundraiser successfully raised $6,570 to benefit the Women’s Center at Maury Regional Health. Proceeds will help fund comprehensive treatments such as chemotherapy, radiation and infusion treatments, along with resources like a wig bank, lymphedema garments and additional support for eligible patients.
In October, Ultium Cells embraced the theme “Paint the Plant Pink” to raise awareness. Every Wednesday, team members showed their support by wearing breast cancer awareness apparel. As part of the effort to promote early detection, Ultium Cells also offered a mammogram van for team members and their families.
“I feel grateful to be a part of a team that truly supports and rallies around our community,” said Gretchen Murray, President of the Ultium Women Club. “Together, we’re making a powerful difference — advancing understanding, supporting early detection and ensuring access to essential care.”
The Women’s Center provides patients and their families with access to clinical specialists, advanced treatment technologies, and supportive services. For more information and resources, please visit www.mauryregional.com/our-
services/womens-health/womens-center.

Spring Hill Developments (MSM)
Two large proposed housing developments were among a lengthy list of items discussed by the Spring Hill Planning Commission during its Nov. 25 work session.
The Stone Creek Master Planned Community, if ultimately approved, would be adjacent to I-65 South at the intersection of Rice Road and Derryberry Lane. The property is approximately 157 acres and would contain 955 residential units, according to a preliminary plan presented. Of those units, 847 would be townhomes.
City staff stated that access to the property would be established through a proposed street connection to the Brandon Woods neighborhood to the south and west, and a proposed street connection to Derryberry Lane/Rice Road in the Meadowbrook subdivision to the north.
Alderman Matt Fitterer said he would like to see more single-family lots north of Rutherford Creek, saying, “I’m willing to give you some latitude on lot sizes to find something that works for everybody.”
Fitterer also shared concerns about the west end of the project, which had townhomes backing up to single-family lots in the Brandon Woods neighborhood.
Staff also noted that the proposed plan included a note allowing the developer to change the mix of housing without Planning Commission approval, and that it would recommend removing that note before any approval was granted.
A review of the LC June Lake project, which would consist of 509 residential units along with an amenity area for recreation was discussed as well.
Fitterer asked about Marston Avenue’s design in terms of alignment and connectivity to Twin Lake Drive (Austin’s Way). Fitterer said he would like to see Marston Avenue, proposed as the main drive through the property, align better with the Summit High School access drive on the south side of Twin Lakes Drive.
“I am very doubtful you will get the Board of Education to agree to give you a second access point,” Fitterer said.
Commissioner Jonathan Duda concurred with the alignment of the access to Summit, saying, “Alignment with Marston needs to be looked at.”
Emily Moser of Lifestyle Communities said developers intended to not have cut-through access to June Lake Boulevard from the proposed development, saying, “Our concern is wanting to control traffic through the site and not wanting to have students cut through… If we had a bunch of cut-through traffic, that would be disruptive to our development.”
For students who might live in the proposed development, Moser said a crosswalk and other pedestrian-friendly amenities could be added.
Moser also noted that a planned restaurant, coffee shop and fitness center as part of the site plan would be open to the public, not just to residents.

DA Office to Honor Homicide Victims (MSM)
The District Attorney’s Office will host the fifth annual “Night to Honor” ceremony to honor and remember victims of homicide in Maury, Lawrence, Wayne and Giles County. The observance will take place in Lawrenceburg at First Baptist Church, 2100 Springer Road, on Tuesday, Dec. 10 at 6 p.m. Guests should arrive at 5:30 p.m. for registration, with the program beginning at 6.
District Attorney General Brent Cooper said, “The goal of this event is to, hopefully, provide a small amount of comfort for these families. The Christmas holiday is especially difficult for those who have lost a loved one to homicide. This event is meant to make the holiday a little brighter for them. We sincerely invite any family member who has lost a loved one to homicide to attend this event.”
This year’s speaker will be Norma Castro, the sister of Juan Castro, who was murdered on April 13, 2008, in Columbia after attending a quinceañera. Four individuals were tried and convicted of the murder.
Family and friends who have lost loved ones to violent crime are invited to attend the event. Their loved ones will be honored as participants place a memorial ornament on one of four wreaths, each representing the county in which the loved one was lost. After the ceremony, the four wreaths will be put on display during the holiday season at their respective courthouses.
For additional information about this year’s event, please contact the District Attorney’s Office at [phone]
ext. 6107 or email Kendra Cannon at [e-mail]. Please also email a picture of your loved one to be included in the ceremony. If you are attending the ceremony, you are invited to bring an ornament in remembrance of your loved one.
You may also find information on Facebook by visiting Brent Cooper, District Attorney-22nd Judicial District.

Christmas Tour of Homes (Press Release)
A favorite Maury County tradition, dating back to the 1950s, returns December 6th and 7th – the Maury Christmas Historic Home Tour.
During the historic home tour, a variety of public and private homes will open their doors to guests during this weekend event. One $25 ticket gives tour-goers access to all the tour sites. Tour hours are 9am- 4pm December 6th and 7th.
The tour is a fund-raiser for the Athenaeum in Columbia, Tennessee. The proceeds of this tour ensure that the Athenaeum will be able to operate for another year. Typically, the proceeds of this tour are enough to fund the historic site’s yearly operating costs, with a few dollars left over for ongoing restoration work.
The Athenaeum is owned and operated by the Maury County Association for the Preservation of Tennessee Antiquities (APTA).
Tickets can be purchased in advance at ticket locations and will be available through December 7th.
In-person ticket locations include:
Tour Headquarters: The Athenaeum
(Open by appointment only. On December 6th & 7th, open 8a to 4p.)
808 Athenaeum Street
Columbia, TN 38401
The Maury County Visitor’s Center
(Open Monday through Friday 8a to 4p. Location will not be open Saturday, December 7th)
302 W. 7th Street
Columbia, TN 38401
Historic Elm Springs
(Open Monday through Friday 8a to 4p. Open Saturday, December 7th for tickets)
2357 Park Plus Drive
Columbia, TN 38401
Learn more by visiting www.maurychristmas.org.

Christmas Festivities (CDH)
One of Columbia's biggest events will bring twice the holiday cheer this year as Columbia Main Street announced its two-day plans for this year's Christmas Parade and Tree Lighting.
The annual yuletide gathering will take place over two nights during the first weekend of December, with the tree lighting kicking off the season during the Dec. 6 First Fridays and the parade occurring the following day on Dec. 7.
"This is a special, holiday-themed First Fridays blended with the Tree Lighting ceremony hosted by Santa and Mrs. Claus," Columbia Main Street stated in a press release. "Experience the fun of First Fridays with a holiday twist that includes festive music from DJ Rio, local craft vendors, food trucks, and other holiday-inspired, family-friendly activities throughout the evening."
This year's parade route will once again march along West 7th Street, making its way downtown amongst the square's many shops as spectators watch the parade consisting of dozens of decorated floats, lights, marching bands and more, all representing businesses, schools and local organizations.
"More than bright lights and festive floats, these events are the spark of holiday magic that ignites community spirit and creates beloved memories that will last a lifetime,” Kelli Johnson, Columbia Main Street Manager, said. “We encourage residents and visitors to attend both nights so they can fully immerse themselves in our unique holiday experience in the heart of beautiful downtown Columbia.”
As always, both events are free to attend and open to the public. For more information, contact Columbia Main Street at [phone] or visit www.VisitColumbiaTN.com.

Columbia Main Street announced yesterday that country music artist Shane Profitt will be this year’s Grand Marshal for the annual Columbia Main Street Christmas Parade sponsored by Stan McNabb Chevrolet Columbia.
Profitt takes the lead spot for the nighttime parade, riding in a new Corvette provided by event sponsor Stan McNabb Chevrolet Columbia. A proud Columbia native, Profitt went from packing the house at Puckett’s to gracing iconic stages like the Ryman Auditorium and the Grand Ole Opry. Now, he’s coming back home to lead this special holiday tradition! Profitt shared the news on social media saying, "I am very, very honored to be the Grand Marshal of the Columbia Tennessee Main Street Christmas Parade. I grew up going to this Christmas Parade and fresh out of high school I was working for the City and I was one of the guys that made it look pretty for the Christmas Parade. So, I'm very honored, very excited to be the Grand Marshal."
Columbia Main Street Manager Kelli Johnson, who organizes the parade each year is expecting to break records with an impressive 122 parade entries, countless volunteers, and high expectations for more spectators than ever before. “Join the Columbia community in cheering on Shane Profitt and all of the parade entries,” exclaimed Johnson.  “It’s a memorable night of joy, tradition, and hometown pride you won’t want to miss!”
Thanks to parade sponsors like Lewisburg Rubber and Gasket, volunteers will distribute light-up wands to the first 1,000 children at the parade. Following tradition, the grand finale of the parade will feature Santa and Mrs. Claus. Look for them riding in a vintage 1962 Ford, generously provided by Gerald and Brenda Vick of Columbia.
The parade begins at 6:00 PM at the intersection of W. 7th, Trotwood, and Hastings and ends on the Town Square in historic downtown Columbia. This event is free and open to the public to enjoy!

King’s Daughters’ Santa Mailbox (CDH)
Every year, the King's Daughters' School partners with Heritage Bank & Trust to help bring a little Christmas cheer to disadvantaged students through its Santa's Mailbox Program.
The KDS students participating in the program are typically those under state's custody and/or without a home or family to spend the holidays with, having to instead stay on the King's Daughters' campus.
The Santa's Mailbox Program has each student write down his or her Christmas wishes in letters to Old Saint Nick. The letters are then delivered to Heritage Bank & Trust's lobbies at 217 S. James M. Campbell Blvd. in Columbia and 109 S. Main St. in Mt. Pleasant.
The letters are now available to pick up by community members, who will then shop for gifts, clothing or anything else requested on the list. Gifts are then dropped off at the Santa's Mailbox area located at either of the bank's locations.
"We are so grateful to Heritage Bank & Trust for their support of our Santa’s Mailbox program," KDS Executive Director Shauna Pounders said. "Many of our students cannot go home for the holidays, so the contributions of the bank, their customers, and our entire community make their Christmas wishes come true."
Gifts must be donated no later than Thursday, Dec. 14.
After all gifts are delivered, King's Daughters' staff will wrap each gift, which will then be placed in Santa's bag ready to be delivered Christmas Eve.
"Heritage Bank & Trust is proud to be a part of the wonderful work being done by The King's Daughters' School," Jim Robinson, KDS Board Member and President and Chief Executive Officer of Heritage Bank & Trust said. “We are honored to partner with an organization making such a great impact on our community."

And now, news from around the state…
Nashville Named One of the Most Desirable (Tennessean)
Nashville has been named by U.S. News and World Report as one of the most desirable cities to live in the country.
The annual "Best Places to Live in the U.S." list highlights cities which have a strong job market and high quality of life. Music City came in at No. 50 behind Reno, Nevada, McAllen, Texas and Melbourne, Florida.
U.S. News and World Report applauded Nashville not only for its contributions to music, but also for its innovation, "blossoming" job market and "exploding" entertainment scene. Nashville obtained a 6.3 quality of life score and an overall score of 6.4. Tennessee's capital city was also ranked as the No. 41 best city in the country to retire in.
Other Tennessee cities included in the ranking were Chattanooga (No. 27), Knoxville (No. 29) and Memphis (No. 122).

Dolly Casting Call (Tennessean)
Think you have what it takes to depict the legendary Dolly Parton on stage? It could be your time to shine.
Parton herself has announced a national casting call for her upcoming Broadway musical, "Dolly: An Original Musical." The "Search For Dolly" officially kicked off on Thursday afternoon, seeking out talent across America for the 2026 musical.
"As you may have heard, my life story is coming to Broadway in a brand new show called 'Dolly: An Original Musical," Parton said in an announcement video. "And now, I'm announcing the search for Dolly ... I wanna give you the chance to help me bring my story to Broadway — and maybe even play me!"
“We're looking for talented performers who can capture the spirit of my journey, whether you're an experienced theater professional or an undiscovered gem with that little special something," Parton continued.
"So, what are you waiting for? This might be your moment to take center stage and step into the spotlight. Break a leg!” 
After the video audition phase, a selected few will get the opportunity to audition in person in front of the show's casting director, Parton said.
The musical, which will be directed by Bartlett Sher ("The Light in the Piazza"), will feature both new and old tunes written by Dolly Parton.
In order to submit an audition, you need to record a video introducing yourself and singing one minute of your favorite Dolly Parton tune.
From there, you can upload the song to the social media platform of your choice, including Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, YouTube, and X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, and tag #SearchForDolly.
Next, you need to fill out an application form at dollymusical.com.
You can submit an audition video until Jan. 12, 2025.
To learn more about the musical and stay up to date, visit dollymusical.com.

Final Story of the Day (Maury County Source)
Santa won't just be riding in the parade this year and is hoping to meet and, in some cases, share a meal with all the boys and girls.
Blue Barn & Garden, 2697 Bristow Road, will host Pancakes and Pictures with Santa from Friday-Sunday, which will also feature a petting zoo (Friday and Sunday only), bounce houses and a Christmas craft. Tickets are $45 per child and are booked by appointment. For more information, call [phone].
The Maury County Arts Guild, 705 Lion Parkway, will host Breakfast with Santa and Friends from 9-11 a.m. Saturday. The event is free to attend and will include crafts and games. To register, call [phone].
aMuse'um Children's Museum, 123 W. 7th St., will host Cookies with Santa from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday and 2:15-4:30 p.m. Sunday. Tickets are $20 for members and $25 for non-members.