Southern Middle TN Today News with Tom Price 10-14-24

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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.

WKOM/WKRM Radio
Southern Middle Tennessee Today
News Copy for October 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 Murderer Found Guilty (MSM)
A Lawrence County jury returned its verdict last week against one of two suspects in the April 13, 2021, murder of Lawrenceburg resident Sharon Gillespie.
Gillespie had been working at The Summit of Lawrenceburg at the time of her death. Just prior to being shot, at approximately 8 p.m., she told a coworker she was going to step outside for a few minutes.
Witnesses reported hearing gunshots, and moments later Gillespie re-entered the building and collapsed inside the foyer. She was transported to nearby Southern Tennessee Regional Health System-Lawrenceburg, where she succumbed to her injuries.
Brandon Miller Waire, a 40-year-old resident of Columbia, was identified as a suspect in the case. In August 2022, a Lawrence County grand jury returned indictments, charging him with first-degree murder, criminal homicide, attempted especially aggravated robbery and criminal conspiracy to sell Schedule II narcotics. He was subsequently incarcerated under a bond of $1 million.
Following a trial last week in Lawrence County Circuit Court, jurors found Waire guilty of the lesser charges of second-degree murder and aggravated assault.
A sentencing hearing will be held for Waire at a later date.
Prosecutors in the case were assistant district attorneys Christi Thompson and Hunter Knight. Victim Witness Coordinator Kim Magee was cited as instrumental in the case, as was LPD Lead Investigator Lt. Brent Hunter.
“We are grateful for the verdict and the jury’s diligence in this case,” District Attorney General Brent Cooper said. “It was a long time in the coming, but thanks to the hard work and persistence of Lt. Hunter, the Gillespie family can rest a little easier now. Our prayers are with them.”
In May of this year, indictments were also returned against a second suspect in the case. Columbia resident Victoria Annissia Cash, 40, was indicted on charges of first-degree murder, criminal homicide, attempted especially aggravated robbery and criminal conspiracy to sell Schedule III narcotics. Cash was arrested in May and incarcerated under a bond of $3 million.
She is next scheduled to appear in Lawrence County Circuit Court for a motion hearing Oct. 24.
The investigation was carried out through the Lawrenceburg Police Department in conjunction with Special Agents with the Office of Homeland Security.

Mersen Workers Join Union (Press Release)
Workers at the Columbia graphite-giant Mersen plant have chosen to join the industrial division of the Communications Workers of America, following a vote last week by the National Labor Relations Board.
Mersen, a French multinational conglomerate specializing in electrical power and advanced materials, employs 60 workers at the Columbia plant, bringing an investment of $70 million. The company held a grand opening and ribbon-cutting ceremony on July 11, 2023, drawing locally-elected officials and hundreds of supporters in the business community.
Monday's vote, which was 39-13, represents a key moment for the company's employees aiming to address issues like low wages, safety concerns and a lack of job progression.
"We are proud of what we've accomplished by standing together to form a union," said Tracy Jones, a worker involved in the organizing process. "We look forward to working with Mersen to create a safer and more structured workplace and to secure fair wages for everyone."
According to a CWA press release, workers at the Columbia facility have raised concerns about the lack of a clear pay structure, highlighting the need for more equitable compensation that reflects the varying levels of skill and responsibility across different roles.
"Additionally, there are no formal pathways for temporary workers, which the company heavily relies on, to become full-time employees, a situation that has led to frustration among the workforce," the press release states. "Safety issues have also been a major driver of the union effort, with employees reporting frequent incidents and injuries due to the demanding nature of the work, which often involves exposure to high temperatures and workers working far apart in isolation of each other."
Mersen has recently experienced significant growth, particularly in the U.S. In 2023, the company reported $1.27 billion in global sales, $486 million of which came from the U.S.
Much of this success has been attributed to U.S. government support via initiatives like the CHIPS Act and Inflation Reduction Act, both of which have boosted demand for the advanced materials Mersen supplies.
“Mersen’s strong financial performance and expansion in high-growth sectors like semiconductors and renewable energy make this moment particularly significant,” said Orvin Caraballo, an IUE-CWA organizer who helped the Mersen workers organize. “As more workers in these industries organize, we are building greater density, which will translate into more worker power and better conditions across the sector.”

Harpeth Conservancy on the Duck (WKOM Audio 4:31)
On Saturday at Riverwalk Park in Columbia, the Harpeth Conservancy hosted a special event to bring awareness to the conservation of the Duck River. Naturalist John Geider, who is traveling the entirety of the river was on hand to talk about his experience. Front Porch Radio’s Delk Kennedy attended the event and spoke to Geider and Harpeth Conservancy organizer Jesse Martin…

City of Columbia Receives $810,000 Grant (Press Release)
The City of Columbia has been awarded $810,000 in HOME Grant Program funds from the Tennessee Housing Development Agency (THDA), following an initial announcement in May. These funds, provided by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), will enable the City to support the rehabilitation and repair of single-family homes for low-income residents in Columbia.
“We recognize that maintaining affordable housing is crucial for our residents, especially during this period of exponential growth, and this grant will help us realize our goal of ensuring that all parts, and all people, of our community succeed. We all do better when we all do better,” said Mayor Chaz Molder.
The HOME Grant Program aims to promote the preservation of affordable housing for low-income households. With these funds, the City of Columbia plans to assist 8-13 homeowners in completing much-needed home repairs, depending on the scope of repairs required for each eligible property. The focus will be on ensuring that all homes receiving support meet residential building code requirements upon completion of the project.
City Manager Tony Massey remarked, “As the City of Columbia continues to grow, it’s essential that we prioritize the needs of our long-time residents and ensure that they aren’t left behind.”
To kick off the program, the City will host a public meeting on October 29, 2024, to provide details and distribute applications. Applications will be accepted for 30 days following the meeting, with a submission deadline of November 29, 2024. After the submission deadline, applications will be reviewed, selections will be made, and a contractor will be hired to perform the work on the selected homes. Applicants will be assessed according to THDA and HUD guidelines, with priority given to low-income homeowners. The South Central Tennessee Development District will administer the grant on behalf of the City of Columbia.
“The City of Columbia makes a point to apply for all state and federal dollars that can benefit our community,” said Assistant City Manager Thad Jablonski. "The cost of buying and owning a home right now is high and rising. We understand that, and we are especially focused on programs that provide quality of life assistance to Columbia residents."
The City of Columbia remains committed to leveraging all available resources to enhance the quality of life for its residents. This grant aligns with the City's ongoing mission to ensure that all citizens have access to safe, sustainable, and affordable housing. For questions regarding applications and eligibility, please contact Tia Lockridge, Director of Housing for the South Central Tennessee Development District, at 931 379-2957 or via email at [e-mail].

Maury 911 Responders Get Award (MSM)
Maury County’s 911 employees were honored on Tuesday, Oct. 2 at the TENA (Tennessee Emergency Numbers Association) Annual Meeting, where they received a Dispatch Event of the Year award for their tremendous response and dedication during the May 8 tornado event. “I am so very proud of them and thankful for each of them and their service to the people of Maury County. They fielded thousands of calls through that disaster,” said Maury County Mayor Sheila Butt.

Blood Assurance Partners with CPJI (Press Release)
Blood Assurance is partnering with the Columbia Peace & Justice Initiative (CPJI) to host a special Honor Drive on Wednesday, October 30, 2024, from 2-6pm at the Mount Calvary Missionary Baptist Church Annex, located at Penny Avenue in Columbia. The event, titled “Not Scaring, Just Caring: An Honor Drive for John Wesley Anderson,” brings the community together to support those in need of life-saving blood donations, while also promoting the importance of intentional kindness.
This drive is part of CPJI’s month-long Kindness Campaign. The goal is to encourage acts of kindness throughout the community. CPJI has selected different charities and activities during October to promote the theme of “people helping people.” Among their many initiatives is an ongoing project to erect a statue in downtown Columbia honoring Thurgood Marshall, the first African American Supreme Court Justice.
The honoree of this blood drive, John Wesley Anderson, is the son of Rev. Kenny Anderson, pastor of Mount Calvary Missionary Baptist Church. John lives with Sickle Cell Disease (SCD), a condition that often requires blood transfusions to manage pain. His willingness to lend his name to the event underscores the importance of blood donations for individuals battling SCD right here in our own community.
In speaking about the event, John Wesley Anderson emphasized the importance of a diverse blood supply, as those battling SCD need donors who are a close genetic match. “Your blood is unique, and it’s important for minorities to give blood,” said Anderson. “There are certain proteins that are in our blood that’s not in other ethnicities’ blood. So, no matter if the blood type is the same, there’s a chance that our body can have a reaction to the proteins that are in a person’s blood donation.”
The event will also feature an overview of Sickle Cell Disease and its impact on patients and their families.
Donors who give October 16 th - 31 st will receive special “Spooky Donor Socks” as a token of our appreciation. O-negative whole blood donors will receive a $25 e-gift card. O-negative double red donors will receive a $40 e-gift card. AB-plasma donors will receive a $25 e-gift card per donation.
To schedule your donation, visit www.bloodassurance.org/donate, call 800-962-0628, or text BAGIVE to 999777.

DUI Checkpoint (Press Release)
The Tennessee Highway Patrol will be conducting sobriety roadside safety checkpoints during the weekend of October 18th on the 0 Mile Marker of State Rt. 50 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.

And now, Your Hometown Memorials, Sponsored by Oakes & Nichols Funeral Home…
Sarah Elizabeth Mitchell, 37, a resident of Columbia, died Saturday, October 12, 2024 at her residence.
A celebration of life service will be held at a later date. Online condolences may be extended at www.oakesandnichols.com.

And now, news from around the state…
Prison Operator Under Federal Scrutiny (Fox17)
The leading private prison company in the U.S. has spent more than $4.4 million to settle dozens of complaints alleging mistreatment — including at least 22 inmate deaths — at its Tennessee prisons and jails since 2016.
More than $1.1 million of those payouts involved Tennessee’s largest prison, the long-scrutinized Trousdale Turner Correctional Center, which is now under federal investigation.
Details of nearly 80 settlements provided to The Associated Press through public records requests allege brutal beatings, medical neglect and cruelty at CoreCivic’s four prisons and two jails in Tennessee.
In one case, a Trousdale inmate who feared for his life beat his cellmate, Terry Childress, to death to get transferred to a different prison, the federal lawsuit says. No guards came to Childress’ aid at the chronically understaffed facility, the suit claims. Childress’ family received a $135,000 settlement.
The family’s attorney, Daniel Horwitz, was ordered by a judge to stop publicly disparaging CoreCivic and to take down tweets calling it a “death factory.” He is suing over the gag order.
The U.S. Department of Justice recently announced an investigation of Trousdale, noting that reports of violence have been endemic since its 2016 opening. The investigation comes after years of well-documented “reports of physical assaults, sexual assaults, murders and unchecked flow of contraband and severe staffing shortages,” U.S. Attorney Henry Leventis has said.
“It does certainly appear as though settling lawsuits is a cost of doing business, rather than an alarm, a wake-up call, a siren,” said Mary Price, general counsel of Families Against Mandatory Minimums, which advocated for the Trousdale investigation.
CoreCivic, headquartered in Brentwood, Tenn., has a net worth of $1.44 billion as measured by market capitalization.
Many took a long road to a small settlement
Surviving inmates or grieving families have often fought for years to reach settlements. Some advocated publicly for their cases, speaking to news outlets and participating in demonstrations. But accepting a settlement generally required quieting down. And, typical of settlements across industries, CoreCivic did not admit any wrongdoing.
The largest settlement was for $900,000 over a South Central Correctional Facility inmate’s suicide where staff falsified records. Three others were for about $300,000 apiece.
But those payouts were the exception. Half the settlements were for $12,500 or less. Some involved no money at all.

Final Story of the Day (Maury County Source)
Families can now explore some of music’s most legendary stages at no cost for young visitors. Opry Entertainment Group venues, including Ryman Auditorium and Grand Ole Opry House in Nashville, will now offer free daytime tours for children 12 and under when accompanied by a ticketed adult.
At Nashville’s historic Ryman Auditorium, daytime tours feature historic memorabilia, an inside look at concert preparation, the Soul of Nashville immersive theater experience and a professional souvenir photo on music’s most iconic stage. Admission also includes access to special exhibits like “From Memphis to the Ryman,” which commemorates Elvis Presley’s one and only performance at the Ryman and “Rock Hall at the Ryman,” a powerful exhibit in partnership with the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.
At the Grand Ole Opry House, guests can take in the sights, sounds and stories that only happen backstage at the Opry as music legends prepare to step into the circle. Highlights include a state-of-the-art Circle Room with priceless footage and a backstage tour that allows attendees to walk in the footsteps of country’s biggest superstars. The latest exhibit added to the tour, “Behind The Airwaves,” gives fans an exclusive look at the story behind WSM Radio and provides a glimpse into the live studio.
For additional details and ticket information for each location, visit:
Ryman Auditorium: https://www.ryman.com/tours