Southern Middle TN Today News with Tom Price 10-15-24

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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 October 15, 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.

Maury Regional EMS Receives Award (MauryCountySource)
Maury Regional Health’s (MRH) Emergency Medical Services (EMS) has received the American Heart Association’s (AHA) Mission: Lifeline EMS® Silver achievement award for its commitment to offering rapid and research-based care to people experiencing the most severe form of heart attacks and strokes, ultimately saving lives.
Mission: Lifeline EMS® is the AHA’s national initiative to advance the system of care for patients with high-risk, time-sensitive disease states, such as severe heart attacks and strokes.
This recognition program evaluates EMS agencies for their use of evidence-based treatment guidelines to improve care and outcomes. The Silver level awards agencies that meet certain criteria for 12 consecutive months, which includes actively submitting data to the National Cardiovascular Data Registry (NCDR), positive performance achievement measurements, consistency in quality of care, following proper protocols and procedures and ongoing quality improvement initiatives.
“Maury Regional Health EMS is honored to be recognized by the American Heart Association for our dedication to providing optimal care for heart attack patients,” said CEO Martin Chaney, MD. “This is all thanks to our dedicated and highly trained EMS teams utilizing the latest life-saving technology and care techniques. Everything we do is driven by our mission to serve and support the health and wellness of our community, ensuring that every patient receives the best possible care — from ambulance to hospital and back home.”
EMS staff can begin treatment when they arrive — much sooner than if someone goes to the hospital by car. This department plays a vital role in the early identification and stabilization of conditions and performing critical prehospital interventions that set the stage for effective treatment. Additionally, MRH’s EMS staff have technology that shares data with the emergency room (ER) before they arrive which allows for smooth and efficient transitions into hospital care. Overall, EMS teams ensure that patients receive timely and definitive therapies, which are essential for achieving optimal outcomes and maximizing quality of life.
The acronym F.A.S.T. can be used to help recall common signs of a stroke. ‘F’ is for face drooping, ‘A’ is for arm weakness, ‘S’ is for speech difficulty and ‘T’ is for time to call 911. Other symptoms include confusion, dizziness, severe headaches and trouble with your eyes.
Heart attack symptoms vary from person to person, but men will generally experience chest pain or discomfort, general pain that radiates to arms, back, neck, jaw or arms, shortness of breath, cold sweat, heart burn, sudden dizziness and heartburn. Women have similar issues yet tend to experience more arm or jaw pain than in the chest.
If you or someone is experiencing these symptoms, take action by calling 911, noting the time that the symptoms started and, if possible, chewing an aspirin to prevent blood clotting. Acting quickly has a significant impact on outcomes for both stroke and heart attack.
To learn more about Emergency Medical Services, visit MauryRegional.com/EMS.

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].

Some Local Sports Teams to Change Divisions (MSM)
Classifications for Tennessee Secondary School Athletic Association programs were recently announced by the organization for competition in the 2025-27 period, with a handful of local schools set to see new leagues.
After competing in Division II-A since entering the all-private school portion of the TSSAA prior to the 2019-20 school year, Columbia Academy – with an enrollment number of 279 – will play in DII-AA for football. The remainder of the school’s programs will continue to participate at the DII-A level.
“We were kind of anticipating it a little bit,” CA football coach Seth Anderson said. “Right now the focus is obviously on this season, but you’ve got to start looking ahead a little bit.”
The Division II-AA Middle Region currently consists of defending state champion Christ Presbyterian Academy, Battle Ground Academy, Davidson Academy, Franklin Road Academy, Goodpasture, Pope John Paul II and Webb-Bell Buckle. CPA will play in DII-AAA next season, while Webb is slotted for DII-A.
Grace Christian of Franklin will also play in Division II-AA next year.
“You know how high school football is right now; it’s all cyclical,” said Anderson, a 2005 CA graduate now in his third season atop the program following 11 years as an assistant. “Right now, FRA and BGA are really good. Obviously Davidson is a really good team. Goodpasture’s struggling a little bit right now. I really don’t know anything about JPII. Then there’s Grace and us.
“We’ve been playing some of those schools here in the recent past when we maybe haven’t been as strong. I think right now we’re on an uptick. We just had our biggest, numbers-wise, middle school team we’ve ever had. We had 46 kids on the middle school team, which is huge. When it comes to numbers, I feel really good. I think we’re on the right trajectory, more so now than maybe five years ago, to make this jump.”
Battle Creek, which opened earlier this year with an enrollment of 800, will play Class 4A football. The Grizzlies boys and girls basketball, baseball and softball programs have been assigned to Class 3A, with volleyball and soccer set to go Class AA.
“I think 4A is a good setup for us,” football coach Justin Burum said. “I think it kind of fits where we’re going to be when we get to full capacity. To go ahead and jump in next year and not have to be 3A and have to readjust to 4A is a good year.”
Region 5-4A currently includes Marshall County, Pearl-Cohn, Creek Wood, Whites Creek, Greenbrier, Station Camp, White House and Montgomery Central. Enrollment numbers for Pearl-Cohn and Whites Creek would allow both to play in Class 3A for the upcoming period. Station Camp will move to Class 5A. Liberty Creek moves up from Class 3A to 4A for next year.
“I’m interested to see how the region’s going to play out, with us kinda being in ‘no man’s land,’ Burum said. “We’ve got to wait and see who appeals, who does what; maybe we’ll get some surprises and our region will be a little closer. Right now it’s kind of widespread. There’s not really a 4A school around here. Marshall County’s the closest thing.”
Opening in the middle of a scheduling cycle and with only freshmen and sophomores in the building, Battle Creek has played a junior varsity schedule this fall. Burum looks forward to taking his team into the top half of Division I play next year.
“I’ll take my kids against anybody, the way they work, the way they attack the day,” he said. “I do know 4A will be a little challenging up front, in the trenches. That’s where we’ve got to develop and get that mindset, that we can move and compete with anybody up front. Skill-wise, we’re going to be young again, but I like the way our guys compete. If they come to school every day and do what we need them to do, we’ll be alright.”
Mt. Pleasant, with an enrollment figure of 382, remains in Class 2A for football but will return to Class 1A for basketball, baseball and softball – likely rejoining Maury County rivals Culleoka, Hampshire and Santa Fe. Mt. Pleasant and Trousdale County will be the two largest schools, enrollment-wise, in Class 1A, falling one short of the cutoff for Class 2A.
The remainder of programs in the Maury County area will remain in their current classifications for the 2025-27 school years. Region assignments will be announced following the Nov. 21 TSSAA Board of Control meeting.

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.”
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.

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…
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…
Early Voting (Press Release)
Tennessee Secretary of State Tre Hargett today reminded all registered Tennessee voters that the early voting period for the Nov. 5 State and Federal General Election begins this Wednesday, Oct. 16.
“Early voting begins this week, and we anticipate a robust turnout across Tennessee for the upcoming election,” said Secretary Hargett. “We encourage all registered voters to utilize the flexibility provided by the early voting period and make your voice heard.”
Early voting runs through Oct. 31, and all registered voters can find hours and polling locations, view sample ballots, and much more by downloading the Secretary of State’s free GoVoteTN app, or visiting GoVoteTN.gov.
Those voting early or on Election Day should remember to bring valid photo identification to the polls. A driver's license or photo ID issued by the Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security, by the Tennessee state government, or by the federal government are acceptable even if they are expired. College student IDs are not acceptable.
For more information about early voting and other election information, visit your trusted source for election information, GoVoteTN.gov, or contact the Secretary of State’s Division of Elections at 1-877-850-4959.

Burn Permit Required (MauryCountySource)
Beginning October 15, a free burn permit from the Tennessee Department of Agriculture Division of Forestry (TDF) is required prior to burning leaves or natural vegetation, including debris generated by Hurricane Helene.
“Due to the vast amount of woody debris from Hurricane Helene and other recent storms across the state, we expect more outdoor burning than usual this year,” State Forester Heather Slayton said. “Since escaped debris burns are the leading cause of wildfires, it is important that Tennesseans take fire safety seriously. Burn permits are required by law and the tool by which we help citizens understand when and how to burn.”
Permits are only issued when it is safe to burn. When conditions are unsafe due to hazardous conditions like high winds or extreme drought, TDF temporarily pauses the issuance of burn permits and resumes once conditions improve.
Burn permits are free and can be obtained at www.BurnSafeTN.org or by using the MyTN mobile app. Online permits are issued 7 days a week, 8 a.m. – 11:00 p.m. in Eastern or Central time zones, depending on your location. Always obtain a permit on the day you intend to burn any size leaf, brush, or debris pile or conduct a prescribed fire. Each fire should be completely extinguished by the permit expiration and no fire should be left unattended at any time. Burning without a permit is a prosecutable Class C misdemeanor.
Although online applications are encouraged, residents with limited internet access may call 877-350-BURN (2876) to request a permit Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Central.
If you live inside city limits, check with your municipality for additional restrictions before you burn.
Contact your local government to check for alternatives to burning for safe disposal of natural disaster debris and use those options whenever possible.
Information about burning debris from natural disasters, as well as a list of materials that are not allowed to be burned, can be found online at www.tn.gov/environment/air/open-burning.html

Final Story of the Day (Maury County Source)
Join Maury County Parks and Rec in celebrating the fall season with some festive pumpkin painting! Each registered participant will receive one pumpkin to paint and take home. There are no set designs, so let your imagination run wild! As we paint, enjoy some cider and snacks.
*This program is limited to 15 participants, so pre-register to ensure that enough supplies are available.
To Register: https://secure.rec1.com/TN/maury-county-tn/