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 March 6, 2025
All news stories are aggregated from various sources and modified for time and content. Original sources are cited.
We start with local news…
Animal Shelter Expands (MSM)
Animal Services director Kim Raffauf recently showed off the first phase of Maury County animal shelter’s new developments, designed to improve quality of life and care for the pets that Animal Services take in, in ever greater numbers.
The shelter appears to be in good hands with Raffauf, who became director of Maury County Animal Services a year ago last week. The upbeat atmosphere that she’s given the shelter attracts more people than before, among them the country-music star Miranda Lambert. Lambert has a big heart for shelter dogs, but before Raffauf’s tenure she had stopped visiting the Maury County shelter because she said she found it “too depressing.”
“We try to keep it as positive as possible,” Raffauf said.
She’s also overseen the installation of a microchip reader, which can be used at any hour of the day to check a stray animal for a tracking chip.
Perhaps most importantly, the director gives volunteers much more work to do there. Unlike in some other animal-services organizations, where volunteer work gets minimized and held at arm’s length by skeptical professionals, Maury County Animal Services have begun to make real use of their amateurs. 100 volunteers are on the books at the shelter, of whom 30 are very active; between them all, they did the work of eight full-time employees in 2024, walking dogs, supervising dog playgroup, and doing other less skilled tasks around the facility.
“We have great volunteers… They pour their heart and soul into… the mission of Maury [Animal Services],” said Raffauf. “I have a good team, they work hard, [and] we have a really good volunteer base. Volunteers are the life of the shelter.”
They assist the 13 employees (six of them full-time) who perform the tasks that require professional training.
Animal Services need all the help they can get. Somewhere between 2400 and 2500 animals passed through the shelter last year: half of them cats, 90% of them strays as of late. The shelter has had to turn away owners who want to surrender their pets, often advising them to take them to obedience classes or a local rescue agency before the shelter. Though people often try to surrender their pets at the first sign of trouble, Raffauf wants them to know that the shelter is supposed to be the last resort and that responsible people don’t “dump” their animals, either at the shelter or away from home, as soon as they get cold feet.
Raffauf also encourages people to sterilize their pets. In the shelter lobby stands a rack of T-shirts that say, “Backyards are for BBQs, not for breeding.”
“People need to spay and neuter,” she said. “We have opportunities to do that, and I’ve made [them] well-known.”
She encourages people to adopt animals too. The shelter is now open until 6 p.m. every day of the week, and they feature their adoptable animals on PetFinder, Adopt-a-Pet and Petco.
The first phase of the shelter overhaul, which she described to the County Commission last fall, is nearly complete. Several new kennels are being made permanent in the side-yard of the building which faces the street. The newly built dog playgroup barn in front of the shelter is almost complete, and visually impressive, besides. Its roof will offer shade to the hot dogs in the summer, and its separate pens will allow outdoor time to dogs who aren’t ready to join the group for medical or emotional reasons.
In early 2025 the shelter also had further walking trails carved out of the woods in their backyard, bringing their total trail length to two miles. Crossing a ditch at the beginning of one of the trails is the functional but undecorated new “Rainbow Bridge,” where deceased shelter dogs and volunteers will be memorialized. The Emergency Management department runs training exercises along those trails, with the permission of Animal Services.
With all the progress, Raffauf still looks forward to the completion of the new kennel complex out back (the biggest part of the new construction plan) and the rebuilding of one block of indoor kennels, which have only been jackhammered out so far. Shelter Planners of America came out and evaluated the shelter recently, she reported, “and we’re definitely under-sized, which we all know.” She plans to work on the expansion project in the coming year, once the budget and scope are approved, saying, “We’ll see what the Commission says.”
Youth Education Foundation Annual Luncheon (WKOM Audio 2:00)
Yesterday, the Youth Education Foundation held their annual luncheon. Front Porch Radio’s Delk Kennedy attended the event and spoke to the Foundation’s board president Michael Parks Lawrence…
Spring Hill Purchases 111 Acres (CDH)
The Spring Hill Board of Mayor & Aldermen accepted a resolution Monday approving an $8 million purchase to develop a water reservoir, a major step in addressing the city's increasing utility issues.
The 111-acre property located adjacent to I-65 near the Brandon Woods subdivision was initially slated to become a 1,100-unit high-density housing subdivision named Stone Creek.
In addition to Monday's purchase, 45 acres of additional land was previously donated to the city.
As the city began facing a decreasing timeline for solutions to its increasing water and wastewater needs, an opportunity arose to solve the problem, or at least make a significant dent. The project is dubbed "Project Swift," or Spring Hill's Advanced Purification Project, headed by Dan Allen.
Spring Hill Mayor Jim Hagaman called the purchase a "win-win" by avoiding another dense residential development and improving the city's water system.
"I am thankful that city staff was able to pull off a major win for Spring Hill residents. We are taking more than 1,000 residential units off the table and replacing them with a solution to our water needs," Mayor Jim Hagaman said in a press release. “This BOMA has been committed to the idea of smart growth, and we hear our residents’ concerns. This is a huge step in the right direction.”
Prior to Monday's vote, BOMA members voiced the success of the project.
"The purchase of this property is significant in many ways," Alderman Vincent Fuqua said. "This is something that is going to ultimately impact the way Spring Hill moves forward in development. I think by owning this we can go to development stages of design for a water reservoir that's going to help the community grow in a respectful way, and it's going to protect our natural resources."
Interim City Administrator Chris Clausi also applauded Allen and his staff.
"I think there are probably a handful of people in the country who could handle this process the way Mr. Allen is doing, and to have him part of our team is huge," Clausi said. "We can all feel the relief that someone of his expertise and his commitment to this project."
However, Fuqua also addressed recent comments he had seen posted to social media concerning the $8 million project, particularly criticizing the BOMA's transparency, or rather lack thereof.
"Elected officials who were once on this board chose to spend their time unprepared for meetings, no significant legislation that I can remember," Fuqua said.
"They sat on this board, and now they want to go to Facebook to create discourse within the community. Their failure on this board [gives them] no right to go and try to create a discourse today on something that is innovative, [designed to] successfully protect a river resource."
Alderman Trent Linville added that the project's intent is to relieve an already stressed system.
"One thing we don't want to get lost in this is the Duck River is a stressed waterway, and it's environmentally sensitive," Linville said. "This reduces our reliance on the Duck River, and Project Swift delivers a generational result for us. This is a no-brainer tonight."
Maury Dems to Hold Convention (Press Release)
The Maury County Democratic Party (MCDP) will hold its biennial reorganization convention on Saturday, April 12, 2025.
The state and county party bylaws require this convention to be held in odd years, and the purpose of the convention is to allow all Democratic voters to select county party officers and executive committee members. The MCDP will also discuss and vote upon minor changes to the county party bylaws that are being recommended by the Tennessee Democratic Party’s leadership.
The convention will be held at the Maury County Senior Citizen Center, located at 1020 Maury County Park Drive, in Columbia. Doors will be opened at 10 a.m., and attendees must arrive before the doors close at 11 a.m. to vote. A meeting of the newly elected county party executive committee will be held after the convention.
To participate in the Convention, a person must be registered to vote in Maury County and must be a bona fide member of the Democratic Party. The Democratic Party does not charge dues.
All voters who usually cast ballots in Presidential or August (state/local) Democratic Party primaries are deemed to be bona fide members of the Democratic Party. Voters who did not vote in last year’s primaries (including young people and new residents who were not yet eligible to vote) are also allowed to participate in this year’s convention if they sign a form stating that they agree to support the Democratic Party’s values and candidates.
MCDP Chair James Dallas: “We aim to have a fun and inclusive convention. If you are upset with the direction of our county, state, and country, this is an opportunity to stand up and help lead the fight. Our volunteers are the heart and soul of the Democratic Party, and we need you now more than ever.”
To register for the convention or to declare your candidacy for a party officer position, go to the online registration form: https://maurydems.org/register2025. More information about the event will also be posted on the MCDP website, maurydems.org, and the MCDP’s Facebook page.
About the Maury County Democratic Party: The Maury County Democratic Party is the local county affiliate of the Tennessee Democratic Party and represents the interests of tens of thousands of Democratic leaning voters in the county.
Historic Marker Unveiling (Press Release)
The community is invited to attend an unveiling ceremony for a historical marker honoring the Columbia Female Institute, an educational institution that featured a castle that was built in the 1830’s that significantly contributed to women's educational history in Columbia. The building burned in a tragic fire in 1959.
When: March 13, 2025 at 4:30 PM
Where: Columbia Plaza, 425 W 7th Street, Columbia, TN
Columbia 101 (Press Release)
The City of Columbia is excited to announce the return of Columbia 101, an interactive program designed to connect residents with local government and community services. Following a successful inaugural session in the Fall of 2024, Columbia 101 is now accepting applications for its second installment taking place on Tuesday, April 22, 2025 and Wednesday, April 23, 2025.
Columbia 101 is constructed to educate and engage participants in the workings of local government by offering a behind-the-scenes look at city operations. Over two consecutive days, participants will start each morning at City Hall before engaging with all 12 city departments and touring select municipal facilities, such as the Police and Public Works Departments.
“Columbia 101 is about fostering an informed and engaged community,” said Mayor Chaz Molder. “We want to provide residents with a deeper understanding of how their city operates and the many ways they can contribute to its success.
The enthusiasm and participation we saw in the first session were inspiring, and I look forward to seeing even more citizens take part in this unique experience.”
A Fall 2024 participant shared their experience, saying, “Columbia 101 allowed for an in-depth look into what keeps Columbia thriving. Seeing the faces, meeting the people, and visiting the facilities behind those processes helped me see how I can be a better citizen and how important it is to work together as a member of the Columbia team.”
Applications for Columbia 101 are available now and will close on Friday, March 14th at 4:00 PM. The program is open to all City of Columbia and Maury County residents and is held twice per year. There is a $25 program fee for all accepted applicants, which covers program costs, including food and transportation.
City Manager Tony Massey emphasized the program’s importance, stating, “Providing opportunities for residents to engage with their local government is a priority for the City of Columbia. Columbia 101 is an excellent way for citizens to gain firsthand knowledge about city services and become more involved in their community.”
Columbia 101 applications are available at www.ColumbiaTN.gov or at the reception desk on the 3rd floor of City Hall.
Follow the City of Columbia on Facebook and Instagram at “CityofColumbiaTN” for updates. For questions, please contact Lexi Dearborn at LDearborn@ColumbiaTN.gov.
Farm City Breakfast (Press Release)
The Maury Alliance Agribusiness Committee invites you to the annual Farm City Breakfast honoring the agriculture and agribusiness industry of Maury County.
This year's Farm City Breakfast will be held on Friday, March 28th, at the Ridley 4-H Center. The breakfast line opens at 6:45 am with the program beginning at 7:00 am and concluding by 8:30 am.
The Keynote Speaker is Mr. Andy Holt, Deputy Commissioner, TN Department of Agriculture. This year’s honoree is the Fox Farm of Santa Fe as a Century Farm.
There is no charge to attend the breakfast, however we will be collecting donations during the event for our 2025 Farm City Scholarship Memorial Fund. This year scholarships will be given in memory of Sam Whiteside.
Scholarships are currently available for Maury County Seniors pursuing degrees in an Agriculture related field of study. The deadline to apply is March 14th. Please share this application with anyone you know who may qualify!
Learn more by visiting www.mauryalliance.com/
And now, Your Hometown Memorials, Sponsored by Oakes & Nichols Funeral Home…
Mr. James Wayne Malugin, 76, retired employee of L & N Railroad and lifelong resident of Columbia, died Thursday, February 20 at his residence. A memorial service will be held on Saturday, March 8th, 2025 at 2:00 PM at Oakes & Nichols Funeral Home, with military honors provided by the Herbert Griffin American Legion Post 19. The Family will visit with friends Saturday, March 8th, 2025 from 12:00 PM until the service time at the funeral home.
Duane Thomas “Turkey” Jones, 78, of Lynnville, Tennessee passed away at his home on February 27th, 2025.
A celebration of Duane’s life will be at 11:00 a.m. Thursday, March 13, 2025 at St. Peter’s Episcopal Church. The family will receive friends in the Parish Hall from 9:30 a.m. until the time of the service. St. Peter’s is located at 311 W 7th St, Columbia, TN.
Interment will take place in Shreveport, Louisiana at a later date.
Chance Harding Luna, 33, died unexpectedly Saturday, March 1, 2025 at his residence in Columbia.
Funeral services will be conducted Saturday, March 8, 2025 at 11:00 AM at Oakes & Nichols Funeral Home. Burial will follow in Lynnwood Cemetery in Lynnville. The family will visit with friends Friday from 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM at Oakes & Nichols Funeral Home. Online condolences may be extended at www.oakesandnichols.com.
Jana Gail Wyrick Robertson, 64, died on March 1. Visitation will be held on Saturday, March 8, 2025 from 12:00 PM to 1:45 PM with the Memorial Service following at 2:00 PM at The Columbia Academy Vest Hall.
And now, news from around the state…
Could Tariffs Lead to a Trade War (Tennessean)
As tensions between North America's three biggest countries rise over trade, thousands of East Tennessee businesses that export billions of dollars in goods every year will be caught in the tariff cross fire.
In East Tennessee, $3.9 billion of goods were exported from the Knoxville metropolitan area in 2022.
President Donald Trump's 25% tariffs on imports from Mexico and Canada started March 4. Tariffs are taxes on goods imported from another country, set at a percentage of the goods' value. They are usually paid by the company bringing the goods into the country (and often passed on to consumers).
That means American businesses and consumers will pay Trump's tariffs on certain foreign goods, and Canadian and Mexican businesses and consumers will pay tariffs on American goods.
Here are some Tennessee trade stats:
Tennessee exported $38.9 billion of goods in 2024.
Tennessee was the 16th largest state exporter of goods in 2024.
Goods exports accounted for 7.3% of Tennessee's gross domestic product in 2023 (latest data available).
Tennessee goods exports supported an estimated 125,000 jobs in 2022 (the latest data available).
Tennessee exported $36.4 billion of manufactured products in 2024.
Tennessee exported $7.8 billion in goods to Canada (20% of the state's total exports) and $6.7 billion in goods to Mexico (17% of the state's total exports) in 2024
7,268 companies exported from Tennessee. 82% of those locations were small- and medium-sized enterprises with fewer than 500 employees in 2022 (latest data available)
Small- and medium-sized firms generated 16.7% of Tennessee's total exports of goods in 2022.
Tennessee shipped $2.2 billion in domestic agricultural exports abroad in 2022.
Tennessee's top agricultural exports, in order, were soybeans, cotton, other plant products, corn and wheat.
Tennessee imported $14 billion in goods from Mexico.
Tennessee imported $6.8 billion in goods from Canada.
Tennessee's top imports were chemicals ($26.9 billion), computer and electronic products ($25.8 billion) and transportation equipment ($19.3 billion).
Canada and Mexico have enjoyed a virtually tariff-free trading relationship with the U.S. for three decades.
After Trump imposed tariffs, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said his country will respond with immediate 25% tariffs on $20.7 billion worth of U.S. imports and on another $86.2 billion if Trump's tariffs are still in place in 21 days. Trudeau said previously that Canada would target American beer, wine, bourbon, home appliances, and Florida orange juice. Also on Trudeau's list are poultry and cotton products, two of Tennessee's top agricultural exports.
Final Story of the Day (Maury County Source)
Nashville’s first rodeo will head to Bridgestone Arena in May.
Bridgestone Arena shared the news, stating, ”Music City Rodeo is coming to Bridgestone Arena on May 29-31! See Reba on May 29, Jelly Roll on May 30, and Tim McGraw on May 31!”
Tickets go on sale on Friday, March 7th at 10 am. Find tickets at www.bridgestonearena.com.