Southern Middle TN Today News with Tom Price 11-13-24

What is Front Porch Radio - Southern Middle TN Today News with Tom Price?

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 13, 2024

All news stories are aggregated from various sources and modified for time and content. Original sources are cited.
We start with local news…
Election Insights (CDH)
As Republican President-elect Donald Trump makes new appointments for his upcoming cabinet and final votes roll in for remaining races for U.S. House and Senate, local party leaders are weighing in on election results their vision moving forward.
The Nov. 5 election brought many victories in Tennessee for Republican leaders, which in the case for Maury County included State House races in the 64th and 71st Districts, as well as the State Senate for the 28th District.
In the days following the election, local political leaders had much to say about the results, as well as the top issues they believe should receive the most focus.
For Maury County Republican Party Chairman Jerry Bridenbaugh, a major part in his party's victory was due to a high voter turnout, which in Maury County accounted for 74%, or 52,000 registered voters.
"To me, the three major points that needed to be won to make it a solid victory were ... to have an electoral victory, which we did with over 300 [electoral votes], a solid popular vote and a solid margin within the popular vote large enough that it established a solid victory, as well as winning in the Senate, if not the Senate and the House," Bridenbaugh said.
Maury County Democratic Party Chairman James Dallas also campaigned for State Senate District 28 but was defeated by incumbent Sen. Joey Hensley, R-Hohenwald. Even though his run didn't end in victory, it was still a positive experience, he said, which drew key takeaways.
"Obviously, this is not the result that Democrats wanted, and one we will be spending some time talking about," Dallas said. "As a candidate, it was a fantastic experience. It would have been nice to have won, but with that said, it was an honor to receive over 25,000 votes districtwide over five counties ... and I look forward to engaging with the General Assembly when they come back into session, and I also congratulate Dr. Hensley on his win."
In the months leading up to Election Day, many issues were raised by candidates, as well as voters, such as abortion legislation, immigration policies and the rising cost of living due to inflation.
When it came to the issues which mattered most to voters, Bridenbaugh said you only have to "look as far as your local grocery store or gas pump."
"I went to the grocery store after church to pick up a few things, and when I say a few things, I mean a few cases of soft drinks, dog food, that kind of thing. It cost me $82, and I carried everything out in one hand," Bridenbaugh said.
"That hits home, and it really sends a message. People are tired of it."
From the Democrat side, the main issues appear to be not far off.
Dallas said the cost of living is a top issue among constituents he spoke to on the campaign trail, as well as immigration.
"Although the state legislature doesn't have a lot to do with immigration, it certainly has a lot to do with the cost of living in regard to setting rules that affect the availability of housing, the grocery tax and many things that affect how much we pay for things to get by," Dallas said.
"I certainly hope the next session at the General Assembly will focus on the cost of living because it's something I think many people are concerned about."
Conservative Republicans of Maury County Chairperson Debbie Matthews described her newly-formed political group's reaction to the Trump and Republican victory as "a sigh of relief."
"We are joyful, happy at the possibility of whatever happens," Matthews said. "We are excited that conservatives are in control, but the biggest thing is if this had been tied up, if it looked like there had been cheating, or illegals voting, I think Republicans would never vote again."
Matthews added that certain measures were taken to ensure transparency during the voting process, and not just in Maury County, but nationwide.
"We had citizen journalists watching the polls, and if anything went weird, we were reporting it in real time," Matthews said. "Nationwide, the Republicans did a great job of watching that. I was just thrilled about that."
Although elections often reflect two sides pitted against one another, making sure it is done in a smooth and professional manner is also a top priority, Dallas said there's an opportunity for reflection.
Areas for improvement in the Democratic Party include greater voter awareness, as well as possibly increasing polling sites, Dallas said.
"We can always do more to encourage voter turnout, and we know that not everybody that could vote did vote," Dallas said. "It's certainly good to see how high the turnout was, and that'll be something we will continue to work on in the future, to continue working with voters and engaging with them, and try to persuade them to vote."
Dallas added that one of his concerns is that, even after an election is over, the ultimate conclusion will always be divided, which is a sign there is always work to be done, which in the end benefits both sides regardless of party.
"The concern that I have is that the Republicans will draw the conclusion that everything is hunky dory and that they will focus on social issues, when they should focus on issues like growth and the cost of living," Dallas said. "That's something that affects most voters, and I think that is something that would be tremendously beneficial if they did."
Bridenbaugh said one thing he noticed during this election was a decrease in door-to-door campaigning, which he believes creates a stronger connection to voters than people might think.
He encouraged voters to get to know their locally elected leaders.
"Your representatives are local people too. So, call them up, take them out to coffee, put a face to them," Bridenbaugh said.
"State, county and city elections were a big focus this year. I tell people all the time, 'Yes, presidential races are fun, but look at it this way, the people who affect your lives on a day-to-day basis are your county commissioners, your city council members and your state representatives.
"The closer you get to the local level, the more impact you have on the decisions on your lives."

Maury County Animal Shelter to Expand (MSM)
Kim Raffauf inherited a difficult situation when she took over as director of Maury County Animal Services in February 2024. When its current dog shelter was built in 2003, the county’s population was about 70,000; since then, it’s swelled to over 110,000.
“And everybody comes with a dog,” she says.
Circumstances compel people to get rid of their pets even after they move to Columbia: owners surrender animals to the shelter, for instance, to move into rentals that don’t allow them. (Raffauf says they take in as many owner-surrenders as strays.) Good Samaritans also pick up animals to take them to the shelter, only to find that there’s no room there, and they have to keep the animals at their houses for up to a week before the shelter gets a free kennel.
When Raffauf gave her presentation to the Health and Environmental Committee this month, there were 42 dogs in kennels built for 26. Both dogs and cats require split cages for their health, so they can eat and relieve themselves in different “rooms,” but for lack of space the shelter has had to put many animals in half a cage apiece.
Overcrowding is only one of the shelter’s problems; wear and tear has posed almost as serious a problem for the last five years. In their agitation at the unfamiliar surroundings and smells and sounds, the dogs have bitten and scratched holes in the flimsy walls and chute doors of their kennels, and some have bent the metal doors out of shape by body-slamming them repeatedly. The more excitable ones attempt to jump over the kennel walls, forcing the shelter workers to tie fencing material to the tops of the kennels with bungee cords and zip-ties.
The broken-down kennels also cause logistical problems.
“The No. 1 problem we have with volunteers is they don’t know the system, like [how] you have to lift up [door #8] to push [it] in,” Raffauf explained.
The shifting of the concrete floor traps water in some spots, and creates tripping hazards in others. The hard walls and floors also amplify the barking of the agitated dogs, making it difficult for a human being to remain longer than a few minutes in the loud, strong-smelling kennel rooms. One can only imagine the effect on the dogs, which spend the whole day and night there outside of their exercise time.
Raffauf began making plans “from scratch” to improve the shelter when she took on the job in February 2024. Her renovations would begin to make the kennels more livable and sanitary for the animals, especially the dogs. “Block” construction, for example, would make the kennels less noisy. Subsidies for sterilization procedures could also prompt people to “fix” their pets, quickly reducing the number of animals on the street. (She describes the shelter’s first sterilization-vaccination drive in September as “a huge success!”) And she hopes to install portable microchip scanners in the front lobby, which would prevent many pets from ever entering the shelter system.
Raffauf has been attempting to raise money for these renovations since the beginning of her tenure. The County Commission pledged $140,000 for renovations earlier, though Raffauf isn’t sure how they arrived at the amount.
“I don’t know where that number came from. I have not found any quotes, anything,” she claims.
The city of Columbia, the source of the overwhelming majority of the animals, agreed this year to increase its $200,000 annual fee by $20,000. This is the city’s first service-fee increase since 2003, and is only a fifth of what Raffauf asked for. The $160,000 that Animal Services has received so far isn’t enough to make the repairs she says the shelter needs.
To make all the changes Raffauf wants will require two stages. The first round, of interior renovations to the existing building, will be made between January and April (when dog intake tends to be lower). Animal Services has already conditionally accepted Solomon Construction’s $717,183 bid to do the renovations, which Raffauf will take to the county’s committees for approval in November.
The second stage will be the construction of an extension behind the shelter, with more dog kennels and cat spaces. This is a much more ambitious project than the renovations. The County Commission has set aside $150,000 for expert shelter planners to do a site study and draw up plans. By studying the projected growth of the county and the increased animal intake, the experts can determine how big the new addition ought to be.
“It’s a smart way of doing it because they’re experts in their field, and they’ll give us the best for the animals,” Raffauf said.
So far they’ve drawn up plans for 40 more kennels and a new cat area. When the county approves the plan and funding, Hewlett-Spencer will build the extension.
To ease the public burden and help with long-term maintenance, Animal Services has also begun selling sponsorships for the kennels. Private citizens or businesses can have their name posted next to a kennel in exchange for a donation of $1,000 per indoor kennel or $500 per outdoor. Raffauf has already found several kennel sponsors, among them a few county commissioners.
“I think that it will be very, very easy to do that because the community is very generous,” she said.
The county Health & Environmental and Budget Committees approved the bid on the first stage of improvements at their meeting last week, moving the shelter project along to the November meeting of the County Commission. Several county commissioners seemed receptive to the idea at the Health & Environment meeting.
“It is so stinky and so loud. It breaks your heart to see those dogs, they’re coming in… in scores,” said Commissioner Jerry Strahan. “We need a place where people can come in and look at the animals in a way that’s conducive for adoption.”
Other commissioners had reservations. Commissioner Eric Previti and County Mayor Sheila Butt suggested that Raffauf go to the city government for more money, since the overwhelming majority of lost dogs came from Columbia.
Commissioner Gabe Howard objected to funding a request without a concrete plan and budget.
“None of us would do our own projects in that way, and I wouldn’t spend taxpayers’ dollars like I wouldn’t spend my own dollars,” he said.
With a new plan and detail, Raffauf hopes to make the needed changes a reality.

City of Columbia Sculpture Unveiling Postponed (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 that was scheduled to take place on Wednesday, November 13, has been postponed due to the anticipation of inclement weather. The city will send an updated press release when a new date and time have been established.

Bridge Closure (MSM)
The bridge between Sugar Creek Lane and Magnolia Drive in Maury County will be entirely closed for the next six months, possibly less. Since the pike is State Highway 243, the Tennessee Department Of Transportation will do the repairs. The agency’s plans have been changing week by week, says Mount Pleasant City Manager Philip Grooms.
The Mount Pleasant City Commission was informed of the plan at its October meeting. Repairs were supposed to start Nov. 18, and were initially supposed to take 11 months, to the City Commission’s dismay. Fortunately, Grooms was able to report that the complete closure would last only six months at most.
Grooms recommends that people take Highway 43 to get around the blockage. Drivers can take the exits for South Cross Bridges Road and Highway 166/1st Avenue to get to the north end of Mount Pleasant and the Mt. Joy Road and South Main Street exits to get to its south end. To get onto 243 north of the bridge, drivers can take the Highway 43 exits onto Canaan Road, Zion Road or the airport road.
Grooms stressed that the local businesses in front of and behind the bridge are still open and operating normally.

One Gen Away (MauryCountySource)
Franklin-based nonprofit OneGenAway will host a drive-thru Mobile Pantry event, providing free groceries to anyone in need. Recipients will receive fresh produce, pantry staples and more.
The event will take place on Saturday, November 16th at Columbia State College, 1665 Hampshire Pike, Columbia, TN
Distribution begins at 9:00 a.m. and continues until food runs out (approximately 10:00 a.m.).
Volunteers are encouraged to arrive at 7:30 a.m.
OneGenAway operates its Mobile Pantry almost every Saturday throughout its service area, which includes Middle Tennessee, North Alabama and the Florida Panhandle.

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.

Anita Jo Foster, 76, passed at Life Care Center of Columbia on November 9th.
A memorial service will be conducted Sunday, November 17, 2024 at 1:00 PM at Oakes & Nichols Funeral Home with Rev. Rick Points officiating. Inurnment will follow in Polk Memorial Gardens. The family will visit with friends Friday from 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM and Saturday from 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM at Oakes & Nichols Funeral Home.

And now, news from around the state…
House Turnover (Tennessean)
An analysis from Redfin has revealed that the turnover rate for homes is the lowest in the past three decades.
According to Redfin, there were 37.5% fewer homes sold in 2024 than during the middle of the "pandemic buying frenzy" in 2021 (40 of every 1,000) and 31% fewer homes sold than during 2019 (36 of every 1,000). Reasons for the low turnover include elevated mortgage rates, rising prices and low supply and economic and political uncertainty, reported Redfin.
"Mortgage rates have already fallen more than one percentage point from their 2024 peak, but we have not yet seen a significant increase in the number of homes changing hands. Of the homes listed this year, many have gone stale because of the lack of demand — especially homes which needed a little extra work,” said Redfin Senior Economist Elijah de la Campa in a statement.
“With the majority of homeowners locked into low mortgages, rates will need to keep falling consistently for many to feel comfortable moving on from the deals they secured years ago.”
The data for Nashville, however, tells a different story.
The report found that homes in suburban and rural areas change hands slightly more often than urban homes. Approximately 25 out of every 1,000 single family homes and condos/townhouses in suburban and rural areas sold in the first eight months of the year, compared to the roughly 24 out of every 1,000 homes which are sold in urban areas.
Music City landed in the No. 3 spot for areas with the highest turnover rates, falling behind Newark, New Jersey and Phoenix, Arizona.
According to Redfin, areas like Phoenix and Nashville maintained relatively strong activity throughout the pandemic, as workers looked for affordable places to live and work from home.

Grocery Sales Tax Debate (Tennessean)
Tennessee is one of only 13 states that charge a grocery tax on residents, according to the nonprofit Center on Budget and Policy Priorities.
However, Tennessee offers a reduced rate on its grocery tax compared to states that charge the full sales tax rate.
"Three of those states — Alabama, Mississippi, and South Dakota — apply the same sales tax rate to food as other goods and services," CBPP officials wrote in a 2022 national report on the impact of grocery taxes. "In four other states, consumers pay the full state sales tax but recoup some of those added costs by claiming a credit when they file their taxes. Six states tax groceries to a degree but levy a reduced rate."
The CBPP determined that the tax is a burden on "workers and families least able to afford it" and allowed that reduced rates and tax credits help ease the cost pressure.
In 2023, state leaders provided a three-month vacation from paying the grocery tax from August through October.
Residents saved up to $288 million, or about $100 per family, during the three-month tax relief program, state Department of Revenue officials said.
Do Democrats and Republicans agree on a grocery tax cut?
Short answer: Sort of.
Nashville Democrat Aftyn Behn and other Democrat leaders argue her grocery tax cut would help residents while demanding corporations, which benefited from a recent cut to franchise and excise taxes, pay more.
Republicans, including Rep. William Lamberth, R-Portland, argue that a corporate tax increase would ultimately be passed on to consumers through higher prices for goods and services.
Lamberth sponsored a bill passed earlier this year that allows local municipalities to reduce their grocery tax, opening the door for O'Connell to cut the fee in Nashville.
"Cutting the grocery tax is an idea that we have supported for years, but paying for it by punishing the business owners who create our jobs and their employees is socialism at its worst," Lamberth said in a statement. "Representative Behn's bill will increase business taxes by $800 million. That might work in liberal California, but not in Tennessee."
Behn responded to Lamberth, saying:
"With the state's revenue projections looking grim, I welcome any creative ways to fund the elimination of the grocery tax from my colleagues that ensures the biggest corporations pay what they owe so that the burden doesn't fall on working families in Tennessee."

Final Story of the Day (Maury County Source)
Country Music Hall of Famer George Strait will receive the Country Music Association's Willie Nelson Lifetime Achievement Award at 2024's 58th Annual CMA Awards at Nashville's Bridgestone Arena on Nov. 20, 2024.
"There have been few other artists as authentically Texas and authentically Country as George Strait and country music fans all over the world have been better for it," CMA Chief Executive Officer Sarah Trahern said via a press statement. "As a three-time CMA Entertainer of the Year and the most nominated artist of all time, he serves as an inspiration and icon to many of the great, new artists we know today. I am thrilled we are awarding him with this deserving honor."
Previous recipients of the CMA Willie Nelson Lifetime Achievement Award include Willie Nelson (2012), Kenny Rogers (2013), Johnny Cash (2015), Dolly Parton (2016), Kris Kristofferson (2019), Charley Pride (2020), Loretta Lynn (2021) and Alan Jackson (2022).