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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.
Spring Hill resident recovers from hiking injury with Maury Regional Physical Therapy (Press Release)
After a serious hiking injury on the challenging Camelback Mountain in Arizona, Bill Brown faced a long and difficult path to recovery. With injuries including a broken shoulder, six cracked ribs and a punctured lung, his journey back to health required multiple surgeries and extensive rehabilitation.
Following initial treatment in Arizona, Brown turned to Maury Regional Physical Therapy in Spring Hill where he began an intensive therapy program to regain strength and mobility in his shoulder. With three sessions each week under the guidance of therapists Joshua Lunn, PT, DPT, Tyler Clark, PT, DPT, Amanda Kesterson, PT, DPT, and Lori Czaplewski, PTA, Brown made remarkable progress over a grand total of 48 appointments.
“I’m very goal oriented, and I’m driven when I set my mind to something,” said Brown. “A few months into physical therapy, my wife and I decided we’d travel back to Scottsdale, Arizona, to visit our friends, and I was determined to play pickleball. I brought my racket to our PT sessions, and they built it into my recovery program. The staff was wonderful to work with. Joshua Lunn was very innovative with how to approach my treatment. Tyler and Amanda were phenomenal to work with and helped push me every visit — they matched my energy and fueled my drive.”
As a point of measurement, the shoulder’s potential is a full 180-degree range from a resting position parallel with the torso to lifting into the air parallel with your head; however, this varies from person to person and can also sit in a range of 150-170 degrees and still be considered healthy depending on health conditions and age. After four months of continued improvement, Brown was able to have better range in his injured shoulder at 167 degrees of motion versus his uninjured arm, which had 164 degrees of motion.
“Bill was very determined,” shared Lunn. “As a physical therapist, we’re there to push our patients and help them succeed, but when our patients are motivated, it has a great impact on their recovery. Bill is a perfect example of that determination.”
Today, Brown continues to do at-home physical therapy exercises and set new goals!
“The probability that I survived a fall on Camelback Mountain is incredible. I should have been dead,” said Brown. “My advice to anyone looking to recover in physical therapy after an extreme shoulder injury is to take baby steps and stay driven. There will be some pain, but there’s so much more to gain by sticking with the program provided by your physical therapists.”
Maury Regional Health offers physical therapy services to help you return to doing what you love across eight locations in Columbia, Spring Hill, Lewisburg, Chapel Hill, Pulaski, Hohenwald, Mount Pleasant and Waynesboro.
To learn more, visit MauryRegional.com/PhysicalTherapy.
Spring Hill Planning Commission advances plan for airport district (Main Street Maury)
Spring Hill’s Planning Commission recommended approving modifications to the Planned Development Plan for the Spring Hill Commerce Center, including the addition of an airport district as part of the 706-acre development.
The city’s Board of Mayor and Aldermen passed an ordinance creating the PDP in December 2022. The Spring Hill Commerce Center site, located off Jim Warren Road and zoned I-2, is intended to house light industrial and commercial companies. The changes will have to go before the BOMA for approval as well.
As submitted, the airport district would comprise roughly 189 acres of the PDP.
“What this airport is going to be is an economic engine to bring tremendous value to this community. The businesses that look for headquarters that have high-paying jobs, one of their criteria is easy access to an airport,” said Mike Harris, co-founder of Hawkins Flight Academy. “Forty-five minutes to an hour drive to fly is useless. What this is is an opportunity for people to pursue high-paying jobs.”
Harris also cited the opportunity a Spring Hill airport would provide young people to pursue flight training toward a future career.
During public comment, John Lee of Spring Hill criticized what he called “a lack of information” about the proposed airport district in the packet provided regarding the Spring Hill Commerce Center.
“The community’s full of rumors… we’d like some more detail,” Lee said.
Other changes to the PDP include the addition of electric vehicle charging stations to the use table, removing private electric vehicle charging stations from on-site accessory uses, adding a table of native/drought tolerant plant species and an updated district boundary exhibit.
Alderman Matt Fitterer noted that the city’s Industrial Development Board was working on a development agreement as well for the property. Fitterer said any adjustments required could be made by the BOMA rather than coming back to the Planning Commission.
A site plan for 42 independent-living cottages and nine duplexes, along with an amenities center, for Belle Spring South on Reserve Boulevard, received approval as well. Planners deferred a site plan for assisted and independent-living facilities for Belle Springs North. Staff said it had not had time to review a new study regarding parking at the site.
Final development approval was also granted for 109 lots at the Durango Place (formerly Caldwell Farms) development on Buckner Lane. A preliminary plat and final plat approval will have to come later before any construction begins.
An electrical substation to be added to the Brandywine Industrial Park on John Lunn Road received site plan approval as well, subject to the Duck River Authority closing on its acquisition of part of the property.
Items approved as the consent agenda without debate were:
Establishing maintenance bonds for Sagrass Phase 4, Sawgrass West Phase 3, Duplex Road Commercial Development, Duplex Road Commercial Development Sidewalk and Turn Lane and The Enclave at Brandon Woods;
Final plat approvals for 63 single-family lots on Beechcroft as part of Harvest Point Phases 17A and 17B; and
Allowing a batch house and maintenance building to be added to an existing concrete plant on Old Port Royal Road. As the concrete plant is a non-conforming use of the property but grandfathered in at the site, staff indicated that the Board of Zoning Appeals would have to hear the matter after any action by the Planning Commission.
Lee spoke against the expansion of the concrete plant during public comment, asking that approval be delayed until after improvements to Jim Warren Road.
The Planning Commission’s next meeting is scheduled for Monday, Nov. 25 at 5:30 p.m.
United Communications to launch 8 Gig internet across Middle Tennessee (Press Release)
United Communications is set to shatter internet speed limits across Middle Tennessee by launching its new ultra-fast 8 Gig internet service. This new 8-Gig service offers outstanding reliability and unrivaled performance powered by the region’s largest fiber broadband network.
William Bradford, President and CEO of United Communications, announced the new high-speed service at the Boys & Girls Club of Bedford County in Shelbyville, where the company is donating its first 8 Gig internet connection.
“Whether you’re in a classroom, a conference room, or your own living room, connectivity has a major impact on our daily lives,” said Bradford. “United’s 8 Gig internet service sets a new standard for internet speed in Middle Tennessee and will put our customers well ahead of the curve as multi-gig internet demand increases.”
This 8-Gig service offers speeds 40 times faster than the average advertised U.S. download speed through a private fiber-optic connection to each customer.
With matching download and upload speeds and industry-leading 99.99% network reliability, United’s 8 Gig fiber internet is backed by the company’s 77-year history as a Middle Tennessee-based company dedicated to world-class customer service.
United Communications has started initially activating 8 Gig connections in a phased roll-out that will eventually reach the company’s entire coverage area by the summer of 2025. The company will directly notify local residents and small businesses when it's time to upgrade or sign up for service.
For personal and household use, 8 Gig fiber internet service is the fastest broadband connection available anywhere in Middle Tennessee. For business and enterprise customers, upgrading to 8 Gig service will significantly expand bandwidth capacity to accommodate critical applications, including virtual work environments, cloud-based information sharing, e-commerce transactions, media production, and real-time streaming.
To get notified as soon as the 8 Gig service has arrived in your neighborhood, check United’s availability at your location by visiting united.net/service-map-page.
Tractor Supply Supports Pet Adoption (Press Release)
The Columbia Tractor Supply store has provided Rudimentary Rescue with a $200 adoption grant to support the rescue's animal adoption program. With these funds, the organization will be better able to purchase needed supplies and support program initiatives.
"Through this Adoption Grant, we will provide Rudimentary Rescue with resources to help maintain and grow their programs," said Gabby Serra, manager of the Columbia Tractor Supply store.
"We're passionate about animals at Tractor Supply, and we're hopeful this partnership will encourage more local adoptions from Rudimentary Rescue and put deserving pets in loving homes."
Tractor Supply serves as a destination for pet owners, providing food, treats, toys, crates, carriers and supplements, as well as expert advice on all things pet. With its focus on animals, the rural lifestyle retailer makes it a priority to support local animal organizations like Rudimentary Rescue whenever possible.
Other community rescue groups interested in hosting in-store adoption events at the Columbia Tractor Supply should contact the store by calling 931-380-1234 for more information. Columbia Tractor Supply is located at 130 Ashwood Drive.
Now a look at your hometown memorials, brought to you by Oakes and Nichols Funeral Home…
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 that affects you …
TBI director warns of violent Venezuelan gang resurfacing in Tennessee (WKRN)
The director of the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) warned a violent Venezuelan gang has resurfaced in Tennessee.
Compared to the transnational gang MS-13, which is made up of mostly members of Central American descent, officials said members of the Venezuelan gang are known to be involved in crimes ranging from trafficking women to committing murder in broad daylight.
At Tuesday’s budget meeting with Tennessee Governor Bill Lee, TBI Director David Rausch opened his statement by saying, “I want to start off this morning with some concerning trends.”
According to Rausch, a Venezuelan gang named “Tren de Aragua” has been spotted in metropolitan areas across the Volunteer State.
“They are very violent. This is a group that was created in the prisons in Venezuela and they are here and they are in numbers here,” explained Rausch.
Venezuelan gangs are reportedly on the rise across the country. This year, the Biden administration named Tren de Aragua a “transnational criminal organization” and offered a $12 million reward for the arrest of its leaders. In fact, leaders in Texas directed its law enforcement to target the gang.
Meanwhile, in Tennessee, the TBI said the gang disappeared two years ago and recently resurfaced.
“Now what we are seeing is they are back,” said Rausch. “They are back in all of our major cities. They are running human trafficking operations. That’s where they start, but we have learned, talking with our peers throughout the country, that they have a pathway to more violence.”
Tren de Aragua begins its criminal enterprise by abducting women from Venezuela and trafficking them to the U.S., which eventually evolves into organized retail crime, drugs and heinous violence, according to the TBI.
“Recently, there was a video that they shot, where they shot a cartel member 31 times in broad daylight on video and posted it to social media,” added Rausch. “That’s the type of organization they are.”
How to watch the upcoming meteor shower (Tennessean)
November skies will be beaming as Earth gets ready to welcome the Leonid meteor shower. The major shower has been active since Nov. 3, but is projected to be at its brightest on Nov. 18.
The Leonids peak annually during mid-November and are bright, colorful meteors. Traveling at a speed of 44 miles per second, they are considered some of the fastest meteors, reports NASA.
Leonids are also known for their Earth-grazer meteors and fireballs, larger explosions of light and color that can persist longer than an average meteor streak. Earth-grazers are meteors that streak close to the horizon and are known for their long, colorful tails, said NASA.
The Leonids originate from comet 55P/Tempel-Tuttle, discovered twice independently in 1865 and 1866 by Ernst Tempel and Horace Tuttle, respectively.
According to NASA, it takes Tempel-Tuttle 33 years to orbit the sun once.
The Leonids are active until Dec. 2, but peak during Nov. 18. According to EarthSky, the morning and night of Nov. 17 could also be worthwhile.
Under a dark sky without a moon, you might see to 10 to 15 Leonid meteors per hours. However, a waning gibbous moon will interfere with Leonid meteors in 2024.
The best time to view the Leonids will be at about midnight local time, away from city and street lights. NASA recommends lying flat on your back and with your feet toward the east, taking in as much of the sky as possible.
"In less than 30 minutes in the dark, your eyes will adapt and you will begin to see meteors," wrote NASA online. "Be patient – the show will last until dawn, so you have plenty of time to catch a glimpse."
Time now for our final story…
Maury County high schools achieve all-time high graduation rate (Main Street Maury)
Maury County Public Schools District announced recently that 92% of its seniors graduated from high school in 2023-24, its highest rate ever. It was a 3% increase over the 89% graduation rate in 2022-23 (which was a 3% improvement over 2021-22) and matches the state's pverall high school graduation rate for 2023-24.
The gains came mainly from Columbia Central's impressive 6% graduation boost over last year. With the highest enrollment in the county at 1,500 students, it influences the calculations much more than any other school except Spring Hill High School (1,200 students). The other schools reported about the same graduation rates as they had the previous year.
Communications Director Jack Cobb presented the news to the county's Health & Environment Committee on Nov. 4.
"Just for reference, in 2021-22, we had an 86% rate, and in 2022-23 we had an 89% rate, so the numbers are moving up," Cobb said. "We're very proud of everybody in Maury County Public Schools - the teachers, the community, the families - that made this happen."
The county commissioners received the news with applause and congratulated the administration. Commissioner Gabe Howard asked Cobb about the causes of the steady increase: "Is it organizations that are partnering with the school system, like the Boys and Girls Club... that walk alongside the school system and help the kids graduate?"
Cobb credited the community, the parents and the district's two guidance counselors.
"They do a phenomenal job getting everybody ready to graduate," he said. "What I've [also] seen happen is more engagement from the community... [and] the parents are a big key also. Education at home is a big deal... All these things combined have made a real big difference."
Commissioner Scott Sumners pointed out that the overall graduation rate had increased by 3% each year under the watch of Superintendent Lisa Ventura, who took the job in 2022.
"A lot of people get mad and upset about things that go wrong... but I think you should applaud and cheer the leadership as well," he said.
Superintendent Ventura also presented the graduation rates to the school board in their meeting that night. The graduation rates are given below.
• Columbia Central: 83% in 2023 to 88.9% in 2024;
• Culleoka: 99% to 97.1%;
• Hampshire: 96% to 96.3%;
• Mt. Pleasant: 88% to 87.6%;
• Santa Fe: 94% to 96.8%;
• Spring Hill: 93% to 94.2%