Southern Middle TN Today News with Tom Price 12-16-24

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 December 16, 2024

All news stories are aggregated from various sources and modified for time and content. Original sources are cited.
We start with local news…
City of Columbia Purchases Muletown Rec (CDH)
Columbia City Council voted Thursday to approve the purchase of Muletown Rec for $4.3 million, a decision that was met with applause from a packed City Hall audience.
The vote comes after what Mayor Chaz Molder described as a "heavily vetted" process, which ultimately came down to how the purchase would benefit citizens as a whole.
The 1446 Oak Springs Drive complex's storied history has, at its heart, been one of community support despite financial struggles to remain open.
Over the years, maintenance costs of the facility have been heavily debated. In 2020, grassroots fundraising efforts contributed to pool upgrades and kept three competitive pools open. The city itself has also contributed an annual $100,000 allotment to the facility over the last four years.
"When you consider what this project means to the Parks and Recreation inventory, we are essentially tripling the square footage of 'under roof' square feet we currently have in our parks facilities. We are also going from zero pools to what amounts to three pools, two that are indoor and two that allow for swimming competitions at the highest levels," Molder said.
Molder added that while the purchase is cause for celebration, it will also present its share of challenges moving forward, but there is a positive momentum to meet them head-on, he said.
"I believe the reward for this challenge is going to be great for our community at large, and if we're not here for that then what are we here for," Molder said.
The $4.3 million price tag also won't break the bank, according to city officials, or cause any undue burden to taxpayers any more than what has already been marked in the city's budget.
"The reality is that we have the ability to do this at this time, and that this is not going to equate to a strain on our General Fund," Molder said. "We are well beyond the minimum requirements, and I think we have an obligation for some of that money to be put to work on causes that can reach the most people. We're not here to just hang onto it but invest it back into the community that's investing in us."
Molder said the city has already budgeted about $250,000 to begin certain repairs and upgrades, including making the facility more ADA compliant.
"There are also some pool updates we need to make that will ensure better longevity there," Molder said. "At the end of the day, it would take over $15 million to build a facility just like this and far more to build a facility bigger."
In addition, other upgrades being planned over the long term include the need for a new roof and HVAC system. There are also opportunities to create a conference space and establish partnerships with organizations like the Maury County Senior Center.
"We will be able to budget that in over the years to where it's sort of spread across multiple years, but in the immediate there will be some updates done," Molder said. "Some of our parks staff will start moving over there to oversee the facility, while also trying to retain some of the Muletown Rec employees there now so we can have some continuity of services."
Thursday's meeting also included comments from three citizens, all speaking in support of the purchase.
Marcia Fryslie of Culleoka said Muletown Rec is a valuable asset for many reasons, such as its pools are used by several area schools and sports teams as their primary training facility.
"There's not a lot of gyms and not a lot of options here, and the two things I think are important are [first] the fitness classes. Other gyms don't really offer that, and I've made a lot of friends in those classes, and it would be a loss to lose that," Fryslie said. "Also, the indoor pool is a huge one, because as you know there's not really another one around, and it's been tough lately since they've been cutting hours."
For Carrie Nivens of Columbia, it was being welcomed as a newcomer that drew her in.
"I am a senior citizen who has lived here about three months, and I discovered this beautiful asset Columbia has in Muletown Rec," Carrie Nivens of Columbia said. "I've got arthritis, and they have the nicest pools and exercise classes that are just wonderful. Along with that, for the seniors that go there, there is a lot of camaraderie."
As an employee, Muletown Rec Swim Program Director Catherine Davis said she has seen firsthand how having the facility remain open has and will continue to benefit people of all ages.
"I've watched families come in and out, watched seniors, kids, high schoolers, basketball players, pickle ball players, religious gym goers, runners and cyclists. But most important, I see families," Davis said. "I've also had kind of a bird's eye view of some missed opportunities, and so I'm excited and thrilled [the city] would consider it, and proud that our city of Columbia has recognized, proposed a plan and will take action to make health a priority."
When the former YMCA, or Wellness and Aquatics Complex (WAC) as it was later named, faced closure in 2016, local business owner David Baxter stepped in to take ownership, invest in a redesign overhaul and later reopen as Muletown Rec.
In 2020, when the facility's pools again faced closure due to the ongoing cost of maintenance and repairs, a grassroots effort by the community raised more than $350,000 in pledges to ensure that wouldn't happen.
The grassroots funds were able to pay for a new ventilation and dehumidification system for the indoor pool area, a new heater and plumbing system for a whirlpool as well as the resurfacing of the center’s lap pool which had been leaking water.
During Thursday's meeting, Vice Mayor Randy McBroom said the community is again in support of the facility, the city's decision to purchase it and that its best years are still ahead.
"It will be great for the community," McBroom said. "I know [Parks and Recreation Director] Mack Reagan, in a year or two, will make this the top rec center in Middle Tennessee, or even the state, and it will be right up there with our crown jewel at Ridley Park."

Columbia Mall Acquired (CDH)
The future of the Columbia Mall site took a big step forward this week as Nashville-based Highland Capital announced Wednesday completion of its acquisition of the property.
The announcement marks an ambitious redevelopment of the retail site into a Class A power center, projected to open sometime in 2025, according to a Highland Capital press release.
In addition to the site acquisition, Highland Capital has also been in negotiations and has secured signed leases with several national retailers. These retailers will individually announce their involvement, which according to the press release is a strategy for each retailer to engage with the community, while building anticipation for the store openings.
"The successful acquisition of the former Columbia Mall site allows us to forge ahead with transforming this area into a premier Class A power center," Highland Capital Principal Wyatt Woeltje said. "We are thrilled to begin this redevelopment, which promises to enhance the shopping experience and provide significant economic contributions to the community."
Often referred to as "the city's eyesore," the Columbia Mall first opened in 1981 as the Shadybrook Mall and existed as a thriving retail hub until about 2010, when many of its stores began to close and much of the 282,272 square-foot property remained empty, save for a few remaining businesses like JC Penny, who later announced bankruptcy in 2020.
Plans to revitalize the former mall were first announced in 2021, which at the time was under ownership of Hull Property Group. This included demolishing the existing structure and rebuilding as an outward-facing design, where customers could enter or leave the storefront directly from the outdoors.
Columbia Assistant City Manager Thad Jablonski said the acquisition began over the summer, when Highland Capital expressed interest in developing the site.
"They put together a lineup of things they felt could work with a redeveloped mall deal, and so they've been working toward that end through the due diligence process and ultimately it culminated in a purchase on Tuesday," Jablonski said.
"There will be announcements soon as far as what the tenants are, but I think they want to finish up the development review process, which is underway right now with our Development Services Department."
Jablonski added that he is excited to see this years-in-the-making project finally take shape and the potential economic impact it can have if Highland Capital can reach its opening goal of next year.
"That is the best retail property in the city of Columbia, and it needs to be used in a way that approaches its highest and best use, and that will be determined by the owner," Jablonski said.
"It's a big project, what I'd call our 'elephant project' ... and this is the first step today. The property is now owned by someone whose other projects we've seen in other parts of the country have moved quickly, aggressively and have been completed satisfactorily. We are pleased someone has purchased the property who is eager to put it back into production and use, and I could not overstate that."

Beefaroo Grand Opening (WKOM Audio 1:44)
On Friday, Beefaroo, a new restaurant opened in Spring Hill. With more on the new business is our own Delk Kennedy who stopped by the grand opening to learn more about what the restaurant has to offer…

MRMC Now Level 4 Trauma Center and Recognized for Infant Care and Childbirth (Press Release)
Maury Regional Medical Center (MRMC) has achieved designation as a Level IV Trauma Center, becoming the only medical center in Tennessee with this distinction in 2024.
All trauma designations begin with a one-year provisional status, which MRMC attained in November 2023, followed by a site visit and extensive review process conducted by the Health Facilities Commission to achieve a full designation.
Hospitals voluntarily seek designation in order to care for the most seriously injured patients. In Tennessee, trauma level designations include Level I, II, III and IV. The level correlates to the breadth of available resources and the number of patients admitted yearly. Level I trauma centers are typically academic medical centers with physicians across a wide spectrum of surgical specialties on site 24/7, while Level IV designation is a certification for hospitals that can provide life support for trauma patients before transferring them to a higher-level trauma center, if needed, based on the severity of their condition.
“This designation reaffirms our dedication to offering exceptional trauma care for our community when they need it most,” said MRMC CEO Martin Chaney, MD. “Our team’s commitment and expertise have been instrumental in meeting the rigorous standards necessary for Level IV designation. According to the state surveyors who evaluated our program, they believe our size and scope of services closely align with the requirements for Level III designation, which we plan to pursue in the next few years.”
MRMC’s trauma program features that contribute to Level IV designation include best practice treatment and transfer protocols, trauma nurses and physicians available when patients arrive, a comprehensive quality assessment program, an active community outreach program and submission of trauma data to the state trauma registry.
As a result of this designation, Nicholas J. Jensen, MD, a board-certified emergency medicine physician at MRMC, was invited to serve as Tennessee’s first Level IV advisor on the Tennessee Trauma Advisory Council, contributing to trauma care advancement across the state.
For more information about the state of Tennessee’s trauma care system plan, visit TN.gov.
In other Maury Regional News…
For those seeking to kick the habit of smoking or nicotine use, Maury Regional Health will offer a free four-part nicotine cessation program in January 2025.
The nicotine cessation program will meet on Tuesdays in the new year, with classes beginning Jan. 7 and continuing Jan. 14, 21 and 28. Each class begins at 6 p.m. and will be held in Maury Regional Medical Center’s Medical Office Building (1222 Trotwood Avenue in Columbia). Meetings will take place in the conference room on the first floor.
“Quitting cigarettes, vaping products and smokeless tobacco may be the single most important thing a person can do to improve their health,” said Sharon Dobbins, a respiratory therapist who will lead the sessions. “As a former smoker, I can personally relate to the challenges that come with trying to stop using tobacco products and encourage those who are trying to quit to join this supportive group session.”
According to the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC), cigarette smoking and tobacco use is responsible for more than 480,000 deaths in the U.S. each year. More than 16 million Americans are also living with a serious disease or health condition caused by smoking, such as cancer, heart disease, diabetes and lung disease.
Over time, people who quit smoking or other nicotine products see many benefits to their health. After you stop using nicotine products, your body begins a series of positive changes that continue for years, including:
 
Improves health status and enhances quality of life
Reduces the risk of premature death
Reduces the risk of many adverse health effects, including cardiovascular diseases, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and cancer
Advance registration for the nicotine cessation program is required so that course materials may be prepared. To register, visit MauryRegional.com/Quit or call 931.381.1111, ext. 7011.

Grace House Open House (MSM)
Room at the Inn’s new Grace House, at 1131 Mapleash Avenue, will hold an open-house event on Wednesday, Dec. 18 from 3-6 p.m.
The open house will discuss the work that Grace House does for homeless families. They take in four families at a time, who have to abide by conditions like church attendance, keeping a job, and sobriety.
Starting in January 2025, the families will get a room apiece in the Grace House and various kinds of support (childcare, tutoring, transportation, subsidies for food, medicine, and clothing) as they work towards maintaining themselves and moving into their own single-family homes or apartments. The process for a single family takes eight to 12 months.
“Our 4 rooms will offer families with children support, shelter and steps leading to new lives,” explained Rev. Jeff Kane, the PCUSA minister who leads Room at the Inn. “Our new director Samantha Baugus is organizing the Grace House and will direct Columbia’s unique mission.”

And now, Your Hometown Memorials, Sponsored by Oakes & Nichols Funeral Home…
Sherrell Raye Massey Hickman, 78, retired Beautician for Three Sisters Beauty Shop and lifelong resident of Maury County, died Friday at Mt. Pleasant Health & Rehab Center. Funeral services will be conducted Tuesday, December 17, 2024 at 11:00 AM at Oakes & Nichols Funeral home. Burial will follow at Massey Cemetery in Cross Bridges. The family will visit with friends Tuesday from 10:00 AM till the time of service at Oakes & Nichols Funeral Home.

Mrs. Debbie Rose, 63, lifelong resident of Columbia, passed from this world on Sunday at Maury Regional Medical Center after a sudden illness. A Memorial service is planned for December 29 at Williamsport United Methodist Church. Visitation will start at 2:00 PM with a celebration of life to follow at 3:00 PM.

And now, news from around the state…
Battle of Nashville (Tennessean)
On Dec. 15th and 16th, 1864 — 160 years ago today — the Battle of Nashville was underway.
Just weeks after his defeats at Spring Hill and Franklin, Confederate Gen. John Bell Hood again tried to take his Army of Tennessee on the offensive, in the hopes of capturing Nashville and moving into Kentucky. He had grand plans to then move east and connect with Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee and his Army of Northern Virginia.
Outnumbered two-to-one, Bell's army was on the outskirts of Nashville by Dec. 2. But Union Gen. George H. Thomas didn't attack, despite urgent pleas from Gen. Ulysses S. Grant and President Abraham Lincoln. Thomas cited the cold, freezing weather.
Lincoln and Grant were ready to sack Thomas when word reached them that Thomas began an attack on Confederate forces on Dec. 15.
Over the course of the two-day battle, Union forces again crushed Hood's army, effectively ending the Civil War in Tennessee.
Unlike many other Civil War battlefields, much of the area where Union and Confederate forces clashed has been developed over the past century and a half. Still, there are remnants and historic markers across the city noting key places during the battle.
Then there's Fort Negley. The fort, built by ex-slaves and Black laborers, was a key Union fortification for Nashville. It was the largest inland stone fortification built during the Civil War. Although the fort did not play a leading role in the battle — the fighting was farther to the south — it remains one of the city's most important Civil War sites.
There are new efforts underway to preserve it, too. Improvements include repairs to the fortification's stonework, new overlook platforms, and new pedestrian access points and walking paths, among other upgrades. About $17 million was raised for the project in 2023, and $12 million of that will go toward the first phase of improvements.

Final Story of the Day (Maury County Source)
Brenda Lee was honored at a ceremony at the Tennessee State Capitol naming her classic song “Rockin’ Around The Christmas Tree” the Official Holiday Song of Tennessee. Lee was given a signed proclamation by Governor Bill Lee and Representative Jason Powell (D-Nashville).
Representative Powell filed the bill making the song the official holiday song of the state last December. The bill passed the state legislature earlier this year and was signed into law by Governor Bill Lee in April.
“Brenda Lee is a music icon and a true Tennessee treasure. ‘Rockin’ Around The Christmas Tree’ has spread holiday joy throughout the world for decades and we are proud her number one song was made in Nashville,” said Representative Jason Powell. “I am thrilled that my legislation made the beloved ‘Rockin’ Around The Christmas Tree’ by Brenda Lee the first official holiday song of Tennessee.”
Spotify celebrated Lee for her milestone of hitting 1 billion streams on Spotify with her iconic song “Rocking Around The Christmas Tree,” which is the only holiday song by a female country artist to enter Spotify’s Billions Club. The hit song, which broke multiple records last year’s holiday season, sits at Number 1 on Spotify’s Top 50 US chart.