Southern Middle TN Today News 1-19-23

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.

SOUTHERN MIDDLE TENNESSEE TODAY 1/19/23

Updated: 5 hours ago

All news stories are aggregated from various sources and modified for time and content. Original sources are cited.

We start with local news…

Spring Hill Crossings TIF (CDH)

The Spring Hill Board of Mayor and Aldermen voted this week to encourage the city's Industrial Development Board, along with developer SouthStar, to consider a tax increment financing program for the upcoming Crossings mixed-use development.

The TIF, if adopted, would help to fund a portion of the proposed 213-acre development, primarily its public infrastructure, which includes connecting Crossings Boulevard to Kedron Road. The development will also feature a mix of residential, commercial, office, hotel and green space, as well as a Unites States Tennis Association sports complex.

TIF projects give cities and counties tools to retain, recruit, and grow business and industry, according to the state comptroller's office. It's a method used by local governments to pay for community improvements with future tax revenues. Funds used for necessary improvements are believed to enhance future property tax revenues, which, in turn, would offset the city's initial investment.

"In short, it’s a way to allow new development to pay for itself," the state website explains.

Some aldermen, such as Hazel Nieves said, while a TIF could help fund the project, its overall impact to the city should be examined more closely, like its effect on local commercial tax dollars.

"I just feel we need to stop and understand the impact of the TIF," Nieves said. "This is really a financing method that's shoved on the shoulders of citizens. This program is supposed to be used to bring about improvements, new development, infrastructure or other community improvement projects. Our constituents have communicated to every one of us the improvements they want to see in the city, and it is not to finance new development."

Vice Mayor Kevin Gavigan said, while Nieves' comments do have merit, he supports approval of the item because it could give the city options that could prove financially beneficial.

"The job of this resolution is for those facts and figures to come in and be analyzed on a professional level," Gavigan said. "I look forward to seeing that and seeing the recommendation from the IDB, and seeing how it all comes to fruition. I'm really looking forward to seeing the analysis and what the project could do for the city in terms of revenue increases."

Tuesday's vote was not to officially authorize the proposed TIF, but merely tasking the IDB to gather information on whether or not the city can authorize one.

"This is not authorizing a TIF or a Pilot, but it's asking experts to see if this is a good step forward, or if it's not a good step forward," Spring Hill Mayor Jim Hagaman said. "The collection of data is my bottom line, and so I will support it for that."

Once the IDB has had time to review the potential TIF, a proposal will then be sent back to the BOMA, which will have the final vote on whether or not it plans to authorize it.

The item ultimately passed 6-1 with Nieves being the sole opposing vote.

MidState Classic Returns (CDH)

Columbia’s own collegiate softball doubleheader, the Midstate Classic, is back for the seventh year on March 15, 2023 at Ridley Sports Complex, one of the top recreational complexes in the state.

The annual Classic is hosted by the city of Columbia.

This year's Midstate Classic will feature the University of Tennessee Lady Volunteers facing off against the Austin Peay State University Governors at 5:30 p.m. The opening game will be Columbia State Community College versus Motlow Community College beginning earlier in the day at 1 p.m.

Tickets are $10 each and will be sold exclusively online at www.columbiatn.com/midstateclassic. There will be no tickets sold at the gate.

There will be food trucks on-site. Parking is free, and coolers and lawn chairs are prohibited in the park.

“I am so excited about this year’s Midstate Classic between the Tennessee Lady Vols and Austin Peay State University Govs," said Columbia Mayor Chaz Molder.

"Once again, Columbia serves as the host site for one of the most highly attended softball games in the state; and once again, Ridley Sports Complex will serve as a showcase venue for this event. Most of all, I am proud of our team at the Parks and Recreation Department for their good work in putting on this event every year and helping our youth, in particular young girls in our community, see first-hand a collegiate sport being played in our community at a very high level.”

For more information regarding the tournament and ticket sales, please call [phone] or visit www.columbiatn.com/midstateclassic.

Maury Regional Names New Board Members (Press Release)

Maury Regional Medical Center (MRMC) recently announced its board of trustees and advisory board members for the 2023 term.

Houston Parks was reappointed to serve as chair of the board of trustees. Parks is an attorney in private practice with the law firm of Parks, Bryant and Snyder, PLLC, and has served on the board since 2009. He will serve his sixth term as chair in 2023.

Scott Gaines was reappointed to serve as vice chair. Gaines is the retired assistant superintendent of instruction for Maury County Public Schools. He has served as a board member since 2004 and vice chair since 2021.

In addition, Drew Parker joined the board, replacing John Law. Parker, a 35-year Maury County resident, is a financial adviser with Robert W. Baird & Company. He served on the advisory board from 2013-2018 and again from 2020-2021 and is a part of the Finance and Pension Committee and Audit and Compliance Committee.

John Law, a retired COO of Farm Bureau Insurance, was first elected to the board in 2017. He previously served on the advisory board, starting in 2010, and was a member of several committees, including Joint Conference, Finance and Pension, and Professional Contracts.

“I want to personally thank Mr. Law for his service to the board of directors and advisory board for the last several years. Maury Regional Health benefitted greatly from his leadership and support,” said Maury Regional Health CEO, Dr. Martin Chaney. “I also want to thank Mr. Parker for joining the board of directors. He’s been a valuable member of our advisory board in the past and will make an excellent addition to the board of directors.”

Dr. Chuck Bramlett Jr., a pathologist on the MRH medical staff associated with Opus Pathology/PCA Southeast, was reappointed for another term on the advisory board. He’s served on the advisory board since 2010 and has been on the medical staff since 1996.

“We are grateful for the service of these experienced professionals on our board and advisory board,” Chaney said. “Maury Regional Health is in a great position to continue to succeed thanks to their leadership.”

In addition to the board of directors and advisory board, MRMC’s 2023 medical staff officers were also recently announced. Dr. Danielle C. Gibson, a pathologist associated with Opus Pathology/PCA Southeast, was named chief of staff, while Dr. Mark A. Seago, was named vice chief of staff; Dr. Chad M. Moss, was named secretary/treasurer; and Dr. Jimmy T. Harris, will serve as past chief of staff.

Katie Pie and Sons Restaurant (MainStreetMaury)

From upstate New York to Columbia, Tennessee, Kate Vacca and her family have decided to make Southern Middle Tennessee their home, bringing with them some of their family’s most sacred recipes and sharing them with Maury County.
“If you’ve ever visited upstate New York, there are diners everywhere. I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do, so I started serving,” she said of her restaurant beginnings. “I served for about 8-9 years before I opened my own in my hometown.
“It’s something I’m passionate about. I tried other careers, but it didn’t have the same quality of people and fun. It just doesn’t feel like work most of the time.”
Vacca owned Katie Pie’s Kitchen on Nashville Highway before closing last year and beginning the process of moving her business to a house at 2407 Pulaski Highway. When she began the process of moving, her two sons – Peter and Joseph – came along to add something extra to the restaurant’s name.
Now – it’s Katie Pie and Son’s Country Kitchen.
“Mom’s had restaurants since we were (small children). When she was (at the previous location on Nashville Hwy.) she was doing well, and we decided to come along and help her out,” Peter said.
Why? Kate says food, for her, is all about family. That’s why after visiting her sister in Columbia several times for the holidays and falling in love with the area, she moved here as well.
“It’s all about family when it comes to restaurants. All the recipes are my mom’s or my mother-in-law’s. That’s where it all begins,” Kate said. “It’s just like sitting at your own table because it’s all homemade. The atmosphere is awesome and now that we have this beautiful location, it just adds to it.”
The house has two different rooms for dining with a little more seating than the last place. It’s decorated with plates her parents used among other historical photos and art pieces.
“The first time I came to see this house, I just felt like I was home. Alot of our customers when they walked in the front door, they would say, ‘Oh my God, I’m home,’ ” Kate said.
Home is where the heart is and where her family is now, and the family business has been thriving since its reopening. Peter and Joe aren’t just here for their charm and cooking, however.
“The goal really is that I want to retire. I’m ready in a couple of years. The boys are going to take over,” Kate said, naming Peter the front of the house manager with Joe heading up the back of the house. “I didn’t think they would like it, but they really do.”
“(Joe) is a little better at the cooking than I am, but we both took to it and here we are,” Peter said, laughing. “Everybody has been so awesome.”
Katie Pie and Son’s Restaurant is open for breakfast and lunch from 7 a.m.-3 p.m. Tuesday-Friday and 7 a.m.-2 p.m. on Saturdays. They are closed Sunday and Monday.

Spring Hill Chamber Awards (MainStreetMaury)

The Spring Hill Chamber of Commerce held its annual State of the Chamber ceremony on Dec. 9 and presented four business awards.
The 2022 Chamber Member of the Year Award was presented to Grecian Family Restaurant & Bakery. Grecian is a locally owned restaurant offering Greek dishes, pizza, breakfast and baked goods in Spring Hill. Owners Frank and Sasa Georgalos are widely known for their generosity exemplified by their community fundraisers, give-a-meal programs and annual free Thanksgiving meal event for first responders and those in need.
Other nominees for the top award were Martin’s Bar-B-Que Joint, Oasis Health Center and Salted Peace.
The 2022 New Member of the Year Award was presented to Southaven at Commonwealth. Community Manager Brittany Wright accepted the award at the ceremony. Southaven at Commonwealth is a sophisticated apartment living complex boasting quality craftsmanship, resort-like amenities and high-end finishes in the heart of Spring Hill. Brittany has been a positive promoter of the Spring Hill business community throughout the year.
Other nominees for the new member award were Light Hill Meats, Chris Mackinlay of New York Life and ZmartWorkz.
Criteria for the two member-based awards included giving generously of time and resources to the community, exemplifying strong business practices and ethical standards, and supporting the chamber’s mission of positively influencing the business culture to create a better Spring Hill.
The Spring Hill Chamber of Commerce also named Dalton Potts of Edward Jones its George Bobier Ambassador of the Year. That award is presented to a Chamber Ambassador who generously and consistently gives of their time and service to the organization without hesitation throughout the year.
Additionally, the 2022 Jim Grimes Board Member of the Year Award was presented to Assistant Plant Director Rick Smearman of General Motors Spring Hill Assembly. Named in memoriam of Spring Hill businessman Jim Grimes, the award is presented each year to a board member who illustrates servant leadership to the organization and actively works to positively influence the Spring Hill business culture.
The State of the Chamber ceremony was held at the UAW Hall in Spring Hill and included updates from Executive Director Becca Melton, outgoing Board Chair Clint McCain and incoming Board Chair Jeff Graves. A motivational presentation from Mike Keith, the voice of the Tennessee Titans, kicked off the ceremony.

Community Haircut/Braid Event (MainStreetMaury)

Horace O. Porter students lined up earlier this month to get a fresh start to the second half of the school year with a fresh cut or braid, thanks to a community effort.
“When you look good, you feel good. When (students) feel good, they tend to do better in the classroom, behavior-wise and in school,” H.O. Porter Principal Dedra Dawson said. “We were trying to be more open for the community, so people can see we are a community resource. I have excellent people on staff who are willing to work and go above and beyond.”
Dawson said members of her staff – specifically educational assistants Tina Easley and Fredrica Vaughn – took the initiative to have community members join the event.
“We reached out to the barbers and beauticians and they were all in. They were willing to donate their time and talent,” Vaughn said.
Giving back to the community with their talents was the biggest reason for those who came out to cut or braid students’ hair.
“When I was a kid, the community gave to me, and I love to give back. Doing hair is a passion of mine,” beautician Jessic Pye said. “It’s exciting because they’re excited. Some of them have never had braids, so she was excited to get them for the first time.”
For barber Michael Wright, said he was happy to lend a hand because it “lets me know the kids are doing something positive instead of doing negative things on the street,” he said.
Dawson said this was the second time the school hosted a haircut and braid event, with the first time being in collaboration with a local church several years back. Now, however, with the success of the event she hopes to make it an annual event that encompasses even more of the Columbia community.
She’s even teamed up with Columbia Central High School cosmetology teacher Lottie Mostiller to bring in students from her class to gain experience while reaching out to kids in College Hill.
“We talked about doing this to show the pride in the community and to help each other,” said Mostiller, who brought one student along this year for the experience.
The goal, though, is simply to give students a chance to understand their community is behind them and open to help with whatever needs they may have.
“We love giving back. They have been happy and excited knowing they are going to get to start the school year off looking nice,” Easley said. “We have so many kids who need a haircut – you feel good about yourself when you have a fresh haircut or fresh braids,” she said.

Maury Alliance Education Lunch (Press Release)

Join Maury Alliance on Tuesday, January 24th at 11:30 am for our annual Education Lunch: How CTE Programs & Community Partnerships are Preparing Tomorrow’s Workforce in Maury County.

During this year's event Maury Alliance President, Wil Evans will lead a panel discussion with representatives from Maury County Public Schools and Columbia State Community College. They will discuss Career and Technical Education (CTE) Programs; existing partnerships between our public school system, Columbia State, and local industries; future growth opportunities and more.

Panelists include:

· Dr. Janet Smith, President of Columbia State Community College

· Lisa Ventura, Maury County Superintendent

· Keith Stacey, Assistant Superintendent of Instruction

· Amy Roberts, MCPS CTE Supervisor

· Terri Thornton, MCPS CTE Workforce Development / Career Coach

· Melody Murphy, Director of Workforce and Continuing Education at CSCC

· Mehran Mostajir, Director of Engineering Systems Technology at CSCC

For more information, visit www.mauryalliance.com.

And now, Your Hometown Memorials, Sponsored by Oakes & Nichols Funeral Home…

Mr. Richard Frank “Richie” Benefield, 63, retired employee of Nissan and resident of Culleoka, died Saturday, January 14, 2023 at Centennial Medical Center. A graveside service for Mr. Benefield will be conducted Thursday at 11:00 A.M. at Friendship Cemetery.

Mr. Kenneth D. Mullinax, 89, retired employee of Fleming Company and resident of Columbia, died Sunday, January 15, 2023 at Maury Regional Medical Center. Funeral services for Mr. Mullinax will be conducted Friday at 2:00 P.M. at Oakes & Nichols Funeral Home. Burial will follow in Neapolis Cemetery. The family visit with friends Friday from 11:00 A.M. until service time at the funeral home.

…And now, news from around the state…

BNA Ranks High for Guns (Tennessean)

A record number of guns were confiscated in 2022 at U.S. airports — the Transportation Security Administration seized 6,542 guns from passengers.

Nashville cracked the top five overall, ranking No. 4 in the nation with 213 guns confiscated at BNA, an increase from 2021 when 163 guns were confiscated, according to TSA data.

It gets worse for Music City. TSA data shows Nashville ranks first in gun confiscations per capita. Mark Howell, a regional spokesperson for TSA, told The Tennessean Nashville's numbers were alarming compared to airports like Atlanta, Houston, Dallas/Forth Worth and Phoenix, which by comparison, see far more passengers.

Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport led all U.S. airports with 448 gun seizures, followed by Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (385) and George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston (298). After Nashville's airport, Sky Harbor International Airport in Phoenix ranked fifth with 196 guns confiscated.

Atlanta, which had 448 confiscations, serviced more than 24 million people travel at its airport, while Nashville's 213 confiscations occurred with 9 million passengers. Phoenix, meanwhile, saw more than 18 million passengers with fewer gun confiscations.

As part of its crackdown against guns being brought to airports, TSA has increased the maximum civil penalty for a firearms violation up to $14,950.

Howell believes one of the reasons Nashville increased confiscations is tied a July 2021 open carry law which allows Tennesseans to carry guns without permits. He did caution travelers with guns to know carry laws in the various states as they may differ from the Volunteer State.

Though guns have been confiscated in record numbers, TSA does allow passengers to transport unloaded firearms in checked baggage. Passengers must declare firearms and/or ammunition to the airline when checking a bag at ticket counters.

Small Farms vs. Tyson (Tennessean)

Residents in a historically Black farming community in West Tennessee are suing the federal government, alleging that a loan program meant for family-run farms is illegally subsidizing mass poultry operations for corporate giant Tyson Foods.

The issue started early last year when Tyson opened a $425 million poultry processing plant in Gibson County. While Tyson touted the more than 1,500 jobs the facility would bring to the region, residents in nearby Henderson County said their quality of life plummeted as a flood of chicken-growing operations popped up to fuel the company’s slaughtering facility.

In addition to their concerns over pollution, health risks and a drop in property values, residents said Tyson’s large contractors are receiving federal loans reserved for family farms.

In December, a group called Concerned Citizens of West Tennessee filed a federal lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Agriculture, alleging that the department's Farm Service Agency approved more than $3.5 million in loans for 16 poultry warehouses in Henderson County for Tyson contractors Nguyen LLC and Trang Nguyen LLC.

Each facility would house up 39,000 birds, with the operations largely controlled by Tyson, according to the lawsuit.

The group, which is being represented by the Southern Environmental Law Center, contends that the companies do not qualify as “family farms” under the federal definition since they act as extensions of Tyson.

The USDA did not respond to a request for comment. The agency on its website notes that 96% of the more than 2 million farms in the U.S. are family farms, defined as “any farm organized as a sole proprietorship, partnership or family corporation.” The contractors Nguyen and Trang Nguyen could not be reached for comment.

The definition excludes farms “organized as nonfamily corporations or cooperatives, as well as farms with hired managers,” the agency said.

George Nolan, an attorney for the law center who is representing the group, said the contractors are more like “chicken babysitters” for Tyson rather than farmers.

The rules are very specific as to what constitutes a family farm, he said.

Final Story of the Day (MauryCountySource)

Come one, come all, mini-rc race fans – this is the venue, track, and race you have been waiting for! All skill and interest levels are welcome for this inaugural Winter Jam racing event at Fairview Recreation Center (871 Iron Bridge Road) in Columbia, TN.

This pint sized, 1/16th scale (and smaller), derby will be held on Saturday, January 28th from 11:30 am until 4:00 pm.

This competition will be held as three qualifying races and one main event per class – classes are brushless, brushed, and open. Participants and class winners will be entered in a drawing for multiple 1/16 Mini JRX2 Buggy’s. A limited number of rental cars will be available for no fee and there is no registration fee to enter the event.

For more information and to register visit the Mini-RC WinterJAM website at www.columbiatn.com/726/mini-rc--winterjamor email Daniel Walls at [e-mail].