Southern Middle TN Today News with Tom Price 7-18-24

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 July 18, 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 Breaks Ground on Water Treatment Plant (CDH)
Columbia City officials broke ground on its new wastewater treatment plant, taking the first steps on what has become the largest investment project in the city’s history.
The project totals approximately $95.5 million from the city and was recently approved to begin construction starting July 15. The city marked the occasion with a ceremonial groundbreaking Monday.
Wastewater Director Donnie Boshers said that this was very much a need, given the current facility was built in 1978 and has worn out its useful lifetime.
""The biggest reason we are building this plant is the age of the old facility," Boshers said. "Even if there wasn't a lot of growth, we would still have to do something."
City Manager Tony Massey agreed that this was a major need for the city given the old plant's age.
"We were talking about doing this project even before all of the growth became an issue with us," Massey said.
The new plant is expected to be fully operational by June of 2028, Boshers said, but customers won't expect any change to the service provided.
This is due to the need to transition the old plant to the new one, which could take more than a year after the new facility is complete. The first phase, which is to bring the new plant online, is anticipated to be complete in April of 2027. Phase two will involve the transition, and to do so without disrupting services.
"That will be about a 13-month project," Boshers said. "For 30 days after its time to bring the new plant on, we will shuffle between the new plant and the old plant until we get everything lined up. Everything has to run continuously as its being built."
Ward 5 Councilman Danny Coleman, who attended Monday's groundbreaking, said a big part of this new plant is the longevity it will sustain for future generations.
"This is going to be something that lasts 40-50 years into the future. It's getting ahead of problems when it comes to managing water, rather than waiting until we are in crisis mode," Coleman said. "This is happening just in time, so we aren't jumping the gun by any means, but timing-wise we are doing a good thing for Columbia's future growth."
The new plant will feature many upgrades and modern-day technology, which will not only provide a much greater daily average, while also remaining energy efficient.
The current facility, Boshers said, pumps an average of 5-6 million gallons per day, with a capacity to pump 14 million. The new plant is expected to up that average to about 25 million per day, which could elevate to about 35 million during periods of heavy rain.
The new plant will also provide state-of-the-art filtering equipment, which will make removing some of the tougher materials easier, and environment friendly.
"One thing that gets harder and harder to treat is the nitrogen and phosphorus out of the wastewater," Boshers said.
"This new process will do it all biologically and no external chemicals injected into the water. We do not use chemicals to treat at our existing facility, but as our limits continue to get tighter on nutrient removal, these oxidation ditches will get rid of all the phosphorus and nitrogen biologically. It will be much more energy efficient."
Massey added more about the new plant's benefits.
"This new plant will be much more environmentally friendly, especially if we are relying on biological processes to treat the waste sludge. And because of that we will be using less chemicals and less electricity," Massey said. "It's truly a 21st Century treatment plant and a much superior design than what we've got right now."
With a project of this magnitude, it will certainly come with its share of costs, ones that could affect customer sewer rates.
Earlier this year, Columbia City Council approved the rate increase, with the extra funds feeding directly into the new plant's cost. This was the first time the city adopted a rate increase in more than a decade.
However, the increase will likely be unnoticeable to most customers and will more likely affect new developers and companies with industrial use.
"The majority of the increase is going to go to industrial users, big users," Coleman said. "I can't quote on the exactness of the regular rate increase, but this rate will be heavily focused on developers. We're talking about cents of an increase for regular users."

Johnston Outpaces Ogles in Fundraising (Tennessean)
Metro Council member Courtney Johnston outraised incumbent U.S. Rep. Andy Ogles nearly threefold during the last quarter in the Republican primary for Tennessee's 5th Congressional District, according to federal campaign finance disclosures.
Johnston entered the final days of the heated primary with more than $500,000 in the bank ― double Ogles' cash on hand ― as total spending in the race nears $1 million, the financial disclosures show.
Meanwhile, outside political action committees have poured another $500,000 into the race ― with PAC money supporting Johnston coming from inside Tennessee, while Ogles is boosted with out-of-state dollars.
Johnston is challenging freshman incumbent Ogles to represent Tennessee's 5th Congressional district, which was redrawn in 2022 to strongly favor Republicans. It now only includes a portion of Nashville.
Johnston raised $721,185 in the last quarter, according to federal disclosures filed this week. She spent $216,157 this quarter leaving her with just over $500,000 for the final weeks of the campaign.
Notable donors to her campaign include: former Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam; former Nashville first lady Laura Cooper; former U.S. Sen. Bob Corker; former U.S. Sen. Bill Frist; Nashville developer Tony Giarratana; state Rep. Pat Marsh; former Nashville Vice Mayor Jim Shulman; former Metro Finance Director Kevin Crumbo; former Nashville mayoral candidate Matt Wiltshire; and Tennessee Bureau of Ethics and Campaign Finance Director Bill Young.
Johnston has also received $220,000 in support from an independent political action committee, Conservatives with Character PAC, which is funding ad buys for her. The PAC is funded by donors entirely from Tennessee, including a $140,000 contribution from the Best of Tennessee Action Fund, formed to tackle ideological extremism in the state.
Ogles' campaign raised significantly less than his challenger, bringing in just under $264,000 this quarter, including contributions from U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-Louisiana, and Lebanon Mayor Rick Bell. Many contributions to Ogles' campaign came from outside of Tennessee, including several contributions from Virginia, Arizona, and Florida residents. Ogles spent just over $100,000 of his own campaign funds. He has just under $255,000 going into the final quarter, according to his filing.
Ogles’ campaign has also received nearly $225,000 in backing from national super PACs funded with out-of-state dollars.
Americans for Prosperity Action, a national super PAC that is openly coordinating with Ogles' campaign on door-to-door outreach, has spent more than $177,000 in ad buys and mailers selling Ogles and his priorities of fiscal conservatism and limited government to voters. AFP Action is funded primarily by libertarian billionaire Charles Koch. Less than 1% of the PAC's funding came from Tennessee this cycle.
Ogles has also gotten independent support from other national super PACs, including:
Club for Growth PAC - $5,795
House Freedom Action - $34,927
Gun Rights America - $5,324
Democrat Maryam Abolfazli brought in $169,161 last quarter. She spent just under $95,000, leaving her with $74,000 going into the general election. She is unopposed in the Democratic primary.

MRMC Womens’ Center Accredited (Press Release)
Maury Regional Women’s Center has achieved accreditation under the American College of Surgeons (ACS) National Accreditation Program for Breast Centers (NAPBC).
 “Maury Regional Women’s Center voluntarily participates with ACS NAPBC to ensure women receive exceptional breast health services, from screening to cancer treatment. The benefits of accreditation align with our mission for clinical excellence and compassionate care,” said CEO Martin Chaney, MD. “It’s our goal to be the organization our community can trust for health and wellness, especially for diseases that impact so many of our friends and family like breast cancer.”
 Breast cancer is the most common cancer diagnosed in women in the United States—after skin cancer—affecting one in eight women. Programs accredited by the NAPBC follow a model for organizing and managing a breast center to facilitate multidisciplinary, integrated and comprehensive breast cancer services. The NAPBC focuses on the spectrum of a patient’s journey with breast cancer or breast disease, including prevention, screening, treatment and survivorship. By setting high standards, NAPBC accreditation guides breast centers in providing comprehensive breast care based on scientific evidence.
 The requirements for accreditation include a detailed evaluation of multiple standards alongside an onsite visit every three years. This process is completed by a trained reviewer from NAPBC to ensure that the medical organization is compliant.
 “I want to personally commend the multidisciplinary team of physicians and professional caregivers for their commitment to breast health by obtaining the recent re-accreditation status from the National Accreditation Program for Breast Centers,” said Administrative Director of Oncology Dana Salters, MBA. “This national recognition will grant assurance to patients that state-of-the-art breast health care is available here in our community.”
 Maury Regional Women’s Center provides support services and educational programs on conditions and topics facing women today. These services include 3D mammography, breast biopsy, breast ultrasound and bone density studies. 
 
As an NAPBC-accredited institution, Maury Regional Women’s Center also becomes an ACS Surgical Quality Partner. Being a Surgical Quality Partner signifies an institution's dedication to consistently improving procedures and approaches, while maintaining a critical eye on processes at every step. The Surgical Quality Partner designation lets patients know MRMC is dedicated to quality and relentless self-improvement and has been verified or accredited by the ACS. Patients can trust that the care they receive at Surgical Quality Partner hospitals adheres to the most rigorous standards in surgical quality.
 "ACS Quality programs are grounded in more than a century of experience and participation is an important measure of a hospital’s surgical quality. As an ACS Surgical Quality Partner, Maury Regional Medical Center has shown a commitment to providing the best possible patient care, evaluating that care in a rigorous fashion and dedicating themselves to continuous self-improvement," said ACS Executive Director & Chief Executive Officer Patricia L. Turner, MD, MBA, FACS. 
Learn more about Maury Regional’s Women’s Center at MauryRegional.comWomen.

County Mulls Book Store Purchase (MSM)
Members of Maury County’s Budget Committee discussed but declined to send forward the potential purchase of a bookstore property adjacent to the new judicial center during their meeting on July 8.
Prior to the vote which failed by a 5-2 margin, Committee Chairman Tommy Wolaver pointed out that because the purchase had received a motion and a second, it could be brought forward to the full Commission at the request of two commissioners, regardless of the Budget Committee’s vote.
County Attorney Daniel Murphy said a proposed contract had a sale price of $900,000 for the One Stop Book Shoppe and that that amount could be broken up over two years. He also noted that the contract did not require closure until the end of September but that $10,000 in earnest money would be needed, requiring a budget amendment.
Finance Director Doug Lukonen said interest from American Rescue Plan Act funds could be used and that about $1.5 million was available for a capital project. Because that is interest from ARPA funds, it can be used for any capital purpose without the ARPA restrictions.
County Mayor Sheila Butt said she originally was against the purchase, but that “many people do not want to see that become something that doesn’t work well there, a vape shop or tattoo (parlor).. Let each one of us vote what we think is best for our constituents and the people of Maury County.”
Scott Sumners said the county should look toward the future in considering the purchase but motioned to authorize the mayor to offer $600,000 instead. Sumners’ motion failed by a 5-2 vote, but he also encouraged commissioners to let their voters know that buying the property would not use Maury County tax dollars, as the funding was instead coming from interest earned off of federal grant money.
“I cannot look my constituents in the face and take a match and light up $1.5 million, because that’s what it’s going to cost to get 39 parking spaces,” countered Kathey Grodi. “I am not for buying this building.”
Jerry Strahan said, “This is a real lose-lose situation. If we leave that building there, we’ll be considered to be idiots. If we spend a million dollars for it, we’re going to be idiots… Why don’t we make a fair offer for it, let them turn it down and they’re the idiots?”
The issue appeared on the agenda for the July full commission meeting, but was postponed until August.

Ed Board Candidate Forum (MSM)
Candidates for the Maury County Board of Education made their respective cases for election to the public last week at a forum hosted by Maury Alliance.
The School Board Candidate Forum was held at Columbia State Community College.
Maury Alliance also has a candidate guide available on its website, in which each candidate answered a number of questions.
“One of the priorities of our organization is to impact our community in a meaningful way. I think we’ll all agree, there’s not much more that impacts a community than its public education system,” said Wil Evans, president of Maury Alliance. “It sets the foundation for our future workforce and is a key factor which many consider when looking to locate to a community.”
Six of the board’s 11 seats will be on the Aug. 1 county general election ballot, with Districts 2, 4, 5, 6, 8 and 10 up for grabs. Of the five seats, only one incumbent (Justin Haucke, District 5) is seeking to stay on. Haucke, who was appointed to the seat in April 2024, is looking to fill the remainder of an unexpired term.
Seven of the 10 candidates participated in the forum, with each receiving five minutes to speak. The forum was moderated by Jake Langsdon.
“I think (school board) is probably the most important county office that there is. There’s a lot of negative publicity that comes out about what the school system does… But good things don’t make the headlines,” said Frank Bellamy, who said he worked in Maury County Public Schools for 27 years.
“It’s hard to get people to run for office, but it’s easy to get people to complain,” added Bellamy, who is running in District 2 as an independent. “I want to vote for the person and what they stand for, not what the party says I need to stand for.”
Bellamy is running against Robert Plageman, who is also running as an independent.
“I look at (my childrens’) future… I want the best for them and that’s why I’m up here,” Plageman said. “I want our students to be set up for whatever endeavors they want to get into after high school. There are so many more options out there today: trade schools, community colleges, going into the workforce or starting a business.”
Plageman said his top values were education, supporting and keeping good teachers and providing transparency in the school system.
In District 4, Republican nominee Darryl Martin will face Independent Chandler Anderson.
“I’m concerned about the kids of our community,” Martin said. “As a Realtor, I’ve seen where clients will bring up, ‘How’s your school system?’ When you start comparing us to some other counties, it can look negative… We’ve got to bring the bar up.
“My hope is to be part of a board that works together, not against one another, not against the staff and administration… We ought to be setting the standard, not chasing the standard.”
Anderson said Maury County had great teachers, saying, “We have to give them the tools they need to do their job.”
Anderson said he was “pro-vocational schools” and “pro-teacher.”
“If you want to know why we’re having trouble in public schools, it’s because we started relying on a test instead of a teacher to tell us if our kids are meeting standards or not,” he said. “When we take the ability to promote a kid out of the hands of a teacher because of one test, we’re making a mistake.”
In District 5, Haucke (who was not present) will take on Independent David Moore, a former school board member who promoted his “passion” for education and for advocacy.
“As an elected official, we have an obligation to the citizens to be accessible… The school system is pretty confusing at times. One of the things I was proud of as a board member was being able to assist people to understand the processes, so they can affect the change they’re looking for.”
District 6 candidate Susan Stephenson is unopposed and did not participate in the forum, nor did District 8 Republican candidate Brendan Babcock.
District 8 Democratic candidate Greg Hanners said, “My wife is a recently retired high school teacher. My family really cares about public education.”
Hanners said as a board member, he wanted to focus on early education skills, attracting and retaining teachers and improving ACT scores and graduation rates.
“We have to focus on reading, we also need to focus on math. Getting children reading and doing math at grade level in the third and fourth grade is key to their success later,” Hanners said. “We’ve got to improve the working conditions so we don’t have teachers losing their planning period, or serve as a pipeline to Williamson County.”
Lesa Webster-Dawson is running unopposed as an independent in District 10.
“I’ve raised two boys and now have grandchildren in the Mount Pleasant system,” Webster-Dawson said.
She called for more counselors to help children deal with mental health issues, saying, “Our schools are the heart of our community… We need to step up as a parent… We need to talk to the children and see what the problems (are).

And now, Your Hometown Memorials, Sponsored by Oakes & Nichols Funeral Home…   
James Butler “J.B.” Long, 98, long time resident of Columbia, died Monday, July 15, 2024, at The Bridge of Columbia Assisted Living.
Funeral services will be conducted Friday, July 19, 2024, at 11:00 AM at Oakes & Nichols Funeral Home. Burial will follow in Polk Memorial Gardens with military honors provided by Herbert Griffin American Legion Post 19. Visitation will be Friday, July 19, 2024, from 10:00 AM until 11:00 AM at Oakes & Nichols Funeral Home.

Shirley Jean Spires Bunting, 71, long-long resident of Columbia, and retired store manager for McDonalds, died Saturday, July 13, 2024 at Maury Regional Medical Center. 
A Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, July 20, 2024 from 11:00 a.m. till 1:00 p.m. at Loyal Chapel Free Will Baptist Church with Rev. Steve Swango officiating. 
Marilyn Miller Johnson Stevens, 86, of Baileyville, IL passed away Sunday, June 9, 2024, at FHN Memorial Hospital in Freeport, Illinois .
Memorial services will be held at 3:00 P.M. Saturday, July 20, 2024, at Fly Church of the Nazarene, 5688 Leipers Creek Rd, Santa Fe, TN. The family will visit with friends from 1:00 P.M. until the service time at the church.

Now, news from around the state…
Gas Prices (MSM)
Gas prices across the state reversed course last week and fell five cents, on average. The Tennessee Gas Price average is now $3.11 which is seven cents more expensive than one month ago and two cents more than one year ago.  
“Despite expected upward pressure on gas prices, we actually saw our gas prices move less expensive over last week here in Tennessee,” said Megan Cooper, spokeswoman for AAA – The Auto Club Group. “If market conditions persist, it’s likely that we could see our gas prices hold steady again this week. As of today, Tennessee has the third least expensive state gas price average in the country.” 

Final Story of the Day (Maury County Source)
The Maury County Arts Guild will be presenting four performances this week of “Finding Nemo Jr.,” based on the hit Disney movie, to the community.
Performances are scheduled for Thursday-Sunday, July 18-21. The Thursday and Friday shows will be at 7 p.m. and the weekend shows at 2 p.m. The play is directed by Tristen Meza and tickets may be purchased at www.ticketpeak.co/MCAG/events.
“The cast is made up of 39 local kids and teens ranging from ages 5-18! They’ve worked hard all summer on choreography, music and acting! Our show tells the heartwarming story of clownfish Marlin as he journeys across the ocean in search of his lost son, Nemo,” Meza said.
The Arts Guild will also be putting on a five-session workshop on August 17 for those interested in theater. This will be a five-hour event with each rotation lasting 45 minutes. The cost is $20 and spots can be reserved by visiting ticketpeak.co/MCAG/classes. This is a great opportunity for anyone, but especially those interested in theater.
The Maury County Arts Guild is the oldest arts organization in Maury County and has been promoting great arts programs since 1972.