Front Porch Radio - Southern Middle TN Today News with Tom Price
Southern Middle TN Today News with Tom Price 7-17-24
(upbeat music) - Hello and welcome to Southern Middle Tennessee today on WKOM and WKRN Radio. Your hometown news broadcasting from the Debbie Matthews Nashville Realty Newsroom in Columbia, Tennessee. I'm your host, Tom Price. Today is Wednesday, July 17th, and we start with local news. A kayaker was rescued in Murray County over the weekend. According to Murray County Fire Department, units were dispatched Saturday to the Duck River near Carpenter's Bridge for an injured kayaker. A homeowner led units to their private boat ramp for closer access where a raft was deployed. Members were able to paddle a few hundred yards to retrieve the kayaker. The kayaker suffered minor injuries. Members of Murray 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 8th. Prior to the vote, which failed by a five to do margin, committee Chairman Tommy Wooliver 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 bookshop 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 Lucone had 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 Butts said she originally was against the purchase, but that many people do not wanna see that become something that doesn't work well there. A vape shop or tattoo parlor, for instance, let each one of us vote what we think is best for our constituents and the people of Murray County, she said. Commissioner Scott Sumner said the county should look toward the future in considering the purchase, but motion to authorize the mayor to offer $600,000 instead. Sumner's motion failed by a five to do vote, but he also encouraged commissioners to let their voters know that buying the property would not use Murray 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. That's what's, because that's what it's going to cost to get 39 parking spaces, countered Kathy Grodai. I am not for buying this building, she said. Commissioner Jerry Strand said, "This is a real lose-lose situation. "If we leave that building there, "there will 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 then there, the idiots," he asked. "The issue appeared on the agenda "for the July full commission meeting, "but was postponed until August." Columbia's City Council and Mayor Chasmuller declared July 11th to be Mackie Kaler Day during last week's meeting, recognizing the local songwriter's contribution to the music industry. A song penned by Kaler, Tennessee in My Dreams, was recently added to Tennessee's list of official state songs by the General Assembly. Other people are starting to find out about Mackie Kaler what we have known for a number of years. Mackie Kaler has made his home in Columbia for 20 years, being dubbed the Mayor of Mule Town Sound. Mayor Muleter said in presenting Kaler with a proclamation from the city. Candidates for the Murray County Board of Education made their respective cases for election to the public last week at a forum hosted by Murray Alliance. The school board candidate forum was held at Columbia State Community College. Murray Alliance also has a candidate guide available on its website in which each candidate answered a number of questions. If you can find that at www.murryalliance.com, 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 the community than its public education system, said Will Evans, president of Murray Alliance, it sets the foundation for our future workforce and is a key factor which many consider when looking to locate to a community, he said. "Six of the boards 11 seats will be "on the August 1st County general election ballot "with districts two, four, five, six, eight, and 10 "up for grabs. "Of the five seats, only one incumbent, "just in Hauke of district five is seeking to stay on. "Hauke, who is appointed to the seat in April of 2024, "is seeking 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 Langston. "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 Murray 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 two as an independent. "I wanna vote for the person and what they stand for. "Not what the party says I need to stand for," he said. Bellamy is running against Robert Plageman, who is also running as an independent. "I look at my children's 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 wanna get into after high school. "There's so many more options out there today, "trade schools, community colleges, "going into the workforce or starting a business," he said. Plageman said his top values were education, supporting and keeping good teachers, and providing transparency in the school system. In district four, 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," he said. "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," he said. Anderson said Murray 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 wanna 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," he said. In District 5, Hauke, who is 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, he said. District 6 candidate, Sue Stevenson, is unopposed and did not participate in the forum, nor did District 8 Republican candidate Brendan Babcock. District 8 Democratic candidate, Greg Hannah said, "My wife is a recently retired high school teacher. "My family really cares about public education." Hannah 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," Hannah 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," he said. Lisa 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. "We must work together to explore solutions for funding "to ensure every child has access "to a well-rounded education. "I believe in the power of cooperation "between schools, parents, "and the community," she said. Columbia Central's Athletic Administration has undergone a bit of a shake-up over the summer, though not entirely of new principles Shanda Sparrow-Lings choosing. Neither Mark Higdon nor Megan Moore, who served as co-athletics directors last year, will be in those positions when classes begin next month. Moore, who resigned as Girls Basketball Coach in late March after three seasons, has been assigned a role related to Central being identified as a Tennessee Department of Education's additional targeted support in instruction school. "We have her in another position "that's going to take up a lot of her time," Sparrow-Lings said. "It's going to be helping us with the instructional part. "We have a program we're going to try to implement "because of the scores. "She's going to be helping in that capacity," she said. Replacing Moore will be Gerard Randolph, who was most recently a football assistant coach at Marshall County for the past two years. Randolph will also have graduation coach duties at Central. "When I hired Gerard as grad coach, "I also made him the other co-AD," Sparrow-Lings said. "He's come in fully charged, helping Mr. Higdon a lot. "They kind of made some decisions before Mr. Higdon left." Prior to returning to Marshall County, Randolph spent 10 seasons as football coach at Cornersville, leading the Bulldogs to back-to-back state championship game appearances in 2017 and 2018. "I haven't been in this realm as director, "but I've coached several sports," Randolph said. "I like the challenge. "It's going to be fun being around young coaches, "picking their brains, seeing their body of work "and seeing if I can help them. "Be there for them," he said. Higdon meanwhile accepted an assistant principal position at Hickman County High School. He had held the AD position either in whole or on a shared basis for the past two and a half years after joining the Central Faculty in 2021. "After 30 years of teaching in the classroom, "I felt I was ready to move up to an administrative position," Higdon said. "I applied for a few assistant principal positions "around the county and didn't get any of them. "I went and interviewed at Hickman County last week "and here we are," he said. Sparrow-Lings, who takes over for Mike Steele is principal at Central after previously spending 10 years as principal at Spring Hill Middle School, said she does expect to fill the second Co-AD position. 10-Pen Alley opened its latest outdoor attractions, go-karts, and mini-golf. Sharing the news on social media, they stated, "Drumroll, please, "the announcement we've all been waiting for, "our outdoor attractions are now open. "We appreciate your patience and understanding "during this process and we can't wait "to share these awesome new attractions with you." 10-Pen Alley is a family entertainment center located at 730 Mooresville Pike in Columbia. It offers bowling, arcade games, laser tag, and other fun activities. The center also offers one and two-seat electric go-karts for exploring an 850-foot track. The driver's minimum age is 10 and the height requirement is four feet, eight inches tall. Passengers ride for free. The mini-golf course has 18 holes with steampunk-themed robots to penalty holes and unique obstacles. After you finish the go-karts, 10-Pen Alley has 32 bowling lanes, bumper cars, laser tag, an arcade, and a cafe with a full menu. There are hours of operation on Monday through Thursday, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., Friday and Saturday, 10 a.m. to 12 a.m., and Sunday, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. The next meeting of the African-American Heritage Society of Murray County will take place on Saturday, July 20th and feature Ray Bonner, assistant track and field coach at Middle Tennessee State University. His talk will be part of the Society's quarterly lecture series on the 2024 theme of African-Americans Making History in Sports and Coaching. A Winchester native in a Franklin County High School graduate, Bonner was one of MTSU's first two African-American players signed to football scholarships by legendary coach Charles Bubber Murphy in 1969. He went on to start four seasons at cornerback for the Blue Raiders, earning accolades as part of the program's memorable mod squad, defensive secondary. As a junior, he added punt return duties to his repertoire, posting a 7.1-yard average that ranked third nationally with two touchdowns on 31 returns, an MTSU single season and career record. Bonner earned all Ohio Valley Conference honors as a senior in 1972 and was selected by the Detroit Lions in the 10th round of the 1973 National Football League draft, but a suspected heart murmur cut short his professional aspirations. He went on to serve four years in the United States Navy, before embarking on a coaching career that included stops in the Georgia High School ranks, as well as collegiate assignments at Alabama A&M, Texas Southern and Tennessee State University. Prior to joining the staff at MTSU in 2013, Bonner served as head football and track coach at Cedar Grove, Georgia High School. Earlier this year, the African American Heritage Society of Murray County recognized the county's African American coaches from the conclusion of segregated high schools forward, featuring those in their annual calendar. The April installment of the lecture series featured Columbia Natives Bernard Childress, retired executive director for the TLSAA, and Murray County Public Schools Athletics Director, Chris Pointer. Saturday's event will be held at 10 a.m. at the Murray County Archives temporary location, found at Mule Town Rack at 1446 Oak Springs Drive in Columbia. The program is free and open to the public. Columbia State Community College's Office of Workforce and Continuing Education Leadership Development Program is designed to benefit new and emerging leaders to help them develop the necessary skills and to toolkit of resources to help them excel, as they move into and grow in their leadership roles. "I am extremely proud to be bringing this program to our communities," said Melody Murphy, Columbia State Workforce and Continuing Education Director. "With now hiring posted on almost every storefront, it is becoming harder for employers to find and keep good employees. This program is an excellent opportunity for a company to identify dedicated employees value and hard work and build them up through this program for leadership and supervision roles," she said. The Columbia State Leadership for Operational Excellence Program nurtures success and provides participants with the skills and resources for them to excel as leaders within their organizations. Topics covered will include leadership styles, generations and teams, employee engagement and productivity, communication and leading your team, business finance and budgets, presentation skills and networking, as well as delivering outcomes and managing change. Many of us have seen firsthand how promoting internally for these positions based on performance can be problematic because doing a job and leading others to do a job are very different things that require somewhat different skill sets," Murphy said. This program aims to give participants the necessary leadership skills to be successful leaders. Registration is now open for the program which consists of eight full day sessions with two full days conducted back to back. Participants should plan to attend all sessions which will take place at Columbia State's Williamson campus. The program begins in August with the dates of August 8th and 9th, September 12th and 13th, October 3rd and 4th and November 14th and 15. The cost is $2,995 with lunch provided. To register, visit www.campusce.net/ColumbiaState. For more information, you can contact Melody Murphy at mmurphy19@ColumbiaState.edu. And now your hometown memorials sponsored by Oaks and Nichols Funeral Home. James Butler JB Long, 98, a longtime resident of Columbia died Monday, July 15th at the bridge of Columbia assisted living. Funeral services for Mr. Long will be conducted on Friday, July 19th at 11 a.m. at Oaks and Nichols Funeral Home. Barrio will follow in-poke memorial gardens with military honors provided by Herbert Griffin American Legion Post-19. Visitation will be Friday, July 19th from 10 a.m. until 11 a.m. at Oaks and Nichols Funeral Home. Shirley Jean Spires Bunting, 71, a longtime resident of Columbia and retired manager from McDonald's died on Saturday, July 13th at Murray Regional Medical Center. A celebration of life will be held on Saturday, July 20th at 11 a.m. until 1 p.m. at Loyal Chapel Free Will Baptist Church. Marilyn Miller Johnson Stevens, 86 of Baileyville, Illinois passed away Sunday, June 9th at FHN Memorial Hospital in Freeport, Illinois. Memorial services will be held at 3 p.m. on Saturday, July 20th at Fly Church of the Nazarene located at 5688 Leapers Creek Road in Sanofi. The family will visit with friends from 1 p.m. until the service time at the church. Hometown Memorial is sponsored by Oaks and Nichols Funeral Home, serving with dignity and consideration for over 150 years. - As years go by, people may tend to forget just what a funeral is really all about. At Oaks and Nichols, we believe it's first at always a special remembrance of someone you love. We start by listening to your needs and desires if you're unsure, we can help gently, professionally. At Oaks and Nichols Funeral Directors, we haven't lost sight of why we're here, to serve Murray County families in the ways they prefer and why the way you feel has always been so important to Susie and Tony Sowell. - When people come here, I hope they feel like they're working with a person who's just like family. And by the time they leave here, I hope they feel like they're a part of our family. - What I like most is when a family is leaving, they can say thanks. He made something we thought would be hard, easier than we thought it would be. Not that we made it easy, we made it easier. - Oaks and Nichols Funeral Directors, 320 West 7th Street in Columbia. Since 1856, people you can rely on. - For your Southern Middle Tennessee weather, we will have a mix of sun and clouds today with scattered thunderstorms developing this afternoon. The high will be 88 degrees. The winds will be out of the West at 10 to 15 miles per hour. The chance of rain today, 50%. Tonight, we can expect scattered thunderstorms this evening, followed by occasional showers overnight. The low will be 69 degrees with light and variable winds. The chance of overnight rain, 50%. Let's take a break. When we come back, we'll cover state and national news that affect you. You're listening to Southern Middle Tennessee today. (air whooshing) (upbeat music) - This is Debbie Matthews with the National Realty Group. And if you've been paying attention, you know the housing market has been tough. But rates are beginning the thaw. So if you're thinking about selling, the time to jump in is getting better every day. But if you're thinking about buying and those interest rates are still a little bit too high, a good agent knows how to negotiate interest rate by downs. And I'm a good agent. So call me Debbie Matthews with National Realty Group, 615-476-3224. (upbeat music) - Family first. My dad used to tell us that all the time. But Family first wasn't just something he'd say to us. It was how he lived every day of his life. And it's how I try to live mine too. - At shelter insurance, our agents are dedicated to helping provide personalized auto, home, and life protection that puts your family first. For auto, home, life, or business insurance, Sea Shelter Agent Tommy Hyde Jr. at 388-2009. - Are you thinking about a new fence? Maybe you need a pole bar. Then you should give Sands Fence Company a call that's 931-309-1644. Will Sands has built his business based on the principles of honesty, quality, and integrity. Sands Fence Company has been in business for over 20 years, providing a community with farm, residential, and commercial fencing, as well as pole barns and buildings. Call today for a free estimate. - Sands Fence Company 931-309-1644, 931-309-1644. - For 40 years, the Jewelers Bench has worked hard for their customers and provided the highest quality jewelry at the best price. They keep going back. Recent renovations have allowed them to expand their inventory. More high quality jewelry, custom vintage and estate pieces, and professional jewelry and watch repairs. They also buy gold. The Jewelers Bench, still here, still great service. 808, Trotwood Avenue, Columbia. - This is Triacock with Dixie Equipment, Sales and Rental. We sell ASV and Wacker Nordstrom Equipment. We also rent a wide variety of compact equipment in the Middle Tennessee area. Come see us. We are located in Columbia, Tennessee at 200 East 16th Street. You can call us at 615-969-01-18 or visit our website at www.dixiedecil.com. We have been in business for over 42 years and we would love to help you turn your project into reality. - Some people are just obsessed with their lawns. They'd cut their grass with a pair of scissors if they could. Bikes are gravely, they don't have to. You see, gravely makes not only the best built and most comfortable lawnmowers, they also leave your house looking like a doggone country club. So whether you're a commercial landscaper wanting the best or just a perfectionist homeowner, you can't do better than a gravely. - See our full line of gravely products at Murray County Equipment. 1075 North James Campbell Boulevard in Columbia, Tennessee or check us out on Facebook. - This is Bob Kessel with Pat Ryan. It's a beautiful day for digging. The backhoe operator has the engine running and is moving into position. He's heading for the ground. He's in there. Wait, there's a flag on the play. Let's get out of the field for the call from our official. A legal procedure on the digging team. - Oh, that penalty could cause a costly accident. - That's right, Bob. He needs to call before he digs. There's underground utility lines that could be hiding just below the surface. Water, sewer, electrical, communication lines and even natural gas. - Avoid a penalty by first calling 8-1-1 to have any underground public utility lines located at marked with flags or paint. It's free, it's easy and it's the law. - For more tips, visit pipesafety.org. This message brought to you by the Tennessee Association of Broadcasters and the Tennessee Gas Association. Funded in part by a grant from the underground utility damage enforcement board. (upbeat music) - Welcome back to Southern Middle Tennessee today on WKOM 101.7 and WKRM 103.7, your hometown source for news and information. I'm Tom Price. And now news from around the state. As temperatures approach 100 degrees these summer days, Secretary of State Trey Harg it reminds Tennessee parents and caregivers about the baby in the back car hangtag program as a free resource in preventing heat related illnesses or death in children. The baby in the back program can make all the difference in protecting our youngest citizens from extreme temperatures said Secretary Harg it. With this week's expected heat and the likelihood of more hot days ahead, we want all parents and caregivers to know about our free program that ultimately can save lives. On days with extreme heat, temperatures inside a car can quickly reach as high as 140 degrees. Instances where parents or caregivers have forgotten that their child is inside a vehicle have become more common in recent years. Baby in the back serves as a visual reminder to always check the backseat to ensure young children stay safe. Unfortunately, we've heard the tragic stories where a child is accidentally left inside a hot car. Secretary Harg it added. Using the baby in the back hangtag program will hopefully help remind parents or caregivers to check the backseat one final time to ensure their child is safe during significant weather events, he said. Tennesseans can expect can request rather free hang tags online through the Secretary of State's office by visiting sos.tn.gov/requesthangtags or by calling 615-253-2667. Let's take one last break. When we come back, we'll cover the final story of the day. You're listening to Southern Middle Tennessee today. Turner and Osborn Tire Company 1016 South Main Street in Columbia. Give me a call at 931-388-6822. They've been doing business since 1947 and in their current location since 1964. They provide the best tire and mechanical work at some of the best prices in middle Tennessee. Hey, they're official Michelin and Goodyear Dealers and they've got all kinds of brands as well. Stop by and see Walker Vining and his professional staff or check them out online at Turner and Osborn.com. That's Turner and Osborn.com. Looking for a physician, choosing a healthcare provider for your family is one of the most important decisions you will make. Murray Regional Medical Group delivers primary care for individuals of all ages from newborns to adults and has an array of specialists ranging from endocrinologists to urologists. With locations in Murray, Lewis, Marshall, and Wayne Counties, our experienced team can provide you with quality care close to home. For more information, visit murryregionalmedicalgroup.com. Murray Regional Medical Group, your health is our primary care. Have you ever wondered if your insurance needs can be personalized? This is Hunter Carey. Our team specializes in planning your insurance needs to get you the best possible solution. State Farm is the largest home and auto insurer in the country. I love bringing that to my hometown. Born and raised in Columbia, I'm grateful for our close community ties. We offer help with home, auto, and life insurance for everyone in our community. Our office is located at 909 South Garden Tree across from the fire station. We're also in line at huntercarry.com. That's huntercarrymy.com. Welcome back to Southern Middle Tennessee today and our final story. It's no secret that Morgan Wallen has remained loyal to his Tennessee roots throughout his career. Growing up in Sneedville, Tennessee, before moving to Knoxville as a teenager, Wallen's affinity for the University of Tennessee Vols has inspired hits such as Tennessee Fan and had me by halftime. While he continues to cheer on his favorite team between tour stops. Now Wallen, on his one night at a time tour, will have the show venue he's always wanted to headline. Neelen Stadium, produced by Live Nation. On Sunday, September 22nd, Wallen will be joined by special guest Hardy and fellow Tennessee native Ernest with tickets going on sale today at 10 a.m. Wednesday, July 17th. I've had the honor of playing a lot of college, MLB and NFL stadiums the past two years, but getting to play to my hometown at Neelen Stadium. Nothing tops this for a boy from East Tennessee. Shared Wallen who reactivated his Instagram this morning to share the news. Tickets to the show are available at www.morganwallen.com. That's all for this edition of Southern Middle Tennessee today on Kennedy Broadcasting WKOMWKRM Radio. I'll be back tomorrow to update you with the latest news. I'm Tom Price. Thanks for listening. Be safe and have a great day. (upbeat music) (upbeat music) (dramatic music)