Front Porch Radio - Southern Middle TN Today News with Tom Price
Southern Middle TN Today News with Tom Price 7-23-24
(upbeat music) - Hello and welcome to Southern Middle Tennessee today on WKOM and WKRM radio. Your hometown news broadcasting from the Debbie Matthews Nashville Realty Newsroom in Columbia, Tennessee. I'm your host, Tom Price. Today is Tuesday, July 23rd, and we start as always with local news. The Spring Hill Police Department will conduct a sobriety checkpoint beginning on Friday, July 26th from 11 p.m. until 1 a.m. This checkpoint will be located on Main Street close to Crossings Boulevard. A Tennessee Supreme Court ruling requires this notification. Year to date, the Spring Hill Police Department has made 87 arrests for driving under the influence. Please remember to choose a sober ride. Murray Regional Health is pleased to announce the promotion of Kathy Malone to its senior leadership team, assuming the role of Chief Nursing Officer or CNO. Kathy has consistently demonstrated outstanding leadership, exceptional clinical skills, and a deep commitment to patient care, said Murray Regional CEO, Dr. Martin Cheney. Her vision and dedication will undoubtedly drive an ongoing positive impact at Murray Regional Health, he said. Malone has more than 29 years of experience with 23 at Murray Regional Health, most recently serving as Assistant CNO since January of 2023, and previously as Administrative Director of Cardiovascular Services. During her leadership at Murray Regional Health, her accomplishments have included opening a new critical care floor, achieving the Gold Beacon Award for critical care, enhancing heart and surgical services, sleep center accreditation, telemetry implementation, development of the short stay unit and assisting in attaining designation as a magnet organization, one of only two in middle Tennessee and seven throughout the state. Malone received her Bachelor of Science in Nursing at Austin P-State University and her Master of Management in Healthcare at Vanderbilt University's Owen Graduate School of Management. "I am extremely honored and excited to accept the role of Chief Nursing Officer," said Malone. "I look forward to working closely with our incredible nursing team to continue building on our success and delivering the highest quality care to our patients," she said. Murray Regional Medical Center has attained magnet designation from the American Nurses Credentialing Center. The magnet program recognizes quality patient care, nursing excellence and professional practice. The environment in a magnet facility benefits both patients and staff with benefits like improved clinical outcomes in higher workplace and job satisfaction. Murray Regional Medical Center is the only hospital in Tennessee and one out of 79 hospitals nationwide to receive the excellence in patient safety and outstanding patient experience awards from health grades in 2024. In more Murray Regional News, Murray Regional Medical Center now offers an innovative treatment called Intravascular Lithotripsy, which, or IVL, which is a safe, efficient and proven treatment for heart or cardiovascular disease, specifically related to calcium buildup in heart arteries. Each year, almost 700,000 people die from heart disease, which is the leading cause of death for both men and women in the United States. As people suffering from coronary artery disease age, plaque in the arteries evolves into calcium deposits that narrow and harden the artery, limiting blood flow to the heart. IVL was inspired by the principles of kidney stone treatment or urological lithotripsy, but has been adopted by Shockwave Medical Incorporated to tackle calcium buildup in the cardiovascular system. Lithotripsy uses ultrasonic energy or shockwaves to gently and safely break calcifications. In April, Dr. David Hough, a board certified specialist in cardiovascular disease and interventional cardiology at Murray Regional Medical Center's medical staff, completed the first osteo disease case in the state of Tennessee, utilizing the Shockwave Intravascular Lithotripsy system, alongside a specialized dual balloon by Ostele Corporation, called the Flash Aorto Ostele angioplasty system. Ostele disease, a blockage in the very first segment of an artery, is well known to be associated with high restinosis rates, which is when a blockage to blood flow recurs after initially being opened. With a combination of these newly implemented technologies, Murray Regional Medical Center is providing advanced coronary solutions to their patients and referring physicians. Being the first hospital in Tennessee to use these combined technologies for osteo disease is rewarding for our staff and demonstrates our commitment to leveraging proven innovations in healthcare for a great patient experience and stronger outcomes, said Dr. Martin Chaney. The cardiology team at Murray Regional Medical Center is committed to giving our patients access to the latest cardiovascular innovations to treat heart disease, said Dr. Hough. Empowered by this novel Shockwave IVL technology, we're excited to be treating some of the most complex forms of heart disease in our most challenging patient cases, all while remaining committed to improving patient outcomes for the benefit of the Murray County area and surrounding communities, he said. As Southern Middle Tennessee's only heart center, Murray Regional Medical Center provides a vast array of cardiac services that include interventional procedures as well as pacemaker and defibrillator implants. Physicians are members of Vanderbilt, Heart Columbia, and Ascension St. Thomas Heart Columbia, who are complemented by a highly skilled and experienced team that strives to achieve the best possible outcomes. The Columbia Peace and Justice Initiative, or CPJI, will be hosting an evening with civil rights activist and Presidential Medal of Freedom recipient, Attorney Fred Gray, on Thursday, September 19th at 6 p.m. The event will be held at Murray Hills Church located at 101 Unity Drive in Columbia. It is an honor and a privilege to have such an iconic defender of civil rights share his experiences, noting how far we have come and the work that lies before us, said CPJI President Trent Ogilvy. CPJI is dedicated to bringing awareness and unity to our community through a multitude of initiatives and we are grateful to Mr. Gray for his support of our endeavors, he said. Fred D. Gray is the senior partner of the law firm of Gray, Langford, Sap, McGowan, Gray, Gray, and Nathanson PC with offices in both Montgomery and Tuskegee. He is a pioneer of the civil rights movement, a native of Montgomery, Alabama, and resides in Tuskegee with his wife Carol. Mr. Gray's life mission has been to destroy racial segregation wherever he finds it, and that is what he continues to do. He's practiced law since 1954, specializing in civil rights litigation and continues to practice today at the age of 93. He has been a cooperating attorney with the National Association for the Advancement of Color People or NAACP and Legal Defense Fund since 1956. He represented many civil rights icons and organizations, including the victims of the Tuskegee syphilis study, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Rosa Parks, Claudette Colvin, Congressman John Lewis, the Freedom Riders and Walkers, Selma to Montgomery Marchers, NAACP Southern Christian Leadership Conference, Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee, Congress of Racial Equality and Others. Attorney Gray is the recipient of many honorary degrees and awards. On July 7th of 2022, President Joe Biden awarded Mr. Gray the Presidential Medal of Freedom, which is the highest award a civilian can receive. In 2023, he received the American Bar Association's Medal, which is its highest honor given and was also awarded the Legal Defense Fund's Thurgood Marshall Lifetime Achievement Award. He has served as president of the National Bar Association and Alabama Bar Association and is the current president of the Tuskegee Human and Civil Rights Multicultural Center. During his 69-year legal career, Attorney Gray filed suits to end discrimination in public transportation, voting rights, rights of members and nonprofit organizations, right to public education without discrimination from kindergarten to graduate schools, right of students to obtain an education and not be expelled without a hearing, equal access to farm subsidies, healthcare, the right to serve on civil juries and many others. Proceeds from the CPJia Legacy Fundraiser, which will replace the traditional legacy luncheon in 2024, will support the completion of the Thurgood Marshall round about coming in 2025 in partnership with the city of Columbia. The roundabout will feature a sculpture of Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall created by sculptor David Allen Clark. It will be located at the intersection of South Main Street and East 8th Street, a gateway to the historic Black Business District and the epicenter of the 1946 Columbia race riot, a pivotal movement in Columbia's history that sent shockwaves across the nation. On February 24th of 1946, confrontation culminated in the NAACP sending young attorney Thurgood Marshall to Columbia to defend 25 individuals who went to trial, held mainly in Lawrenceburg. Marshall fell ill before the trial commenced, but remained involved from New York and returned to Columbia in November of that year to represent the last two defendants. During this time, Marshall was confronted by a lynch mob in Columbia and narrowly escaped death, an experience shared in nearly every account of Marshall's life. Ultimately, 23 of the 25 individuals charged were acquitted for lack of evidence and two other were charged with lesser counts. Marshall's dedication to protecting the rights of all citizens earned him the nickname Mr. Civil Rights. His distinguished career included successfully having the Supreme Court declare segregation in public schools unconstitutional in the groundbreaking Brown versus Board of Education, case of 1954. President Lyndon B. Johnson nominated Marshall as the first African American to serve on the United States Supreme Court in 1967. By commemorating Thurgood Marshall, we not only highlight the national significance of these events, but also their deep local impact, enhancing the story's relevance and underscoring its importance in the broader context of American history, said CPJI Legacy Event Share, Russ Adcox. Sponsorship opportunities are currently available. For more information, contact Russ Adcox at Russ, that's RUSSS@marihills.com, or call the number 931-628-0736. Individual tickets are $55 and may be purchased by visiting www.CPJI.org. 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 a toolkit of resources to help them excel as they move into and grow in their leadership roles. "I'm 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 15th. The cost is $2,995 with lunch provided. To register, please visit www.campusce.net/ColumbiaState. For more information, you can contact Melody Murphy at mmerphy19@columbiastate.edu. The city of Columbia is pleased to announce the launch of Columbia 101 and innovative program designed to engage residents with local government and community services. Participants in Columbia 101 will have the unique opportunity to interact closely with city officials and staff, getting firsthand knowledge of how municipal services are delivered and learning about avenues for community involvement and advocacy. This consecutive two-day program will be open to all city of Columbia and Murray County residents and offered twice per year with the official kickoff occurring on September 17th and September 18th. Participants can expect to begin each day at City Hall before learning about all 12 city departments and touring select city facilities such as Fire and Rescue and Public Works Departments. Applications for Columbia 101 are available now and will close on Friday, August 9th at 4 p.m. Learn more and apply today by visiting www.columbiaTn.com. The Murray County Clerk's Office can now help residents with renewals of license plates or placards each Wednesday from 8 a.m. to 3.30 p.m. at the Murray County Senior Citizens Center located at 1020 Murray County Park Drive. Please drive around the back of the building and look for the car tag renewal sign near the back door. Forms of payment include credit or debit card or check. No cash will be collected at that location. Any Murray County resident can use this office. All other transactions will still need to be done through the main office located at 10 public square. Also, you can renew online at tncountyclerk.com or at kiosks in Spring Hill City Hall or Mount Pleasant Courthouse. And now your hometown memorials sponsored by Oak Synacles Funeral Home. Elena Jamison McMinis, 34, a probation and parole officer with the State of Tennessee Department of Corrections died Friday, July 19th at Southern Tennessee Regional Health Systems in Lawrenceburg from the results of an automobile accident. Funeral services will be conducted on Wednesday, July 24th at 2 p.m. at Oak Synacles Funeral Home. Burial will follow at Poke Memorial Gardens. The family will visit with friends on Tuesday from 4 to 8 p.m. and Wednesday from 12 noon until time of services at Oak Synacles Funeral Home. Memorials may be bane to the Murray County Animal Shelter at 1233 Maple Ash Avenue in Columbia. Online condolences may be extended at www.oxennichols.com. hometown memorials is sponsored by Oak Synacles 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 rain likely today with a high of 79 degrees. Winds will be light and variable. There's a 100% chance of rain today with half an inch of rainfall possible. Tonight, we can expect cloudy skies with occasional showers overnight. The low will be 69 degrees with light and variable winds. The chance of overnight rain, 60%. 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. - This is Debbie Matthews with the National Relaty 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 Relaty Group, 615-476-3224. - 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 put your family first. - For auto home, life, or business insurance, C-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 the 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. (upbeat music) - 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 Triadcock 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 615-969-0118, or visit our website at www.dixiediesel.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 vacuole 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 I'm news from around the state. Tennessee Democratic National Convention delegates are ready to throw their support behind Vice President Kamala Harris as their new presidential nominee. After President Joe Biden announced Sunday, he would drop his re-election campaign. On a Sunday afternoon call, the Tennessee delegates unanimously voted to support Harris for the Democratic presidential nomination. Three delegates said, "A signal of a fast-moving effort to coalesce behind the vice president in the hours after Biden dropped out." Megan Lang, a DNC delegate for the Tennessee Congressional District 6, said she feels strongly. The volunteer state delegation will unite behind the vice president. Her name is already out there. "She's connected with donors and voters in a large way," said Lang, a member of the Tennessee Democratic Party Executive Committee. "She has the stage presence that is needed and we have 107 days left until election day. That is more than enough time for someone who has a strong platform to simply expand it," she said. The DNC, which will be held in Chicago in four weeks, is now shaping up to emerge as one of the most historic political conventions in modern American politics. Tennessee delegates were previously pledged to nominate Biden, who won Tennessee Spring Primary. But Democrat bylaws do not legally require them to stick to that pledge. With Biden out of the mix and open convention in play, Democrats could see a brokered convention, a rarity in U.S. politics. However, many Tennessee Democrats are already pledging their support to Harris. If a cohesive Harris coalition emerges among delegates, it could stave off a heated, drawn-out convention. "She has the experience and under matchability to prosecute the case against Trump Vance and their project 2025," said Chris Anderson, a Tennessee delegate from Chattanooga and a member of the Tennessee Democratic Party Executive Committee. Tennessee's delegation was already scheduled to meet, was already scheduled to meet rather at 3 p.m. on Sunday, convention logistics call when Biden's announcement in Harris' endorsement dropped in quick succession. Soon, the call turned into endorsement talks, and Tennessee's delegation appeared to be the first delegation to formally endorse Harris on Sunday. During a recent event that closed with a sing-along U.R. My Sunshine, the Leapers Fork Foundation, along with Middle Tennessee State University Center for Historic Preservation, gathered to celebrate a community milestone. Hosted at Fox and Lock, the event unveiled Leapers Fork, a new guidebook charting your own vision, lessons from Leapers Fork. Officials are hopeful the free 20-page guidebook will help other small towns and rural communities interested in following the Leapers Fork model of success. The guidebook features ways to build strong, reciprocal partnerships with governmental agencies and private businesses to capitalize on a community so it becomes a tourist destination without creating a huge advertising budget, local officials said. Leapers Fork is the heart of a living cultural landscape, the place where the beat of commerce, community life, music, faith and education keeps the community alive and vibrant, said Tennessee State historian Dr. Carol Van West. Though it is consistently referred to as one of the gems of Middle Tennessee, Leapers Fork grew from an unknown village to become a best-practice tourism economic development study for small town representatives across the U.S., according to Mark Izzell, commissioner of the Tennessee Department of Tourist Development. From its initial founding in 1818, about 30 miles south of Nashville, the town has grown and flourished. Recent preservation efforts were led by local philanthropist Aubrey Preston, who has purchased about 200 acres on both ends of the town over the past 20 years and placed them into a land trust, which officials say has preserved the small town's history and charm. According to the Guidebooks Committee, which includes Preston West and Laura Holder, a part-time federal liaison for the Tennessee Civil War National Heritage Area, the community of about 650 people remains committed to preserving the culture of the people who currently live and have lived there for generations. The guidebook, they said, recognizes that communities are living landscapes first and tourist destinations second. This booklet is about a movement. Dr. West said of the guidebook, "It began when residents and newcomers were determined that their village would not become just another rural anywhere U.S.A. place. Instead, they chose to take their past, their traditions, their different opinions and their strong sense of community to chisel out a pathway to lasting progress, a step with the changing times, but paying due respect to those who came before," he said. The guidebook lays out a set of instructions for other small towns to ensure they can boost their tourism in a way that still protects the charm of living in a small town. 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 Osborne 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 Osmurnt.com. That's Turner and Osmurnt.com. Minutes matter when you call 911 for a heart attack and Murray Regional Health is ready to care for you. Utilizing the state-of-the-art cardiac cath lab at Murray Regional Medical Center, our team of expert cardiologists and experienced clinical professionals are equipped to investigate heart conditions quickly and perform lifesaving interventional procedures. Go to MurrayRegional.com/heart to learn more. And remember, always dial 911 when you or someone near you is experiencing heart attack symptoms. Murray Regional Health, where clinical excellence meets compassionate 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 Street across from the fire station. We're also online at HunterCarry.com. That's HunterC-A-R-Y.com. - Welcome back to Southern Middle Tennessee today and our final story. Ten-time Country Music Association Musician of the Year, Mac McAnally, is set to take the stage of the iconic rhyme and auditorium. On January 31st of 2025, we're an evening with Mac McAnally. This highly anticipated event promises an unforgettable night of music and storytelling, taking the audience on a captivating journey through decades of musical excellence. As a guitarist and longtime member of Jimmy Buffett's Coral Reefer Band, McAnally continues to tour with sold out shows across the country, entertaining his fans and parrot heads, keeping the spirit of his longtime friend and collaborator, Buffett, alive. Their fans can purchase their tickets at www.axs.com. That's all for this edition of Southern Middle Tennessee today. I'm Kennedy Broadcasting, WKOM, WKRM 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) (upbeat music) (upbeat music)