Front Porch Radio - Southern Middle TN Today News with Tom Price
Southern Middle TN Today News with Tom Price 7-30-24
(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 30th, and we start with local news. Spring Hill Police Department needs assistance locating one Ryan Frederick who was last seen on July 24th. He is five feet, 10 inches tall and about 170 pounds. He has brown hair and green eyes. He is driving a 2005 Toyota Tundra license plate, Tennessee 92 RH 80. If you have information on where he is, please call Spring Hill Police Department dispatch center at 931-486-2632 or submit an anonymous tip at www.springhilltn.org/formcenter. Twin Lakes Drive in Spring Hill will be closed until August 30th as crews continue the Buckner Lane widening project. Buckner Lane will be fully open during this time. This closure has been extended one month due to unforeseen underground conditions found once the improvements were started. While Twin Lakes Drive will be closed through traffic, access to Summit High School and the surrounding area will still be available via Spring Station Drive. Yelling Go Vols is something college students do every day as they live on the UT campus in Knoxville. But during the week over the summer each year, a group of younger individuals had the opportunity to live the college life also. Over 150 Tennessee junior high 4-H members in grades six through eight descended on the University of Tennessee campus in Knoxville, the week of June 11th through the 14th, to take part in the 36th Tennessee junior high 4-H academic conference. The purpose of the conference is to recognize outstanding 4-H members and leaders, provide academic training related to the 4-H members project areas, offer opportunities for career exploration and agriculture and family and consumer sciences, meet other 4-H members with similar interests or in the same project area and to experience campus life firsthand. During the spring, youth were encouraged to apply to attend the conference in one of the 20 following project areas, beef, citizenship, communication and public speaking, companion animals, computers and technology, consumer education, creative arts and design, dairy cattle, entrepreneurship, food science and dairy foods, forestry, wildlife and fisheries, goat, horticulture and gardening, horse, nutrition, health and fitness, outdoor recreation, shooting sports, performing arts, poultry, sheep and swine. 10 finalists in each project area were chosen to attend the immersive experience on the UT campus. In addition to deep diving into hands-on activities led by subject matter experts in their project areas, the youth also visited Neeland Stadium, main event in Knoxville, the UT Gardens and number of departments in the Herbert College of Agriculture on the UT campus and a participated in a graduation ceremony at the Foundry at World's Fair Park. They resided in the Robinson Hall residence as well and the eighth grade participants had an opportunity to meet Dr. Robinson. Participants from Murray County included Esther and Ruth Russell. Tennessee Junior High 4-H Academic Conference is sponsored by the Tennessee Farmers Cooperative, Tennessee Pork Producers Association, the Tennessee 4-H Foundation and the UT Institute of Agriculture. For more information about the Murray County 4-H program, please call 931-375-5301. For H is part of University of Tennessee Extension, Tennessee State University Extension and the University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture. UT TSU Extension provides equal opportunities and programs and employment through the cooperation of county, state and federal governments. Vicki Bishat, founder and a member of the GFWC Spring Station Women's Club, a chapter of the General Federation of Women's Clubs, received the Jenny Award on June 30th during GFWC's 2024 annual convention in Chicago. Awarded once every two years at the end of each GFWC administration, the GFWC Jenny Award is the only national honor bestowed by GFWC that recognizes individual members for personal excellence. Club members are nominated by their clubs to compete at state, regional and national levels for the federation's highest honor. The Jenny Award is named in honor of GFWC's founder, Jane Cunningham Crowley, who wrote for national newspapers under the pseudonym Jenny June. The award is an occasion to highlight extraordinary club women who epitomize Crowley's spirit of independence, courage and persistence through their roles as volunteers within their clubs, representatives of their community and as members of a family or extended family. Although GFWC has many awards for states and clubs, the GFWC Jenny Award is the only national honor that recognizes individual members for personal excellence. Bishad, a resident of Spring Hill, is a fourth generation member of GFWC. She grew up in a family that believed in volunteering and community service. Her father was in the Lions Club for over 60 years, served on the county school board for two decades and was an active voice got supporter until his death at age 93. Her mother was a GFWC local district and state officer a Red Cross water safety instructor and disaster committee member and served as a city council person. She is married to Frank Bishad and they have four children and five grandchildren in the blended family. As a child, she organized fundraising activities like neighborhood dog shows and Kool Aid sales. She participated in Girl Scouts and 4-H, served on the county high school 4-H council, state fair judging teams and attended the citizenship short course in Washington, D.C. She received numerous state and regional honors in science competitions and was active in various school organizations. Each summer, she worked as a lifeguard and swimming instructor, specializing in scared beginner classes for children and adults. A graduate of the University of Tennessee Knoxville, she is a nationally certified RN, now retired. Vicki's professional focus was maternal and neonatal care. She taught childbirth and breastfeeding classes, campaigned for infant car seat loss, managed a March of Dimes grant program for teenage mothers and was an officer and board member of several state and national perinatal professional organizations. Vicki worked in labor and delivery until she left patient care to become a consultant and project manager in the hospital construction industry, specializing in medical equipment planning. She joined her first GFWC junior club in 1980, was a club president and Tennessee junior director from 1994 to '96. In 2010, she started the GFWC Spring Station Women's Club formed the GFWC Murray County Women's Club in 2019 and successfully reactivated a lapsed club in Clarksville in 2021. She has held various positions in GFWC of Tennessee, culminating in state president in 2020. A tireless community volunteer, she was an officer of the Spring Hill Arts Center, represents her club at Spring Hill Chamber of Commerce events, is a life member of the Spring Hill Friends of the library, started the Spring Station Book Club and serves as a poll worker during state and national elections. She was recognized as one of 50 outstanding graduates of the UTK College of Nursing at its 50th anniversary celebration. Her largest GFWC community service project was the successful statewide initiative to replace all the thousands of elementary school library books destroyed in the August 2021 flash flood in her hometown of Waverly. The GFWC Spring Station Women's Club meets one night a month, usually the first Monday from 6 to 8 p.m. and the lower level of the Spring Hill Senior Citizens Building, located at 563 Murray Hill Street. For further information, please visit their website at www.gfwcspringstation.wordpress.com or you can email gfwcspringstation@gmail.com. The General Federation of Women's Clubs is a unifying force, bringing together local women's clubs with members dedicated to strengthening their communities and enhancing the lives of others through volunteer service. With more than 60,000 members in affiliated clubs in every state, the District of Columbia and more than a dozen countries, GFWC members work in their own communities to support the arts, preserve natural resources, advance education, promote healthy lifestyles, encourage civic involvement and work toward world peace and understanding. (mouse clicking) Applications for the 2024-2025 Columbia Mayor's Youth Council or a CMYC term will open on August 1st. The CMYC is open to all high school students located within Murray County, including those attending public, private and homeschools. The 2024-2025 term will begin in September of 2024 and conclude in May of 2025. Columbia Mayor Chaz Mulder stated, "The Columbia Mayor's Youth Council is an excellent opportunity for our young people to gain firsthand experience in local government and develop their leadership skills. By participating in CMYC, students will not only learn about the inner workings of our city, but also have the chance to make a real impact on their community. I strongly encourage all eligible students to apply and be a part of this incredible educational experience," he said. The CMYC aims to educate students about local government, foster leadership skills and encourage community involvement among Columbia's diverse high school population. The CMYC is composed of Murray County High School students who value academic excellence, community involvement and leadership. Selected students will have an opportunity to actively participate in various activities and programs, addressing issues affecting youth in the community, leading and volunteering in community projects and learning about city departments. The CMYC selection committee will review all completed applications to select this year's Youth Council members. Applications will be open from August 1st through August 23rd, and applicants will be notified of their acceptance by September 3rd. CMYC meetings will be held monthly in addition to community and volunteer projects. CMYC applications can be found in the City of Columbia's website at columbiatn.gov or at your high school's administrative office. Follow the Columbia Mayor's Youth Council on Facebook and Instagram at CMYCTN. For questions, you can contact Hannah Miller at hmiller@columbiatn.gov or call the number 931-560-1512. 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 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 nurture 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 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 the Columbia State 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, an 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, gaining 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 more about all 12 city departments and touring select city facilities, such as the 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. You can learn more and apply today at 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 Center located at 1020 Murray County Park Drive. Please drive around the back of the building and look for the card tag renewal sign near the back door. Forms of payment include credit and debit card or check, no cash will be taken at this 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 in downtown Columbia. Also, you can renew online by visiting tncountyclirk.com or at kiosks in Spring Hill City Hall or Mount Pleasant Courthouse. And now your hometown memorials sponsored by Oaks and Nichols Funeral Home. Ray Fisher Davis, 86, retired director of the South Central Health Agency and resident of Columbia, died Thursday, July 25th at his residence. Visitation will be conducted on Tuesday, July 30th from 4 to 7 p.m. at Oaks and Nichols Funeral Home. Martha Matthews, 100, retired secretary of Joseph Brown Elementary School and a resident of Scott Hollow Road died at her home on Sunday, July 28th. Funeral services will be at noon on Saturday, August 3rd at Oaks and Nichols Funeral Home. Visitation with the family will be two hours prior to the service. Burial will follow at Pope Memorial Gardens in Columbia. Hometown memorials 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 live 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. You 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. (upbeat music) For your Southern Middle Tennessee weather, we will have partly cloudy skies today with hot and humid weather. The high will be 94 degrees with winds out of the West at 10 to 15 miles per hour. Tonight, we can expect more cloudy skies, a stray shower or a thunderstorm as possible. The low will be 74 degrees with light and variable winds. 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. - Three, two, one. - Debbie Matthews-Rilter and her husband, Jason, who is a pro songwriter, also own a music publishing company. They live in historic downtown Columbia with their dogs. Dog rescue work is their passion project. They consider Middle Tennessee their backyard and their lives are full of all things Tennessee. Debbie says there is no greater honor than to help someone find a home. To be trusted with that job, there is no greater privilege to call Debbie at the Nashville Realty Group, 615-476-3224, 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 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 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. - 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 Trey Hancock 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.dixiediesel.com. We have been in business for over 42 years and we would love to help you turn your project into reality. - Hi, I'm Matt Parralis, manager of Murray County Equipment. We help you with all your agricultural and construction equipment needs. We carry a full line of new haul and tractors from compacts to high horsepower. We have a full line of gravely morn equipment. We also have new haul and construction equipment attachments and accessories for your tractors and a complete parts department. We are locally owned and operated. Come see us at 1075, North James Campbell Boulevard or learn about us on Facebook. Our contact is at 931-490-8183. - 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) (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. The Tennessee tourism, I'm sorry, the Tennessee. (upbeat music) (upbeat music) My apologies, the Tennessee Department of Tourism Development is hoping to get more biking enthusiasts interested in vacationing across the state through a new program. That's the first of its kind in the south. Bike Tennessee features 52 newly curated road cycling routes developed by a cycling tourism professional with a focus on bringing cycling to rural communities. The initiative is so new, it's only offered in one other state, Oregon. The governor's first executive order was to promote initiatives supporting rural counties. Tennessee Department of Tourist Development Commissioner Mark Isal said, "That is exactly what this initiative does. It is a low-cost, sustainable program that benefits smaller communities," he said. To locate and design the routes, the Tourist Development Department partnered with Shannon Burke, owner of Velo View Bike Tours in Chattanooga. Burke moved to Tennessee from California a few years ago to be closer to family, he said, adding that he immediately fell in love with the diverse terrain. "The state has every type of mountain and you can also ride in all seasons," Burke said. "It's perfect for an initiative like this." As Burke searched for routes, he targeted routes, roads that didn't have a lot of traffic but still felt safe and provided a scenic view of the area, he said. "I would ask myself, if I put this on a bike tour, would they get their money's worth?" Burke said, "The result is a mix of escaping civilization while still making sure people are comfortable," he said. Tennessee's Department of Tourist Development has also partnered with Ride with GPS, a navigation platform used daily by thousands of cyclists for the program. The bike's 52 bike Tennessee routes are accessible to users of the app and are all designed as a loop to simplify parking while still a varying distance and difficulty, officials explained. While Tennessee doesn't boast casinos or beaches, tourism in the state's rural areas still accounts for about 20% of visitor spending, he said. In 2022 alone, the state welcomed 141 million visitors who spent a record $29 billion, as I'll explain. A big part of that is the Great Smoking Mountains National Park, which is still by far the most visited National Park in America. This initiative gives tourists just another reason to visit our beautiful state, he said. The initiative officially launched statewide in May. For more information, visit www.tnvacation.com/bike. Tennessee. A new analysis found homicides and most violent crimes have decreased over the last year and most are slightly below pre-pandemic levels across the country and in Nashville, the Council of Criminal Justice reports. The study examined patterns for 12 different types of crimes in cities that have published data over the past six years. Nashville, Davidson County was among the cities in the study. Data shows violent crimes like homicides declined across the country over the first six months of 2024 compared to 2023 and for the same time period in 2019. Homicides were down 13% across the 39 cities studied by Council on Criminal Justice, a nonpartisan organization tasked with finding solutions to enhance safety and justice. Especially with homicide, the continuing downturn trends we're seeing so far this year are heartening as every killing prevented is a life saved. Said senior research specialist Ernesto Lopez, co-author of the report. But crime is heavily influenced by local factors and despite the national trends, many US cities continue to face in tolerably high levels of violence, he said. The report suggests departments adopt research-based public safety strategies to reduce crime. Nashville's homicide data compared favorably to the other 38 cities, data was collected from January 3rd, June of 2019, 2023 and 2024. Homicides are in Nashville were 20% lower in the first six months of 2024 compared to the same time period in 2023, though cases were up 20% when compared to 2019. Nationally rates this year are 13% lower than last year and 2% lower than 2019. 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 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@osberg.com. That's turner@osberg.com. Living with a war and joint can be painful and frustrating. Leave your joint pain in the past with a joint replacement procedure at Murray Regional Health. Our joint replacement program has been recognized in the top 10% of the nation for medical excellence and patient safety. Thanks to our highly skilled and experienced surgical staff who perform progressive procedures for the knees, hips, shoulders, elbows and ankles. For more information, go to murreagional.com/jointreplacement. 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 in line at HunterCarry.com. That's HunterC-A-R-Y.com. Welcome back to Southern Middle Tennessee today and our final story. The Maricana Music Association has announced its performers for the 23rd annual Americana Honors and Awards, taking place in Nashville on September 18th at the famed Ryman Auditorium. This year's honors and awards will deliver performances from award-winning legends, buzzworthy new artists and longtime fan favorites, including Blind Boys of Alabama, Brandy Clark with Sister Strings, Charles Wesley Godwin, David Alvin, Dwight Yokem and more. The ceremony is the hallmark event for the 24th annual Americana Fest, held across new and historic venues throughout Nashville during the week of September 17th through the 21st. Tickets to the Americana Honors and Awards are on sale now. You can get them by visiting www.americana.flicket.io forward slash events. That's all for this edition of Southern Middle Tennessee today on Kennedy Broadcasting WKOMWKRN Radio. I'll be back tomorrow to update you with the latest news. I'm Tom Bryce. Thanks for listening. Be safe and have a great day. (upbeat music) (upbeat music) (upbeat music) (upbeat music)