Front Porch Radio - Southern Middle TN Today News with Tom Price
Southern Middle TN Today News with Tom Price 9-10-24
(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, September 10th, and we start with local news. The Murray County Sheriff's Department is searching for a man they say is armed and dangerous. Michael Van Dobbs, 45, is currently wanted for criminal homicide. He's six feet tall and weighs about 235 pounds. No clothing description was provided. Murray County deputies are seeking any and all information regarding his whereabouts. If you see him or know of his location, please do not approach him, but immediately call deputies at 931-388-5151. At the request of the Duck River Agency, the City of Spring Hill is enacting voluntary conservation measures due to drought conditions in the Duck River watershed. Per the U.S. drought monitor, far west portions of the Duck River watershed are currently in D3 extreme drought conditions. At D3 levels, expected impacts include a water supply that is inadequate for wildlife. Spring Hill is currently in the area of D1 moderate drought conditions. In response, the Duck River Agency is initiating a drought response team consisting of Spring Hill leaders alongside other local and state officials who will meet weekly to assess drought conditions and escalate the response if needed. The Duck River Agency is declaring the river is in a Stage 1 river drought. While the Normandy Reservoir is not seeing drought impacts currently, many downstream entities, including Spring Hill, are seeing low river flow levels. This means significant amounts of river water is being lost to groundwater replenishment. At this Stage 1 designation, Duck River Agency is requesting all water users to voluntarily reduce all non-essential water usage. Non-essential water includes irrigation, outdoor recreation, filling or refilling pools and hot tubs, and dust control measures during construction, among others. These voluntary measures are to protect the delicate ecosystem of the Duck River watershed, which has been declared one of the most biodiverse ecosystems in North America, and to ensure all entities have sufficient water flow for customers. The City of Spring Hill is thankful for your support in this request. Duck River Agency will continue to monitor to the situation and further announcements will be made in the coming weeks. U.S. Representative Andy Ogles is asking the U.S. Department of Justice to return the cell phone confiscated by the FBI last month so that he can identify protected legislative materials he says are on them. FBI agencies, Ogles' phone and Google account the day after he won a contested primary last month. In a filing on Tuesday, Ogles' attorneys argue that some materials on the phone and email account are protected as they contain communications reflecting legislative acts of the most sensitive character, including confidential debate among dozens of representatives about who should lead the House as speaker. Ogles wrote in an accompanying affidavit that his phone also contains text messages and emails from other House members, senators, and former President Donald Trump. Ogles' ogles' filing asserts that the FBI probe is a form of political persecution, noting that the Department of Justice targeted Ogles after he filed articles of impeachment against the Vice President. This danger is acute for members who find themselves opponents of the executive branch, the motion reads, not only is Mr. Ogles a Republican member of Congress when the executive is led by a Democrat, but he is also a member of the House Freedom Caucus, which this president has described as quote extreme opponents of his agenda. Plus, only days after, I'm sorry, only days before the executive sought the search warrants, Congressman Ogles introduced articles of impeachment against Vice President Kamala Harris. Ogles has previously said he believes the FBI probe is related to errors in his campaign finance disclosures, but the filings repeatedly claim Department of Justice attorneys did not characterize Ogles as the target of an investigation. During my conversations with prosecutors, they inform me that they considered Congressman Ogles to be a subject of their investigation rather than a target. Ogles' attorney, John Rowley III, wrote in an affidavit, Federal Judge Alistair Newburn is giving the Department of Justice until September 11th to respond. The city of Columbia is thrilled to announce that it has earned Triple Crown status from the Government Finance Officers Association, or GFOA, for the fifth consecutive year. This esteemed recognition highlights the city's outstanding achievement in receiving all three GFOA awards, the Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting, the Distinguished Budget Presentation Award, and the Popular Annual Financial Reporting Award. The last year reported, Columbia was one of only three cities in Tennessee to receive this elite status. Columbia Mayor Chaz Mulder expressed the pride in the city's accomplishments, stating, "Receiving the Triple Crown for five consecutive years "reflects our team's unwavering dedication "to transparency and fiscal responsibility. "This recognition demonstrates Columbia's commitment, "and not only to responsible governance, "but also to producing annual budgets "that clearly communicate our goals "and to priorities to the public." In addition to the Triple Crown Honor, the city has also been awarded the GFOA's Distinguished Budget Presentation Award for the fiscal year, ending June 30th of 2025. This accolade underscores Columbia's commitment to producing high-quality, transparent budget documents that meet the highest standards of governmental budgeting. The Distinguished Budget Presentation Award established by the GFOA in 1984, is granted to entities that meet nationally recognized guidelines for effective budget presentation. The city of Columbia's budget was assessed across 14 mandatory criteria, and met the program's rigorous standards, ensuring it serves as a strategic tool for guiding the city's operations. City Manager Tony Massey praised the finance department, stating, "This recognition reassures our residents "that we are providing clear and accessible "financial information, while laying a strong foundation "for Columbia's continued growth and success." Assistant City Manager and CFO, Thad Jablonsky, added, "I am incredibly proud of our finance department team "for their exceptional performance "in achieving the Triple Crown recognition from the GFOA. "The fiscal year 2025 budget award and Triple Crown status "reaffirm our ongoing commitment to strong financial management. "The city of Columbia takes pride in being fiscally responsible "and transparent with taxpayers' dollars, "and this award highlights our dedication "as responsible stewards of the city's treasure," he said. The GFOA founded in 1906 represents public finance officials across the United States and Canada. Its awards programs aim to promote excellence in financial management and ensure that state and local governments provide clear, informative, and accessible financial documents for the public. (soft music) Ask yourself, what are the odds? What are the odds that a 94-year-old at the time the story begins, who is African-American and lives in Pulaski, Tennessee, would be able to rally town leaders to champion the creation of a bronze statue to honor the United States' colored troops who fought in the American Civil War more than 150 years ago. What are the odds that the same woman, who is a school teacher and an elementary school principal, would pay $82,000 out of her own pocket for the statue. The path toward creating the resurrection of valor statue began during a community advisory committee meeting in on inclusive recognition and acknowledgement led by then-mayor Pat Ford. He asked the committee to share their best ideas. Vivian Sims jumped to her feet and said, "You need to honor the United States' colored troops," she said. Growing up on Main Street as a Main Street kid and carrying a flag at her 1996 All-American City Celebration, it has been tough as an adult to realize the shadow cast on our community that is not representative of who we are, said Jesse Parker, CEO of Giles County Chamber of Commerce. Over the past 10 years, we have participated in projects and had articles written about who we really are, but nothing has compared to the work of Pulaski's community advisory committee on inclusive recognition and acknowledgement. Three-star tourism programming and the South Central Tennessee Tourism Association. "We are so grateful," he said. Those Sims had lived in Giles County for more than 60 years. She only learned about the USCT when she was in her 80s. In her research, she discovered that during the Civil War, more than 200,000 black men courageously served in the Union Army, advancing the cause of freedom for more than four million enslaved people. President Abraham Lincoln said the contribution of the USCTs was so significant that without the military help of the black freedmen, the war against the South could not have been won. Sims, a lifelong educator, worked hard to shatter racial and gender barriers. She was the first black female assistant principal of Pulaski Elementary School and later became the first black principal of South Side Elementary School. During her 46-year tenure, she noticed children, particularly young black boys, needed positive role models. Her vision for creating a USCT statue in Pulaski was directed straight towards these young black boys and girls. In fact, the bronze statue is of a child looking up at a USCT soldier. Sims wanted to share a message with these children. You are the descendant of brave warriors who fought and died for your freedom. God created you free and equal to all Americans. Take pride in yourself and your heritage. Always do your best, work hard to succeed, and make this world a better place to live and love one another, she said. Determined to see the project through, Sims worked with a local artist and sculptor, Pamela Sue Keller, to design and create the inspiring memorial. The statue, along with a plaque, was celebrated with a city-wide installation within Cave Spring Heritage Plaza in Pulaski. That event resulted in several positive local and regional stories that was not enough for the ever-vigilant Vivian. She fretted about how to get this story out to the masses. It was too important not to be told far and wide. Ryan French, CEO of South Central Tennessee Tourism Association, has supported the project throughout the process. After stepping into this role, one of my first conversations with Jesse Parker was about the town's efforts to tell a more complete and unifying story, one that brings people together instead of dividing us. French said, "We collaborated with journalist Delaina Collie and photographer Amanda Morton to produce five articles highlighting Giles County's African American history, covering significant topics like the Rosenwald School, Reverend John Gilmore, the Quilting Our Heritage Quilting Club, Center Point Wolf Gap, and what was then the beginning of the USTC statue sculpture. The story of the US colored troops from Giles County left me awestruck. It gave me chills. It was a profound realization that this was the true story of Giles County, French said. And as we delve deeper, understanding the efforts of Vivian Sims and the incredible support from the City Council, Mayor Ford, Vivian, Kelly Hamlin, and others, it became clear that this narrative of community and unity is, in my opinion, the defining story of Giles County and Pulaski, he said. Cut to the spring of 2024, when SCTTA Senate Representative to the Southeastern Tourism Society's Domestic Showcase in Little Rock, that series of meetings between SCTTA representatives Cindy Dupree Holloway and journalists from around the country, resulted in Jen and Ed Coleman of Coleman Concierge to travel to Pulaski for the sole purpose of meeting and interviewing Vivian Sims. The Coleman's recognized the importance of this story, understood the unbelievable elements that were fodder for an amazing piece of journalism, and felt that if written correctly, the article could be placed with the Associated Press, one of the largest news organizations in the world. We knew there was more to share, and we were determined to ensure the world heard this story. So an SCTTA teamed up with Cindy Dupree Holloway to launch our organization's first PR efforts. This was at the top of our list, French explained. Cindy took the story to STS and did an incredible job representing the significance of the story, the importance of its location, and just how meaningful it is to our town. We also shifted our internal focus and secured an incredible opportunity for Vivian to be interviewed by the Steel Magnolia's podcast, he added. Needless to say, we went all in to tell this story about Vivian, about this remarkable community, and about the history that defines us. What are the odds now that this story would be picked up by more than 150 media outlets across America? Actually, the odds are pretty good, considering the team of people who spent most of their days serving others and working hard to make a difference for the greater good. Beginning with Mayor Ford, who called the meeting, Parker leading Giles County's revolutionary transformation, French, a passionate advocate for the South Central Tennessee Tourism Association region, Dupree Holloway, always pressing for great stories to be told, and last but definitely not least, Sims, the visionary achiever of extraordinary feats. Now you've heard about Vivian Sims. We hope you remember her and her remarkable story for a long time to come. The five articles on Giles County, African-American history, and more information on the creation of the USCT sculpture are available to read. At www.visitpoleski.com/learn/history. Doctors Bethany Summerfield and Ankar Vidya have joined the medical staff at Murray Regional Medical Center as hospital medicine physicians and are both affiliated with the Murray Regional Medical Group. Dr. Summerford completed medical school at University of Mississippi School of Medicine in Jackson. She completed her residency at University of Miami-Jackson Health System in Miami, Florida. Dr. Vidya completed medical school at University of Maryland School of Medicine in Baltimore. He completed his residency at the University of Miami-Jackson Health System in Miami, Florida. Murray Regional Medical Group, an affiliate of Murray Regional Health, is the provider for Murray Regional's Hospital Medicine program. These physicians are specialists who devote their time and expertise to adult and pediatric patients exclusively within the hospital setting. The hospital medicine physicians are trained in internal medicine and pediatrics and can care for patients ranging from infants to the elderly. Mark New Calendar's Columbia ruined the end's biggest fundraiser of the year is just around the corner. On October 4th, the community is invited to join in the Oktoberfest festivities and support a fantastic local cause. Room in the Inn is a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing shelter, resources, and hope to single mothers and their children in need. Their latest project, Grace House, aims to create a safe, supportive living space with individual beds, private bedrooms and bathrooms, a community kitchen and laundry facilities. All proceeds from this year's Oktoberfest event will go directly towards the construction of Grace House, making a real difference in the lives of local families. So what can you expect at this year's Oktoberfest celebration? Plenty of fun, food, and community spirit. The event will take place on October 4th at Riverwalk Park in Columbia from 6 to 10 p.m. Guests will be able to enjoy local craft beer tastings, delicious fare from food trucks, live music, and traditional Oktoberfest games and activities. Riverwalk Park is located at 102 Riverside Drive in Columbia. The Athenaeum Rectory, one of Columbia's premier historic sites located at 808 Athenaeum Street, will be hosting their annual Candlelight Tour on September 28th from 7 to 9 p.m. Come tour the Athenaeum Rectory the way it needs to be seen by nothing but Candlelight and learn the morning customs of the 19th century. Tickets are $10 per person and available at the door. The ticket price goes towards the upkeep of the Athenaeum Rectory Historic Site. You can learn more by visiting historic Athenaeum.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 or debit card or check. No cash will be collected at that site. Any Murray County resident can use the 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 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. Brenda Joyce Harris-Tune, 73, resident of Columbia, died Friday, September 6th at Murray Regional Medical Center. A graveside service will be held on Wednesday, September 11th at 10 a.m. at Polk Memorial Gardens. Oaks and Nichols Funeral Directors are assisting the family with arrangements. Mr. Raymond Harding Morrow Jr. 77, a retired employee for the Tennessee Department of Agriculture and a resident of Calioca, died Sunday, September 8th at his residence. A graveside service will be held on Wednesday, September 11th at 1 p.m. at Wilkes Cemetery. Oaks and Nichols Funeral Directors are assisting the family with arrangements. 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 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. 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. For your southern middle Tennessee weather, we will have cloudy skies early that will give way to generally sunny skies later in the day. The high will be around 90 degrees with light and variable winds. Tonight, we can expect a few clouds and a low of around 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. Debbie Matthews-Rilter and her husband, Jason, who is a pro songwriter, also own a music publishing company. They live in a 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, C Shelter Agent Tommy Hyde Jr. at 388-2009. 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. Some people are just obsessed with their lawns. They'd cut their grass with a pair of scissors if they could. Bikes to gravely? They don't have to. You see, gravely makes not only the best built and most comfortable lawnmowers, but they also leave your house looking like a dog on 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. ZR, full line of gravely products at Murray County Equipment, 1075 North James Campbell Boulevard in Columbia, Tennessee, or check us out on Facebook. One of our goals at Caledonian is to impact our clients and friends in a positive manner. Whether it's a friendly voice, a smile, and a wave as you walk past our office, or supporting our community, the Caledonian team is actively involved. Through our memberships in Kiwanis, Rotary, Murray Alliance, Circle of Excellence, Volunteering in Boy Scouts in 4-H, serving on a variety of boards and more, we stay connected to Murray County. This is Perry Bowman of Caledonian Financial in Historic Downtown Columbia. Securities and Investment Advisory Services offered through NBC Securities Incorporated, Member FINRA and SIPC. Hello, my name is Connor Mims. My wife, Bradley, and I live in Columbia, Tennessee in Riverside. I am a deck and porch builder, and my wife is a second-grade teacher at Riverside Elementary. My specialty is designing and building elegant and comfortable porches and decks. Let me work with you to design and build the portrait deck of your dreams. Give us a call today from our website, MEMSModernLandscape.com. That's MEMSModernLandscape.com, and check out what we have to offer. Thanks. This is Bob Kessel with Pat Ryan. It's a beautiful day for digging. The back-go 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. 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. More big lots closures are on the way. On Monday, the discount retailer announced it plans to close more stores under new leadership and affiliate of Nexus Capital Management LP. Back in July, big lots had announced it would close 35 to 40 stores, including three in Tennessee. However, that number rose to 315 in August. The Ohio-based retailer has also initiated Chapter 11 proceedings in the US bankruptcy court for the District of Delaware, set a news release. President and Chief Executive Officer Bruce Thorne said that undergoing new leadership will not only provide financial stability, but also optimize their operational footprint, accelerate improvement in performance, and deliver on their promise to be the leader in extreme value. We are excited to have the opportunity to partner with Big Lots and help return this iconic brand to its status as America's leading extreme value retailer, said Evan Glucoff, managing Director of Nexus. "The Big Lots business has incredible potential, and we are confident that its greatest days are ahead," he said. In addition to closing more stores, the company also plans to elevate and optimize its distribution center model. At this time, it is unclear if additional stores will be closed in Tennessee. At the time of publication, a Big Lots spokesperson did not respond to the Tennesseans' request for comment. Like many retailers, factors like high inflation and interest rates have impacted Big Lots' stores. Furthermore, economic trends like customer spending on home and seasonal products have affected the company's revenue, said a news release from the company. The company had previously reported that sales in the first quarter of 2024, which ended in May, fell more than 10 percent compared to the previous year. The company did however perform better in the second quarter, yielding improved comp sales. The retailer also reported that quarter three is off to a good start, and positive momentum should continue throughout the remainder of the year. As previously reported, the stores closing in Tennessee include two stores outside Nashville in one in northwest Tennessee, including the Franklin store on Royal Oaks Boulevard, the Madison store in Gallatin Pike and in Union City. At 1410 South First Street. 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 Osburn Tire Company 1016 South Main Street in Columbia. Good Macaula 931-388-6822. If you're 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 Osburn.com, that's Turner and Osburn.com. At Murray Regional Health, we're committed to delivering a reimagined healthcare experience when it puts our patients at the front and center. This effort has resulted in Murray Regional being recognized as the only hospital in the state of Tennessee and one of only 79 hospitals nationwide to receive health grades, 2024, excellence in patient safety, and outstanding patient experience awards to learn more about our commitment to excellence and compassionate care. Visit MurrayRegional.com. This is Hal Landers, owner of Landers Insurance Agency. We are an independent agency representing the famous Erie Insurance Group. Landers Insurance Agency has been committed to providing great rates and great service since 2002. Whether it's home and auto or business or life insurance, we've got you covered. 24/7 in-house claim service, we've got that too. Visit Landers Insurance at 514 North Garden Street, Columbia. Follow us at 931-380-2003. Our website is Landers Insurance Agency.com and follow us on Facebook and Instagram. Welcome back to Southern Middle Tennessee today and now our final story. As excitement grows for the 10th anniversary of the Can't Miss Pilgrimage Music and Cultural Festival, the official 2024 lineup schedule is announced. Dave Matthews Band and Noah Kahan will take on the midnight sun stage while Hoseer and Need to Breathe will hit the gold record road stage. Pilgrimage Music and Cultural Festival will begin the two-day weekend on Saturday the 28th with live music starting at 12.15 pm. Limited tickets remaining are on sale now by visiting www.pilgrimagefestival.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. ♪♪♪