Front Porch Radio - Southern Middle TN Today News with Tom Price
Southern Middle TN Today News with Tom Price 9-23-24
(upbeat music) - Hello and welcome to Southern Middle Tennessee today on WKOM and WKRM radio. Your hometown news is broadcasting from the Debbie Matthews Nashville Realty Newsroom in Columbia, Tennessee. I'm your host, Tom Price. Today is Monday, September 23rd, and we start with local news. Following the call for public assistance last week, the local authorities announced the arrest of two family members, Laverias and Lederias Owens on Wednesday evening. The brothers were apprehended in Columbia, as reported earlier in an update by the Franklin Police Department, charged with multiple offenses, including financial exploitation of the elderly, theft of significant sums, forgery and identity theft. The Owens brothers have found their bonds set at $35,000 each. Still believed last seen in a silver Chevy Impala, Laverias 24 and Lederias 23, hailing from Columbia, were finally brought to justice after the issuance of several warrants for their alleged crimes. The Franklin Police Department expressed gratitude towards those who provided tips leading to the capture of the suspects, underscoring the significance of community involvement in law enforcement efforts. In a statement obtained by the Franklin Police Department, they thanked its local law enforcement partners and the public for submitting tips. Only a few days before the arrest, authorities had urged the public to aid in the search for the Owens brothers. Crime stoppers of Williamson County had also offered a reward of up to $1,000 for information resulting in their arrest. Seminole Civil Rights Attorney Fred Gray, 93, who represented such iconic figures as Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Rosa Parks, said that although America has come a long way since the 1960s, there's more work to be done. Keynote Speaker of the Columbia Peace and Justice Initiative Legacy Night Fundraiser Thursday, Attorney Gray shared his experiences as lead attorney on groundbreaking cases that paved the way for President Lyndon B. Johnson to sign the Voting Rights Act of 1965. An audience of 500 packed the sanctuary of Murray Hills Church in Columbia as CPJ co-founders Trent Oglefie and Russ Adcox and Vice President Demetrius Nelson led the event. Gray, not bothered by serving as a behind-the-scenes legal powerhouse, said he never desired to be out front, talking and preaching, but preferred to concentrate on upholding the United States Constitution. "I wanted to do legal work," Gray said, "who has sustained a 70-year legal career. "I wanted to obtain constitutional rights "that all other citizens had. "I didn't need to talk and preach. "I didn't have to do that or be in a contest with them," he said. He said it wasn't difficult for him to decide what profession to pursue, and he began making an impact on America in his early 20s. "I decided I wanted to destroy everything "that was segregated," Gray said. "They told me lawyers help people solve problems. "When I saw the problems that we had, "I decided I really wanted to do something about it. "That's why I became a lawyer," he said. "I am an American, I am a parent, "a father of four children, a husband. "I am a grandfather, and I am probably best known "as a civil rights lawyer," Gray also said in a USA Today video shown to the audience ahead of his speech, "America is the greatest country in the world," he said. A walking history of the civil rights era, Gray worked alongside Dr. King for over a decade, planned peaceful protests with parks, represented victims of the Tuskegee syphilis study and collaborated with Thurgood Marshall. King called him a brilliant young attorney and chief of the protest movement. Coming full circle in Columbia Thursday, Gray's visit allowed the CPJI to exceed its goal of raising $140,000 to erect a statue of Thurgood Marshall at East 8th Street and North Main Street in Columbia as part of a project to tell the history of the Columbia uprising of 1946, also known as the Columbia race riot. According to adcocks, $190,000 has been raised for the project. Gray recalled going to Marshall for advice in his early legal career. As an attorney and part of the NAACP, Marshall served as part of the legal council that led to the acquittal of almost 100 black men after the uprising in 1946 in Columbia. Gray said he could not refuse CPJI's invitation to speak after reading a 14 page invitation or a proposal outlining the Thurgood Marshall project, approved last October by the Columbia City Council and being notified that he himself inspired the project. During the question and answer session, Gray recapped the harrowing days after Bloody Sunday in Selma, Alabama, when he filed a lawsuit against the state of Alabama, arguing the state had a legal obligation to protect protesters who desired to march from Selma to Montgomery, Alabama in the naming of voting rights. In the name of voting rights, rather, civil rights activist, John Lewis, who went to college in Nashville before eventually serving in the United States House of Representatives, led over 600 marchers across the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma, where they were attacked by state troopers. The violent day was dubbed Bloody Sunday. Gray worked on getting legal approval to pass the bridge peacefully, which took a few days. I told Dr. King this is the most important case in the movement we have ever had that could set the tone for the rest of the movement. "I needed assurance no one would cross that bridge," Gray said. He listened and said, "I understand." Ultimately, King exercised patience and leadership by postponing the march so that the group could get permission from a judge to resume the long arduous trek. Instead, the group prayed and then turned around and walked to a nearby church. Gray won the case and the rest is history, he said. As history books document the peaceful march that became a turning point in the fight for civil rights. Gray, the youngest of five children, highlighted his faith in upbringing as playing a key role in his tenaciousness as a lawyer and unbreakable will to never give up until equal rights were obtained in America. "I have kept Christ first in my life. "I listened to my mother," Gray said. "With each case, I have always asked, "is this a case that the Lord would have, "would have me help the client get what they want?" He said. Gray cited the progress the country has made in civil rights, but highlighted lingering struggles today. "The struggle for equal justice continues. "Not withstanding our progress in recent years, "we have seen an increase in racism, "including the burning of churches, "the resurgence of hate groups all over the nation," Gray said. These activities increased when Mr. Obama was president. It has continued to increase since the inauguration of President Biden. "Not to mention the attempt to change the results "of the 2020 presidential election by force on January 6th of 2021," he said. "The U.S. Supreme Court, for over a quarter of a century, "pioneered civil rights for minorities, including women, "but in recent years, there's been a change in that court, "and it has made changes, "reversing itself on many of the constitutional principles, "including the Shelby County Alabama versus Holder case, "which is declared unconstitutional "as part of the Voting Rights Act," he said. Gray praised the CPJI and Columbia City Council for the Thurgood Marshall Statute Project. "You decided on your own that you don't try "to hide things under the rug," Gray said. "The new generation might not know anything about it, "so you have to educate them on what took place, "and then let them look at what the history shows, "and then decide what we can learn and what we can do. "Be creative and solve our problems," he said. "What you've done here in Columbia is a good example of that." Columbia Mayor Chas Mulder declared September 19th, Fred Gray Day, and Gray was presented with the CPJI Legacy Award. Which he accepted on behalf of the known and unknown heroes of the civil rights movement. Gray, a presidential medal of freedom recipient, resides in Alabama where he continues his work towards equality as president of the Tuskegee Human and Civil Rights Multicultural Center. Discussions related to the city's potential purchase of one of Spring Hill's beloved historic structures, as well as its future use was brought before the board of mayor and aldermen this month. Ferguson Hall has stood as somewhat of a fixture upon entering the city from the south side of US Highway 31, dating back to the mid-1800s. Over the years, it has served many purposes from a private residence to multiple schools, churches, and even a one-time headquarters for the United States Army during the Battle of Spring Hill in the Civil War. Most recently, the property served as part of the Tennessee children's home up until the nonprofit relocated to its new campus off Dr. Robertson Road in October of 2021. Since then, plans have been in place to redevelop the former children's home property into Kidron Square, a mixed-use community of residential homes, retail, restaurants, and a hotel. Yet, what to do with Ferguson Hall, as well as its potential if it were purchased by the city, remained uncertain. Monday's presentation was led by Battle of Franklin Trust CEO, Eric Jacobson, who is joined by Spring Hill Public Library Director Dana Giroux and Spring Hill Historical Commission Chair, Alicia Fitz. As a town with a rich history, Spring Hill's continued growth has created more obstacles when it comes to preserving its remaining historic properties. There's not much left of what was once Spring Hill, and I think everyone knows that, Jacobson said. Right now, there are two conversations at play. One is a discussion with the developer to see what might be done there, and the other is the historical component, he said. Fitz added the importance of its founder and former owner, Martin Chairs, brother of Nathaniel Chairs, the original owner of Ripa Villa Plantation, among others. That property is well documented in terms of its importance to the chair's family in this community. What may not be as well documented is that that family is connected to six other historic structures in this town. Fitz said, "It's pretty much part of the story "and doesn't just stand alone, having the opportunity "to share that story, and the resilience "of that particular structure is pretty important "to sharing the resilience of Spring Hill." "That's the historic piece," she said. "There is also the fact that historic land has become scarce "and the kind of commodity that cannot be reproduced. "That property is, in many ways, "the heart and soul of old Spring Hill," Fitz said. "There are a lot of uses for that building. "Of course, you all need to do your due diligence. "It is an old house, but I can also say "that it's a really unique opportunity "that we are not going to get again," she said. While historic preservation of historic Ferguson Hall is a top priority, another aspect of a potential purchase is now, is how it can be utilized, as it had so many times in the past. Dana Giroux presented one potential use that could fulfill one of the library's many needs for expansion. This includes creating a space to store and preserve many of the library's artifacts and historic documents, a project dating back nearly 50 years. "We've been building this archive since 1975," Giroux said. "We currently have about 70 artifacts "with many of them in storage "because we don't have a place to put them now. "If you've seen my office, many of them are in there," she said. "It can also be a space that can utilize "Spring Hill's unique placement across two counties. "We think Ferguson Hall is an ideal place "where we can grow an archive that supports "the county archives both in Williamson and Murray, "in a way that complements them, "but focuses solely on Spring Hill," Giroux said. "And above all, it can be a place people can trust "to donate artifacts that will be properly looked "after for generations to come. "People are ready to leave their legacies to us," Giroux said. "They need a place where they know their legacies "will be preserved and that they can trust us," she said. Jacobson commented on the changing landscape of the area with Keidren Square and that Ferguson Hall could serve as a beacon for community events like the Spring Hill Christmas Parade. "I would love to see a Christmas tree lighting "right there at Ferguson Hall," Jacobson said. "This town is changing and that area "will become much more of a walkable community, "in that building, that house, "and that little tractable ground adjacent "to the historical Presbyterian church is, was, "and can long be, a part of the city's future," he said. "No votes were cast related to the Ferguson Hall property, "nor did the Board of Mayor and Alderman members "provide comment during the presentation." The Kiwanis Club of Columbia honored two former club presidents, Patrick Harlan and Patricia Bridges, with the George F. Hickson Fellowship. The George F. Hickson Fellowship was established by the Kiwanis Children's Fund in 1983. It is named for the first president of Kiwanis International and is one of the highest honors given by Kiwanis. It recognizes individuals who have contributed significantly to Kiwanis's history of generosity and for their dedicated service to their Kiwanis Club and their community. Patrick Harlan became a member of the Kiwanis Club in 1995 and served as the 94th president during the 2014-2015 club year. He had the honor of being the local club president during the year that Kiwanis International celebrated its 100th anniversary. Harlan is the son of the late Edward Harlan and Jean Corley Harlan and is a sixth generation Murray County and through his father and a seventh generation Tennessean through his mother. He is a graduate of Columbia Central High School and Memphis State University and has a certified financial planner designation. He is an employee of Murray Regional Medical Center for 30 years. Harlan has been married to Julie Oaks Harlan for 33 years and has two daughters, Katherine Harlan, Bolding and Madeline Harlan. Patricia Bridges became a member of the Kiwanis Club in 2005 and served as the 97th president during the 2017-2018 club year and his treasurer for 10 years. She is the daughter of the late Murray Miles and Mary Jane Miles. Bridges is a graduate of Columbia Central High School and the University of Tennessee with a BS in accounting and is a certified public accountant and certified internal auditor. She is married to Mark Bridges and has two sons, John and Will and is a lifelong member of the First Presbyterian Church where she is a member of the adult choir and handbell choir and has served as an elder and a deacon. In middle Tennessee, the Department of Safety and Homeland Securities, Cookville, McMinnville, Dixon, Fayetteville, Columbia and Shelbyville Driver's Service Centers and 12 Driver's Services partner locations will close this week for a one-day installation of new credentialing equipment and new self-service kiosks. Columbia Driver's Services Center located at 1701 Hampshire Pike will be closed on Wednesday, September 25th. The new self-service kiosks can be used to complete many driver service transactions, including renewing or replacing a duplicate driver's license or ID card, changing an address, updating emergency contact information, advancing a teen graduated driver license, paying reinstatement fees and requesting a license reissue after reinstatement requirements are met. The new kiosks can take photos and process payments with Apple Pay, Google Pay, or a credit or debit card. For more information on Tennessee Driver's Services, including the new self-service kiosks, visit www.tn.gov/safety. The Athenium Rectory, one of Columbia's premier historic sites located at 808 Athenium Street, will be hosting their annual candlelight tour on September 28th from 7 to 9 p.m. Come tour the Athenium 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 perpetual upkeep of the Athenium Rectory historic site. Learn more by visiting www.historicaffinium.com. And now your hometown memorials, sponsored by Oakson Nichols Funeral Home. Linda Gail Owens-Gordon, 79, resident of Summertown, died Thursday, September 19th at her residence. A graveside service will be conducted on Tuesday, September 24th at 2 p.m. at Oakley Cemetery. Online condolences may be extended at www.oxsonniccles.com. Evelyn Jett Brewer, 83, resident of Columbia, died Friday, September 20th at Poplar Estates Assisted Living. Funeral arrangements and a complete obituary will be released at a later date. Oakson Nichols Funeral Directors are assisting the family with arrangements. Hometown Memorials is sponsored by Oakson 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 Oakson 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 Oakson 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 your satisfaction is so important to Jeff Hargrove and Suzy Sowell. There's a great deal of satisfaction in serving a family and serving them well. It's an eye for detail and thoughtfulness and taking the time to see that things are done right. We do have nice facilities and good people and we work hard to do things well, but we don't want that to intimidate people as to what they think it will cost. Taking care of you is our primary concern. Oakson Nichols Funeral Directors, 320 West 7th Street in Columbia. Since 1856, people you can rely on. For your Southern Middle Tennessee, whether we will have scattered clouds with the possibility of an isolated thunderstorm developing in the afternoon, the high will be 89 degrees with light and variable winds. The chance of rain, 40%. Tonight, we can expect partly cloudy skies and a low of 69. 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 Reluity 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 Relty 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 puts your family first. - For auto home, life or business insurance, Sea 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, 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. - 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. - Every morning, I park my car across the street from my business and I can't wait to get in there. That's pretty common for small business owners. We have the added satisfaction, however, of guiding hundreds of families with their retirement, education, savings and general investments. We're a locally owned business that tries very hard to simplify a complicated world. - This is Mani Snead from Caledonian Financial in historic downtown Columbia. - Securities and Investment Advisory Services offered through NBC Securities Incorporated, Member FINRA and SIPC. (upbeat music) - 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 a portrait deck of your dreams. Give us a call today from our website, MimsModernLandscape.com. That's MimsModernLandscape.com and check out what we have to offer. Thanks. (upbeat music) - 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 go down to 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 log. 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'll news from around the state. The Tennessee Valley Authority is increasing its gas capacity by about 60% this decade. Last month, TVA revealed plans for another methane gas plant in West Tennessee. The TVA Board, the utility's main regulator, approved funds for a 300 megawatt or 0.3 gigawatt facility in Brownsville, a town about an hour northeast of Memphis. TVA has now proposed nine gas plants since 2020. TVA's current power mix is 45% fossil fuels. During the last fiscal year, TVA's total power use, including purchased power, was split between 42% nuclear, 31% gas, 14% coal, 9% hydro, and 4% wind and solar. From a capacity perspective, meaning the minimum, the maximum amount of power TVA could generate at a given time last year, such as during peak summer heat or extreme cold, gas accounted for nearly 40% of the maximum output. That figure could soon grow to more than 50%. TVA gets its capacity from owned generation and purchased power, including purchased power, and assuming that power doesn't change, this figure still ends up to over 50%. By building more gas plants, TVA is increasing its reliance on gas to deliver during temperature extremes. In 2022, TVA had 11.8 gigawatts of owned gas capacity before any of the new gas projects went online. According to a filing to the US Securities and Exchange Commission, TVA intends to add 6.9 gigawatts of capacity this decade, roughly a 60% increase in gas capacity. TVA has repeatedly said that its gas expansion will increase reliability, but there is growing concern about the reliability of gas in cold weather. In December of 2022, during an Arctic storm, TVA issued rolling blackouts after losing fossil fuel generation equivalent to 20% of its peak demand. TVA could not fully operate 10 of its 17 gas plants. Extreme cold weather events have repeatedly impaired the production, gathering, processing, and transportation of natural gas. The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission said in a report about the event, referring to fracking sites, pipelines, and compressor stations. TVA has also claimed that it needs more gas to reliably incorporate more wind and solar despite having gotten just 4% of its energy from either source last year. In other places like California and Texas, grids have become more reliable during heat waves through the expansion of solar in storage and less polluting. TVA's fossil fuel expansion will cause significant climate and air pollution each year across the Tennessee Valley. Gas projects, as opposed to renewable and storage projects, have also increased cost for TVA's 10 million customers, according to the US Environmental Protection Agency, which detailed critiques of the environmental review for TVA's Kingston project. TVA raised electricity rates by about 5% for the second consecutive year last month, and experts pointed the finger at the gas expansion. 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 Osmurr.com, that's Turner and Osmurr.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 experience team can provide you with quality care close to home. For more information, visit Murrayregionalmedicalgroup.com, Murray Regional Medical Group. Your health is our primary care. - This is Howlanders, owner of Landers Insurance Agency. We are 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, call 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. Multi-Grammy and GMA Dove award-winning Stephen Curtis Chapman will officially become a member of the Grand Ole Opry on November 1st. Others scheduled to appear include Opry Group Lady A who is scheduled to induct Chapman as an Opry member. Ricky Skaggs who invited Chapman to become a member this summer, Russell Dickerson and Rock Band Colony House, which features two of Chapman's sons, frontman Caleb Chapman and drummer Will Franklin Chapman. Tickets for the November 1st show can be purchased now at www.opry.com. That's all for this edition of Southern Middle Tennessee today on Kennedy Broadcasting WKOMWKRM Radio. If you ever miss a part or all of this broadcast, you can listen to it anytime or read the transcript online by visiting frontboardtradiotn.com. 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)