Front Porch Radio - Southern Middle TN Today News with Tom Price
Southern Middle TN Today News with Tom Price 9-26-24
(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 Thursday, September 26th, and we start with local news. On September 4th, the United Auto Workers Local 1853 unionized the Altium Battery Cell Plant in Spring Hill. A majority of workers at the plant signed cards to join the union, and the company agreed to recognize their decision. The workers organized without facing threats or intimidation. Altium Cells has recognized the UAW as the official union representing hourly team members at our Spring Hill facility. Altium said in a statement to news organizations, this recognition follows a previously agreed upon and independently certified process. We believe this will support the continuity of operations, drive innovation, and enhance world class manufacturing, further contributing to economic development in Tennessee. The Altium Plant in Spring Hill, which started production in 2024, is the second Altium factory built in the United States, the first one in Lordstown, Ohio, unionized in June. This is a great day for Altium workers and for every worker in Tennessee and in the South, said Trudy Lindell and Altium Worker. Southern workers are ready to stand up and win our fair share by winning our unions, and when we have a free and fair choice, we will win every time, she said. Being unionized will help us reap the benefits as far as better healthcare, better pay, and overall just having decency within the workplace. Not just for us, but future generations said, Trudystein Chambers, a worker at Altium, fellow worker Jim Irwin commented, "Your group together and you can stand up as one. That's the power of being a union." He added, "Instead of being one stick, you've got several. You can snap several sticks. You can't snap several sticks, but you can snap one," he said. The City of Columbia in partnership with Columbia Power and Water Systems, the Tennessee Valley Authority, and the Tennessee Department of Environmental Conservation recently hosted a ribbon cutting ceremony to celebrate the installation of new electric vehicle fast charging stations. These charging stations represent a crucial step in Columbia's effort to support the growth of electric vehicles and contribute to a cleaner, more sustainable future for our city and state," said Columbia Mayor Chasmolder. "By working alongside partners like CPWS, TVA, and TDEC, we're able to position Columbia at the forefront of green energy initiatives," he said. Funded through a $300,000 grant from TVA and TDEC, these new stations are part of a statewide initiative to expand EV infrastructure along Tennessee's interstates and major highways. Columbia is proud to be part of this statewide effort, which supports the future of clean transportation and contributes to a greener, more sustainable environment. President and CEO of CPWS, Jonathan Harden stated, "Columbia Power and Water Systems would like to express our sincere gratitude to the Murray County and City of Columbia governments for their partnership and forward thinking as we expand the energy portfolio into cleaner means of transportation. We all operate under the umbrella of responsible stewardship and progressive thinking facilitated by the Tennessee Valley Authority and the state of Tennessee and local efforts are capably supported by the South Central Tennessee Development District, among others. The rapid pace of technological advancement in transportation necessitates a vast infrastructure to robustly serve the travel needs of electric vehicle driving public. CPWS staff was entirely responsible for building this charging station, and we are excited that EV drivers will have their charging needs efficiently met in Murray County. Once here, we are excited to get to experience the gem that is our beloved town of Columbia," he said. The newly installed charging stations feature level three DC fast chargers, which can provide an 80% charge to a standard EV in just 15 to 20 minutes. This rapid charging capability allows EV drivers to power up quickly during short stops, making sustainable travel more convenient than ever. Chris Templeton, customer service manager for TVA, emphasized the importance of the growing fast charge network. TVA is truly committed to supporting the expansion of the fast charge network. By working to establish these charging locations every 50 miles, we can meet the needs of the growing population of EV drivers. Congratulations to Columbia on becoming the 39th installation site, and we look forward to the positive impact this will bring to the community. Columbia is one of 12 cities benefiting from a portion of the $5.2 million in funding from TVA and TDEC's competitive grant program. This program supports the installation of 32 charging units at 13 sites across the state. The initiative is part of TVA's broader fast charge network designed to reduce barriers to EV adoption by deploying fast chargers every 50 miles along major highways and interstates across its seven state service area by 2026. Chuck Yost, Deputy Director of TDEC's Office of Energy Programs added, we at TDEC look forward to continuing a great partnership with TVA to build out a network of charging stations that will put Tennessee on the map as an EV epicenter of the United States. The fast charge TN network developed through a partnership between TDEC and TVA aims to address infrastructure gaps by adding approximately 40 new charging locations along prioritized corridors. This initiative is crucial in supporting the growing use of EVs and reducing barriers to transportation electrification, ensuring a more sustainable future for Tennessee and beyond. The Murray County Commission passed a resolution on September 16th to name a bridge after Hampshire's John Andrew Booker. The state bridge runs over Kathy's Creek on Love Branch Road. Booker was born in 1944 and went to schools in Columbia, finishing at Carver Smith High School. He served in the Navy during the Vietnam War and returned to Hampshire. After working a few other businesses, he settled at Columbia Gulf Transmission and worked there for 27 years until he retired. In 1965, he married Lillian Joanne Booker and they had four children. When Lillian was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 1980, Booker took care of her until her death in 2011. Booker was very active in the common life of Hampshire. He was an adult leader in the Boy Scouts, the president of the PTA, a Rotarian, a volunteer firefighter and an involved member of the Pleasant Union Church of Christ, where he led building and maintenance projects. Booker also founded the Godfather's Motorcycle Club, to which county commissioner Gary Stovall belongs. I knew him a long time. Stovall reminisced about his time with Booker. He had a servant's heart. Commissioner Aaron Miller sponsored the resolution to name the bridge. One of Booker's sons had asked Miller about a memorial for his father. So the commissioner put out a call for testimonials about his life and character. They needed only three testimonials. Jews start the process, but Miller was quickly swamped with them. There was an absolute outpouring from neighbors, friends and family with these anecdotal stories of Mr. Booker going out of his way to help his neighbors. Miller said it could be the middle of the night, could be him coming home from work. Whatever it was, he was always looking for opportunities to serve his neighbors, he said. Miller brought out another purpose for the memorial while speaking to the commission. While Miller was in the military, a senior officer told him that military medals are meant not only to reward the recipient, but also to inspire other people to emulate their good deeds. Every time somebody drives over that bridge or walks by that bridge, they're going to see that plaque and say, "Hey, I wonder what that guy did. Why is he being honored?" Miller said, "I just hope this bridge honors his legacy and his memory," and also inspires other members of the community to act in the same way that he did. In other county government business, commissioners selected Ray Jeter to serve as chairman, pro tem or vice chairman for the next year, as well as approving Tim Holt and Tony Green to the civil service board, Beverly Rayburn to the adequate facilities tax board, Jeter, Gabe Howard and Kathy Grodai to the audit committee, Cindy Hestla and Carl McColland to the ethics board and Benny Bolton and Cindy Johnson to the park board. Also approved on second reading was the adoption of an impact fee on new construction, something Murray County has been pursuing for years. Earlier in 2024, the General Assembly passed a law allowing counties with high population growth in the last U.S. census to add an impact fee of up to $1.50 per square foot on residential construction and commercial construction up to 150,000 square feet. The new fee will take effect on November 1st and will not apply to any builders who have already received permits for construction as of the end of October. A big, big thank you to every commissioner in this room and the previous commissioners who started this fight. It's been over three years in the making. It's a big deal for the people of Murray County, our schools and how we're going to fund our growth. Commissioner Jeter said, a request by Murray Regional Medical Center to issue $100 million in bonds for upcoming projects at the hospital was also approved. The hospital will pay off the bonds per an inter-local agreement between Murray Regional Medical Center and the county. Grant funding of $433,000 for the Murray County Health Department and $3.2 million in American Rescue Plan funds for the Murray County Water System and the city of Mount Pleasant was also approved by commissioners. The annual Tony Starks Memorial Golf Tournament was held September 19th at the Greymere Country Club in Columbia, raising over $120,000 for the Murray Regional Healthcare Foundation. This year's tournament is the largest in the foundation's history. The event brought together community members, local businesses and a golf enthusiasts to raise funds in support of the foundation's mission to enhance healthcare services and provide support for patients in need across the region. We are incredibly grateful to everyone who participated in and supported the Tony Starks Golf Tournament this year, said Courtney Lewandowski, development specialist at the Murray Regional Healthcare Foundation. The generosity of our community makes a tangible difference in the lives of those we serve. And we look forward to putting these funds to work to improve healthcare access and outcomes across the region, she said. This year's tournament included 48 teams and 189 players teeing off for a day of friendly competition and philanthropy. Prizes were awarded to the winners and runners up of three flights in both the morning and afternoon groups. There were also contests for longest drive, closest to the pin, hole in one, and the team putting challenge. This past weekend, the Annie Moses Conservatory in Columbia wrapped up eight sold out shows of its original musical based on the adventures of Tom Sawyer. The musical was debuted in an earlier version a few years ago in Franklin, but the revised script and the professional venue brought it up a notch. "You can say it's the premiere "of the first professional show," said writer, director Robin Woliver. Woliver, who runs the conservatory with her husband, Bill, and their six adult children, is very proud of what she's done with the story. Most adaptations of Tom Sawyer abridged the plot to emphasize classic moments like Tom whitewashing the fence or getting lost in McDooloo's cave and they flattened the Tom Sawyer character into a simple troublemaker. Woliver's script, on the other hand, puts the characters through the same arcs that they follow in the book. "The story of Tom Sawyer follows a lot of biblical lines. "It has a lot of redemption themes," she explained. "Tom decides that instead of being a little vagamond, "he will be noble. "The story is really fleshed out in its morality," she said. Woliver also has a privileged perspective on the book's setting, Tom Sawyer and the location of Hannibal, Missouri, which are very much like where she grew up, she reminisced. Her father was a church of Christ preacher in the tough and remote wilderness of Oklahoma, who, out of necessity, stashed a handgun in his pulpit next to the Bible. For Woliver, who grew up living among the descendants of the white pioneers, walking 30 minutes to her one-room school when the bus driver had a quarrel with someone in her town and hearing old women converse in Choctaw in the back of her father's station wagon and a bellum Hannibal feels surprisingly like home to her. "It was really natural for me to write it "because I understand the people in the book," she said. "I understand the way they talk. "They're superstitions, their religious engagement "and their relationships with one another," she said. The show was backed by a live band led by Bill Woliver, who scored the show and set Robin's lyrics to music. His folksy settings reinforced the heartland feel of the story while cutting the comfort food aspect of the music with sophisticated harmony. "I composed musical themes for the primary characters "to help the audience feel the familiarity "of Hannibal," Bill stated. "Then I branched out from there "to a Copeland-style Americana "that would musically match the lofty, yet colloquial nature "of Mark Twain's writing," he said. Musical highlights included a church service with a large choir in an unsettling score for the scenes featuring the character in Genjo. The Woliver's also praised their performers and staff between its alternating red and blue cast, the show used about 65 actors in about 15 technicians and musicians worked on every show. "We have such a great pool of actors, singers, "and players at the conservatory. "We have some world-class musicians "and a beautiful orchestral setting," Robin gushed. "That's a great blessing. "It doesn't matter how good your musical is "if you don't have the talent to perform it well," she said. "They went all out on the visuals "with the help of stage director Krista Harris "and art director's Berkeley and Alex Woliver. "Berkeley executed the painted sets "and digital backdrops that she and Alex conceptualized. "Krista Harris and Kathy Johnson also put great effort "into coordinating the costumes "to make sure the characters fit together visually on stage. "Tom Sawyer was also in live "and to buy some impressive practical effects, "running a scrim or a gauzy screen in front of the stage "gave a spooky mysterious cast to the nighttime "and cave scenes that also enabled other special effects "like the menacing candlelet silhouette that engine Joe cast "during his night scenes. "We used a lot of special effects to put the story together, "to make it very real to the audience," Robin said. "The conservatory's Packard Playhouse "was full to capacity for every performance, "selling a total of about 1,200 tickets. "The Annie Moses Conservatory plans to go on the road next, "taking Bill and Robin's even more successful "Broadway-style musical Merry Christmas Uncle Scrooge "to regional theaters in North Carolina "at Thanksgiving and in Texas at Christmas." The Tennessee Highway Patrol will be conducting sobriety roadside safety checkpoints during the week of October 4th at State Route 50 at the Zero Mile Marker in Murray County, starting at 10 p.m. Impaired driving is a serious crime that kills more than 16,000 people and injures 305,000 people every year in the United States. Troopers will evaluate drivers who are signs of alcohol or drug impairment. Troopers will target those who operate a vehicle while impaired and take corrective actions for other violations observed while ensuring the protection of all motorists. The Tennessee Highway Patrol recognizes that sobriety checkpoints are highly visible and effective tools in the battle against impaired driving. And now your hometown memorials sponsored by Oak Synicals Funeral Home. Evelyn Jett Brewer, 83, resident of Columbia, died Friday, September 20th at Poplar State's assisted living. Visitation will take place from 1 to 2 p.m. on Monday, September 30th at Oak Synicals Funeral Home, followed by a graveside service at 3 p.m. at Linwood Cemetery in Linville. Joanne Barrett Johnson Coffee, 84, a retired secretary for Columbia State Community College and a longtime resident of Cleveland and Columbia, died Tuesday, September 24th at Murray Regional Medical Center. A celebration of life service will be held on Thursday, September 26th at 6 p.m. at Oak Synicals Funeral Home. The family will visit with friends on Thursday from four to six at the funeral home. A graveside service will be conducted on Saturday, September 28th at 1 p.m. at Sunset Memorial Gardens in Cleveland, Tennessee. Home Town Memorials is sponsored by Oak Synicals 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 all ways, 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 Matt and Susie Sowo believe the way to honor tradition is with a specially personal service. We believe your traditions, your customs, your rites of passage are very important, but we also believe in taking care of your personal wishes as well. At Oaks and Nichols, we try to do more than just the expected things. So the service you receive honors your heritage and is uniquely yours, and we invite you to experience the difference. Oaks and Nichols Funeral Directors, 320 West 7th Street in Columbia. Since 1856, people you can rely on. For your southern middle Tennessee weather, we will have a mix of sun and clouds today with a slight chance of a rain shower. The high will be 78 degrees, with winds out of the north-north-east at five to 10 miles per hour. Tonight, we can expect rain, with the potential for heavy rainfall. The low will be near 65 degrees, with winds out of the north at five to 10 miles per hour. The chance of overnight rain, 100%, with one to two inches expected. 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 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. Call Debbie at the Nashville Realty Group, 615-476-3224, 615-476-3224. - Family first. (laughs) 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. - Hi, I'm Matt Peralis, manager of Murray County Equipment. We help you with all your agricultural and construction equipment needs. We carry a full line of new hauling tractors from compacts to high horsepower. We have a full line of gravely mowing equipment. We also have new hauling construction equipment, attachments, and accessories for your tractors in 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. - 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 Sneid from 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, and Riverside. I'm 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, mimsmodernlandscape.com. That's mimsmodernlandscape.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 backhoe operator has the engine running and is moving into position. He's heading for the ground. He's in there. Wait, there's a flag on the play. Let's get out of the field for the call from our official. - A legal procedure on the digging team. - Oh, that penalty could cause a costly accident. - That's right, Bob. He needs to call before he digs. There's underground utility lines that could be hiding just below the surface. Water, sewer, electrical, communication lines, and even natural gas. - Avoid a penalty by first calling 8-1-1 to have any underground public utility lines located at marked with flags or paint. It's free, it's easy, and it's the 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. - Three, two, one. (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, a statue depicting country music legend, Johnny Cash was unveiled Tuesday morning at the United States Capitol, making the man in black the first musician to have his likeness represented in the building. At an unveiling ceremony at the United States Capitol Visitors Center, House Speaker Mike Johnson, Minority Leader, Hakeem Jeffries, and Arkansas Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders joined over 100 members of the Cash family to reveal artist Kevin Cress's bronze statue. The eight-foot-tall statue depicts the I Walk the Line singer with his head slightly downturned, a Bible in one hand, and the other on his chest. A guitar is slung over his back. Today we have the pleasure of recognizing, get this, the first musician to ever be honored with a statue here in the Capitol. Speaker Mike Johnson said, and Johnny Cash is the perfect person to be honored in that way. He was a man who embodied the American spirit in a way that few could, he said. Cash at Kingsland, Arkansas native died in Nashville at the age of 71. Throughout his career, he produced 40 years of hits, including Folsom Prison Blues, Ring of Fire, a boy named Sue, and Hurt. Speaker Johnson shared that he recently learned, as fate would have it, he is a distant half cousin of Cash's, joining the many other Cash family members present for the reveal. Roseanne Cash, the daughter of Johnny Cash, took the podium at the ceremony. What a remarkable day. She said, in my wildest dreams, I couldn't have imagined. Words cannot come close to expressing our pride to see my dad accorded such a singular privilege. The first musician in history to be included in the Statuary Hall collection, Cash said on behalf of the family. I'm very careful not to put words in his mouth since his passing, but on this day, I can safely say that he would feel that of all the many honors and accolades he received in his lifetime, this is the ultimate, she said. Thank you, Kevin Crass, for capturing his very essence in bronze, Roseanne Cash said. "You see this statue and you know this is no one else, "but Johnny Cash." A sculptor from Little Rock, Arkansas, Crass has crafted two other statues of Cash and other Arkansas musicians, like Al Green, Glenn Campbell, and Levan Helm. The ceremony closed with a performance of "I Walk the Line" from United States Air Force Band, and the benediction was delivered by Dr. Mike Garrett, a nephew of Johnny Cash. 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 and Osburne.com, that's Turner and Osburne.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. - This is Hal Landers, 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. Six new non-stop Southwest Airlines flights will take off from Nashville starting next spring, including its first to another Tennessee city. Direct flights from BNA to Memphis, Albuquerque, New Mexico, Albany, New York, Jackson, Mississippi, Providence, Rhode Island, and Tulsa, Oklahoma will begin on April 8th of 2025. The announcement of Southwest's extended schedule continues to strengthen our commitment to the region. Metro National Airport Authority president and CEO Doug Kruellen said in a statement, "Whether you're headed up north to visit the capital of New York "or out west for the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta, "there is a non-stop option from BNA," he said. Visit www.flynational.com for more information. That's all for this edition of Southern Middle Tennessee today. I'm Kennedy Broadcasting, WKOMWKRM Radio. If you've ever missed a part or all of this broadcast, you can listen to it anytime or read the transcript online by visiting frontportradiotn.com. It's always there for you. I'll be back tomorrow to update you with the latest news. I'm Tom Price. Thanks for listening. Be safe and have a great day. (upbeat music) (upbeat music) (dramatic music)