Front Porch Radio - Southern Middle TN Today News with Tom Price
Southern Middle TN Today News with Tom Price 7-10-24
(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 Wednesday, July 10th, and we start as always with local news. The special investigation section of the Tennessee Department of Revenue conducted an investigation that led to the indictment and arrest of one Jackie Sloan. Revenue Special Agents Arrested Sloan age 80 on Tuesday is bond to a set at $10,000. On Friday, June 28th, the Murray County Grand Jury indicted Sloan on two counts of tax evasion. These indictments allege Sloan provided false amounts on the registrations of two vehicles to the Murray County Clerk's office. The Department of Revenue has always been committed to making sure Tennessee's tax laws and procedures are applied uniformly to ensure fairness. Revenue Commissioner David Garrigano said, "We can never allow individuals engaged in fraudulent tax activity to have a competitive advantage over honest Tennesseans," he said. If convicted, Sloan could be sentenced to a maximum of two years in the state penitentiary and find up to $3,000 for tax evasion. The Department is pursuing the criminal case in cooperation with District Attorney Brent Cooper's office. Citizens who suspect violations of Tennessee's revenue laws should call the toll-free tax fraud hotline at 1-800-FROD-TX. The Department of Revenue is responsible for the administration of state tax laws and motor vehicle title and registration laws, as well as the collection of taxes and fees associated with those laws. The department collects around 87% of total state revenue. During the 2023 fiscal year, it collected nearly $22 billion in state taxes and fees and more than $4.7 billion in taxes and fees for local governments. To learn more about the Department of Revenue, visit www.tn.gov/revenue. The Murray County Commission adopted its 2024-2025 fiscal budget last month, though not without its share of discussion and amendments for additional firefighters and disaster relief due to the May tornado. The full commission met last month at its regular meeting, which in addition included updates to certain nonprofit funding. The initial proposed general budget was estimated at about $50.4 million. However, other funding was considered prior to adoption. This included a proposal by District 6 commissioner, Cindy Hessler, to add $400,056 to fund six new full-time Murray County firefighters. The amendment passed with a 12-9 vote, increasing the general fund to $50,806,520. Murray County Public Schools will also be receiving a $154,275,178 in general purpose funds with an additional $10,830,000 in food service funds. The budget was ultimately approved in an 18-3 vote, but that was only the beginning of the June 17th discussion. Following the budget item, the commission discussed fixing the county's tax levy or taxes owed on property. The county's tax rate stands at $1.91 per $100 of taxable property, which feeds into things like the general fund, schools and solid waste, as well as parks and recreation, highways, and capital projects. While the rates will not change, how the money will be allotted to those various entities will be different. We need to move three pennies from the debt service fund to the general fund, not necessarily for the additional $400,000 that was just added, but because of the disaster that we had, District 5 Commissioner Scott Sumner said, "I think we need to replenish that." Sumner's replaced District 5 Commissioner Vincent Fuqua, who resigned earlier this year. The debt service fund had previously garnered about 36 cents of the tax rate, while the general fund received $0.52. Sumner's motion to amend the general fund amount to $0.55, which passed by a vote of 20 to one. In addition, District 8 Commissioner Ray Jeter motion to move an additional five cents from the debt service fund to the county's highway fund, which currently receives nine cents. Though there was speculation if this would be too much money to take from one fund. $420,977, that's per penny. And so if you take five cents, you're talking about moving a little over $2 million out of your debt service fund. With three cents, you're looking at $1.26 million. Murray County Finance Director Doug Laconan said, "And you can only do this once a year. "So if you do it, you're locked in," he said. There was some dispute on whether moving money to the highway fund would be its best use or if it would make a great impact. Laconan said the funds would likely be diluted since highway maintenance is typically planned over a five year period, meaning that while $2 million would be extra money, it likely won't make an impact. "There are restrictions for what you can use "the fund balance for by law," Laconan said. "It'll raise it gradually, "but once you get four or five years down the road, "it's forcing you to go up and maintain that funding," he said. The amendment ultimately failed by a vote of 10 to 11. Yesterday, a groundbreaking was held for Project Unite, a broadband initiative to bring high speed internet to the rural areas of Murray County. Murray County Mayor Sheila Bodd, County Commission Chair Eric Pravitti and representatives of United Communications and Duck River Electric spoke at the event. - Welcome everybody. I'm so excited to be here. This has been a long time coming. It's taken a lot of work and a lot of partnership to make this happen and Mayor Bodd and I were just talking. This really comes out of the ARPA funds that the state and the counties were awarded in United contributed our own amount of money to make this happen, but it really went back to some late night county commission meetings and meetings with state senators and state reps. Murray County, with as many great things that are going for it, was one of the most underserved counties from a broadband perspective, believe it or not, when we started this process two years ago. And through Project Unite, which is our initiative to see everybody in middle Tennessee get access to broadband, we were able to bring one of the largest awards for a rural broadband to Murray County right here. And we always joke, it's not funny, but we joke a lot of stuff happens behind the scenes to get to the point that we're celebrating today. A lot of work from the Duck River teams and the United teams on engineering and getting the poll lines and infrastructure ready. It is really a lot of work that nobody thanks people for, but we're here today to thank them because we can now start the process of signing up so many Murray County residents that have never had access to broadband. I want to hand it over to Mayor Butt. I know you'd like to say a few words. - Thank you. And I have a little granddaughter whom this will directly impact and she is going to be thrilled. That being said, I cannot take credit for this. This happened, the County Commission, the older commissioners in February of '22, signed an agreement that they wanted to work toward this and we need to be grateful to them for having done that. And then the stars kind of aligned and the people of Murray County wrote the most letters and the most input per capita of anybody in the state. So the voice of people is important. And I appreciate everyone who says input in getting this project this far and eventually done. Thank you. - Thank you, Mayor Butt. And as y'all know, this wouldn't be possible without the partnership with Duck River. We're sitting here adjacent to their substation, that powers so many homes and has provided great reliable service for a long time. And as we looked at how we'd want to design our network, we wanted to leverage a lot of those great strengths that Duck River Electric brings to the community. And so we've planted our network substation. We call it a network node right here adjacent to it. And this will power the fiber that feeds this district. We'll have a lot of these throughout the county. A lot of them are going to be really close to Duck River Electric substations. And it's a design that just makes a lot of sense and is going to provide the same kind of reliability that y'all have come accustomed to and the service you come accustomed to Duck River Electric. So with that, I'm pleased to introduce Troy Crowl, the CEO of Duck River Electric and appreciated his partnership. - Thanks God, I appreciate that. But this is called a groundbreaking event. Groundbreaking events generally mean something big is happening. So that's what we're here for. This one here is no, it's not any different. I'm excited to see Project Unite continue connecting rural areas of Middle Tennessee with high speed internet service. And we are as Duck River Electric, proud to be part of that. The grants received by United Communications will open so many doors for our members at Duck River Electric who are underserved. They'll soon be able to enjoy a high speed internet in their homes and it's going to change the way they live. It's going to change their lives, the way they work, how they learn and it's going to connect them around the world. Part of our DRMC mission is to enhance the quality of life for our members. And when electricity was first introduced in the Valley here in the 1930s, it changed lives. Most of us may not have been here when it happened, but we have a perspective because when the lights know out we recognize what it's like just as Northern Murray County realized back in May. So the arrival of high speed internet service in these same rural areas, it's going to also bring excitement and it's going to enhance the quality of lives for the members of DRMC and the residents of Murray County. So with that, I'm thankful for the efforts of the United Telephone. We are proud to work alongside them to make this happen. And outside of that, thank you for the environment. We appreciate it. - And we wouldn't be here without the vision of the County Commission. So Chairman Verretti loved offering you an opportunity to say a few things. - Thank you, Verretti, for recognizing the previous commission. And we were the ones that kind of got the ball rolling with the grant. And also, you know, you talk about the partnerships and the partnerships, but the biggest piece of that partnership for me was the letter writing. The residents of Murray County rose up and more letters like Verretti said were written than anywhere else in the state. And that, we spent a good time up at the state legislature. And when they heard we were from Murray County, oh, yeah, all the ones wrote all those letters for the internet. So that definitely made an impact with the legislators up in Nashville. And I want to remember that. So it's great that this is coming to Murray County so that more have-nots will become haves. And thank you guys for making this happening, putting this together and in the words of Maribut Team Murray. So thanks for all that, guys. - Metro Council member Courtney Johnston has won the endorsement of five Tennessee Fraternal Order of Police Lodges in Tennessee's 5th Congressional District. The campaign announced on Tuesday a significant step in the heated Republican primary days ahead of the start of early voting. Johnston is challenging incumbent US representative Andy Ogles of Columbia in the August 1st GOP primary. The district spans from parts of Wilson County, covering Southern Davidson County, and includes parts of Williamson, Murray, Lewis, and Marshall counties. It is critical that the voters send a proven leader to Washington, D.C. that will work hard to solve the various issues we're facing today and promote policies that will keep American communities safe, the Fraternal Order of Police said in a statement. Courtney has a proven track record as a legislator for responding to the needs of her community and providing real solutions to the challenges they face. She has been a strong advocate for the law enforcement professionals in Nashville and has advanced countless pieces of legislation that work to keep us all safer, they wrote. The following Lodges endorsed Johnston, Andrew Jackson Lodge number five in Nashville, James Cape Oak Lodge number 26 in Murray County, Morris Heathcock Lodge 41 in Williamson County, Cedar City Lodge 83 in Lebanon, and Sam Houston Lodge 71 in Wilson County. I always have and always will support law enforcement and their mission to keep us safe, Johnston said. "I am honored to have support from the Fraternal Order "of Police's Middle Tennessee Lodges, "and I'm so thankful they're supporting me," she said. Ogles, who is in his first term, has been a vocal critic of the Biden administration and sponsored more than 100 bills and amendments. None of Ogles's bills have become law so far, four have been moved to committee, according to a Congressional legislation tracker. Representative Ogles has been a vocal supporter of former President Donald Trump and has received his endorsement in the race. During her campaign, Johnston has attacked Ogles as a quote, "do nothing politician," who has sought media attention instead of meeting constituents' needs. This week, Johnston announced a $700,000 fundraising haul during her first quarter, with nearly all coming from inside the state. She has $500,000 cash on hand remaining according to a news release. Federal financial disclosures are due next week. This strong financial backing is a clear indication that the people of Middle Tennessee are ready for new representation that truly reflects their values and priorities, she said. Johnston, a realtor who set aside her career to focus on representing her Metro Council District, has served on the Metro Council since 2019, opposing a significant property tax increase in 2020 and working to authorize a county-wide license plate reader program to support police efforts. Johnston is running as a principled candidate who can get real results. She touts her successes, working within a progressive majority on the Metro Council, pointing to her work on license plate readers and shutting down a homeless encampment in her Metro Council District, connecting those people there with social services they needed. Last September, the Rose Hills Cemetery Association in Columbia released an urgent plea for assistance. Although several donations were received, the total amount was far short of the $80,000 needed to fund the annual maintenance of the cemetery. Last week, the balance of the cemetery's operating fund reached $4,000. Unless the significant number of donations arrive within the next few days, the cemetery's governing board will have to terminate its mowing contract, meaning that the cemetery will not be mowed for the rest of the year. Mowing is a large part of the budget, said Kayla Southern Association president, but this also means we won't be able to remove down trees or have paid trash removal. We're going to depend on families to take care of their family plots, she said. There is no safety net. The perpetual care fund was liquidated years ago, only the operating fund remains. The cemetery can expect no assistance from the local governments as the cemetery is owned by the association. The only sources of income available to the cemetery are sales of plots and donations. You can donate online on paypal.com. Donations can also be mailed to the Rose Hills Cemetery Association PO Box 1511, Columbia, Tennessee, 38402. Rose Hill Cemetery was established in 1853. Among the 13,000 internments at Rose Hill are US senators, veterans from every US conflict, from the Revolutionary War, all the way through the War on Terror, and even features a Medal of Honor recipient from World War II. Thousands of men and women who have descendants still living in Murray County today. You can reach Kayla Southern by calling 931-797, 3316. 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 entering 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. Learn more and apply today by visiting www.ColumbiaTn.com. The Murray County Clerk's Office can now help residents with renewals of license plates or placards each Wednesday from 8 a.m. to 3.30 p.m. At the Murray County Senior 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 pavement include credit, debit card, or check. No cash will be collected at that location. Any Murray County resident can use this office. All other transactions will still need to be done through the main office located at 10 public square. Also, you can renew online at tncountyclerk.com or at kiosks in Spring Hill City Hall or Mount Pleasant Courthouse. And now your hometown memorials sponsored by Oaks and Nichols Funeral Home. Mrs. Jean Rogers Smith, 89, a former resident of Columbia, died Thursday, July 4th at her residence in Lebanon. Funeral services for Mrs. Smith will be conducted on Thursday, July 11th at 1 p.m. at Oaks and Nichols Funeral Home. Barry will follow in Rose Hill Cemetery. The family will visit with friends on Thursday from 11 a.m. until 1 p.m. at the funeral home. Mrs. Betty Sanders Haines, 83 of Kalioka, passed away peacefully on Friday, June 28th. A memorial service will be conducted on Friday, July 12th at 12 p.m. at Oaks and Nichols Funeral Home. The family will visit with friends on Friday from 10 a.m. until 12 p.m. at the funeral home. Mr. William Daniel, Danny Duncan, age 70, retired truck driver from Martin Transportation Systems and a resident of Columbia, died Sunday, July 7th at Life Care Center of Columbia. A celebration of life will be held at a later date. 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 clouds that will give way to mostly sunny skies for the afternoon. The high will be 88 degrees with winds out of the northwest at five to 10 miles per hour. Tonight, we can expect mostly clear skies and a low of 64. 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, 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 Triadcock with Dixie Equipment, Sales and Rental. We sell ASV and Wacker Nordstrom equipment. We also rent a wide variety of compact equipment in the middle Tennessee area. Come see us, we are located in Columbia, Tennessee at 200 East 16th Street. You can call us at 615-969-0118 or visit our website at www.dixiediesel.com. We have been in business for over 42 years and we would love to help you turn your project into reality. - Some people are just obsessed with their loans. They'd cut their grass with a pair of scissors if they could. Bikes are gravely, they don't have to. See, gravely makes not only the best built and most comfortable lawnmowers, they also leave your house looking like a doggone country club. So whether you're a commercial landscaper wanting the best or just a perfectionist homeowner, you can't do better than a gravely. - Z-R, full line of gravely products at Murray County Equipment. 1075 North James Campbell Boulevard in Columbia, Tennessee or check us out on Facebook. - This is Bob Kessel with Pat Ryan. It's a beautiful day for digging. The vacuum operator has the engine running and is moving into position. He's heading for the ground. He's in there. Wait, there's a flag on the play. Let's get out of the field for the call from our official. - A legal procedure on the digging team. - Oh, that penalty could cause a costly accident. - That's right, Bob. He needs to call before he digs. There's underground utility lines that could be hiding just below the surface. Water, sewer, electrical, communication lines and even natural gas. - Avoid a penalty by first calling 8-1-1 to have any underground public utility lines located at marked with flags or paint. It's free, it's easy, and it's the law. For more tips, visit pipesafety.org. This message brought to you by the Tennessee Association of Broadcasters and the Tennessee Gas Association, funded in part by a grant from the Underground Utility Damage Enforcement Board. (upbeat music) - Welcome back to Southern Middle Tennessee today on WKOM101.7 and WKRM103.7, your hometown source for news and information. I'm Tom Price. And now news from around the state. On Monday, the greater Nashville music census went public with some of its initial findings and data announcing a record-breaking amount of participation compared to sister cities. In January, Nashville joined a cohort of cities hoping to find data-driven solutions to fuel their music industries, announcing a census that opened in March and ended in April. Other cities participating in the census project deemed music-friendly cities, include Minneapolis, Minnesota, New Orleans, Louisiana, Chattanooga, Tennessee, and Charlotte, North Carolina. Nashville's census set a national record with 4,265 people filling out the census. Originally, Austin, Texas held the throne in city-wide participation. Nashville also broke records in eight additional categories, leading with the percentage of individuals working in the music industry, the average income earned from music, the average annual events per venue, and the total annual events. Participants were also able to voice their main concerns as well, of which initial analysis showed citizens are most worried about how the current state of parking costs and policies impact the city's music industry. From incredibly expensive private lots and garages to new street parking policies that actively work against musicians, venues, and fans, participants voiced their concerns loud and clear. Said Chris Cobb, the board president of the Music Venue Alliance, Nashville, he added that it is important to find solutions to these parking issues in order to make downtown more friendly to the music community and local fans. The census's team continues to sift through thousands of survey entries and stories, preparing to go public with its full findings in early September. 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 'em 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 check 'em out a line at turner@osburn.com that's turner@osburn.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 experienced 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. 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 Tree across from the fire station. We're also in line at HunterCarry.com. That's Hunter, C-A-R-Y.com. Welcome back to Southern Middle Tennessee today and now our final story. The Nashville Zoo recently welcomed six one month old baby skunks named after cheeses, Cheddar, Feta, Havarti, Brie, Fontina, and Munster, are destined to become the big cheese and educational programs as ambassador animals at other zoos. At the Nashville Zoo, there are three adult skunks, Rosemary, Parsley, and Nutmeg, who are ambassador animals and educational programs. Skunks are crucial in the local environment as natural pest controllers, feasting on ticks, termites, wasps, and more. They prefer to use their striking stripes to ward off predators rather than wasting energy on spring. So if you encounter a skunk in the wild, stay calm and simply walk away. For more information on the zoo skunks and all the animals, you can see, visit www.nashvillezoo.org. That's all for this edition of Southern Middle Tennessee today on WKOMWKRM 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. - News, this hour from townhall.com. I'm at Stomasa. What a time to be without air conditioning and yet hundred thousands of people.