Front Porch Radio - Southern Middle TN Today News with Tom Price
Southern Middle TN Today News with Tom Price 7-3-24
(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 3rd, and we start with local news. Murray County shows its patriotic pride this 4th of July with events for all ages, including parades, workouts at the park, and of course, fireworks. Kicking things off Thursday morning will be rotary in Kiwanis' 4th of July event at Murray County Park, sponsored by both breakfast and noon rotary, as well as Columbia Kiwanis. The event will begin with a special honoring ceremony at 8.30 a.m., followed by a kid's bike parade at 9.15. The park will later light up with Murray County Parks and Recreation's annual fireworks showcase. The show is scheduled to start at 9 p.m. Thursday on top of Monsanto Hill, and is expected to last about 20 minutes. Arrived early to secure a good view. In Mount Pleasant, this 4th of July brings something a little more, as the city will also be celebrating its bicentennial anniversary. Guests are invited to gather in the downtown Mount Pleasant Square at 100 Public Square, starting at 7 p.m. on Thursday. The 200th event will kick off with live music, food, and more, culminating with a dazzling firework display at the end. Spring Hill will start the day with its annual run for hunger benefiting the Well Outreach Food Pantry. The event, which begins at 7 a.m. on Thursday at Summit High School, located at 2830 Twin Lakes Drive, will include a 5k race, as well as a color foam fun run, followed by Spring Hill Parks and Recreation's July 4th bicycle parade. To register for the Spring Hill 2024 Run for Hunger, visit www.thewelloutreach.org. Columbia's UT Extension office recently announced the creation of a pollinator garden at its 4-H camp, this garden, which was dedicated at a June 21st ceremony, will serve as a place where people can learn about how pollinators impact the environment. The garden was curated by UT Extension Education Director, Lisa Vassar, and the grant from the garden, and the grant for the garden, rather, was provided by Cortiva Agra Science and the National 4-H Council. The Extension office registered to receive milkweed seeds from TDOT. There are several donors for this project, including Tea Center for Profitable Ag, Home Depot of Giles County, Giles County Seed Library, Rogers Group, Columbia Power Company, Plant City, Berry Brown, and Jodi Pritchen. The celebration included a ribbon cutting and a keychain making workshop for all to enjoy. Vassar spoke on how this program affects the people of Columbia, saying, this garden will impact the city of Columbia and area-wide cities by teaching their young people about pollination and encouraging students to develop gardens at home and at their schools. One of the key things that the garden does is to take concepts from the classroom and put them into a physical space for children to see. This bridges gaps between school and home as 4-H camp can become an awesome place for children to understand the wondrous world around them. Children can learn how the pollination process not only affects the garden, but what it does for the world they interact with daily. Vassar stated that the children can learn a vast amount of information from the pollinator garden, such as parts of plants, plant cycle, life cycle, the role insects play in the pollinator process, that most of our food comes from pollinators and how human impact can deter the process. There are things within the garden. Vassar noticed that everyone could latch their brains onto, saying everything has a purpose. Pollinators not only feed from the flowers, but they carry pollination to other areas which recede. Even as flowers die, they feed organisms that in turn develop a healthy soil. The pollination process is a cycle that happens without human assistance, she said. While the show's theme often finds creative ways to dive into the past, reconnecting roots with roots in Columbia has broken new ground by achieving its first daytime Emmy Awards win. Hosted by Columbia resident Gabe McCauley, the PBS show took home two top prizes at the 51st annual daytime Emmy Awards in June. The program won Outstanding Original Song, We're Home, which is served as the show's theme and is performed by McCauley's wife, Mandy McCauley, along with Dylan Hodges and Heidi Feek. The second award was for Outstanding Original Writing Team for a daytime non-fiction program. It's the first time we ever submitted for the awards, and when we finally did, it was like, oh wow, we actually got nominated. That's pretty cool, Gabe said. It feels validating and pretty awesome, though I'm still trying to make sense of what it actually means. It's like it's the same show it was before, only now there's more purpose to the show, he said. Now prepping to release its fourth season, reconnecting roots delves into many topics, which focus on iconic industries, cultural movements, music, topics that have influenced and helped shape the world today. I was very hopeful that Mandy, Heidi, and Dylan were going to win for the song, but I did not expect the writing team to win just because it was in a category with some pretty big shows, Gabe said. Head writer Dave Boyd recalls the surreal moment and that it took a few seconds to process before the crew was making the way up to accept the awards. It took the table a few seconds to really catch up to what had happened, so there was like a two or three second lull of silence of everybody waiting for us to react. It was hysterical, Dave Boyd said. Mandy McCauley said one of the biggest surprises wasn't just in winning, but the supportive community in the daytime Emmy world. I didn't expect number one to win, but number two for everybody to be so supportive. That surprised me so much. She said, "Then it's crazy that we wrote this song almost seven years ago, and now it's winning an award." To celebrate the show's Emmy wins, Muletown Coffee Roasters hosted a special party to honor Columbia's local award winners. Kelly Coyne, who serves multiple jobs producing reconnecting roots and said this was a way to take a pause, celebrate the achievement, and get ready for another busy year of filming, recording, and more. I've known Gabe and Mandy for so long and feel like they have been worthy of this for so many years, Coyne said. "It felt just so good to see them be recognized for their phenomenal work," she said. "As far as what reconnecting roots, viewers can expect out of the next year, there will be quite a lot to choose from with season four set to premiere in September. "We're putting out singles every month now until the show comes out, and then we'll put a whole album out," Mandy said. "So our season four album will be coming out in September and then start working on our season five album, not long after that. "We've got a lot coming up," she said. 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 opportunity to interact closely with city officials and staff, gaining firsthand knowledge of how municipal services are delivered and learning about avenues for community involvement and advocacy. This consecutive two-day program will be open to all City of Columbia and Murray County residents and offered twice per year, with the official kickoff occurring on September 17th and September 18th. Participants can expect to begin each day at City Hall before learning more about all 12 city departments and touring select city facilities, such as the Fire and Rescue and Public Works Departments. Applications for Columbia 101 are available now and will close on Friday, August 9th at 4 p.m. Learn more and apply today at www.columbia-tn.com. Murray Regional Medical Center now offers an innovative treatment called Intravascular Lithotripsy or IVL, which is a safe, efficient, and proven treatment for heart or cardiovascular disease, specifically related to calcium buildup in heart arteries. Each year, almost 700,000 people die from heart disease, which is the leading cause of death for both men and women in the United States. As people suffering from coronary artery disease age, plaque in the arteries evolves into calcium deposits that narrow and harden the artery, limiting blood flow to the heart. IVL was inspired by the principles of kidney stone treatment or urological lithotripsy or UL, but was adopted by Shockwave Medical Incorporated to tackle calcium buildup in the cardiovascular system. Lithotripsy uses ultrasonic energy or shockwaves to gently and safely break calcifications. In April, Dr. David Hough, a board certified specialist in cardiovascular disease and interventional cardiology on Murray Regional Medical Center's medical staff, completed the first osteo disease case in the state of Tennessee, utilizing the Shockwave Intravascular Lithotripsy System alongside a specialized dual balloon by Ostele Corporation called the flash aorto osteo angioplasty system. Osteo disease, a blockage in the very first segment of an artery, is well known to be associated with high restinosis rates, which is when a blockage to blood flow recurs after initially being opened, with the combination of these newly implemented technologies, Murray Regional Medical Center is providing advanced coronary solutions to their patients and referring physicians. Being the first hospital in Tennessee to use these combined technologies, Shockwave's IVL and Osteo Corporation's dual balloon for Osteo disease is rewarding for our staff and demonstrates our commitment to leveraging proven innovations in healthcare for a great patient experience and stronger outcomes. Said Murray Regional Medical Center CEO, Dr. Martin Cheney. The cardiology team at Murray Regional Medical Center is committed to giving our patients access to the latest cardiovascular innovations to treat heart disease, said Dr. David Haff. Empowered by this novel Shockwave IVL technology, we are excited to be treating some of the most complex form of heart disease in our most challenging patient cases, all while remaining committed to improving patient outcomes for the benefit of the Murray County and surrounding communities, he said. As Southern Middle Tennessee's only heart center, Murray Regional Medical Center provides a vast array of cardiac services that include interventional procedures as well as pacemaker and defibrillator implants. Physicians are members of the Vanderbilt Heart, Columbia and Ascension St. Thomas Heart, Columbia, who are complemented by a highly skilled and experienced team that strives to achieve the best possible outcomes. Murray Regional Medical Center is a part of the largest health system between Nashville and Huntsville and is the only hospital in Tennessee to receive the Excellence in Patient Safety and Outstanding Patient Experience Awards from Health Grades in 2024. Murray Alliance is hosting a forum for the school board candidates running in the August 1st elections. This event is for the public and everyone is welcome to attend. The forum will take place at Columbia State Community College's Lead Better Auditorium located at 1665 Hampshire Pike on Tuesday, July 9th from 5 to 6.30 p.m. Doors open at 5, the forum begins promptly at 5.15. This is free and open to the community. RSVPs are appreciated, however. You can do so by calling Murray Alliance at 931-388-2155. Candidates who have been invited to attend include the candidates for District Two, Frank Bellamy and Robert Plageman from District Four, Darryl Martin and Chandler Anderson for District Five, Justin Halka and David R Moore from District Six, Sue Stevenson from District Eight, Brendan Babcock and Gregory Hanners and from District 10, Lisa Webster Dawson. You'll also want to remember these important election dates. July 2nd is the last day to register to vote. That was yesterday. Early voting is from July 12th through July 27th and August 1st is Election Day. The Murray County Democratic Party announced there will be a debate on Monday, July 8th at 6 p.m. between two Democratic candidates running for the Tennessee State House of Representatives in District 64. The event will be held at Macedonia Recreation Center located at 501 Armstrong Street in Columbia and is open to the public. It will begin at 6 p.m. and will last for approximately one hour. Eileen Longscreen and Alex Pierce will participate with Justin Kanu of the Tennessee Haller Moderating. Alex Pierce is from Columbia and Eileen Longstreet is from Spring Hill. House District 64 includes the eastern part of Murray County. The seat is currently held by Representative Scott Sippicki. James Dallas, Murray County Democratic Party Chair said, we're excited to offer voters in House District 64 an opportunity to learn more about our candidates. (soft music) Murray Alliance is excited to announce that applications for the Leadership Murray Class of 2024-2025 are now open. Leadership Murray offers a unique opportunity to connect with local decision makers, gain insights into various sectors and explore all the great things Murray County has to offer. Whether you live, work, or volunteer here, this program is your chance to contribute to the future of the community. Apply by July 19th and be a part of a network of passionate leaders dedicated to making a difference. Learn more by visiting www.murrayalliance.com. Columbia State Community College's Columbia campus is excited to announce one last summer camp for 2024. Innovate and illuminate will run from July 8th through the 12th for rising six through eighth graders. Participants will learn to make fun and useful projects using the fundamentals of circuit building and microcontroller programming. For more information and to register, visit www.campusce.net or email workforcedev@columbiastate.edu. 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 Citizen 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 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 tncountyclirk.com or at kiosks in Spring Hill City Hall, or Mount Pleasant Courthouse. For your southern middle Tennessee weather, we will have a mix of clouds and sun today. It's going to be a hot and humid day with a high of 96 degrees, with winds out of the south at 10 to 15 miles per hour. Tonight, we can expect a few clouds and a low of 75. For your Independence Day forecast, we'll see partly cloudy skies in the morning followed by scattered thunderstorms in the afternoon. The high will be 95 degrees with winds out of the southwest at five to 10 miles per hour. There's going to be a 50% chance of rain. Overnight on Thursday, the fourth, we'll see partial cloudiness with scattered showers and thunderstorms later during the night. The low will be 76 degrees with a 40% chance of overnight rain. 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. - 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 your satisfaction is so important to Jeff Hargrove and Susie 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. - Oaks and Nichols funeral directors 320 West 7th Street in Columbia. Since 1856, people you can rely on. - This is Debbie Matthews with the Nashville Realty 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 Nashville Realty 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. - Are you thinking about a new fence? Maybe you need a pole barn. 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 615-969-01-18, or visit our website at www.dixiediesel.com. We have been in business for over 42 years, and we would love to help you turn your project into reality. - Hi, I'm Matt Parralis, manager of Murray County Equipment. We help you with all your agricultural and construction equipment needs. We carry a full line of new 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 and a complete parts department. We are locally owned and operated. Come see us at 1075, North James Campbell Boulevard, or learn about us on Facebook. Our contact is at 931-490-8183. - This is Bob Kessel with Pat Ryan. It's a beautiful day for digging. The vacuole operator has the engine running and is moving into position. He's heading for the ground. He's in there. Wait, there's a flag on the play. Let's get out of the field for the call from our official. - A legal procedure on the digging team. - Oh, that penalty could cause a costly accident. - That's right, Bob. He needs to call before he digs. There's underground utility lines that could be hiding just below the surface. Water, sewer, electrical, communication lines and even natural gas. - Avoid a penalty by first calling 8-1-1 to have any underground public utility lines located at marked with flags or paint. It's free, it's easy and it's the law. - For more tips, visit pipesafety.org. This message brought to you by the Tennessee Association of Broadcasters and the Tennessee Gas Association, funded in part by a grant from the Underground Utility Damage Enforcement Board. (dramatic music) (upbeat music) (upbeat music) - Welcome back to Southern Middle Tennessee today on WKOM 101.7 and WKRM 103.7, your hometown source for news and information. I'm Tom Price. - And no news from around the state. Nashville International Airport will implement the Sunflower Program, starting this week, to support passengers with disabilities that are not visible to the naked eye. According to airport officials, the Sunflower Program is intended to enhance the travel experience for passengers with autism, attention deficit, hyperactivity disorder, learning disabilities, anxiety or chronic illnesses and other often unseen disabilities. Customers with cognitive and neurodevelopmental disorders and visual and auditory disorders can wear lanyards to discreetly signal airport staff that they may need extra assistance than other passengers. By offering discreet support to travelers with hidden disabilities, we're ensuring a smooth and positive experience for everyone who walks through our doors, said Stacey Nickens, vice president of corporate communications and marketing in a written statement. As an extension to the BNA CARES Program, customers who need additional support acquire sunflower lanyards at the Information Center located on level one. Customers are not required to divulge their disability nor will they be asked. Airport staff have been trained to notice the sunflower lanyards and offer help, including providing clear instructions, offer additional time during check-in, TSA security screenings or boarding ion airplane, helping guide through the terminal and offering a quiet space to relax. Once received, customers can keep their lanyards for future travels at BNA and any airport participating in the Hidden Disability Sunflower Program. The Sunflower Program launch at BNA is a small gesture with a big impact and reflects our commitment to inclusivity, Nickens said. Tennessee gas prices reversed course last week and rose 10 cents on average. The Tennessee gas price average is now $3.10, which is the same as one month ago and two cents more than one year ago. Gas prices are proving to be volatile as we head into the Independence Day holiday thanks to a recent rise in oil prices, said Megan Cooper, Spokeswoman for AAA, the Auto Club Group. Even with gas prices moving more expensive, it's not likely significantly significant enough to impact Tennessee's travel plans. We have seen oil prices flatten out over the last week, which will hopefully limit any significant jumps at the pump in the coming days, she said. Tennessee is currently the seventh least expensive state in the nation for gas prices. 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. We call it 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@osburn.com. That's turner@osburn.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. - Have you ever wondered if your insurance needs can be personalized? This is HunterCarry. 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. (upbeat music) - Welcome back to Southern Middle Tennessee today and our final story. On the heels of his Netflix comedy special, Woke Fogue, comedian Cat Williams, announces the Heaven on Earth tour. The upcoming tour with new material kicks off in January of 2025, making stops across the United States, including Bridgestone Arena on March 7th. Cat Williams, born Michael Williams, is a comedian and actor known for his energetic and often outrageous stand-up routines. Rising to fame in the late 1990s, he's landed roles in films like Friday Afternaxed and Norbit, while also receiving an Emmy award for his guest appearance on the TV series Alligator Man. Tickets will be available for pre-sale this week and general on sale also this week. You can receive them or find them on www.ticketmaster.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 frontportradiotn.com. It's always there for you. We'll be taking a break tomorrow for the holiday, but we'll be back on Friday to update you with the latest news. I'm Tom Price. Thanks for listening. Be safe and have a great 4th of July. (upbeat music) (upbeat music) (upbeat music) (upbeat music) (upbeat music) (upbeat music) (upbeat music) (upbeat music) (upbeat music) (upbeat music)