Front Porch Radio - Southern Middle TN Today News with Tom Price
Southern Middle TN Today News with Tom Price 7-2-24
(upbeat music) - Hello and welcome to Southern Middle Tennessee today on WKOM, M-W-K-R-N Radio. Your hometown news, broadcasting from the W Matthews Nashville Realty Newsroom in Columbia, Tennessee. I'm your host, Tom Price. Today is Tuesday, July 2nd, and we start with local news. On June 28th, in the early morning hours, officers were dispatched to the Walden Creek Apartments in Spring Hill to a reported robbery. The victim reported that he was approached in the parking lot by two men who got out of a vehicle. During this encounter, the victim was threatened with a knife and the suspects got away with some items the victim had in a backpack. The incident is believed to have been connected to an argument that the victim had with a third party earlier in the day. This does not appear to be a random act of violence. An 18-year-old male with an address in Columbia and an 18-year-old male with an address in Nolan'sville have been arrested for this crime. The two have not been further identified. Jeffrey Lee Meeler, a 55-year-old man from Franklin, Tennessee, pleaded guilty last week and was sentenced to serve 15 years in prison without parole for aggravated arson. Meeler intentionally set fire to the building and shopping cart storage area outside of the Columbia Kroger located at 4845 Nashville Highway on June 5th of 2022, while the night stock crew was working inside. He remained at the scene as Columbia police and Columbia Fire and Rescue responded through security camera footage and witness accounts. Meeler was identified as a suspect. He was subsequently arrested and charged with aggravated arson, six counts of reckless endangerment and possession of methamphetamine with intent to sell. Arson is a severe crime, especially when it endangers lives through senseless acts, remarked Columbia Fire and Rescue Assistant Chief Donnie Knoffel. Columbia Fire and Rescue is committed to working with state and local authorities to ensure these crimes are investigated, prosecuted, and to hold perpetrators responsible for their actions, he said. Last week, Meeler accepted a plea deal in Murray County Circuit Court that included the 15-year sentence. "All agencies involved at a phenomenal job working together "for a successful outcome in this case," said Assistant Chief Knoffel in the response to the conviction. His this case was investigated by the Columbia Police Department, Tennessee Bureau of Investigation and Columbia Fire and Rescue. (mouse clicking) It's been over 50 days since an EF3 tornado tore through Murray County, leaving one woman dead and scores of homes destroyed. Despite all of the volunteers who have been on the ground helping, the recovery has been frustratingly slow for many homeowners. On Thursday, several residents stated that they are locked in bitter battles with their insurance companies. Until their given guidance on how to move forward, all they can do is wait. But just waiting around isn't a luxury most people can afford, which is where the Family Center in Columbia comes in. "We help people pay their rent and utilities," said Don Taylor, the Executive Director. "We have a food pantry. "We help homeless find permanent housing," she said. "For the first 30 years, the organization focused mainly "on homeless outreach, but that all changed with the tornado. "We've just now added disaster relief to our repertoire," said Taylor. "Quickly, their office became a hub. "Their conference room is full of water bottles, "clothing, and non-perishable food items. "They take everything, literally. "They don't reject any donation. "Doesn't matter what it is, we just say yes "and then we'll figure it out later," said Taylor. "But now, as short-term relief turns into "a long, painful recovery. "Taylor is making sure they're meeting those needs too. "There are still a lot of people in hotels, "so they're racking up some debt that way, "so we do collect gift cards for food and gas," said Taylor. "The organization also helps homeowners "with tree removal. "If the tree did not touch a structure, "their insurance company is not able to help them," she said. "We're just grateful that maybe we can help "peace some of that need together. "Take some of that hurt and worry away," she said. "For many, the way to begin the recovery "can be agonizing, but Don Taylor hopes everyone knows "they won't be going through it alone. "Just know, we're here for you," she said. If you'd like to make monetary donations or sign up to volunteer, Murray County has ways to do so by visiting www.mericounty-tn.gov. And if you'd like to directly help the Family Center, visit www.familycenter.org. Last Thursday morning, Storm 5 senior meteorologist Leland stayed and presented a check to Taylor at the Family Center of Murray County. They received nearly $7,000 from their viewers who donated to the news channel, five CARES Storm Relief Fund in partnership with the Scripps Howard Fund. This particular nonprofit has been serving Murray County for more than three decades, and they help residents with emergency housing, utility assistance, a food pantry, and much more. Following Columbia's adoption of its 2024/2025 budget, as well as its latest five-year strategic plan, city leaders have detailed the latest projects and expenditures. Earlier this month, the Columbia City Council passed upon second reading a $75.8 million budget with 5% raises for employees and multiple new staff positions. In addition, the Council also adopted its latest 2024 through 2029 strategic plan, which lists the city's top priorities, which have been completed, will receive funding this year or remain delayed. A few of the 2024/2025 fiscal year budgets top funding projects include hiring new city staff positions, a $3 million road paving project, efforts to improve local tourism, as well as a few new upgrades to the downtown district and local parks. City Manager Tony Massey stated that the city's approach, as always, has been to budget its revenues conservatively. This not only allows for growth to happen, but also keeps the city safe in the event of an economic emergency, such as during the COVID pandemic. "We are living within our means," Massey said. "It's a good budget and we are continuing to move the needle," he said. A big part of the 2024/2025 budget was the city investing in its employees, with personnel costs amounting to about $30.8 million, or approximately 65.3% of Columbia's $47.2 million general fund budget. This includes hiring one new firefighter, which will be the first of three firefighters to be funded over the next two years through a FEMA safer grant. Columbia Fire and Rescue will also receive $450,000 in funding for a new pump truck, with Columbia Police Department receiving $706,000 to purchase 10 new patrol vehicles. Public Works will also receive $60,000 to replenish its salt supply. The city also seeks to hire a geography information system or GIS analyst for its Development Services Department, which Massey said would enhance how the city oversees future development. They're the ones who do all the mapping for zonings, that kind of thing, he said. Massey added that the city will also rework one of its administrative assistant positions to oversee marketing and communications of Ridley Sports Complex. "We're looking to take things up and notch out there," Massey said. One of the largest project investments in this year's budget is a $1.5 million investment for a $3 million project to conduct street paving. Massey said this is the second half of a previously funded $3 million project using state street aid dollars or other streams like gas tax revenue. This is a big thing for us, Massey said. We did the same thing for $3 million two years ago. We don't know how many streets it's going to be yet, but it'll be a pretty sizable number, he said. Another roadway project will be $65,000 to install high-definition traffic flow monitoring cameras at 10 of the city's intersections to improve signal timing based on the current conditions. Those images will flow back to a computer with AI-based software and will make decisions for traffic signals in real time. Assistant city manager Thadjablonski said. "We're really stepping into the future "with this new traffic technology," he said. Massey added the cameras are to observe traffic flow, not to write tickets. The city is also investing $1 million for a place, a few traffic signal mast arms located around downtown Columbia, which have deteriorated over time. This is one of the more notable things in this budget, as these were part of the original streetscape project that was done 20 years ago. And so we're going back and upgrading it to the original, Massey said. "And I'm sure if we have some extra money next year, "we can look into updating some of the decorative lights "down town because they are showing some age two," he said. An additional $30,000 will also be funded for the city's upcoming special census, which will initially be available online for the first month, then move to door-to-door applications during the second month. However, a firm launch date is yet to be determined, but Massey said he is hoping the census will be available sometime in August. A new interactive information kiosk budgeted at $24,500 is also being proposed at the Visit Columbia Welcome Center on North Main Street to provide visitors with new ways to learn about local businesses, landmarks and upcoming events. The city's 2024 through 2029 strategic plan encompasses more than 50 projects broken down under top priority and high priority, with about half receiving 2024, 2025 funding or considered complete. Some of the top projects completed include 5% staff pay increases, revising the city's development and zoning code, adding bicycle lanes to city streets and establishing the inaugural fall fest in 2023. The top funding approvals include the upcoming street paving project, hiring more staff, as well as funding for a new flood study and creating a city litter task force. Other funding approvals include replacing the splash pad at Fairview Park and evaluating its skate park, which Massey and Jablonski said is one great example of a strategic planning goal coming to fruition. When you talk about what we look for to fund in each year's budget, we use this as a real blueprint to do that. And year in to year out, that's really helped us guide funding decisions for what the council wants to see enacted, Jablonski said. For example, the splash pad or the street paving, those big ticket items that while it's a big expense on the one hand, it's important to the community, important to the council. And so we propose a way to fund that. He said. The city of Columbia is pleased to announce the launch of Columbia 101 and 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 department and public works department. 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.columbiatn.com. Murray County Public Schools Superintendent Lisa Ventura is thrilled to announce Mr. Ronnie Brewer as the new principal of Hampshire unit school. Mr. Brewer brings 16 years of educational experience to his new role at Hampshire unit school. For the last two years, he has served as principal of Hickman County High School in Centerville, Tennessee. Prior to that, he was the assistant principal at East Hickman High School during the 2021-2022 school year. His connection to Hampshire unit school is strong having taught there from 2017 through 2021 as a high school math teacher, athletic director and high school girls basketball coach. Earlier in his career, Mr. Brewer worked in Lewis County from 2010 to 2017, teaching middle and high school math and coaching girls basketball at both levels. A proud graduate of Lewis County High School in 1985, Mr. Brewer continued his education at Middle Tennessee State University, earning a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics with a secondary education minor, a master's degree in curriculum and instruction and an education specialist degree in administration. Mr. Brewer and his wife, Lisa, currently reside in Hohenwald, Tennessee, where he has lived most of his life. They're extremely blessed with three adult children and five grandchildren. I'm extremely excited about being back at Hampshire unit school. Some of my most enjoyable years as an educator came during my time at Hampshire. There's just something special about a unit school in the sense of family that comes with it. Leaving Hampshire back in 2021 was a difficult decision and I made the move because I was ready to move my career to the administration role. I always said that if I had the chance to return to Hampshire in my, in an admin role that I would pursue that opportunity and now that I've been given that opportunity, I can't wait to get started and work alongside the great staff at HUS, said Mr. Brewer. Superintendent Lisa Venture expressed her confidence in Mr. Brewer's leadership stating, "Ronnie Brewer's educational background "make him an exceptional choice for principal. "His experience as a teacher, coach and administrator "within our school community uniquely positions him "to lead with insight and dedication. "We look forward to seeing the positive impact "he will continue to have on our students and staff. "I'm confident that his love for Hampshire "and the unit school community will be evident "in his decision making. "I look forward to his return to Hampshire unit school "in this role," she said. Marie 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 event is free to the community. RSVPs are appreciated. You can do so by calling Marie Alliance at 931-388-2155. Candidates who have been invited to attend include the school board members of District 2, Frank Bellamy and Robert Plageman, school board member for District 4, Darryl Martin and Chandler Anderson, school board District 5, Justin Halka and David R. Moore, school board member for District 6, Sue Stevenson, school board member District 8, Brandon Babcock and Gregory Hanners, and school board member for 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. Early voting is from July 12th through the July 27th and August 1st is Election Day. Join the well outreach on July 4th at Summit High School in Spring Hill for an action-packed day of fun to support your local food pantry. Lace up your shoes and choose from a timed 5K or color fun run complete with a foam pit. There is a one-mile turnaround option for those young ones who still want to get in on the fun, of course. Not a runner, but still want to support the well opt for the sleep-in option and still grab some awesome event merchandise. Plus, don't miss the bicycle scroller parade hosted by Spring Hill Parks and Recreation, which is perfect for the whole family. Come and be a part of this unforgettable event as we run for hunger in middle Tennessee. Sign up today. As spots will fill up fast, you can sign up at www.thewelloutreach.org. Your participation can make a difference to help feed families in need in middle Tennessee. For your southern middle Tennessee weather, we will have partly cloudy skies today with hot and humid weather. The high will be 94 degrees with winds out of the South-South East at 10 to 15 miles per hour. Tonight, we can expect clear to partly cloudy skies. The low will be around 75 degrees with winds continuing out of the South-South East at 5 to 10 miles per hour. 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 and 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 Matt and Susie Sowell believe the way to honor tradition is with especially 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. Debbie Matthews grew up and lives in beautiful Coolumbia, Tennessee. As a realtor, she is well-versed in homes, neighborhoods, development, and schools. She wants to share her love of her home state with others to help them find just the right place to raise a family, open a business, or develop a dream. From luxury listings to land, she can handle it all. She is the current leading producer, Nashville Realty Group Contact Debbie Matthews Realtor at 615-476-3224. That's 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 put your family first. For auto home, life, or business insurance, C 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. - 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 haul and tractors from compacts to high horsepower. We have a full line of gravely morn equipment. We also have new haul and 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. - 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 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 WKOM 101.7 and WKRM 103.7. You are hometown source for news and information. I'm Tom Price, and no news from around the state. Starting July 1st, more than 100 new laws took effect in Tennessee. Altogether, lawmakers passed more than 500 new laws, but some will be enacted throughout the year. These laws reflect significant shifts in Tennessee law impacting firearms, school and public safety, immigration, and more. Here's a list of top, a list of the 10 new laws that will mean big changes to the state's legal landscape. Firearms, juvenile offenders of minors cannot buy or own firearms now until age 25. Mental incompetence. The new law prevents those deemed mentally incompetent from purchasing firearms after being found so by a court. Known as Gillian's Law, it was named after Gillian Ludwig, a Belmont student who was killed by a stray bullet. The death penalty. Individuals convicted of child rape face. The death penalty now in Tennessee. Immigration verification. Law enforcement must contact federal immigration officials to verify the driver's immigration status during traffic stops under certain circumstances. Under DUI penalties, minimum jail time for drivers with a blood alcohol level of 0.15% increased from two to seven days. The Elvis Act protects artists from exploitation by artificial intelligence, which is enforceable as a class A misdemeanor. School safety. Threats of mass violence at schools have been upgraded to a class E felony. Abortion trafficking. Adults transporting minors for abortions face class A misdemeanor charges now. Street drag racing has been elevated to a class E felony, punishable with up to six years in prison. And under age appropriate materials, school libraries must adjust collections to suit students age and educational needs. US News and World Reports has released its best states of 2024 list, which measures how well states perform for their citizens. The ranking takes into consideration multiple factors, including a state's economy, public safety, education, and more. Tennessee took the number 27 spot ranking in the middle of the pack. However, the volunteer state fell behind three places from last year's ranking. In 2023, Tennessee ranked as number 24, climbing up five spots from number 29 in 2022. Some neighboring states fared slightly better with North Carolina coming in at eight number 19, Georgia at number 18, and Virginia coming in at number 13. According to US News and World Reports, more weight was given to some categories than others based on a survey of what matters most to residents, for example, healthcare and education. Then came state economies, infrastructure, and the opportunity states offer their citizens. Fiscal stability followed along with measures of crime and corrections in a state's natural environment. According to the study, the volunteer state performed best in fiscal responsibility at number five, economy number 12, and infrastructure number 21. On the other end of the spectrum, the state performed poorly in healthcare number 42, crime and corrections number 42, and natural environment number 34. Tennessee also ranked number 22 in opportunity and number 31 in education. 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 Osborne.com, that's Turner and Osborne.com. Minutes matter when you call 911 for 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 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 Street across from the fire station. We're also in line at HunterCarry.com that's HunterC-A-R-Y.com. - Welcome back to Southern Middle Tennessee today and now our final story. Nashville International Airport, in cooperation with the Transportation Security Administration, announces the launch of BNA Passport, a new offering for non-ticketed guests to access dining and retail at the airport beyond the checkpoint. Beginning July 1st, visitors can now explore various activities at BNA, that not only include shopping and dining, but also plane-watching, art exhibits, and the opportunity to meet a loved one at the gate. As we continue to build a world-class airport, this new program opens the door for everyone, not just travelers to experience BNA like a local, said Doug Cruellen, president and CEO of BNA. Our restaurants and shops capture the essence of Nashville and BNA Passport creates an exciting way to explore them. Grab a bite, browse the shops, and experience music city all under one roof, he wrote. A daily allowance of 75 non-ticketed visitors can receive approval to access post security areas from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. seven days a week. Guests can apply online at flynashville.com, providing a minimum of 24-hour notice and up to seven days in advance, applicants can expect to receive an email indicating approval or denial at midnight the day of the requested visit. Once again, visit flynashville.com for more information. 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. 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)