Southern Middle TN Today News with Tom Price 1-13-26

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Southern Middle Tennessee Today

News Copy for January 13, 2026

All news stories are aggregated from various sources and modified for time and content. Original sources are cited.

We start with local news…

Kitchen Fire (MauryCountySource)

Fire crews responded early Sunday morning to a kitchen fire at a home on Bonnie Blue Lane.

According to the Maury County Fire Department, units were dispatched at 12:20 a.m. and arrived to find most of the fire already knocked down by the homeowner, who used a fire extinguisher on a grease fire. Firefighters used a water can to fully extinguish burning cabinets and remained on scene for about an hour to ventilate the home.

Maury County EMS evaluated one person at the scene for smoke inhalation.

City Votes for Rate Increase (TNLookout)

Columbia’s City Council on Thursday approved water rate hikes of up to 20% per year over the next five years to fund a new $520 million intake on the Duck River and a new water treatment plant.

The rate increase will affect Columbia Power and Water Systems’ 27,000 customers, as well as thousands more served by other water systems that buy water from Columbia Power and Water. New rates go into effect on March 1, according to the new rate schedule.

The council approved the new rates 5-2, with Council member Charlie Huffman and Columbia Mayor Chaz Molder voting no. The council also unanimously approved an increase of the utility’s impact fee for new customers, creating potential future revenue that could reduce the need to raise customer rates, according to the utility’s CEO, Jonathan Hardin.

The vote followed weeks of intense debate and input from residents of Columbia and surrounding cities that purchase water from the utility. Dozens of people packed the Columbia Council’s chambers Thursday night to speak ahead of the vote, with the majority asking council members to delay the decision and examine alternatives in hopes of finding a cheaper option.

Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation Water Resources Division Director April Grippo said other ideas that have been pitched would require additional study.

“We are not aware of another alternative that is as mature as Columbia Power and Water’s that would be available for the next several years,” she said during a council meeting on Tuesday.

Staff from Columbia Power and Water Systems and the state’s water division said the project, which has been under consideration for at least 10 years and has cleared state environment and wildlife oversight, is necessary to ensure continued water delivery as the region’s needs grow. Water systems are required by the state to plan for expansion when they meet 80% of their capacity, and the Columbia utility is at 93% capacity now, Grippo said.

Elected officials representing Maury County residents opposed the rate increase or advocated for city leaders to delay the vote and explore other options, including Maury County Mayor Sheila Butt, multiple Maury County commissioners, and State Rep. Scott Cepicky, a Culleoka Republican. 

Maury County residents living outside of Columbia city limits repeatedly said they felt disenfranchised by the rate approval process. Columbia Power and Water Systems is a city utility that sells water at wholesale rates to other nearby water systems serving a combined 35,000 customers in Maury County, Spring Hill and Mount Pleasant, but rate changes are approved solely by the Columbia City Council.

A few speakers, including Trent Ogilvie, who sat on the Columbia utility’s board in 2018, recalled the project was estimated to cost $225 million at the time, compared to more than $500 million eight years later.

“But yet, we say, let’s continue to wait,” he said.

Plans for the project have been publicly available on the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation’s website since 2021, and the state has hosted nine public meetings on the project since 2020.

Ward 1 Council member Carl McCullen initially voted against the proposal in December, but supported the measure on Thursday. McCullen recalled discussions about persistent and intensifying water supply issues stretching back decades.

“Water’s a problem. You can’t keep putting it off, and pause it … I think it’s time for us to do something about that,” McCullen said.

What this means for water bills

The new water rate schedule allows Columbia Power and Water to increase rates up to 20% each year, but Hardin and Columbia Vice Mayor Randy McBroom have referred to this cap as the “worst case scenario.”

The low-interest federal and state loans that will fund the project require stress tests that do not allow the utility to assume any new revenue will come from a growing customer base or new customer impact fees. 

All customers will see a 20% hike in their water bill in the first year, according to the utility, but Columbia Power and Water expects increases in years three through five will be lower.

Annual cost of service studies will determine increases for each type of customer — including industrial customers, wholesale customers, and customers inside and outside of the city limits — for years two through five.

For an average monthly bill for 5,000 gallons for a Columbia Water and Power System customer inside city limits, a customer paying a $34.75 water bill might pay up to $86.47 by 2030, according to the utility. An average customer outside city limits may go from paying $45.25 for 5,000 gallons to as much as $112.60 by 2030. 

Multiple speakers at Thursday’s meeting said those higher rates will be detrimental to farmers, elderly residents, those on fixed incomes and households that are already struggling to keep up with bills. Several lamented that “past sins” and continued approval of new development without matching infrastructure are to blame.

“If you don’t have the resources, you can’t have the people here,” Joey Davenport said. “If I have an empty glass of water and I have a full glass of water, what does it matter if you can’t afford that full glass? It’s no different than the empty glass.”

Maury County Water System customers already pay higher rates than Columbia Water and Power customers, because the county utility buys its water from Columbia’s utility at wholesale prices and sells it to county customers after adding on additional costs. This particularly concerned farmers and those who live on rural land outside of the reach of the city’s utility. 

Jason Gilliam, a member of the Maury County Water System Board, said the extra cost for county water system customers has to do with economy of scale. Columbia has about 500 miles of pipe in the ground and about 27,000 customers, while Maury County Water System has 475 miles of pipe in the ground and serves 8,800. Gilliam, who also chairs the county’s Republican Party and leads a group advocating for the construction of a new dam in Columbia, also urged the council to vote against the raise.

“I’m not going to waste any more time discussing the enormous cost of the project or the detriment it would cost to so many people that live here — those who have spent their entire lives here, making this place what it is,” he said. “I want to remind you … of your role on the city council … you said that you wanted to serve your community.”

Molder, who voted against the increase, said “this is the right project at the wrong time,” and he could not justify a vote in favor due to concerns about skyrocketing costs of living.

Molder is also in the running to represent Tennessee’s fifth Congressional district, which covers portions of Maury, Davidson, Lewis, Marshall, Wilson and Williamson counties.

Columbia Power and Water will send out sample bills to each ratepayer so they know what to expect on their bills after March 1.

Project details

The higher impact fee and water rates will allow Columbia’s water utility to secure low-interest, long-term loans from the state and federal governments. The $520 million price tag includes all project costs, including design, construction and mitigation, according to Columbia Power and Water.

The new intake will be located downstream from the utility’s current intake at Riverside Drive. The new intake can withdraw up to 32 million gallons of water per day from the Duck River, 12 million gallons more than the current intake is permitted to withdraw.

Grippo said the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation would not approve raising the withdrawal cap at the Riverside Drive intake because water flow at that portion of the river is too low to sustain it. Flow is higher downstream.

The utility has already secured 63% of the land easements needed for the project, and anticipates it will hold 75% in the next two to three weeks, Hardin said.

Work on the intake and water treatment plant is slated to begin in Spring 2026 and conclude in summer 2029.

City Honors Chief Alsup at Retirement (CDH)

Columbia City Council bid farewell to one of its leaders as Police Chief Jeremy Alsup officially retires from the Columbia Police Department.

Council members presented Alsup with a retirement plaque in appreciation for his 27 years of service to the department.

"We are losing a very fine man, and a very good police chief for our department at the city of Columbia Police Department," Mayor Chaz Molder said. "There will have been three police chiefs during my office of mayor, and Chief Alsup will be the one who served the longest, and so therefore the chief I have gotten to know the best.

"His core mission was to keep this community safe, and in turn make it a better place."

Last month, the city announced Assistant Police Chief Jeremy Haywood has been appointed as Alsup's successor in the position.

"I want to thank Columbia for allowing me to participate in the greatest profession," Alsup said. "I can assure the citizens of Columbia that Haywood is the right man. I feel confident leaving him in charge and the leadership he will provide the police department. He's ready to roll."

As far as retirement plans and what comes next, Alsup said they "are to be announced later."

Alsup first came onboard the CPD in 1997 as a reserve officer, becoming a full-time patrol officer in 1998.

He was later promoted to detective in 2006 and has served in various positions ever since, including a sergeant in the Criminal Investigation Division in 2009, lieutenant in 2011 and captain status in 2013.

Alsup was promoted to assistant chief in 2018 before becoming Chief of Police in 2020, taking over after former Chief Terry Potts.

During his time as an officer, Alsup received several awards and recognitions, including the Knights of Columbus CPS Officer of the Year and the Fraternal Order of Police Officer of the Year.

"I want to thank the chief, and the last thing he would always say is, 'Call me if you need me,' and that meant a lot to me," Vice Mayor Randy McBroom said.

In 2024, Alsup was presented the distinguished Department of Defense Patriot Award by the U.S. Department of Defense.

Dark Promoted to Assistant Chief (MauryCountySource)

The City of Columbia’s Police Department is pleased to announce the promotion of Captain Jason Dark to Assistant Chief of Police, effective January 11, 2026.

Assistant Chief Dark brings 28 years of dedicated service to the Columbia Police Department. His connection with the department began in 1993 when he joined CPD as a Police Explorer. He later served as a Reserve Officer in 1997 before being hired as a full-time Patrol Officer in 1998.

Throughout his career, Assistant Chief Dark has served in numerous leadership roles, including Corporal, Sergeant, Lieutenant of Support Services, and Patrol Captain. His extensive experience across multiple divisions of the department has prepared him well for this leadership role.

Assistant Chief Dark’s professional development includes completion of the FBI–LEEDA Trilogy Certification, reflecting his commitment to leadership excellence and continuous improvement.

“We look forward to Assistant Chief Dark’s continued service as he steps into this new role and leads the department with integrity, experience, and his commitment to public safety,” the Columbia Police Department said.

Election Deadlines for 2026 (MSM)

Maury Countians will head to the polls later this year for elections that will include multiple local, state and federal offices.

The Maury County Election Commission has published timelines, deadlines and requirements for both candidates and voters related to the different elections for the 2026 cycle.

Maury County elections and state and federal primaries (Aug. 6)

For voters in local elections, the following deadlines apply:

• May 8 is the day when voters can request absentee mail-in ballots.

• June 22 is when the Election Commission sends out all the absentee ballots that military personnel have previously requested. If someone on active service asks for an absentee ballot after that date, the Election Commission will still send them one, but the filled ballot itself must be received by 7 p.m. on Election Day.

• July 7 is the last day to register to vote.

• Early voting begins on July 17 and ends on Aug. 1.

• July 27 is the last day to request a non-military absentee mail-in ballot.

• Aug. 6 is Election Day for county offices and state and federal primaries.

For local candidates, last Friday (Jan. 9) was the first day they could take out petitions to be put on the ballot. Petitioners must get 25 signatures or more from their prospective constituents and submit them to the Maury County Election Commission by March 10. March 17 is the last day for a candidate who has qualified to withdraw their name from the ballot. Write-in candidates — who didn’t file a petition, run in a primary or get checked for eligibility — must submit a write-in candidate form by noon on June 17, asking the Election Commission to watch for and count their write-in votes.

Maury County government elections

Every four years, the County Mayor and all 22 Maury County Commission seats go on the ballot for election. Also running in the Aug. 6 election are candidates for Maury County Trustee, County Sheriff, Circuit Court Clerk, County Clerk, Registrar of Deeds, 11 Constables and School Board members in odd-numbered districts.

State judicial and primary elections

Primary elections will be held in August for the governorship, seats in the state House of Representatives now held by Scott Cepicky (R-District 64) and Kip Capley (R-71), and Republican and Democratic state executive committees for the 28th Senate District. General elections will also be held for vacant state judicial offices.

Federal primaries

Primaries will be held in August for the Tennessee seats in the U.S. Congress currently held by Senator Bill Hagerty (R) and Representative Andy Ogles (R-District 5).

City, state and federal elections (Nov. 3)

For voters, absentee mail-in ballots can be requested from Aug. 5-Oct. 24. Military absentee ballots must be requested by Sept. 19. Voters must be registered by Oct. 5 and can cast an early vote from Oct. 14-29. Approximately 70 percent of Maury County voters cast their ballots early in 2024.

For candidates in these later municipal elections, the first day to take out petitions is June 22. They must get 25 signatures or more from their prospective constituents and submit them to the Maury County Election Commission by noon on Aug. 20. Aug. 27 is the last day for candidates who have qualified to withdraw their name from the ballot.

Mount Pleasant City Commission

Two seats are up for election on the Mount Pleasant City Commission, currently held by commissioners Mike Davis and Pam Johnston.

Columbia City Council

The mayoral and vice-mayoral seats of Columbia are up for election in 2026. Last fall Mayor Chaz Molder declared his intent to run for the Fifth District in the U.S. House of Representatives, instead of for a third term as Mayor of Columbia.

State general elections

General elections will be held in November for the governorship, seats in the state House of Representatives now held by Scott Cepicky (R-District 64) and Kip Capley (R-71), Republican and Democratic state executive committeeships for the 28th Senate District, and vacant state judicial offices.

Federal general elections

General elections will be held in November for the U.S. Congress seats currently held by Tennessee Senator Bill Hagerty (R) and Tennessee Representative Andy Ogles (R-District 5).

MCPS Recognizes Teachers/Principal of the Year (MauryCountySource)

Maury County Public Schools is recognizing its Teachers and Principal of the Year, honoring educators who go above and beyond to support and inspire students across the district.

District leaders praised the recipients for their dedication, passion, and commitment to excellence, noting the lasting impact they make in both classrooms and the community. Officials say their work helps shape the future of students and reflects the highest standards of MCPS.

Congratulations to all Teachers of the Year!

Battle Creek Elementary School – Tabitha Bilbao

Highland Park Elementary School – Katie Reed

J. E. Woodard Elementary School – Whitney Andrews

Joseph Brown Elementary – Macy Andrews

J. R. Baker Elementary – Casey Rubolin

Marvin Wright Elementary – Allyn Welscott

Mt. Pleasant Elementary – Danielle Roberts

Randolph Howell Elementary School – Brooke Fincher

Riverside Elementary School – Kylie La Porte

Spring Hill Elementary – Connie Holland

Battle Creek Middle School Bears – Spring Hill, TN – Ashley Lauer

EA Cox Middle School – Amanda Gregory

Mt Pleasant Middle School of the Visual & Performing Arts – Julia McCalip

Spring HILL Middle School – David Robbins

Whitthorne Middle School – Leigh Anna Pollard

Battle Creek High School – Christian Carr

Columbia Central High School – Rebecca Witherow

Mt. Pleasant High School – Jessica Stockdale

Spring Hill High School – Laura Purtle

Culleoka Unit School – Jackie Fuller, Sara Harwell, Katy Cross

Hampshire Unit School – Bethany Ring, Beth Marks, Darah Owens

Santa Fe School – Jan Crutcher, David Parks, Amy Parks

Horace O. Porter at College Hill – Katye Lacasse

Northfield Academy – Bill Riley

Virtual Academy of Maury County – Carolyn Keysaer

District Teachers of the Year

Elementary – Bethany Ring – Hampshire Unit School

Middle – David Robbins – Spring HILL Middle School

High School – Laura Purtle – Spring Hill High School

District Principal of the Year:

Randolph Howell Elementary School – Marisa Massey

And now, Your Hometown Memorials, Sponsored by Oakes & Nichols Funeral Home…

Mrs. Kathy Belinda Wakefield Drewett, 65, resident of Culleoka, passed away Sunday, January 11 at Maury Regional Medical Center. Funeral services will be conducted Thursday at 11:00 AM at Oakes & Nichols Funeral Home. Burial will follow in Lynnwood Cemetery. The family will visit with friends Wednesday from 4:00 PM until 8:00 PM at the Funeral Home.

Mr. Bobby Donald Neese, 87, a resident of Columbia, died January 11 at Maury Regional Medical. Funeral services will be conducted Sunday at 3:00 PM at Oakes & Nichols Funeral Home. Burial will follow in Polk Memorial Gardens. The family will visit with friends Saturday from 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM at Oakes & Nichols Funeral Home.

Mayor Dean Dickey, a devoted public servant, respected business leader, and lifelong advocate for his community, passed away on January 8, 2026.

Dean’s family will receive friends January 22, 2026 from 3:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. at First Family Church in Columbia, Tennessee. Friends can visit prior to the service from 9:00 a.m. until 10:00 a.m., January 23, 2026 at First Family Church.

Now, news from around the state…

Infant Mortality Rates in State High (TNLookout)

Tennessee’s infant mortality rate has dipped since 2019 but remains significantly and persistently higher than the national average, a new report published by the state’s health department found.

Black families in Tennessee continue to experience the heartbreak of losing a baby in the first year of life at twice the rate of white families, a stubborn disparity linked to maternal health, preterm births and access to prenatal care, among other factors. 

West Tennessee had some of the highest rates of infant mortality: 9.7 deaths per 1,000 live births. Knox County had the lowest at 3.4 deaths per 1,000 live births. 

Overall, Tennessee’s infant mortality rate of 6.5 deaths per 1,000 live births was 16% higher than the national average of 5.6 deaths per 1,000 live births. The report focuses on 2023 birth outcomes.

The 2023 infant deaths were largely a result of medical conditions, including preterm and low-birth-weight deliveries, and congenital disease. 

But unsafe sleeping practices, such as putting a baby to sleep on its belly, outside of a crib or bassinet or with blankets and stuffed animals that can potentially lead to suffocation, remained a significant factor in infant deaths. Sleep-related deaths claimed the lives of one in four babies between 2019 and 2023, the report found. Nearly four in five sleep-related deaths were deemed “preventable” by teams of experts who review child deaths.

The report makes a series of recommendations to combat Tennessee’s high rates of infant deaths. They include promoting safe sleep practices, smoking cessation programs and increasing awareness of prenatal services offered by public health departments.

Final Story of the Day (Maury County Source)

Nashville Zoo is starting 2026 with a milestone moment!

The zoo welcomed its first-ever aardvark calf early on New Year’s Day at 6:06 a.m. The newborn, born to parents Karanga and Winsol, weighs about four pounds and is roughly the length of a rolling pin.

Zoo officials say both Karanga and her calf are doing well and are being carefully monitored by the animal care team in a behind-the-scenes habitat.

Aardvarks are rare in accredited zoos, with only 33 currently living in AZA-accredited facilities. This newborn is the 34th and the first aardvark calf born since 2024, making the birth a notable moment for the species.