WKOM/WKRM Radio
Southern Middle Tennessee Today
News Copy for January 14, 2025
All news stories are aggregated from various sources and modified for time and content. Original sources are cited.
We start with local news…
School Openings (Press Release)
All Maury County Public Schools will open two hours late on Tuesday, January 14. Please note that if your child's bus normally picks up at 7 a.m., it will pick up at 9 a.m. today. Bus drivers will exercise discretion to ensure the safety of all students. All Boys & Girls Club locations will operate on their regular schedules.
Maury Regional Adopts New AI Technology (Press Release)
Maury Regional Medical Center (MRMC) has adopted the CathWorks FFRangio® System, a groundbreaking technology that combines artificial intelligence (AI) and computational science to visualize a patient’s coronary arteries, revolutionizing the ability to assess and manage coronary artery disease (CAD).
“This cutting-edge system provides clinicians with critical physiologic insights in just minutes, enabling more accurate diagnosis and treatment planning, while offering a more comfortable and efficient experience for patients,” said CEO Martin Chaney, MD. “MRMC is one of the first hospitals in the region to implement this advanced technology, reinforcing its commitment to excellence in cardiology care, giving local access to world-class care.”
CAD is a common type of heart disease that blocks or narrows the arteries that supply blood to the heart. This can lead to symptoms of chest pain (angina), fatigue, shortness of breath and, if left untreated, a heart attack. This disease often develops over many years and affects more than 19 million people in the United States.
The CathWorks FFRangio® System is a computer-based technology that uses routine angiograms of a patient’s heart to create a detailed 3D model, identifying the location and severity of coronary blockages. Unlike traditional methods of fractional flow reserve (FFR), which require pressure wires and drug stimulation, the FFRangio® System can offer a quick, reliable and non-invasive alternative for medically qualified patients.
“CathWorks is another example of how AI is becoming more integrated into medical technology. It’s exciting to know this will improve precision, care and overall accuracy for our patients,” said Kevin M. Maquiling, MD, an interventional cardiologist with Vanderbilt Heart in Columbia who serves as the medical director of the Cath Lab at MRMC. “The FFRangio system allows us to be less invasive, yet still answer critical questions right at the time of the procedure instead of having to rely on additional tests performed later.”
As southern Middle Tennessee's only Heart Center, Maury 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 Vanderbilt Heart-Columbia and Ascension Saint Thomas Heart Columbia who are complemented by a highly skilled and experienced team that strives to achieve the best possible outcomes.
Maury Regional Medical Center is recognized as a Chest Pain Center with PCI by the American College of Cardiology and holds certification in the treatment of heart failure from The Joint Commission.
MRMC is the only hospital in Tennessee to receive the excellence in patient safety and outstanding patient experience awards from Healthgrades® in 2024.
To learn more about cardiology services at Maury Regional Health, visit MauryRegional.com/Heart.
Spring Hill Election (MauryCountySource)
The City of Spring Hill Local Election will be on Thursday, April 10, 2025, with early voting beginning on March 21 and ending on April 5.
The purpose of this election is to elect a Mayor to serve a term of four years and one Alderman from each of the four wards to be elected at large.
The qualifying deadline is January 16th. For more information, please visit:
Archives to Re-Open (WKOM)
The Maury County Archives, which has been undergoing a major expansion over the last sixteen months, will hold their grand re-opening on Thursday, January 16th at 1:00pm.
The archives, which originally opened in 2001 in the old Maury County Jail, has been greatly expanded. The original 8500 square feet has been renovated and an additional 18,500 square feet added.
The project was overseen by the county’s owner-advocate Hewlett-Spencer, with Bell Construction as the main contractor. Both companies also oversaw the construction of the recently opened Maury County Judicial Center.
Funding for the archives expansion came from fee money collected by the county clerk’s office, building and zoning office, and the county courts. By state law, these archives fees can only be used by the county archives through the Public Record’s Commission. The fee money will pay the entire debt service on the $9.6 million project, with no tax dollars spent on the project.
“We needed the space desperately,” said Cindy Grimmitt, one of the four archivists on staff. “We have every document that Maury County has ever generated,” she said. “Millions of records that tell the history of this place. We will be migrating all the documents from the old Courthouse to the new archives in a few weeks. That will put every record under one roof for the first time in our history. We are one of the very few counties that has all of its records,” Grimmitt said.
Besides offering a research facility that will cater to genealogists, historians, and students, the expanded facility has room for public programming and education
“We are especially excited about bringing some educational outreach to our facility,” said archivist Amy Egnew. “We will be offering workshops on genealogy, delve into genetic genealogy, and offer classes on primary document research to school kids across the county,” she said.
The Maury County Archives also features a full paper conservation lab that will allow for the cleaning and repair of documents. “We are excited to bring the science of paper conservation into the facility, where a paper conservator will be able to repair our most damaged documents, and offer that service to other county archives’ and private collectors, on a fee basis,” said archivist Michelle Cannon. “Not many archives facilities can boast that service,” she said.
The archives will host an open house of the new facility following the ribbon cutting on Thursday. Tours of the entire facility will be conducted by the archives staff.
The Maury County Archives will be open Monday-Thursday 8am-6pm starting on Tuesday, January 21st.
For more information, follow the Maury County Archives on social media and on their website: https://www.maurycounty-tn.gov/202/Archives
Columbia State Pryor Art Gallery Exhibit (Press Release)
Visit Columbia State Community College’s Pryor Art Gallery for their new exhibition, “Admiral Radio: Echoes of the Past,” supported in party by Columbia Antique Marketplace.
Step back in time and discover the fascinating history of radios, from the sleek Art Deco designs of the 1930s to today’s digital devices. This exhibition highlights how radios shaped communication, culture and technology across decades.
Explore iconic radios, vintage ads, and more—each piece tells a unique story of its era. Don’t miss this visual journey through sound, history, and innovation January 16 through February 13!
Pryor Art Gallery hours:
Monday through Thursday: 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Friday: 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
This exhibit will coincide with the February 13 concert featuring Admiral Radio!
Inspired by their 1941 wooden Admiral radio, and an inspiration to Columbia State to design their Admiral Radio exhibition in the gallery, this South Carolina-based husband and wife duo creates an Americana sound rooted in tradition that touches the heartstrings of the modern-day listener.
The concert will take place at Cherry Theater in the Waymon L. Hickman Building on the Columbia Campus on Thurs., Feb. 13 @ 7 p.m. Tickets are $35 (includes all fees).
Learn more by visiting www.columbiastate.edu/pryor-gallery.
African American Heritage Society Lecture (Press Release)
The African American Heritage Society of Maury County announces that the theme for the 2025 Quarterly Lecture Series is “Hidden Figures of Maury County.”
The first lecture in this series is scheduled for Saturday, January 18, 10:00am at Maury County Archives, located at 201 East 6th Street in Columbia. It is free and open to the public.
The “hidden figures” of Maury County are African American men and women who were born in Maury County or called Maury County home and contributed to community-building or played major roles in events that had an impact in this city, county, state, or country. “The hidden figures of Maury County made significant contributions, but their roles and accomplishments are not widely known, and they are not recognized or credited for their work by the wider public, making them “hidden,” said Jo Ann McClellan, the president of African American Heritage Society of Maury County. “
The first speaker will be me, Tom Price, Director of the Maury County Archives, and I will be discussing fugitive slave-turned abolitionist and minister, Rev. Jermain Wesley Loguen.
Loguen escaped slavery in Maury County through the help of the Underground Railroad, a secret network of sites and people that aided the enslaved to get to freedom in the North and Canada. After making a harrowing escape, Loguen settled in New York, where he gained an education, was ordained a minister, and became one of the most vocal opponents of slavery. A gifted orator and intimate of abolitionist Frederick Douglas, Loguen even advertised his house in Syracuse as a stop on the Underground Railroad! He is credited with bringing more than one thousand runaway slaves to safety and freedom. Today he is remembered as the “King of the Underground Railroad.” I will be discussing this incredible story of one of Maury County and the nation’s greatest heroes.
Founded in 2012, the African American Heritage Society of Maury County is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization whose mission is to preserve the heritage and history of African Americans of Maury County, Tennessee.
Zion Christian to Host MLK Tourney (MSM)
Zion Christian Academy in Columbia will host the inaugural Martin Luther King Day Classic on Jan. 20, featuring a six-game extravaganza of boys and girls basketball matchups.
“When I lived in Huntsville and attended high school down there, (Alabama-Huntsville) hosted an event, the Marvin Stone Classic, on MLK Day and they’d try to get some of the top teams in the state to compete,” Zion Christian girls coach Westin Ford said in announcing the hardwood affair. “I always liked the idea of trying to get teams that may not face each other, or may only face each other in a state tournament situation.
“Last March, after I transitioned back to Zion (from Mt. Pleasant), we thought of the idea of hosting our own event. We talked about Christmas or Thanksgiving, and then I had the idea of MLK Day. It wasn’t meant to be a tournament – just one game, counts as one game on your schedule during the season.”
The slate is set to start at 11 a.m. with a clash of Eagles, as the hosts will face East Hickman in girls play. Following will be another pair of girls contests – Richland and the Tennessee Heat at 12:45 p.m., Wayne County and LEAD Academy at 2:30.
Boys play will begin at 4:15 p.m. with East Hickman and the Tennessee Heat, with Wayne County and LEAD Academy at 6 p.m. In the nightcap, it’ll be Richland and Zion Christian at 7:45 p.m.
“We reached out to a bunch of teams and a bunch expressed interest in playing next year,” Ford said. “It’s something we plan to do next year and continue doing, and hopefully it becomes a pretty cool tradition here in Maury County.”
Kids Place Gala (Press Release)
You are cordially invited to step into an evening of mystery, elegance, and purpose at the 6th Annual Kid’s Place Gala on January 31, 2025. This year’s event, “Beyond the Mask”, will take place at the exquisite Keestone Resort in Loretto, Tennessee, setting the perfect stage for a dazzling Masquerade Ball.
Behind the masks, abuse happens silently in our own communities; the children and families Kid’s Place serves are your neighbors, employees, family, and friends. Attendees will unite to illuminate a critical cause: the fight against child abuse. Together, we can ensure children and families in our community receive the hope, help, and healing they deserve.
All proceeds from the gala will support the vital work of the four Kid’s Place centers serving Giles, Lawrence, Maury, and Wayne counties. Last year alone, Kids Place served more than 600 victims of child sexual abuse and severe physical abuse at no cost to the families, thanks to generous supporters like you.
As the largest fundraising and awareness event, the gala’s success depends on the support of compassionate individuals like yourself. Whether by attending, donating, or sponsoring, your involvement helps sustain the critical services we provide.
Kid’s Place works together with law enforcement, prosecution, mental health resources, and the community to combat the ever-growing epidemic. They cannot do this work alone; their biggest resource is YOU!
Sobriety Checkpoint (Press Release)
The Tennessee Highway Patrol will be conducting a sobriety checkpoint on Friday, January 24, 2025, from 10pm until midnight. The location is State Route 50 East @ .2 mile east of the 19mm.
Knights of Columbus to Honor LEOs (MSM)
At 6:30 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 1, the Knights of Columbus at St. Catherine’s Catholic Church (Council #7447) will hold their 39th annual appreciation dinner for the law enforcement officers of Maury County and its towns. The dinner, catered by Shaffer Farms Barbecue, is open to anyone who wishes to honor LEOs and their families.
“Each year the Knights of Columbus… honor local law enforcement,” said Grand Knight William Simpson, “for the sacrifices they make to ensure we live in a safe community.”
At the dinner each department (Maury County Sheriff, Columbia, Spring Hill and Mount Pleasant Police) will present an award to its Officer of the Year, accompanied by a speech from the department chiefs.
Maury Alliance Annual Meeting
Join Maury Alliance on Thursday, January 30th for their annual meeting, their most anticipated event of the year as they celebrate their accomplishments for 2024 and recognize the transition of their volunteer leadership.
This will be a lively night of entertainment and networking celebrating business and industry in Maury County with a social hour, dinner and live music!
The event will take place at the Memorial Building, located at 308 W. 7th Street in Columbia. The event will begin at 5pm with a networking/cocktail hour and wrap up by 8pm. Purchase tickets now to guarantee a seat at Maury Alliance’s biggest event of the year! Get them by visiting www.mauryalliance.com.
Registration will close January 20 at 5:00 pm.
Maury County Clerk Satellite Office (Press Release)
The Maury County Clerk’s office can now help residents with renewals of license plates or placards each Wednesday from 8am to 3:30pm at the Maury County Senior Center located at 1020 Maury County Park Dr.
Please drive around to the back of the building and look for the car tag renewal sign near the back door.
Forms of payment include credit/debit card or check – no cash.
Any Maury 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 Mt. Pleasant Courthouse.
And now, Your Hometown Memorials, Sponsored by Oakes & Nichols Funeral Home…
Anita Karen Spencer Brooks, 68, passed away Thursday, January 9, 2025, at Maury Regional Medical Center.
A memorial service will be conducted at Oakes & Nichols Funeral Home. The family will visit with friends Wednesday, January 15, 2025, from 3-5pm, with services to follow at 5pm.
Blonnie Wilkes Dodson, Jr., 97, resident of Columbia and owner of Wilma’s Fashion, Died Saturday, January 11, 2025 at NHC Maury Regional Transitional Center.
Funeral services will be conducted Thursday, January 16, 2025 at 2:00 PM at Oakes & Nichols Funeral Home. Burial will follow at Polk Memorial Gardens. The family will visit with friends Thursday, January 16, 2025 from 12:00 PM until the service time at Oakes & Nichols.
And now, news from around the state…
Gov. Lee Supports Trump Immigration Policy (TNLookout)
Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee confirmed Wednesday for the first time he would deploy National Guard troops to deport undocumented immigrants if President-elect Donald Trump makes the request.
Speaking to reporters after a groundbreaking event at the Tennessee College of Applied Technology on White Bridge Road in Nashville, Lee said no plan exists for Trump’s strategy to remove criminals who came into America illegally and no requests have been made to use Tennessee National Guard troops for deportation.
Yet Lee said he fully supports Trump’s plan to remove criminals that are undocumented immigrants, even though the next president has talked, not necessarily about removing criminals, but about deporting some 18 million immigrants, including U.S. citizens who are the children of undocumented parents.
“What I believe is that President Trump was elected saying what he wanted to do and the people elected him in a very strong fashion,” Lee said. “And I am supportive of his strategies going forward, and if that includes utilizing the national guard at the president’s request, then I’ll work together with governors across the country to do that.”
Lee previously issued a statement saying he asked state agencies to prepare to support Trump’s efforts to secure the nation’s borders and keep communities safe. That came after he spoke vaguely about the matter in a December press conference, saying the next president will set his strategies and the state would work to “implement strategies that work for Tennessee.”
He said that a day before the Republican Governors Association issued a letter signed by Lee saying it stands “united” in supporting Trump’s commitment to deal with the “illegal immigration crisis and deporting illegal immigrants who pose a threat to our communities and national security.”
The governor declined to speculate Wednesday about whether troops from some states might go into other states to deport immigrants if governors refuse to follow Trump’s orders to deploy their national guards.
A one-time mass deportation of about 11 million people who lack permanent legal status and 2.3 million more who crossed the U.S. southern border from January 2023 through April 2024 could cost an estimated $315 billion, according to the American Immigration Council.
The Tennessee Immigrant and Refugee Rights Coalition previously condemned Lee’s commitment, saying the move would hurt families and the local economy. The immigrant rights group said business leaders, economists, faith leaders and legal experts believe such a plan would be “disastrous.”
Republican leaders in the Tennessee legislature back Lee’s willingness to use troops, while Democrats criticize it as an attack on the immigrant community.
Final Story of the Day (Maury County Source)
Christian music's biggest tour, Winter Jam, has released its 2025 tour lineup and schedule. This year's jam will feature Skillet, Anne Wilson, KB, Colton Dixon, NewSong, Micah Tyler and speaker Zane Black. The tour began Jan. 10 and will hit 38 cities before concluding on March 23 at Nashville's Bridgestone Arena.
Winter Jam, founded more than 20 years ago by NewSong, consistently ranks among Pollstar's top tours. Since its founding, Winter Jam has stayed true to its original mission of only requiring a small donation at the door in lieu of tickets to make the show accessible to more people.
No tickets are required to attend Winter Jam. Admission is a $15 donation at the door. For more information, visit jamtour.com.
Maury Regional Medical Center (MRMC) is setting a remarkable precedent in healthcare by adopting the CathWorks FFRangio® System, a cutting-edge AI technology for diagnosing and managing coronary artery disease (CAD). This system provides rapid and precise insights into coronary health, improving patient outcomes and ensuring efficient care. MRMC’s initiative reflects its dedication to advanced medical solutions and community well-being. For researchers exploring health advancements or the intersection of technology and society, professional support like a sociology dissertation writing service can provide invaluable insights.