Southern Middle TN Today News with Tom Price 10-1-26

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Southern Middle Tennessee Today

News Copy for October 1, 2026

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

We start with local news…

Ultium Cells to Invest Another $1Billion (CDH)

Ultium Cells, a joint venture of LG Energy Solution and General Motors (GM), announced plans to invest $1 billion in its Spring Hill facility in an effort to retool and diversify its battery cell manufacturing operations.

The announcement was made Sept. 29 by Gov. Bill Lee and Deputy Governor and Department of Economic and Community Development Commissioner Stuart McWorter.

“When GM and LG Energy Solution announced their joint venture in 2021, we knew it would create new opportunities for more than 1,000 Tennessee families," Lee said.

"I'm grateful for Ultium Cells' continued investment in our state and the confidence they've placed in Tennessee's highly skilled workforce and look forward to building on our partnership in the years ahead.”

The investment is expected to revamp the Spring Hill facility to be the first in the world to produce prismatic lithium manganese-rich (LMR) battery cells en masse. This technology offers energy density 33% greater than lithium-ion phosphate (LFP) battery cells, while also at a comparable cost.

“Establishing LMR prismatic cell production at Ultium Cells in Spring Hill is a key step in GM’s strategy to match the right battery technology to customer needs and strengthen our leadership in domestic battery manufacturing and innovation," Kurt Kelty, vice president of battery and sustainability at GM, said.

"High-nickel batteries will continue to give customers the highest range in our portfolio, while adding LMR positions us to leapfrog today’s more affordable chemistries and deliver lower costs with better performance. This flexibility allows us to scale efficiently, reach more customers, and support GM’s long-term EV strategy and profitability journey.”

Facility modifications are expected to begin later this year and are expected to be completed in 2028.

"Today’s announcement builds on a partnership between the two companies to develop prismatic battery cell technology and related chemistries and on GM’s long legacy of American ingenuity that’s produced innovations like the small-block V8 engine, OnStar connected vehicle services and hands-free Super Cruise," a company statement reads.

In 2021, GM and LG Energy Solution initially announced their joint venture with Ultium, pledging to create 1,300 jobs with more than $2.3 billion total investment. In 2022, the companies announced an expansion at the facility, which would create 400 new jobs and $275 million further investment.

“This marks Ultium Cells’ second major investment in Spring Hill and reflects the company’s continued growth as a diversified battery cell manufacturer," Ultium Cells president Injae Pahk (Een-jeh Pock) said. "By evolving production to meet changing market demands, Ultium Cells is reinforcing its long-term position as a key employer and technology leader in the U.S. battery cell sector.”

McWorter added the $1 billion investment is another example for Tennessee's progress in becoming a premier automobile manufacturing state.

“Tennessee remains well-positioned in the automotive industry to build upon the decades of success we have experienced," McWorter said. "A further billion-dollar investment from Ultium Cells signals confidence in our efforts to make Tennessee the best place to live, work and raise a family, and I’m grateful to their leadership for recognizing the opportunity that exists in our state.”

County Commission Passes Strategic Plan (MSM)

The Maury County Commission passed a strategic plan Sept. 21 naming the county’s strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats and setting six goals: long-term financial success, protecting residents’ health and livelihoods, public service, infrastructure maintenance and extension, balancing services and taxation, and making the county a great place to live.

The county Finance Department created the plan over six weeks based on local data, past initiatives and input from elected and career officials.

Commissioner Brent Coen moved first to send it back to committee so that he and his colleagues could take more time to digest it and suggest changes, but the other commissioners voted to pass it and make changes later.

“This is a living document… It can be changed… [but] we need to pass this tonight,” said Commissioner Wayne Romesburg.

Some commissioners worried the plan would sit unused like previous strategic plans.

“My concern is that we do something with this plan, because in the past it’s been put on a shelf and there’s never been any discussion about it,” said Commissioner Connie Green. “We need to put this in front of Admin [Committee] and have discussions on some of these topics that have been brought up.”

“If this gets shelved, it really keeps us in a stagnant [position],” agreed Commissioner Sam Barnes.

County Finance Director Doug Lukonen said he found reason for hope because his department created the plan rather than an outside consultant unfamiliar with county operations.

Some suggested strengthening the security of the information-technology provisions.

“The bad guys are all over technolog[ical attacks], and I hope we will address that,” said Commissioner Richard Baud.

“The IT plan is an absolute joke,” said public commenter Chris Gramling, a cybersecurity expert. “There’s no mention of a business continuity plan… a disaster recovery plan… a written information security plan… There’s no KPIs… We’ve got to start taking this stuff seriously. Sooner or later something really bad is going to happen.”

In other county business, Industrial Development Board Chair Stewart Parker, a candidate for Columbia mayor, updated the commission on the Innovation Campus. The county hopes to develop the 330-acre campus, which sits across Highway 31 from the General Motors and Ultium factories, into an industrial office park for research and development, engineering and other business-office uses.

“[Developing the Innovation Campus] has been in the fast-track to go through a number of different studies,” Parker said.

During one such study, the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation found diesel contamination under the site of an old tractor-filling station. Subsequent remediation, which required moving about a swimming pool’s worth of dirt, discovered more diesel in the groundwater.

Parker downplayed the contamination, which he said only prohibits the county from piping the site’s groundwater into a building. TDEC has agreed to isolate its brownfield designation to the acre surrounding the diesel contamination site, instead of the whole 330-acre campus.

“In my opinion, this is an example of someone in government needing to justify their position,” he joked.

Parker also explained the narrow mandate of the Industrial Development Board, which includes managing the county’s two industrial parks, at the Innovation Campus and Cherry Glen, and negotiating and enforcing PILOT (Payment in Lieu of Tax) agreements with large industrial job creators. This year the IDB managed not only to get a property-tax increase out of General Motors, but to negotiate a jobs requirement into their contract.

Parker said developments are fairly quiet in the county.

“Things are fairly quiet in Maury County right now,” Parker said. “There’s been a failure with some industrial boards in this county, but there has not been a failure in the Industrial Development Board.”

IN OTHER BUSINESS

The county commission passed a Trap, Neuter and Return policy for free-roaming cats. Stray, feral or ownerless outdoor cats trapped by county Animal Services will be vaccinated, sterilized, microchipped and ear-tipped immediately upon intake. The policy aims to reduce nuisances and administrative costs.

Animal Services Director Kim Raffauf explained that stray cats are in great danger of overrunning the shelter, sharing that 1,589 cats came through the shelter last year, and only one percent of them were tagged or microchipped.

“We’re not looking to take anyone’s pets… We’re looking to solve the cat problem, because they can reproduce 4-5 times per year,” she said. “The majority of the animals are not friendly, they’re coming in traps for a reason.”

“There’s no sterilization without prior authorization from the owners,” County Attorney Mark Dobies reassured the audience.

“I think this is a no-brainer,” said public commenter Katie Martin, who told her own sad story of having to euthanize a neglected and dying stray kitten. The policy, she said, also saves tax dollars and prevents needless animal suffering.

The commission also appointed commissioners Cindy Hestla and Winston Harlan to the Ethics Committee and announced plans to appoint new members to the Admin Committee and Civil Service Board next month. It also announced a vacancy on the Park Board.

The commission approved rezoning about 245 acres on Snow Creek Road for a Snow Creek Ranch retreat center and about 317 acres on Double Branch and East Sheepneck roads as Agricultural Preservation areas.

It also agreed to buy additional land for the three-acre Project Guardian campus on which to build a communications tower for the Office of Emergency Management.

CSCC Baller to Play in Europe (Press Release)

 Columbia State Community College Chargers Men’s Basketball Player Piotr Luczak (LOOT-shack) recently played for his home country of Poland in an international basketball tournament.

Prior to playing for the Chargers as a freshman in the 2025-2026 season, Luczak, a Wrocław (VROT-swaaf), Poland native, played basketball for and graduated from the Academy of Central Florida in Orlando. 

Towering over most of the court at 6’11, he was primed to take the position of center on the Chargers’ roster.

Following the Chargers’ close loss in the Tennessee Community College Athletic Association Region 7 Championship, Luczak began preparing to show off his skills on a global stage by playing for his home country of Poland on the Polish National Youth Team in the 2026 Fédération Internationale de Basketball (FIBA) U20 Youth EuroBasket Tournament.

Over seven total games in July 2026, Luczak averaged 3.4 points, 3.7 rebounds, 1.1 assists and 1.4 blocks per game while shooting 46.2% from the field.

“It was a really special experience for me,” Luczak said. “Being able to represent Poland was something I was very proud of. I worked hard to get that opportunity, so being there and competing against some of the best players in Europe meant a lot to me. It also gave me more motivation to keep working and improve as a player.”

During Poland’s game against the Czech Republic, also called Czechia, he posted a double-double-caliber line of four points, 10 rebounds and a team-best +18 efficiency rating. Following that performance, he reached a season-high eight-point outing against Lithuania.

“My proudest moment was being able to step on the court and represent my country,” Luczak said. “But other than that, definitely the game against Czechia, where I helped my team through the struggle in the difficult times of the game and the win guaranteed us a place to stay in Division A of the tournament.”

Following Poland’s defeat to Serbia, the team ended in eleventh position in the FIBA U20 Youth EuroBasket Tournament.

“We are all extremely proud of Piotr for this amazing achievement,” said Winston Neal, Columbia State men’s basketball head coach. “The opportunity to represent your country in competition is an extremely special moment. Piotr did an amazing job of representing his family, country and Columbia State this summer in the European Championships!”

Luczak returns to Columbia State for the Fall 2026 semester to close out his time playing for the Chargers, with opportunities ahead of him as he continues to develop his skills on the court in both the United States and abroad.

“The experience helped me understand how important it is to play faster, make decisions quickly and stay focused every possession,” Luczak said. “The level of competition was very high, and I saw that small details can make a big difference. I also learned more about my own game, especially where I can be more aggressive and focus more on scoring. Playing with and against different players showed me that everyone has different strengths and ways of playing, so you have to adjust and find ways to help your team.”

Maury Alliance Candidate Guide (Press Release)

The Maury County Candidate Guide for the November General election is available now!

This is a great resource for Maury County residents to learn more about the candidates running for:

• Tennessee House - District 64

• Tennessee House - District 71

• Columbia City Mayor

• Columbia Vice Mayor

• Mount Pleasant Commission

Read about each candidate, learn their vision for Columbia, Mount Pleasant, and Maury County, and make an informed decision before Election Day.

View the guide online by visiting www.mauryalliance.com.

Just a reminder: early voting is October 4th-October 29th, and election day is Tuesday, November 3rd.

Mt. Pleasant Commission Approves Electric Power Point (MSM)

The Mount Pleasant Power System will build a $6.6 million electric delivery point on the southern end of its system to serve Summertown, Rockdale and Sandy Hook and free capacity for future growth.

The Mount Pleasant City Commission approved a resolution Sept. 22 authorizing up to $6.6 million in electric system revenue bonds over 25 years to finance the project.

MPPS bought property near a designated delivery point along an existing Tennessee Valley Authority transmission line off Highway 20 and has worked with engineers to evaluate feasibility and costs.

The new delivery point would free approximately 6 to 8 megawatts of capacity at the system’s preliminary point. That capacity could accommodate future growth and provide additional backup power for MPPS.

MPPS plans to finance the project in part by paying off an existing bond scheduled to mature next year. Paying off the bond would free approximately $350,000 in annual debt service.

The remaining financing would involve an additional loan estimated at between $50,000 and $70,000, depending on bond and interest rates.

The commission approved the resolution 4-0.

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

Linda Sue Barber Jones, 93, of Lewisburg, Tennessee, passed away peacefully on Saturday, September 26, 2026.

Funeral services will be conducted at 1:00 p.m. on Friday, October 2, 2026, at Oakes & Nichols Funeral Home. Burial will follow at Polk Memorial Gardens.

Visitation will be held from 5:00–7:00 p.m. on Thursday, October 1, 2026, and from 11:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. on Friday, October 2, 2026, at Oakes & Nichols Funeral Home.

Mumford Frank Cathey, 80, resident of Hampshire, passed away Tuesday, September 29, 2026, at his residence.

Funeral services will be conducted Friday, October 2, 2026, at 4:00 PM at Oakes & Nichols Funeral Home with Randy Baxter officiating. The family will visit with friends Friday from 2:00 PM until the time of service at the funeral home. Burial will follow in Morrow Cemetery.

Anthony Eugene Baker, 60, died Wednesday, September 29, 2026, in Decatur, Alabama, where he had made his home for the past several years. 

The family will visit with friends Saturday, October 3, 2026, from 12:00 p.m. until 2:00 p.m. at Oakes & Nichols Funeral Home.

Nancy Clair Hood Gray, 91, a longtime resident of Columbia, died Sunday, September 27, 2026, at Skyline Medical Center in Nashville.

Graveside services will be conducted Thursday at 2:30 PM at Santa Fe Cemetery with Jimmy Fann officiating. The family will visit with friends Thursday from 1:00 PM until 2:00 PM at Oakes & Nichols Funeral Home. 

Charles Edward “Eddie” Vaughn, Jr., 72, passed peacefully Monday, September 28, 2026, at Maury Regional Medical Center.

Funeral services will be conducted Monday, October 5, 2026, at 2:00 P.M. at Oakes & Nichols Funeral Home. Burial will follow in Rock Springs Cemetery. The family will visit with friends Sunday from 4:00 P.M. until 7:00 P.M. and Monday from 1:00 P.M. until the service at 2:00 P.M. at Oakes & Nichols Funeral Home.

Nashville Symphony Suspends Season for Finances (MauryCountySource)

The Nashville Symphony is suspending its 2026-27 season beginning Oct. 18 as part of a restructuring plan to address a $10 million deficit in its current fiscal year operating budget.

The Nashville Symphony Board of Directors unanimously approved a resolution Sept. 28 declaring a “financial emergency.” The plan includes furloughing 27 full-time staff members and all 77 orchestra musicians.

Symphony leaders said the move is necessary to stabilize the organization’s finances and develop a more sustainable long-term operating model.

“The Nashville Symphony’s present circumstances demand plain speaking. For years, this institution has operated on a financial foundation that could not sustain it,” said Mark Cantrell, president and CEO of the Nashville Symphony in a release.

Cantrell, who took over as president and CEO in August, said the organization has exhausted its available cash and can no longer continue operating under its current financial structure.

“The excellence of this orchestra and the artistry of its musicians have never been in question,” Cantrell said. “Suspending concerts and furloughing colleagues impose profound hardship on people who have given this institution their talent, their labor and their trust.”

Schermerhorn Symphony Center will remain open for private rentals and events during the restructuring period, and previously booked weddings and other events will not be affected.

Music Director Leonard Slatkin said his final concerts of the season will take place Oct. 16-17, but he plans to remain in his role during the restructuring.

“Although my final concerts this season will take place on October 16-17, I intend to remain the Nashville Symphony’s music director, and I am committed to walking alongside our musicians, staff, board, and community as we work toward our return,” Slatkin said.

Symphony leadership said the financial problems developed over time as expenses increasingly outpaced available revenue. Cantrell said the organization had also relied heavily on support from a single donor, a model leadership now says was not sustainable.

A broader restructuring plan will be developed in the coming months with input from senior leadership, the board and orchestra musicians. Cantrell said he has spoken with union representatives and that musicians have expressed a willingness to work with management toward a solution.

Board Chair Teresa Sebastian said the organization also plans to develop new fundraising and revenue strategies, including expanding its donor base and strengthening its long-term endowment.

“Our board’s job is to be honest about where we are and clear-eyed about what it will take to move forward, and that’s exactly what this plan represents,” Sebastian said.

Ticket holders for canceled 2026-27 season performances can apply the value of their tickets toward a future performance or convert the amount into a tax-deductible donation to the Nashville Symphony. Additional ticket questions can be directed to tickets@nashvillesymphony.org.

Final Story of the Day (Maury County Source)

Slipknot is bringing its newly announced “(sic)est Stadium Tour” to Nashville in 2027.

The heavy metal band will perform at FirstBank Stadium at Vanderbilt University on Tuesday, Aug. 3, 2027. Bring Me The Horizon and Kublai Khan TX will join Slipknot for the Nashville show.

The concert is part of Slipknot’s worldwide stadium tour, which kicks off July 3 at Wembley Stadium in London before heading to North America later that month.

Tickets for the Nashville concert go on sale to the general public Friday, Oct. 2 at 10 a.m. local time. Find tickets at www.vucommodores.evenue.net.