Southern Middle TN Today News with Tom Price 10-10-25

Things to do: Fall Fest, Boo Bash horse show, Tales for a Sultan and Goats, music and more (CDH)

It will be a festival heavy weekend with lots to do as Columbia celebrates its annual Fall Fest, along with festive horse shows, live theater and goats.

1. Fall Fest & Kiwanis Chili Cook-off

Downtown Columbia will celebrate its annual Fall Fest this weekend, along with a stiff competition among Kiwanians for best pot of chili.

The festival will run from 3-8 p.m. Saturday, where streets will be shut down to vehicular traffic as citizens gather, shop and take part in all the Fall Fest activities.

This includes lots of live entertainment throughout the afternoon, the Kiwanis Chili Cook-off, a Miss Fall Fest pageant, as well as several local vendors, food trucks and more.

A new addition this year is the Fruit Tea Throwdown, with local restaurants competing to claim the title of Best Fruit Tea in town.

For more information, visit www.ColumbiaMainStreet.com.

2. Boo Bash Horse ShowThe Halloween spirit can also be found in the form of a few four-legged equines at the annual Boo Bash! horse show.

This year's Boo Bash, hosted by the Maury County Bridle & Saddle Club, along with We Love Arabian Horses Foundation, will take place from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday at the Maury County Park fairgrounds, 1018 Maury County Park Drive.

The show, sponsored by Clovermeade Welsh Ponies, is for all breeds and disciplines, especially beginners.

Prizes will be awarded in multiple categories, including best costume, as well as best halter and hunter/jumper divisions.

For more information, visit www.AngelHeartFarm.com.

3. Tales for the Sultan at Building Block

Step back to ancient Persia with the classic tale of Shahrazad at the Building Block School for The Arts, 1309 S. Main St.

The school will present "Tales for the Sultan," with performances at 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday, followed by a 3 p.m. matinee Sunday.

Follow the tale of a young woman who must become a storyteller to save her own life and survive 1,001 Arabian nights in an immersive setting.

Tickets are $10 per person and can be purchased at www.BuildingBlockArts.com.

4. Goats, Music and More Fair

Another annual fall festival is happening this weekend, this time involving the iconic fainting goat.

The Goats, Music and More Fair returns for two days this weekend starting at 10 a.m. Friday and 9 a.m. Saturday at Rock Creek Park in Lewisburg, 101 Old Farmington Road.

Enjoy two days of music, food, and all things goat.

For more information, schedule and full lineup of music, visit www.GoatsMusicandMore.com.

5. Live entertainment

The Def Leprechaun Band will perform at McCreary's Irish Pub & Eatery, 814 S. Main St., starting at 7 p.m. Saturday.

Mainstreet Vinyl will perform at The Rebel Bar and Grill, 307 Riverside Drive, starting at 7:30 p.m. Saturday.

While Columbia is primed to begin the autumn season with its Columbia Main Street Fall Fest and Kiwanis Chili Cook-off this weekend, the event kickstarts a season of fun events as the holiday season rapidly approaches.

Whole Hog Festival

An annual autumn tradition in Spring Hill is the John Maher Builders Whole Hog Festival, which returns starting at 10 a.m. Saturday at Oaklawn Plantation, 3331 Denning Lane.

The event, which acts as a fundraiser to The Well Outreach food pantry, will include a full day of pork-themed foods, an antique tractor show and crafts fair.

Got a taste for bacon? This year's Hog Fest will also feature a bacon eating contest, a bucking hog ride and live music.

Mt. Pleasant Police launches Citizens' Academy

The Mt. Pleasant Police Department is making plans to open up a Citizens' Academy program. The department hopes to build relationships with the people of the city they serve, leading to trust and understanding of their daily operations.

The Citizen's Police Academy is a four-week program that meets at the police department from 6-8 p.m. on Monday nights and one Saturday. At classes, participants will learn about the responsibilities of law enforcement, from fieldwork like patrolling and criminal investigations, to clerical work including hiring, communications and law. Participants will also ride along with officers, get familiar with police equipment, and do other hands-on activities.

The Academy is open to everyone 21 years or older, though preference will be given to applicants who work or live in Mt. Pleasant city limits. Application forms can be found on the police department's website, and the paper application must be mailed to:

Mount Pleasant Police Department

100 Public Square

P.O. Box 426

Mount Pleasant, TN 38483

Attn: Cory England

Questions about the Academy can be asked of Officer Cory England at cengland@mtpleasant-tn.gov or (931) 379-3201.

Columbia Library to close for renovations starting Oct. 20 (MSM)

The Maury County Library Board announced that they were "thrilled" to start renovating their Columbia branch on October 20. The library will be closed temporarily as the facility gets overhauled; they declined to comment on how long the closure will last.

"While we know you'll miss having access to our current facility, we're confident that the wait will be worthwhile," said Library Director Meghan Cyr in a public statement. "We're not just updating our space — we're reimagining what a modern library can be for our community."

The renovated library will include expanded technology offerings and a number of new facilities, some of which are listed below.

• Private study rooms for work and research.

• A Teen Center where young people can collaborate on shared projects.

• A state-of-the-art Learning Classroom intended for workshops, tutoring, computer classes and community education.

• A Demo Kitchen for cooking classes, nutrition workshops, and culinary programs for all ages and skill levels.

During the closure, the Columbia branch will continue offering many of its regular services. Customers can pick up physical resources after putting them on hold via the phone or e-catalog; digital resources, e-books and audiobooks are constantly available, and library account info can be updated online. Library programs will continue off-site, at locations published in their online calendar.

"We appreciate your patience and understanding during this exciting transition," said Director Cyr. "We'll keep you updated on our progress and announce our grand reopening date as soon as it's confirmed."

Spring Hill License Kiosk (MauryCountySource)

The Spring Hill Police Department has introduced a new Driver License Self-Service Kiosk in the lobby of its headquarters at 800 Hathaway Blvd. The kiosk is open to all Tennessee residents—regardless of county—and offers a convenient alternative to visiting the DMV.

Available Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., the kiosk allows users to:

• Renew a driver license

• Obtain a duplicate license or state ID

• Change their address

• Pay reinstatement fees in full

The kiosk does not accept cash or checks; payment must be made using a credit or debit card.

No appointment is necessary. For more information about the service, visit www.tn.gov/content/tn.

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.

Now a look at your hometown memorials, brought to you by Oakes & Nichols Funeral Home.

Edna Agnes Glover Hooie, age 93, of Columbia, Tennessee, died peacefully at home on Sunday, October 5, 2025, after a brief illness.

Funeral services will be conducted Sunday, October 12, 2025 at 3:00 PM at Oakes and Nichols Funeral Home with Reverend Kevin Marston officiating. Burial will follow in Polk Memorial Gardens. The family will visit with friends on Saturday from 4:00 PM to 6:00 PM and Sunday from 2:00 PM to 3:00 PM at Oakes and Nichols Funeral Home, 320 W. 7th Street, Columbia, TN.

Franklin Madison Thomas, 72, a resident of Culleoka and former resident of Goodlettsville, died Friday, October 3, 2025 at his residence.

A memorial service will be held at a later date in Vincennes, Indiana. Online condolences may be extended at www.oakesandnichols.com. Memorials may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital at https://www.stjude.org.Now a look at the weather, brought to you by Workout Anytime 247:

Heading into your Friday, we're looking at a pretty pleasant day, but you'll want to be careful out on the roads early. We have some patchy fog lingering this morning, especially before 8 a.m.

Once that burns off, though, it's going to be a beautiful one! Expect mostly sunny skies and a comfortable high near 76 degrees. The wind will be calm, making it perfect for any outdoor lunch plans.

As we head into Friday night, the clear conditions continue. The only change? The fog returns after about 10 p.m., so keep that in mind if you're out late. Otherwise, skies will be mostly clear with a low around 48. And again, we'll see very calm wind conditions.

And now news from around the state…

Government shutdown reduces flights in Nashville (MS Nashville)

The Federal Aviation Administration notified Nashville International Airport officials on Tuesday that the number of flights arriving and departing would be reduced that afternoon because of a shortage of air traffic controllers during the government shutdown.

This reduction will remain in effect until further notice, according to the airport announcement. The news release did not give a specific number or percentage of flight reductions.

A news release from BNA on Oct. 1 said that Oct. 6-19 is the airport’s busiest travel period of the year, with Fall Break scheduled for 14 counties and seven universities in the Nashville area.

The Tennessee Titans are scheduled to play in Las Vegas on Oct. 12 and then play the New England Patriots in Nashville on Oct. 19. NFL games often add to a city’s travel volume.

According to BNA statistics, the airport is predicting approximately 40,000 departing passengers on Oct. 10; 45,000 departing passengers on Oct. 12; 43,200 departing passengers on Oct. 13; and 46,500 departing passengers on Oct. 19.

The Oct. 1 news release said that all seven of the airport’s shuttle buses to its satellite parking areas will be used during high-demand ground transportation periods.

On Sept. 15 the airport had significant delays in its ridesharing access, causing long traffic backups not only at the airport but also on Donelson Pike and Interstate 40.

BNA closed the existing Concourse A on Sept. 24 for demolition and reconstruction. Travelers accustomed to departing or arriving from Concourse A should check with their airline for up-to-date gate information.

Gas up two cents (AAA)

Gas prices across the state rose two cents, on average, over last week. The Tennessee Gas Price average is now $2.75 which is 10 cents less expensive than one month ago but three cents more than one year ago.

“Tennessee gas prices fluctuated higher over last week, but shifted lower over the weekend,” said Megan Cooper, spokeswoman for AAA – The Auto Club Group. “Barring any major changes in the overall market, gas prices should stay in a familiar range in the short term, which is good news for those planning a fall break road trip.”

National Gas Prices

Stability is the name of the game to start October with the national average for a gallon of regular the same as it was one week ago at $3.13. Tis the season for lower gas prices as demand drops and gas stations make the switch to winter-blend gasoline which is cheaper to produce. Crude oil supply remains robust as OPEC+ – a group of oil-producing countries – is likely to announce in the coming days another production increase in November. That surplus coupled with weaker demand is keeping pump prices down, even as some U.S. refineries are expected to go offline this month for seasonal maintenance.

According to new data from the Energy Information Administration (EIA), gasoline demand decreased from 8.95 million b/d last week to 8.51 million. Total domestic gasoline supply increased from 216.6 million barrels to 220.7 million. Gasoline production decreased last week, averaging 9.3 million barrels per day.

Tennessee Regional Prices

Most expensive metro markets – Jackson ($2.81), Nashville ($2.79), Memphis ($2.78)

Least expensive metro markets – Clarksville ($2.66), Kingsport ($2.69), Morristown ($2.69)

Lainey Wilson, Jason Aldean lead lineup for Nashville’s New Year’s Eve party on CBS (Press Release)

Lainey Wilson, Jason Aldean and Bailey Zimmerman will be the headlining acts for Nashville’s Big Bash New Year’s Eve event, the Nashville Convention & Visitors Corp announced.

Gospel music legend CeCe Winans and the Fisk Jubilee Singers are also scheduled to perform. The free, outdoor event is Wednesday, Dec. 31 at Bicentennial Capitol Mall State Park. Gates will open at 5:30 p.m. and the event will be broadcast by CBS and its digital platforms from 7-9 p.m. and 9:30 p.m.-12:30 a.m.

“New Year’s Eve in Music City is always something special, and this year will be no exception,” Nashville Convention & Visitors Corp President and CEO Deana Ivey said in the news release. “With some of the biggest names in Nashville’s diverse music scene, incredible partnerships with local nonprofits and the energy of thousands of visitors and locals attending together, we’re proud to showcase Music City at its very best. Not only is it a night of unforgettable entertainment, but it also delivers a major boost to our local businesses and hospitality industry.”

This will be the 17th annual concert and ninth year it is held at Bicentennial Park. The event will include the famed red Music Note, which will be dropped on a 138-foot tower at midnight to ring in the new year.

aBig Bash generated a record $41 million in direct visitor spending and attendance of 220,000 in 2024, according to the news release.

Wilson is tied as the most-nominated artist at the upcoming 59th Annual CMA Awards with six nominations: Entertainer of the Year, Female Vocalist of the Year, Album of the Year (Whirlwind), Single of the Year (“4x4xU”), Song of the Year (“4x4xU”) and Music Video of the Year (“Somewhere Over Laredo”).

Aldean has 30 No. 1 singles, nearly 20 billion streams and over 20 million albums sold. His North American 2025 Full Throttle Tour has been extended to New Zealand and Australia.

Zimmerman’s viral success of “Fall in Love” made him the fastest debut Country artist to reach No. 1 on Billboard’s Country Airplay chart in over a decade.

Winans is the most-awarded female gospel artist (17 GRAMMY Awards, 31 Dove Awards and 16 Stellar Awards) She has been inducted into the Gospel Music Hall of Fame, the Hollywood Walk of Fame and the Music City Walk of Fame.

The Fisk Jubilee Singers are current students at the Nashville university and continue the tradition of singing the Negro spiritual around the world.

Big Bash partner Crav’n Flavor will donate food items to help fill the pantry at Ronald McDonald House, and event attendees are encouraged to make a donation at rmhcnashville.com/donate.

Duck River Electric Gives Back (Press Release)

Duck River Electric Membership Corporation (DREMC) has donated a total of $52,200 to 13 nonprofit organizations serving communities across its service area. This impactful contribution includes $35,200 raised during DREMC’s inaugural Commitment to Community Charity Golf Tournament and $17,000 in matching funds from TVA’s Community Care Fund.

The funds support a wide range of vital services, including:

• Emergency electric bill assistance through Project HELP.

• Support for individuals battling cancer.

• Services for children and teens facing abuse or hardship.

• Programs for children and adults with developmental disabilities.

• Educational initiatives across the region.

DREMC President and CEO James Wright says, “Generosity isn’t just an act of kindness — it’s a way of life that binds people together. Serving others is at the center of what we do every day.”

Among the recipients are several organizations that administer DREMC’s Project HELP program, which exists entirely through donations from DREMC members, employees, and community partners. The program offers emergency electric bill assistance to Duck River Electric members, making a difference for our neighbors facing financial hardship.

DREMC’s commitment reflects the cooperative principle, Concern for Community, reinforcing its role in building stronger, more resilient neighborhoods.