Southern Middle TN Today News with Tom Price 10-14-25

WKOM/WKRM Radio

Southern Middle Tennessee Today

News Copy for October 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…

Maury County Library to Close for Renovations (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.

“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. No information was released concerning how long the library will be closed.

Some of the new facilities include:

• 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,” Cyr said. “We’ll keep you updated on our progress and announce our grand reopening date as soon as it’s confirmed.”

Students Take Part in Manufacturing Day (MSM)

Comprehensive Logistics, Groove Life, Prinova Nutrition and Spring Hill High School joined forces on Oct. 3, Manufacturing Day (MFG Day), to host 120 students of Advanced Manufacturing, Mechatronics and STEAM Engineering from Maury County Public Schools.

The annual event is part of a nationwide initiative organized by The Manufacturing Institute, the workforce and education partner of the National Association of Manufacturers, aimed at showcasing the exciting and high-tech world of modern manufacturing careers.

The local Manufacturing Day was coordinated by Maury County Public Schools, Columbia State Community College, Spring Hill High School and was held in partnership with the Maury County Chamber and Economic Alliance by way of ALIGN Maury. ALIGN is the Alliance’s workforce development initiative dedicated to strengthening talent pipelines and supporting local employers.

Throughout the day, students from Battle Creek High School, Columbia Central High School, Culleoka Unit School, Hampshire Unit School, Mt. Pleasant High School, Santa Fe Unit School and Spring Hill High School toured local factories. Comprehensive Logistics, Groove Life and Prinova Nutrition opened their doors to show students firsthand how technology, innovation, and problem-solving come together to create the products that drive today’s economy.

During the lunch hour, sponsored by the Maury County Chamber and Economic Alliance, students participated in an onsite career fair, where they interacted with various local organizations and learned more about workforce and educational opportunities available right here in Maury County, Tennessee.

In addition, Columbia State Community College - Franklin Campus’ Film Crew Technology students, led by instructor David Smith, were on site to produce promotional videos highlighting the event and the career

opportunities available within the industry.

MFG Day serves as a platform to inspire the next generation of manufacturers and bridge the gap between education and industry needs. With an increasing demand for highly skilled professionals who can design, program, and operate advanced technologies, events like these help reshape perceptions of manufacturing and emphasize its vital role in solving tomorrow’s challenges.

To learn more about ALIGN Maury, visit alignmaury.com. For more information about MFG Day, visit mfgday.com.

Spring Hill Hires Water Engineer (MSM)

The Spring Hill Board of Mayor and Aldermen approved the selection of Carollo Engineers, Inc. to provide engineering services for the city’s Advanced Purification Pilot Project. 

Carollo Engineers will oversee design, construction and operations phases to ensure the project meets the city’s water infrastructure needs. According to the proposed scope of work, the project will span approximately 41 months, including design, 18 months of construction, 12 months for pilot commissioning and operation, one month for salinity verification and one month of final reporting and review process. 

The project will be funded by Spring Hill Water and is not to exceed $1,804,895 in costs. 

The board also moved forward with approving a resolution supporting Williamson County’s request to the Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) for signalization improvements along 1-840.

The request seeks prioritizing of signals at I-840/Nolensville Road and I-840/ Lewisburg Pike, which are areas TDOT previously studied and identified that needed traffic measures. 

This has led to public safety concerns, hazardous turning movements and increased congestion. As Spring Hill and Thompson Station continue to grow, the regional traffic has been impacted significantly. 

By Mayor Matt Fitterer signing the letter, alongside other Williamson County mayors, the city reinforced its commitment to safety, regional cooperation and transportation efficiency. 

Finally, all residents and visitors are reminded of Spring Hill’s celebration of the 250th anniversary of the United States at its 2026 Fourth of July Firework Show. 

Hosted by the Spring Hill Chamber of Commerce, the event will feature festivities, public gatherings and a firework show to commemorate the holiday. 

This event aims to unite residents and visitors to celebrate the nation’s birthday and and community. 

Ted’s Celebrates 70 Years (CDH)

Downtown Columbia is home to many fixtures and notable places, among them is the upside-down sign which has welcomed customers for 70 years, spanning multiple generations, to Ted's Sporting Goods.

Whether it's shopping for hunting gear, seasonal wear, or popular items like the Big Green Egg grill, Ted's has been a proprietor of many big-name outdoor brands and items. Keeping the heart of a small town at its core, nearly every square-inch of the business carries a piece of local history.

While every year often includes a community celebration, for its platinum anniversary Ted's has plans for a full week of daily deals, giveaways and more, all culminating in a big shindig at the 806 S. Main St. shop Oct. 18.

"We like to think we have been a part of people's lives," Faye Davis, wife of founder Ted Davis, said.

When it first opened for business in 1955, founder Ted Davis had only a few boxes of inventory and a kind nature toward customers.

The original Ted's was located across the street from its current location, operating out of a one-room facility offering army surplus goods.

Heather Duffy, daughter of Ted and Faye, said while the business specializes in things like firearms, hunting and the outdoors, the whole idea began due to Ted's love of fishing and his community.

And this only grew as the years went by and the business picked up success.

"We love that we have gotten to be a part of people's history, and the fun thing that is still special to us is the people who come in and have memories," Duffy said.

"They have memories of coming in here, or when they have family in town they bring them by to visit. They say, 'I remember coming here for my scout badge, or I got my first rifle here.' It is very humbling that you get to be a part of people's lives, and we wouldn't be here if we weren't part of people's lives."

Duffy added that Maury County's growth over the recent years has also been an opportunity to meet customers, share a little about the shop's history and create new memories.

"A lot of the new people may not have a memory of Ted's, but when they walk in here it triggers something," Duffy said. "That's what we hope, that people walk in and it maybe reminds them of a place in their hometown. Because again, we wouldn't be here without all our customers and to be able to have their history be part of our history. It's humbling."

And as far as having a loyal customer base, Davis and Duffy said there are many who have been around for its 70-year history, still showing up to shop and share stories.

"One of our customers who had been coming since he was a little boy was just saying the other day he remembered when it was all just fishing [at the original location], how he started over there when he was a child," Davis said. "There are a lot of people still around, still remember 1955 when it was just starting, and now their grandchildren come. That's the thing that is just a lot of fun."

Ted's 70th celebration kicked off Sunday, Oct. 12, starting a full week of ways customers can participate, with a chance win a few raffle prizes leading up to the official Oct. 18 party.

Daily deals will be announced at 6 p.m. each night via Ted's Facebook and Instagram pages. Customers who spend $70 will receive one entry for the grand prize Smith & Wesson rifle (valued at $1,500) and Turtlebox Ranger (valued at $250), which will be drawn Monday, Oct. 20.

"We will also be doing a secret scavenger hunt that will just go through downtown, because we want people to support downtown, to be downtown, because there is lots to do," Duffy said. "We just love our downtown."

For the Oct. 18 party, the first 70 customers will receive a complimentary swag bag, each containing a mystery gift certificate ranging from $10-$50.

"The day of the event is going to be a wonderful day downtown because it is also the same day as Cars & Coffee and Bleu 32's Pickin' Party, a whole downtown extravaganza," Duffy said. "And then of course we will have our big Ted's community picture at noon. A lot of things are going to be big this year."

For more information about Ted's Sporting Goods, the store's 70th anniversary schedule and online shopping, visit www.TedsSportingGoods.com.

Mt. Pleasant Citizens’ Police Academy (MSM)

The Mt. Pleasant Police Department is making plans to start a Citizens’ Academy program. The department hopes to consolidate their relationships with the people of the city they serve and give them more understanding of daily police operations.

“I feel like we have a good rapport with the citizens of Mt Pleasant currently, based on mutual trust and respect,” Officer Cory England said. “Ideally, both the citizens and the police department should see each other working towards the same goals: a safe and supportive community.”

The Citizen’s Police Academy is a four-week program that meets at the police department from 6-8 p.m. on Nov. 3, 10, 17 and 24, and one Saturday which hasn’t yet been picked. 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 get familiar with police equipment and do hands-on activities; if the program is successful, they might start taking citizens on ride-alongs and other, more involved missions.

“This academy is by no means certifying anyone to be a police officer, only a small look into what we do,” England said. “[But] it may help recruit people who want to be officers in the long run, not only for Mt Pleasant but other agencies.”

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. A paper application form must be printed off the police department’s website and mailed to: Mount Pleasant Police Department, 100 Public Square, P.O. Box 426, Mt. Pleasant, TN 38483, Attn: Cory England

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

Spring Hill Historical To Hold Mayors’ Forum (MSM)

On Nov. 4, the Spring Hill Historical and Genealogical Society will host an event called “Meeting Adjourned: An Evening with Spring Hill’s Former Mayors.” The free event will be held at Spring Hill’s City Hall, with a reception at 5 p.m. until 6-8 p.m.

Seven of Spring Hill’s eight living ex-mayors will sit on a forum at the event, from which they’ll talk and answer questions about their terms and experiences. The forum will be moderated by Benny Jett, the 15-year-old president of the Historical Society, and its vice president Jim Hellier. The audience will be free to ask the mayors any questions that aren’t offensive or controversial.

Two particularly noteworthy forum speakers will be current Mayor Matt Fitterer and Cindy Williams, the widow of Mayor Ray Williams, who passed away in 2005 while in office. Mrs. Williams will represent her late husband on the forum and answer questions on his behalf.

New MRMC Doc (Press Release)

Dr. Jocelyn Ragan, DO, has joined the medical staff at Maury Regional Medical Group (MRMG).

Ragan, a board-certified family medicine specialist, will provide services at MRMG Primary Care in Spring Hill. She joins Dr. Sean Cannady, Dr. Nathanael Lafferty, Family Nurse Practitioner Millicent C. Bennett, FNP-BC-C, Physician’s Assistants Johnny Nowlin, PA-C, Teresa Pisani, PA-C and Colleen St. John, PA-C. The practice is located at 5421 Main Street in Spring Hill. For more information, call 931.486.2500 or visit MauryRegional.com/SpringHill.

Ragan received her medical degree from Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine in Auburn, Alabama. She completed a residency and served as Chief Resident through the Cahaba Medical Care Family Medicine Residency program in Birmingham, Alabama. Dr. Ragan is also proficient in Spanish.

City Hires New Marketing Director (Press Release)

The City of Columbia is pleased to announce that Makenna McGowan has joined the City’s Tourism & Marketing Department as the new Marketing Coordinator.

In this role, McGowan will assist in developing and implementing marketing strategies designed to strengthen the City’s tourism brand, Visit Columbia, by building destination awareness and inspiring travel to Columbia. 

“Makenna brings valuable marketing experience and such great energy to our team,” said Kellye Murphy, Tourism & Marketing Director for Visit Columbia. “Her background, combined with her creative approach, event management experience, and community focus makes her a great asset to our department.”

McGowan is a graduate of the University of Tennessee Southern, where she earned her Bachelor’s Degree in 2022 and her Master of Business Administration in 2023. She brings four years of marketing experience, including two years in the tourism industry, and has a strong passion for marketing, networking, and community engagement.

City Manager Tony Massey said, “We are pleased to welcome Makenna to the City of Columbia. Her knowledge and experience will help strengthen our tourism and marketing efforts throughout the community.”

McGowan joins a dedicated team that works to share Columbia’s story, promoting the city as a welcoming destination for visitors while celebrating the charm, creativity, and community spirit that make Columbia a great place to live, work, and explore.

Columbia State Performance Series (Press Release)

Columbia State Community College welcomes Scott Mulvahill to the Cherry Theater on November 13 as part of the Performance Series sponsored by First Farmers and Merchants Bank.

Scott Mulvahill doesn’t just play the upright bass—he reinvents it. A genre-blending singer-songwriter, he fuses Americana, folk, jazz and experimental sounds into something truly original.

“Scott Mulvahill has reimagined what the upright bass can do, even pioneering his own DataBass instrument,” said Tammy Rosson, Columbia State director of events and alumni relations. “Joined by his incredible band, he delivers a sound that’s as inventive as it is soulful, and we’re honored to welcome him back to the Cherry Theater stage.”

A former member of Ricky Skaggs’ Kentucky Thunder, Mulvahill struck out on his own with Himalayas and his groundbreaking DataBass project. Encouraged by Bruce Hornsby, he’s since taken the stage on NPR’s Tiny Desk, Mountain Stage, and TEDxNashville, collaborating with Cory Wong, Lauren Daigle, and Keb’ Mo’. Don’t miss this musical innovator live in concert.

“Scott was well-received the first time he performed in the Cherry Theater, and we are delighted to welcome him back to Columbia State,” said Bethany Lay, Columbia State vice president for advancement and executive director of the Columbia State Foundation. “He has continued to hone his craft through reimagining the sounds his instruments can produce; our audience will enjoy the evening!”

Tickets for each performance are priced at $35 and include all fees. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit ColumbiaState.edu/PerformanceSeries.

Individuals may also contact the Performance Series ticket line at 931.540.2879, Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

On performance nights, the box office opens at 6 p.m. in the Kenneth and Ramona Cherry Theater, located in the Waymon L. Hickman Building on the Columbia Campus. Doors open at 6:30 p.m., and all shows begin at 7 p.m. The Columbia Campus is located at 1665 Hampshire Pike in Columbia.

For more information, visit www.ColumbiaState.edu/PerformanceSeries.

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

Linda Elizabeth Pugliese Kuhn, 76, a resident of Santa Fe, died Thursday, October 9, 2025 at Maury Regional Medical Center.

A memorial service will be conducted Tuesday, October 14, 2025 at 6:00 PM at Oakes & Nichols Funeral Home. The family will visit with friends Tuesday from 4:00 PM until 6:00 PM at Oakes & Nichols Funeral Home. Online condolences may be extended at www.oakesandnichols.com.

Now, news from around the state…

Hickman Explosion (Tennessean)

The last time Gov. Bill Lee visited the Accurate Energetic Systems facility in McEwen, Tennessee was to celebrate the plant's expansion in 2019.

When he returned on Oct. 12, he was met with devastation.

"Where there was a full-functioning facility, there's nearly nothing," Lee said, after flying over the site of the deadly Oct. 10 explosion at the AES facility. "To fly over today and see that, it's heartbreaking."

Lee delivered his remarks at a briefing with members of the media shortly after 2:30 p.m. Oct. 12. He was joined by officials from the Humphreys and Hickman counties sheriff’s offices, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms and the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation.

The blast at the AES facility, an explosives manufacturing plant, was felt dozens of miles away and was measured on the Richter scale. Sixteen people died in the explosion, officials said.

On Oct. 12, authorities from federal, state and local law enforcement offices did "a vast amount of work" to secure the site of the explosion at AES, Lee said. Controlled detonations were expected to continue throughout the day. But authorities will be working at a slow and methodical pace as the recovery and investigation progresses.

After Lee's aerial survey, he met with families of victims in a local church, he said.

“Tears and stunned silence,” Lee said, when asked about the scene inside the church where he met with the victims’ families. There was also a spirit of love, concern, care and prayer, however, Lee said. Counseling and other resources have been made available to the families of victims.

Lee said he wants officials to support those in need of help in the community, but he said that the "greatest support" comes from their friends and loved ones "sitting around them, holding their hands."

Humphreys County Sheriff Chris Davis said law enforcement are currently in the process of securing the blast site, identifying victims and communicating with families. The next phase of the investigation will be to determine the cause of the explosion at AES.

Davis and others repeatedly said they are taking a slow, careful approach to the investigation to ensure accuracy.

The victims that have been identified are: Jason Adams, Billy Baker, Christopher Clark, James Cook, LaTeisha Mays, Melinda Rainey, Trenton Stewart, Steven Wright, Erick Anderson, Adam Boatman, Mindy Clifton, Reyna Gillahan, Jeremy Moore, Melissa Stafford, Rachel Woodall, and Donald Yowell.

Officials emphasized that the release of names does not mean all remains have been fully identified.

Lee said the people in the area have gone through disaster and supported one another before, most recently in the devastating 2021 flood in Waverly.

“They’re not inexperienced with heartache and tragedy here,” Lee said.

Trent Stewart, pastor at The Log Church in Waverly, was among the victims on Oct. 10, according to a statement from Charlie Musick, associate pastor at The Log Church. The church’s Oct. 12 Sunday school and worship services were canceled in response, Musick wrote. In their place, church members and others were invited to gather for a time of prayer in the sanctuary. He asked for prayers for Stewart’s fiancé, family, friends, The Log Church and the community impacted by the explosion.

Stewart’s fiancé Katy Stover shared a video of Stewart’s Sept. 14 sermon, on Facebook, writing: “So thankful he live streamed all of his sermons and shared them with the world.”

In the sermon, Stewart advised the audience to avoid negativity.

“Christianity is a religion of love,” Stewart said. “I don’t care who you are. I don’t care what you are, how you talk, what language you speak, what religion you are. If you sit in these pews or watch online and want to know about Jesus Christ, I welcome you with open arms.”

Randy Stewart, his father, also shared the video on Facebook, writing: “He could definitely deliver the word! A great sermon to love one another!”

Final Story of the Day (Maury County Source)

Harvest Glow at Row & Co is back for year 3! Head to the lawn at Row & Co. (206 Depot St, Columbia, TN 38401) on Saturday, October 18th, 2025, from 4-8 pm for a pumpkin carving contest, lots of wonderful food & a showing of Monsters University at 6:30 pm.

More information can be found on the Harvest Glow at Row & Co 2025 Facebook Page.