Southern Middle TN Today News with Tom Price 10-16-26

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Southern Middle Tennessee Today

News Copy for October 16, 2026

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

We start with local news…

School Board Passes 10 Commandments Option (CDH)

The Maury County Board of Education has passed a resolution allowing the Ten Commandments to be displayed in every Maury County public school.

The approval was made by a 9-2 vote during the board's Oct. 13 meeting.

Resolution 2026.01 stems from the Tennessee General Assembly's Public Chapter 924 of the Public Acts of 2026.

Effective July 1, 2026, the legislation authorizes local boards of education within the local education agency to display the Ten Commandments, the first sentence of the second paragraph of the preamble to the Declaration of Independence, as well as the preamble to the United States Constitution in a prominent location within a school building.

District 11 board member Kathy Mikula, who motioned for the resolution's approval, described the intent of the state legislation as "of historical education purposes."

"It is a historical literacy endeavor to help students become familiar with the truths of the founding fathers of the United States of America who believed these documents were and are essential for good governance," Mikula said. "It authorizes the public schools of Tennessee upon approval by us to display historical documents that have informed the development of law, government and civic institutions in the state of Tennessee and the United States of America."

District 6 board member Sue Stephenson, who cast one of the two opposing votes, said that while she was "very much" in support of the resolution, there was also a five-page memorandum issued by the MCPS attorney Joshua Hogan that brought up many concerns, such as the potential for future litigation.

"I think it really covered all of the bases that we need to be concerned about and that we need to consider before we take any action on this," Stephenson said. "Given all the information in [the memorandum], I just can't move forward with this today.

"Whatever action the state Legislature has taken, it does not negate our liability."

Hogan said he was not aware of any current pending lawsuits in other Tennessee counties that were considering or had passed similar resolutions.

"What I will say is there is a state law and it is up to each board to enact whatever they think appropriate," Hogan said. "So, any other lawsuit is just that, something on its own facts. Yes, litigation is always possible, but I wouldn't base a decision on any other potential lawsuit on different facts."

District 3 board member Jamila Brown, the other opposing voice on the matter, agreed with Stephenson's concerns.

"I know we have insurance and whatever we need to cover a lawsuit, but ... I would definitely be concerned about having multiple lawsuits," Brown said. "And I love the Lord and would be the first person to admit it. I am all for prayer back in school or if you want to walk in the door and rub a Bible, I'm all for that ... but I think it's something that we need to hold off on."

Boys and Girls Club Founders Recognized (MSM)

The Columbia Peace & Justice Initiative honored Hernandez “Paco” Havard and the late Talvin Barner with its fifth annual Legacy Night awards for founding the local chapter of the Boys & Girls Club.

In 1995, Havard and Barner incorporated a Maury County chapter of the Boys & Girls Club. The chapter expanded over the decades and now serves 1,500 youth across Southern Middle Tennessee at two buildings in Columbia and one in Pulaski.

Havard, the club’s first president, believed young people need “rites of passage” to help them become mature and moral adults. He recalled the influence of the Boys & Girls Club on his own youth in Detroit.

“I tell kids… even today: life skills are important. Listening and being obedient will take you far in life, and probably save you,” he said. “[While I sat on the Community Redevelopment Corporation board,] I was given the task to bring the Boys & Girls Club to Maury County. After praying for God’s guidance, knowing personally what it would mean to this community, I asked God for His help so that I could be a help like I was mentored in Detroit.”

Barner gained crucial community-organizing experience by creating an “RBI” (Reviving Baseball in Inner Cities) youth baseball league for Columbia. After starting the Boys & Girls Club, he served two terms on the board of education and four terms on the county commission. He died in office in April 2026.

Barner’s widow DeVora told the crowd her husband was proud of the club’s work.

“We the family are grateful for the thoughtfulness and the honor you’ve bestowed upon us this Legacy Night,” said Mrs. Barner. “[Barner] was always proud to hear of the works being done at the Boys & Girls Club, and more proud of the accomplishments of the young people… [so] I challenge the Boys & Girls Club: whatever your vision is, nurture it, don’t give up, and let it grow and blossom.”

“Rev. Talvin Barner, Jr… [and] Hernandez ‘Paco’ Havard… thank you for your visionary leadership to inspire, educate and empower the youth of Maury County,” said Demetrius Nelson, the president of CPJI. “Your bold actions have provided hope, assistance and a sense of honor to thousands of youth in our community.”

“Getting from point A to point B [was] where Paco and Talvin came in… They never accepted ‘no’ as an answer, they kept coming back, and they never accepted excuses, though I gave them plenty of them,” said Dr. Eslick Daniel, a later board member whom CPJI credited as one of the club’s “visionaries.”

“Through their hard work, they’re responsible for what the Boys & Girls Club is today.”

“I don’t know, Mr. Hernandez, if you and Rev. Barner imagined that the Boys & Girls Club you started would eventually serve more than 1500 kids every year,” Club CEO Ginny Wright said, to applause from the crowd. “Over 530 kids walked through the Boys & Girls Club today. But I know that you and Rev. Barner understood the importance of kids having safe places with safe adults where they can be themselves… Countless young people have found hope and opportunity in the walls of the club because of your vision and your passion for young people, and your persistence to turn a dream into reality.”

Youth from the club also spoke in the founders’ honor.

“Because of the bold vision of Hernandez ‘Paco’ Havard and the late Talvin Barner, Jr., my life, along with [those of] many youths across Maury County, have been… changed forever,” said 12-year-old Carson Chapman. “We are honored to recognize them for their leadership.”

Christiana Johnson, 17, credited the club with giving her confidence to pursue her goal of becoming a civil-rights attorney.

“I would like to thank the late Talvin Barner, Paco Havard and the original Boys & Girls Club [founders] for starting the organization,” said Johnson, who credited her formation by the Boys & Girls Club for her first real internship and job. “I’ve grown, learned, found confidence and discovered myself and who I want to be… They’ve encouraged me to step out of my comfort zone and… stand up for what I believe in… [and] see a future for myself.”

Nelson announced that CPJI would give a $2,500 scholarship in Barner and Havard’s names to the Boys & Girls Club’s Youth of the Year. The organization also gave the club $20,000 to take a busload of youth on their “Justice Journey” to sites made famous by the Civil Rights Movement.

“When we work together, nonprofits helping nonprofits… amazing things can happen,” Nelson beamed.

County Land Use Talks Continue (MSM)

The advisory committee working to shape Maury County’s new Comprehensive Land Use Plan met again on Sept. 24 to hear citizens’ input and try to come up with their next steps.

Liz Fields, the representative for the consultant firm McBride Dale Clarion, told the committee the firm has finished Phase 1 of its commissioned tasks, which focuses on gathering information about current conditions in county land use and development. McBride Dale Clarion published its Phase 1 results in a PDF at planmaurycounty.com.

Planning is now in Phase 2, which includes developing the overall public “vision” for development and a fiscal analysis of different growth scenarios. Representatives of the firm TischlerBice are expected to attend the next meeting to present the results of the fiscal analysis.

In Phase 3 all the data, input and ideas will be brought together to create the new comprehensive plan, which sets recommendations for the future zonings, uses and character of all non-municipal county land.

“Your future land use framework is a policy guide,” Fields explained. “Any recommendation that’s displayed in a future land use map does not change zoning, but it is used as the foundation for future zoning requests and changes.”

The county will hold more meetings before the end of the process. A public-engagement event will be held at the Memorial Building on an as-yet undetermined date and time. The advisory committee will meet again at the county meeting chamber for a work session at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 27. Fields hoped that on a speedy timeline, the county commission could officially adopt the plan in December.

The meeting was the last before the county’s partial subdivision moratorium ended on Oct. 1. Now that the moratorium is over, land parcels can be subdivided again, with the approval of the Regional Planning Commission and County Commission, into residential lots of less than five acres.

County Commissioner Jerry Strahan expressed interest in extending the moratorium, but Building & Zoning Attorney Kristi Ransom informed the committee that late October is the earliest the planning commission could consider an extension, which would come before the county commission in the middle of November.

“It looks like we’re planning to work beyond the moratorium,” said Strahan.

Fields replied the delay was partly due to the lack of consensus and direction about the “vision” for the county.

“Based on last month’s decision and conversation, we don’t have a set direction for the future land-use map,” she said plainly. “I can put all the pieces together, but… we’ve heard a lot of mixed feedback based on the public meetings and tonight… Without you all and the community saying how you want to address the future land-use framework… this is, I think, where we’re going to be stuck until you all figure out how you want to move forward.”

Public commenters were divided over the minimum required lot size on county territory, whether it should be one or five acres. Several local homebuilders and realtors argued the market for five-acre lots is far smaller than that for one-acre lots, and five-acre minimum would only allow the wealthy to buy residential lots in the county.

“What you get in a one-acre development [is] families who care about each other, who play with each other. That’s what Maury County needs,” said Dave Townsend, a local realtor who lived in the one-acre Oak Lake Estates.

Independent homebuilder Craig Howell said, “I just ask that we not take away the choice of the people that want to live on a one-acre lot.”

Homebuilder Randall Shaw pointed out that only a small minority of subdivisions and housing units are being built on county turf. He credited the low rate to the county’s legislative and infrastructural constraints.

Some owners of large tracts complained that “downzoning” the recommended uses for their properties would tank their resale values. Others forecast that the cost of extending infrastructure would prevent one-acre subdivisions in the rural county. Still others urged the county not to rule out developments that might one day be feasible.

“You’re going to devalue it anywhere from 35-50 percent. You’re taking money out of [farmers’] 401(k)s,” said Jim Baker. “When you look at Williamson County… today all of those farms are covered up with houses. So at some point 20-30 years down the road, there’ll be a lot of land [of which] you say, ‘It’ll never be developed,’ but it will probably be, if growth continues.”

Chris Gramling said, “Owning agricultural land does not mean that someone is automatically entitled to whatever subdivision density, infrastructure or land-use change would maximize its resale value. Agricultural preservation… is recognition that the property rights of the people who are already here matter, too.”

“It seems that most laypeople are very much in favor of five acres for one reason or another, [while] many developers or real-estate agents are in favor of one acre,” claimed attorney Ryan Dugger. “I think everyone’s concern… is that a big developer is going to come in right across from your house… and I think as long as there’s a process to intensely scrutinize those, you may not even have to [decide] the one-acre or five-acre [debate].”

Other data-minded commenters, both committee members and public commenters expressed a desire for more data-fed ARC-GIS “overlays” on the county zoning map, which would show the different qualities of the land, from its existing uses and zoning to its waterways and geology. More data, they said, would help determine the character and zonings for geographically distinct parts of the county.

“I think y’all need to start over… We don’t need [a single zoning category] for our entire county, except for our urban growth boundaries,” said Peder Jensen, a former planning commissioner. He suggested drawing overlays would be easy if they started from the most basic publicly available data. “Why are we putting the cart before the horse?… We have the technology, it’s 2026. Let’s get the data right and then start [to] build a plan.”

“Obviously we’ve got to get these maps. We have to get the data,” Gramling agreed. “[And] I am not for any homogenization of Maury County through [a uniform lot minimum]… Each area has its own character, and I think we need to stick with that as a guiding principle.”

“We need that data. It’s invaluable, the layers,” agreed committee chairman Eric Previti, who asked for overlays of everything from rocky terrain to industrial corridors to old industrial pollution sites.

Public commenter Jordan Rouden, himself a consultant, pointed out that some of McBride Dale Clarion’s “deliverables” contained grammatical errors and obvious copy-pastes from their work with at least one other municipality, Tate Township in Ohio.

Fields told the committee and their audience they had only copied and pasted some “graphics” from the Tate Township presentation as a template, without erasing any of the local data or public input. On Sept. 28, the page which appeared to contain Tate Township data was replaced with one featuring Maury County’s public input results.

“I still want [McBride Dale Clarion] here, I think you do good work, but you need to do something to resurrect your credibility a little bit,” said public commenter Bob Crichton.

Crichton also stated, “This project needs a project manager… We’ve gone a whole month… spinning our wheels… We don’t have an end goal, we don’t have a final map… Someone needs to step up and say, ‘Here’s what we’re going to do.'”

City to Help Fund Inclusive Playground (CDH)

Columbia City Council has approved a $230,000 donation to the Miracle League of Columbia, giving the nonprofit a leg up to begin a second phase of development at Maury County Park.

The $2.7 million project first broke ground in August 2025 with a vision of repurposing the park's Babe Ruth Field, providing a place for children with special needs to participate in America's national pastime, though the field, itself, was only the first step in a much grander vision, officials say.

"This year, we celebrated our inaugural season with 61 amazing players who stepped onto our field, made new friends, heard their names announced and experienced the joy of being part of a team," Miracle League Founder and President Robin Estep said in a statement presented to council members. "Our fall season now has 78 players registered, and we couldn't be more excited about what lies ahead. But our mission doesn't stop at the ball field."

The second phase will see the construction of a playground, Taye's Place, next to the field. It will be specially designed for children with disabilities and other needs, organizers say, but the league's ability to fund the project has run into financial issues after completing the first phase.

According to a presentation by the league submitted to city leaders, Taye's Place is estimated to cost $728,469. The remaining funds available for completion through the county had only totaled $230,000.

The city's new donation has doubled the remaining funding amount.

"I couldn't be more proud," Mayor Chaz Molder said. "Every child deserves a place where they feel included and can enjoy the simple joys of childhood. This investment reflects our commitment to creating accessible recreational opportunities, and to ensuring Columbia remains a community where everyone has the opportunity to participate and belong."

While the city's donation brings the Miracle League's funding closer to its estimated goal, there is still a need to ensure the project can be completed.

It's about $268,469, to be exact, organizers say.

Phase 1's $2.7 million was made up of a $1 million donation from Maury County Parks & Recreation along with $1.7 million in donations gathered by grassroots fundraising efforts from sponsors, individual donors and members of the community.

With the Taye's Place funding goal, the overall project investment would be $3.4 million.

"We have come so far because our community believed in this dream," Estep said. "Now, we are asking our community to help us finish what we started. We are incredibly grateful for every sponsor, donor, volunteer, player, coach, family member and friend who has helped us make The Miracle League of Columbia what it is today.

"Every cheer from the stands, every player who crosses home plate and every family who finds a place where they truly belong reminds us why this work matters."

For those interested in donating to The Miracle League for Taye's Place or getting information on volunteer opportunities, visit ColumbiaMiracleLeague.com.

"If you have an organization or anyone who wants to give or donate any additional funding to get more equipment, or to upgrade some that is going to be put there, that is welcome," Councilwoman Cheryl Secrest said. "Get with the board and let them know if you want to donate to get some equipment. Put your name on it and tag it."

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

Patricia Lou Spencer Hill passed away peacefully on October 12, 2026, in Columbia.

Funeral services will be conducted Monday, October 19, 2026 at 11:00 AM at South Gate Church of Christ. Burial will follow in Polk Memorial Gardens. The family will visit with friends Sunday from 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM at Oakes & Nichols Funeral Home. Online condolences may be extended at www.oakesandnichols.com.

Mrs. Nancy Susan Cromwell Wiser, 80, a longtime resident of Columbia died Friday, October 9, 2026, at Maury Regional Medical Center. A memorial service will be conducted Friday, October 23, at 5:00 PM at Oakes & Nichols Funeral Home. The family will visit with friends from 3:00 PM until 5:00 PM at the funeral home.

And now, news from around the state…

Native American Festival (Tennessean)

The drumbeats, dancing and stories of dozens of Native American tribes will return to Long Hunter State Park in Nashville this weekend.

The 45th annual Indian Education Tennessee Pow Wow, hosted by The Native American Indian Association of Tennessee, will take place Oct. 16-18.

The powwow is a celebration of Native American culture "that opens eyes to living history," said Ray Emanuel, the Native American Indian Association of Tennessee’s longstanding director.

Native American dance, storytelling, arts and crafts, food and interactive lifestyle experiences are all part of the powwow, which drew about 14,000 people last year.

“Powwow is a sacred time for many of us. It is a celebration of who we are, a connection to our ancestors, and an opportunity to pass our traditions to future generations," said Gloria Littlemouse, a professor at Vanderbilt University School of Nursing with Navajo heritage. "For non-Native visitors, it is an invitation to learn, listen, ask respectful questions, and move beyond stereotypes toward genuine cultural understanding."

Students and school personnel can attend for free from 8 a.m., Friday, Oct. 16. Seniors and disabled persons can also attend for free.

Littlemouse will lead free educational tours starting at noon, Oct. 17, for visitors to learn more about Indigenous cultures. Emanuel said up to 40 Native American tribes will be represented.

The powwow acts as a fundraiser for the NAIA’s continued effort to build a new Circle of Life Indian Cultural Center on Bell Road in Antioch. The NAIA owns the land. Currently, the NAIA works out of an older former house on Spence Lane. The center would centralize programs and offices and include a museum for groups and schools.

The NAIA has raised about $2.1 million toward the project with around $4 million needed to break ground.

Final Story of the Day (Maury County Source)

The magic of Harry Potter is coming to Nashville as Tennessee Performing Arts Center (TPAC) welcomes the touring production of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child for a limited two-week engagement, April 27–May 9, 2027.

Individual tickets for the Nashville premiere of the six-time Tony Award-winning production will go on sale Friday, October 16, at 10 a.m. at TPAC.org.

Based on an original story by J.K. Rowling, Jack Thorne and John Tiffany, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child brings audiences back to the Wizarding World with a new theatrical adventure featuring spectacular illusions, elaborate sets and special effects.

The production continues Harry Potter’s story years after his adventures at Hogwarts, following a new generation of witches and wizards as they navigate friendship, family, and the challenges of living up to a legendary name.

The Nashville engagement is part of the show’s first North American tour and will run for two weeks only at TPAC.

For tickets and more information, visit TPAC.org.