Southern Middle TN Today News with Tom Price 10-2-26

WKOM/WKRM Radio

Southern Middle Tennessee Today

News Copy for October 2, 2026

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

We start with local news…

Man Found Deceased (MSM)

Last Monday afternoon the body of an older man was discovered in a yard on Cemetery Avenue in downtown Columbia, near the Shapard Lumber facility.

Police Chief Jeremy Haywood identified the man as Charles Hickman and told Main Street Maury that the police have no reason to believe foul play resulted in Hickman’s death.

“Charles Hickman was… an older male who obviously suffered some type of medical episode and passed away in the yard,” the chief said. “There’s not a lot of details there to release… [but] everything points to some form of natural-causes death.”

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.”

Columbia Increases Safety Assets (MSM)

The City of Columbia has strengthened its public safety capabilities through the addition of a new tactical response vehicle for the Columbia Police Department and a new fire engine for Columbia Fire & Rescue. The investments represent the City’s continued commitment to equipping first responders with the resources necessary to protect residents, respond to emergencies, and maintain the highest level of public safety service.

“Every day, our police officers and firefighters answer the call to serve and protect our community,” said Mayor Chaz Molder. “Providing them with modern equipment and advanced resources is one of the most important investments we can make. These additions strengthen our ability to respond to emergencies, protect lives and property, and provide peace of mind for the residents of Columbia.”

The Columbia Police Department recently added a Ford Transit 350 HD 4×4 tactical van to its fleet. The vehicle, which seats up to 12 personnel and features A9-level ballistic protection, was purchased for $259,200 through funding provided by the State of Tennessee’s Violent Crime Intervention Fund (VCIF) Grant. The tactical van will support SWAT Team deployments, narcotics operations, violent felony arrest and search warrants, and other specialized law enforcement missions. It will also be featured at community events, providing residents an opportunity to learn more about the department’s specialized equipment and public safety operations.

“As we make advancements in today’s Law Enforcement World, it is imperative to provide advanced protection for the men and women who are responsible for protecting our citizens and community,” said Police Chief Jeremy Haywood. “This tactical van does just that, and I am thankful to our Mayor, Vice Mayor, members of council, and City Manager for seeing the need for this level of protection for our men and women, and approving this new addition to our fleet.”  

Columbia Fire & Rescue has placed into service a new $925,000 KME Panther pumper designed to support fire suppression, rescue operations, and a wide range of emergency responses. The apparatus is equipped with a 1,000-gallon water tank, a 1,500-gallon-per-minute fire pump, and a Class A foam system, providing firefighters with enhanced capabilities when responding to emergencies throughout the city.

“This new apparatus is an investment in both our firefighters and the community we serve,” said Fire Chief Chris Cummins. “As Columbia continues to grow, it is important that we provide our personnel with reliable equipment and modern technology. This new engine will help us respond more effectively to emergencies while continuing to provide the high level of service our citizens expect.”

City Manager Tony Massey said the investments underscore the City’s ongoing investment in emergency services.

“These investments support the first responders who serve our community every day,” said Massey. “They reflect our commitment to preparedness and the safety of our residents.”

Together, these additions enhance Columbia’s emergency response capabilities and reinforce the City’s commitment to continuing to provide reliable, professional public safety services to residents and visitors alike.

CA Alumni/NASA Engineer to Speak (MSM)

Columbia Academy alumnus Dr. Phillip Allen is returning to campus on Tuesday, Oct. 13 as guest speaker for CA’s Science Night – and the community is invited to attend. NASA and space travel enthusiasts can attend to learn more about the recent Artemis II launch and trip around the moon.

Dr. Allen served as the deputy chief engineer for NASA’s Space Launch System (SLS) program at NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama. He helped direct approximately 5,000 engineers and providing launch readiness for Artemis II, a flight mission that carried four astronauts around the moon in April.

Artemis II was NASA’s historic 10-day crewed lunar flyby mission that launched on April 1 and returned on April 10. It was the first time humans traveled beyond low Earth orbit and deep into space since Apollo 17 in 1972.

Dr. Allen was the Columbia Academy valedictorian (‘93), and continued his education earning engineering degrees from Freed-Hardeman University, the University of Memphis and Tennessee Technological University.

Now based in Huntsville, Alabama, he’s been working with NASA since 2003, having received numerous honors for his work.

Science Night will take place on Tuesday, Oct. 13 starting at 7 p.m. in the Upper School Auditorium.

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.

Candidate Forum (Press Release)

The United Auto Workers (UAW) Local 1853 Community Action Program (CAP) Committee, in partnership with the Maury County NAACP, will host TN at the Ballot: A Conversation with the Candidates on Saturday, October 10.

This nonpartisan community forum will give voters an opportunity to hear directly from candidates appearing on the November ballot and learn more about the issues affecting Tennessee families, workers, and communities.

WHAT:

TN at the Ballot: A Conversation with the Candidates

WHEN:

Saturday, October 10, 2026

12:30 PM

WHERE:

UAW Local 1853 Banquet Hall

125 Stephen P. Yokich Parkway

Spring Hill, TN 37174

CONFIRMED CANDIDATES

Governor of Tennessee

Jerri Green

Misam Abidi

Ray Brown

Lauren Pinkston

Dave Seeman

Robert C. Vick

U.S. Senate

Marquita Bradshaw

Robert Jones

Jeremy Hearn

U.S. Congressional District 9

Rep. Justin Pearson

All candidates who will appear on the November ballot for these races have been sent an invitation to participate. 

The forum is nonpartisan and open to candidates regardless of party affiliation.

This forum is free and open to the public. Community members are encouraged, but not required, to RSVP in advance to help organizers prepare for anticipated attendance and seating.

You can find the link to the RSVP by reading the transcript of this new broadcast at www.frontporchradiotn.com.

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.

Marshall Medical Center Hosts 5K (Press Release)

Marshall Medical Center will host its inaugural Cup of Hope 5K and one-mile walk at 7 a.m. on October 3, bringing the community together in support of those affected by breast cancer.

Held in recognition of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, the event will benefit the Maury Regional Health Care Foundation’s Breast Center Fund, which provides resources and support for women during and after breast cancer treatment. The fund helps provide comfort items such as wigs, head coverings, camisoles and lymphedema garments, as well as educational resources and programs designed to enhance care and quality of life.

“Cup of Hope is about so much more than crossing a finish line,” said Kami Dunnivant, Lead Mammographer at Marshall Medical Center. “It’s an opportunity to honor those who have been affected by breast cancer, support those currently facing the disease and remind them they are not alone. Whether you run, walk, volunteer or simply cheer others on, everyone can be part of offering hope.”

The Cup of Hope 5K and one-mile walk will begin at the walking trail on the Lewisburg campus of Columbia State Community College, located at 980 S. Ellington Parkway. Registration and check-in will begin at 6 a.m.

Marshall Medical Center’s Imaging team is organizing the event to raise awareness of the importance of breast health. Marshall Medical Center offers 3D mammography as part of its outpatient imaging services, providing local access to advanced breast screening technology.

The event is open to runners and walkers of all experience levels and will not be timed. Participants will receive a Cup of Hope T-shirt, and finishers will receive a breast cancer awareness cup.

Registration is $30 per person. Participants who register after September 23 are not guaranteed a T-shirt. To pre-register, visit the race registration page.

Those interested in volunteering may contact Lisa Steely, administrative assistant at Marshall Medical Center and race organizer at 931.359.6241, extension 3305.

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

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.

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.

William Boyd Rich Sr., 75, resident of Columbia, passed away Monday, September 28, 2026, at Maury Regional Medical Center.

Funeral services will be conducted Tuesday, October 6, 2026, at 2:00 PM at Oakes & Nichols Funeral Home. Burial will follow in Rock Springs Cemetery. The family will visit with friends Tuesday from 12:00 PM until 2:00 PM at Oakes & Nichols Funeral Home.

And now, news from around the state…

Safe at Home Program (Press Release)

In recognition of Domestic Violence Awareness Month this October, Secretary of State Tre Hargett today reminded Tennesseans that the Safe at Home Address Confidentiality Program offers an added layer of protection for survivors of domestic abuse.

“No survivor should have to live in fear of an abuser finding their home,” said Secretary Hargett. “Our Safe at Home Program helps survivors protect their privacy as they rebuild their lives. We want Tennesseans to know this lifesaving resource is available to them and their families throughout the year through our office.”

Launched in 2019, the Safe at Home Address Confidentiality program prevents abusers from locating victims through public records. This program provides approved applicants with a substitute address for legal purposes — including voter registration, driver’s licenses, and other government services — at no cost to the participant. Anyone in a program participant’s household can use this substitute address, including children. The program is actively servicing nearly 1,500 participants.

Additional information about the Safe at Home program, including participant eligibility and how to become a partner agency, can be found at SafeatHomeTN.com

Final Story of the Day (Maury County Source)

Something spooky is waiting along the trail – on Friday, October 9th, 2026, from 11:30 AM to 2:00 PM, the Columbia Aquatics & Recreation Center (1446 Oak Springs Dr, Columbia, Tennessee 38401) will host Trick or Treat on the Trail, a Halloween adventure the whole community can enjoy!

Collect candy, explore festive decorations, create spooky crafts, and enjoy fun Halloween games and activities, including face painting, pumpkin painting, and more!

This event is FREE and open to the community!

No memberships or day passes are needed for this event.

All activities and treats are available while supplies last.

Costumes are encouraged, so come dressed for a day of Halloween fun on the trail!

More information can be found on the Trick or Treat on the Trail Facebook Page.