Southern Middle TN Today News with Tom Price 10-31-25

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Southern Middle Tennessee Today

News Copy for October 31, 2025

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

We start with local news…

Former Deputy Charged (WKRN.com)

A former deputy with the Maury County Sheriff’s Office has been convicted of both rape and rape of a child.

According to Brent Cooper, District Attorney for the 22nd Judicial District — which includes Maury County — former deputy Hunter Reed was found guilty of both rape of a child and rape on Wednesday.

No sentencing date has been assigned yet, Cooper added, and he will serve at a Tennessee Department of Correction facility that is also yet to be assigned.

Maury County Sheriff Bucky Rowland told News 2 he had no comment, but records show a previous case with the accused involving a 13-year-old victim and 30 incidents at locations across Maury County is still pending per the District Attorney’s office.

House Fire (MauryCountySource)

Firefighters from several Maury County departments worked together earlier this month after a house fire was reported on Will Brown Road.

The home was already heavily involved when crews arrived. Firefighters were able to bring the blaze under control, and no injuries were reported.

The response included units from Maury County and Spring Hill under a new automatic-aid system that sends the nearest available engine, regardless of city limits. Local fire leaders say the agreement, which also involves Columbia and Mt. Pleasant, was put in place over the past year to ensure faster assistance during emergencies.

Officials credited cooperation among departments and emergency dispatchers for the smooth response and emphasized that the coordinated effort is aimed at improving service for residents countywide.

Ultium to Lay Off Workers (CDH)

Ultium Cells will furlough about 700 of its employees as its Spring Hill, Tenn. plant braces for a temporary pause in production next year, Reuters reported Oct. 29. 

The Spring Hill battery assembly plant, a joint partnership between General Motors and LG Energy Solution, will halt production beginning in January 2026 through mid-year, Reuters reported.

The report followed a July announcement that outlined the latest steppingstone in the $2.3 billion partnership between LG Energy Solutions and GM to produce low-cost battery cells known as lithium iron phosphate, or LFP.

General Motors and Ultium Cells did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Additionally, Ultium Cells’ operations in Warren, Ohio will halt production similar to the Spring Hill plant, but will furlough 850 of its workers, and indefinitely lay off 550 employees. 

The report came on the heels of GM adapting to slower-than-expected electric vehicle demand, and a shifting regulatory landscape, Reuters reported.

Despite strong earnings following last week's quarterly earnings report, this week, the company has taken steps to trim its workforce, by laying off 300 and 200 employees in its Warren, Michigan Technical Center and Georgia IT Innovation Center, respectively, the Detroit Free Press reported. 

The automaker is in the midst of its annual review process, which will continue through the rest of the year, the company told the Detroit Free Press. 

In September, GM announced it would furlough half of its 1,400 shift workers as it rolls back production of electric vehicles at its Spring Hill plant. The plant implemented a month of downtime during a week in October, Thanksgiving and all of December. 

“General Motors is making strategic production adjustments in alignment with expected slower EV industry growth and customer demand by leveraging our flexible ICE and EV manufacturing footprint,” GM spokesperson Allison May told The Tennessean in a Sept. 4 statement.

Although this round of layoffs did not affect employees at the neighboring Ultium Cells site, reports indicate that following the September Homeland Security immigration raid at LG Energy Solution’s joint battery plant with Hyundai Motor in Georgia, Korean workers employed at Ultium Cells’ Spring Hill facility fled the country.

Mallory Valley Utility District Backs Out of Pipeline Deal (MSM)

The Mallory Valley Utility District released a letter announcing that they would withdraw from the process of choosing a long-term water source for Maury County, because “politics” were disrupting their good-faith efforts.

The letter, circulated to Maury County and municipal utilities who helped sponsor a water source feasibility study and then published to their website, called out (mostly unnamed) people for confusing the discussion and seemingly trying to end the decision process just as it’s starting, in order to clear the field for their preferred water-sourcing project (also not named).

Jenny Clarke, the manager of Mallory Valley Utility District, attended the last meeting of the Duck River Watershed Planning Partnership, where representatives of MVUD gave a presentation on the feasibility study they had just finished. The study investigated the cost and feasibility of building treatment facilities near the Cumberland River and a pipeline that would transport up to 50 million gallons per day (MGD) of its treated water to the municipal and county utilities of Maury County.

After the presentation, subcommittee leader Randal Braker announced that two “key outside stakeholders” in the project had privately told him they were no longer willing to move forward with the Cumberland River line.

Clarke was “shocked” because these organizations, the Army Corps of Engineers and Harpeth Valley Utility District, had just told her the opposite of what Braker reported. When she approached the representatives of those organizations, they told her Braker was relaying information from conversations they’d had in May or June, months before MVUD had released the feasibility study on the project, and that he wasn’t speaking to their current positions.

Without laying fault at Braker’s or anyone’s doorstep, Clarke announced that MVUD was backing out of future discussions or projects to send Cumberland River water to Maury County.

“[The discussion of long-term water supply] has become increasingly political, seemingly at the expense of our good-faith efforts,” she said. “The actions of certain partners, who are openly attempting to discredit other viable options to advance their own solution, have created an environment that we believe is neither productive nor trustworthy.”

She challenged the unnamed “political” actors to put their preferred long-term water solution through the same feasibility and cost studies that the Cumberland line faced: a timeline, construction and maintenance costs, and sufficiency to the region’s water needs.

“To fairly evaluate and compare any alternative project, we believe it must be held to the same rigorous standard,” Clarke said. “Anything less than this full accounting would not provide a complete or accurate basis for comparison. We would urge everyone involved in these conversations, to hold every project and the information discussed about these projects to the same standards.”

She went on to thank the majority of partners and stakeholders, who had been open and honest about the Cumberland pipeline and their thoughts on it. Jonathan Hardin, the president of Columbia Power and Water System, returned the compliment in October by testifying that Mallory Valley had proposed the pipeline idea out of concern for the region’s water supply, even outside their Cumberland River Watershed.

MVUD clarified that the information from the feasibility study was free to be used by any entity that wanted to build a related pipeline project, for which there are already existing TVA easements leading almost all the way from the Cumberland River to Maury County.

“From the beginning, our hope for this project and this partnership was that it would be a model of how utilities can truly work together to achieve common goals,” Clarke concluded. “We want to exemplify ‘utilities helping utilities’ and be a model that our citizens and leaders can be proud of.”

Still, some of the stakeholders who funded the feasibility study have become less enthusiastic about the Cumberland pipeline since the feasibility study came out. After the study dropped, Mayor Matt Fitterer and Aldermen Alex Jimenez of Spring Hill expressed their unwillingness to go forward with such an expensive project.

The leaders of Columbia Power and Water Services also told Main Street Maury they had cooled slightly on the Cumberland project, since their short-term water solution of choice is now locked in: a new intake valve in Williamsport, which hadn’t yet been approved when they sponsored the feasibility study.

Last Thursday the Duck River Development Agency, on which Braker sits, considered a resolution which recommended, among other items, that the Duck River Watershed Planning Partnership not pursue a Cumberland River pipeline any further without another funding source.

“The costs associated with developing and implementing a trans-basin pipeline project… would have a negative impact on rate payers,” the resolution said, citing the feasibility study. “Should a substantial source of additional funding be identified, the DRDA recommends that potentially affected utilities participate in future studies and/or projects at their discretion.”

Food Pantries Combine (CDH)

A newly consolidated food pantry in Maury County is prepping for the holiday season, expecting increased need in meals and other essentials.

Two nonprofits in Columbia, Harvest Share Food Pantry and The Family Center, have combined their efforts to provide a larger one-stop, community food pantry, operated at the Harvest Share Food Pantry location, 419 W. 9th Street.

Since January, Harvest Share Food Pantry has increased its customer base in partnership with The Family Center, allowing Harvest Share to provide food for new families, while also allowing The Family Center to place more focus on addressing local homelessness and housing issues, Harvest Share Director Amanda Taylor said.

"They are now pointing people in our direction, and we are pointing the homeless to them," Taylor said. "They also had churches and groups that would donate to them, but now they are pointing them in our direction. We have picked up a lot more clients."

Harvest Share now serves approximately 500-550 families per month, Taylor added.

"It is significant, and they can only come one time a month, and so it is a lot," Taylor said.

Taking on new customers hasn't been the only thing Harvest Share has been up to this year. The food pantry is currently in the process of installing a new walk-in cooler, as well as a mission to provide a bountiful Christmas for 500 families with its first Hustle for Harvest Share 5K fundraiser, which will take place Thanksgiving Day.

"The reason that we started the fundraiser is because for Christmas families get a ham and toys, but not the rest of the meal," Taylor said. "We are partnering together to feed people their full Christmas meal this year. The cost for that, on the low end, would be about $5,000, and so we need a decent fundraiser to make this possible."

The 5K kicks off at 8 a.m. at the Pillow Springs golf course, 119 Stoneybrook Road. Runners can sign up online for $43.40, with an additional $3.40 fee.

Harvest Share has also grown in additional ways to better serve clients, including a cargo van.

"We got a cargo van that was donated to us, and it's amazing how it has made a huge difference in how we pick food up, though we could also use another vehicle," Taylor said. "We have a lot of pickups, and we have to pick up all of our orders. We would also love to do renovations to our building, but that's more of a want ... because feeding for the Christmas dinner is a big project itself.

"We have a lot going on and are just trying to make it happen."

While the momentum to grow and increase the services local food pantries provide clients, there is also a concern as to how the current government shutdown could affect families, particularly those who rely on Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits.

Though there is no estimated amount regarding how many will be affected, Taylor said she expects the impact to hit local families.

"It will affect people, and we have gotten some calls from people who have never been here looking for ways to help offset that loss," Taylor said. "We expect it is going to have an increase for us, but we have seen an increase in donations also. People hear about this and see that we are going to have an increase [of clients], and so we have seen an increase in donations to help us prepare."

According to the Tennessee Department of Human Services, Maury County's data shows 7,226 individuals received SNAP benefits in September of 2025, with 3,539 total caseloads totaling $1,549,995.

Gov. Lee introduces Feed TN

Gov. Bill Lee introduced Oct. 30 FeedTN.org, a resource that helps to connect families with food relief efforts statewide. The website allows users to locate food resources in their specific county.

"With the disruption of SNAP benefits and food insecurity on the rise, Tennesseans are stepping up to serve neighbors in need," the website says.

FeedTN is "a collaboration with Second Harvest, United Way, Catholic Charities, Chattanooga Food Bank, Mid-South Food Bank, and hundreds of community and faith organizations, and supported by the Governor’s Faith-Based and Community Initiative," according to the website.

The website also gives updates on SNAP and the government shutdown as well as Frequently Asked Questions at https://www.tn.gov/humanservices/federal-shutdown.html.

In addition, Franklin-based nonprofit One Generation Away issued a press release Wednesday, Oct. 29, estimating 690,000 Tennesseans relying on SNAP will be affected by the shutdown, prompting the organization to rapidly expand its food distributions across the state.

"Since Oct. 1, OneGenAway has been serving furloughed federal workers and local residents affected by the shutdown, in addition to operating its regular mobile food pantries that provide food to anyone in need — no questions asked," the release states. "Now, the nonprofit is mobilizing on an even greater scale."

Beginning Nov. 4, the nonprofit will begin hosting drive-thru food pickups, wherein each household will receive an 18-pound box of shelf-stable food and a 10-pound box of produce.

Details and information about the food pick-ups is available online at www.OneGenAway.com.

“This is a critical moment for our community,” Chris Whitney, founder and CEO of OneGenAway, said. “When thousands of families suddenly lose access to the food they depend on, we can’t wait for someone else to step in. We’re doing everything we can to fill the gap because no one should have to choose between feeding their kids and paying their bills.”

Whataburger to Come to Spring Hill (CDH)

Spring Hill continues to be a site for what could be the next Whataburger location.

The location, if approved, would be located off Belshire Village Drive, a site that has remained vacant for several years. The burger franchise is currently seeking approval for a site plan conversion of a former drive-thru.

The Texas-based fast-food chain's final site plans were first proposed in 2022, which would have been located at a former Burger King adjacent to Publix and Truist bank, though Whataburger chose not to move forward at the site.

The new Belshire Village site formerly operated as a KFC.

The proposed Whataburger has been discussed by the Spring Hill planning commission several times, this time being met with concerns about the property's potential development, and how the potential widening of U.S. Highway 31 could cause issues with parking.

Spring Hill Mayor Matt Fitterer addressed how the proposed restaurant could conflict with the Tennessee Department of Transportation's project to widen U.S. Highway 31, and how that project could potentially eliminate much of the Whataburger's parking lot.

"Their right-of-way acquisitions, their easements and their retaining walls basically take over all of the eastern border and northern border parking lot stalls," Fitterer said. "It is very foreseeable that in the not-too-distant future TDOT is going to come in and take away a majority of your parking. I would be extremely cautious in moving forward with this plan."

According to a Spring Hill staff report, the proposed reuse of the site is expected to increase current traffic volumes, posing a potential negative impact on the street network, though the applicant is proposed to install a new pedestrian sidewalk and crosswalk from the existing sidewalk on Belshire Way.

Emma Donnely-Bullington, representing Kimley-Horn overseeing Whataburger, said, while losing parking is a concern, the vast majority of the business is expected to be utilized via the drive-thru.

"TDOT is actively procuring engineering services," Fitterer responded.

"They tend to hire engineers when they expect to move forward with a project."

Donnely-Bullington added that the company expects a high traffic volume once the business opens, but that plans are in place to handle it.

"Whataburger will work with local PD to handle that queue," she said. "But as that comes into a more regular flow of business, we expect that flow to come down significantly."

No votes were taken at the Oct. 27 meeting. The item will be considered at the planning commission's Nov. 10 regular meeting.

Pancake Day (Press Release)

Since 1959, the Columbia Noon Rotary Club has been flipping pancakes and serving smiles across Maury County. This year’s Pancake Day will be held on Saturday, November 8th, from 6:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. at the Memorial Building on West 7th Street in downtown Columbia.

Guests can enjoy a delicious breakfast of homemade pancakes, sausage, and a choice of beverage. Most folks enjoy dining in and visiting with neighbors, but carryout options will also be available.

“Pancake Day is the Noon Rotary Club’s largest fundraiser and allows us to serve youth and families in the Maury County community through our club projects,” said Connie Massey, Pancake Day Co-Chair. “This fundraiser is a long-standing tradition, and club members are proud to say we’ve made our pancakes from scratch for more than 60 years!”

Proceeds from Pancake Day help support some of the club’s most impactful service projects. Each year, Columbia Noon Rotary provides over $12,000 in scholarships to area high school students. The club also proudly sponsors Boy Scout Troop 103, which has produced more than 50 Eagle Scouts since 1960.

Tickets are $10 each or three for $25, and can be purchased in advance from any Noon Rotarian or at the door on Pancake Day. Children ages 6 and under eat free!

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

Darla Sue Rayfield Smith, 65, resident of Lawrenceburg, died Wednesday, October 22, 2025 at her residence.

A celebration of life will be held at a later date. Online condolences may be extended at www.oakesandnichols.com.

Now, news from around the state…

Jones Case Against Speaker Dismissed (WKRN.com)

More than two years after he filed it, State Rep. Justin Jones’ lawsuit against Tennessee House Speaker Cameron Sexton has been dismissed by a federal judge.

Jones (D-Nashville) sued over his April 2023 expulsion from the Tennessee House of Representatives, calling the move “unconstitutional and illegal.”

Jones and fellow Democratic Rep. Justin Pearson of Memphis were expelled from the Tennessee General Assembly during an April 6 session. Jones, Pearson, and Knoxville Democratic State Rep. Gloria Johnson—dubbed the Tennessee 3—all faced expulsion hearings after they walked up to the well of the House, violating chamber rules.

Johnson survived her expulsion vote after Jones and Pearson were formally expelled.

Jones and Pearson were subsequently appointed back to their seats by the Metro Nashville and Shelby County legislative bodies, respectively. They then won their seats back in landslide votes during a special election in August of that year.

In October of 2023, Jones sued Sexton and other Republican lawmakers in federal court, claiming “unconstitutional” censorship of him and the views of those he represents.

“Time and again over the past year Defendants have blocked Representative Jones from expressing views on critical issues that he was elected to express, ensuring that viewpoints dissenting from their own are silenced, neither heard nor spoken,” Jones’ complaint read. “This censorship violates the constitutions of Tennessee and of the United States and is an anathema to a free, democratic society.”

U.S. District Judge Eli J. Richardson dismissed Jones’ claims on Friday, Oct. 24, saying Sexton and other lawmakers were entitled to “legislative immunity with respect to their conduct in disciplining” Jones. All six claims were dismissed in their entirety, per the order.

Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti celebrated the ruling, saying it “upholds the independence of Tennessee’s legislative branch.” He added the lawsuit “involved years of onerous litigation at taxpayer expense.”

“This decision is a clear affirmation of foundational principles that underpin our republican system of government: federalism and separation of powers,” Skrmetti said in a statement. “Tennessee legislators must be free to debate, enfoce legislative rules, and conduct internal affairs without the constant threat of federal litigation. This ruling protects not just these defendants, but the ability of elected representatives from across Tennessee to get their work done and serve their constituents.”

Final Story of the Day (Maury County Source)

Downtown Columbia will be a hallowed haunt for its annual Haunting in The District event this weekend.

The event will run from 6-8 p.m. Friday and is free for all ages to attend.

Kids 12 and under will have the chance to trick or treat, get a big bag of candy while in a safe environment in the heart of downtown Columbia.

In addition to multiple candy stands, Haunting in The District is also an opportunity to browse local vendors, businesses and nonprofits, all participating in a frightfully fun evening in Muletown.