Southern Middle TN Today News with Tom Price 11-4-26

WKOM/WKRM Radio

Southern Middle Tennessee Today

News Copy for November 4, 2026

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

We start with local news…

Election Results (WKOM)

The November 2026 State and Local General Election has come to a close. Here are the results of the races that matter in Maury County:

Tennessee will have its first female governor with the election of Marsha Blackburn. She defeated Democrat challenger Jeri Green by a margin of 2.57%. Independent candidate David Hatley got 9.3% and Columbia resident and independent candidate Lauren Pinkston got 1.25% of the vote.

For U.S. Senate, incumbent Bill Hagerty will retain his seat, defeating challenger Marquita Bradshaw by just over 12%.

In the U.S. House Disctict 5 race, current Columbia Mayor Chaz Molder lost a fairly close race to Charlie Hatcher. Molder garnered some 99,841 votes to Hatcher’s 110,408, a difference of just under 5 percentage points.

In the newly drawn U.S. House District 9 race, Brent Taylor narrowly defeated Justin Pearson by just 2539 votes out of 221,397 cast.

In the TN House District 64 race, incumbent Scott Cepicky will keep his seat, beating his opponent Craig D’Apolito by a landslide 15,364 votes to 9305

In the TN House District 71 race, incumbent Kip Capley defeated his opponent Matt Day by capturing nearly 74% of the votes in the district.

In the Columbia Mayoral Race, Stewart Parker won in a crowded field. He gathered 4027 votes. Eric Previti came in 2nd with 2401 votes, Jai Lipscomb came in third with 2198 votes, Ashley Townsend came in fourth with 2119 votes, and Timothy Johnson rounded out the field with 1518 votes.

In a very tight Columbia Vice Mayor Race, incumbent Randy McBroom was beaten by Charlie Huffman by just 126 votes out of 11578 cast.

Finally in the race for Mt. Pleasant City Commission, the top two vote getters to take the two open seats were Brandon Evans and Lonnie Thomason. John Hunter came in third.

All three constitutional amendments on the ballot passed.

Williamson County Has Highest Early Voter Turnout (WilliamsonScene)

Williamson County saw the highest early voting turnout across the state with 38% of registered voters casting ballots from Oct. 14-29, a 50% increase over turnout compared to the 2022 midterm election.

Following this year’s congressional redistricting, Williamson County was split between the 9th and 5th Congressional Districts, two of the state’s most competitive races. Williamson County is also the home of Republican gubernatorial nominee U.S. Sen. Marsha Blackburn.

The next highest voter turnout was in Loudon (36%), Wilson (32%), Shelby (31%), Davidson (31%), Rutherford (30%) and Knox (30%) counties. 

“Our voters have really taken advantage of early voting for this midterm election cycle,” Williamson County Election Administrator Chad Gray told the Williamson Scene. “We are continuing  our preparations for Election Day and ask that voters who will be voting on Nov. 3 to study your sample ballot before arriving to make the process as speedy as possible.”

Developments Delayed at Innovation Campus (MSM)

Eight years after Maury County bought 330 acres of former General Motors farmland on the east side of Highway 31 for $4 million, the Maury County Innovation Campus remains undeveloped. No deals have been struck to bring industrial customers to the site, and diesel contamination discovered in 2024 has added $162,000 in cleanup costs and further delays.

The Innovation Campus is controlled by the Maury County Industrial Development Board and is intended as an industrial office park for white-collar work like administration, research and development or corporate headquarters.

After sewer analysis, traffic analysis and environmental site investigation, the county came in a few thousand dollars under its $330,000 development budget in 2018. The state funded $165,000 of the work with a grant.

Some county commissioners in office at the time recall the high hopes they had for the purchase.

“The IDB wanted it to be for headquarters-type jobs, white-collar jobs, no manufacturing… and I believe GM had a stipulation that it couldn’t be anything automotive,” recalled District 5 Commissioner Scott Sumners.

“I feel like it’s still a great buy for the county, because of the location and [saleability],” said former District 8 County Commissioner Davis Burkhalter.

In early 2024, tests mandated by the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation found diesel-related contaminants in the soil and groundwater around an old tractor-fueling station on the Innovation Campus. The contamination covered a strip about 100 feet long.

The IDB’s engineering firm, Terracon, recommended digging up a section of soil and allowing it to air out, according to the protocol for remediating soil contamination.

IDB Chair Stewart Parker presented this $162,000 solution to the county commission in July 2025 as the “Chevy solution,” $50,000 cheaper than the “Cadillac solution” of trucking away the contaminated soil. County commissioners agreed to appropriate the money for the remediation after Parker assured them it would likely prevent the whole Innovation Campus from being condemned as a “brownfield.”

Parker told the county commission in September that TDEC and the IDB’s engineering subcontractor are negotiating whether to put a brownfield agreement only on the acre around the old diesel site.

“The IDB will not spend the money having the acre surveyed until the state of Tennessee confirms in writing that they will accept the solution,” Parker said. “Once that agreement has been received in writing, we will have the acre surveyed, cut off and labeled as a brownfield.”

TDEC said no brownfield voluntary agreement has been executed with the state and the IDB has not submitted a new survey or formal request to revise the application.

In correspondence with Parker, a TDEC official told him that any facilities in the area won’t be able to draw the groundwater for human use, owing to its documented arsenic content, or build directly atop the remediation site without testing the “soil gas” first.

“I couldn’t begin to [say when the campus will open for business, but]… delays in the infrastructure planning [have delayed it, and] the biggest delay to date has to be the [environmental] remediation,” Parker said. “You would expect a project like this to take six and a half to seven years [for] a private company that has access to resources, [while] the Industrial Development Board… [does] not have [its] own income and [is] funded by Maury County.”

Any facilities at the campus would be served by extending utility infrastructure from either Columbia or Spring Hill.

“I didn’t really have any expectations on how soon [development] would happen, because getting those types of companies to come anywhere is a long and hard process,” Sumners said. “The IDB would have to be working with the state and Maury Alliance to bring corporations into that development.”

Maury Alliance officials couldn’t be reached for comment on whether any industrial projects are now in the pipeline for the Innovation Campus.

“I would’ve liked to have seen something done by now, but I understand that it is difficult to bring the types of jobs they want to bring anywhere in the country. It’s a highly competitive venture to bring in white-collar corporate jobs to anywhere,” Sumners said. “It’s got a great location, but I’m not so sure what the county can do to make it more attractive; that’s why we have the county IDB and the Maury Alliance.”

“Certainly the issues with TDEC have slowed this project, but this project will be a slow mover under any circumstance,” Parker said. “The County just doesn’t have the funds to fast-track this by itself; we will need to continue to work with our partners at Maury Alliance and the state.”

Expanded Library Opens (CDH)

Much like the words written within the pages of books found at the 211 W. 8th Ave. building, a new story has been brought to life for the public of Columbia and greater Maury County.

After a year of renovations, The Maury County Public Library has officially reopened to provide visitors a source for learning, reading and a vision to continue its growth.

The project, which began in October 2025 and cost about $2.2 million, brings a fresh face to the beloved learning center, which dates back to 1968 when the building was first constructed. The occasion was welcomed by a large group of supporters Oct. 30, capped off with a ceremonial ribbon cutting hosted by the Maury County Chamber & Economic Alliance.

The project was made possible via a $2 million state grant awarded by the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development (TDEC), which also came with a 10% match provided by the Maury County Commission.

"This is a very happy day for us, a great day for celebration," Maury County Public Library Board Chair Beverly Simmons said.

The Oct. 30 event not only featured several local leaders and library staff, but also state supporters who helped bring this new vision to life.

"Strong libraries help make strong communities," Tennessee Secretary of State Tre Hargett said. "But one of the things that hold libraries back on many occasions is the physical structure, the physical layout of their library.

Visitors to the library will immediately notice the facility's new culinary demonstration area just left of the front entrance, though that is only the tip of the proverbial iceberg of all its newest features.

"Libraries have evolved so much, and one of the things that surprised me when I came into office as Secretary of State is how that evolution was occurring, and also to help Tennesseans understand that libraries still hold a tremendous and important place in our communities across the state," Hargett said.

The library also features access to 21 state-of-the-art computers, which also provide access to telehealth service technologies and hi-speed internet with easy-to-access availability.

"People are using those computers whether they are in middle school years or they are senior citizens checking Facebook keeping up with their grandkids that live somewhere else," Hargett added. "We are also teaching people how to apply for jobs, and in the worst of times, how to apply for disaster relief.

"They are filling so many different needs ... and it is great to see a building keep up with the times."

There is also a teen center which can be utilized for gaming for kids ages 13-and-up, as well as a special loft dedicated to young adult reading.

"In the back right corner, we also have a new classroom that is for workforce development," Simmons said. "Teaching can be used for that

While the year-long project has once again granted access to the public, the story is far from over.

Simmons said there is a vision for further phases of development.

"We just have to see how much grant money is available," she said. "There are still some things we want to do, and Meghan has a great vision for our library. We are very fortunate to have someone of her caliber leading our library."

Maury County Public Library Director Meghan Cyr thanked her staff, whom she said, "I am unable to do this without them."

"Libraries have always been more than about books, but places where people learn, grow and find the resources they need," Cyr said. "With this grant, we have taken that mission further than ever before."

Ice Skating At Riverwalk Park (Press Release)

Columbia Main Street is bringing Ice Skating to Riverwalk Park for 12 unforgettable days, December 1-12! The Farmers Market Pavilion will offer an affordable holiday experience for the entire community. Residents and tourists can enjoy skating for $10 (ages 6+) or FREE for children 5 and under , plus nightly food trucks, holiday-themed nights, character appearances, and a Holiday Market on December 12.

Columbia Main Street is looking for sponsors. Your sponsorship will make ice skating possible, and they would love to feature your business as part of the celebration. 

Gold Sponsor: $1,000

Ice Skating Tickets (x10), business LOGO on event signage, website and social media recognition, and vendor opportunity at the December 12 Holiday Market.

Silver Sponsor: $500

Ice Skating Tickets (x5), business LOGO on event signage, website and social media recognition, and vendor opportunity at the December 12 Holiday Market.

Community Sponsor: $200

You want to see this be as successful as possible, sponsor! Business LOGO on event signage and social media recognition.

There are also sponsorship opportunities for holiday characters, arts and crafts events and a photobooth.

Learn more at www.columbiamainstreet.com

State of Education Panel (Press Release)

Join us on Wednesday, November 18 at 11:30 am for the annual State of Education Lunch featuring Maury County Public schools. The program will take place at the War Memorial Building located at 308 W. 7th Street in Columbia.

During this year's event, Maury Alliance President & CEO, Wil Evans will lead a panel discussion with representatives from Maury County Public Schools including Lisa Ventura, MCPS Superintendent. They will discuss the current state of public education, Career and Technical Education (CTE) Programs and the 2026 Education Report. 

The cost is $25 for Maury Alliance Members and $30 for non-members and includes lunch.

For more information, visit www.mauryalliance.com.

MRMC New Treatment for High Blood Pressure (Press Release)

Maury Regional Health has successfully treated its first patient using renal denervation (RDN), a minimally invasive procedure that offers a new treatment option for certain patients whose high blood pressure remains difficult to control.

The Symplicity Spyral™ renal denervation system, approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in November 2023, targets overactive nerves near the kidneys that can contribute to high blood pressure, also known as hypertension. The treatment is designed to complement lifestyle changes and medications in helping patients manage their blood pressure.

High blood pressure affects nearly half of adults in the United States and is a major risk factor for serious health conditions, including heart attack and stroke. Despite available treatments, many adults with hypertension do not have their blood pressure adequately controlled.

The Symplicity™ blood pressure procedure provides another approach to lowering blood pressure without leaving a permanent implant behind. During the procedure, a physician uses a thin catheter inserted through an artery to reach the arteries leading to the kidneys. Energy is then delivered to calm excessive nerve activity that can contribute to elevated blood pressure. Once treatment is complete, the catheter is removed.

“High blood pressure is one of the most significant health challenges facing patients today, and even with medications and lifestyle changes, many people struggle to keep it under control,” said Martin Chaney, MD, chief executive officer of Maury Regional Health. “Bringing renal denervation to our region gives appropriate patients another option for managing their blood pressure and reducing the health risks associated with hypertension. Dr. Maquiling and our cardiovascular team have successfully introduced this new treatment option as part of our continued commitment to expanding access to innovative care in southern Middle Tennessee.”

The first procedure was performed by cardiologist Kevin Maquiling, MD, at Maury Regional Medical Center in August of 2026.

Patients with high or difficult-to-control blood pressure are encouraged to speak with their health care provider to determine whether the Symplicity blood pressure procedure may be an appropriate treatment option.

To learn more about cardiovascular services available at Maury Regional Health, visit MauryRegional.com/Cardiology.

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

Mrs. Shirley Geneva Wright Clanton, 88, resident of Pulaski, passed away on Thursday, October 22 at Maury Regional Medical Center Visitation will begin at 10 a.m. followed by a memorial service at 11:30 a.m. on November 7 at the Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses in Pulaski

Robert Allen “Bob” Johnson, 84, resident of Columbia, Tennessee, passed away Friday, October 23, 2026, at The Gardens of Poplar Estates.

A memorial service will be held Saturday, November 7, 2026, at 2:00 PM at Oakes & Nichols Funeral Home, with Randy Owens officiating. The family will visit with friends Saturday from 1:00 PM until the service time at the funeral home.

Pamela Sue Hartsfield Black, 70, resident of Columbia, passed away Thursday, October 29, 2026, at Life Care Center of Columbia.

Funeral services will be conducted Saturday, November 7, 2026, at 11:00 AM at Oakes & Nichols Funeral Home with Brother Rushing officiating. Burial will follow in Polk Memorial Gardens. The family will visit with friends Friday, November 6, 2026, from 4:00 PM until 8:00 PM at Oakes & Nichols Funeral Home. 

And now, news from around the state…

Judge Blocks Driver License Law (Tennessean)

A Nashville judge has temporarily blocked a new law that makes it harder for certain immigrants to obtain a driver's license in Tennessee.

The law requires applicants for temporary licenses to demonstrate a federally authorized period of stay in the U.S. Under the law, Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, or DACA, recipients and certain work permit holders no longer qualify since they are not authorized for a specified period of time.

The law went into effect Oct. 1.

Immigrant advocates with the Tennessee Immigrant and Refugee Rights Coalition and the National Immigration Law Center filed a lawsuit Oct. 30 challenging the law. That suit asks the court to block the new rule and require the state to return to its previous process for issuing temporary driver's licenses.

Davidson County Chancellor Russell Perkins filed a temporary injunction against the law Nov. 3.

The injunction keeps the state from placing the more stringent conditions on noncitizen applicants and requires the state to accept a valid employment authorization document.

The judge also scheduled a hearing for Nov. 16.

Final Story of the Day (Maury County Source)

The Piano Men Live will take place on Friday, November 6th, 2026, at 8 pm at The Mulehouse (812 S High St, Columbia, TN 38401).

The Piano Men is a show formed in 2015 by Nashville based pianists Micah Snow & Chris Smallwood over their common love for the music of Elton John & Billy Joel. Based on John & Joel’s popular “Face to Face ” tour, this 9-piece group will wow you with their arrangements and presentation of your favorite songs from the Elton John and Billy Joel catalog!

VIP Balcony Suite available for 6-8 of you and your friends! Best view in the theatre with velvet couch, two high-top tables with barstools, your own bar server for the evening, and charcuterie board!

For more information, visit www.themulehouse.com.