WKOM/WKRM Radio
Southern Middle Tennessee Today
News Copy for February 10, 2025
All news stories are aggregated from various sources and modified for time and content. Original sources are cited.
We start with local news…
Duck River Gains Stronger Protections (TNLookout and WKOM)
Tennessee regulators will strengthen permit requirements for utilities that withdraw water from the Duck River, according to settlement agreements announced Tuesday.
Conservation groups have been pushing for protections for the river — which hosts the largest variety of living organisms of any freshwater river in North America — for years.
The Duck River provides water to an estimated 250,000 Tennesseans. Eight utilities sought to increase their daily water withdrawal from the river to a combined 73 million gallons per day as the Middle Tennessee region grows. The Southern Environmental Law Center (SELC) and other conservation groups warned this withdrawal increase and extreme drought conditions put the health of the river and its inhabitants at risk.
The Tennessee Wildlife Federation, represented by SELC, appealed three permits issued by the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC). New settlements with the department and each of the utilities set goals limiting the amount of water allowed to leak from utility systems and require the utilities to follow an updated drought management plan approved by the department.
The state will also work with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to research the river’s flow using the Corps’ analysis software. Data collected from this research will inform updates to the Duck River Regional Drought Management Plan, according to the settlements.
The settlements apply to permits granted to the Bedford County Utility District, the Duck River Utility Commission and Columbia Power and Water Systems.
“Throughout this process, we’ve heard from farmers, anglers, and local business owners who cherish the Duck River and recognize that the river deserves our stewardship and protection,” said George Nolan, the SELC Tennessee office director, in a news release. “This settlement gets us closer to ensuring that this one-of-a-kind natural treasure can be used and enjoyed for generations to come, and we will continue to work with stakeholders and state leaders to protect this iconic river.”
TDEC will update the drought plan alongside the Duck River Development Agency, which is responsible for drought management on the river. Their work will include evaluating flow levels to trigger voluntary and mandatory conservation measures, enforcement, and aquatic life protection, among other things.
TDEC also agreed to publish daily withdrawal data from each utility every month.
Each utility will also develop a plan to promote water conservation.
Utility permit changes are still subject to public notice and comment procedures before implementation.
The settlements follow Gov. Bill Lee’s November executive order protecting the Duck River. The order created a 19-member Duck River Watershed Planning Partnership to identify ways to manage drought, reduce water loss, preserve habitats, and engage with the communities and industries that use the river.
Officials expect the Lee administration to bring budget requests to the Tennessee General Assembly this session to fund the creation of a statewide water conservation plan.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture also awarded $20 million to the Duck River Watershed Society in October to support stream restoration in the Duck River.
“Over the coming years, we have a critical opportunity to implement planning and protections that will secure the Duck’s health and future,”said Mike Butler, CEO of Tennessee Wildlife Federation, in the news release. “We must act now to avoid a larger crisis when these permits are up for renewal. Collaboration among all stakeholders is key to conserving this national treasure.”
In other Duck River news…on Wednesday, Rep. Chris Todd, a Republican from District 73 in Madison County introduced a bill that removes the two-mile buffer between Class II scenic rivers and new and expanded landfill sites. During heated debates that drew hundreds of citizens from Maury and other river Counties to the capitol last year, Governor Bill Lee signed an executive order making the Duck River in Maury County a Class II scenic river in response to Star Hill, LLC’s attempts at building a landfill on former Monsanto Land.
Maury County Mayor Sheila Butt called House Bill 0895 “egregious” and has urged State Representative Scott Cepicky, Kip Capley and Senator Joey Hensley to defend Governor Lee’s Executive Order 108 protecting the Duck River and the security of the drinking water of over 250,000 citizens. A companion bill has been introduced in the Senate by Adam Lowe, a Republican from District 1 representing Bradley, Meigs, McMinn, and Rhea Counties. Overnight, Mayor Butt was informed by an source in the senate that the bill would not be run in the Senate, however, she encourages the public to stay vigilent.
Spring Hill Officer of the Year Named (MauryCountySource)
At the Knights of Columbus banquet in Columbia, TN, the Spring Hill Police Department honored Officer Sawyer Greene with the “Officer of the Year” award. Officer Greene works for the SHPD Traffic Enforcement Unit.
In 2024, Officer Greene conducted over 400 traffic stops, which resulted in 49 DUI arrests. Officer Greene began his career with the Columbia Police Department and the Tennessee Highway Patrol.
Officer Greene also serves as a field training officer, mentoring newly hired police recruits. He is a DUI instructor for the department where he teaches officers procedures for investigating DUI cases. Officer Greene dedicates himself to keeping our roads safe.
Lineman Rodeo (Press Release)
The Columbia State Community College Office of Workforce and Continuing Education recently hosted a Pre-Apprentice Lineworker Academy Mini-Rodeo that allowed students to demonstrate the skills they learned during the seven-week program.
In the overall rodeo, Bethany Lamon from Fayetteville came in first place, Cole McCafferty from Summertown came in second place and Timothy Brown from Hohenwald came in third place.
“This program is truly outstanding thanks to our amazing instructors and our strong partnerships with local utilities and municipalities,” said Tiffany Odom, Columbia State Workforce Solutions and Continuing Education coordinator. “I want to extend a heartfelt thank you to all of our partners who help make this program possible, from equipment donations to facility access, pole yard maintenance and volunteering for mock interviews. Without them, this program and the success of our participants would not be possible.”
Upon completion of the program, the students received a Tennessee Valley Public Power Association climbing certification, first aid and CPR certifications, OSHA 10 with ET&D certification and NSC flagger certification. In addition, the students are prepared to sit for a commercial driver’s license.
“Over seven tough weeks in the pole yard, these participants worked to develop the skills they needed to become apprentice lineworkers,” Odom said. “After that, they moved on to CDL Class A-57 training to get fully prepared for the job. Their dedication and hard work have been incredible to watch, and I can’t wait to see where their careers take them next.”
During the mini-rodeo, students competed in different activities including the 80-foot pole climb, bell change and switch transfer.
In the first activity, students climb up and down an 80-foot pole, which is a necessary part of the TVPPA Climbing Lab Certification. In this activity, Timothy Brown from Hohenwald came in first place, Bethany Lamon from Fayetteville came in second place and Cole McCafferty from Summertown came in third place.
The bell change and switch transfer are activities linemen would do in the field because of lightning, loose connections or replacement of aging materials to maintain electricity for those in the service area.
In the bell change, students climb a 40-foot pole and change out the bell that holds the line to the pole. In this activity, Bethany Lamon from Fayetteville came in first place, Cole McCafferty from Summertown came in second place and Beau Schilling from Cornersville came in third place.
In the switch transfer, students climb a 40-foot pole to change out the switch attached to the cross-arm of the pole. In this activity, Bethany Lamon from Fayetteville came in first place, Timothy Brown from Hohenwald tied for second and third place alongside Cole McCafferty from Summertown.
In addition to her performance in the rodeo, Bethany Lamon from Fayetteville was presented with the Pre-Apprentice Lineworker Academy Outstanding Student Award.
The Lawrenceburg Utility System Mark Fields Lineman Scholarship is a partnership between the Lawrenceburg Utility System and the Tennessee Valley Authority in memory of Mark Fields. They are awarded annually to high school graduates from Lawrence County Schools. Garrett Pilkinton from Leoma was the recipient of the scholarship for the Fall 2024 semester.
11 students received scholarships through grants from the United Way of Greater Nashville’s (UWGN) Transformation Fund and the Metallica Scholars Initiative (MSI).
UWGN’s Transformation Fund is intended to fuel transformational outcomes across the UWGN multi-county footprint by investing in several priority areas, including workforce development. Funding for the Transformation Fund was provided to UWGN by a generous gift from philanthropist MacKenzie Scott.
Metallica Scholarship Initiative was launched in 2019 by Metallica’s foundation, All Within My Hands (AWMH), in partnership with the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC) to provide workforce opportunities for students interested in gaining the skills and training necessary to find meaningful and well-paying careers in fields and positions. Columbia State is the first community college in Tennessee to receive an MSI grant.
The Pre-Apprentice Lineworker program is a result of communities from across Middle Tennessee coming together to fill a need in the workforce. After the rodeo, participants will complete their CDL skills training to test for their CDL Class A-57 license and be ready to join the industry as an apprentice lineworker.
For more information about the program, please visit www.ColumbiaState.edu/Lineworker. Upcoming cohorts are scheduled for the Spring 2025 and Fall 2025 semesters. All individuals interested in the program should register through the link to be placed on a contact list for future classes. Scholarships will be available, and interested participants can sign up for the contact list at www.campusce.net/columbiastate/
Soup and Bowl (WKOM Audio 2:36)
On Saturday, Harvest Share, a local food pantry held their annual Soup N’ Bowl event to raise funds for their important mission. Front Porch Radio’s Delk Kennedy stopped by and spoke to Harvest Share’s Director Amanda Taylor to learn more…
Duck River Books Iconic Counter Rebuilt (CDH)
Since opening Dec. 1, 2012 first as The Old Curiosity Book Shop, now Duck River Books' prized centerpiece has been its front counter space made, quite literally, out of piles of literature.
The mosaic book-laden front space has not only provided a unique visual aesthetic to downtown Columbia's independent bookstore but is a space that's created lasting memories from prom photos to daily conversations customers share with owners James and Heather Lund.
The idea was created initially out of necessity, but over time has become something of a "must-see" icon for downtown Columbia visitors.
"These were damaged books that needed to be recycled to begin with, and so instead of taking them to the dump, I just figured I'd try and find a way to use them," Lund said.
"There are so many things we never expected when we started the store 12 years ago, and one of the things was the amount of folks that come in and have prom photos taken here. We've even had a couple engagements happen in here, and two music videos filmed here. It's a great thing, and a lot of it has happened at the front counter."
After 12 years, the already damaged books had become weathered and worn, not to mention a tad unstable, and the time had come to install something a little more permanent.
But it had to be just right, something that captured the same look and feel of the beloved bookstack original.
Being located within a growing community of artists, the Lunds didn't have to look far. The new wood countertop, which was installed earlier this month, was created by Spring Hill wood artist Ashley Wooten of Ashwood & Hawke. She's also a Duck River Books regular.
"She's a customer of ours, and I just happened to be scrolling through Instagram one night and one of her projects popped up," Lund said. "I said to my wife, 'She comes into the store all the time.' Heather just looked at me and said, 'She can build our front desk, let's call her.'"
Wooten said being chosen was an exciting opportunity because it was the chance to create a lasting piece for the store she loves.
"I've always loved the vibe they have in there, especially the kids, because I've always wanted to instill a love of books for my kids," Wooten said. "It's so cool to me that somebody appreciated the work that I do to the extent that they want to have that living in their store for the next 20 years. That, to me, is really special."
There is also a special, hidden piece to the countertop Wooten said is just for her kids.
"There's one piece under the mosaic top where my son drew a bunch of hearts and his name," Wooten said. "No one will ever see it because it's covered in wood, but to know every time we go into the bookstore my kids can see they had their own kind of fingerprint in it. It's also kind of cool with woodworking being a male-dominated industry that my kids can be like, 'My Mom made that.'"
The new countertop sits now with a sturdy wood finish, while still featuring the mosaic stacks and piles of books, this time all hardback to ensure many years of longevity.
"These will last a whole lot longer," Lund said. "It's so much more stable and sturdier, because the other one you could just bump it, and all the glass would start rattling. Ashley did such a fantastic job of building it, and we could not be happier.
"It's just such an amazing piece."
Spring Hill Officer of the Year Named (MauryCountySource)
At the Knights of Columbus banquet in Columbia, TN, the Spring Hill Police Department honored Officer Sawyer Greene with the “Officer of the Year” award. Officer Greene works for the SHPD Traffic Enforcement Unit.
In 2024, Officer Greene conducted over 400 traffic stops, which resulted in 49 DUI arrests. Officer Greene began his career with the Columbia Police Department and the Tennessee Highway Patrol.
Officer Greene also serves as a field training officer, mentoring newly hired police recruits. He is a DUI instructor for the department where he teaches officers procedures for investigating DUI cases. Officer Greene dedicates himself to keeping our roads safe.
And now, Your Hometown Memorials, Sponsored by Oakes & Nichols Funeral Home…
Mrs. Mary Carolyn Fraser Delk, 89, resident of Columbia, died Wednesday, February 5 at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. Funeral services will be conducted Tuesday, February 11 at 10:30 AM at Oakes & Nichols Funeral Home. Burial will follow at Delk Cemetery. The family will visit with friends Monday February 10 from 4:00 PM till 8:00 PM at Oakes & Nichols Funeral Home.
Mrs. Erin Caroline LaCroix Tucker, 46, resident of Culleoka, died Thursday, February 6, 2025 at Maury Regional Medical Center. Funeral services will be conducted Thursday at 2:00 PM at Oakes & Nichols Funeral Home. Burial will follow at Friendship Cemetery in Culleoka. The family will visit with friends Thursday from 12:00 PM till the time of service at Oakes & Nichols Funeral Home.
And now, news from around the state…
Real ID (Press Release)
With the REAL ID Act of 2005 taking effect in three months, the Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security, TDOSHS, is expanding access by adding 1,432 additional REAL ID-specific appointment slots per day at Driver Services Centers across the state.
The REAL ID Act requires anyone 18 or older to have a REAL ID or another federally issued photo ID to board commercial flights within the United States or to enter certain federal buildings, military bases, and nuclear power plants.
“The REAL ID appointment expansion helps ensure that Tennesseans have the opportunity to obtain a REAL ID ahead of the federal deadline,” said TDOSHS Commissioner Jeff Long. “Our goal is to make the process as convenient as possible and to help travelers avoid last-minute delays. The added appointments reflect our commitment to both security and customer service.”
More than 2.7 million Tennesseans have already received REAL ID-compliant credentials, while nearly 1.2 million have not yet made a decision about getting a REAL ID. Another 1.9 million Tennesseans have chosen not to get a REAL ID-compliant credential. TDOSHS began issuing REAL IDs on July 1, 2019.
“We encourage Tennesseans to take advantage of the increased appointment availability now, rather than waiting until the last minute,” said Commissioner Long. “By planning ahead, you can avoid longer lines and ensure you have the credentials needed for travel and federal access.”
To apply for a REAL ID, customers must bring proof of U.S. citizenship or legal presence, proof of their Social Security Number, and two proofs of Tennessee residency. If your name has changed, you must also bring certified legal documents supporting the name change(s). All documents must be original or certified. Photocopies are not accepted. To ensure you’re bringing the correct documents, TDOSHS encourages you to have your REAL ID required documents pre-approved online. A complete list of accepted documents and the pre-approval portal are available at tnrealid.gov.
Federal law requires REAL ID applications to be made in person. If you have a Tennessee Driver License or ID, you can apply for a REAL ID at a Driver Services Center or a participating County Clerk. If you do not have a Tennessee Driver License or ID, you must apply for a REAL ID at a Driver Services Center. Tennesseans can save time at the Driver Services Center by scheduling an appointment to get a REAL ID. Find a Driver Services Center or participating County Clerk near you and schedule an appointment at tnrealid.gov.
Obtaining a REAL ID is optional. Non-REAL ID licenses will continue to be accepted for general identification purposes such as driving, purchasing alcohol or tobacco products, applying for federal benefits, voting or accessing hospitals, post offices, banks, federal courts, etc.
After the REAL ID implementation, Tennesseans may also use a valid passport or other federally issued photo ID to fly domestically. For the complete list of acceptable ID, visit the Transportation Security Administration, TSA, website, tsa.gov/travel/security-screening/identification.
If you are getting a Tennessee license for the first time or it is time to renew your license, the cost to get a REAL ID is $28.00. If you get a REAL ID outside of your renewal period, there is an additional duplication fee of either $8 or $12 depending on your license classification.
For more information about Tennessee REAL ID, visit tnrealid.gov.
Final Story of the Day (Maury County Source)
Nashville Celebrity Comic Con takes place on Saturday-Sunday, March 1st and 2nd at the Nashville Fairgrounds (625 Smith Ave, Nashville, TN 37203).
Join pop culture fans and movie buffs for autographs, selfies, photo ops, and Q&As with iconic celebrities like William Zabka, Patrick Luwis, and Martin Kove from Netflix’s Cobra Kai; Gaten Matarazzo (Stranger Things), McKenna Grace (Ghostbusters), to name a few.
During the event, shop for rare collectibles, meet your favorite celebrities, snag autographs, pose for epic selfies, and be part of exclusive Q&As. Come as your favorite character or just as you are.
Learn more by visiting, nashvillecelebritycomiccon.com/
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