Southern Middle TN Today News with Tom Price 2-13-26

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Southern Middle Tennessee Today

News Copy for February 13, 2026

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

Illegal Burn Warning (MauryCountySource)

Maury County Fire Department is reminding residents to follow proper burn guidelines after crews responded to an illegal burn that impacted nearby medical facilities.

Officials say storm debris and burn piles must contain only natural wood materials. Plastics, building materials, dimensional lumber, and other prohibited items are not allowed.

The department’s tanker fleet, along with Columbia Fire & Rescue and Tennessee Tanker 1, worked to suppress the fire.

Residents are encouraged to obtain required burn permits through burnsafetn.org before conducting any outdoor burning.

Culleoka House Fire (MauryCountySource)

On February 10, 2026 at 1:35PM the Maury County Fire Department was dispatched to Baptist Church Rd in the Culleoka Community for a reported house fire.

Units arrived to find a home heavily involved in fire with home oxygen bottle’s relief valves operating and fueling the fire. One disabled occupant escaped from the home with the assistance of a neighbor and had critical burn injuries. The patient was air lifted via Air Evac to Vanderbilt Medical Center. The fire was extinguished within 30 minutes of arrival. One firefighter received minor injuries on scene and was evaluated at a medical facility.

Maury County Fire would like to acknowledge the prompt response of an off-duty Maury Regional Paramedic as well as the rest of the Maury Regional EMS team who provided patient care and standby on scene for our personnel.

The cause of the fire is under routine investigation by the Maury County Sheriff’s Department.

Spring Hill Considers Sewer Transmission Line (MSM)

A raw water transmission line concept was presented at the Spring Hill Board of Mayor and Aldermen meeting last week. The proposal outlines a future route connecting the city’s existing intake infrastructure to a planned reservoir, while aiming to minimize impacts to surrounding properties and utilities. 

The proposed pipeline would connect to the existing 18-inch intake line, run approximately 150 linear feet along Port Royal Road, then continue east for about 900 linear feet along Rice Road. 

From Rice Road, the line would enter the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) right-of-way and follow the northern edge for approximately 4,000 linear feet. It would then turn north onto the reservoir property and extend roughly 3,000 linear feet to the reservoir location. 

The city is currently coordinating with TVA to evaluate feasibility and obtain the necessary approvals to utilize the right-of-way. The usage of this corridor is key to ensure residential areas and other critical improvements are avoided. 

It is noted that this project is intended to be a cost-efficient and practical solution by utilizing existing infrastructure corridors. With the board giving a nod of approval and support, the project can now advance to further review and future development.

Cepicky’s Fitness Test Bill Advances (Fox17)

A proposal to bring back the Presidential Fitness Test in Tennessee public schools moved forward this week, as lawmakers continue to focus on student health and wellness.

The House Education Administration Subcommittee advanced House Bill 1466, sponsored by Maury County Rep. Scott Cepicky, R-Culleoka. The measure would require public schools to administer the Presidential Fitness Test to evaluate students’ strength, endurance, and flexibility.

“Tennessee is setting the standard by helping students become healthier and more successful,” Cepicky said in a statement. He said the test would help build a “culture of wellness” in schools and support academic achievement by encouraging active lifestyles and balanced diets.

If approved, the Tennessee Department of Education would provide guidance to local school districts and public charter schools on how to implement the test.

Students who meet benchmarks established by the President’s Council on Sports, Fitness, and Nutrition could earn the Presidential Fitness Award.

Under the bill, students with individualized education programs would receive reasonable accommodations and would not be required to participate if doing so would be unsafe. Test results would not negatively affect a student’s grades.

President Donald Trump signed an executive order on July 31 reviving the Presidential Fitness Test, which was first established in 1956 under President Dwight D. Eisenhower. The assessment historically included events such as a one-mile run, pull-ups or push-ups, sit-ups, a shuttle run, and a sit-and-reach test. It was discontinued during the 2012-13 school year.

Cepicky said the measure comes as Tennessee faces concerning student health trends. According to a joint report from the Tennessee Department of Health and the Tennessee Department of Education, nearly 40% of Tennessee students were classified as overweight or obese during the 2023-24 school year.

Last year, Cepicky sponsored legislation increasing the minimum daily recess time in Tennessee schools from 15 minutes to at least 40 minutes.

House Bill 1466 is scheduled to be heard in the House Education Committee on Feb. 17. Cepicky represents District 64, which includes part of Maury County, and chairs the House Education Instruction Subcommittee.

Both Maury Political Parties to Hold Caucuses (MSM)

Republican and Democratic nominating caucuses for the 2026 county elections will both happen in the second half of February.

Candidates hoping to qualify as official party candidates for races in Maury County must win the in-person vote of a majority of bona fide party voters. Voters hoping to vote in each party’s primary must register to vote by certain dates and register separately (preferably beforehand) specifically for their respective caucus.

The parties will put forward candidates for the county offices that are up for election in 2026: County Mayor, all 22 County Commission seats, County Trustee, Sheriff, Circuit Court Clerk, County Clerk, Register of Deeds, 11 Constables and the Board of Education seats in odd-numbered districts. The county-level parties will not run candidates for federal and state positions, nor for the seats of the mayor and vice-mayor of Columbia, nor for the two Mount Pleasant City Commission seats up for election.

Republican caucus

The Republican caucus will start at 9 a.m. on Saturday, Feb. 21, at the Well Church, 1421 Trotwood Avenue, in Columbia. Caucus voting registration will be open until voting begins at 10:30 a.m. The party recommends registering for the caucus online with the state-level party beforehand.

All bona fide voters (who have voted in at least three of the last four statewide Republican primaries, in August 2020, August 2022, March 2024 and August 2024) will receive a postcard in the mail, with a QR code leading to the registration site.

At the caucus there will be two check-in tables, one for pre-registered voters and one for as-yet unregistered. After checking in, each caucus voter will be given a colored armband representing their voting district and seated with other voters from that district.

Voters will nominate candidates for the county and their district from the floor for one office at a time. Candidates in the caucus will need to bring proof of their own bona fides and be nominated by another bona fide voter. Each voter can vote for the county and district offices that will represent them, including for up to two county commissioners. The votes will be counted and the winner announced for each office in succession at the caucus. Republican Party Chairman Jason Gilliam will collect the names of the winners and send them to the Election Commission as the Republican Party’s official candidates.

Democratic caucus

The Democratic caucus will be held Feb. 28, at the Ledbetter Auditorium in the Frank G. Clement Building (1665 Hampshire Pike) at Columbia State Community College. The doors will open at noon and participants must be in line by 1 p.m. Primary voters are encouraged to pre-register for the caucus online.

All Democratic Party members may participate in the caucus as long as they were registered to vote before Feb. 1 and are bona fide. Normatively, this means they must have participated in the August 2024 primary election, but the requirement isn’t absolute.

“We also may admit voters who don’t meet our ‘guaranteed entry’ criteria based on personal recommendations of other Democrats,” Party Chairman James Dallas told Main Street Maury. “We will probably be fairly generous toward new voters who show up on Caucus Day and sincerely want to participate.”

To be vetted by the party in time, aspiring candidates must declare their intent to run for the nomination by Feb. 22, using an online questionnaire form. They must also fulfill all requirements to run for county office, except that they won’t need to file their own petitions with the county Election Commission. The party’s district committees will recommend candidates for each district seat.

At the convention, each Democratic candidate will be able to make a two-minute pitch to the convention, before the attendees vote by show of hands. Independent candidates may be granted the privileges of addressing and being considered by the convention, but only in races in which no Democrats are running. The caucus’ votes will determine the Democratic candidate for each county seat.

Though the Maury County Democrats won’t discuss their party’s state and federal candidates at the February convention, Dallas hopes some of them will attend anyway, to “do a little politicking… build the party and have a lot of fun.”

Mersen Layoffs (CDH)

Workers from the International Union of Electrical Workers/Communications Workers of America (IUE-CWA) held an informational picket Friday, Feb. 6, at the Mersen advanced materials manufacturing plant in Columbia. Approximately 30 of the 50 workers at the plant reportedly attended the picket, which protested the company’s third attempt to move jobs out of Columbia since the workers voted to unionize in October 2024.

Union representative Orvin Caraballo charged Mersen’s management with making thinly disguised attempts to bust the union: trying to cut or relocate jobs, negotiating in bad faith, limiting the window for collective bargaining and making “unilateral changes” to workplace policy. The company first moved ISO department jobs out of state around Christmas 2024, and only another union protest succeeded at stopping a layoff the next year.

“These are all workers who have been fighting since 2024 to make their jobs safer and better, and to get Mersen to give them safety and dignity in the workplace,” Caraballo complained. “Every turn they can, they use every tactic to union-bust… that has been seen across the United States.”

He challenged Mersen’s claim that they’re planning to move the Columbia jobs to St. Mary’s, Pa., because of hardship. The billion-dollar company just scored a $10 million federal defense contract and reported that 2025 was a “stable” calendar year for them fiscally. They also founded their Maury County operation in 2019 with taxpayer help, making a Payment in Lieu of Taxes (PILOT) agreement with the county and accepting a $505,000 state grant to build the factory’s wastewater infrastructure, in exchange for investing $65 million in the county and creating 101 jobs.

“Anytime you go into the news, you can see that this is one of the industries that’s really booming,” Caraballo told Main Street Maury. “[The claim of hardship] is dumbfounding… After taking taxpayer money and promising long-term growth in this community, turning around and cutting these jobs is a slap in the face to every resident of Maury County.”

“Columbia residents deserve to know why their tax dollars are supporting a company that is actively eliminating local livelihoods,” said Mersen process operator Rickey Frierson. “We’re fighting to protect Tennessee jobs for us and future generations and to hold this company to the promises it made when it took our public money.”

Maury Regional Offers Pavers as Fundraiser (MSM)

As Maury Regional Medical Center continues its expansion and renovation, the Maury Regional Health Care Foundation invites the public to be a part of this historic moment by purchasing a custom engraved paver to be installed around the iconic front lawn fountain.

“Maury Regional Health has served our region for more than 70 years and touched countless lives,” said Foundation Executive Director Rita Thompson. “This is a special opportunity to honor those who helped shape the organization as it evolved from a 50-bed hospital to a health system with more than 500 providers across 60 clinical specialties.”

Pavers may be purchased to honor a variety of individuals, including administrative leaders, physicians, employees, retirees and supporting businesses. Quantities are limited and available in two sizes. The large 12-by-12-inch pavers are available for $300 and can accommodate five lines of type, 20 characters per line. The smaller 8-by-4-inch paver provides three lines of type, 13 characters per line, at a cost of $150. Installation is projected to begin in late spring.

“This project is an excellent way to honor our history while embracing our future,” said Maury Regional Health CEO Martin Chaney, MD. “These pavers will acknowledge those who paved the way for our success while creating a modern new outdoor space for our patients, visitors and colleagues.”

To purchase a paver, visit MauryRegional.com/PaveTheWay or contact the Foundation at 931.380.4075 or email MRHFoundation@MauryRegional.com.

Maury Regional Foundation to Host Mule Kick (Press Release)

The Maury Regional Health Care Foundation, in partnership with First Farmers and Merchants Bank for the fifth consecutive year, will host the 26th annual Mule Kick 5K & 1-Mile Trot on Saturday, April 11, at Riverwalk Park in Columbia.

 Proceeds from the 2026 Mule Kick 5K & 1-Mile Trot provide funding for Maury Regional Health’s mobile health unit, which delivers health care services to at-risk and underserved individuals throughout southern Middle Tennessee by providing basic health screenings, education and resources. A portion of the proceeds from the Mule Kick 5K & 1-Mile Trot will also support the Foundation’s Wellness and Aquatics Complex Healthy Living Endowment and the Columbia Parks and Recreation Department. In addition, the Maury County school with the most participation in the 5K will receive a donation to their P.E. program from the Foundation.

 “The Mule Kick 5K is more than just a race; it is a community-wide effort to bring life-changing health care directly to those who need it most,” said Foundation Executive Director Rita Thompson. “By participating, you are putting our mobile health unit on the road to provide screenings and education for at-risk individuals across our region. We are incredibly grateful to First Farmers and Merchants Bank, who has served as our presenting sponsor for five years, and all our supporters for helping us stride toward a healthier community.”

The race will begin on Saturday, April 11, at Riverwalk Park in Columbia with an 8 a.m. start time for the 5K and a 9:15 a.m. start time for the 1-Mile Trot. Both runners and walkers are encouraged to participate. Participants may register for the race online at runsignup.com/MuleKick5K.

 “Partnering with the Maury Regional Health Care Foundation reflects our deep commitment to the health of our communities,” said Brian K. Williams, chairman and CEO of First Farmers. “We are honored to support this event and to help provide essential health care resources to those who need it most.”

 In addition to presenting sponsor First Farmers and Merchants Bank, sponsorships ranging from $350 to $2,500 are still available for those who are interested in marketing exposure at this event. For additional information, contact the Maury Regional Health Care Foundation at 931.381.1111, ext. 1012.

 To learn more about the Maury Regional Health Care Foundation, the Mule Kick 5K & 1-Mile Trot or to make a donation to the community health fund, which supports the mobile health unit, visit MauryRegional.com/Foundation.

Maury Alliance Legislative Breakfast (Press Release)

Join Maury Alliance and Breakfast Rotary for their Annual State Legislative Breakfast. The event will take place on Friday, February 27th from 6:45-8:00am at the Memorial Building located at 308 West 7th Street in Columbia. Senator Joey Hensley, Rep. Scott Cepicky, and Rep. Kip Capley will be on hand to update the public and answer their questions related to legislation that affects us.

Admission is $25 for Chamber Members and $30 for non-members.

*If you are a member of Breakfast Rotary you do not need to purchase a ticket for this event.*

For more information, visit www.mauryalliance.com.

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

Mrs. Barbara Tuttle Richardson, 71, resident of Columbia, died Monday, February 9, 2026 at Maury Regional Medical Center. A memorial services will be conducted Saturday, February 14, 2026 at 2:00 PM at St. Peters Episcopal Church. The family will visit with friends Saturday from 1:00 PM to 2:00 PM at St. Peters.

Frank Thomas Uzzell Sr., 87, resident of Columbia, died February 12, at his residence.

Funeral services will be conducted at Oakes & Nichols Funeral Home Tuesday, February 17, 2026 at 11:00 AM. Burial will follow at Polk Memorial Gardens. The family will visit with friend Monday February 16, 2026 from 4:00 PM until 8:00 PM at the funeral home. Online condolences may be extended at www.oakesandnichols.com.

Now, news from around the state…

EFS Numbers (Press Release)

This week, the Tennessee Department of Education released numbers demonstrating the strong and ongoing demand for the Education Freedom Scholarship (EFS) Program among families statewide.  

Following the closing of the application window on Friday, February 6, the department received more than 56,000 new and renewal applications, with nearly half of the new applicants applying for income-prioritized scholarships. More than 260 schools have officially registered for the 2026-27 school year. 

For the 2026-27 school year, the department received a total of 56,442 applications: 

• 18,644 renewal applications received. 

• 37,798 new applications received. 

• 17,426 applicants applied for income-based prioritization. 

• Applications have been received from 94 counties in the state.  

• An average of 4,342 applications per grade level have been submitted for students entering Kindergarten through 12th grade. 

“Interest in the Tennessee EFS Program has remained strong across the state in its second year,” said Lizzette Reynolds, Commissioner of Education. “Families are making thoughtful decisions about their children’s education, exploring a variety of options to ensure every child can find the best fit for a unique academic journey.” 

The department has reviewed all renewal applications and communicated decisions with families. New applications will be processed by priority category and in the order in which they are received by the department. Families will receive an email from Notifications@TheoLearning.com with application status updates and next steps. 

To learn more about the EFS Program, visit the EFS webpage.  

Final Story of the Day (Maury County Source)

Kick your Valentine’s weekend off Friday at the Nashville Tea Company, located in The Factory at 101 N. James M. Campbell Blvd., which will host a Valentine's Afternoon Tea from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Admission is $55.

Nashville Tea Company will also host a Valentine's Evening Soiree starting at 7 p.m. Saturday, which will include a candlelit five-course meal. Admission is $75. Call (615) 569-3000 to make a reservation.