Southern Middle TN Today News with Tom Price 2-4-26

Welcome in to this Wednesday edition of Southern Middle Tennessee Today. I’m Chris Yow filling in for Tom Price. We’re excited to be broadcasting from the Debbie Matthews Realty newsroom in downtown Columbia on Front Porch Radio. We’ve got your local and state headlines coming your way, and today we’ll start with news from the governor’s state of the state address from Monday night.

Governor Bill Lee proposes $57.9B budget in his final State of the State Address

Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee delivered his final State of the State Address on Monday night, a speech met with applause inside of the House chamber at the Tennessee State Capitol and the echoes of protestors demonstrating outside its doors.

Lee’s proposed 2027 Fiscal Year Budget totals $57.9 billion, including $477.6 million for higher education, $425 million allocated to the Tennessee Department of Transportation for addressing infrastructure needs, $402 million for public schools, $230 million to TennCare, $117 million for nuclear energy, $83 million for the Tennessee Department of the Military’s construction of a new Army Aviation Support Facility in Rutherford County and $81.6 million for the creation of three new state parks.

The proposed budget also includes a $155 million allocation to Education Freedom Scholarships, which would bring the total number of scholarships provided to 40,000.

Lee’s remarks lasted for approximately 45 minutes and surrounded education, Winter Storm Fern, economic development, rural healthcare and nuclear power. Lee was elected in 2018 and re-elected in 2022. Tennessee’s term limit laws prevent him for running for a third term.

Education

Progress in education was one of the key talking points of Lee’s address, with emphasis on increased math and reading scores that the governor linked to investments in public schools, raising the starting pay for teachers from $35,000 in 2019 to $50,000 in 2027, the Education Freedom Scholarship program (which has received 54,000 applications this year for 20,000 spots) and a new kindergarten through third grade literacy strategy.

“We know that kids have to learn to read by the third grade, so that in fourth grade, they can read to learn,” Lee said. “This simple truth has guided our kindergarten through third grade literacy strategy, and the work’s paid off. Today, only six states in the country have fourth graders who read significantly better than ours.”

Lee said that the state has invested more than $2.5 billion into its public schools and plans to include an additional $340 million allocation for public schools in the upcoming fiscal year budget.

Winter Storm Fern

In his opening remarks, Lee addressed Winter Storm Fern, which as of Monday night had taken the lives of 25 Tennessee residents.

“Let me start off by saying, this is an unusual week,” Lee said. “Many in our state have experienced real challenges in the past week due to Winter Storm Fern. There are Tennesseans tonight that are still without power, some who are in this room tonight and there are Tennessee families who lost a loved one in this storm.”

Lee paused for a moment to pray for families who had lost someone due to the storm and to thank power line workers, the Tennessee Highway Patrol, Tennessee National Guard, TDOT crews, state employees and residents who helped their neighbors.

Rural healthcare

Lee called for updates to certificate of need laws, which he said have turned away $1.5 billion in healthcare investment in the state since 2000, and led to rural Tennessee communities with “few or even zero choices.”

“You’ve heard me say that what happens in rural Tennessee matters to every Tennessean, and together, we have acted on that belief, from my very first executive order for rural counties to investing hundreds of millions of TennCare Shared Savings dollars to strengthen rural healthcare,” Lee said.

Lee said that funding released a month ago from the federal Rural Health Transformation Fund will provide $1 billion over the next five years to aid improvements to healthcare in rural areas.

“This Rural Health Transformation Fund has given us an opportunity that we have to make certain that we do not miss,” Lee said. “In order to be eligible for these federal dollars, Tennessee must take legislative action to make it easier for medical professionals to practice and easier for rural healthcare facilities to operate.”

Nuclear power

Three years after establishing the Nuclear Energy Fund, Lee proposed investing $25 million into the fund this year.

“Tennessee’s Nuclear Fund that you helped to create has already recruited $8 billion in investment from leading nuclear companies around the world, creating thousands of new jobs, and more are on the way,” Lee said.

Democrats’ response

After Lee’s address, Tennessee Democratic Party Chair Rachel Campbell released the following response:

“After 15 years of complete Republican control, Tennessee families are literally paying the price. Housing, groceries, electricity, and childcare are at or near record highs, nearly half of Tennessee families cannot afford the basic cost of living, wages and investment for our public schools remain among the lowest in the nation.

“Yet Republicans have built a system where billionaires and corporations are put above the real needs of working families. Instead of taking meaningful action, Governor Lee has tried to paint a pretty picture. Tennesseans see right through this. We are living the real State of our State each and every day. Democrats believe the government should lower costs, protect our communities, and fight for working people.”

Neighbors help neighbors on new ‘Taskquatch’ app (MSM)

The new neighbor-assistance app Taskquatch saw a surge in users in Maury County during the recent snowstorm. The app pairs off people who need services with those willing to perform them for a small fee.

“As most of you probably already know, a snowstorm is expected this coming weekend. In moments like these, we often find ourselves asking who can help us for half an hour. Not a long job, not a big company, just someone nearby who can help prepare a home for the storm ahead. This is exactly where the Taskquatch app comes in,” said Itay Cherkesky, one of the developers. “Taskquatch connects neighbors who want to help with neighbors who need help with everyday tasks. The pricing is fair for both sides, secure and the app is simple and easy to use.”

Salting or shoveling walkways, setting faucets to drip, car rides and other piecework in the “Storm Recovery” menu of services promised to be very handy during the winter storm. The Cherkeskys pitched the app and these services to elderly or immobile people who couldn’t do these tasks for themselves (even creating a nonprofit arm called the “Taskquatch Task Force” for the purpose), or to the owners or real-estate agents of vacant houses. During the storm they asked for volunteers and donors to help those in need.

“This is truly about neighbors helping neighbors and making sure everyone gets through the storm safely,” the developers said. “If you want to help, know someone who needs help, or have supplies to donate, this is a great way for our community to come together.”

Taskquatch is based in Nashville and hasn’t yet officially launched a branch for Maury County, but even so, demand for services spiked here during the winter storm. So many people signed up that many were unable to find other users who had the time or ability to render the services they wanted.

“We have begun to see growing organic interest and signups from Maury County residents,” noted Itay’s brother Guy Cherkesky. “That momentum increased noticeably during the recent winter storm, reinforcing our belief that there is real local demand.”

They heard one particularly inspiring story from Maury County. The out-of-state children of an elderly couple here were concerned about their parents in the storm, especially the risks from ice build-up.

“Through Taskquatch, they were able to quickly connect with a nearby Taskquatcher who came by to spread salt on the front porch and entryways,” Guy told Main Street Maury. “It was a small act, but it made a meaningful difference, offering both safety for the couple and peace of mind for their family, knowing someone local was able to step in and help.”

The Taskquatch team have been hoping to build out their user base in the region; as Guy put it, they’re “intentionally building Taskquatch as a local, community-driven platform that expands neighborhood by neighborhood.”

“What matters most to us is building trust and momentum locally. The growing interest we’re seeing in Maury County points to a real need for a practical, community-first solution, and we are definitely seeing continued growth,” he explained.

Taskquatch expects big donations of supplies in the next several days, and they need volunteers from all corners of the county, to make sure they reach the vulnerable members of the community. Anyone interested in helping the work along, whether through hands-on help or by giving their time, is encouraged to join Taskquatch and opt in as a volunteer for the nonprofit arm, Taskquatch Task Force.

‘Making Maury’: Video series highlights behind scenes of local organizations (MSM)

Ross Jaynes has been busy documenting the businesses of Maury County in a new video series called Making Maury. The series, inspired by the Science Channel TV show How It’s Made, highlights the nonprofits, medical facilities, banks, factories and other facilities that ensure the ground-level prosperity of Maury County.

“One of the things I get to do at my job is see all those behind-the-scenes things… cool machines, pressing stuff, making things, and the people behind it… And you never know who’s working together… and how that might extend [out of] Maury County throughout the world,” Jaynes told Main Street Maury. “Why shouldn’t other people be able to see behind-the-scenes things?”

So far, Making Maury has two episodes in the can. The first published episode focuses on the “Enrich Boxes” assembled by the students at the King’s Daughters School, which themselves “feature” local businesses’ products; the second episode, on the 100-year-old Columbia Machine Works shop, has yet to be released.

“[It allows] us to get to know our neighbors in a lot of different ways,” said Megan Fralix, the director of the Enrich Program. “[And] one of the most important things that we do in the Enrich program is engender this sense of self-confidence in our students… whether it’s in the workshop producing the boxes, or being involved with a community service project.”

Making Maury began last year as a business-publicity project sponsored by a local nonprofit. Even after the funding fell through, Jaynes was too intrigued by the concept to let it die.

“I still see a need in it, and I desire and want to do it,” he said. He embarked on the journey to find clients and shoot their operations. Sometimes he hires part-time people to shoot photos and video and do graphic design and other visual media, but the operation starts and ends with Ross.

“The main thing of this was to try to get in front of people, that it would make the biggest impact if they had their story told the right way, because most people don’t have any idea… how any of this works,” he explained in his pitch to the owners and managers of these businesses and nonprofits. “Giving people just a little piece of the puzzle, I feel like, is… informative… for the general populace too, if they care.”

Jaynes intends to start by making episodes about six businesses, to gauge interest; so far, he says, it’s been high.

“There’s been a lot of great interest so far,” he said, “[I’m] just trying to find a way to make the series viable long-term.”

Jaynes’s previous series, Maury County Now, turned the spotlight on smaller businesses like the BriarWorks pipe factory and Muletown Coffee, and he may return to the genre eventually. For now, he’s looking for Making Maury clients of any size or scale, and for episode and block sponsors.

“Some of those have not had the chance to have their story told, I feel, so maybe I’ll get to them eventually,” he said. “The scale doesn’t matter, what’s interesting is the story for this particular project.”

Mid-State Classic to Return (Press Release)

Columbia will once again take center stage for collegiate softball as the Midstate Classic returns on March 10, 2026, marking the 11th year the City of Columbia has hosted the popular tournament at the Ridley Sports Complex.

Presented by the City of Columbia, the Midstate Classic has grown into a marquee spring sports event, drawing athletes, fans, and families from across the region. Known for its competitive matchups and welcoming atmosphere, the tournament showcases all levels of the game—from high school to NCAA Division I.

The 2026 schedule features three games throughout the day:

• • 10:00 a.m. – Columbia Central High School Lions vs. Spring Hill High School Raiders

• • 1:30 p.m. – Columbia State Community College Lady Chargers vs. Calhoun Community College Warhawks

• • 5:30 p.m. – University of Tennessee Lady Volunteers vs. Austin Peay State University Governors

City Manager Tony Massey said the tournament reflects the City’s ongoing commitment to athletics and community engagement.

“The Midstate Classic remains a signature event for our community,” Massey said. “It reinforces Columbia’s role as a destination for high-caliber athletic competition while providing residents the opportunity to experience exceptional sports programming close to home. Columbia always looks forward to hosting the Lady Vols softball team.”

Parks and Recreation Director Mack Reagan noted that the event has become a signature event for Ridley Sports Complex.

“This softball showcase is a point of pride for our department,” Reagan said. “From high school athletes to nationally recognized collegiate programs, the Midstate Classic delivers a full day of exciting softball and an exceptional fan experience. We expect strong attendance once again.”

Mayor Chaz Molder emphasized the broader impact of the tournament on the community.

“Hosting the Midstate Classic for the eleventh year speaks volumes about Columbia’s reputation as a sports-friendly city,” Mayor Molder said. “Events like this strengthen our community, support local tourism, and create memorable experiences for families and fans throughout the region.”

Gates will open at 7:30 a.m. on the day of the event. General admission is $10, which includes access to all three games. Complimentary ADA transportation will be available before, during, and after the tournament to ensure accessibility for all attendees.

Tickets are available now at columbiatn.gov.

For additional information, call (931) 388-8119.

And now we take a look at your hometown memorials, brought to you by Oakes & Nichols Funeral Home…

Mr. Brian Wayne Hardison, 52, died Thursday at his residence. Funeral services will be conducted Wednesday at 11:00 AM at Oakes & Nichols Funeral Home. Burial will follow in Polk Memorial Gardens. The family will visit with friends Tuesday from 3:00 PM to 7:00 PM at Oakes & Nichols Funeral Home.

Dr. Taylor Rayburn, 92, retired dermatologist, died Saturday at his residence. Funeral services will be conducted Thursday at 11:00 AM at Oakes & Nichols Funeral Home. Burial will follow in Polk Memorial Gardens. The family will visit with friends Wednesday from 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM and Thursday from 10:00 AM until time of the services at Oakes & Nichols Funeral Home.

Mr. Michael Udo Stephens, 49, died Thursday, January 29 at his residence in Columbia. Funeral services will be conducted Saturday, February 7 at 11:00 AM at Oakes & Nichols Funeral Home. Burial will follow at Polk Memorial Gardens. The family will visit with friends Friday from 4:00 PM until 8:00 PM at Oakes & Nichols Funeral Home

Mr. John William Reischman, 55, resident of Columbia, died January 28 at Alive Hospice in Murfreesboro. A celebration of Life will be conducted Saturday, February 7, at 5:00 PM at First Family Baptist Church. The family will visit with friends Saturday from 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM at First Family Baptist Church.

Now for your hometown weather, brought to you by Workout Anytime Columbia, join at WorkoutAnytime.com/Columbia or at the gym on 125 Bear Creek Pike.

Expect a fair amount of gray out there today. We’re looking at mostly cloudy skies from sunrise to sunset. Temperatures are struggling to climb, with our high peaking in the upper 30s. Those north winds will be steady between 5 to 10 mph, just enough to add a bit of a bite to the air if you're walking to your car. As we head into tonight, the clouds aren't going anywhere, but the mercury certainly is. It’s going to be a cold one with a low of around 19 degrees.

Tennessee Donor Heroes save more than 1,300 lives in 2025 (Press Release)

Tennessee Donor Services (TDS) honored the extraordinary generosity of Tennessee donor heroes whose gifts made 1,344 lifesaving organ transplants possible in 2025, saving and improving lives across the state and beyond.

In 2025, 485 organ donor heroes said yes to donation, giving hope to patients waiting for a second chance at life. In addition, TDS facilitated 2604 tissue donations and provided support to over 3,800 donor hero family members, honoring their loved ones’ legacies through compassionate care and ongoing bereavement support.

Every lifesaving gift is made possible by the selflessness of donor heroes and their families, the dedication of TDS team members, and the commitment of community partners who raise awareness and encourage Tennesseans to register as donors.

Tennessee Donor Services is the state’s federally designated organ procurement organization (OPO), responsible for the 24/7 coordination of organ and tissue donation. This work includes supporting families during moments of profound grief, caring for donor heroes, coordinating recovery surgeries, ensuring the safe and timely transport of organs to transplant hospitals, and providing long-term support for donor families.

“I watch in awe as our team continues to overcome significant obstacles while working around the clock to honor every donor hero and help save as many lives as possible,” said Jill Grandas, Chief Executive Officer of Tennessee Donor Services. “I am incredibly proud of our staff and deeply grateful to the Tennesseans who gave the gift of life in 2025. Their generosity makes hope possible for thousands of families. We remain committed to our lifesaving mission in 2026 and beyond.”

Across the nation, the United States continues to lead the world in organ donation and transplantation, surpassing 49,000 organ transplants in 2025—an average of more than 130 transplants each day.

Despite this progress, the need remains urgent. More than 100,000 people nationwide, including nearly 3,000 Tennesseans, are still waiting for a lifesaving transplant.

Tennessee Donor Services encourages everyone to #BeTheGift that saves lives by registering as an organ, eye, and tissue donor at DonateLifeTN.org.

Vanderbilt doctor charged with sexual exploitation of minor (MSN)

An anesthesiologist at Vanderbilt University Medical Center was arrested last week by the Sumner County Sheriff’s Office and charged with 15 counts of sexual exploitation of a minor.

Kevin J. Preece, 48, of Goodlettsville, was taken into custody on Jan. 22, according to court records, and was being held on $1.15 million bond.

According to court records, the Sumner County Sheriff Office received a tip in early December from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, stating that a user of the Discord digital platform had uploaded digital files believed to contain child sexual abuse images. In all, investigators reportedly found 15 separate images of underage females performing sexual acts that the account in question had uploaded.

Investigators reportedly linked the account name, along with an email and phone number, to Preece’s address. A search warrant was executed at the residence on Jan. 22, with officials confiscating cell phones, USB drives, SD cards and other electronic devices.

Under questioning, Preece allegedly admitted to using the email address and screen name in question, along with having used encrypted messaging applications, VPN services and online tools designed to keep the user anonymous.

Other media outlets reported that Preece had been placed on leave from VUMC

“After learning of his arrest, Vanderbilt University Medical Center immediately placed Dr. Preece on administrative leave. He is a part‑time employee who worked on a very small number of adult cases. He is not permitted to practice at VUMC pending further review,” the Vanderbilt Hustler (student newspaper) reported.

Preece is scheduled to appear in general sessions court on Feb. 9.

Maury County Clerk Satellite Office (Press Release)

The Maury County Clerk’s office can now help residents with renewals of license plates or placards each Wednesday from 8am to 3:30pm at the Maury County Senior Center located at 1020 Maury County Park Dr.

Please drive around to the back of the building and look for the car tag renewal sign near the back door.

Forms of payment include credit/debit card or check – no cash.

Any Maury County Resident can use this office.

All other transactions will still need to be done through the main office located at 10 Public Square.

Also, you can renew online at TNCountyClerk.com or at kiosks in Spring Hill City Hall or Mt. Pleasant Courthouse.