Southern Middle TN Today News with Tom Price 3-24-25

WKOM/WKRM Radio

Southern Middle Tennessee Today

News Copy for March 24, 2025

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

We start with local news…

Mule Day Grand Marshals (CDH)

The Mule Day Grand Marshal is a special title typically given to an individual of great prominence chosen to lead the annual Mule Day Parade in Columbia.

This year the Grand Marshal will not be cruising down West 7th Street aboard a decorative float or mule-drawn wagon, but rather proudly walking on four hooves.

For 2025, The Bridle & Saddle Club selected Mountain Mule Packer Ranch, a group based in North Carolina, made up of world-champion mule packers.

Harv Spann, who sits on the Bridle and Saddle Club board and has been a key Mule Day organizer since its 1974 revival, said it was an opportunity to do something different. And why not have Mule Day's biggest event led by the festival's much-celebrated equine hybrid?

"In my opinion, this year has the best Grand Marshal we've ever had, and they are the owners of the mules who packed into North Carolina and East Tennessee after the storms," Spann, a former Grand Marshal in 2017, stated.

"They are going to be our Grand Marshals this year and are true heroes. That's certainly a plus for us to have them here.

Mountain Mule Packer Ranch also selected for its program training soldiers in the U.S. Military to utilize packing mules when dealing with rough terrain in overseas places like Afghanistan.

Founded by husband-and-wife Mike and Michele Toberer, Mountain Mule Packer Ranch's origins began in Northern California, taking visitors on trails into the scenic Sierra Nevada Mountain ranges, many of which are only accessible by foot or with the aid of a trusty mule.

It was after the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, 2001, when Mike was asked to help train soldiers who would need a basic understanding of mule packing. This was also the catalyst which led Mountain Mule Packer Ranch to its true calling, as well as providing a needed service to its country.

"A lot of the training we do is with the Special Forces. We are very pro America, our country, the military, law enforcement," Michele Toberer said.

"Mike has been a packer for years, but to be able to share those skills with people that he considers some of the best in the country at what they do, to be able to help them be prepared to do such important jobs, it's just an honor for us to be a part of it that way."

When remnants from Hurricane Helene rocked East Tennessee and North Carolina in late 2024, the storms left many people displaced or trapped in areas too treacherous for vehicle access.

As a traditional pack animal trained to traverse such conditions, Mountain Mule Packers were called in to assist.

"They are really sure-footed animals and are able to see all four of their feet, and so when they are walking, they can move their front feet, but if they see something on the trail they can move their back feet to a different spot, and a horse generally isn't going to do that," Michele Toberer said.

"They are also strong for their body weight, and have a really good work ethic, following along with their team. This makes it much easier in getting supplies up to locations that way."

Once the roads began to clear, it became less about search and rescue, but how to rebuild, the Toberers said.

"We've worked with several projects getting people back to where they can stay in their house for the winter, putting floors or sheetrock back in, whatever the situation," Michele Toberer said.

"Even as recent as a month ago, we were still going into areas, because back in the mountains some people have a mile-long driveway, and it doesn't take a lot of bad weather to where you can't drive on it, or they were elderly, anyone we can still help."

Their story also became viral, spreading across the country through social media. This led to many other organizations pitching in to help Mountain Mule Packer Ranch's efforts in helping those in need.

If anything, it has also dispelled the myths often associated with the mule — that they are stubborn, often difficult creatures to work with, but that's not the case, Michele Toberer said.

"The mules have been a cool thing to watch throughout all of this because they have not always had the best [reputation], that they aren't as good as a horse," Michele Toberer said. "To see people fall in love with these mules across the country has just been the coolest thing."

As this year's Grand Marshals, Mountain Mule Packer Ranch will also be celebrating its first visit to the 51-year festival.

While it will be their first visit to the Columbia, the Toberers are no strangers to mule competitions, as well as the camaraderie shared among fellow ranchers and mule wranglers from around the country when everyone gets together.

"We competed in Bishop Mule Days in California, and it is the biggest Mule Day there on the West Coast," Michele said. "Mike is actually a world champion packer out there, and our son has been a youth world champion packer for years."

They also hope their visit provides an opportunity for visitors to learn about packing mules and how they come in pretty handy when the situation gets rough.

In addition to Saturday's parade, Mountain Mule Packer Ranch will be at Maury County Park on Friday to showcase packing demonstrations, as well as provide an opportunity for photo-ops with the mules.

They also hope packing can be spotlighted more at future Mule Day festivals, as it has proven in many ways to be an essential trait for how people utilize that old stubborn, yet essential animal.

"Our hope in going this year is that we can get some interest in some packing, and maybe they'll add some packing courses here," Michele Toberer said. "We'd love to make this an annual thing we put on our calendar every year."

Slaughter Resigns from Santa Fe (MSM)

Brad Slaughter’s first coaching victory with the Santa Fe boys basketball team snapped a 39-game losing streak for the program.

Seven years later, his last win propelled the Wildcats to their second state tournament appearance in as many seasons.

The 2001 graduate announced his resignation Thursday.

“My motivation was to turn it around,” Slaughter said in confirming his decision to step down. “Not only in terms of wins and losses, but to fill the gym again. Born and raised in Santa Fe and being a former player, I’ve always had pride around Santa Fe basketball.

“We were coming off a really good middle school season. I knew if we could keep the culture going at the high school level that we had with that middle school team, we would be successful with time.”

Succeeding Daryl Turpin in 2018, while continuing to coach the middle school program that he had taken over for the 2015-16 season, Slaughter’s first varsity team finished 5-18. A year later, he posted the first of his five winning campaigns at his alma mater.

His last four teams have each won 20 games or more, including two district titles, two region championships, three sectional appearances, a pair of state tourney berths and a state semifinal appearance.

Wednesday’s 84-44 loss to Chattanooga Prep in the Class 1A state tournament quarterfinals concluded a 28-4 season for the Wildcats, following a 26-6 finish last year that ended with a 62-51 semifinal loss to the Sentinels, en route to their state title.

“I think this will be a golden era for Santa Fe basketball that people will look back on with a lot of pride, remember a lot of great games, a lot of championships and a lot of achievements, that should be celebrated for decades,” first-year Santa Fe athletics director David Parks said. 

“What I’d say about Brad’s tenure as coach, having watched him as AD at Culleoka and here, is he manages his kids really well. He engages all the kids, even the ones that don’t play. He has worked really hard. He puts in a lot of hours.”

Santa Fe’s recent success has come despite its size. As Parks pointed out, it’s a small school even within its classification.

“In ‘single-A,’ I think there’s 80-something teams,” he said. “We’re in the smallest 15, I know. Our enrollment’s around 150 for 9th through 12th grade. You take a school this small to do something this big – it’s pretty special in the context of, we’re playing schools a lot bigger than us. If you combine Culleoka and Santa Fe, you still have a single-A school.

“I think it’s remarkable. There’s a lot of pride in looking back on what they were able to accomplish. I hope Brad takes great memories away from this whole thing.”

Posting 126 victories over his tenure, Slaughter admits he could have never foreseen the level of achievement the program has reached under his leadership.

“(State tournaments) may have been a farfetched dream, but the more realistic goal was to win a district championship,” he said. “There was only one ever, in 1973, and to do that would be amazing.”

In a letter to the Santa Fe community, Slaughter said his decision to step down, after 10 years with either the middle school or high school programs (or both, for three seasons), “comes from a personal need to shift my focus to family. My family has stood strongly beside me over the past 10 years coaching at Santa Fe and I look forward to having more time to give back to them.”

Slaughter’s son, Auden, is one of four seniors that won 99 games over their four seasons. Auden, who has signed a basketball scholarship with Volunteer State Community College, leaves as the third all-time leading scorer in Tennessee boys basketball history with 3,589 career points.

Macon Adkison, who will join Auden at Vol State, graduates as Santa Fe’s fifth leading career scorer with 1,524 points.

“As hard as it is to walk away, that’s where I find the peace and fulfillment,” the elder Slaughter said. “We’ve accomplished what we set out to do.”

Maury Regional Launches New Website (Press Release)

Maury Regional Health (MRH) is excited to announce the launch of its newly redesigned website, MauryRegional.com, created to provide patients and visitors with a more intuitive, user-friendly experience. The updated site features a fresh, modern design and improved navigation, making it easier for users to access the information they need quickly and efficiently.

 “We recognize that patients are seeking more control and convenience when it comes to managing their health care,” said CEO Martin Chaney, MD. “Our goal is to provide a digital experience that meets those needs by being informative, accessible and user focused.”

 This new website contains dedicated areas for:

A robust provider directory: Finding the right doctor has never been easier. On the new website, the “Find your provider” tool allows users to refine their search by specialty, name and distance from their zip code. Users can also toggle to see which doctors and advanced practice providers allow online scheduling or are welcoming new patients.

Quick access to the patient portal: Links are hosted on the home page, header, footer, the billing information page and many additional areas of the website so that you can quickly and securely access your health care information.

Patient and visitor information: This section includes a plethora of useful information, including dining options, visitation hours, communication services, patient relations information and more.

A comprehensive overview of services: MRH offers nearly 40 different advanced services. The services menu provides a complete list with the ability to click through to a dedicated landing page summarizing each service and equipping you with the information that you need.

A calendar of events and classes: Support groups, expectant parent classes, community events, hiring events and more can be filtered and offer quick online registration. 

A detailed and interactive map of locations: With three hospitals, 23 physician practices and many additional locations spreading across seven counties in the southern Middle Tennessee area, MRH is excited to offer a new location tool, allowing users to filter by location type, service, city and distance from their location. 

Billing and insurance: Questions can easily be answered by effortlessly navigating content for billing information, financial assistance, in-network insurance, Medicare details and more. It also includes a cost estimator and quick access to pay your bill.

Additionally, the new and improved website offers a dedicated area for career opportunities, making it simpler for prospective employees to explore open positions, learn about the benefits of working at MRH and apply online. MRH is one of the largest health care systems in the region, with more than 3,000 employees and 500 providers — and is still growing.

 The Maury Regional Medical Group page has also been enhanced to feature detailed information about specialty services, physician practices and news.

 Lastly, the site also highlights the Maury Regional Health Care Foundation, showcasing the impactful work being done to support patient care. Visitors can easily explore news, upcoming events and learn about the Foundation’s funds and endowments that help transform care for our community. To make a donation, visit Maury Regional.com/Foundation/Donate.

 “Every aspect of the new website was designed with our patients and community in mind. Our goal was to create a more intuitive online patient experience,” said Rita Thompson, marketing director at Maury Regional Health. “Whether you’re on your phone, tablet or computer, the new design allows users to find the information they need, effortlessly linking you and your loved ones to beneficial and critical information.”

To explore the new website, visit MauryRegional.com.

Columbia State Summer Camp (Press Release)

Columbia State Community College is excited to announce the Retro to Real-Time: The Evolution of Video Games 2025 summer camp at its Columbia Campus!

The camp is for rising sixth to eighth graders and will last five days from June 9-13 from 9 a.m. to noon.

Students can participate in an exciting adventure through the world of video games. From the classic games of the 1970s to today’s coolest hits, students will get to learn about the history of gaming while having fun with emulators and virtual machines. Young learners get hands-on and discover how to play their favorite games like never before!

The course will be taught by Ryan Moore, Columbia State programmer analyst.

Students are asked to bring a water bottle, lunch, a drink and a 32 GB USB flash drive each day of the camp.

For more information and to sign up, visit https://www.campusce.net/

Saturday Appointments for Real ID (Press Release)

The Department of Safety and Homeland Security announced today that it will begin offering additional Saturday appointments at 14 Driver Services Centers across the state for current Tennessee credential holders who want to get a REAL ID.

Saturday appointments will begin at 13 participating Driver Services Centers starting this Saturday, March 22.

Included among the Driver Service Centers is the Columbia Driver Services Center located at 1701 Hampshire Pike.

To take advantage of the new expanded Saturday appointments, applicants must already have a valid Tennessee driver license or identification card. REAL ID applicants who do not currently hold a valid Tennessee credential will be served during regular, Monday to Friday hours.

 Saturday hours are available by appointment only. Applicants without a REAL ID appointment will not be served during the new Saturday hours. Schedule your REAL ID appointment now at tnrealid.gov.

 REAL ID applicants 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). This could include marriage licenses, divorce decrees, etc. All documents must be original or certified copies. Photocopies are not accepted.

 The TDOSHS encourages all applicants to have their REAL ID required documents pre-approved online. Pre-approved documents can save you in-person processing time at the Driver Services Center and may eliminate repeat trips.  A complete list of accepted documents and the pre-approval portal are available at tnrealid.gov.

 For more information about Tennessee REAL ID, visit tnrealid.gov.

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

Brian Shane Roland, 45, died Thursday, March 20, 2025 at NHC Transitional Care.

Funeral services will be conducted Tuesday, March 25, 2025 at 3:00 PM at Oakes & Nichols Funeral Home. Burial will follow in Rose Hill Cemetery. The family will visit with friends Tuesday from 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM at the funeral home. Online condolences may be extended at www.oakesandnichols.com.

And now, news from around the state… 

Nashville Makes Super Bowl Bid (MauryCountySource)

Governor Bill Lee has submitted a letter expressing interest in hosting the 2029 Super Bowl in Nashville, according to the Nashville Business Journal.

Lee’s office confirmed Thursday that the letter was sent to NFL Commissioner Roger Gooddell shortly after the governor toured the construction progress at the new $2.2 billion domed Nissan Stadium on Nashville’s East Bank.

Nashville officials submitted their own letter of interest to the NFL earlier this month. Now, with this step, the State of Tennessee joins the city of Nashville in formally pursuing the opportunity to host football’s biggest game.

Following his tour Thursday morning, Lee emphasized that projects like the new Nissan Stadium are valuable assets for the state. He noted that Tennessee is competing with other states to attract investments.

The Titans’ chief external and league affairs officer, Adolpho Birch III, discussed Lee’s letter during a Sports Authority meeting on Thursday, emphasizing the team’s strong interest in their commitment to showcasing Nashville, the new stadium, and the state in the best possible light.

The stadium is set for completion in February 2027. The host city for the 2029 Super Bowl is expected to be announced by the NFL later this year.

First Measles Case in Tennessee Reported (Press Release)

The Tennessee Department of Health is confirming the state’s first measles case in 2025 in a middle Tennessee resident. The likely source of the infection is being investigated.

The individual became infected with measles in early March and is recovering at home. Public health officials are working to identity other locations and persons potentially exposed to the virus.  

There is currently an ongoing, national measles outbreak, involving over 300 cases in 11 states, including two deaths.

Measles typically has a classic red, spotty rash that begins on the face and spreads over the body. Additional symptoms can include fever, headache, and generally not feeling well, followed by rash, cough, red eyes, or congestion.

Measles is a highly infectious and potentially fatal disease which spreads very easily through the air when an infected person speaks, coughs or sneezes.

TDH encourages consultation with your medical provider about measles prevention. Two doses of the MMR vaccine are highly effective at preventing measles.

More information for the public and for providers about measles is available on this page of the TDH website (tn.gov/health/cedep/reportable-diseases/measles-rubeola.html).  

It is important for medical providers to consider measles and report suspected cases immediately to TDH at 615-741-7247.

Final Story of the Day (Maury County Source)

On October 11-12, 2025 The Caverns, located in Pelham, TN, presents the fourth annual CaveFest, featuring a curated lineup of music with headliners Sam Bush, Leftover Salmon, Dan Tyminski Band, and Tim O’Brien, plus artists-in-residence Lindsay Lou and Kyle Tuttle, along with an impressive roster of additional performers. Festivalgoers can enjoy on-site camping, glamping packages, open underground jam sessions, cave tours, delicious food trucks, local craft vendors, workshops, kids’ activities, surprise performances, and more. Two-day CaveFest tickets are just $99 and include camping. Early arrivals can kick things off with a separately ticketed CaveFest Kick-Off Party on Friday, October 10, featuring Airshow, The Cowpokes, and Lost Bayou Ramblers.

Learn more at www.thecaverns.com.