Southern Middle TN Today News with Tom Price 3-6-26

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Southern Middle Tennessee Today

News Copy for March 6, 2026

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

Polk Historic Marker Unveiled (CDH)

Columbia unveiled its 15th historical marker, adding to the history and legacy of James and Sarah Polk's former residence on West 7th Street prior to their time in the White House.

The marker was unveiled Wednesday, March 4 at what now sits as the Oakes & Nichols Funeral Home parking lot. While the former structure no longer stands, the original steps leading to the property still exist.

City Manager Tony Massey began the unveiling ceremony by saying how this particular marker dates back 10 years over lunch at Puckett's between he and the late former Maury County Archives Director Bob Duncan.

"Every time we do one of these ceremonies, I like to mention Bob's name," Massey said.

Vice Mayor Randy McBroom later shared that the date of the unveiling also marked the 181st anniversary of the day Polk was inaugurated as the 11th President of the United States on March 4, 1845, and it was on this site where he was delivered the news.

"It was here where James and Sarah Polk began building their life together," McBroom said. "While buildings may change, history does not disappear. It lives on in the stories we preserve and the places remembered. That is exactly why Columbia's historical marker program exists."

Ward 5 Councilman Brian McKelvy, who also serves as president of the Maury County Historical Society, said while Polk's one-term presidency might be considered brief, he is still revered as one of the best. Preserving the property's history also dispels the myth that "Polk never actually lived in Columbia."

"That is totally untrue, totally untrue," McKelvy said. "This is a very significant marker for this town."

Married on New Year's Day in 1824, the Polks first rented the modest one-story cottage for a year, later purchasing the property in 1825.

It was at the home where Polk launched his campaign for presidency, and would often host notable guests, such as former Presidents Martin Van Buren and Andrew Jackson.

It was on Nov. 16, 1844, that an overnight rider traveled to Columbia from Nashville to inform Polk he had been elected president.

"He told him, 'Congratulations, you are the President of the United States,'" Massey said. "That happened right here."

The Polks eventually sold the home in 1847, choosing to spend their retirement years in Nashville in what was once called Polk Place. The Columbia property was ultimately dismantled in 1861.

Legislative Breakfast (MSM)

With six weeks left in the 114th General Assembly, the state legislators representing parts of Maury County gathered for their annual panel hosted by Maury Alliance and the Columbia Breakfast Rotary Club. Over biscuits and muffins and coffee, District 28 Sen. Joey Hensley and Rep. Scott Cepicky and Kip Capley laid out the issues facing the state of Tennessee (especially Maury County) and explained what they and their colleagues are doing to address them.

The legislators first laid out their priorities. Capley focusing on fiscal responsibility, for which he serves on the Budget and Finance Committees; rural healthcare, which put him on the Health Committee; and the Republican Caucus committee.

Cepicky’s spoke to education, as he serves on the Education and Insurance Committees.

“We are having great success in that,” he said of student test-score improvements in recent years: the state reported in 2025 that the rates of student proficiency increased slightly in each discipline.

Hensley strikes a mean between his colleagues, working on the Finance Committee and its Revenue Subcommittee, the Health Committee and the Education Committee.

The legislators first spoke to the state’s efforts to create a “competitive, business-friendly environment.” They spoke highly of the relocation and expansion of large companies, which can create the most jobs at a fell swoop, and said that the Tennessee government has worked to tempt these operations away from other states with lower taxes, fewer regulations and updated infrastructure.

“We see a lot of businesses moving from other states… with high regulation,” Hensley said, praising Maury Alliance’s work to attract and develop them. “We want to make it attractive… so they’ll come to rural places like Maury County.”

Capley called attention to HB1913/SB2199, the “Regulatory Freedom Act,” which would raise the bar for new regulations, streamline the repeal process and make regulatory agencies more accountable to both the industries they govern and to review by the state government. He hopes the bill would facilitate business and prevent “fluff” from bloating the state’s regulatory apparatus.

“We have one of the most attractive states in the country, and the world, to relocate to, if you’re a business,” Cepicky said.

He reminded the attendees that the continuation of this policy depends on how Tennesseans vote this November. He and Capley are up for re-election as state representatives, but Cepicky pointed out that the new governor, who will set the state’s annual budget and political priorities, will be Tennessee voters’ most economically consequential ballot choice.

The state has also kept personal taxes low, with no state income or property taxes and a pending constitutional amendment (Senate Joint Resolution #1) to ban state property taxes in perpetuity. The bill would not ban local governments from collecting property taxes, only the state government.

“We have to make it as [business-]friendly an environment as possible without over-taxing you at the local level,” Cepicky said.

The legislators stressed the importance of a skilled workforce for attracting employers. Hensley and Cepicky praised the vocational programs at the Tennessee Colleges of Applied Technology and the branches of Columbia State Community College, for teaching trades that are a necessary part of the economy and a good path to earning decent wages.

“We have to [reform] higher education so it aligns more to a job,” Cepicky said, adding that the process starts with making sure Tennessee’s primary students can read and do basic math, then counseling them in high school to find a career path that aligns with their aptitudes and interests, long before jobs-based training enters the picture.

Fixing both early learning and career paths holds existential urgency for the state of Tennessee: Cepicky reported that fully half of its high-school students are failing to get a passing score of 31/99 on the ASVAB.

While the state hopes to fill up projected shortfalls in the fast-aging and retiring workforces of the trades and skilled labor — “We drove [away] so many kids that could have had fantastic lives in the build-it, fix-it [sector],” Cepicky lamented — he himself also wants to diversify the workforce. This includes channeling students with rare aptitudes and skills towards the careers that suit them, from the arts and culture that helped put Nashville and Memphis on the map, to the engineers and other hard scientists that Tennessee currently struggles to produce.

Cepicky criticized one unnamed school superintendent from East Tennessee, who admitted on a hot mic that he didn’t want his high-scoring seventh-graders to advance to challenging Guaranteed Math classes: “they won’t go into the factory I need them in,” the superintendent allegedly said, if they go to college to become engineers.

“We have to demand that our students be able to show us that they know what they need to know, stacking year… over year of information,” Cepicky said, “so that when they get to high school… they can start to have discernment of what interests them, then have the academic ability to go and pursue that.”

To improve education outcomes and return on investment, Cepicky prioritizes tracking and facilitating student success, and holding individual teachers and district superintendents responsible for it. He highlighted the ongoing audit of the Memphis-Shelby County School district, which receives $1.3 billion of the state’s $12 billion education budget — most of it ponied up by Tennessee taxpayers — and yields some of its worst test scores in return.

On the infrastructure front, the legislators said the state makes generous amounts of grants available to local governments for projects. Cepicky highlighted the $2 million that Maury County has received for its library and $500,000 for the renovation of the courthouse.

Hensley announced that there’s already money in the budget to widen Highway 31 as it passes through Spring Hill. The state is also considering ways to alleviate traffic from Nashville to Columbia, like widening Interstate 65 or allowing a private company to build a tolled “choice lane” parallel with the interstate, and TDOT has also streamlined the administrative process for road projects.

“Our Highway Department is always looking at ways that we can do the projects better,” Hensley said. “All of us see the congestion, and we are working on [that].”

Among their other bills and priorities, the legislators mentioned the governor’s budget item for interest-free loans for first-time home buyers; the state’s existing childcare credit program; the possibility of doubling the state’s 20,000 Education Freedom scholarships; managing the water supply responsibly; returning half of real-estate transfer tax revenue to the municipalities; and preserving American farmland through agricultural trusts.

Flooding Addressed in Mt. Pleasant (MSM)

After years of overwhelming stormwater drainage issues, Mount Pleasant held a Town Hall meeting Feb. 19, to discuss the issues and propose long-term solutions to aid in the city’s growth. 

City Manager Phillip Grooms recapped the city’s ongoing stormwater challenges, which date back to 2014. He referenced a Municipal Technical Advisory Service (MTAS) study conducted in April 2021 that identified significant drainage concerts throughout the city. The most impacted areas included Wall Street, Locust Street, West Cooper Street, North Main Street and Railroad Street, where flooding has been a persistent issue. 

Following the study, MTAS recommended several long term solutions, including the development of a comprehensive drainage map and master plan, the establishment of permanent drainage easements and the exploration of sustainable funding options. The city was also advised to consult with an engineering firm and consider implementing a dedicated stormwater utility. 

In 2022, the city moved forward with a proposal for a professional engineering service to evaluate existing stormwater infrastructure and develop conceptual improvements for flood relief. The six month project cost $100,000 and provided updated cost estimates for priority areas. 

The total projected cost for improvements is $14,732,016. 

Currently, the city relies on general funds to address the needs, but officials say relying on the general fund is not financially sustainable and does not provide long term stability. 

JJ Thornton with Civil & Environmental Consultants Inc. presented the benefits of establishing a stormwater utility, noting it would create a dedicated funding source to improve infrastructure, address regulatory requirements and support future growth. 

A proposed five-to-10-year funding plan would begin with a residential monthly fee of $3.50 in the first year, gradually increasing to $9.75 over time. Fees would apply to properties with higher amounts of impervious surface, including roofs, driveways, decks, pools, sidewalks, patios and other paved or compacted areas that contribute to runoff.

According to research presented, the city has approximately 1,900 residential properties and 360 nonresidential properties with impervious areas. Revenue projection and other operating expenses along with capital costs are factored into the proposed fee structure, with a targeted year end balance of $3.2 million to sustain ongoing improvements. 

If approved by the Planning Commission and City Commission, the stormwater utility fee could take effect as soon as Sept. 1. City leaders say the goal is to strengthen infrastructure, reduce flooding concerns and position the community for responsible growth while maintaining regulatory compliance.

Justice for Deveric (MSM)

For the fourth year in a row, Tameca Patton will lead “Justice for Deveric,” a memorial and prayer walk meant to raise awareness of the unsolved 2020 murder of her son Deveric Renfro.

The walk will begin at the Maury County Judicial Center at 1 p.m. on March 7 and end at 1600 Carmack Boulevard in Columbia, underneath one of the billboards she’s purchase for “Justice for Deveric.” The other billboard is near Kittrell’s Cars on the Nashville Highway.

Patton continues to believe that a particular suspect killed her son. Deveric first filed charges against the suspect in December 2019 for firing shots at him. A few months later, at Patton’s house, Deveric was killed by an unknown shooter, who then set the house on fire to cover his tracks.

Patton’s prime suspect is now in federal prison on drug charges unrelated to Deveric’s death. She told Main Street Maury that neither Columbia Police nor the District Attorney’s office have published any progress in the investigation: though the D.A. intended to take up the case in winter 2025, it stalled for lack of non-circumstantial evidence.

The purpose of the “Justice for Deveric” walk, Patton says, is firstly to keep her son’s unsolved case in the public eye, and secondly to raise awareness of gun violence. Since Deveric was killed, several other young men in or from Columbia have been shot to death: among them she named Quentin Armstrong, whose 2024 murder remains unsolved; Jayden Braden, an 18-year-old allegedly killed in the doorway of his house by one of his high-school friends; and Uriel Miller, who was shot last year in his car by another driver on I-24 and died while driving.

“This year, I’ve been going with [the slogan] ‘Speak up and speak out,'” she said. “If anybody knows anything, say something… To try to get the community to come together… [against] the gun violence.”

Patton asks anyone with leads or information in the case to contact her at 931-215-5030, or Columbia Police at 931-560-1670 or 931-388-2727.

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.

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

Kay Derryberry Rodgers, 83, a resident of Columbia, TN died Wednesday, February 18, 2026, at NHC Maury Regional Transitional Care.

A Memorial Service will be conducted Saturday, March 7, 2026, at 2:00 PM at Westminster Presbyterian Church. A private burial will occur at Lone Oak Cemetery in Lewisburg. The family will visit with friends Saturday from 12 PM until the service time at the church. 

Michael Timothy "Spike" Jones, 66, passed away on Tuesday, March 3, 2026 in Columbia where he has been a lifelong resident.

A celebration of life for Michael will be held Saturday, March 14, 2026 at 2:00 PM at Oakes & Nichols Funeral Home with military honors provided by Herbert Griffin American Legion Post 19. Inurnment will follow in Arlington Cemetery in Mt. Pleasant. The family will visit with friends Saturday from 11:00 PM to 2:00 PM at Oakes & Nichols Funeral Home. Online condolences may be extended at www.oakesandnichols.com.

Susan Piesch Dobbins, 74, passed away peacefully at her residence in Culleoka on Tuesday, March 3, 2026.

A public memorial service will take place at Hopewell ARP on March 21, 2026 at 4:00p.m. A private burial will take place at Hopewell Cemetery.

And now, news from around the state…

Wilmore Will Not Run for Governor (Tennessean)

Retired NASA astronaut Barry Wilmore says he will not run for Tennessee governor after taking out a qualifying petition needed for the office.

Wilmore decided against a candidacy because of a qualification for the gubernatorial office to be a resident of the state for seven years prior to the November election.

Wilmore, a 1981 Mt. Juliet High School graduate who went on to Tennessee Tech University, was born and raised in Tennessee and kept his residency here for the vast majority of his military career with the U.S. Navy and NASA, though he did eventually move his voter registration to Texas so he could vote. He kept a home with his family in Texas to be near the Johnson Space Center in Houston.

Wilmore changed his voter registration back to the Volunteer State at his first opportunity in late July after he retired from NASA.

“I don’t think the way (the requirement) is written is intended for a seventh-generation Tennessean who has served this nation for 40 years,” Wilmore said. “It’s not the intent, but it is the statute, and I’m not going to fight against the law. I'm disappointed.

“I never considered myself a non-resident. The flag I took (on spacecrafts) was the Tennessee flag. But if I wanted to vote, I had to transfer my registration."

Wilmore took out a petition to run for governor on Feb. 25. He said he would be a Republican candidate and wanted to do “due diligence,” in making a decision whether to run for governor. Candidates have until March 10 to file the qualifying petition to be on the ballot.

The state primary that includes the governor’s seat is Aug. 6, and the general election is Nov. 3.

U.S. Sen. Marsha Blackburn and U.S. Rep. John Rose are among the contenders hoping to succeed Gov. Bill Lee, now in a second term.

Wilmore retired from NASA after three space flights that totaled 464 days with NASA during his career.

His last mission was on the Boeing Starliner spacecraft's first crewed flight, launched to the ISS on June 6, 2024.

The mission was expected to last around one to two weeks, but went for 286 days due to unforeseen technical circumstances. Wilmore returned with crew member Suni Williams in March 2025.

While active in the operational Navy, Wilmore had four deployments aboard aircraft carriers that include a combat deployment on the USS Kennedy during Operation Desert Storm. Overall, Wilmore accumulated 663 carrier landings in the Navy.

“There is a formula for success we’ve seen in the past with Gov. Lee and Gov. Haslam,” Wilmore said. “I look forward to whoever becomes governor to continue along those lines and grow on it."

Final Story of the Day (Maury County Source)

The James K. Polk Home & Museum, 301 W. 7th St., is introducing a new tour in celebration of Women's History Month this weekend.

The Polk Home's Women's History Month Tour will take guests behind the scenes for an in-depth look at the women who shaped the property's history.

You will hear stories of Sarah Childress Polk and her years as the First Lady, as well as Ophelia, the troubled sister who lived in the Sisters' House, and Jane, the First Mother.

Guests will also learn about Matilda, who was an enslaved woman and the family's cook.

The tour is scheduled to begin at 4 p.m. Friday.

Tickets are $15.28 after charges and are available online at www.events.ticketleap.com or by calling (931) 388-2354.