Southern Middle TN Today News with Tom Price 4-10-26

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Southern Middle Tennessee Today

News Copy for April 10, 2026

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

Two Convicted of Rape (MSM)

Maury County juries have found James William Jones and Donald Dewayne King guilty of two counts apiece of aggravated rape.

On Sept. 26, 2021, Jones and King abducted a young woman, who was intoxicated and having seizures, from a bar in Mount Pleasant. The two strangers drove her to a trailer in Columbia, where they raped her as she continued to have seizures and pleaded with them to stop.

Eventually the victim escaped and found shelter at a nearby house, where she disclosed what had happened and the Maury County Sheriff’s Department was called. A rape kit detected DNA from both King and Jones.

King pleaded guilty to the two aggravated-rape charges and was sentenced to 20 years in prison. Jones initially denied having sexual contact with the victim, then claimed at trial that he had consensual sex with her. After his trial last week, the jury took about 20 minutes to find him guilty; he’s now in custody, facing his sentencing on June 18, where he can expect 15-25 years for each count.

District 22 Attorney General Brent Cooper commended his assistant district attorneys Pamela Anderson and Ross Boudreaux for their prosecution of the case; Victim Witness Coordinator Christie Williams Dickey for her assistance; Duane Sayle and Roscoe Voss, with the Maury County Sheriff’s Department, for their investigation; and the victim for her bravery in escaping and convicting her attackers.

“The victim exhibited extraordinary courage throughout this long process,” Cooper said. “She is to be commended, and we pray for a wonderful future for her.”

Mule Day Festivities Begin (CDH)

It was sunny skies, loud cheers and a warm sense of celebration as the 52nd annual Mule Day kicked off April 8 at Maury County Park.

The annual Mule Day Wagon Train, which traditionally marks the start of a weekend of competitions, parades, music and more, arrived at the park a little after 4 p.m. Organizers and visitors young and old gathered to welcome the caravan of riders and wagons to the park.

Mule Day organizer Donald Goad told The Daily Herald that this year could be the "biggest one yet," partly due to Mule Day's time-honored tradition, and also because of the sunny forecast.

"This is going to be one of the best weeks that we have had in years, and we are expecting a record crowd," Goad said.

While many of Mule Day's traditional events, such as the old-fashioned log pulling and driving mule competitions, are once again celebrated inside the parks two main arenas, this year also brings new events to the festival. These included the Trashiest and Classiest Wagon competition, as well as the brand-new farming mule competition.

The 2026 Mule Day also celebrated America's 250th in its own way, with this year's theme being "Red, White & Mule," as well as 250 of this year's coveted Mule Day knives, featuring stars and stripes.

It was also more than just mules being celebrated at the 2026 Mule Day festival, as the popular Mule Day dog competition returned for its third year, as well as the popular Little Miss Mule Day pageant, where some of the festival's youngest attendees got to shine in the spotlight.

Saturday's Mule Day Parade, which draws thousands of attendees and spectators every year, will be highlighted by NASCAR champion Sterling Marlin, a Columbia native, as grand marshal.

Another tradition for many Mule Day attendees is the fact they keep coming back year after year, as well as bringing a new generation of animal lovers to the event.

Holly Dunivan of Petersburg, Tennessee, one of this year's first arrivals to Maury County Park, has attended Mule Day for 10 years. This year, she brought along her granddaughter Addie Evans for her second Mule Day.

"We love mules, and we love getting to see all the cool people, all the events," Dunivan said. "But you have the get here first, because you have to find a place to park."

Evans and her grandmother joked about her first Mule Day last year and how memorable it was, partly because she wound up with a broken arm. Though the experience did not deter her from coming back a second time with her pony, Smurf.

"She fell off a pony, and it was after the parade just walking around the park," Dunivan said. "But she loves being here."

They also said one of the biggest things they were looking forward to this year was, as many people have stated, the weather was expected to be nice all weekend long, which hasn't always been the case during spring in Maury County. In years past, storms have affected the event.

"This will be the first Mule Day I've been here where the weather has been this good," Dunivan said. "We used to camp down near the bottom, and we've been evacuated out of there numerous times, because it floods so bad."

Historic Jail to be Donated to Spring Hill (CDH)

A piece of Spring Hill history will be donated for public display, though despite its former purpose, visitors won't have to arrive in handcuffs or shackles to see it.

The Spring Hill Board of Mayor and Aldermen voted April 6 to accept a donation from former Mayor George Chester Jones of a historic city jail dating back to the early 1930s.

The jail, consisting of only about seven-by-eight-foot square feet of space, was presented to BOMA to be refurbished and preserved, and ultimately put on display at the new Spring Hill Library. Approved in 2025, it is set to be constructed next to the current Spring Hill City Hall at 199 Town Center Parkway.

"We will clean it up," Spring Hill Library Director Dana Juriew said. "Right now, it's moss covered and very lovely, but not for long-term."

Jones also spoke at the April 6 meeting, recalling his time coming to Spring Hill in May of 1961 when there was "only about 350 people here, half of them being the orphan's home kids and teachers."

"People wouldn't believe how small [Spring Hill] was," Jones said. "The jail came in 1934. They had a little City Hall down on School Street facing the orphan's home ... and it burnt down and they moved it, cleaned it up some and moved it up to Macklemore Street where the water tank used to be."

Jones added that he wanted the jail to be preserved and put in "a respective place that will be kept for the people of the future to come down and look at it."

"It's going to have sandblasting, painting and everything, but it's all there, every bit of it," Jones said. "I do want this to be part of Spring Hill's history in the future. There ain't many things left here that people can remember, and so I hope they can take it and keep it in a place that's well done."

Mayor Matt Fitterer, prior to the BOMA's unanimous vote to accept the jail, told Jones the city "will display it proudly as soon as the new library is up."

Local Cancer Survivor Needs Your Vote in Art Competition (MauryCountySource)

Local 9-year-old Elliot Hendrix is proving that healing doesn’t always look the way you expect—and sometimes, it looks like art.

Elliot is the son of Natasha Hendrix, owner of McCreary’s Pub in Franklin and Columbia. He is also a survivor of Retinoblastoma, a rare cancer he was diagnosed with at just 2½ years old. He lost his left eye to the disease, but today, he’s celebrating something far bigger: seven years cancer-free.

For his family, though, beating cancer was only part of the journey.

“The cancer isn’t always the hardest part—it’s what comes after,” his mother said. In the years following treatment, Elliot and his family faced the emotional and mental toll that lingered long after the diagnosis. “You don’t just go back to normal,” she said. “You slowly find your way forward.”

For Elliot, that path forward came through art. Now, he’s taking a big step.

Elliot has made it to the quarterfinals of a national art competition inspired by Bob Ross, whose message that there are “no mistakes, just happy accidents” hits especially close to home.

The competition also benefits a cancer foundation, making it even more meaningful for Elliot and his family. To move forward, he needs votes—one free vote per day from supporters. Today, April 9th is the last day to vote!

His family says this moment isn’t really about winning. It’s about watching Elliot take a chance on himself after everything he’s been through. “It’s not easy being a kid who looks different,” his mother said. “But he’s learning to be proud of who he is.”

For Elliot, this competition is more than a contest. It’s a reminder that cancer is something he went through, not something that defines him. And with a little support from his community, it could also be a well-earned moment to shine. Currently, Elliot is 1st in the quarterfinal; you can place your vote at www.artistickid.org/2026.

MRMC Lawrence Health Center Opens (Press Release)

Maury Regional Health team members and community leaders gathered April 8 for a ribbon-cutting celebration for the new Lawrence Health Center. Set to welcome its first patients April 13, the state-of-the-art center establishes a comprehensive destination for primary, pediatric, specialty and outpatient care for families in the greater Lawrence County area.

Located on Highway 43 N in Ethridge, the three-story 60,000-square-foot health center was designed to streamline patient experience by consolidating multiple outpatient health care needs into a modern and accessible campus.

“The grand opening of Lawrence Health Center is a milestone we are honored to share with our local partners and represents our deep-rooted commitment to the families of Lawrence County,” said CEO Martin Chaney, MD. “Our goal was to create a comprehensive and accessible space that embodies the high-quality care our patients already know and rely on from Maury Regional Health. Ultimately, Lawrence Health Center is more than just a building; it represents our ongoing dedication to southern Middle Tennessee and our enthusiasm for working hand-in-hand with the community to support a healthier future for everyone.”

Lawrence Health Center is anchored by its comprehensive primary and pediatric care provided by Maury Regional Medical Group (MRMG). Thomas Bernhoffer, MD, and Martha Kristin Woodside, FNP-C, lead the primary care team, offering routine wellness exams, chronic disease management and preventive care, while Alana Brown, MD, provides expert pediatric care for infants, children and teens. Patients may schedule with the MRMG Primary Care & Pediatrics team in Lawrenceburg by calling 931.244.6090.

Beyond primary care, Lawrence Health Center connects Lawrence County residents to Maury Regional Medical Group’s broader network of experts. Specialists including Jon L. Freels, MD (pulmonology), Lindsey Chapman, FNP (urology), Rosemary Davenport, FNP-C (interventional pain management) and Jill McDonald, FNP-BC (obstetrics and gynecology) will see patients at the new center, ensuring residents can access specialized treatment from Maury Regional Medical Group without leaving the area.

Designed with patient convenience in mind, Lawrence Health Center also brings essential outpatient services under one roof. This includes a comprehensive rehabilitation services department providing physical, speech and occupational therapy for all ages. The facility is also equipped with the latest imaging technology — such as 3D mammography, MRI, CT, ultrasound, X-Ray and bone densitometry — as well as pulmonary function testing to ensure that high-quality diagnostic screenings are always within reach for area residents. In addition, the facility serves as the new and enhanced home for the area’s dedicated sleep center, which has relocated from its prior location in Lawrenceburg to provide sleep studies in a more modern and convenient environment. To further streamline the patient experience, a full-service retail pharmacy is also scheduled to open just off the facility’s lobby in summer 2026.

On the building’s third floor, Lawrence Health Center serves as a collaborative hub for several independent specialty partners on the Maury Regional Health medical staff. By sharing this space, organizations including Ascension Saint Thomas Heart, Tennessee Oncology and Tennessee Orthopaedic Alliance are able to merge their specialized expertise with local access. These partnerships ensure Lawrence County residents have a single, convenient destination for a wide range of advanced medical needs — from cardiovascular health to orthopedic and cancer care.

Work on the new Lawrence Health Center began in November 2024. Maury Regional Health worked with MPA Developments on the launch of the project, with Davis-Stokes serving as the architect and Pellicano Construction leading the building process.

The opening of the health center is among several expansion projects underway or in the planning phases at Maury Regional Health. Improvements at the main campus in Columbia include the development of an Orthopedic Surgical Institute, which opens in the coming weeks, to accommodate the growing number of joint replacements, renovation of the Emergency Department at Maury Regional Medical Center, parking and thoroughfare improvements and expansion of the front entry to relocate key patient and visitor services toward the main entrance. To learn more about this strategic plan for the future, visit MauryRegional.com/StrategicPlan.

For a full list of providers, hours of operation and services offered at Lawrence Health Center, please visit MauryRegional.com/Lawrence.

Spring Hill Debuts Water Department (MSM)

At a Spring Hill Chamber of Commerce luncheon, Dan Allen, Spring Hill’s Assistant City Manager and General Manager of Water, recently presented the creation of his city’s water department and revealed some updated specs and branding for their flagship water-supply project.

The newly created “Spring Hill Water” department is set to tackle water projects whose scale and ingenuity are unprecedented in Spring Hill’s history. Allen himself has been trading and mulling ideas with huge municipal design firms and the major cities they serve to find solutions to the problems of the new Spring Hill.

“I’m networking with people that regularly manage $1-3 billion’ worth of that stuff on any given day,” he told the Chamber audience. Talking to one of them inspired Allen to spruce up Spring Hill’s image, messaging and public relations, in order to attract the trust and business of other major firms.

Their big, high-priority project, once called “Project SWIFT,” has been rebranded “PureWater Spring Hill.” After three years of research and scoping, the project has been greatly expanded, “massively eclips[ing]” previous drafts, in Allen’s words.

The $250 million plan now features reservoir capacity of up to 200 million gallons of water (a combination of highly treated city wastewater and fresh water drawn from the Duck River), storage of up to 12 million gallons, and the capacity to treat up to 10 million gallons each day. The facility will be built on 154 acres of leased land, to be named “PureWater Community Park,” where fishing, picnicking, trail hiking, kayaking and other enjoyments will be allowed to visitors.

“We fully intend to release this site… as a public amenity,” Allen said, noting that Spring Hill broke ground last week on the pilot facility and they hope to fast-track the project, in light of the wastewater moratorium which has taken up much of their focus in the last several months and arrested municipal growth at current sewer-treatment capacity. “Nobody wants to hear about a moratorium that lasts 8-12 years.”

The treatment of the water will be cutting-edge, Allen promised. The project will be able to turn purified wastewater back into drinking water, and the city also plans to filter out new waterborne threats to public health like pharmaceutical waste and microplastics containing polyfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS.

“We’re going to tackle, head-on, all these emerging contaminants you’re hearing about,” the assistant city manager promised. “The end product of that will be not only the best water in [the area], but probably some of the best water you’re going to get in the Southeast.”

Though the dirt has hardly been turned, Spring Hill is already being recognized for the size and daring of its plan. When Allen attended the 2026 Water Environment Federation’s Technical Exhibition & Conference (WEFTEC), one of the WEF board members highlighted Pure Water Spring Hill (apparently not knowing Allen was present) as an exemplary conservation project in the first slide of his presentation.

“[Pure Water Spring Hill] is about the best possible use of the Duck River that you could have,” said CPWS CEO Jonathan Hardin, who invited Allen to join the Water Loss Subcommittee on the Duck River Watershed Planning Partnership because of how well Spring Hill currently stewards its water supply. “As good as our water loss rate is [at 13 percent, Spring Hill’s rate] is better.”

To facilitate one of the biggest and fastest infrastructure projects in state history, Allen said, Spring Hill has also created the Strategic Project Acceleration & Resilient Technical Adaptation (SPARTAN) Division, which will structure the planning stages of projects. The SPARTANs will consider the “why?” of the Advanced Purification Project, how it serves the current and future needs of Spring Hill, and not only for water but for all economic development that it enables.

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

Mrs. Doris Jones Bassham, 90, a resident of Columbia, Tennessee, passed away on April 7 at Maury Regional Medical Center.

A graveside service will be conducted on Monday at 10:00 a.m. at Polk Memorial Gardens.

Mrs. Virginia Rivera Boze, 76, a resident of Columbia, passed away on April 8, 2026, at Maury Regional Medical Center.

A private celebration of life will be held at a later date. 

Randy Edward Hall, 72, retired owner and operator of R. K. R. Oxygen & Supplies, and resident of Columbia, passed away at his residence on April 5, 2026.

Memorial services will be conducted Thursday, April 16, 2026 at 12:00 PM at Oakes & Nichols Funeral Home with military honors provided by the Herbert Griffin American Legion Post 19. The family will visit with friends on Thursday from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM at Oakes & Nichols Funeral Home.

Phyllis Elaine Slusher Jennings, 75, resident of Columbia, passed away Monday, April 6, 2026, at her home.

Funeral services will be conducted Sunday, April 19, 2026, at 3:00 PM at Oakes & Nichols Funeral Home, with Rev. Rick Blevins officiating. Burial will follow in Maury Memorial Gardens. The family will visit with friends on Sunday from 1:00 PM until the service hour at the funeral home.

Susannah Patrick “Susie” Maddux, passed away on April 7th at her home in Riverside in Columbia.

A celebration of life will be held Saturday, April 25, 2026 at 3:00 PM at Bigbyville Methodist Church. The family will visit with friends Saturday from 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM at the church.

And now, news from around the state…

Folds of Honor Rock N’ Jock Softball (MauryCountySource)

Folds of Honor Tennessee announces the return of America’s most patriotic game: the Rock ‘N Jock* Celebrity Softball Game, bringing together a star-studded mix of music, sports and entertainment to Nashville’s First Horizon Park on Monday, June 1st (first pitch: 6:30 PM). A premier fan event that kicks off one of the most exciting weeks in Music City, the game blends friendly competition with a powerful mission.

Tickets are $20 (plus taxes and fees) and are on sale via FirstHorizonPark.com.

The initial 2026 player roster includes country artists HARDY, Zach Top, Jordan Davis, Ashley Cooke, Priscilla Block, Parker McCollum, Ryan Ellis, Zach John King, RaeLynn; comedian Danae Hays; former NFL quarterback Jay Cutler, former MLB pitcher Roger “Rocket” Clemens and X Games gold medalist Travis Pastrana.

Adding to the excitement, GRAMMY Award-winning country artist Lee Greenwood is set to perform his iconic hit “God Bless The USA” during the 7th-inning stretch.

“We couldn’t be more excited to bring back America’s Most Patriotic Softball Game for 2026!” said Folds of Honor Tennessee Board President Robbie Goldsmith. “We are incredibly thankful to our sponsors, especially Black Rifle Coffee Company for returning as our title partner as we chase our goal of raising $1 million in one night for the children and spouses of American heroes. We cannot wait to release this year’s star-studded lineup, and I hope everyone can join us for our largest and most fun game yet!”

With the support of veteran-founded title sponsor Black Rifle Coffee Company, along with additional sponsors LKQ Corporation and Jockey, proceeds from the Rock ’N Jock Celebrity Softball Game will benefit Folds of Honor, a leading nonprofit organization that provides educational scholarships to the children and spouses of America’s fallen or disabled military service members and first responders.

Since its inception in 2007 by Lt. Col. Dan Rooney, Folds of Honor has awarded nearly 73,000 educational scholarships, totaling approximately $340 million in educational impact. Of those, 3,457 scholarships have been granted to students in Tennessee, totaling more than $16 million in educational impact in the community.

For more information on Folds of Honor and Folds of Honor Tennessee, visit foldsofhonor.org.

Final Story of the Day (Maury County Source)

 The Factory at Columbia, 101 N. James M. Campbell Blvd., is stepping up its monthly Second Saturday event with a two-day market in celebration of Mule Day.

The Muletown Market will run from noon to 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday, featuring several local vendors, as well as photo-ops, as well as the opportunity to shop at The Factory's many shops and eateries.

Learn more by visiting www.factoryatcolumbia.com.