Southern Middle TN Today News with Tom Price 4-13-26

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Southern Middle Tennessee Today

News Copy for April 13, 2026

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

Mule Day Attracts Large Crowd (CDH)

The 52nd Mule Day capped off festivities Saturday with the annual Mule Day Parade, which once again brought large audiences lining the downtown Columbia streets.

Shortly after the Maury County Courthouse's bell rang to signal the day's 11th hour, The Mule Day Parade began its traditional route starting at Carmack Boulevard before winding down historic West 7th Street amid thousands of spectators.

It was also the first time in years that Mule Day events were not plagued with thunderstorms, tornadoes or in some cases, frigid temperatures.

"This is a great day in Columbia, Tennessee," Columbia Mayor Chaz Molder told the Daily Herald while atop his mule-drawn wagon near the parade's front, and just a few spots behind 2026 Grand Marshal and NASCAR champion Sterling Marlin.

"We've got beautiful weather. It's the biggest Mule Day I have ever seen. It's the community at its best and I can't wipe the smile off my face."

In addition to Marlin's inclusion as grand marshal, the 2026 Mule Day Parade showcased dozens of local businesses, nonprofits and other Maury County organizations, with many utilizing this year's Mule Day theme, "Red, White & Mule," in recognition of America's semiquincentennial.

With 2026 also being an election year, several candidate and party floats were also represented, which in addition to Molder included floats representing Columbia mayoral candidate Eric Previti, U.S. Rep. Andy Ogles, state Sen. Joey Hensley, U.S. Sen. Marsha Blackburn, Maury County Mayor Shelia Butt and Maury County mayoral candidate Gabe Howard, as well as several Tennessee gubernatorial candidates.

This year's Mule Day Queen Ava Sykes, along with her court and other Mule Day pageant winners, were also featured in the parade. Sykes, who also began the 2026 Mule Day festivities as part of the Mule Day Wagon Train, said she couldn't be happier with her experience as queen.

"It has been really great, and of course [Saturday] is the big day with the parade and crowning the King Mule," Sykes said. "We've all just had a good time."

Each year, Mule Day is highlighted by several events, competitions, live music and more. And it isn't just the crooked-eared workhorse who competes for the top prize.

One of this year's most popular turnouts for competition was actually an event which crowns what could one day be a future Mule Day Queen with the Little Miss Mule Day pageant.

Assistant Pageant Director Rachael Houston, who also serves on the Mule Day committee, said the event, which took place April 9 at Columbia Central High School, drew 90 contestants in eight categories.

However, like many other Mule Day 2026 attendees, Houston said perhaps the biggest highlights have been the weather and the people.

"It has been a good year, and the weather has been beautiful this year," Houston said. "We have had a good crowd."

Spring Hill Infrastructure Plan (MSM)

In continued efforts to address the city’s ongoing sewer and water challenges the Spring Hill Board of Mayor and Aldermen received the first phase of several proposed solutions last week.

This first phase was presented by Spring Hill Assistant City Administrator Dan Allen and SPARTAN Program Assistant General Manager Will Brassfield during a special meeting of the board. 

Over the past several years, Allen and city staff have worked with state officials, reviewed sewer and water infrastructure studies and evaluated available land to identify long-term solutions to the city’s growing infrastructure needs. Their findings were presented through the PureWater Spring Hill Program, an initiative designed to support future growth while modernizing the city’s water system. 

Currently, the city holds a raw water intake permit of six million gallons per day (MGD) and a discharge permit of 5 MGD. As officials plan for a projected population of 150,000 within the city’s Urban Growth Boundary, upgrades and expansion of the water system have become a priority. 

Three major projects within the Capital Improvement Plan form the foundation of the PureWater Spring Hill Program: reservoir storage, upgrades to the Water Reclamation Facility (WRF) and an Advanced Water Purification Project. 

“Reuse, Restore, Reconnect” 

The proposed reservoir project aims to serve both functional and recreational purposes. Plans include the development of a community park featuring walking and biking trails, boardwalks, educational overlooks and kayaking opportunities. 

City officials hope to transform the site into more than just a secured utility project. 

“The goal is not to create a body of water with a fence around it,” officials explained, but rather a community space residents can enjoy for generations. 

Beyond recreation, the reservoir plays a critical role in drought resiliency. Because of flow-rate restrictions on the city’s water intake permit, the city can’t exceed permitted levels during high water events such as flooding. Without storage capacity, the city must wait for water levels to decrease before increasing intake. 

A nearby reservoir would allow the city to store water when it’s available, helping prevent supply interruptions during drought or restricted flow conditions. 

Preliminary plans include approximately 200 million gallons of storage capacity along with pump stations and underground piping.

Water Reclamation 

Another key component of the program involves upgrades to the city’s Water Reclamation Facility. The facility removes solids and debris from wastewater while allowing the biological treatment process to break down remaining materials. 

Several system components are required for the process to function effectively. 

A digester increases storage capacity and manages biomass within the treatment system. An equalization basin helps balance flows by capturing excess wastewater during peak periods and gradually reintroducing it into the system. 

Additional improvements include filtration pretreatment and ultraviolet (UV) disinfection, which serve as the final treatment stage before water would move into the advanced purification process. 

The upgrades are designed to enhance nutrient removal, integrate the main lift station and support water reuse by diverting treated water for further purification. 

Construction on the project is expected to begin in 2027 and conclude in 2030, with an estimated cost of $75 million. 

Advanced Water Purification 

The Advanced Water Purification project is designed to further treat highly purified water from the reclamation facility through multiple advance treatment processes to create a safe and reusable water supply. 

The system will include a pilot package train, which allows operators to test and refine treatment methods before full-scale implementation. This process ensures the system meets all regulatory requirements while optimizing performance. 

The pilot system is expected to process approximately 34 million gallons per day, while the main facility is planned to expand capacity from 2.5 MGD to 10 MGD. The project timeline is currently projected between 2026 to 2030. 

City officials are also considering a proposed resolution for a 37-acre conservation easement with a land trust, which could potentially be donated to the city. An additional 100 acres would be purchased by the city and would serve as the future site for the Advanced Purification facility. 

Overall, the PureWater Spring Hill Program aims to support long-term growth, improve system resiliency, expand water reuse, enhance reliability and protect public health.

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."

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.

Where’s Maury the Mule (Press Release)

Maury Alliance’s annual “Where’s Maury the Mule?” shop local passport adventure is happening now. The rules are simple: pick up a passport, find Maury the Mule hidden in as many businesses as possible, and turn your passport in at the Maury Alliance office located at 106 West 6th St in Columbia by 5:00 pm on Tuesday, April 14th. Share your adventure on social media using the hashtag “maurythemule” so everyone can follow along!

Ways to Win

• Visit 30 businesses for a single entry into the GRAND PRIZE DRAWING

• Visit 35 businesses for a double entry into the GRAND PRIZE DRAWING

• Visit 40 businesses for a triple entry into the GRAND PRIZE DRAWING

• Visit at least 5 businesses for a chance to win Local First gift cards and other prizes

• There will be two Grand Prize winners, each will receive $500 in gift cards from participating businesses.

For complete rules and details visit www.mauryalliance.com.

Farm City Breakfast (Press Release)

The Maury Alliance Agribusiness Committee invites you to the annual Farm City Breakfast honoring the agriculture and agribusiness industry of Maury County.

This year's Farm City Breakfast will be held on Friday, April 17th, at the Ridley

4-H Center. The breakfast line opens at 6:45 am with the program beginning at 7:00 am and concluding by 8:30 am. 

The Keynote Speaker is Colonel Littleton, and a Maury County Century Farm will be honored.

There is no charge to attend the breakfast, however they will be collecting donations during the event for the 2026 Farm City Scholarship Memorial Fund. This year, scholarships will be given in memory of Mary Susan Kennedy.

The Agribusiness Committee invites you to become a sponsor of the 2026 Farm City Breakfast! Your contribution allows us to continue this successful event as well as provide scholarships to Maury County students.

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.

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

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.

Pamela Ann McKee Smith, age 77, passed away on April 11, 2026 following a brief illness.

Funeral services will be conducted Friday, April 17, 2026 at 3:00 pm at Oakes & Nichols Funeral Home. Burial will follow at Rose Hill Cemetery. The family will receive friends beginning at 1:00 pm.

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…

Hankins Documents Century Farms (WilliamsonScene)

Williamson County has 48 Century Farms, and Caneta Skelley Hankins has met the farmers behind each one of them. 

In order to be a Century Farm, the land must be owned by the same family for at least 100 years, span at least 10 acres and produce at least $1,000 of farm income. Tennessee’s Century Farm program reached 50 years old this year, as it was founded by the Tennessee Department of Agriculture in 1976. 

The program helps connect farmers with resources, including grants and induction into the National Register of Historic Places. It also assists with applications for a conservation easement, a voluntary legal agreement that permanently protects the land by restricting future development. The Tennessee Farmland Preservation Act, signed into law in 2025, even established grants to help pay for the conservation easement process. 

This year, part of the recognition of being a Century Farm includes being immortalized in Hankin’s book, Century Farms of Williamson County: Challenges, Changes and Choices, edited and designed by Marcia P. Fraser and in partnership with local historian Rick Warwick. 

Hankins worked for the statewide Century Farms program from 1981 to 2013. One thing that stands out about Williamson County farms, she tells the Williamson Scene, is the “incredible amount of money” the farmers are being offered to sell them, due to the boom of development in the greater Nashville area. Some get calls from real estate developers three or four times per week, she learned while conducting interviews for the book. 

While the Century Farm numbers have hovered in the 40s in recent years, the most common reason for a farm to exit the program is that the next generation no longer wants to maintain it. For roughly each one that leaves, another farm typically reaches 100 to take its place, she explains. 

With the development also comes conflict between neighbors. Farmers report difficulty getting their farming equipment onto the road as they travel to another part of the farm to work. 

“All they're doing is either taking feed over to the cattle, or taking the combine over to harvest, and people — they won't let them out,” Hankins says. “They honk at them. It's very disrespectful of these people who are doing their jobs for us.” 

Some of the farmers in more developed areas have experienced neighbors walking on their property, and in one more extreme case, cutting a fence to access a field, which inadvertently lets cattle out. In another case, people trapped raccoons in a subdivision and let them loose on the farm, only for them to destroy five acres of corn, Hankins reports. 

“So many are now one, two, three generations removed from an agricultural life, and they have no clue,” she says. 

Agriculture remains Tennessee’s largest industry, and Williamson County still has a total of 1,153 farms, including those 48 Century Farms, according to the 2022 Agriculture Census performed by the United States Department of Agriculture. The most common crop is hay and the most common livestock is cattle — more than 24,000 of them live in the county. The products sold from farms in Williamson County have a value of $39.89 million, representing a 29 percent increase since 2017, according to the report.  

Hankins wants readers to take away one important point: Farmers stock not only the Franklin Farmers Market, but they are imperative for local restaurants and grocery stores. 

“If you love your burgers and fries, the potatoes came from the farm as did the ground beef,” she says. “People don't think about that. The milk you buy in the grocery store, everything comes from the farm. So if you like to eat, you need to be good to farmers.” 

While more than 1,000 farms may seem like a large number, it’s dwarfed by the more than 268,000 people in the county today — as much as a 9 percent increase since 2020, according to the U.S. Census.  While farmers are no longer the majority in the county, they laid the foundation for the area, Hankins points out. Historically, farmers have given land for some of the first Williamson County schools, churches, cemeteries and roads. 

“Farmers are really worthy of respect because they have so many jobs and so much knowledge,” Hankins says. “They are environmentalists. They do animal husbandry. They understand the market. They have some of the most beautiful scenic spots in the county, as well as the most historic spots.” 

With printing costs covered by community steward and Eastview Century Farm owner Judith Hayes, Hankins, who grew up on a farm outside the county, ensures that the Century Farms are documented, even if they are sold off in a changing landscape. In contrast to the transience that dominates Williamson County, century farmers have deep roots, which foster a sense of place, Hankins observed.

“What is so marvelous about these strong families is their dedication to the land and to their family history, and to the place where they live,” Hankins says. “I'm always almost overwhelmed when they talk about their love of that land, and how they appreciate it, and how they can't imagine living anywhere else and doing anything else.” 

She continues, “There’s not a lot of people that have that deep sense of self and purpose and place.” 

Books are $30 and can be picked up at Rick Warwick's office in the LeHew House, 112 Bridge St. You can email Warwick at rwarwick@historicfranklin.com.

Final Story of the Day (Maury County Source)

 As the United States approaches its 250th anniversary, Gaylord Opryland Resort invites guests to experience the milestone with All-American Summerfest, a celebration of the traditions that make summer unforgettable. The family-friendly event will run on select dates from May 22 through September 7, 2026.

Guests can capture the spirit of summertime with exciting activities, including poolside parties, interactive scavenger hunts, outdoor movie nights, and dazzling firework shows. All-American Summerfest delivers a classic seasonal getaway built for making memories together at one of the country’s most iconic destinations.

To book an overnight stay during Gaylord Opryland’s All-American SummerFest, purchase individual tickets, or learn more, visit GaylordOpryland.com.