Southern Middle TN Today News with Tom Price 4-15-25

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Southern Middle Tennessee Today

News Copy for April 15, 2025

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

We start with local news…

Spring Hill Election Results (WilliamsonScene)

The unofficial results have been calculated for the Spring Hill Board of Mayor and Alderman and Matt Fitterer will be the new face of the city's BOMA.

“Just thank you,” Fitterer told supporters following the election. “We did it. The margin got bigger as the night went on, we always said if we get 1,500 – we win. ... We've said all along partnerships with our regional and state partners are what's going to solve Spring Hill’s issues. You guys are here. We're going to go get to work."

Local officials such as Rep. Todd Warner and Thompson Station Mayor Brian Stover were in attendance at Fitterer's election night party at the Spring Hill Martin's Bar-B-Que Joint.

Fitterer earned 1,717 votes while current Mayor Jim Hagaman came in second place with 1,318 votes. The other two candidates did garner a few votes each with Alderman John Canepari earning 255 votes and political newcomer Rick McCreadie earning 193 votes.

Hagaman congratulated all of the winning candidates in the election and thanked his supporters and wife for everything they have done.

"I fully trust God who has total authority and dominion over my life ... I'm excited to see what God has in store for the next chapter of my life," Hagaman said. "I love this city. I've lived here for over 25 years. I was campaigning this time around to change the unfettered growth that has occurred. And I believe that for me not being a backstop for that to continue, that Spring Hill is going to go back to its old ways of starting to back unfettered growth again."

Election officials have said they will aim to certify the results before the next Board of Alderman meeting. Three wards will also have new faces in their seats as Ward 4's Trent Linville was the only incumbent to retain his seat. and was joined by Linville and Ward 2 candidate Greg Groninger. 

“I'm really excited to work with mayor-elect Fitterer," Linville said. "I’m excited to be moving forward to honestly work with our regional partners to help solve the problems and the issues that we have in Spring Hill because that's the way we're going to solve them. It's not by focusing inwards. It’s on how we can collaborate with others, and I think Matt will do a great job leading that.”

Fitterer said last night that he would nominate Linville for vice mayor. The vice mayor position is appointed by a BOMA vote.

"When we meet on [April] 21 we'll vote on it, but I'm going to nominate Trent and we're going to vote for Trent,” Fitterer said. “Trent is a very, very level headed, objective, fact-based leader. He understands the challenges facing Spring Hill. He doesn't make emotional decisions. He makes them grounded in fact, and he's very, very prepared for the job. And, I'll point out too that Trent had the largest margin of victory in all five races tonight. So, Spring Hill citizens obviously support Trent and want Trent to be in a leadership position as well.”

Groninger was a part of the crowded Ward 2 race along with current Vice Mayor and incumbent William Pomeroy, Jamiee Davis and Scott Wernert. Davis won the seat with 1,171 votes to Pomeroy's 1,077 votes.

“I'm just really feeling loved and humbled right now,” Davis said. “Everybody that ran [in Ward 2] was an outstanding citizen, an outstanding person. So you know, when you're running against great people, that's hard."

Pomeroy held an election night party at Fozzy's Bar & Grill in Spring Hill. He congratulated Davis on her win and said he noticed voters wanted a change.

"I think this was a change election and the voters want change and they deserve a new board," Pomeroy said. "There's a lot of frustration with Spring Hill and planning. ... There was a shift out there and I could feel it."

Coming in third and fourth place, Groninger earned 509 votes while Wernert earned 344.

"Ward 2 was a very tough race with four great candidates, and all of us got along. We were collegial, we were respectful, we all ran clean races." Groninger said. "The biggest challenge was differentiating yourself because of the quality of the candidates we had. ... We're all congratulating each other. We're gonna work together after this. This is a good thing for the city, that we now have four people that can have sort of the same vision and support each other.”

In Ward 1, Alex Jimenez beat Teri Mai with 1,790 votes to 1,098. Mai was at Pomeroy's party. She noted the change with this election, saying she hopes that all the newly elected officials have Spring Hill's best interest at heart.

The Ward 3 seat was won by Erin Hartwell with 1,593 votes. Diane Cochran earned 1,206. The two were in a tight race all night but Hartwell had an early lead that she held onto and gained as the vote totals rolled in.

CSCC Hosts Highschool Competition (Press Release)

On March 21, approximately 130 students from seven schools in southern Middle Tennessee gathered at Columbia State Community College for the annual High School Competition.

Students competed in a range of subjects including American history, archaeology, essay, mathematics, music, psychology, U.S. Constitution and more.

“The weather was ideal, and the competition was strong,” said Daniel Kelley, Columbia State associate professor of English. “As usual, we had an incredible team of faculty and staff volunteers who made the day a tremendous success for the high school competitors and their sponsors.”

Dating back to the 1980s, the competition continues to focus on humanities disciplines and has since added math components.

Early’s a Spring Hill Staple (MSM)

Early’s Honey Stand, celebrating its 100th year as a Spring Hill staple business, has clearly earned the title, “venerable.” Venerability speaks both of advanced age, staying power and quality, something quite rare in our evermore quantitative, throw-away-and-buy-new, plastic wrap society.

Founded in 1925 by Erskine Early and his mother Mamie Elgate Kincaid Early, the business lays claim to the title of “the oldest retailer in Williamson County,” according to their website Earlys.com. Situated on the west side of U.S. Highway 31 on the outskirts of Spring Hill as you head towards Thompson’s Station, Early’s has been a fixture for almost a century. 

According to Curtis Gibbs, the current manager: “The main stand has not changed location beyond about a 300-foot radius. It went from right up on Highway 31, then moved next door. Then came back to the original homestead and sits a little bit off of Highway 31 now.”

The location proved to be a prime spot for car stop commerce, so the Earlys set down roots that sank deep into the soil of this part of Middle Tennessee. Originally providing customers with local honey and seasonal fruits in spring and summer and smoked sausage and country ham during the winter, Early’s today is a gourmet grocery store offering “Authentic Southern Foods” to locals, farther flung Tennesseans, and even beyond state borders. 

Gibbs remarked that, “about a quarter of the business today is local while the other three-quarters is made up of state and interstate sales and shipping.” 

While maintaining the founders’ name and vision, the entrepreneurial endeavor that began nearly 100 years ago continues to flourish and expand to this day. Curtis, whose family now owns Early’s, said that entrepreneurial spirit continued recently as his family added another great Middle Tennessee business when they purchased Nashville Peanut Company after being a customer since 2019.

The continued success of Early’s Honey Stand and store is really a lot like the story of the town of Radiator Springs in the 2006 Pixar film, Cars. In the movie, a new highway is built which cuts off the town, its inhabitants and its businesses from the travelers that used to stop off to explore and maybe splurge a bit. As one character says: “40 years ago that interstate down there didn’t exist. Back then, cars came across the country a whole different way….The town got bypassed just to save 10 minutes of driving.”  

Early’s Honey Stand, a local business that actually predates U.S. Route 31 in the area (Early’s was established with a homemade “Honey for Sale” sign in 1925, just before 31 cut through the area near the end of 1926), thought at first their business might be ruined by this development. But with determination and a winning business model, Early’s managed to beat the odds; and so, as the National Highway System made an early move to bury small businesses like Early’s, these American entrepreneurs found a way to not just survive but eventually thrive, much like the cars of Radiator Springs.

The Stand and gourmet grocery store’s catalogue offerings are a testament to the business’s expansion over the years. Circulating since the 1950s, their holiday catalogues feature a beautiful spread of Southern Country staples. The 2024-2025 catalogue offers everything from the classic honey and a great variety of meats to new top sellers like coffee, pancake and biscuit mixes, sauces, rubs and scrumptious holiday favorites. 

There’s something for almost everyone at Early’s in the morning or evening, whether one is purchasing from the flagship store, open 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Saturday, or ordering online.

So if you are in the Nashville, Franklin, Columbia, the Middle Tennessee area, or even if you live beyond these regions, and desire a taste of what Early’s calls “Authentic Southern Foods since 1925” plated or packaged today, be sure to stop by the Stand or browse their website. 

It’s never too late to become an Early’s adopter.

Columbia Clean-Up (Press Release)

The City of Columbia is pleased to announce the launch of its Clean Up Columbia campaign in recognition of Litter Awareness Month this April. This initiative highlights the critical importance of community collaboration, education, and proactive efforts to create a cleaner, more sustainable environment for all residents.

“We are thrilled to bring the community together to participate in Litter Awareness Month,” said Mayor Chaz Molder. “The Clean Up Columbia campaign reflects the importance of teamwork and education in fostering a cleaner Columbia. We encourage everyone to join us in these efforts to reduce litter and help protect our local environment.”

As part of the campaign, the City is partnering with local litter mitigation organizations, Keep Maury Beautiful and the Triple C’s (Columbia Community Clean-Up Team), to host two community clean-up events in Columbia:

Columbia Arts District Clean-Up

Date: April 26, 2025

Time: 8:00 AM - 10:00 AM

Meet-Up Location: Maury County Public Library - 211 W 8th St.

All necessary litter clean-up supplies will be provided. In addition to these efforts, the City will host two Litter Awareness Education events for young children at the Maury County Public Library. The events will take place on April 15th and April 26th from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM. During the events, city officials will read Catch That Litter Bug, a children’s book by local author Michael Fulbright, to teach kids about the importance of managing litter in their community.

The City’s Public Works Department will also conduct recycling truck demonstrations and discuss waste management practices in Columbia. Keep Maury Beautiful and the Triple C’s will lead interactive, hands-on activities that help families and children understand their role in maintaining a clean environment.

By uniting as a community, the Clean Up Columbia campaign presents a powerful opportunity to create a lasting impact on the environment. Through active participation in clean-up events and educational programs, residents can foster a greater sense of responsibility for their shared spaces and contribute to a cleaner, more sustainable future for the city.

For more details about these events and to find out how you can get involved, visit ColumbiaTN.gov.

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 are now available at 13 participating Driver Services Centers, including 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.

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. Katherine Yarbrough Rogers, 87, resident of Maury County, Died April 12, at her 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 on Wednesday from 3:00 PM to 7:00 PM at Oakes & Nichols Funeral Home and again on Thursday from 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM.

And now, news from around the state…

Woman Charged for Attempted Murder for Hire (MauryCountySource)

 On Friday afternoon, with assistance from TBI, the Franklin Police Department arrested Angelia Solomon, 55, of Franklin.

WSMV reports Angelia Solomon met with an undercover officer posing as a hitman on April 11 in the Cool Springs Mall parking lot. She allegedly offered future payment, gave her vehicle registration as collateral, and shared details on how to find her ex-husband.

Investigators say she believed his death would give her daughter access to a trust fund. The arrest followed a tip from a concerned citizen.

She is charged with Solicitation to Commit First Degree Murder against her ex-husband. Solomon is being held on a $500,000 bond.

The case remains under investigation.

TVA Salary Transparency Bill (Tennessean)

U.S. Sens. Marsha Blackburn and Bill Hagerty introduced a bill in the Senate that would require the Tennessee Valley Authority to make public far more salaries paid to its employees.

TVA reports only the salaries of its five highest-paid executives. U.S. Reps. Tim Burchett of Knoxville and Steve Cohen of Memphis jointly introduced the TVA Salary Transparency Act in the U.S. House of Representatives in January to force more disclosures from the nation's largest public power provider.

The bill would require TVA to report salaries of employees making more than $123,041 per year, based on the highest pay grade for federal employees in a system called the General Schedule. It passed in the House unanimously on Jan. 15.

TVA is funded by sales of electricity to 10 million customers in seven Southeast states, and its employees' salaries do not come from taxpayer dollars. The federal utility had 11,312 employees last year, according to its latest annual financial report. It reported the median total compensation for all employees was $163,779.

With its introduction to the Senate announced April 9, the bill has the clearest shot at becoming law after similar efforts stalled after being passed through the House.

“The government and public utilities owned by the government work for the American people – not the other way around,” Blackburn said in a news release. “This legislation would provide critical transparency into the salaries of federal employees at the TVA by reinstating the requirement that TVA report this information to Congress.”

Salaries of federal employees are generally considered public information, but TVA has been exempt for decades, citing the 1995 Federal Reports Elimination and Sunset Act that got rid of certain reporting requirements. The new legislation would reverse the exemption.

Burchett and Cohen previously introduced the bill, and it passed the House through a voice vote in March 2024, but it never reached a vote in the Senate and expired with the last session of Congress.

Blackburn and Hagerty have focused their attention in recent weeks on overhauling the leadership at TVA, particularly the board of directors that is nominated by the president and confirmed by the Senate.

After they published an op-ed criticizing the board for what they said was an overly political and bureaucratic approach, they celebrated the termination of two board members at the direction of President Donald Trump and said they would work to get new members confirmed.

Gas Prices (MSM)

Gas prices across the state fell for the second week in a row, with the state gas price average falling seven cents, on average, over last week. The Tennessee Gas Price average is now $2.72 which is the same as one month ago and 57 cents less than one year ago.  

“Crude oil prices fell even lower last week, which is likely contributing to the drops that we’ve seen at the gas pump,” said Megan Cooper, spokeswoman, AAA – The Auto Club Group. “Unless we see major changes in the crude oil market, it’s very likely the downward trend at the pump will continue this week.” 

Tennessee is third least-expensive state in nation for gas prices

Final Story of the Day (Maury County Source)

Rev Up for the Columbia Chrystler Dodge Jeep Ram Fiat’s 2nd Annual Car Show at 106 S James Campbell Blvd, Columbia, TN on April 26th, 2025 from 11 am – 3 pm!

Join us at Columbia CDJR for an epic Car Show featuring the hottest rides, classic beauties, and muscle cars that’ll make your heart race!

Live Music | Food Trucks | Prizes

Whether you’re showing off your ride or just there to enjoy the view, this is an event you won’t want to miss!

Message korange@cdjrcolumbia.com or call 931-380-0800 to register!