Southern Middle TN Today News with Tom Price 4-30-26

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Southern Middle Tennessee Today

News Copy for April 30, 2026

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

Drug Bust (MSM)

Last week Columbia Police arrested an unnamed drug dealer after reportedly finding three pounds of various drugs in his/her residence.

On April 23, officers from the Columbia Police Department, including the Vice and Narcotics divisions, Criminal Investigations, Patrol and Support Services, and the 22nd Judicial District Attorney’s office, searched the residence of a previously convicted drug dealer. They reported finding approximately two pounds of rock and powder cocaine, one pound of cannabis and an undisclosed amount of cash.

Columbia Police Chief Jeremy Haywood expressed his appreciation for the cooperative effort that went into the investigation and the support given from all law enforcement partners.

“I am extremely proud of the efforts and results from this investigation and of the cooperation and teamwork that went into removing these drugs from our streets and holding the individual responsible for selling them in our city accountable,” Haywood said. “Our message is clear: if you choose to sell drugs in our city, we look forward to paying you a visit and holding you accountable for your actions.”

School Accountant Pleads Guilty (MSM)

The Maury County Circuit Court agreed to divert charges against Lesli Hazard, formerly an accountant with Maury County Public Schools.

According to court documents, Hazard was charged with the theft of $11,796 from Whitthorne Middle School, fraudulent use of three credit cards, and falsifying government records, all between May 2025 and Jan. 2026. The State Comptroller’s office lists her as one of the bookkeepers who worked on the school district’s annual audit for FY 2024-25. Charges were brought against her in February and the case was settled on April 7.

Because she pled guilty, was a first-time serious offender and met unspecified criteria for “judicial diversion” in T.C.A. 40-35-113, the court put her on probation lasting four and a half years, with the possibility of expunging the charges after successful probation.

“Maury County Public Schools’ understanding is that Ms. Hazard pled guilty to offenses committed while she was employed as a bookkeeper at Whitthorne Middle School,” said Maury County School System Superintendent Lisa Ventura. “While I cannot comment on the exact nature of her charges, conviction, or sentence, as that is a law-enforcement matter, I can confirm that full restitution was made to Maury County Public Schools.”

Sewer Moratorium Prompts Uptick in Home Kitchens (MSM)

Spring Hill City staff are seeking guidance on how Spring Hill should regulate in-home food production business, as requests for home-based bakeries increase amid the city’s ongoing sewer moratorium. 

A memo created by Spring Hill Water staff states the city has received multiple inquiries from residents interested in operating home-based bakeries. Many applicants have referenced the Tennessee Food Freedom Act, which reduces certain state-level food safety regulations, including licensing and inspection requirements. 

However, the law does not override local sewer regulations, allowing the city to enforce rules related to wastewater discharge and grease control. 

Assistant City Administrator Dan Allen emphasized the importance of approaching these requests cautiously. Allen advised the board that approving such applications could create loopholes within city codes and potentially lead to a growing issue if more residents begin seeking similar approvals. 

One of the primary concerns involve fats, oils and grease produced during food preparation. These substances can enter the sewer system and cause blockages or damage. Because of this, operations that may release grease must comply with Spring Hill Ordinance 06-05, as well as plumbing and building codes designed to protect the wastewater system. 

The city must also comply with a consent order from the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation requiring improvements to Spring Hill’s wastewater infrastructure. While the consent order is in effect, the city must avoid activities that could increase the risk of sewer overflows. 

Staff recommended denying requests for in-home food production business if proper grease control measures can’t be implemented, in order to protect the sewer system and maintain compliance with state environmental requirements. 

City staff asked the board to provide direction and help establish a clear and consistent policy. The proposed approach would clarify that the Tennessee Food Freedom ACT does not exempt residents from local sewer regulations, apply sewer requirements based on potential system impact rather than whether a business is residential or commercial and regulate home-based food production if it could affect the sewer system.

County Rezoning (MSM)

The Maury County Commission overruled its Regional Planning Commission twice last week, approving two commercial rezonings against the planning commission’s recommendations. The first rezoning, which won out in a 12-8 vote, was for a 3.5-acre plot on Fountain Creek Road in Culleoka. A few planning commissioners had raised questions about or objections to the approval before voting unanimously against it. One didn’t want to approve such a large parcel for commercial zoning, another planning commissioner had wanted to wait for the county’s comprehensive plan to be finished and another had pointed out that the map in the application contained outdated descriptions of the surrounding area.

“There wasn’t much in the way of substance [to their objections],” stated Robert Caldiraro, director of Building and Zoning. “I don’t know the rationale that they used… just… the reasonings [some gave].”

“I really respect our planning commission, I attend most of the meetings,” County Commissioner Jerry Strahan said, before suggesting the application be sent back to them. “I’m surprised that with a unanimous decision, there’s no more meat behind the thing than there is… [The lot is] beside and behind a commercial piece of property.”

Both commissioners and public commenters spoke unanimously in favor of allowing the rezoning, arguing from the perspective of trust and reputation that the owner, Danny Auville, has built up over decades of activity in the county. County Commissioner Jerry Bridenbaugh, who represents the area, said that to his knowledge neither of the two adjoining neighbors were opposed to the rezoning.

County Commissioner Eric Previti announced that he would vote with the planning commission on both rezonings, since they spent so many hours reviewing the applications. County Commissioner Kathey Grodi, who also attends planning commission meetings, warned her colleagues that they needed to take the planning commission’s recommendations seriously or risk losing their services.

“I think this one is a little bit different,” said county Commissioner Gabe Howard. He and County Commissioner Scott Sumners pointed out that there’s already a Dollar General nearby, which is the kind of development people most fear will be built on vacant commercial lots. “This is not a knock against [the planning commission] at all, I know they put a lot of time and a lot of effort in.”

The county commission also approved, 12-9, a commercial zoning for a 5.9-acre plot on Highway 431, where the Mathews family hopes to open a coffeehouse and host farmers’ markets and Christian events. The proposal had appeared before the county once already, but because of unfavorable feedback, the applicants withdrew it before the county commission could vote on it.

Twice the planning commission voted against it, because of zoning nonconformity, for which cause they had rejected the commercial rezonings of several nearby properties, and concerns about turning traffic on an “arterial” road.

Howard, who represents the prospective coffeehouse’s district, spoke against the project as he has in the past. Though he appreciated the Mathews’ intentions, he pointed out that the planned use doesn’t fit the definition of the “commercial rural center” zoning that the applicants applied for, and unlike the Auville development it isn’t adjoined by commercial properties. Furthermore, Howard said, echoing Planning Commissioner Peder Jensen, if the Mathews family were to sell it, it could be put to any number of more disruptive or unsightly commercial uses, though the family had said they plan to keep it and use it for another business if the coffeehouse fails.

“Tonight we’re voting not on what it’s going to be, [but] what it could be,” Howard said.

“I would respectfully disagree with my fellow commissioner… we’re voting on what it is, not what it could be,” Bridenbaugh responded. “These folks have come to us with a very definitive plan.”

Bridenbaugh pointed out that near the site is a “huge sports complex.”

Sumners compared the turning traffic situation favorably to that of the county fire station down the road, where fire engines have to get in and out of the station at the intersection of Highways 99 and 431.

“I’m going to push hard for this one, because this is exactly what Maury County is supposed to be,” said County Commissioner Mike Kuzawinski. “To vote against that is to… go against our tradition, our heritage, and what we have tried to create here in Maury County.”

Kuzawinski saw the coffeehouse and Christian facility as the sort of small business initiative that’s historically made the county great. He pointed out that the family “have been nothing but cooperative” with the county government, and have committed to widening the driveway for safety and capping their actual commercial facilities at 5,000 square feet.

In both cases, the applicants could have re-applied for approval whenever they wished, which after Monday’s meeting is no longer an option for planning approval applicants.

The county commission also passed some mostly minor revisions and corrections to the county zoning ordinance after approving the Auville and Mathews requests; the most consequential of these is a new 12-month waiting period to submit another application after the failure of the first one.

At the request of Howard, Caldiraro sounded off on a couple of recent hot topics in local development. County Building and Zoning has heavily regulated STEP-type decentralized wastewater systems and is looking into outlawing them. Last November they also closed a loophole allowing “administrative splits” to skirt the county’s five-acre lot minimum, and defined divisions that require infrastructure as “subdivisions,” which must come before the planning commission for approval.

Maury County Mayor Sheila Butt characterized the two items as proof that the county’s civil servants, whether elected, appointed and employed, are responding to constituents’ concerns and honestly facing the county’s developmental challenges.

Other business

The county commission adopted the 2022 CTAS ethics policy, which the Administrative Committee discussed in a previously published Main Street Maury article.

The commission appointed Roger Kelly to Board of Zoning Appeals, Philip Grooms to the E-911 Board and Commissioner Connie Green to Health & Safety Standards Board.

The commission announced a vacancy on its General Sessions Court, caused by the retirement of Judge Bobby Sands, which it intends to fill by appointment next month.

On the financial side, the county received third-quarter accounting reports from its departments. The commission voted to approve a $110,000 change order for the library renovation, to buy a patrol car for the Sheriff’s Department for almost $70,000, and to apply for about $31,300 in opioid abatement funds from the “Remnant” settlement with six opioid distributors.

CSCC to Host Columbia Arts Council Exhibition (Press Release)

Columbia State Community College is pleased to announce that, in collaboration with the Columbia Arts Council, an art exhibition is currently open to the public featuring works by over 50 local artists. The exhibit marks the first local artist show the Columbia Arts Council has organized.

Pieces on display feature multiple art styles and mediums, all from living artists who reside and work in the greater Columbia area. Pieces featured also originate from artists with a full range of skills, from novice to veteran.

“As the new curator for the Pryor Art Gallery, it was such a delight for this to be the first exhibition that I installed,” said Tori Zemer, Columbia State Pryor Art Gallery curator. “I think anyone who comes to see it will walk away feeling impressed by the amount of local talent represented here. There is a wide variety of mediums and styles represented – truly something for everyone.”

Warren Feld, Columbia Arts Council chair, helped to put together the show concept and helped Zemer install some of the pieces on display.

“This art exhibit, by the Columbia Arts Council and with over 50 local artists, proudly showcases the creativity and talent that make Columbia’s arts community thrive,” Feld said. “We believe that Columbia will continue to evolve into a place where artists of all stripes can build full-time careers locally, supported by strong patron networks, education and tourism.”

A reception will be held on April 30 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. in the gallery.

The exhibit is open through June 12.

The Pryor Art Gallery is in the Waymon L. Hickman Building on the Columbia Campus, located at 1665 Hampshire Pike and is open Monday - Thursday, 8 a.m. - 7 p.m., and Friday, 8 a.m. - 4 p.m. Admission is free.

For more information about the Pryor Art Gallery and upcoming exhibitions, visit www.ColumbiaState.edu/PryorGallery 

ENT Specialists Join MRMG (MauryCountySource)

The team of Middle Tennessee Ear, Nose & Throat Specialists have joined Maury Regional Medical Group (MRMG). This strategic partnership delivers the high-quality otolaryngological care patients rely on, now enhanced by the strength and support of the entire Maury Regional Health system.

The new practice, now named MRMG Ear, Nose & Throat, includes Shaun C. Corbin, MD, and Stephen E. Parey, MD, who are both board certified in otolaryngology and sleep medicine. Dr. Corbin also serves as the medical director of sleep medicine. They are accompanied by Ashley Perez, AuD, who joined Maury Regional Medical Group in 2023 to provide audiology services.

“We are pleased to welcome Dr. Corbin and Dr. Parey to Maury Regional Medical Group,” said MRMG President Nathan Miller. “While both have long served on the Maury Regional Health medical staff, this new partnership restores the vital specialist of otolaryngology to the MRMG physician practice network. By integrating their expertise with Ashley Perez’s existing audiology services, we are creating a more cohesive health care journey for our patients.”

The physicians at MRMG Ear, Nose & Throat treat a wide array of conditions, with services that include but are not limited to:

• Ear: Addressing hearing loss, vertigo and balance disorders, tinnitus (ringing in the ears), chronic infections, cysts and tumors, ear wax, external ear canal problems, eardrum perforation and congenital deformities as well as performing eustachian tube dilation, a minimally invasive procedure

• Nose and sinus: Managing nasal allergies, recurrent sinus infections, polyps, nose bleeds and obstructions as well as performing procedures, such as balloon sinuplasty, ClariFix, RhinAer and VivAer

• Throat: Caring for recurrent sore throats, swallowing problems, hoarseness, vocal nodules and throat cancer as well as tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy procedures

• Sleep: Diagnosing and treating sleep apnea, snoring or upper airway obstruction

• Head and neck: Specializing in the removal of tumors on the skin as well as in the salivary glands, mouth or voice box and thyroid or parathyroid

Both Dr. Cobin and Dr. Parey also see patients in Maury Regional Health’s sleep center locations in Lewisburg and Lawrenceburg, with Dr. Corbin serving as the medical director of sleep medicine for the health system. These locations provide comprehensive diagnostic testing for a wide range of sleep disorders — including sleep apnea, insomnia, narcolepsy and restless leg syndrome — utilizing both in-person sleep lab suites and convenient at-home testing options. At-home testing is also available for pick-up at Maury Regional Medical Center in Columbia.

MRMG Ear, Nose & Throat is located at 927 N. James Campbell Blvd., Suite 101, in Columbia. Their hours are Monday–Friday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. For additional information, call 931.380.9166 or visit MauryRegional.com/MRMGENT.

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

Roy Eugene Jones, 78, a resident of Columbia, TN, passed away Friday, April 24, 2026, at Maury Regional Medical Center.

Funeral services will be held Saturday, May 2, 2026, at 2:00 pm at Oakes & Nichols Funeral Home. Burial will follow at Polk Memorial Gardens. The family will visit with friends on Saturday from 12:00 pm until the service time at the funeral home.

Reba Alderson Meador, age 95, a longtime resident of Columbia, Tennessee, passed away April 27th.

Graveside services will be conducted on Friday, May 1, 2026 at 1:00 PM at Polk Memorial Gardens. The family will visit with friends at the cemetery following the services.

And now, news from around the state…

Sen. Blackburn Incentivises Local Law Enforcement (CDH)

One week after Tennessee lawmakers passed a bill to punish local law enforcement that do not help with a voluntary federal immigration enforcement program, U.S. Sen. Marsha Blackburn is proposing new financial incentives for states and counties who help ICE. 

Blackburn on April 28 filed the 287(g) Expansion Act, which would offer a 10% increase in federal funding from the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Grant Program — the primary federal funding stream for local law enforcement — for states and counties that agree to participate in the program.

Blackburn’s policy is similar to one Tennessee passed last year that offered financial incentives to counties who agreed to work with U.S. Immigration and Customs enforcement. So far, just over half — 49 of the 95 — of Tennessee’s counties have agreements with ICE.

As of this month, 39 states have at least one agency participating in the 287(g) program. Seventeen have adopted statewide sanctuary policies, which typically restrict local police from honoring federal detainer requests or asking about immigration status.

Blackburn, who filed the bill with South Carolina Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham, said the bill is aimed at “strengthen[ing] immigration enforcement nationwide.” 

“State and local law enforcement should be doing everything in their power to partner with the federal government to enforce the rule of law in our communities following the Biden Border Crisis,” Blackburn said.

Blackburn’s proposal comes one week after state lawmakers passed a bill to allow Tennessee to withhold funding from county sheriffs who choose not to participate in the optional federal program.

Tennessee Republican leaders crafted a package of bills with input from White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller designed to require immigrants to prove their legal immigration status in order to access nearly all types of public services and employment. 

A news release from Blackburn’s office contrasted sanctuary states with those that participate in 287(g), saying they “undermine the success” of the program.

Gas Prices (MSM)

Gas prices across the state held steady over last week. The Tennessee Gas Price average is now $3.77 which is the same as one week ago, 15 cents more expensive than one month ago and $1.00 more expensive than one year ago.  

“Gas prices held relatively steady over last week, but we did continue to see price fluctuations across most of the state,” said Megan Cooper, spokeswoman for AAA – The Auto Club Group. “Crude oil prices moved higher last week due to continued global supply concerns tied to the tensions with Iran and uncertainty surrounding the Strait of Hormuz. For drivers, this means that continued volatility in pump pricing is likely to stick around this week.”

Final Story of the Day (Maury County Source)

Multi-time Diamond-certified superstar Darius Rucker returns to the historic Ryman Auditorium on Monday, June 1 for his 17th annual “Darius and Friends” concert benefitting St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital®. The event, which unofficially kicks off the week of CMA Fest in downtown Nashville and has raised more than $5.1 million to date, will feature a surprise all-star roster of friends as has become tradition at the annual celebration.

Friends performing with Rucker in past years have included Lauren Alaina, Jason Aldean, Brooks & Dunn, Brothers Osborne, Kane Brown, Luke Bryan, Luke Combs, Sheryl Crow, Dan + Shay, Vince Gill, Jamey Johnson, Jelly Roll, Charles Kelley of Lady A, Ashley McBryde, A.J. McLean of the Backstreet Boys, Megan Moroney, Brad Paisley, Kenny Rogers, Tommy Thayer of KISS and Morgan Wallen, among many others.

Tickets to the 17th annual “Darius and Friends” benefit concert start at $69

For more information, visit DariusRucker.com