Southern Middle TN Today News with Tom Price 4-7-26

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Southern Middle Tennessee Today

News Copy for April 7, 2026

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

Dobies Named Interim County Attorney (MSM)

Mark Dobies, an attorney now based in Franklin, has been elected the new county attorney by the Maury County Commission.

County commissioners were split on whether to hire a new permanent attorney less than a month after Daniel Murphy announced his resignation. Some commissioners had previously argued that the county couldn’t risk going any length of time without a permanent attorney, while others wanted to advertise the post longer to get a larger pool of candidates.

“Fifteen days this job was posted. This is a big decision for the county,” argued Commissioner Scott Sumners. “Let’s have a little bit more discernment here, folks.”

“There are constituents, and I have quite a few of them, that have something against this, so we need more time and we need more applicants,” said Commissioner Kathey Grodi.

“Once we knew that we had an interim [attorney Kristi Ransom] in place, then interviews last week shouldn’t have even taken place, but it happened so fast and so late in the game,” said Commissioner Eric Previti, who moved to postpone the search for the full-time attorney. He recalled other times when his fellow commissioners have complained about rushing through some policy decision or another, and recommended disrupting that pattern now.

“I do not believe that casting a wider net is going to get us any more qualified candidates than we already have,” replied Commissioner Jerry Bridenbaugh. “We need to move on with the county’s business and hire an attorney.”

“I did not bring my dead horse whip tonight,” cracked Commissioner Kenny Morrow. “We had a definite vote [last week] not to… extend the process.”

A majority voted to go forward with the second round of interviews and selection, but they only won out in an 11-10 vote. The commission’s remaining front-runner from the previous week, Wes Bryant, of the local firm Parks, Bryant & Snyder, took note of their lack of consensus and withdrew publicly from the process at the second meeting.

“[The split vote] tells me that close to half of y’all think that the four of us aren’t qualified to be the attorney,” observed Bryant, who delayed celebrating his 10th wedding anniversary to attend the meeting. “Quite frankly, I don’t want a client that is of two minds on something as important as this.”

“I don’t know how we can move forward now, when our number one candidate just walked out the door,” said Commissioner Gabe Howard, “I don’t know what we could’ve done differently, but… [I’ve been] thinking of getting up and walking out for the last 30 minutes… This is an embarrassment.”

“We move on with what we have,” replied Commission Chairman Danny Grooms.

The 10 commissioners who voted to delay got something like their druthers at the end of the meeting, when a majority voted to effectively make the new attorney interim. They agreed to put him on a six-month probation period, after which they would decide whether to retain him permanently.

Candidates Dobies and Tom Dubois agreed to the arrangement, but not Thomas Hutto, who needed a guarantee before he would give up his post as city attorney to Lewisburg. Some commissioners questioned the legality, since a non-interim attorney can’t be dismissed without cause under the Private Act, and fairness, since the interviewees had come to the meeting expecting a permanent position, of changing the terms of employment, but they were outvoted 16-4.

Grooms asked pre-written questions of the three remaining candidates before his fellow commissioners were allowed to pose freestyle questions. Each candidate was asked for his understanding of the county attorney’s responsibilities; how much experience he had in government-related litigation; whether he was willing to attend the meetings and give legal advice outside of business hours; and how he would react if a commissioner were to publicly misrepresent the legal advice he gave them privately.

Dobies told the commission that he’s a “generalist” with “good judgment” and situational awareness, well-suited to handling the various demands that county government would make on his time and attention.

Among his experiences and resources, he pointed to his time drafting and researching legislation and legal motions at the state level, and indicated that he has mentors and peers — among them other county attorneys — to ask about specific areas of inquiry that he hasn’t mastered. He promised to get admitted to the bar in the Middle District of Tennessee and to find a stand-in attorney for times when he’d be indisposed. He also said he favors relocating to Spring Hill in a couple of months, which would make him a “local” attorney of the type that the commission has had for decades.

“I’m here to serve the county [and] its mission in all the ways I can,” he summed up his intent. “This county is full of people who understand this county, and I have a lot to learn from them.”

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.

Wayne Street Boys and Girls Club Gets STEM Center (MSM)

The Wayne Street Boys and Girls Club introduced a new state-of-the-art STEM Lab on Tuesday, March 31, marking a significant step forward expanding educational opportunities for youth in the club and surrounding communities. 

The Ripken STEM Center was established through a partnership between Columbia Power and Water Systems (CPWS), the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) and the Cal Ripken Sr. Foundation, which began in 2023. Through the collaboration, more than $2.5 million has been invested in STEM education initiatives across the Tennessee Valley, leading to the installation of more than 40 STEM Centers throughout the region. 

The Wayne Street location is one of four centers introduced within the region. The program specifically focuses on supporting schools and youth-serving organizations in underserved and rural communities. 

The center aims to spark students’ interest in science, technology, engineering and mathematics while introducing them to potential career pathways. It also helps students develop critical thinking and problem-solving skills through hands-on learning experiences. 

Information released by CPWS explained that the initiative aims to bridge the educational gap and inspire the next generation of Columbia’s workforce to pursue careers in technical and scientific fields.

“At CPWS, we are committed to more than just providing essential services; we are committed to the growth of our community,” said CPWS CEO Jonathan Hardin, who attended the event. “Partnering with TVA to support this STEM Center allows us to help spark curiosity and provide a foundation for lifelong learning for our local students.”

Students will have access to a variety of interactive tools and learning technologies including Bee-Bots, Snap Circuits, Makey Makey kits, Kid Spark materials, Lenovo tablets and a 3D printer. 

“Igniting students’ interest in STEM education is essential to preparing the next generation of skilled workers our region will depend on,” TVA Government & Community Relations Manager LaKevia Perry said. “As today’s workforce retires, we need young people who are prepared and eager to step into high-demand roles to help build the energy systems of the future. That’s why TVA is so committed to investing in local programs that spark curiosity, expand opportunity and strengthen the talent pipeline – both here in Columbia and across the Tennessee Valley.” 

Don Moul, president and CEO of Tennessee Valley Authority, attended the event, speaking with students about technology available in the lab while learning how each tool works. 

Others attending the event included Bert Robinson, senior state director of government and community relations for Tennessee and Greater East; Jay Strobino, field representative for Sen. Marsha Blackburn; Columbia Vice Mayor Randy McBroom, State Sen. Joey Hensley and Maury County Mayor Sheila Butt along with board members and staff of the Boys & Girls Clubs of South Central Tennessee. 

The Ripken STEM Center provides students with opportunities to explore new technology, challenge themselves and develop valuable skills that can support future careers in STEM fields. The center will be available to students participating in the Boys and Girls Club program as well as members of the broader community.

Mule Day Queen and Court Chosen (MSM)

The judges of the 2026 Mule Queen pageant chose Ava Sykes, a Columbia resident and teacher-in-training, as the queen of its court. She and the other winners will appear in public during the Mule Day festivities, most notably on a float in the parade.

Ava, 20, won the Mule Queen age category for young women of 15-25 years old. To be considered, she and the other contestants sent in short biographies which gave the judges background details, including their schooling, extracurriculars and personal traits. On the morning of the pageant, on Feb. 21, the contestants gave five-minute interviews to the panel of judges, and later in the day made four-minute presentations on topics related to Mule Day.

Since the theme of this year’s Mule Day pageant was “Red, White and Mules,” Ava put together a historic and patriotic book that she titled “Little Shoulders, Big Legacy.” The “red” pages in the book went over the history of Mule Day, the “white” pages described the sensory experience of the weekend festivities, and the “blue” section was an educational program that she and a couple other Mule Court members have been teaching to students at their schools of employment.

“[Little Shoulders, Big Legacy] teach[es] the children not only about Mule Day, but how they can be a part of it,” she explained. “If we don’t teach this younger generation about Mule Day, then it’ll die off, and that’s what I don’t want to happen.”

Ava’s work led naturally to her Mule Day project. While she attends an online teaching program at Western Governors University in the evenings, during the day she works as a “building substitute” teacher and girls’ basketball coach at E.A. Cox Middle School. She and her colleagues on “Little Shoulders, Big History” have taught its lessons at E.A. Cox, Randolph Howell Elementary School, Mt. Pleasant Elementary and other schools.

“Ava has been doing a wonderful job of outreach for the schools,” said Rachel Houston, one of the assistant directors of the Mule Queen pageant. “It’s nice to have a Queen that is so active in… promot[ing] Mule Day, because that’s what the position is, an ambassador for Mule Day. We’re proud of her.”

2026 marked Ava’s fourth year competing, and changing her approach from that of previous years finally made her the Queen.

“I think in past years [I watched] everyone else do it and everyone has a different way of doing things, and… there’s different judges every single year, so you don’t know exactly what they’re looking for,” she told Main Street Maury. “In past years I think I had… planned and planned and planned, tried to fit a mold that I thought I needed to occupy, but this year… I decided… ‘I’m just gonna be Ava.'”

“It’s fun as a director to get to watch them grow,” said Houston. “I saw Ava in her first year, and progress over the years in her speeches, and then to her final year when she wins. They grow a lot through the process.”

Dr. Clifford Day Announced (MauryCountySource)

A longtime physician and community leader in Columbia is being recognized for decades of service and dedication to improving the lives of others.

The City of Columbia, TN announced that Mayor Chaz Molder officially proclaimed “Dr. Rufus Clifford, Jr. Day” during a recent Rotary Club of Columbia TN Noon meeting. The honor celebrates the lifelong contributions of Dr. Rufus R. Clifford Jr. to children, families, and the broader community.

Dr. Clifford was also presented with additional proclamations from Maury County and the State of Tennessee, recognizing his impact both locally and across the region.

A graduate of Lawrence County High School, Dr. Clifford went on to attend David Lipscomb College and earned his medical degree from the University of Tennessee in Memphis. He served patients at Columbia Pediatric Clinic and held leadership roles at Maury Regional Hospital, including Chief of Pediatrics and Chief of Staff.

Throughout his career, Dr. Clifford received numerous honors, including Tennessee Pediatrician of the Year in 1997 and the Maury County Medical Society’s Community Service Award in 2006.

In addition to his medical work, Dr. Clifford has been an active member of Rotary since 1987, serving as president of the local club and later as District Governor for Rotary International District 6760. He and his wife have both been recognized as Paul Harris Fellows for their commitment to humanitarian efforts.

City leaders say his involvement in charitable initiatives and service projects has left a lasting mark on the Columbia community.

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.

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

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. Online condolences may be extended at www.oakesandnichols.com.

And now, news from around the state…

Population Growth in Middle Tennessee (Tennessean)

This is no surprise to anyone living here, but Middle Tennessee has continued to add residents over the past five years, with suburban counties surrounding Nashville leading the way, according to new U.S. Census Bureau population estimates.

From April 1, 2020, to July 1, 2025, Rutherford County recorded the largest population increase among Middle Tennessee counties, adding nearly 45,000 residents, a gain of more than 13%.

That growth was followed by major increases in Davidson, Montgomery, Wilson, Williamson and Sumner counties, all of which added tens of thousands of people during the same period.

Davidson County, the region's most populous, grew by about 30,000 according to the recently released data.

Montgomery County, anchored by Clarksville, saw a similar increase with 29,923 residents. Wilson County saw one of the fastest percentage increases, growing by more than 18%, while adding about 27,000 people between 2020 and 2025.

To the south of Nashville, Maury County increased its population by more than 17,000 residents, a 17% jump in just five years. Williamson County, one of the state’s largest, added more than 24,000 people, continuing a trend of steady growth.

Overall, Tennessee is estimated to have gained just over 400,000 residents within five years, an increase of nearly 6%. Census estimates show the state's population grew from 6,912,319 in 2020 to 7,315,076 in 2025.

Top 10 Middle Tennessee counties by population growth, 2020‑2025

1. Rutherford County: +44,870

2. Davidson County: +30,017

3. Montgomery County: +29,923

4. Wilson County: +27,288

5. Williamson County: +24,271

6. Sumner County: +19,249

7. Maury County: +17,174

8. Robertson County: +7,366

9. Putnam County: +6,738

10. Bedford County: +5,036

Energy Capacity at Center of Data Center Dilemma (WPLN)

Data centers are popping up across the region at a rapid pace. 

At the same time, electricity use is surging, along with concerns for rising electricity costs.  

Tennessee lawmakers are acknowledging the tension.

“We don’t want what’s happened in some other states where data centers have come in and rates have gone up $20 to $30 a month,” said state Rep. Ed Butler, R-Rickman. 

Butler sponsored a bill, HB1847/SB2128, that he says will help protect people from subsidizing data centers through their monthly electricity bills. The legislation allows data center owners to source their own power, instead of buying power from a utility. 

If recent data center developments in the state are any indicator — such as Elon Musk’s xAI facility in Memphis — the legislation might lead to more pollution near data centers.

“This bill would open the door to a massive influx of unregulated methane gas plants across the state,” said Trey Bussey, an attorney with the Southern Environmental Law Center. 

The bill is scheduled to be heard Tuesday before the Tennessee Senate Commerce and Labor Committee. 

The proposed legislation defines a data center as a building that requires at least 50 megawatts of power and primarily houses equipment to process, store or transmit digital information. Currently, most data centers in the region get electricity from a utility. 

If the bill passes, data center companies could also produce their own “behind-the-meter” power or buy electricity from an “independent power producer” without needing approval from a state regulator. 

Independent power producers are sometimes referred to as “merchant power plants.” These companies would not face regulatory oversight from the Tennessee Public Utility Commission, which has previously handled cases for such plants. 

“The bill’s intent is to deregulate,” Bussey said. 

While data centers have options, Bussey suggested that many companies may opt to generate electricity from gas turbines, a form of fossil fuel infrastructure that burns methane. 

xAI uses ‘behind-the-meter’ generation

In Memphis, Elon Musk’s data center xAI runs Grok, the artificial intelligence for X. 

The company has largely been running on behind-the-meter generation. Its first facility, known as Colossus 1, initially did not have permits when it plugged in about 30 mini gas turbines, which collectively could power more than 200,000 homes. xAI is now using about 15 turbines at that site. In February, the company got approval to source about 300 megawatts of power from the Tennessee Valley Authority, the federal utility that serves 10 million people in the region. 

Last month, xAI was approved to add more behind-the-meter power, with another 40 gas turbines across the state line in Mississippi for its second Memphis facility. Research published in February shows that the facility could significantly increase air pollution in North Mississippi and West Tennessee.

Burning methane for energy releases toxic air pollutants, including nitrogen oxides and volatile organic compounds like benzene and formaldehyde.

Musk is planning on building a third facility. Once operational, the data centers could collectively require 2 gigawatts of electricity — enough to power 1 million homes, based on calculations used by TVA. 

The legislation gives xAI more options to power its facilities from offsite generation. 

It also points to an emerging niche market of small, mobile gas turbines, as a push for new gas generation in the U.S. has contributed to a global shortage of gas-fired equipment. 

Solaris, for example, is a Houston-based company that builds mini gas-powered turbines “for the world’s most demanding data center environments,” according to the company. Solaris builds behind-the-meter generators with a range of about 6MW to 35MW of power. 

Data centers increase overall energy demand 

Tennessee has 60 data centers, and more than a third of them are located in the greater Nashville area. 

Companies are also constructing data centers around the borders of the state, which is relevant to local electricity rates: TVA provides nearly all power for Tennessee and parts of six other states. Local power companies, to which people pay their monthly bills, purchase electricity from TVA.

“Currently, almost all data centers in Tennessee are served by local power companies,” TVA spokesperson Scott Brooks said in an email.

TVA’s total power load is roughly 60% industrial and 40% residential. Data centers alone comprised about 10% of TVA’s total power load in 2025, according to the utility’s February financial report. Power demand from data centers could double by 2030, according to CEO Don Moul. 

TVA controls electricity rates 

The TVA Board, the utility’s main regulator, has previously worked on special rates for data centers to ensure rate fairness, but that effort stalled after President Donald Trump fired several board members last year. 

TVA is now talking with local power companies about options to protect customers against the subsidization of “unique, large loads” like data centers, according to TVA, but has not taken any action to date. 

“Our goal is to support economic development projects, including AI and other industry growth, while balancing impacts to all customers,” Brooks said. 

TVA increased rates by nearly 10% between 2023 and 2024 to help fund the utility’s massive buildout of new gas plants.

TVA also recently announced that it will keep its two largest coal plants online longer than promised to support load growth. For years, TVA argued that it needed to build new gas plants because its coal plants had “substantial performance and cost risk.”

TVA proposed a second gas plant in Memphis three years ago with a power capacity of 200 MW — less than the energy needs of a single xAI “Colossus” facility. TVA proposed another gas plant two years ago in Brownsville, an hour north of Memphis, that will produce 300 MW of power.

Final Story of the Day (Maury County Source)

Nashville Ballet will present the Tennessee premiere of Sherlock May 1-3 at theTennessee Performing Arts Center’s Polk Theater as part of its annual contemporary Attitude series, featuring three distinct productions, to close the company’s 2025–26 Ruby Season.

Inspired by the legendary detective created by Arthur Conan Doyle, Sherlock brings the iconic character to life through choreography and theatrical staging. Choreographer Penny Saunders returns to the company with this premiere, which explores the brilliant and enigmatic mind of the world’s most famous detective. Blending contemporary, jazz and classical ballet styles, the production combines cinematic storytelling with moments of theatrical humor.

For tickets or more information about Nashville Ballet, visit www.NashvilleBallet.com.