Southern Middle TN Today News with Tom Price 5-13-25

WKOM/WKRM Radio

Southern Middle Tennessee Today

News Copy for May 13, 2025

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

We start with local news…

Road Closure (MauryCountySource)

The Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) will conduct closures on SR 247 (Beechcroft Road) in Maury County.

From now through Wednesday, May 14, TDOT crews will close SR 247 (Beechcroft Road) between Town Center Parkway and Depot Street daily from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. TDOT is in close coordination with local authorities and the school system to plan this closure with the least amount of disruption to the community.

The closure is necessary for crews to mill and pave SR 247. Detour signage will be in place.

All work is weather-dependent. As always, drivers are reminded to allow additional time, slow down, and move over when traveling through a work zone. The Move Over Law was passed in 2006. The penalty for violating the law in Tennessee carries the possibility of up to 30 days in jail and a maximum fine of up to $500.

City Okay’s Ridley Expansion (CDH)

Columbia City Council took its next step to develop a new 12-court pickleball facility at Ridley Sports Complex following a vote Thursday to approve a contract to begin initial construction designs.

The council approved a $79,000 contract with Lose Design, who specializes in architecture, civil engineering, landscape architecture and land planning services.

According to the contract, Lose will develop construction documents for the facility, including court locations, while also providing adequate space for future expansions.

"It will be on the far football field and will allow for expansion as we need, but Lose Design is the absolute top of the line branch for recreation engineering and design," Columbia Parks and Recreation Director Mack Reagan told council members at the board's May study session.

Reagan added how the design documents, once completed, will allow the city to open the project for construction bids. He also expects a fairly swift turnaround to completion, partly due to the existing infrastructure and lighting already installed at the park.

"This will be a great way to get a jump on it and hopefully will be playing by the fall," Reagan said. "We will give them some direction as far as what we want as a community. I think this will be a big addition to our community and something we can get on and get started quick."

Reagan added there are a few remaining unknowns regarding what could potentially delay the project, but nothing out of the ordinary is to be expected.

"A lot of it will depend on how many courts are being built and how quickly we can get somebody in [to build them]," Reagan said. "A lot of it is also the brick and structure, what it requires because we will have to do some things like irrigation on the field and testing the soil. We want to make sure the soil is proper for however we want to go with it."

Cold Case Murder Concludes (CDH)

An Iowa man whose DNA linked him to the murder of a pregnant Spring Hill woman has been convicted in Tennessee, but investigators believe he may be responsible for more deaths in other states. 

It took a Maury County jury four hours on May 2 to return a guilty verdict against Clark Baldwin, 63, in the 1991 deaths of Pamela "Rose" Aldridge McCall, 33, and her unborn child. He was given a life sentence.

"This conviction helped bring some closure for Pamela’s brother and son. Both expressed their appreciation for the Spring Hill, Maury County community, and all the different agencies involved for not forgetting their mother and sister," said retired Spring Hill Police Capt. Ron Coleman, the original officer assigned to the case. Coleman added that other cases are pending, and he was ready to assist if need be.

"I am at peace for the first time in 34 years," he said.

McCall's body was found just off Saturn Parkway near the ramp for Port Royal Road on March 10, 1991. She had been strangled and there was DNA evidence left in her pantyhose, investigators said.

During autopsy, it was discovered she was pregnant.

McCall, who was also called “Rose,” had frequently hitchhiked around the country, police said.

“​​She would ride the country with truckers,” Coleman recalled while speaking to The Tennessean in 2020. 

At the time of her death, the DNA sample left with McCall's body was too small for lab testing, officials said, and no suspect was ever named. The sample sat at the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation until 2019, when a team made up of Spring Hill Lt. Justin Whitwell, training officer Ty Hadley and police evidence technician Melissa Wilson reopened the case, began to sift through old files and came across the sample.

When the DNA was tested and entered into a national database, a match came back to two similar cases in Wyoming. It also led investigators to a name.

A former long-haul truck driver, Baldwin frequently drove through 48 states plus Canada and Mexico, investigators said. The two Wyoming deaths he'd been linked to via the DNA match had occurred in 1992.

The unidentified victims, nicknamed "Bitter Creek Betty" and "I-90 Jane Doe", were found a month apart, investigators said.

Case files held very little information on the two women.

"Bitter Creek Betty" was found near Bitter Creek truck turnout on Wyoming's Interstate 80 in March 1992. She was believed to have been strangled, and her body was believed to have been in the Wyoming snow for weeks.

The "I-90 Jane Doe" was the partially mummified body of a pregnant woman. She was found in a ditch off Interstate 90 in northern Wyoming, and she is believed to have died from a blow to the head.

Baldwin was also accused in a 1991 rape that occurred about 20 days before McCall's body was found. The victim in the case told her story at the Maury County Courthouse. A rape kit was done, the woman said, but Baldwin was never convicted.

At the time of his arrest for the Tennessee deaths of McCall and her unborn child, Baldwin was a person of interest in two Iowa murders and several others across Mississippi, Texas and Kansas. Those cases remain under investigation.

After Baldwin's 2020 arrest, investigators were able to tell McCall's mother, Marsha Lyell, they had a suspect in custody. 

Lyell told The Tennessean at that time, "I'm past elated. For 29 years, I've been to her grave. It's been a long, hard walk."

On May 2, the courthouse was filled with family members seeking closure, but Lyell wasn't among them. She died in 2024 at age 83.

District Attorney Brent Cooper said he promised Lyell he'd see Baldwin held accountable for his crimes.

“Thanks to talented assistant DA's like Pam Anderson and Ross Boudreaux and my skilled investigators Tommy Goetz and Jeff Dunn, I have been able to keep that promise,” Cooper said in a social media post. “Our prayers are with the family of Pamela McCall and her unborn child. My philosophy is that cold cases are never closed cases.” 

Baldwin is currently awaiting extradition to Wyoming to stand trial in the 1992 murders. No dates or timeline has been announced for those cases.

Poking Around With T (WKOM Audio 1:16)

Yesterday, a ribbon cutting was held for a new travel agency in Spring Hill. WKOM’s James Dickinson attended the grand opening and spoke to Poking Around with T proprietor Toni Polk…

Battle of the Branches Blood Drive (Press Release)

Vet2Vet in collaboration with Blood Assurance is hosting a Battle of The Branches Blood Drive on Wednesday, May 14th.

The mission of Vet to Vet TN is to provide peer support for Veterans recovering from mental health issues and substance abuse, and offers strategies and coping skills for living a healthy lifestyle.

Donors can come in and donate in honor of their favorite branch of the military—Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard, or Space Force. It’s happening this Wednesday from 10am-6pm at The Memorial Building (308 West 7th Street, Columbia, TN)

All donors will get a special “Follow My Lead” Memorial-themed t-shirt.

For more information, visit www.bloodassurance.org/battleofthebranches.

Zion Clinches Another Softball Title (MSM)

Zion Christian clinched a fourth straight 20-win season and a fourth consecutive Tennessee State Independent Athletic Association softball championship Saturday with a 10-0, six-inning defeat of visiting Clarksville Christian.

“It’s just a matter of holding a standard that the players and coaches before us laid and continuing to build on that,” first-year Lady Eagles coach T.J. Derrick said after his team completed a 20-6 campaign while defeating the Lady Centurions for the third time this season.

Zion Christian, starting just one senior – Shelton State (Ala.) signee Marleigh McWilliams – a trio of freshmen and three more eighth-graders, scored eight runs in the second inning after a couple of two-out first-inning base hits were fruitless.

McWilliams, meanwhile, retired the first 10 hitters she faced before CCS’s Charlese Teasley lined a fourth-inning one-out single to center. She and Bella Mansfield, who also singled, were stranded and the Lady Centurions (16-6) managed just three other baserunners the rest of the way.

“That was one of the best games I’ve seen Marleigh pitch,” Clarksville Christian first-year coach Travis Cocke said. “She came ready to play and she kept us off balance. Her change-up is very effective because she locates it, and it’s such a speed difference from her fastball and her curve. It’s tough to get on time with that.”

Zion’s full offensive arsenal was on display Saturday, from a handful of bloops and bunts to Leighla Rains’ solo home run in the third inning – immediately after Bella Waller was retired on a stolen base attempt. The Lady Eagles finished with 16 hits off Clarksville Christian starter Anna Cheasty and reliever Avah Sams.

“We had a close game with them in a doubleheader,” McWilliams said, recalling a 6-5 walkoff win on April 21 before a 10-3 victory in the second contest. “We came in and felt very calm and energized in this game.

“We got some timely hits and buns in the second inning, and that kept me confident. Knowing my team’s got my back, I can just pitch away.”

In her final game as a Lady Eagle, McWilliams finished with nine strikeouts.

“She’s been a leader for us all year,” Derrick said. “She’s been here all four years. Not many get to end each of their four seasons with a win.”

“I just feel very honored,” she said. “We’ve worked very hard to get to this point.”

Raleigh Blanks went 3-for-3 and scored three runs for Zion, with six other Lady Eagles – including Waller and Rains – each adding a pair in the team’s total of 16.

“We prepared really well as a team,” Derrick said. “(Friday) was probably our best practice of the year. They’ve prepared well all season, but specifically this week.

“I’m very excited about our youth; we’ve got one senior, two juniors, and the rest are eighth-, ninth- and 10th-graders. I’m excited about our momentum and where we’re going.”

Clarksville Christian, which graduated six starters from last year’s TSIAA runner-up squad, is in a similar situation with just one senior and one junior in its starting lineup.

Though Zion Christian is set to enter the Tennessee Secondary School Athletic Association for the 2025-26 school year, the school’s athletic programs will not be eligible for postseason play. Derrick said the Lady Eagles will compete in the TSIAA as well.

City Purchases New Tanker (Press Release)

Columbia Fire & Rescue is proud to announce the addition of a new 2025 Fire Master Tanker to its fleet—a proactive investment aimed at strengthening the department’s capacity to respond to structure fires throughout the city.

The new vehicle, built on an International chassis, includes a 2,000-gallon water tank and a 1,250 GPM Hale QFlo pump. In addition to transporting water, the tanker is equipped with fire hoses and other firefighting tools, allowing it to serve as a secondary pumper when needed. The $468,100 purchase marks the first tanker of its kind for the department and reflects ongoing efforts to enhance fire suppression capabilities in a variety of emergency situations.

“Preparedness is a responsibility we take seriously,” said Fire Chief Chris Cummins. “While we hope we never face a situation where water supply becomes an issue during a fire response, this tanker ensures we’re ready if that moment comes. It’s about supplementing what we already have and giving our crews every possible advantage when lives and property are at risk.”

The purchase comes amid continued collaboration between the City of Columbia and Maury County Fire Department through an Automatic Aid Agreement, which ensures mutual assistance and resource-sharing during emergency responses. Under the agreement, Maury County Fire will continue to dispatch their tankers to assist with water supply for structure fires within city limits, further strengthening the region’s collective emergency response network.

“Our fire department is well-prepared and well-equipped to respond to emergencies,” said Mayor Chaz Molder. “This tanker is not about filling a gap—it’s about building on our strengths. It adds another layer of support to ensure our firefighters have every advantage when protecting the safety of our community.”

City Manager Tony Massey emphasized that the decision to add the tanker was made with long-term community needs in mind. “Every major equipment purchase involves careful consideration,” said Massey. “This tanker will serve Columbia for many years to come, and we believe it will prove to be a valuable asset in protecting both our residents and our firefighters.”

The tanker is expected to be placed into service May 12, 2025 following equipment installation and personnel training.

City Council Supports Dam Option (CDH)

The Columbia Dam's revitalization has now gained support from Columbia City Council, which approved a resolution backing the resurrected project's potential as a long-term solution for the region's growing water needs.

Earlier this month, Jason Gilliam who has been spearheading the recent Columbia Dam Now grassroots campaign to revisit the project, which ceased construction in 1983, spoke to council members at the board's May 1 study session urging them to join the conversation about how to make it happen.

"This is a 100-year solution for Maury County and other surrounding counties, Marshall County being one," Gilliam said. "This project is viable, is doable and should never have been torn down."

Gilliam added that the dam would consist of 12,600 acres, or 290,000 acre-feet of water.

In April, The Maury County Commission voted on a resolution showing its support for the project's revitalization. Gilliam said he hoped the city council would do the same.

"There is an effort on our behalf to make sure we get everything aligned that we need in order to push this project up the chain, so to speak," Gilliam said. "I'm really seeking the approval of this council to support the project going forward. Your approval helps us in the long run for, like I said, to move this up the chain."

Several county commissioners attended the council's May 8 meeting, encouraging the council to join them in building support for the project.

"It's going to be a very good move for the city, the county and the state," District 1 Commissioner Pam Huffman said. "It's going to bring a lot of tourism dollars, not to mention all of the water we need to keep the county and the cities going."

The item appeared as a resolution during the council's May 8 regular meeting, where council members voted unanimously in favor.

"Maury County was first with their resolution, and I wanted to make sure Columbia was second," Mayor Chaz Molder said. "Our resolution is worded in a way that shows our support for all efforts underway regarding a long-term water supply. We know that some are farther along than others, but if this indeed a solution, which it can be, we want to be there to support it as well."

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

Mr. Quentin Pye, 47, died Monday May 5 at TriStar Medical Center.  Visitation will take place on Friday, May 16th at 11am at Carmack Blvd Church of Christ with funeral to follow at 12 noon.  Burial will happen at Pinecrest Cemetery. Baxter Bros. Funeral Home is assisting family with arrangements.

Rickey Allen Peden, 69, resident of Culleoka, died Sunday, May 11, 2025 at his residence.

Funeral services will be conducted Thursday, May 15, 2025 at 2:00 PM at Oakes & Nichols Funeral Home. Burial will follow in Friendship Cemetery. The family will visit with friends on Wednesday, May 14, 2025 from 4:00 PM till 8:00 PM and Thursday from 1:00 PM to 2:00 PM at Oakes & Nichols Funeral Home.

Mildred Hartsfield, 92, a longtime resident of Columbia died Friday, May 2, 2025 at the Goldton Assisted Living and Memory Care in Spring Hill.

A Celebration of Life will be held on Thursday, June 12, 2025 at 7:00 PM at Oakes & Nichols Funeral Home.  The family will visit with friends prior to the service from 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM at the funeral home. 

And now, news from around the state…

UT Federal Grants Terminated (TNLookout)

President Donald Trump’s administration has pulled the plug on roughly $37.7 million in federal funding across 42 grants for the University of Tennessee System.

The majority of the loss — $31.2 million — comes from eight terminated grants at the UT Institute of Agriculture. The institute houses the university’s agriculture research arm as well as its statewide educational organization providing resources to Tennessee farmers and communities in all 95 counties. It also houses the UT College of Veterinary Medicine and the Herbert College of Agriculture.

The UT school system was set to receive more than $59 million across 58 awards from multiple federal departments and agencies, according to records reviewed by Tennessee Lookout. The grant terminations apply to $51.4 million of that total, $37.7 million of which has not yet been spent.

UT’s Knoxville campus saw 25 awards terminated, representing a loss of a combined $2.1 million in funding. Other campuses impacted include:

• UT Health Science Center: 4 terminated programs ($2.6 million)

• UT Chattanooga: 4 terminated programs ($1.4 million)

• UT Institute for Public Service: 1 terminated program ($419,107)

“The most immediate impact has been the need to transition students and staff supported by these affected projects to alternative funding sources,” spokesperson Melissa Tindell wrote in an email to Tennessee Lookout Friday. “Essential work such as reporting, compliance and other research operations continue with adjusted support.”

A total of 23 stop work orders have been rescinded system-wide, Tindell wrote. Nine partial stop work orders are in effect, “meaning that portions of the projects cannot be completed, though the total award amount hasn’t been impacted at this time.”

Ten grants remain active, and six are “pending.” 

Final Story of the Day (Maury County Source)

A lucky Daily Tennessee Jackpot player in Columbia won the game’s jackpot of $490,000 from the drawing held last night, May 11, 2025.

The winning ticket was sold at Trotwood BP, 1141 Trotwood Ave. in Columbia.

Daily Tennessee Jackpot is a Tennessee-only game with drawings held every day. Tickets are just a dollar per play, and for an extra dollar, players can add Quick Cash for the chance to win up to $500 instantly.

No additional information is available until the prize is claimed.

Congratulations to the winner!