Southern Middle TN Today News with Tom Price 5-13-26

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Southern Middle Tennessee Today

News Copy for May 13, 2026

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

Siren System Implemented (MauryCountySource)

The City of Columbia has completed the installation and testing of its new citywide public safety siren system, marking a significant investment in resident safety and emergency preparedness. The sirens were successfully tested on Monday, May 11, 2026.

Funded through a $420,000 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Imminent Threat Program and completed in partnership with the South Central Tennessee Development District, the new system is designed to strengthen how residents are alerted during severe weather and other widespread emergencies.

Columbia Mayor Chaz Molder said the project reflects the City’s ongoing commitment to protecting the community. “Investing in public safety remains one of our highest priorities,” said Molder. “This new siren system strengthens our ability to quickly alert residents and provide critical information when it matters most.”

The system includes 12 strategically placed sirens throughout Columbia. Three electric sirens feature both audible tones and voice capabilities, while nine mechanical sirens are designed to deliver strong, far-reaching warning signals. Together, they create a reliable, layered outdoor alerting system to provide timely warnings across the city. The sirens are activated only when a tornado warning is issued by the National Weather Service, meaning a tornado has been sighted or indicated by weather radar, and only for the specific areas of the city where the threat has been identified.

City Manager Tony Massey noted that the system builds on the City’s strong foundation of public safety. “This investment reflects our continued commitment to public safety,” said Massey. “By implementing a modern, reliable alert system, we are enhancing our ability to deliver timely warnings and help protect our residents during emergencies.”

To ensure coverage across the city, sirens have been installed at key locations, including fire stations, parks, utility facilities, and elevated areas:

• Columbia Fire Station No. 3 — 705 Firefighter Drive

• Columbia Fire Station No. 4 — 5040 Trotwood Avenue

• Columbia Fire Station No. 5 — 2633 Nashville Highway

• Fairview Park — 837 Iron Bridge Road

• Ridley Park — 6148 Trotwood Avenue

• Reservoir Hill — near 501 Reservoir Hill Road

• East Pump Station — 1639 Bear Creek Pike

• West Pump Station — 2161 Williamsport Pike

• Wastewater Treatment Plant — 1244 Treatment Plant Road

• Golston Hill — near 2550 Pillow Drive

• East Burt — near 1524 E. Burt Drive

• Honey Farms — near 2201 Drone Way

Future testing dates and times will be announced in advance on the City of Columbia’s website, www.ColumbiaTN.gov, and official City social media channels.

It is important for all citizens to be aware that outdoor warning sirens are designed to alert individuals who are outdoors to imminent danger and may not always be heard indoors, particularly during severe weather when environmental conditions can affect sound travel. For this reason, residents are strongly encouraged to use multiple alerting methods, such as weather radios, mobile alerts, and local media, to ensure they receive timely warnings regardless of their location.

The City of Columbia also offers a free emergency alert system called Hyper-Reach, available to all residents within city limits. This system provides notifications for severe weather and other emergencies. It is integrated with the National Weather Service and the Integrated Public Alert and Warning System (IPAWS), ensuring that alerts are delivered directly to your mobile device or landline.

Residents are encouraged to sign up today by calling or texting “Alert” to 931-286-7771, or by registering online at:

https://signup.hyper-reach.com/

Redistricting Divides Maury (MSM)

A special session of the state legislature last week passed a new map of U.S. Congressional districts for the state of Tennessee, which Gov. Bill Lee signed into law.

On the new map, Maury County has been divided into two redrawn Congressional districts.

At the state level, the new District 5 includes the western border strip and northwestern border counties of Tennessee. The new District 9 includes all of the southern border counties (except for part of Fayette and most of Shelby) in the lower western half of the state.

The dividing line through Maury County runs jaggedly on the west side of I-65 to Bear Creek Pike, where it projects out to put most of the central, eastern and southern parts of the city of Columbia in District 9, and it travels south to the county line east of Pulaski Pike, seemingly on top of the line that separates Maury County’s internal Districts 8 and 10.

The new map followed quickly upon the U.S. Supreme Court’s 6-3 decision, in Louisiana v. Callais, to exclude racial demographics from unconditional consideration during the drawing of federal electoral districts. President Donald Trump soon reported having “a very good conversation” with Gov. Lee about “correct[ing]” the Congressional map of his state, which was redrawn and passed the week after the Louisiana decision.

Republican State Sen. John Stevens said in session that the new map was meant to reflect the prevalence of Republicans in the state, while the map’s opponents argued that the new districting was meant to nullify the political power of Memphis, the only major city with a black majority in Tennessee, as well as its only remaining Democratic seat in Congress. In the new districting, each half of Maury County will share a U.S. Congressional Representative with a part of the city of Memphis.

“Our state reacted rightfully [to the Supreme Court verdict] in its decision to redraw our district lines in a manner that more correctly represented our population,” said Jason Gilliam, Chairman of the Maury County Republican Party, in a statement. “I am thankful that Gov. Lee, our state senators, and our state representatives acted swiftly in this matter to ensure that our upcoming election represents the will of the people in Tennessee… I wish them all the best of luck. God bless Tennessee and the United States of America.”

Gilliam pointed out that this isn’t the first time Maury County has been represented by more than one member of Congress, and he and other commentators saw this arrangement as offering its own benefits. He also pointed out that the map will make new political candidacies possible: the day it passed, District 31 State Sen. Brent Taylor announced his campaign for the new Ninth District, and was endorsed by both of the sitting U.S. Senators for Tennessee.

“I would like to think that having representation from two congressmen in Washington could be a benefit, having two advocates instead of just one,” he said. “It will be interesting to see which candidates in the Fifth and Ninth Congressional Districts will remain, and if any new candidates will emerge to represent us in Washington… We’ll make the best of it, and I think Maury County would be represented well, no matter which congressional candidates win in the Fifth and Ninth Districts.”

“I believe it will provide better opportunity for Maury to have a greater voice in Washington… [When Maury County was last] represented by two Congressmen[,] Green and DesJarlais… [we] were able to secure grants and programs for our county,” District 64 Rep. Scott Cepicky told Main Street Maury. “I look forward to working with both new Congressmen as we move forward, continuing to keep them abreast of the needs of our district. I was not part of the drawing of the map, but let House leadership know the concerns I had [with] splitting Maury County [between] more than two congressmen.”

“I believe it [will be] bad for our representation in Nashville and Washington, D.C.,” countered James Dallas, the chairman of the county Democratic Party and a candidate to be District 4 Maury County Commissioner. “Splitting [Maury County] in two will result in two legislators representing us part-time, rather than one representing us full-time, and I think that will likely result in a lower quality of representation… [And] Memphis has unique issues, and may now be represented by people hundreds of miles away who don’t understand their issues.”

“The other districts seem to be geographically correct… [but Congressional Districts 5 and 9] are just so out of whack,” said District 9 County Commissioner Jerry Bridenbaugh. “How one individual can represent the interests of Middle Tennessee and a small segment of counties down the Mississippi River, is beyond my comprehension… and the same goes for representing [eastern Maury County], the [rural and sparsely populated] counties down the southern border, and [urban, affluent] eastern Shelby County.”

Bridenbaugh and District 8 Commissioner Gabe Howard also pointed out that the candidates for both races would now have to campaign at the opposite ends of their new 200-mile-wide districts, trying to reach voters who may have never even heard of them, less than four months before the August primary elections.

“I never liked these political games with redistricting… and now it’s just obvious,” he said. “I think doing it this close to the August primary election was bad timing. It shouldn’t have been done.”

“Maury County should not be treated like a chess piece on a political board,” said Howard. “Changing the lines less than 90 days before Election Day may be politics as usual, but that does not make it right.”

All Congressional candidates have been given a deadline, at noon on May 15, to announce their electoral intentions: whether to join a race, drop out, or stay the course. Dallas told Main Street Maury that the Supreme Court has ruled in the past that candidates need not live in the district they’re running for, so the redistricting hasn’t forced anyone to move house or else drop out.

One of the local politicians most affected by the redistricting is Columbia Mayor Chaz Molder, who has been campaigning to become the Fifth District Congressman.

“I am extremely disappointed in the results of the recent re-districting and Maury County citizens are among its biggest losers. Not only did Maury County get split into separate congressional districts, even the city of Columbia is now divided. Columbia State is now in a different district than Maury Regional Hospital. Ridley Park and Woodland Park are no longer in the same congressional district,” Molder told Main Street Maury. “This will dilute our influence in Washington and our ability to obtain necessary federal funding to assist with important infrastructure projects. Our taxpayers, our citizens, and anyone paying attention should also be disappointed.”

The new Congressional districts don’t change anything about the electoral politics of state and local representation in Maury County. However, several previously unified state and local districts are now divided between two U.S. Representatives, including the 28th State Senate District, Maury County Districts 1, 2, 4, 5, 8 and 9, and Wards 2, 4 and 5 of the City of Columbia. The split between Congressional districts does visually resemble that between State House Districts 64 and 71, which runs through Maury County in a similar if not identical way.

“I’m disappointed that… my constituents in county commission District 5 may now be voting for candidates that they may not even know,” said Commissioner Scott Sumners. “Most of Maury’s issues will remain at the local and state level, but having U.S. Districts 5 and 9 so spread out… could affect the way Maury Countians are represented at the federal level. This redistricting will not alter my commitment to District 5 and Maury County.”

“I’m not happy that Maury County has been divided,” said District 2 County Commissioner Eric Previti. “If they had to do so, I wish they would have done it along the interstate or Highway 31. I don’t like the fact that neighborhoods [like mine] were split up, but this is the hand we are dealt.”

“[Though] the line pretty much split the Fourth District of the county in half… this rezoning does nothing to change my commitment to serve Maury County, especially those in the Fourth District,” said District 4 County Commissioner Mike Kuzawinski. “Some of you will now be in the Ninth Congressional District, and some will remain in the Fifth, but we are all Maury Countians. I don’t think we need to let the rezoning divide, distract or impede our drive to make Maury County the best it can be.”

“City-wise, it doesn’t affect me… [or] the city wards at all,” said Columbia City Councilman Brian McKelvy, whose Fifth Ward is slightly divided by the line.

“I think many residents are concerned that dividing Maury County [congressionally]… could weaken the county’s unified voice on multiple issues… Communities function best when people feel their needs are understood as part of a whole community, rather than as fragments of a broader political strategy,” said local leader Bethany Torino, whose work to aid the homeless and housing-insecure depends to a great extent on federal funding. “I hope our elected officials remain focused on practical collaboration, and representing the real needs of the people who live here, over national political theater.”

The Secretary of State’s website has an ARC-GIS map which shows the user their new Congressional district when they type in their address. Gilliam encouraged voters to look up their residential addresses in the map to see which district they’d been sorted into.

Youth Education Foundation Partners With CSCC (Press Release)

Columbia State Community College recently hosted a scholarship signing with the Youth Education Foundation to strengthen ties and support for local students.

The $10,000 scholarship will benefit students eligible for the Youth Education Foundation Tennessee Promise Scholarship Fund who are based in Maury County.

While Tennessee Promise covers tuition, the YEF scholarship helps bridge the gap for additional costs, making sure that financial barriers do not obstruct academic success. 

“The investment made by YEF in Maury County college students fosters development that prepares them to successfully enter the workforce or continue their education at a university,” said Bethany Lay, Columbia State vice president for advancement and executive director of the Columbia State Foundation.

Founded in 2013, YEF was established to enhance educational opportunities for young people in Maury County. Since its inception as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, the foundation has focused its efforts on programs that encourage students to graduate high school and transition successfully into college or technical vocational training.

“YEF is proud to support students like Nick and Malaika in pursuing their post-secondary degrees at Columbia State,” Travis Groth, YEF chairman. “Scholarship recipients like them are products of Maury County Schools and fine examples of how YEF strives to carry out its mission ‘to establish self-confidence within the youth of Maury County by providing mentorship, vital resources and educational opportunities to enable them to improve their lives and reach their desired level of accomplishment’.”

YEF’s ongoing contribution to Columbia State means both parties can continue the mission of educating and enriching local students to achieve their goals both inside and outside of the classroom.

“We are deeply grateful for the leadership of YEF and for all who give to the Youth Foundation,” said Dr. Janet F. Smith, Columbia State president. “The mission of YEF is rooted in student growth and success, with a commitment to cultivating the next generation of community leaders.”

The Columbia State Foundation is a 501(c)(3) organization that supports and partners with the college to positively impact student success and the communities in which it serves. For more information, visit www.ColumbiaState.edu/Foundation.

Maury Regional Earns Another “A” from Leapfrog (Press Release)

 Maury Regional Medical Center has again earned an “A” Hospital Safety Grade for the spring 2026 period from The Leapfrog Group, a national nonprofit organization focused on patient safety.

Leapfrog assigns letter grades ranging from “A” to “F” to general hospitals nationwide based on more than 30 evidence-based patient safety measures focused on errors, accidents, injuries and infections, as well as the systems hospitals utilize to prevent harm.

“Our highest priority is the safety and well-being of those who entrust us with their care,” said CEO Martin Chaney, MD. “Earning top marks in hospital safety is a natural byproduct of a culture rooted in continuous improvement and rigorous clinical standards. I am honored to be a part of an incredible team of physicians and health care professionals, whose dedication to best practices makes this level of safety a reality for our community every day.”

The Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade is the nation’s only hospital ratings program focused exclusively on preventable medical errors, infections and injuries that affect more than 500 patients a day in the United States. This program is peer-reviewed, fully transparent and free to the public to view. The grades are updated twice annually, in the fall and spring. 

“Receiving an ‘A’ Grade shows that Maury Regional Medical Center is deeply committed to protecting patients from harm,” said Leah Binder, president and CEO of The Leapfrog Group. “We commend the leadership, Board, clinicians, staff and volunteers for the role each played in earning this distinction.”

To learn more about Maury Regional Health’s commitment to quality — including accreditations, certifications and recognitions — visit MauryRegional.com/Quality. For more information about the Hospital Safety Grade, including details on individual hospital grades and rankings, visit HospitalSafetyGrade.org.

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

Mary Jane Scott Sparkman, 66, a lifelong resident of Columbia, passed away peacefully at her residence on Wednesday, May 6, 2026.

A memorial service will be held Thursday, May 14, 2026, at 2:00 p.m. at Oakes & Nichols Funeral Home with David Morris officiating. The family will visit with friends on Thursday from 12:00 p.m. until the time of the service at the funeral home.

Archie Lee Farris, 88, longtime employee of Middle Tennessee Bone & Joint Clinic and resident of Columbia, passed away peacefully on Saturday, May 9, 2026.

Funeral services will be conducted Thursday, May 14, 2026 at 11:00 AM with Dr. Barry Farris officiating. Burial will follow at Polk Memorial Gardens. The family will visit with friends and loved ones on Wednesday, May 13, 2026 from 4:00 PM until 8:00 PM at the funeral home. Condolences may be extended online at Oakes & Nichols Funeral Home.

And now, news from around the state…

General Assembly Invests in TDOT Infrastructure (Press Release)

Today, the Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) thanks the General Assembly for dedicating $400 million in the state’s Fiscal Year (FY) 2027 budget to support vital infrastructure improvements. The non-recurring dollars will support key investments in maintenance of existing assets and allow TDOT to accelerate, leverage, and add new capacity-adding projects to the department’s fiscally-constrained 10-Year Plan.

 These funds build on the $4 billion in historic investments and contracting authority granted to TDOT by the Tennessee General Assembly over the past three years, reinforcing the need to build efficiently and effectively to support Tennessee’s exceptional growth. Today, TDOT also released its updated 10-Year Plan to include these added funds for capacity-adding projects outlined in the FY27 budget.

 “As Tennessee continues to grow, we remain focused on modernizing infrastructure to move commerce and commuters across our state,” said Governor Bill Lee. “I thank the General Assembly for delivering significant funding to support TDOT’s 10-year plan and update current assets, all without raising taxes or new debt.”

These additional General Fund dollars increase TDOT’s ability to deliver a higher level of service across Tennessee while modernizing the state’s transportation network. These funds are planned for state-of-good-repair projects that ensure the state’s existing infrastructure is properly maintained for years to come, as well as critical bridge investments and additional capacity-adding projects.

The $400 million one-time, non-recurring funds will be allocated as follows:

◦ $50 million for maintenance

◦ $150 million for Bridge Preservation Program

▪ Supporting 50 off-system (locally owned) bridge replacement projects named in the 2017 IMPROVE Act

◦ $200 million for capacity-adding projects

The updated 2026 10-Year Plan contains 93 site-specific projects, including 22 projects added with this update, six of which are made possible through partnership with local government agencies through TDOT’s Statewide Partnership Program. Since the advent of the 10-Year Plan in FY24, TDOT has delivered 48 capacity-adding projects across rural, suburban, and urban communities, totaling $2.73 billion of investment in Tennessee’s transportation network. 

“This 10-Year Plan shows that we’re keeping our promise of what gets started, gets finished,” said TDOT Commissioner Will Reid, P.E. “TDOT is proud to deliver 100% of its 10-Year Plan projects for the second year in a row. We will continue to accelerate projects, improve safety, and prepare Tennessee’s transportation system for the future, thanks to Governor Lee and this General Assembly’s unprecedented investments in transportation.”

TDOT reevaluates and updates the 10-Year Plan annually to account for future years of traditional state and federal funding, as well as General Fund investments made in the state budget each year. Every project is carefully assessed based on multiple factors. TDOT’s prioritization process evaluates each project based on safety, congestion, system preservation, deliverability, and economic and community impact. This thoughtful, transparent, and accountable approach allows TDOT to move projects forward more efficiently. For more information about the plan and strategy, visit TDOT’s Build With Us website.

Final Story of the Day (Maury County Source)

Nashville Zoo’s Spring Zzzoofari Slumber returns Saturday, May 23 from 4:00 p.m. to 9:00 a.m. on Sunday morning. The annual spring event features a unique overnight camping experience where the wild things are! Guests will slumber under the stars just a short distance away from the snoozing animals.

Zzzoofari Slumber is recommended for families with kids aged 4-12 years old. Guests can experience a variety of activities during the evening and breakfast the next morning. Campers also receive free entry to the Zoo on Sunday.

Zzzoofari Slumber is supported by Coca-Cola, and What Chefs Want. For more information about Zzzoofari Slumber and to register, please visit www.nashvillezoo.org