Southern Middle TN Today News with Tom Price 5-18-26

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Southern Middle Tennessee Today

News Copy for May 18, 2026

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

MCPS Recognized as System on the Rise (Press Release)

Maury County Public Schools has been recognized as a “District on the Rise,” in the newly released Education Recovery Scorecard, a national report highlighting school districts demonstrating exceptional academic progress following the COVID-19 pandemic.

The report, produced through a collaboration between researchers at Harvard University, Stanford University, and Dartmouth College, identified Maury County Public Schools as one of only a handful of Tennessee school districts recognized for strong gains in both math and reading achievement.

According to the report, Tennessee ranked second in the nation for math recovery and fourth in reading recovery between 2022 and 2025, positioning the state as a national leader in post-pandemic academic growth.

Maury County Public Schools joined Johnson City Schools, Putnam County Schools and White County Schools among Tennessee school districts specifically highlighted for outperforming academically similar districts across the state in both subject areas.

“This recognition reflects the extraordinary work happening every day in our schools,” said Maury County Public Schools Superintendent, Lisa Ventura. “Being identified as a school district on the rise in both math and reading demonstrates the dedication of our teachers, staff, students, and families. We have remained focused on accelerating student achievement, investing in strong instructional practices, and ensuring every student has the support needed to succeed.”

Maury County Public Schools’ progress is the result of intentional efforts to strengthen academic support, expand intervention opportunities, and maintain a student-centered approach.

“We are proud of the growth our students continue to make,” Ventura said. “While this recognition is certainly worth celebrating, it also motivates us to continue building on this momentum and providing the highest quality educational opportunities for every child in Maury County.”

The Education Recovery Scorecard analyzes district-level student growth nationwide using assessment data from approximately 35 million students in grades 3-8 through the 2024-25 school year.

Columbia City Employees to Receive Raises (CDH)

As the city of Columbia nears the end of another fiscal year, city employees could receive another pay increase, pending approval of a proposed City Council ordinance.

At a recent study session, council members reviewed an ordinance in which all full- and part-time city employees would receive a 4% pay increase.

"I want to applaud city leadership for ensuring that we once again have an increase for our city employees," Mayor Chaz Molder said. "We have an obligation to take care of the people taking care of us, and so I appreciate this increase."

Molder added that annual increases have "set a precedent" as a Columbia budget goal over the last several years.

Assistant City Manager Thad Jablonski said that, since 2024, the increases have cumulatively totaled close to 14%

"We are doing 4% this year, did 4% the previous year and then 3.5% the year before that," Jablonski said.

Molder concluded that he hopes the increases will continue annually.

"There is always work to be done, and I hope that work will continue," Molder said. "I am appreciative of this, and I hope our employees will appreciate it and that we will continue with our recruitment and retention of quality employees that we have now and will continue to have in the future."

The council would need to vote on the ordinance in order for it to take effect.

Hampshire School Helps Maury Regional Foundation (Press Release)

For the fourth consecutive year, the business management and accounting classes at Hampshire Unit School have donated $1,000 to support the Maury Regional Health Care Foundation’s Breast Center Fund by designing and selling breast cancer awareness T-shirts.

“These classes are designed to give students hands-on experience in areas like entrepreneurship, budgeting and business operations, while also teaching the importance of community involvement,” said Business Management Instructor Webb Williams. “Supporting the Breast Center Fund through the Maury Regional Health Care Foundation was especially meaningful because breast cancer has touched so many families in our area, including my own. Our students wanted their efforts to make a direct impact locally, and this partnership gives them the opportunity to see how their hard work can truly help others in their community.”

The Breast Center Fund supports women who are battling and recovering from cancer. It provides funding for supplies such as wigs, various headpieces, camisoles and lymphedema garments, educational resources and programs that improve the quality of care for patients. The fund ensures women in the community receive personalized care and support during their health care journey.

“Hampshire Unit School’s continued support for the Breast Center Fund helps to make a meaningful impact for patients and their families facing breast cancer,” said Foundation Executive Director Rita Thompson. “Breast cancer affects one in eight women, and support for the fund allows the Foundation to help ease some of the financial and emotional burdens that come with the diagnosis. Thanks to the support from Hampshire Unit School and others, we are able to provide comfort, support and hope to patients during their cancer journey.”

The Maury Regional Health Care Foundation manages a variety of funds and endowments designed to meet the unique health care needs of individuals and families in southern Middle Tennessee. By contributing to any of the funds, donors are able to directly impact lives by improving access to resources, treatment and education. Since 2006, the Maury Regional Health Care Foundation has funded more than $5.8 million in programs and services benefiting community members in need. Learn more about the Foundation at MauryRegional.com/Foundation.

Maury Regional Opens Orthopedic Institute (Press Release)

Maury Regional Health officially opened the new Orthopedic Surgical Institute following a ribbon-cutting ceremony May 13 alongside Tennessee Orthopaedic Alliance (TOA) Columbia and Maury Alliance.

Located on the first floor of the Outpatient Pavilion on Maury Regional Medical Center’s campus, the new institute pairs advanced technology with clinical expertise to create a modern, specialized destination for outpatient orthopedic care in southern Middle Tennessee. The facility expands operating capacity, enhances the patient journey and supports the growing demand for orthopedic procedures.

“We designed the Orthopedic Surgical Institute to create a space where specialized expertise and modern technology work in tandem to serve the increasing orthopedic needs of our community and greater region,” said CEO Martin Chaney, MD. “This center allows our expert orthopedic surgeons and our highly skilled care team to tailor every aspect of the patient experience within an environment dedicated to orthopedic excellence.”

Equipped with four cutting-edge operating rooms, the Orthopedic Surgical Institute supports a comprehensive range of outpatient and elective interventions. These specialties include advanced hip and knee replacements, sports medicine and specialized procedures for the spine, hand, shoulder, foot and ankle as well as sophisticated pain management procedures focused on minimizing discomfort and accelerating recovery.

For total hip and total/partial knee replacement procedures, orthopedic surgeons utilize the Mako SmartRoboticsTM System. This technology generates a 3D digital blueprint of a patient’s anatomy, allowing for highly personalized surgical planning and a focus on anatomical alignment. With nearly a decade of experience in robotic-assisted surgery, Maury Regional Health’s orthopedic program is among the most established in the region.

The facility also utilizes industry-leading navigation systems — including InhanceTM for shoulders, 7D FlashTM for spine and InfinityTM for ankles — to focus on minimizing discomfort and improving recovery times.

“Having utilized the Mako system since 2016, our team has seen firsthand how these sophisticated tools can refine the operating and recovery process,” said orthopedic surgeon Cason Shirley, MD. “By integrating this level of robotic precision and specialized navigation into a dedicated orthopedic environment, we’re enhancing our ability to provide highly personalized care and supporting our goal of getting patients back to their active lives as quickly as possible.”

All orthopedic surgeries at the Orthopedic Surgical Institute are performed by members of the Maury Regional Health medical staff associated with TOA Columbia. They are supported by pain management experts from both TOA and Maury Regional Medical Group.

The launch of the Orthopedic Surgical Institute builds upon a legacy of nationally recognized quality and patient safety. Maury Regional Health is currently one of only four programs in the state — and the only one in southern Middle Tennessee — to earn The Joint Commission’s Advanced Total Joint Certification. This distinction is complemented by recent national accolades, including a 2026 ranking by Healthgrades as one of America’s 100 Best Hospitals for Orthopedic Surgery and the 2025 Women’s Choice Award for Orthopedic Surgery.

“These national recognitions are a testament to the high standard of care our surgical team has consistently provided for years,” said orthopedic surgeon Scott McCall, MD, who will perform the institute’s inaugural case this Friday. “The opening of the Orthopedic Surgical Institute allows us to continue that award-winning tradition in a sophisticated, modern setting that is conveniently located right here in Maury County for our neighbors across southern Middle Tennessee.”

Supporting the Orthopedic Surgical Institute’s clinical excellence is a larger and more enhanced Sterile Processing Department located directly beneath the center on the Pavilion’s ground floor. The sterile processing team has long served as a cornerstone of patient safety at Maury Regional Health, maintaining a rigorous standard for the sterilization and management of surgical instruments. While the team’s commitment to excellence remains unchanged, the new space provides them with expanded capacity and the latest technology to support the institute’s specialized surgical volume. It was also dedicated and named in memory of Tony Bozman, a long-time team member whose nearly 30 years of service left a lasting impact on patient safety.

“While this facility features incredible innovation, our people are the true heartbeat of the Orthopedic Surgical Institute,” Dr. Chaney said. “From the initial planning stages to the daily care provided at the bedside or in the operating room, our team members have gone above and beyond to bring this vision to life. Their dedication is what ensures our patients receive clinical excellence and compassionate care from the moment they walk through our doors.”

Maury Regional Health broke ground on the Orthopedic Surgical Institute in 2024. Wold Architects & Engineers served as the design firm, with Turner Construction leading the building process.

The Orthopedic Surgical Institute is a key pillar of Maury Regional Health’s multi-year strategic plan. Other recent milestones include the grand opening of Lawrence Health Center in Lawrence County and the first of several new retail pharmacy locations. Additional improvements at the main campus in Columbia include the renovation of the Emergency Department, parking and thoroughfare improvements and expansion of the front entry to relocate key patient and visitor services toward the main entrance. To learn more about this strategic plan for the future, visit MauryRegional.com/StrategicPlan.

Kelly Scholarship (Press Release)

Preference for Maury County residents, or people with family history here, is among the criteria of a $10,000 scholarship to be awarded for the 2026-2027 academic year. Named by the African American Heritage Society of Maury County and an anonymous donor to highlight the work of two distinguished Columbia leaders, the NAACP Edmund and John H. Kelly Scholarship can be used at any accredited college or university nationwide. The application period closes May 22.

Rev. Edmund Kelly (1818-1894), born enslaved, was co-founder in 1843 of Mt. Lebanon Missionary Baptist Church. He became an evangelist who organized churches in many states, earning enough to buy freedom for himself and his wife and children.

The family moved in 1851 to New Bedford, Massachusetts. He returned many times to Maury County. His son, John Henry Kelly (1852-1935), initially trained to be a lawyer, but moved to Columbia in the 1880’s to found and become principal of College Hill School, the county’s first public school for African Americans. In the1890’s he created a summer Teachers’ Institute that used local professionals and seasoned teachers to train and certify African Americans to teach in Maury County Schools.

Students applying for the scholarship will write a brief essay about the impact of one of these men and how the challenges he faced compare to those the student has experienced. The African American Heritage Society of Maury County has agreed to constitute the Scholarship Review Committee, which will evaluate the essays of applicants who pass the NAACP screening process and conduct a virtual panel interview of each finalist.

The online scholarship portal is open now until May 22nd. Find the link in this news transcript by visiting www.frontporchradiotn.com.

https://naacpinspire.smapply.io/prog/edmund_and_john_h_kelly_scholarship_/

Spring Hill Expo (Press Release)

The Spring Hill Chamber of Commerce is inviting the community to one of the city’s most anticipated events of the year as the Experience Spring Hill Business Expo & Job Fair returns on Saturday, June 13, 2026, from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM at Battle Creek High School.

Free and open to the public, Experience Spring Hill is more than a business expo, it is a high-energy event designed to showcase the people, businesses, services, and growth shaping one of Tennessee’s fastest-growing cities.

With more than 4,000 attendees expected, the event brings together local businesses, restaurants, healthcare providers, nonprofits, home services, retailers, fitness studios, financial professionals, City departments, and employers, all under one roof for a Saturday filled with entertainment, interaction, and local connection.

“This event gives people the chance to truly experience Spring Hill,” said the CEO of the Spring Hill Chamber of Commerce. “Whether you are looking for your next favorite local business, a new job opportunity, family activities, or simply something fun to do on a Saturday, this event was designed for you.”

NEW for 2026, the Experience Spring Hill Job Fair will connect job seekers with employers actively hiring across a variety of industries. Attendees will have the opportunity to meet directly with local companies, explore career paths, and learn more about the businesses investing in the future of Spring Hill.

Those attending with children can enjoy the Family Fun Zone featuring kid-friendly activities, interactive booths, Touch-a-Truck experiences, games, giveaways, and hands-on fun designed to keep children entertained while parents explore the Expo.

One of the most popular areas of the event is the City Hall corridor, where attendees can meet representatives from City departments including Parks and Recreation, Police, Fire, and other public services. Residents will have the opportunity to ask questions, gather information, and better understand the resources available throughout the city.

The Expo also gives attendees the opportunity to support local businesses in a meaningful way through face-to-face conversations and real connections that go beyond social media and online searches.

“This is the kind of event where you walk in expecting to stay an hour and end up spending the day,” organizers shared. “You leave with new connections, new favorite businesses, and a deeper appreciation for the city you live in.”

Experience Spring Hill 2026 is presented by TriStar Spring Hill ER.

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.

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

Marlane Soldner, passed away on April 24 at the age of 71.

A family service will be held to honor her memory in Tennessee at Santa Fe Cemetery at 11:00 a.m. on May 29, 2026.

Terry Lee Hanvy, 61, resident of Columbia, passed away Friday, May 15, 2026, at his residence.

Funeral services will be conducted Tuesday, May 19, 2026, at 2:00 P.M. at Oakes & Nichols Funeral Home. Burial will follow in Polk Memorial Gardens. The family will visit with friends Monday from 3:00 until 7:00 P.M. at the funeral home.  

Gladys Louella “Tiny” Scroggins Odom, 85, lifelong resident of Columbia, passed away Friday, May 15, 2026, at her residence.

Funeral services will be conducted at 1:00 P.M. on Monday, May 18, 2026, at Oakes & Nichols Funeral Home. Burial will follow at Polk Memorial Gardens. The family will visit with friends Sunday from 4:00 P.M. until 8:00 P.M. and Monday from 12:00 noon until the service time at the funeral home. Condolences may be extended online at www.oakesandnichols.com.

And now, news from around the state…

K-9 Officer Successful in Finding Drugs (Tennessean)

A four-legged officer is being praised for helping take a bite out of crime.

Koby, a chocolate Labrador and drug detection dog with the Franklin Police Department, has played a key role in removing illegal drugs from the streets since joining the force in April 2024 alongside his handler, FLEX Officer Connor Jones, the department said.

With more than 50 deployments, Koby has helped seize around 18 pounds of fentanyl, cocaine, heroin, and methamphetamine. He has also aided in the recovery of drug paraphernalia including scales and pipes, as well as four illegally possessed firearms, the department said.

"Our FLEX Unit is doing an outstanding job identifying and addressing criminal activity before it impacts our neighborhoods. K-9 Koby has become an invaluable asset to our team," said Lieutenant Bobby Dilworth of the FLEX Unit. "His work alongside Officer Jones has led to significant drug seizures and has made our community safer."

The FLEX Unit focuses on targeted enforcement, intelligence-led policing, and community safety initiatives.

Koby’s work is being seen as a vital component of the unit’s ongoing success, officers say.

"In just two years, K-9 Koby has made a tremendous impact on our department and our community.The FLEX Unit continues to demonstrate what proactive, focused policing can accomplish," said Franklin Police Chief Deb Faulkner. "Their commitment to protecting the citizens of Franklin and keeping dangerous drugs off our streets is unwavering, and we are incredibly proud of their work."

Final Story of the Day (Maury County Source)

The Homestead Festival, a two-day festival combining music and meaning, will take place June 5th & 6th on singer songwriter/author Rory Feek’s farm in Columbia. The festival features musical performances from Rory Feek, Lee Greenwood, and The Isaacs as well as masterclass lectures by prominent homesteading community leaders such as Dr. Temple Grandin, Joel Salatin, Jill Winger, and many others.

The address for the farm is 4765 Hardison Mill Road, Columbia. The festival hours are 9am – 8pm both days.

All festival passes include access to all speaking events, vendors, demonstration areas, and musical performances that are scheduled for the TWO DAY event.

A variety of food trucks and vendors will be on-site offering meals, snacks, and drinks.

Tickets are available for purchase online. General admission tickets start at $95. Children’s tickets for ages 6 -17 are $25; children must be accompanied by an adult. Find tickets at www.etix.com.