Southern Middle TN Today News with Tom Price 5-23-25

WKOM/WKRM Radio

Southern Middle Tennessee Today

News Copy for May 23, 2025

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

We start with local news…

Image Studios at June Lake (MauryCountySource)

The first phase of commercial development at Spring Hill’s June Lake continues to grow with the addition of Image Studios, a national franchise that offers modern, turnkey salon suites for lease by beauty and wellness professionals.

The planned 7,700-square-foot building will feature 41 individual studios designed for hairstylists, estheticians, and other personal care specialists looking to operate their own business in a professional setting.

Designed by SV Design, Image Studios will break ground in the Fall 2025, with an anticipated opening in the Summer 2026. The new location is the third business to join June Lake’s first commercial district, a 14.5-acre area located at the corner of Buckner Lane and June Lake Boulevard, directly across from the future Hy-Vee grocery store and adjacent to the Saddlewalk neighborhood.

“Image Studios brings a new level of flexibility and opportunity for small business owners in the beauty and wellness industry,” said Don Alexander, Principal at Southeast Venture. “They’re a great fit for June Lake’s commercial district, and we’re excited to continue expanding the mix of services available to both residents and the broader Spring Hill community.”

Owner, Tom Fielder of Brentwood, expressed his enthusiasm, saying, “Image Studios becoming the first salon suites in the area is a milestone we’re incredibly proud of. Offering beauty and wellness professionals the opportunity to operate their own businesses and be their own bosses is empowering. We look forward to helping create a community where these talented entrepreneurs can thrive and grow.”

Image Studios provides fully furnished, move-in ready studios in a modern, high-end setting. The company is focused on empowering professionals with the freedom to create their own brand and run their business independently—without the overhead of a traditional salon model.

Site work is currently underway within the commercial district, which is expected to include a mix of retail, dining, healthcare, childcare, personal care, and other lifestyle services. Confirmed businesses include Liberty Federal Credit Union and Goddard School, with additional tenants to be announced as the district continues to grow.

June Lake is a master-planned, mixed-use community in Spring Hill spanning more than 775 acres. At full buildout, it will include 3.9 million square feet of commercial space, 2,900 homes, 400 hotel rooms, and an extensive network of greenways, parks, and open spaces, creating a vibrant and connected place to live, work, and play.

For more information about June Lake and ongoing developments, visit junelaketn.com.

Budget Committee Discusses School Costs (MSM)

For most of four hours, the Maury County Budget Committee talked to representatives of Maury County Public Schools, sometime contentiously, about requested budget increases. The two most discussed items were how to fund the new $50,000 state-mandated minimum wage for teachers and what to do to ease the overcrowding of county schools.

Teacher LeAnn Simmerman, who works in eight different elementary schools throughout the county, asked the committee to institute the minimums and secure new teaching spaces. Citing National Education Association numbers, she claimed that teacher pay in Tennessee was hardly a few hundred dollars more than the state’s metro-area cost of living.

“Even the most committed teachers cannot stay in this [line of] work if the costs to do so continue to rise, financially and emotionally,” she said.

She testified to teaching in literally any space into which she could fit her students: hallways, storage rooms, administrative offices, even next to the bathrooms.

“Supporting fair, livable teacher pay and committing to new facilities are two of the most urgent, impactful steps you can take.”

School Board Chairman Will Sims spoke first on the board’s requested funding increases. On top of the district’s $154,275,178 annual budget, they asked the Budget Committee for a 4 percent increase, about $6.6 million. $5.3 million of this would go to teacher raises, which are required by the state: this school year a $47,000 minimum kicks in, which rises to $50,000 the next year. Perryman revealed that all of the counties surrounding Maury, several of them with far less concentrated municipal or personal wealth, have already instituted minimum teacher wages of $50,000 or close to it, which could entice teachers away from Maury.

However, at the same time, the state raised Maury County’s Tennessee Investment in Student Achievement or TISA minimum funding requirement, demanding another $900,000 in “maintenance of effort” (on top of the $58 million it currently pays for its own schools) and citing the county’s “ability to pay.”

Sales taxes have been generous to the school district, though they haven’t covered all costs. Though MCPS budgeted a deficit of $7 million this year, the actual shortfall for the year was closer to $2.2 million because of sales tax revenue. The year before, sales taxes made up $8 million of the schools’ projected deficit.

Sims pointed out that they had also had to add Battle Creek High School’s expenses after the year’s budget had been decided, so the deficit could be even further reduced with a little more provision. To make up the difference in the next year, he asked the Budget Committee to allocate them 10.3 cents from the county property tax, totaling $4.64 million. County Finance Director Doug Lukonen reminded the Committee that in the past, MCPS had been able to appropriate up to half the property taxes, but it had shrunk to 38 percent since they set the tax rate at $1.91.

Commissioner Scott Sumners pointed out that 15 cents of the property-tax surplus was already spoken for, leaving only a few cents to move around. He asked what had happened to the $16 million windfall the state gave the district in 2023; Sims replied that most of it went to personnel raises of 8.6 percent. Sumners chided that MCPS should’ve kept more of it and complained about the state requiring the new minimum the same year they yanked almost a million dollars from the county.

Commissioner Gabe Howard came out strongly in favor of the new minimum pay, citing the importance of investing in teachers and in children.

“Eight hours of the day [students are] in a bed, eight hours of the day they’re hopefully with their parents… and eight hours of the day they’re with teachers,” he said.

Commissioner Tommy Wolaver asked whether the county could fund the teacher raises without taking any property-tax pennies. Lukonen suggested that the county could forgive the district’s $2.9 million debt-service payment for the year, but without some kind of new appropriation of funds, the district’s maintaining-effort status with the state would be in danger within a few years.

Sumners and Wolaver were partial to the idea of laying out $2 million in 2025-26, a $3,800 teacher raise across the board to bring them all up to the current minimum of $47,000, and spending another $3 million the next year, to reach the $50,000 minimum when it gained legal force. This year’s raise would only require 4.4 property-tax cents, instead of 10.3. Ultimately they moved to postpone voting on a teacher raise to the May 29 meeting, so that it could be discussed with other capital concerns.

The other, and much more hotly debated question was how to deal with overcrowding in the schools. The school district, represented by Eric Perryman and a few commissioners, revived their demand to build a new elementary school on the $4 million property they’d already bought off of Carters Creek Pike, but most of the commissioners on the Budget Committee wanted to look at all options first, from installing portable buildings to reshuffling school populations, before committing to a new school.

Commissioner Gabe Howard challenged Perryman’s claim that construction costs went up 12 percent over the previous year (from $45 million in 2024 to $53.3 million in 2025), calling it “disingenuous” and “not even factually correct.” Howard also claimed that population pressure on the schools may be great, but it’s not directly proportional to the population growth of the area: with all the people that have moved to Maury County, school populations have still only grown about 3.5 percent. He hypothesized that many people are either withdrawing their children from the public school system or not enrolling them when they move here.

“You said around 10,000 houses are on the books? Well, I’ll just shoot from the hip; been there, done that!” Howard said. “We didn’t see the growth [in schools] that came with that.”

Howard and Commissioner Davis Burkhalter proposed that the district accommodate students in other ways: installing portables, building new wings or rezoning students into different districts. Commissioner Kenny Morrow even floated the idea of sending Spring Hill High’s 650 students to Battle Creek High and converting the high school into the desired elementary school for North Columbia.

Perryman strongly resisted the prospect of rezoning students from one school to another, saying that it would hurt their academic performance. Last year Maury was one of three Tennessee counties that achieved nationwide-high scores on the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP test), an accomplishment recognized by the federal government; he opposed anything that would put those scores in danger and pleaded instead for the commission to consider building an elementary school on the already-purchased property.

“I understand your concerns, the things you like and don’t like, [but] the school board did look at that and [still decided] that this is the best option, so it has come back to you for consideration,” Perryman explained. “I know what it’ll do to my tax bill… [and] the traffic on my road, but you judge a community by how they value their children… Our elementary schools are squeezed. Luckily they’re the cheapest [schools] to build, even though they’re not cheap.”

Motions to fund a school or to bring the issue to the full commission died for lack of a second, and no action was taken by the Budget Committee on school accommodation. Perryman had argued hard during the discussion period, but he took the committee’s final decision very evenly.

“Madam Chairman, thank you for the school buses,” he said. “Thank you temporarily for the million dollars… I do appreciate the conversation [and] your consideration.”

The committee ultimately moved its important items to May 29 for discussion. Balancing the highway, school and other capital funds will require some skill on the committee’s part.

“If these things don’t get funded, it just pushes everything else further down the line,” Sumners warned. “We’re gonna have to look at everything again… We may be in for a long night.”

First Farmers Blood Assurance Drive (WKOM Audio 2:48)

Yesterday, First Farmers and Merchants Bank hosted a blood drive with Blood Assurance. Front Porch Radio’s Delk Kennedy stopped by and spoke to Tim Hibbs of Blood Assurance and Molly Hissong of First Farmers to learn more about Blood Assurance and the banks goals.

Mid-South Live Steamers (MSM)

Nestled within Maury County Park, the Mid-South Live Steamers once again welcomed the public to experience the magic of miniature railroading during the Spring Public Meet, held May 1-3. With more than 14,500 feet of 7.5-inch gauge track, and dozens of functioning locomotives on display, visitors of all ages were treated to free 15-minute train rides.

Founded in 1966, the Mid-South Live Steamers began with a small group of machinists and railfans dedicated to replicating real steam locomotives in one-eighth scale. By 1973, the group had laid their first track inside Maury County Park. Most of the locomotives in operation now are powered by coal, oil or gas. The engines, which weigh between 100 and 2,000 pounds, can pull up to 50 passengers.

Although rides are free, the public is encouraged to donate at the station or waiver booth.

“This is just one foot of the track that we lay for these trains,” a conductor said on Thursday. “This one piece alone costs us $28, and we are not funded by any state programs, federal programs or grants. It’s donations from you that keep these trains running.”

Passengers signed a release waiver before boarding, with safety rules in place for pregnant individuals and children under 18 months old.

Guests were also able to shop club merchandise like T-shirts, hats and patches at the information pavilion where waivers are signed. One day of the recent even drew a crowd of 902 people, with many waiting two hours to ride.

Though weather sometimes halts operations temporarily as it did during this meet’s Friday and Saturday, the Mid-South Live Steamers are known for bouncing back quickly with safety checks and dedicated volunteers.

“It’s always worth the wait,” one visitor commented. “The attention to detail on these trains is amazing.”

The Fall Public Meet is scheduled for Sept. 25–27, 2025, with information posted on Facebook or their website — midsouthlivesteamers.com.

Randolph Howell Rebrands (Press Release)

 In an exciting development that heralds a new chapter at Randolph Howell Elementary School (RHES), Maury County Public Schools is excited to unveil the school’s new identity and logo! When school resumes in August, Randolph Howell Elementary School will identify as huskies.

Formerly known as hornets, this comprehensive rebranding initiative will usher in new energy, build school spirit, and community cohesion that aligns with Maury County Public Schools’ mission, core values, and ethos. The new identity and logo represent more than just a visual transformation, it symbolizes Maury County Public Schools’ commitment to excellence, unity, and the pursuit of greatness in and out of the classroom.

“Strong schools develop strong students, which in turn creates strong communities,” said Lisa Ventura, Superintendent of Maury County Public Schools. “This logo and brand evolution is more than a collection of pictures; it’s a declaration of our journey forward, embracing our rich history while boldly stepping into the future. Change is necessary and this change represents a new day at RHES.”

Maury County Public Schools partnered with VIP Branding, creating a new color scheme that conveys a sense of modernity and professionalism, aligning with the school district’s commitment to innovation and high performance. The brand’s personality emphasizes collaboration, impact, and success, striving for excellence and forward-thinking, creating a unified and dynamic educational environment.

“While I have enjoyed my time as a Hornet, I am extremely excited to become a Husky,” said Marisa Massey, Principal of Randolph Howell Elementary School. “Huskies are very resilient and are known for their determination and never-give-up attitude. They provide love, loyalty, and inspiration. At Randolph Howell Elementary School, our staff provides love, loyalty, and inspiration to all our students daily. It’s a great day to be a Howell Husky.”

Maury County Public Schools invite faculty, students, alumni, and fans to embrace this new chapter at Randolph Howell Elementary School. Together, we embark on a future filled with promise, achievement, and an unwavering spirit of determination.

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

Sandra Tate Halliday, aged 68 of Columbia, Tennessee passed away peacefully on May 19th .

A visitation will be held in the Parish Hall at St. Peter's Episcopal Church on Friday, May 30 from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM. Graveside services will be held at St. John’s Churchyard following the visitation at 1:00 PM conducted by The Rev. Theodore Edwards, Jr. Oakes & Nichols Funeral Directors are assisting the family with arrangements.

And now, news from around the state…

Cucumber Salmonella Outbreak (Tennessean)

Cucumbers are being recalled nationwide after a salmonella outbreak sickened 26 people and hospitalized nine across 15 states, including Tennessee. On May 19, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced that the outbreak has been linked to cucumbers grown by Florida-based Bedner Growers and distributed by Fresh Start Produce Sales.

As part of a follow-up inspection in April 2025, FDA investigators collected an environmental sample from Bedner Growers that tested positive for salmonella and matched recent clinical samples from ill people, reported USA TODAY.

In Tennessee, the outbreak has sickened just 2 people, according to the FDA. No deaths have been reported so far.

Bedner Growers is voluntarily recalling cucumbers sold at Bedner's Farm Fresh Market between April 29 and May 14, 2025. Cucumbers may have been sold "individually or in smaller packages," wrote the FDA, and with or without a label that may not bear the same brand, product name or best by date.

The product was also sold to retailers, distribution centers, wholesalers, and food service distributors throughout spring. The agency did not identify specifically where the cucumbers were sold. According to the FDA, the products were labeled as either being "supers," "selects," or "plains" for distributors, restaurants and retailers who purchased the cucumbers.

TN Statehood Day (Press Release)

To celebrate Tennessee’s 229th Birthday one day early, the Tennessee State Library & Archives, the Tennessee State Museum, and Bicentennial Mall State Park are hosting free, family-friendly events as part of the 2025 Statehood Day Celebration on Saturday, May 31, 2025.

“Statehood Day at the Library & Archives provides a unique opportunity for visitors to view Tennessee’s three original constitutions,” said Secretary of State Tre Hargett. “These documents remain the foundation of our modern form of government, and they are only on display once a year at this celebration. We encourage all to join us for a day filled with enjoyable activities.” 

Statehood Day Celebration events at the Tennessee State Library & Archives begin at 10:00 a.m. Tennessee’s three priceless original constitutions will be presented, displayed, and guarded by members of the Highway Patrol’s Honor Guard during the opening ceremony at 11:00 a.m. The Library & Archives will also host living history interpreters and other family-friendly activities throughout the day, and food trucks will be stationed nearby. Behind-the-scenes tours, including stops at the robotic retrieval system and blast freezer, begin at 11:30 a.m. Tour space is limited, and reservations may be made on the day of the event. The day concludes at 2:00 p.m.  

“The staff at the Library & Archives, the State Museum, and Bicentennial Mall State Park have done an incredible job planning a tremendous celebration for our 229th birthday,” said Tennessee State Librarian and Archivist Jamie Ritter. “We hope families from across Tennessee join us for a fun, educational, and historic celebration on the Bicentennial Mall State Park Campus.”

The Tennessee State Museum will open at 10:00 a.m. to the public and offer highlight tours, Storytime with reigning Miss Tennessee Carley Vogel, period games on the front lawn, and a cupcake celebration. Highlight Tours will be provided at 10:30 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. Vogel will read in the Children’s Gallery at 10:30 a.m. The cupcake celebration, which will include Vogel reading the Tennessee State poem, “Oh Tennessee, My Tennessee” by Commander William Porter Lawrence, will begin at noon in the Museum’s Grand Hall. 

“The state’s commitment to its history takes center stage here at the foot of Capitol Hill, with Bicentennial Mall, the Library & Archives, and State Museum all connected on one campus,” said Ashley Howell, executive director of the Tennessee State Museum. “If you’re interested in Tennessee history, come see us. Tennessee Statehood Day is our annual opportunity to showcase that commitment and the valuable partnership between our three institutions. We look forward to having everyone join us.”

Park rangers will also offer a guided tour of the Bicentennial State Park at 10:00 a.m. 

To commemorate the day, pick up your “Passport to Tennessee History.” Stop by the Tennessee State Library & Archives, the Tennessee State Museum, and the Visitor’s Center at Bicentennial Mall State Park. Get your book stamped at all locations to receive 10 percent off at the Bicentennial Mall and Tennessee State Museum gift shops.

For more information or a schedule of the day’s events at each location, visit: https://www.tnvacation.com/

Final Story of the Day (Maury County Source)

Nashville Zoo is proud to announce the opening of its newest adventure, Leopard Forest, on Friday, June 20. The new habitat features critically endangered Amur leopards, colobus monkeys, De Brazza’s monkeys, klipspringers, and the return of the Zoo’s most iconic members – Masai giraffes. A ribbon cutting ceremony will take place on opening day at 9:30 a.m., and the first 2,000 visitors will receive a Leopard Forest bandana to commemorate the occasion.

For more information on Nashville Zoo’s newest exhibit, visit www.nashvillzoo.org/leopard-forest.