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

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Southern Middle Tennessee Today

News Copy for May 5, 2025

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

We start with local news…

County Deputy Arrested (MSM)

A deputy sergeant with the Maury County Sheriff’s Department has been arrested and fired after what should have been a routine traffic stop by the Columbia Police Department.

Randy Marrisett, 39, faces charges of felony evasion of arrest, along with driving under the influence and reckless driving.

According to arrest reports, Marrisett was stopped by a Columbia police officer on Tuesday, April 29, at the corner of James Campbell Boulevard and Trotwood Avenue after reports of a potential drunk driver. During the stop, the arresting police officer reportedly noticed at Marrisett’s truck window that he was slurring his speech and smelled strongly of alcohol. The deputy allegedly fled down Trotwood Avenue in his truck, passing cars on double yellow lines through the residential corridor and ignoring the pursuing police car’s lights and sirens.

Marrisett was booked into the Maury County Jail on April 30 and released on his own recognizance. He is scheduled to appear in court on June 2, 2025.

The Maury County Sheriff’s Department later confirmed that Marrisett’s employment has been terminated. According to reports, Marrisett was a 16-year veteran of the department and had recently been promoted to sergeant.

Man Found Guilty in 90’s Murder (MSM)

A Maury County jury delivered justice last week, closing the book on a murder case dating back to 1991.

On Friday, May 2, District Attorney General Brent Cooper announced that a jury had convicted Clark Perry Baldwin, 63, of Waterloo, Iowa, on two counts of first-degree murder in the 1991 deaths of Pamela Rose Aldridge McCall and her unborn child.

McCall’s body was found on March 10, 1991, along Saturn Parkway in Spring Hill, at the off-ramp for Port Royal Road. The body showed signs of injuries to the face and neck and McCall’s clothing was also torn, according to investigators at the time.

An autopsy later determined that McCall’s death had been the result of strangulation and that she had been approximately 24 weeks pregnant at the time of her death.

Evidence and witness statement in 1991 led investigators to suspect that McCall had been traveling with a truck driver prior to her death. DNA analysis was performed by the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation’s crime lab and submitted to the national CODIS database, where it was later linked to a pair of 1992 unsolved homicides in Wyoming.

In April 2019, the Spring Hill Police Department asked the district attorney’s office for assistance in reopening the investigation. In 2020, with assistance from federal and state law enforcement agencies in Wyoming and Iowa, Baldwin was identified as a suspect in the homicides. Investigators eventually were able to collect samples of Baldwin’s DNA, which conclusively linked him to all three murder scenes.

Baldwin was eventually extradited to Tennessee to stand trial after his 2020 arrest.

Cooper gave a statement to Main Street Maury, saying, “When I ran for DA, I promised to solve and prosecute as many cold case homicides as possible. Thanks to talented assistant DAs like Pam Anderson and Ross Boudreaux and my skilled investigators Tommy Goetz and Jeff Dunn, I have been able to keep that promise. Unsung heroes like Victim Witness Coordinator Christi Dickey are also essential to guide the victims’ family through the process. Our prayers are with the family of Pamela McCall and her unborn child.

“My philosophy is that cold cases are never closed cases.”

Baldwin was prosecuted by assistant district attorneys Ross Boudreaux and Pam Anderson. The Maury County jury convicted Baldwin after roughly four hours of deliberation, Boudreaux stated via Facebook.

Baldwin was immediately sentenced to life in prison by Judge Christopher V. Sockwell. He is scheduled to be extradited to Wyoming to face trial for the two 1992 murders he is accused of committing.

Judge Sands Receives Liberty Bell Award (CDH)

The Maury County Bar Association celebrated Law Day on Thursday by bringing back its highly distinguished Liberty Bell Award in honor of longtime General Sessions Court Judge Bobby Sands.

The award was last given in 2018 to the late Claudia Jack, who formerly served as a longtime public defender in Maury County courts.

"Most of us in this room probably have a story about Judge Sands, and for most of us those stories would be about his kindness, his generosity and his understanding as some of us were beginning to practice law," Circuit Court Judge Julie C. Heffington said. "We appreciate Judge Sands and are very blessed to be part of this program where he has received the Liberty Bell Award."

Sands, a Lynnville native and U.S. Army veteran, began his legal career in 1979 after graduating law school at the University of Tennessee.

In addition to his legal practice, Sands has also been an active Kiwanian, serving as president in 1997-1998 and receiving the George F. Hixson Fellowship, the organization's highest honor. Sands is also a member of the American Legion, the American Cattleman's Association and was a past president of the Maury County Historical Society.

Judge Bobby L. Holloway presented the award to his longtime colleague.

"This is a great honor because of the people who have been honored," Sands said. "To be the recipient on the year of its revival is a great honor."

Sands later talked about the current state of the Maury County Bar Association, as well as its transition to the Maury County Judicial Center.

"This is a judicial building, and that's what it's referred to," Sands said. "Some people refer to it as a 'justice center,' but that remains to be seen. It becomes the justice center if we do our work as lawyers and advocates for truth, justice and the American way. We start off as a judicial building, and it's our challenge to make it a center of justice, a place where the law is served and respected."

In addition, Thursday's ceremony also celebrated the practice of law and its future, paying recognition to the Agathos Classical School's Mock Trial team.

"Many thanks to the Maury County Bar Association for making this valuable program possible for all of us," said Agathos Senior Adley Ogles.

Maury County Bar Association President Jason Whatley concluded Thursday's event by acknowledging the importance of Law Day and the continued legal practice of the 22nd Judicial District.

"I've had the honor of practicing law, or handling cases in about 35 counties of Tennessee's 95 counties, and I can say that the Maury County Bar Association is by far the best," Whatley said. "On behalf of the Maury County Bar Association, I want to thank all of you for attending this very special event in honor of our legal system and one of its finest and most honorable defenders.

"No other member of the bar has demonstrated the unique combination of being a fierce advocate, a steady and wise jurist, a Southern gentleman and a good friend the way that Judge Sands has."

Local Schools Earn Ann Dallas Dudley Award (Press Release)

Tennessee Secretary of State Tre Hargett will join local leaders to present the Anne Dallas Dudley Gold Level Award three Maury County Unit Schools. He will visit the Santa Fe Unit School on Monday, May 5, 2025, at 9:45 a.m., Hampshire Unit School at 10:45 a.m, and Mt. Pleasant High School 11:30 a.m.

This award focuses on increasing voter registration in Tennessee among students who will be 18 or older on or before the next election, according to state law. Schools registering 100 percent of eligible students earn the Anne Dallas Dudley Gold Level Award. 

The award is named after Suffragette Anne Dallas Dudley of Nashville, who was a national and state leader in the fight for women's suffrage who worked to secure the ratification of the 19th Amendment in Tennessee.

After founding the Nashville Equal Suffrage League and serving as its president, Dudley moved up through the ranks of the movement, serving as President of the Tennessee Equal Suffrage Association and then as Vice President of the National American Woman Suffrage Association, where she helped lead efforts to get the Nineteenth Amendment to the US Constitution ratified, giving women the right to vote nationwide. She is especially noted for her successful efforts to get the Nineteenth Amendment ratified in her home state of Tennessee, the final state necessary to bring the amendment into force.

(Road Closure (Press Release)

The City of Columbia announces the upcoming closure of Baker Road between Bear Creek Pike and North Ridge Road beginning Monday, May 5, 2025, through Friday, August 1, 2025, to accommodate the start of Phase 1 of a major roadway reconstruction project.

This essential improvement project is focused on increasing safety and drivability for all motorists who use this corridor. Phase 1 will address a section of the roadway that has presented challenges due to its narrow lanes, lack of shoulders, and sharp vertical curves. The reconstruction will result in wider lanes, road shoulders, and reduced vertical curves, providing a safer, more navigable route for drivers.

Importantly, this project is being fully funded by private development, not taxpayer dollars. As new development occurs in the area, the City continues to prioritize infrastructure enhancements that keep pace with growth—ensuring that improvements are made in a responsible, forward-thinking manner.

“The safety and long-term benefits of this project are essential to accommodate the continued growth and well-being of our community. It should also be noted these traffic enhancements which will result are being paid by the developers of the underlying residential development—minimizing the impact on our taxpayers, while maximizing safety and security of our residents and visitors alike. Much like the Tom J. Hitch Bridge closure, the short term inconveniences and frustration of this project will lead to long term traffic safety and other financial benefits,” said City Manager Tony Massey.

The City urges motorists to plan for alternative routes during the closure period and thanks the public in advance for their cooperation. Updates regarding the project’s progress will be shared on the City of Columbia’s official website and social media platforms.

The City of Columbia will also close the South Main Street and 8th Street intersection beginning Monday, May 5, 2025, through Tuesday, September 2, 2025, to construct a new roundabout aimed at improving traffic flow and enhancing pedestrian safety in the downtown area. The new traffic feature will also serve as a lasting tribute to the city’s place in civil rights history.

At the center of the roundabout will stand a statue of Justice Thurgood Marshall, donated by the Columbia Peace and Justice Initiative (CPJI), a local organization dedicated to promoting awareness, education, and engagement around civil rights history in Columbia. The statue honors Marshall’s legal work in Columbia following the 1946 unrest. Marshall, who later became the first African American United States Supreme Court Justice, was part of a legal defense team representing local citizens in a landmark case that helped ignite the modern Civil Rights Movement. The events in Columbia also prompted President Harry S. Truman to form the President’s Committee on Civil Rights, which laid the groundwork for civil rights legislation nationwide.

“We are proud this project not only enhances our infrastructure and provides a needed improvement to East 8th Street, a long-time Council strategic initiative, but also reflects our community’s commitment to recognizing our place in the history of the modern Civil Rights Movement,” said Columbia Mayor Chaz Molder. “The Thurgood Marshall Roundabout will stand as a powerful symbol of Columbia’s role in the broader struggle for civil rights in America and will hopefully encourage others, residents and visitors alike, to learn more about this piece of our community’s history.”

Trent Ogilvie, co-founder and President of the Columbia Peace and Justice Initiative (CPJI), remarked, "CPJI is excited to partner with the City of Columbia to be a catalyst for historic revitalization downtown on East 8th Street. This visionary project features a magnificent statue of Thurgood Marshall and a tribute to the heroes of 1946, which will serve as a landmark in our journey to explore the past, redeem the present, and inspire the future."

"Our city made a significant contribution to the early Civil Rights Movement, and I'm excited to see this project come to completion. I believe it will introduce even more people to the story of 1946 and the heroic stand for justice," added Russ Adcox, co-founder and Vice President of CPJI.

The roundabout is a vital part of Columbia’s ongoing commitment to improving traffic circulation and pedestrian safety, while also promoting a more walkable and accessible downtown.

“This is an exciting and meaningful project for our city,” said City Manager Tony Massey. “It reflects a smart infrastructure solution while providing an opportunity to honor a pivotal figure in American history whose work in Columbia had national impact.”

The City of Columbia appreciates the public’s patience during the construction period and encourages motorists to use alternate routes. Additional details regarding detours and traffic control measures will be shared in the coming weeks.

The City looks forward to celebrating the completion of the Thurgood Marshall Roundabout in September.

Tennessee Tech Studying the Duck (MSM)

Tennessee Tech University’s Center for the Management, Utilization and Protection of Water Resources – also called the Water Center – is playing an important role in the state’s efforts to protect one of its most important natural resources: the Duck River.

That role became official earlier this year when Gov. Bill Lee’s executive order established the Duck River Watershed Planning Partnership with 19 appointees from state agencies, utilities, local governments and conservation organizations. Tech stands as the sole university on the board, with Water Center Director Justin Murdock serving as its only academic member.

“This group is comprised of a diverse makeup of stakeholders and is tasked to develop a watershed planning framework for the Duck River to conserve the unique biodiversity and quality of river in the face of population growth and increased water demands,” Murdock said. “A lot of the people on this planning partnership group grew up on this river, so they very well understand what the river means to the community and the state.”

With more people moving to central Tennessee, increasing amounts of water are being pulled from the Duck River to supply the growing community, leading to lower water levels. Pollution is also increasing, including sediment, pesticides, chemicals and runoff from landfills.

“So, it’s not only a water-quantity issue, but it’s also a water-quality issue,” Murdock explained. “Right now, we don’t know all of the information needed to be able to understand how best to mitigate the negative effects on the river, but our goal is identifying the best available data to develop an actionable plan now.”

The Duck River Watershed Planning Partnership has been tasked with preparing a report to outline findings and recommendations for the river’s future. The Duck River provides drinking water to more than 250,000 people and supports agriculture, industry, recreation and fragile ecosystems across seven counties. It is home to many threatened or endangered species, some of which cannot be found anywhere else on the planet.

One of these endangered groups includes freshwater mussels — a specialty of Amanda Rosenberger, professor of biology at Tech and assistant unit leader of the Tennessee Cooperative Fishery Research Unit.

“Freshwater mussels are called the ‘liver of the river,’ ” she said. “They’re filter feeders. And as filter feeders, they do a lot. They can transform nutrients that are in the water column into bioavailable food. They aerate the bottom of the stream by burrowing… they basically take gunk, and they turn it into more edible gunk.”

This leads to a cleaner and healthier river, both for the species who call it home and for the humans who use it for drinking, fishing and recreation.

“These animals are basically signaling to us that this system is delicate, it’s valuable and it’s important,” Rosenberger said. “If we harness the ecosystem services these animals provide to create a water-wise and water-secure community south of Nashville, we can basically use these animals as a vehicle to reduce human suffering and increase the ecosystem services that these animals provide.”

As Murdock works with the board over the next year, he has plenty of other experts from the Water Center and across Tech’s campus to help collect information.

“The Water Center is comprised of geologists, engineers, water quality experts, biologists, environmental scientists, geneticists – we have all kinds of people who, as Dr. Murdock and the committee are discovering what needs to happen to this river, can help address the challenges that may arise, if we’re called upon to do so,” said Grace Tinker, lab analytical and research manager at the Water Center.

The Duck River has long been part of university research efforts. Rosenberger has worked with Tech students on a number of projects related to mussel biodiversity. Tech alumna Brittany Bajo completed her master’s thesis on habitat requirements of the Duck River’s freshwater mussel concentrations. Her findings have led to important hypotheses on how the river’s underlying geology is important for its mussel populations. Bajo is now a state malacologist (mussel biologist) with the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency.

Likewise, Tech research specialist Kristen Womble developed a database containing more than 7,000 mussel records — a tool now being used to guide conservation planning.

“The research on these mussels is so important because they are acting as underwater canaries, showing us when and where river conditions are deteriorating,” Murdock explained. “We know that if they are starting to go away, then something is wrong. So, when we’re protecting these, we’re protecting everything else in the river too.”

The planning partnership will meet quarterly through the end of 2026 and produce a final report with recommendations to the governor. A secondary objective is to develop a plan that is transferable to other watersheds in the state.

“I’m really grateful for this community of people who have their eye on this. Otherwise, it’s just another tragic story ready to be written for both the animals and the humans,” Rosenberger said.

For more information about Tennessee Tech’s Water Center, visit tntech.edu/watercenter.

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

Lucy Mae Holt Spears, 78, resident of Maury County, died Thursday, May 1, 2025 at NHC of Columbia.

Funeral services will be conducted Tuesday, May 6, 2025 at 11:00 AM at Oakes & Nichols Funeral Home. Burial will follow in Cross Bridges Cemetery. The family will visit with friends on Monday from 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM and on Tuesday, May 6, 2025 from 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM at Oakes & Nichols Funeral Home. Online condolences may be extended at www.oakesandnichols.com.

And now, news from around the state…

Centennial Park Ranked #5 in Nation (MauryCountySource)

Nashville’s Centennial Park has been named the #5 Best City Park in the United States by USA Today’s 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards. Voted on by readers across the nation, this honor celebrates the park’s rich history, the iconic Parthenon, and the dynamic programming like Nashville’s Earth Day Festival, Musicians Corner, the Tennessee Craft Fair, and many more.

“This is a tremendous honor for our city and a true testament to the incredible work of our Metro Parks and Centennial Park Conservancy teams,” said Monique Horton Odom, Director of Metro Parks. “Centennial Park has long been a place where our community comes together to enjoy nature, celebrate community, reflect on our shared history, and enjoy the many amenities the park has to offer. Being named one of the top five city parks in the country reaffirms just how special this place is to so many people.”

Centennial Park is one of Nashville’s most iconic and historic public spaces, dating back to the 1897 Tennessee Centennial Exposition. The park is home to the only full-scale replica of the ancient Greek temple, the Parthenon, and hosts a wide range of events throughout the year, including the long-running Big Band Dances — now in their 43rd year — and the Tennessee Craft Fair, celebrating its 54th anniversary this spring, and Celebrate Nashville, the community’s multicultural festival. Managed by Metro Parks and supported by the Centennial Park Conservancy, Centennial Park is a destination for sports and recreation, health and wellness, cultural and arts programming, live music, and more.

“As we mark our 40th anniversary supporting the Park and the Parthenon, it’s incredibly rewarding to see the park recognized on a national level,” said John Tumminello, President of Centennial Park Conservancy. “Centennial Park has been a beloved landmark for generations of Nashvillians, and we are more inspired than ever to keep preserving and enhancing this extraordinary place.”

This summer, construction will begin on the next phase of Centennial Park’s revitalization project, led by R.C. Mathews Contractor, LLC. The Park Plaza and Event Pavilion Phase will focus on revitalizing the north end of Centennial Park, strengthening its connection to North Nashville and the future expansion of the 440 Greenway.

Plans include a new vehicular grand entrance along Park Plaza and a multi-modal pathway to improve pedestrian and bicycle access from 31st Avenue. The historic Croquet Clubhouse will be transformed into a café, providing an exciting new amenity for visitors and generating sustainable revenue to support the Centennial Park Beautification Fund. A new lakefront event pavilion will also be constructed along the eastern edge of Lake Watauga, expanding the park’s ability to host community events, live music, nonprofit fundraisers, educational programs, and more.

This Top Five designation from USA Today is both a reflection of Centennial Park’s significance to the people of Nashville and an exciting glimpse of what’s to come as the Park continues to grow and evolve.

Final Story of the Day (Maury County Source)

Open now, Enchanted Castles at Cheekwood will offer five different castles for children and adults to explore in the gardens. Each of the castles is located in the shade along the main entrance and will be available until August 17th.

Enchanted Castles invites the young and young at heart to discover five stunning, locally crafted castles nestled among lush summer blooms. This installation is a collaboration with Castle Homes, a custom home builder based in Middle Tennessee and provides the freedom for imaginations to soar as fairy-tale adventures come to life.

Each design provides a gateway to a different world. From the Dragon’s Den, Formidable Fortress, and Wizard’s Watchtower to the Flower Fairy Palace and Crow’s Nest, the experience will provide adventures for guests of all ages.

Cheekwood is located at 1200 Forrest Park Drive, Nashville. Find tickets at www.cheekwood.org.