Southern Middle TN Today News with Tom Price 6-12-26

WKOM/WKRM Radio

Southern Middle Tennessee Today

News Copy for June 12, 2026

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

ATV Fire (MauryCountySource)

A homeowner’s quick actions helped limit damage after an ATV caught fire Sunday evening in the Theta Community, according to the Maury County Fire Department.

Fire crews were dispatched to a reported structure fire around 7:30 p.m. on June 7. When Engine 29 arrived, firefighters found the homeowner had already pulled the burning ATV out of the garage to prevent the fire from spreading.

Crews overhauled and cooled the affected area and the ATV while also using fans to remove smoke from the structure.

The fire department said the homeowner’s fast response helped minimize damage.

Road Closure (MSM)

The Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) has announced they will conduct ramp closures on State Route 396 in Maury County.

Beginning Friday, June 12, TDOT crews will conduct a full closure of the State Route 396 (Saturn Parkway) eastbound and westbound off-ramps to Port Royal Road due to concrete repair operations. This work will take place from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. on weekdays and a continuous closure on weekends. This work will tentatively be completed by Sunday, June 22.

Signage will be in place, alerting motorists of this closure. 

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 includes the possibility of up to 30 days in jail and a maximum fine of $500.

Water Main Break (MSM)

Columbia Fire & Rescue reported last week that a water main broke near the intersection of Barrel Oak Pass and Cleburne Road. Emergency response personnel went to the scene to guarantee public safety.

Upon arriving at the scene Friday morning (June 5), CPWS workers shut off the main valve and worked to flush sediment from the affected lines.

“The incident occurred when a third-party utility company, operating with an expired 811 permit, accidentally struck and broke an 8-inch CPWS water main while performing underground boring operations,” CPWS announced in a statement. “The breach resulted in the loss of approximately 400,000 gallons of water from CPWS’s largest storage tank before the system could be isolated.”

Some Facebook commenters reported that their tap water turned brown or yellow after the main broke, which CPWS attributed to the stirring-up of “harmless sediment that had settled in the pipes.”

The discoloration also affected some customers of Spring Hill Water.

“Through coordinated flushing efforts, all sediment was successfully cleared from the lines, and normal water quality was fully restored by Saturday morning,” CPWS reported, after taking samples to confirm that the water quality was acceptable to state regulators. “CPWS appreciates the patience of our customers and neighboring communities as our crews worked diligently to resolve this third-party disruption.

Hickman County EMS Receives Award (MSM)

Several Hickman County first responders were recently named recipients of the 2026 Star of Life Award, a prestigious state award which recognized the lifesaving work conducted by local first responders during a joint rescue operation.

The first responders accepted the award at the 18th annual Star of Life Awards ceremony held on May 13 at the Middle Tennessee State University Student Union Ballroom. The Hickman County first responders received the 2026 award after being nominated the past two years.

Selected by the Children’s Emergency Care Alliance of Tennessee, the EMS Star of Life award “honors the accomplishments of EMS personnel across Tennessee, who provide exemplary lifesaving care to adult and pediatric patients.” Honorees can be anyone assisting a patient with lifesaving measures from dispatch to the hospital doors.

Hickman County first responders were nominated for their coordinated and complex efforts in saving a life last fall. The incident occurred on September 10, 2025 and involved a semi-truck accident on Highway 50.

“The driver of the eighteen-wheeler didn’t know the road ended and ran into a cliff face,” Hickman County EMS Director Allen Livengood shared. “Crews couldn’t find the driver for a few minutes; they were trying to remove things as the fire department was cutting things away and providing access to the patient.”

Livengood said Life Flight arrived before the patient was extricated, which created the need for careful ground to air coordination.

The Hickman County EMS team along with Centerville Volunteer Fire Department, Hickman County E911 Dispatch and Vanderbilt LifeFlight crew worked in unison to perform a technical extraction of the commercial truck driver who was entrapped in the wreckage.

“It was a very difficult situation,” Livengood said. “The guy was in such bad shape, but they brought him out alive, and crews helped bring him through this event.”

Livengood said the recognition was a special moment for first responders, noting this was the first time Hickman County has received the award.

“They don’t give these honors out lightly,” Livengood said. For Hickman County EMS, they were doing their job in providing critical pre-hospital care while serving as a vital link between emergency scenes and the hospital.

Livengood said it is emergency calls such as the one last September that reminds first responders about the importance of training. “It helps to stay focused, and to know these type events can happen anywhere,” Livengood said. “So, we stay ready.”

Another highlight of the award ceremony was the moment recipients were reunited with the patient they treated and saved – a powerful reminder of the impact of their work. The team credits everyone involved in the response for the positive lifesaving outcome.

Out of roughly a million calls that begin with dispatch across Tennessee every year, Hickman County EMS, Centerville Fire Department and Hickman County’s Central Dispatch coordinated their efforts on one call to rescue a man, and save his life.

After answering emergency calls for the last 25 years, Livengood said he has seen much evolve. What was once a team of 16 staff members operating two ambulances has grown to 30 full-time team members and three ambulances – expanding both capacity and capability.

He has also seen advancements in technology, equipment along with the commitment of team members to pursue advanced training have significantly enhanced the level of care first responders can provide before a patient arrives at the hospital.

The Star of Life Award is presented to lifesaving first responders in each of the eight EMS regions across the state.

YEF Partners with CSCC (MSM)

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.

True Life Clinic Offers Free Health Care (MSM)

Dr. James “Jace” Dean gave Main Street Maury a tour of Lifehouse Church’s new True Life Clinic in Spring Hill, where they hope to help people who need care for free or at a reduced cost.

The clinic is located in the annex of 5083 Main Street in north Spring Hill, underneath the Keller Williams office and next door to its sponsoring Lifehouse Church, which Dean has attended since 2011. Its facilities include two clinic rooms, two exam rooms and a meeting room where they pray with patients.

“One of the things we really wanted to be able to offer, since we’re a faith-based clinic, is we want them to be able to receive prayer,” Dean said. “We want to extend the love of Jesus to people, if they want to hear it.”

True Life has a few nurses or medical technicians who serve in-house, a full-time administrator, and some physicians who can fill in for Dean, but right now he’s the medical director and only doctor. Donations helped to launch the facility and they’re hoping to get some grant funding to hire a full-time nurse practitioner or physician’s assistant. Dean staffs True Life from 12-6 p.m. every Monday except for holidays, taking both walk-ins and appointments, which can be scheduled at (615) 752-4880 or www.truelifeclinic.org.

“We’re just starting small, one day a week, to see how it grows,” he said.

True Life has been open a month and is planning a grand opening with the Spring Hill Chamber of Commerce, probably in July.

“The market we’re looking for is uninsured or underinsured patients that can’t afford [necessary and urgent care], either because their deductible’s so high [or for some other reason],” Dean said, adding that True Life’s mission is to meet the needs of those who really can’t afford care, not to take away the clientele of primary care. “Patients that have Medicare or primary care, or VA benefits, we’d probably just encourage them to follow back up with their primary, but if we can help them out urgently, we’re happy to do that.

“I can hopefully keep people out of the ER that don’t need to be there,” Dean continued, by performing services that urgent care facilities can’t provide or hesitate to, from minor procedures like cyst removal to EKG scanning.

He can also write refill prescriptions for non-scheduled and non-pain medications. By negotiating with facilities for lower cash prices, True Life can also get patients basic Labcorp testing for $20-30, specialty labs for well under $100 and relatively cheap imaging and examinations. Dean got one patient’s knee MRI’d for less than $370, plans to collaborate with Maury Regional for $800 colonoscopies and can screen patients for diabetes, high blood pressure and cancer, not to mention minor conditions like COVID, flu, RSV, strep throat, abnormal blood glucose and pregnancy. All visits are free; all the patient has to pay for is testing, and True Life may someday solicit enough money to cover those too.

“We can get some of those prices for patients that may not have insurance.”

Dean has worked in Maury Regional’s Emergency Room since 2010 and is now the most senior doctor there.

“I’ve been the team doc for our church [and] one of the elders… at Lifehouse, so I’ve been taking care of people for about 10, 12 years. Stitching up people, pulling rocks out of kids’ ears, calling in meds, whatever comes up,” he said.

The head pastor, after studying St. John’s Gospel and attending a Church Health workshop, took note of the medical talent in his church, which included some nurses as well as Dean, and told him, “Jace, you need to open a clinic.”

“We just started sitting on it, praying about it, and here we are… I just felt like ‘God was speaking to me,'” Dean said.

True Life isn’t Lifehouse’s only outreach or charity project. On Monday nights they also teach English to immigrants who don’t speak it, which has reportedly attracted people from up to 14 countries.

“We just want to be an extension of God’s love to us… We would want patients to be cared for, listened to, and if they want to receive prayer, we’d love to pray with them,” Dean concluded. “Hopefully we can help meet some of their healthcare needs, get them pointed in the right direction.”

(Mayoral Forum (Press Release)

Join Maury Alliance on July 9th at 5:30pm to hear from the two Maury County Mayoral candidates: Sheila Butt and Gabe Howard. This moderated Q&A session with the candidates will give attendees an opportunity to learn more about each candidate and their vision for the future of Maury County. If you would like to submit a question for consideration, please send them to Alyssa at atate@mauryalliance.com. This event is open to the public and free to attend!

Doors open at 5pm, and the program will begin promptly at 5:30pm.

Down the Duck Documentary (Press Release)

A special community screening of the Nashville PBS’ documentary Down the Duck with John Guider will take place on Friday, June 12, at 6:00 p.m. at The Mulehouse, in downtown Columbia. Tickets are free by visiting: https://weblink.donorperfect.com/dtd-columbia.

Co-hosted by Friends of the Duck and Harpeth Conservancy, the event aims to bring together community members, conservation advocates, outdoor enthusiasts, and supporters of the Duck River for an evening centered around storytelling, environmental awareness, and connection. Food trucks will be on-site ahead of the screening, creating a casual community atmosphere for attendees to gather and enjoy the evening together.

The documentary, a film by Archaea Productions, follows acclaimed photographer, conservationist, and adventurer John Guider, as he canoes 270 miles of Tennessee’s Duck River, documenting its ecological significance, natural beauty, and the communities connected to it along the way.

Recognized as the most biodiverse river in North America, the Duck River provides drinking water to communities across Middle Tennessee while supporting hundreds of species of fish, mussels, birds, and wildlife.

“This film captures the wonder of the Duck River and the communities it sustains at a critical time when planning is underway to ensure long-term sustainability,” said Grace Stranch, CEO of Harpeth Conservancy.

As conversations continue across the watershed about the river’s future, the film offers both a celebration of the Duck River’s extraordinary significance and an invitation for communities to engage more deeply in its protection.

This will be the first in-person showing of the film in the Duck River Watershed. “This documentary offers a powerful reminder of how deeply connected we are to the Duck River,” said Sarah B. Gilliam, a member of Friends of the Duck River and who is featured in the film. “The screening is an opportunity for the community to come together, celebrate this incredible resource, and continue conversations about protecting it for future generations.”

The celebrations will continue with additional screenings throughout the Duck River Watershed this summer. Doors open at 6:00 p.m. and guests are encouraged to arrive early to enjoy food trucks and conversation before the film begins.

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.

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

Mr. Howard Cecil Whiteside, 104, lifelong resident of Hampshire, died Wednesday, June 10 at home. Funeral services will be conducted Saturday at 1:00 at Oakes & Nichols Funeral Home. Burial will follow in Worley Cemetery. Visitation will be on Friday from 5:00 to 8:00 and on Saturday from 12:00 to 1:00 at Oakes & Nichols Funeral Home.

Mrs. Jane Wasson Nicholas, 97, a longtime resident of Columbia, passed away Wednesday, June 10 at Maury Regional Medical Center. Funeral services will be conducted Tuesday at 12:00 p.m. at Oakes & Nichols Funeral Home. The family will visit with friends on Tuesday from 10:00 a.m. until the time of the service at the funeral home.

Mrs. Julia Hargrove Cutter Church, 95, passed away on Tuesday, June 9 at The Lantern at Morning Pointe in Louisville, Kentucky. Funeral services will be conducted Wednesday at 2:00 P.M. at Oakes & Nichols Funeral Home. Burial will follow in Rose Hill Cemetery. The family will visit with friends Wednesday from 1:00 P.M. till the time of service at Oakes & Nichols Funeral Home.

Mr. Ronald Everette Young, 81, of Pelham, Alabama, passed away peacefully on June 7. A private graveside service will be held at Rose Hill Cemetery in Columbia, Tennessee. A memorial service will be conducted at 3:00 p.m. EST on Sunday, June 21 at New Hope Presbyterian Church, Chattanooga, Tennessee.

And now, news from around the state…

Gas Prices (MSM)

Gas prices across the state steadily declined again last week, falling 18 cents, on average. The Tennessee Gas Price average is now $3.75 which is 45 cents less expensive than one month ago but $1.05 more expensive than one year ago.  

“Tennessee drivers are contiunuing to see a much needed break in pump prices,” said Megan Cooper, spokeswoman for AAA – The Auto Club Group. “There is still a lot of uncertainty and volatility in the oil market, but if we continue to see crude oil prices stay low, it’s likely that we’ll continue to lower prices at the gas pump.”

Tennessee is sixth least-expensive market in U.S.

Final Story of the Day (Maury County Source)

A great tradition every summer is the chance to stock up on fresh produce and other locally sourced foods, especially when you can have fun doing it.

Highland Realm Farm, 4443 Hampshire Pike, will celebrate its eighth annual Blueberry Bash from 3-8 p.m. Saturday, June 13.

In addition to picking your own batch of the farm's fresh blueberries, the event will featuring live music by 422 West, as well as vendor booths, food trucks and other activities.

There will be a kids zone, face painting, as well as opportunities for horseback riding and creek wading.

Admission is $5 per person, while kids ages 6 and under are free.