Southern Middle TN Today News with Tom Price 6-15-26

WKOM/WKRM Radio

Southern Middle Tennessee Today

News Copy for June 15, 2026

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

Two Rescued from Sinking Boat (MauryCountySource)

Maury County firefighters responded Thursday evening to a sinking boat incident along the Duck River, safely rescuing two people who became stranded on a cliff after making it to shore.

According to the Maury County Fire Department, crews were dispatched at 7:38 p.m. on June 11 to the Duck River near the 145-mile marker following reports of a sinking boat.

Officials said the boat’s two occupants had safely reached shore but became trapped on a cliff face and were unable to move. Firefighters launched a rescue boat while additional responders made their way to the area on foot to reach the stranded individuals.

Boat 21 successfully retrieved both occupants and transported them back to the Iron Bridge boat ramp. No injuries were reported.

The partially sunken boat remains in the river and is expected to be recovered at a later time.

The fire department also highlighted the role of the 911 center during the response, noting that dispatchers provided responders with the caller’s exact location to help crews quickly and accurately navigate to the scene by both land and water.

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.

Columbia Expands Street Paving Plan (MauryCountySource)

The City of Columbia is pleased to announce a $1.2 million investment in roadway improvements as an expansion of the City’s FY 2024–25 paving plan, further enhancing transportation infrastructure and improving driving conditions for residents and visitors throughout the community.

City Manager Tony Massey said the expanded plan will allow the City to complete a record amount of street paving this fiscal year.

“We decided to expand this year’s City street paving plan after our contractor agreed to honor the 2025 bid. The additional $1.2 million represents a total of $5.7 million in street paving this fiscal year, said Massey. “Upon completion, 6.7 miles will have been paved. This is the most street paving the City of Columbia has completed in a 12-month cycle.”

A comprehensive list of streets was developed using field observations and the City’s Street Database Program, supported by advanced technology that utilizes machine learning and high-resolution cameras to evaluate pavement conditions. This process identified streets with the most significant deterioration, followed by field verification by City staff to confirm conditions and ensure the final list addressed areas of greatest need. All wards were evaluated to ensure the most effective use of available funding. The approved paving list includes roadways previously identified through the City’s paving plan.

Work will be performed by Volunteer Paving on behalf of the City of Columbia. Construction is anticipated to begin in June 2026 and conclude by August 2026, weather permitting.

“This investment represents our continued commitment to maintaining and improving the infrastructure that residents rely on every day,” said Chaz Molder. “Well-maintained roads contribute to public safety and quality of life, and we are proud to continue making these improvements across our community.”

As work progresses, residents may experience temporary traffic delays, lane closures, and brief driveway access restrictions. Properties along scheduled routes will receive advance notice through orange door hangers outlining anticipated work dates and a resident preparation checklist. Schedules may shift due to weather or other conditions. Residents can view the paving map and street list on the City’s website at www.ColumbiaTN.gov.

The City of Columbia appreciates the patience and cooperation of residents throughout the project and looks forward to continuing to deliver roadway improvements that benefit the community.

For more information and to view the complete paving list click here or contact the City of Columbia Engineering Department at 931-560-1039 or development@columbiatn.gov.

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.

Food Truck Thursdays (Press Release)

Columbia Main Street is inviting the community this summer to “Food Truck Thursdays,” a new weekly event series taking place every Thursday in June and July from 4 – 8 p.m. at Riverwalk Park in Downtown Columbia. 

Located right off the Downtown District, the Farmers Market Pavilion at Riverwalk Park will be transformed into a gathering space for Food Truck Thursdays. This event will feature a rotating lineup of local food trucks, offering residents and visitors a variety of food options each week. 

In addition to great food, Columbia Main Street will provide a variety of free yard games for attendees to enjoy while spending time with family and friends. Games will include Connect 4, Tic-Tac-Toe, Ring Toss and more. 

The event is being spearheaded by Columbia Main Street Board Members Marvin Brooks and John “Tee” Davis.

“Food Truck Thursdays were created to give the community a common space where people can gather and show support for the local food trucks that are such an important part of Columbia’s community,” said Brooks and Davis said in a joint statement. 

Food Truck Thursdays will take place on the following dates: June 4, June 11, June 18, June 25, July 2, July 9, July 16, July 23 and July 30. 

Food truck operators interested in participating in the series are encouraged to contact Columbia Main Street Manager Kelli Johnson at kjohnson@columbiatn.gov for more information. For updates on weekly food truck lineups and other downtown events, follow Columbia Main Street on social media.

(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.

Blood Needed (Press Release)

As Middle Tennessee enters the “100 Deadliest Days of Summer,” Blood Assurance is urging people to donate blood, platelets, and plasma now and throughout the summer to help prevent a seasonal donor shortage from threatening local hospital supplies.

Blood Assurance is already facing a shortage of donors, and summer can make the problem worse. The period between Memorial Day and Labor Day is often referred to as the “100 Deadliest Days of Summer” because of the rise in deadly crashes, often involving teenagers. It also marks summer trauma season, when crashes, outdoor injuries and water-related emergencies can increase blood usage just as donations drop because of school breaks, vacations and disrupted routines.

As the primary blood supplier for most hospitals in Middle Tennessee, every donation can have a direct impact on patients close to home. Trauma victims, cancer patients, mothers experiencing complications during childbirth and people undergoing surgery may all need blood with little or no warning.

More than 540 volunteer blood donors are needed every day to maintain an adequate supply for the hospitals Blood Assurance serves.

“Hospitals do not get a summer break,” said Garry Allison, executive vice president of operations for Blood Assurance. “When emergencies happen, blood must be ready before the patient arrives. Behind every unit of blood is someone’s child, parent, spouse or friend. We need people to donate now and throughout the summer so local hospitals have what they need to save lives.”

Appointments can be made at www.bloodassurance.org, by calling 800-962-0628 or by texting BAGIVE to 999777. Walk-ins will also be accepted.

To be eligible to donate blood, donors must be at least 17 years old, or 16 with parental consent, weigh at least 110 pounds and be in good health. Donors are encouraged to drink plenty of fluids, avoid caffeine and eat an iron-rich meal before donating.

Blood Assurance is a nonprofit, full-service regional blood center serving more than 70 health care facilities in Tennessee, Georgia, Alabama, Kentucky and North Carolina. Founded in 1972 through a joint effort of the Chattanooga-Hamilton County Medical Society, the Chattanooga Area Hospital Council, and the Chattanooga Jaycees, Blood Assurance’s mission is to provide a safe and adequate supply of bloodand blood components to every area patient in need.

America 250th Celebration (Press Release)

In celebration of America’s 250th anniversary, the City of Columbia created a series of initiatives recognizing the community’s rich heritage and the valuable contributions of a few of the individuals who helped shape its history.

As part of the America 250 commemoration, the City has launched Columbia250USA.com, a dedicated website designed to share information about local events and highlight some of the people who have left a lasting impact on Columbia. Central to the site is a special feature recognizing 26 of Columbia’s most influential figures, referred to as ‘Architects of History.’  These leaders, legends, and visionaries represent the spirit and legacy of Columbia across generations.

To further recognize these individuals, the City has brought their stories to the heart of downtown. Decorative banners featuring the 26 historical figures are now displayed throughout the downtown area, creating a visual tribute that connects residents and visitors to the city’s past. 

The website includes brief biographies of each honoree, offering insight into their contributions and lasting influence. The historical content was generously provided by Maury County Archives and the African American Heritage Society of Maury County.

Columbia Mayor Chaz Molder emphasized the importance of recognizing Columbia’s unique role in the nation’s story.

“This initiative is about more than marking a milestone, it’s about recognizing the people who built our community,” said Molder. “It’s about ensuring that their stories continue to be told to inform future generations. As we recognize America’s 250thanniversary throughout 2026, Columbia is proud to celebrate our shared history while looking ahead to the future we are building together.”

For more information, visit Columbia250USA.com.

Maury County Clerk Satellite Office (Press Release)

The Maury County Clerk’s office can now help residents with renewals of license plates or placards each Wednesday from 8am to 3:30pm at the Maury County Senior Center located at 1020 Maury County Park Dr.

Please drive around to the back of the building and look for the car tag renewal sign near the back door.

Forms of payment include credit/debit card or check – no cash.

Any Maury County Resident can use this office.

All other transactions will still need to be done through the main office located at 10 Public Square.

Also, you can renew online at TNCountyClerk.com or at kiosks in Spring Hill City Hall or Mt. Pleasant Courthouse.

And now, Your Hometown Memorials, Sponsored by 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.

Tennessean Will to Command Artemis III (CDH)

Another University of Tennessee graduate will make history by commanding the next moon mission test flight Artemis III.

NASA named Commander Randy Bresnik — a veteran astronaut, retired Marine colonel and UT alum — to lead the four-person crew for Artemis III, a high-stakes 2027 mission designed to test the systems needed to return humans to the moon.

Bresnik, 58, is one of 10 University of Tennessee System graduates who have been to space. Most recently, UT alum Butch Wilmore went to space on a test flight in 2024 and ended up stranded on the International Space Station.

“We are incredibly proud to have another UT graduate command such a critical space mission for NASA and add to his already distinguished record in space missions,” Tickle College of Engineering Dean Matthew Mench said in a news release.

Born in Fort Knox, Kentucky, and raised in Santa Monica, California, Bresnik was commissioned as a lieutenant in the U.S. Marine Corps in 1989 as he received a bachelor's degree in mathematics from The Citadel, a military college in South Carolina.

He trained to become a naval aviator, went on three deployments to the Western Pacific, attended the Marine Corps Weapons and Tactics Instructors Course and Naval Fighter Weapons School - you might know it as TOPGUN - and flew in flight tests before attending UT. He's logged more than 7,000 flight hours in 95 types of planes, rotorcraft and gliders, according to NASA.

He graduated from UT's Tickle College of Engineering in 2002 with a master's degree in aviation systems from the University of Tennessee Space Institute, a satellite campus in Tullahoma offering engineering degree programs, according to UT. He became a NASA astronaut two years later.

Bresnik has completed space flights, was the lead on the closeout crew for the final shuttle mission, has served as a lead astronaut for NASA's partnership with SpaceX and has served on missions to the International Space Station, according to NASA.

NASA's Artemis program aims to return humans to the moon for the first time since the Apollo era and build a permanent lunar base where they can live and work.

The mission, known as Artemis III, would be the second crewed test flight preceding a human moon landing attempt as early as 2028 during the Artemis IV mission.

Make Music Day (Press Release)

On Sunday, June 21, 2026, 18 communities across Tennessee will join forces to present over 100 free musical events on the summer solstice as part of Make Music Day, a global music celebration bringing people of all ages and skill levels together to experience the joy and camaraderie of making music.

This year, music will ring out across the Volunteer State as Athens, Bolivar, Bristol, Centerville, Chattanooga, Cleveland, Columbia, Dyersburg, Greeneville, Henderson, Hohenwald, Jackson, Knoxville, Lawrenceburg, Macon County, Maryville, Murfreesboro and Nashville are among the 150+ U.S. communities with chapters hosting thousands of Make Music Day performances nationwide.

Recognized as the world’s largest annual music event, Make Music Day began in France in 1982 as the Fête de la Musique, and today, it is celebrated in thousands of cities around the globe. Unlike a traditional music festival, Make Music Day is a free and open invitation for everyone to perform, teach, learn and experience the joy of making music on the longest day of the year. Reimagining their cities and towns as stages, every kind of musician – young and old, amateur and professional, of every musical persuasion – pours onto streets, parks, plazas, porches, rooftops, gardens and other public spaces to create and share music with friends, neighbors and strangers.

Make Music Tennessee is made possible thanks to support and coordination from the Tennessee Entertainment Commission (TEC) and the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development (TNECD).

“Make Music Day shines a spotlight on the incredible creativity that exists in every community,” said TEC Executive Director Bob Raines. “By joining this national celebration, we’re encouraging more towns and cities across Tennessee to come together, make music and strengthen the connections that make our state such a vibrant place to live.”

For more information, visit makemusicday.org/tn.

Final Story of the Day (Maury County Source)

Experience FoodieLand: a nationwide food festival filled with 200+ vendors with global flavors, artisan shops, games, and live music! The event will take place from Friday, August 28th – Sunday, August 30th, 2026 at Nashville Superspeedway located at 400 Victory Lane Dr, Lebanon.

FoodieLand is the nation’s largest food festival producer, uniting local talent, small businesses, and global flavors in one vibrant experience. More than just a festival, FoodieLand is a gathering place where friends and families come together to celebrate community through food, culture, and unforgettable moments. Get your tickets now to experience new flavors like never before. 

Learn more on the foodieland facebook page.