Southern Middle TN Today News with Tom Price 6-3-25

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Southern Middle Tennessee Today

News Copy for June 4, 2025

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

We start with local news…

Officer Involved Shooting (Press Release)

On June 3rd just after 1:00am, Columbia Police responded to the 1700 block of Nashville Highway for a call of a suspicious male walking in the roadway attempting to approach passing vehicles.

Upon arrival, officers encountered a white male in the roadway armed with a handgun. Over the duration of approximately ten minutes, officers made continuous efforts to have the male stop and drop his firearm. The male refused those commands, continuing to walk southbound on Nashville Highway in and out of the traffic lane and median. As the individual approached the more populated 1500 Block of Nashville Highway, still armed with a handgun, he was shot by a Columbia Police Officer stopping the advancement and threat.

The individual was transported to Vanderbilt Medical Center where he was taken into surgery for his injuries. At this time the condition and identity of the individual is unknown.

Following Columbia Police Department policy and protocol, 22nd Judicial District Attorney Brent Cooper was contacted and requested the TBI respond to investigate this incident. TBI is the lead agency in this investigation and further inquiries should be made through their agency.

No officers were injured in this incident. As is routine with any officer involved shooting, the involved officer will be placed on administrative leave with pay pending the outcome of the investigation.

Columbia Double Homicide (CDH)

Columbia Police are currently investigating a shooting that occurred at approximately 3 p.m. Saturday off Somerset Lane, resulting in two people dead and one injured.

CPD announced Saturday afternoon that multiple gunshots were reported at the 3000 block of Somerset Lane, with officers responding at 3:07 p.m.

Once arriving to the scene, CPD discovered three victims who had suffered gunshot wounds.

"Tragically, one of these victims, 46-year-old John Bidle, was pronounced dead at the scene," Capt. Brian Adams of CPD's Investigations Divisions said in a briefing Saturday night.

"Another victim is in critical condition currently at Vanderbilt Hospital. We have made one arrest and do not believe there are any other suspects. This scene is still active, and detectives are still processing and will continue throughout the night. Our thoughts and prayers are with the victims and their families who were affected by this tragic incident."

Later that night, CPD confirmed that 51-year-old Stacie Wright, who was transported to Vanderbilt University Medical Center, had died during surgery just after 9:15 p.m. Saturday.

"Praying for the families impacted by today's tragic shooting in north Columbia," Mayor Chaz Molder posted to Facebook on Saturday. "Keep everyone, especially the loss of life, in your prayers. And let's show the world this is not who we are as a community. And no isolated incident like today will change that."

The suspect, who was not initially named, is described as a 46-year-old man.

According to intake records from the Maury County Jail released Monday morning, Byron D. Childers was taken into custody at 3302 Somerset Lane at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, facing charges that include: two counts of first-degree murder, one count of attempted first-degree murder, three counts of aggravated assault, one count of assault, one count of carjacking and a count of firearm use during commission of a dangerous felony.

Adams added that anyone with any information related to the incident are urged to contact CPD's Detective Division at (931) 560-1670 or CPD's Facebook page.

In light of the tragic shooting this past weekend on Somerset Lane in Columbia, Battle Creek Middle School will offer counselors, support staff, and any additional resources that may be needed.  Anyone in the community may visit Battle Creek Middle School, located at 121 Battle Creek Way, Spring Hill, Tennessee 37174, on June 3 and June 5, from 10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. CST.

 “Maury County Public Schools offers its deepest sympathy to the families impacted by this senseless act of violence,” said Maury County Public Schools Superintendent, Lisa Ventura. “Now is the time to come together, and love and support one another. It is my hope that anyone that needs support will take advantage of our staff at Battle Creek Middle School.”

 If a time outside of 10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. CST is needed, please contact Battle Creek Middle School counselors Shelley Jansen, sjansen@mauryk12.org and/or Jessie Alexander, jalexander@mauryk12.org.

Budget Committee Mulls Teacher Raises (MSM)

Maury County Commissioner Scott Sumners became the hero of the county Budget Committee meeting on Thursday, when he brought forward a budget plan that rallied his fellow commissioners and won the approval of the public.

Sumners couldn’t sleep the night after the contentious four-hour meeting on May 12, at which school district representatives begged the committee to offer teachers a $50,000 starting salary, like all the counties surrounding Maury now do. They asked the budget committee to set aside 10.3 cents of the county’s property tax rate to give teachers an across-the-board raise of $3,800, which would bring them all up to $50,000 and account for inflation (and more than satisfy the 1.6 percent raise teachers get every year).

To meet the school district’s requests, Sumners drafted a budget that reallocated the 17.7-cent surplus in the county’s debt-service fund : 10.3 cents of it going to the school system’s general fund, to fund across-the-board raises of $3,800 for Maury County’s teachers; two cents goes to the highway department fund; three cents to the county’s capital fund; and leaving 2.4 cents to fund borrowing for capital projects. Projects in demand include the expansion of the county animal shelter, a new library building for Mt. Pleasant and the renovation of the old county courthouse on the Columbia Square. The budget committee agreed not to fund those proposed projects until contractors could come back with a guaranteed maximum price (GMP) for each one.

County Finance Director Doug Lukonen encouraged the committee to spend the extra money that high property valuations would bring them this year.

“This year is a blessing, really,” he told them. “Due to property values going up, we’re going to realize $6 million more in property-tax revenue.”

In 2026, he said the commission would have only new-construction fees to rely on, likely about $700,000.

“You make hay where you can,” Lukonen added.

The budget plan was supported by other commissioners, who sat facing the 60-odd Maury County Public School teachers who could fit into the meeting room. Approximately three dozen more teachers stood outside, in the hallway and on the sidewalk, listening to the live video stream of the meeting. The committee members took care to clarify that none of them had opposed the state-mandated $50,000 minimum at the May 12 meeting, though some had proposed to wait until the 2026-27 fiscal year, when that mandate kicks in.

“There was no negativity at that meeting, about not wanting to fund the teachers or the schools… There was no intention [to] not [do] anything extra,” Sumners explained. “But when you ask for 15-20 percent more funding out of the property tax revenue, it can be kind of a shock to people. It was to me.”

Commissioner Davis Burkhalter brought up that the schools’ budget hadn’t been increased since 2018-19.

“I don’t think it goes far enough… We’ve had a little bit of inflation since then,” he said, to chuckles from the audience. “I think we need to take an additional two-to-four cents out of debt service and put it in General Fund, to help that fund’s deficit.”

A few teachers made public comments after the budget was passed unanimously. Kindergarten teacher Sarah Spears thanked the budget committee but reminded them, “We did not come here because we felt positive about the last meeting.”

She invited the commission to consider how different teaching is from other professions. As a teacher she’s had to use her own money to buy office and classroom supplies, drive her own car to a conference (where she ate a homemade lunch to save a few dollars), teach and manage 32 five-year-olds in rooms built for 25 and wait for the local government to pass an annual raise even when she could show measurable improvements in her students’ grades. White-collar professionals in other fields (information technology, law, management) wouldn’t put up with these for a minute; teachers do so only for love of the profession, she said, and their meager raises shouldn’t be subject to penny-pinching.

Middle-school teacher Adam Trout thanked the committee too, for instituting a raise that would attract quality teachers.

“Nobody wants to say this, but some of our classrooms have not been the best quality, because we took anybody that was willing to work,” he said, for the $36,839 that was the district’s starting salary as recently as 2021. (The current minimum is $46,500, and would have risen to $47,000 this year if not for the committee’s commitment.) The county commission’s other priorities, like the animal shelter or the historic courthouse or even the library, are of interest to some people, but the state of public education affects everyone in Maury County either directly or indirectly. “The one thing that could improve the county the quickest, is the thing that you [passed] tonight.”

Commissioner Gabe Howard, who had spoken in favor of the $50,000 minimum at the May 12 meeting, questioned only the use of the last 2.4 cents from debt service. As a fiscal conservative, he favored spending them directly on the $1.4 million renovation of the county library in Columbia, instead of taking out a loan against them. The committee amended the budget by moving another $1.4 million from the General Fund to the library fund.

The budget committee will hold the regular meeting on June 9, where they’re expected create the final 2025-26 budget to be considered by the full county commission before the end of the current fiscal year on June 30.

Maury Regional Recognized for Stroke Care (Press Release)

Maury Regional Medical Center (MRMC) has earned The Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval® for Advanced Primary Stoke Center Accreditation. This national distinction recognizes the medical center’s commitment to providing advanced neurological care for patients experiencing a stroke.

The Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval is a symbol of quality that reflects a health care organization’s commitment to providing safe and quality patient care, including continuous compliance with performance standards. The certification evaluates how organizations use clinical outcomes and performance measures to improve care across the continuum and the steps they take to prepare patients and their caregivers for discharge. MRMC last received the Advanced Primary Stroke Center Accreditation in 2023.

“MRMC is committed to providing advanced, best-practice health care to our patients and the community, especially for emergency situations, such as strokes,” said Maury Regional Health CEO Martin Chaney, MD. “We are honored to have earned a recertification as an Advanced Primary Stroke Center by The Joint Commission and will continue to strive for exceptional care for our stroke patients and their families and caregivers.”

Physicians on the medical staff at Maury Regional Health utilize state-of-the-art technology to care for patients presenting with stroke symptoms in the Emergency Department or an inpatient unit.

For nearly 10 years, caregivers at the medical center have implemented a sophisticated telemedicine platform for stroke patients. When individuals present to the hospital with symptoms of a stroke, emergency and hospital medicine physicians on the medical staff have 24/7 access to consultations from board-certified neurologists in the Ascension Saint Thomas system. This partnership allows for critical support around the clock for patients who require a rapid response. In addition, Maury Regional Medical Center offers RAPID® software with computed tomography (CT) technology to map blood flow and provide fast and automated diagnostic testing for patients experiencing signs of a stroke. This helps physicians and the care team to determine the best course of action for expedited treatment.

Following a stroke, Maury Regional Health offers resources for patients and their families, including outpatient stroke rehabilitation from experienced physical, speech and occupational therapists. The medical center also hosts a monthly stroke support group to share resources and education.

“Maury Regional Health is always striving to implement new and innovative technology and care models as we strive to fulfill our vision of being southern Middle Tennessee’s trusted choice for health care,” Dr. Chaney said. “I am deeply appreciative of the team that provides life-saving care for our patients when time is of the essence.”

As part of The Joint Commission’s reaccreditation process, MRMC underwent a rigorous onsite review earlier this year. During the visit, a team of Joint Commission reviewers evaluated compliance with related certification standards, including program management and delivering and facilitating clinical care. The Joint Commission’s standards are developed in consultation with health care experts and providers, measurement experts and patients. They are informed by scientific literature and expert consensus to help health care organizations measure, assess and improve performance. The surveyors also conducted onsite observations and interviews.

“As a health care accreditor, The Joint Commission works with health care organizations across care settings to inspire safer and higher quality of care that is more equitable and compassionate,” said Ken Grubbs, DNP, MBA, RN, executive vice president of Accreditation and Certification Operations and chief nursing officer for The Joint Commission. “Through collaborating on innovative solutions and evidence-based resources and tools, The Joint Commission helps drive improvement while maintaining accountability through our leading survey methods and standards. We commend Maury Regional Medical Center for its commitment to advance safety, quality, equity and compassion for all patients.”

Stroke warning signs include:

• Sudden numbness or weakness of the face, arm or leg (especially on one side of the body)

• Confusion or trouble speaking

• Trouble seeing in one or both eyes

• Trouble walking and dizziness or loss of balance

• A sudden severe headache with no know cause

If individuals begin to show signs of a stroke, call 9-1-1 immediately. It is crucial to recognize these signs and act quickly to seek medical attention.

To learn more about Maury Regional Health’s stroke services, visit MauryRegional.com/stroke.

CSCC Pins Nurses (Press Release)

Columbia State Community College recently celebrated 42 nursing graduates in a pinning ceremony in the Webster Athletic Center.

“The nursing pinning ceremony is a meaningful event for the nursing graduate,” said Dr. Amy Huff, Columbia State nursing program director. “It signifies not just completion of a program but entry into a profession. This tradition is a special time of celebration for graduates, shared with friends, families, and faculty.”

Columbia State nursing graduates completed four semesters of classroom instruction and 540 hours of clinical instruction to earn an Associate of Applied Science degree in nursing.

Next, graduates must pass the National Council Licensure Examination in order to earn licensure, which is required to practice as a registered nurse. The 2024 Columbia State nursing students’ first-attempt pass rate for the NCLEX is 98%.

Nursing students are prepared to provide direct patient care in various areas, including medical, surgical, pediatrics and more. After graduation, these nurses will work in various settings such as hospitals, long-term care facilities, clinics, schools and home health care.

“Nursing graduates leave Columbia State prepared to make a difference for patients and families,” said Dr. Kae Fleming, Columbia State dean of the Health Sciences Division. “There are exciting, rewarding positions to match every new nurse's goals!”

The Columbia State nursing program is committed to excellence in nursing education. It has received full approval from the Tennessee Board of Nursing and is accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing. The program’s three-year average graduate job placement rate is 99%.

Columbia State’s nursing program has a competitive admission process with applicants admitted twice per year. For more information about applying to the program, visit www.ColumbiaState.edu/Nursing.

Spring Hill: The Event (Press Release)

The Spring Hill Chamber of Commerce is excited to invite the community to Experience Spring Hill, The Event—a free, family-friendly celebration presented by TriStar Spring Hill ER. Mark your calendars for Saturday, June 21, 2025, from 10 AM to 2 PM at Battle Creek High School, where local innovation, culture, and community come together under one roof.

Experience Spring Hill, The Event is a showcase of local innovation, where neighbors and newcomers unite to celebrate the entrepreneurial spirit and vibrant culture that define our community.

“This event is all about connection—connecting families to fun, businesses to customers, and neighbors to each other,” said Rebecca Melton, former Executive Director of the Spring Hill Chamber of Commerce. “Whether you're new to the area or a long-time resident, you'll walk away with a deeper appreciation for the people and businesses that make our community thrive.”

Event Highlights Include:

• 150+ Local Vendors spotlighting the businesses and organizations that power Spring Hill’s growth

• Touch-a-Truck Zone with emergency vehicles, construction equipment, and more

• Live Performances from local dance, fitness, and martial arts groups

• Family Activities like face painting, balloon art, games, and special character appearances

• Food Court featuring a variety of local flavors

• Giveaways & Prizes throughout the day

• City Showcase & Tennessee Travels highlighting local services and travel ideas

Who Should Attend?

• Families looking for a fun and meaningful day out

• Local residents eager to support and explore their community

• Newcomers hoping to feel more at home in Spring Hill

• Admission is Free – RSVP Today!

Visit www.experiencespringhill.com/experience-spring-hill-event to learn more and RSVP.

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

Kathryne Sue Ausbrooks Burris, 65, resident of Columbia passed away, June 1, 2025 at her residence.

A Memorial Service will be conducted Saturday, June 7, 2025 at 12:00 PM at Oakes & Nichols Funeral Home. The family will visit with friends Saturday from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM at Oakes & Nichols Funeral Home. Online condolences may be extended at www.oakesandnichols.com.

Mrs. Judith Ann Rich, 75, lifelong resident of Columbia, died Sunday, June 1 at Maury Regional Medical Center. Graveside services will be conducted Wednesday, June 4 at 11:00 AM at Polk Memorial Gardens.

Mrs. Nancy Kennedy Page, 94, beloved wife and mother, passed away peacefully May 28 in Katy, TX. A graveside service will take place Saturday, June 7th at 2:00 PM at Kittrell Cemetery in Hampshire, TN. Oakes & Nichols Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

And now, news from around the state…

Pennies to be Discontinued (Tennessean)

Change is coming, but it won't be in the form of a penny anymore.

After 233 years of production, the U.S. Treasury Department announced that the production of the penny will come to an end, and soon, the only ones available will be pennies currently in circulation. The announcement comes after President Donald Trump stated in February that production was going to stop in 2025.

As pennies are phased out, prices will start to change, with items being rounded up to a nickel.

Why is the penny not going to be made?

Trump's February announcement about the halting of the production of the penny stated it is being done as a cost-saving measure for the budget.

As the penny is phased out, prices will soon reflect a nickel as the smallest denomination. Nickels are more expensive than pennies to produce, which could cause other losses in the budget.

How much does it cost to make a penny? A nickel?

More than it is worth.

The currency that is only worth 1 cent costs about 3.7 cents to produce in fiscal year 2024, according to the U.S. Mint's annual report. A nickel costs about 13.8 cents to make. The price to make both coins has been on the rise for almost the last decade.

When does the production of the penny stop?

The last order for pennies has already been taken by U.S. mints and the Treasury told multiple news outlets that pennies will stop being put into circulation early in 2026, according to the Wall Street Journal, CNN, MSN, and Business Insider.

In the 2024 fiscal year, around 3.2 billion pennies were manufactured.

Think that old penny you have in the drawer might be worth something? Well, some are, but most aren't worth more than their face value.

"There are million-dollar pennies, but there are no $100 million pennies," said Donn Pearlman, spokesman for the Professional Numismatists Guild (PNG), a nonprofit organization composed of many of the nation's rare coin experts. "Only a few Lincoln cents dated 1909 to 1958 with the wheat stalks design on the back ("wheat pennies") have sold for $1 million or more."

If you find a 1943 copper Lincoln wheat penny, you might have something. These copper 1 cent pieces were produced accidentally as the U.S. mints were supposed to use zinc to save copper for the World War II effort, said John Feigenbaum, publisher of rare coin price guide Greysheet. The penny is worth some money, but only a few have gone for $1 million.

How can you tell if your pennies, coins are worth anything?

A quick Google search can give you an idea if the coin you have is rare or if it could be worth anything. But if you have questions, you can also reach out to the American Numismatic Association. The nonprofit educational organization is dedicated to educating and encouraging people to study and collect coins and other items related to it.

Final Story of the Day (Maury County Source)

Wanna see Tigirlily Gold, Shaboozey, Kameron Marlowe, Parker McCollum, Cody Johnson, Kelsea Ballerini and Keith Urban? You don't have to pick one. You can see them all during CMA Fest. This lineup is just from one of the show-packed days of the fest which takes place all across downtown Nashville and features both up-and-coming country acts as well as some of the genre's biggest names on big and more intimate stages. CMA Fest takes place from June 5-8. The fest ends each night with a massive lineup inside Nissan Stadium. Tickets: CMAFest.com.