Southern Middle TN Today News with Tom Price 6-4-25

WKOM/WKRM Radio

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)

A previously armed male is in police custody after being shot by Columbia police and taken to the hospital early Tuesday in north Columbia

Officers responded at approximately 1 a.m. to a call about a suspicious male walking along Nashville Highway attempting to approach vehicles, according to Columbia Police Department social media post at 6:30 a.m. Tuesday.

"Upon arrival, officers encountered a white male in the roadway armed with a handgun," the CPD post said.

Over the duration of approximately 10 minutes, officers made continuous efforts to have the male stop and drop his firearm, the post said. The male refused and continued 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 post said.

The man was later transported to Vanderbilt Medical Center, where he was taken into surgery for his injuries.

The man's condition and identity have not been released by police.

Brent Cooper, 22nd Judicial District Attorney, later requested the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation investigate the incident, in accordance with state protocol.

TBI issued a report shortly after 8:30 a.m. Tuesday saying they are continuing to investigate the circumstances of the shooting by police.

"Preliminary information indicates the incident happened at approximately 1 a.m. Tuesday morning in the area of Nashville Highway and Archway Drive, where Columbia officers responded to a report of a suspicious man walking in the road," the TBI report states.

According to the preliminary report, at least one officer fired upon the man, hitting him.

No law enforcement officers were hurt in the incident.

The report continues saying TBI officers will be collecting evidence and conducting interviews, which Cooper will then review.

"The TBI acts solely as factfinders in its cases and does not determine whether the actions of an officer were justified in these types of matters," TBI states. "That decision rests with the District Attorney General requesting TBI’s involvement."

The officer involved, who was not identified in the report, has been placed on administrative leave, also per CPD protocol when any officer is involved in a shooting."

Spring Hill Adopts Budget (CDH)

The Spring Hill Board of Mayor and Aldermen adopted Monday upon second and final reading Spring Hill's budget and static property tax rate for the 2025-2026 fiscal year.

The budget includes total appropriations of approximately $61.3 million.

Spring Hill will maintain its current property tax rate of $0.739 per $100 of assessed property value and will be uniform across both Maury and Williamson County, with the Williamson expected to generate an increased $3.7 million for the General Fund due to a recent property reassessment.

While the tax rate will remain the same, the estimated property value increase in Williamson could mean some residents would in turn end up paying more in taxes, which was a concern Alderman John Canepari shared with board members.

"Because of the reassessment, my personal case is that my property taxes, if this is approved tonight, will go up 50.5%," Canepari said. "I've had residents email me and comment personal messages on Facebook, and one resident actually calculated it at 63%. I just want people to know that the money is needed, but I don't want you to be hoodwinked into thinking that because the rate has stayed flat at $0.739, we are not going to see a property tax increase."

Prior to Monday's budget vote, Spring Hill Vice Mayor Trent Linville proposed an amendment to add $60,000 using tourism budget funds for Spring Hill Welcome Center's annual operating costs in partnership between the Spring Hill Chamber of Commerce and the Williamson County Convention & Visitors Bureau, which was also approved.

Alderman Jaimee Davis later commented on the Welcome Center's funding, which was approved as a separate resolution later in the meeting.

"I am supportive of this, and I know the money is coming out of tourism and it needs to be used for that," Davis said. "I know they are going to partner with the city to help move us forward. I look forward to this."

Later in Monday's meeting, BOMA members turned to a discussion regarding the city's current ordinance for chicken ownership at residential properties.

According to the current ordinance, residents are only allowed four hens despite the size of the property, unless the property is zoned for agriculture. Alderman Vincent Fuqua suggested the ordinance be amended for property owners with larger land parcels, and that they should be able to own more chickens than the city currently allows.

"What I would like to do is amend the ordinance to have one hen, or chicken, per 1,500 feet of grazing space," Fuqua said. "For most residents in the city of Spring Hill, it does not change. However, those who have half-acre lots, or three-quarter acres are then allowed more chickens as the space increases."

Spring Hill Development Services Director Dara Sanders, whom Fuqua referred to as "the chicken expert on staff," said the proposed amendment is something many cities have adopted.

"This ordinance would do something that many states are doing currently who have tested their 'four hens per lot' ordinance," Sanders said. "In this case, we would start with four hens, but if you have a 10,000-square foot lot, this calculation gives you 6.67 hens, which we would round down to six hens."

Sanders added that the ordinance would recognize that those with larger lots can also provide larger separation from neighboring property owners.

"Staff is supportive of this request, and it is consistent with national standards and trends, and I think it speaks to the roots of Spring Hill being an agricultural community that has grown up around celebrating agriculture, and it meets the needs of our residents," Sanders said.

No votes were taken Monday, but Fuqua said he would submit the item for a BOMA vote at its next meeting, scheduled Monday, June 16.

Mayor’s Youth Council (WKOM Audio 2:36)

Yesterday, the Columbia Mayor’s Youth Council launched their Legacy Project at Riverwalk Park. Front Porch Radio’s Louis Maddox was on hand to speak to Columbia Mayor Chaz Molder and Youth Council member Carter Lawrence about the project and what the Mayor’s Youth Council does in the community...

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.

CSCC Pins EMS Grads (Press Release)

Columbia State Community College recently recognized 31 emergency medical technicians and 26 advanced emergency medical technicians upon completion of certificates during the Spring 2025 EMS Pinning ceremony held in the Cherry Theatre.

“EMS Academy faculty are proud of this cohort of students in their exemplary work performed this semester,” said Greg Johnson, Columbia State EMS program director and assistant professor. “These graduates are answering a special call to serve their community and are well prepared to be the difference makers needed when called upon. I’m grateful for the hard work and dedication of EMS Academy faculty and college staff who come together to play such an important role in shaping these future providers. These graduates are a picture of the success of Columbia State’s ‘One College’ vision.”

Traditional Spring 2025 EMT completers at the Columbia Campus achieved an 86% first-attempt pass rate for the national registry. Completers on the Williamson Campus achieved a 100% first-attempt pass rate for the national registry. Students in the integrated certificate received a 100% first-attempt pass rate on the EMT national registry and an 84% on the AEMT portion for the students who have tested to date.

An EMT provides basic life support at the site of illnesses and injuries, assisting with transport to the hospital. The Advanced EMT provides basic and advanced life support at sites of illnesses and injuries through transport to the hospital.

The accelerated AEMT path is an academy-style, technical certificate program designed to educate and train students to serve as vital members of a pre-hospital EMS team in a single semester. Students must complete 144 hours of clinical rotations to earn a technical certificate in AAEMT.

For the past three years, Columbia State has offered the opportunity for students from several Middle Tennessee high schools to complete the EMT certificate via dual enrollment. Creek Wood High School's first group of EMTs finished in Spring 2025, along with groups from existing offerings at East Hickman and Fairview High Schools.

EMT certificate completers also have the option to pursue the General Technology Associate of Applied Science degree by combining coursework from two certificates with general education courses to complete a personalized degree program.

“Columbia State's EMS Academy is widely known for innovation, high standards, and exceptional student achievement,” said Dr. Kae Fleming, Columbia State dean of the Health Sciences Division. “Emergency Medical Services certification fast-tracks learners into the workforce in roles that present multiple opportunities to make a difference every day!”

The program provides students with the necessary didactic and practical training to perform life-saving skills. Additionally, students learn to work alone, as well as in a squad-based (team) environment.

For more information about the EMS program, visit www.ColumbiaState.edu/EMS or contact Johnson at 931.540.2792.

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

Mr. Herman Lee “Pete” Woodward, 98, retired shift foreman for Peabody Coal, and lifelong resident of Columbia, died Tuesday, June 3 at Maury Regional Medical Center. Funeral services will be conducted Friday, June 6 at 2:00 PM at Oakes & Nichols Funeral Home. Burial will follow at Polk Memorial Gardens with military honors provided by the Herbert Griffin American Legion Post 19. The family will visit with friends Friday from 12:00 PM to 2:00 PM at Oakes & Nichols Funeral Home.

Mrs. Kathryne Sue Burris, 65, resident of Columbia passed away, June 1 at her residence. A Memorial Service will be conducted Saturday, June 7 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.

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…

Tennesseans Deployed (Fox17.com)

Over 260 Guardsmen from the Tennessee Army National Guard’s 278th Armored Cavalry Regiment began their deployment journey to the Middle East on May 30, departing from Knoxville and Smyrna for a nearly year-long mission in support of Operation Spartan Shield.

The soldiers are currently stationed at Fort Cavazos, Texas, where they will complete several weeks of additional training before continuing on to Kuwait. The deployment marks the culmination of a year of intensive preparation, according to Maj. Gen. Warner Ross, Tennessee’s Adjutant General.

“Our Guardsmen have been preparing and training rigorously the past year for this deployment,” said Ross. “I could not be prouder of all they have accomplished, and I’m confident they will represent Tennessee with pride and professionalism.”

The deploying troops are part of Task Force Two, a multi-state unit led by the 3rd Squadron of the 278th, headquartered in Temple, Texas. That squadron makes up the majority of the force, contributing roughly 470 Texas Guardsmen. Additional support is coming from the Michigan Army National Guard.

Once in Kuwait, Task Force Two will replace Task Force One, a group of approximately 700 Tennessee Guardsmen from the 278th’s 2nd Squadron, who have been stationed in the region since October 2024. Their mission under Operation Spartan Shield includes strengthening defense relationships, promoting regional stability, and supporting U.S. Central Command operations.

Governor Bill Lee and First Lady Maria Lee recently visited Task Force One in Kuwait to thank soldiers for their service.

“We owe a debt of gratitude to the Tennesseans who bravely serve our state and nation,” Gov. Lee said. “Maria and I are deeply grateful to our soldiers deployed in the Middle East who demonstrate the Volunteer Spirit through their remarkable commitment to defending our freedoms.”

The 278th Armored Cavalry Regiment, headquartered in Knoxville, is the largest unit in the Tennessee National Guard and one of only five armored brigade combat teams in the National Guard nationwide. In addition to this Middle East mission, more than 160 soldiers from the 278th are currently deployed to Germany as part of the Joint Multinational Training Group-Ukraine, enhancing NATO partnerships and supporting Ukraine’s defense initiatives.

Final Story of the Day (Maury County Source)

Alan Jackson has made it official – a touring career that has taken his catalog of true country music from coast-to-coast countless times…crossed Canada from sea-to-sea…and even made its way to such far-reaching places as Australia, Brazil, and Europe…is nearing its end. But not until he stages a “big finale” next year in Nashville.

“It’s been a long, sweet ride. It started 40 years ago this September,” he shared.

Jackson – who announced in 2019 that he’s living with a neurological disease called Charcot-Marie-Tooth – donated a portion of every ticket sale to the CMT Research Foundation. Now that all is said and done, over $2.25-million dollars were directly and indirectly raised by the tour through donations, matching contributions and efforts, and other revenue inspired by Jackson and the tour…all while also amplifying awareness and understanding of the condition.

That final concert in Nashville is still being planned. Follow Ticketmaster for details as they are released.