Southern Middle TN Today News with Tom Price 7-17-26

Early voting begins today, here’s what you need to know (Release)

Early voting in Maury County-level elections starts this Friday, July 17. Accordingly, the county Election Commission and the candidates themselves have helpfully provided the following information to Main Street Maury and Maury Alliance.

Early voting locations

Voters can cast their 2026 ballots at one of the two early-voting precincts, which will be open from 8 a.m.- 4 p.m. on weekdays and from 8 a.m. to 12 noon on Saturdays.

The two precincts are:

Maury County Election Commission office

1207 Tradewinds Drive

Columbia, TN 38401

Early voting dates: July 17-Aug. 1

Spring Hill Community Center — Winchester Building

563 Maury Hill Street

Spring Hill, TN 37174

Early voting dates: July 22-25, 2026

With early voting getting underway, the Maury County NAACP is making sure local voters have a way to get to the polls.

The organization is offering free, nonpartisan transportation assistance to anyone in Maury County who needs a ride to an early voting location. The service is completely free of charge and open to all voters, regardless of political affiliation. They are also welcoming accessibility and accommodation requests.

If you need a ride, organizers ask that you submit your request as early as possible. Rides are provided based on volunteer and driver availability, so filling out a request form does not automatically guarantee a ride.

To sign up, you can find the transportation request form online or by scanning the QR code on the Maury County NAACP's official flyer. You will need to provide your name, phone number, pickup address, preferred date and time, and any accessibility needs.

For more information, or if you have questions, you can contact Joseph Brown directly at 931-350-9861, or email jbrown93079@gmail.com.

Ultium Cells Spring Hill begins production of LFP battery cells for energy storage (PRESS RELEASE)

Ultium Cells Spring Hill has officially begun production of LG Energy Solution’s JF2 LFP battery cells for energy storage systems (ESS), marking a significant step in the facility’s expansion into the growing energy storage market. The facility is a joint venture between General Motors and LG Energy Solution.

With the strong demand for ESS in the U.S., launching LFP production at Ultium Cells Spring Hill positions the facility for future growth in emerging energy markets alongside its EV battery business. Ultium Cells Spring Hill completed the conversion of some of its existing capacity to LFP production in less than five months, demonstrating both the flexibility of the facility and the dedication of its workforce to help meet near-term ESS demand while also expanding its overall business.

LFP cells manufactured at Ultium Cells Spring Hill will be used by LG Energy Solution Vertech in complete, U.S.-made storage systems that meet domestic content requirements.

“The start of LFP production for ESS at Ultium Cells Spring Hill shows our expanded capabilities,” said Injae Pahk, President of Ultium Cells. “By leveraging LG Energy Solution’s advanced battery technology and the outstanding dedication of our Tennessee team, we’ve successfully established ESS production capability with speed, flexibility, and a strong commitment to safety, quality, and productivity.”

“Launching LFP production reflects the strength of the partnership between LG Energy Solution and GM and reinforces our confidence in the long-term growth potential of advanced battery manufacturing across the broader Ultium Cells network,” said Chris Desautels, plant director of Ultium Cells Spring Hill. “Ultium Cells is playing a key role in helping companies deploy ESS in support of the power grid and a variety of strategic technology applications.”

Traditional energy generation and renewables create electricity at specific locations, which is then transmitted across the grid to the end user. Energy storage plays a critical role in making the grid more efficient – storing energy after it has been produced but before users need it, enabling energy use to shift and smoothing energy use peaks.

Energy storage systems also create resiliency in the grid by storing energy for emergency use. Notably, energy storage systems help mitigate the volatile load patterns of AI training data centers in a way that the conventional grid can’t, helping to efficiently integrate them into the larger energy ecosystem.

As production ramps up, all Ultium Cells Spring Hill team members have returned, helping support continued growth and day-to-day operations. The launch of JF2-ESS production establishes a strong foundation for future expansion and further reinforces Spring Hill’s role in supporting North America’s growing demand for ESS.

Ultium Cells is a joint venture between General Motors and LG Energy Solution that produces Ultium battery cells to advance the push for a zero-emissions, all-electric future. Ultium Cells provides battery cell capacity to support GM’s North American electric vehicle assembly, while supporting other automotive companies and battery business opportunities. For more information about Ultium Cells, please visit www.ultiumcell.com.

Maury County Fire Dept. struggles to cover service area (MSM)

Emergency calls to the Maury County Fire Department have almost tripled since 2020 — and the all-volunteer department is struggling to keep up, Deputy Chief Richie Schatz told Main Street Maury.

The department covers 560 square miles of Maury County, over 90 percent of its total area. They received 878 emergency calls in 2020, and after steadily climbing over the last few years, Schatz said they responded to 2,209 last year.

County Fire is on track to cover more this year as they report they have already taken more than 1,300 calls in the first half of 2026.

The greatest share of the calls come from the more densely populated northeastern quadrant of the county, with County Fire call records noting they responded to 11 incidents on one recent particularly taxing day.

The department responds to the variety of calls – their service goes beyond just battling a house fire or saving a burning building. Recent calls include a hay bale fire, ATV fire and vehicle accidents requiring extrication. Last week, MCFD members were called in to help free a man’s arm stuck in a dough sheeter.

Aside from six full-time staff, Maury County Fire is an all-volunteer department. Of its roster of 170 firefighters, about 80 active members do the bulk of the work. County Commissioner Gabe Howard recently noted that the department is also a standalone nonprofit, not an official county department, and maintains its own facilities.

Staffing fluctuates throughout the year, and because volunteers tend to sign up at the station closest to them, the most rural areas struggle most to find firefighters.

“[The shortage] is in areas that have a smaller population that don’t have as many people to pull from,” Schatz said.

Meanwhile, volunteer numbers have remained flat. Schatz reported that rising living costs have forced volunteer firefighters and their spouses to take on multiple jobs, work outside the county, and give up discretionary driving — devouring the free time they would otherwise spend protecting their neighbors.

“[In fact,] we’ve probably seen a slight decline over the years in volunteer activity levels,” he said.

County Fire is working to address the problem through incentives and systemic changes. Schatz thanked the County Commission for providing county firefighters a uniform budget for the first time last year, in addition to protective equipment the commission has already purchased for them.

Looking ahead, the Safety Committee heard Schatz’s July 7 request that the county purchase land for an additional fire station on Santa Fe Pike. Unlike the current facility, the proposed station would include dormitories, better truck access and indoor bathrooms. County Fire is also considering hiring more part-time and full-time staff, a significant shift for the historically volunteer department.

“This Commission has been very supportive of the Maury County Fire Department, and we’ve made major strides in the last four years … [like] the hiring of our first six full-time firefighters [in October 2024],” Schatz said. “We’ve definitely improved coverage with some full-time staffing.”

To volunteer with the Maury County Fire Department (MCFD), submit an interest form on the Maury County Fire Department website. The all-volunteer department offers an in-house Recruit Academy for beginners with no experience, and a Lateral Academy for certified firefighters. Both programs feature free training and certification.

Patrick Carter elected chair of State Bar Foundation (RELEASE)

Patrick Carter, an attorney with Wolaver, Carter & Hogan and the city attorney for both Fairview and Spring Hill, has been confirmed as chair-elect of the Board of Trustees of the Tennessee Bar Foundation, following the foundation’s annual meeting in Knoxville in June.

Carter is active in numerous legal and civic organizations throughout Tennessee. His election to the foundation’s leadership reflects his longstanding commitment to the legal profession and to public service. He will serve a one-year term as chair-elect before assuming the role of chair of the Foundation’s Board of Trustees in June 2027.

“It is an honor to serve the Tennessee Bar Foundation and its mission of promoting equal access to justice,” Carter said. “The Foundation’s work has a meaningful impact on communities across Tennessee by supporting organizations that provide vital legal services to those who otherwise could not afford them. I look forward to helping further that mission.”

Established in 1982, the Tennessee Bar Foundation is one of the state’s leading legal organizations dedicated to advancing equal access to justice. The Foundation administers Tennessee’s Interest on Lawyers’ Trust Accounts (IOLTA) program, recognizes distinguished attorneys as Fellows — an honor bestowed upon fewer than 5 percent of Tennessee lawyers — and provides financial support for law-related public interest initiatives across the state.

Through the IOLTA program, the Foundation expands access to legal services for Tennesseans in need. In 2025, the Foundation announced grants totaling $3 million to support Tennessee’s legal aid organizations and nonprofit groups that provide legal assistance to low-income residents and work to improve the administration of justice throughout the state.

Carley Vaccher, driven by Spring Hill camaraderie and helping others (Williamson Herald)

She knew she wanted to help people from a young age, and she knew her avenue to do so would be the medical field. What she didn’t expect was finding herself in the Spring Hill Fire Department as an EMT firefighter.

Carley Vaccher has been at Spring Hill for a little more than a year, but previously found herself working as an EMT in emergency rooms, on an ambulance in California, and now, responding to emergencies in Williamson County.

“This is the best job ever,” Vaccher said. “I love my crew. We’re a team. It’s like a family; we all take care of each other and look out for each other.”

But it’s helping people that truly drives Vaccher. Problem solving. Trying to make someone’s worst day a little better—and she does so through prayer and kindness.

“I’ve been on a handful of calls where they’re like, ‘Can you pray?’ So I’ll sit there and I’ll pray with them during the ambulance ride,” she said. “I’ll sit there and just cover them in prayer and try to talk to them, try to tell them what’s going on, let their family members know what’s going on so no one is kept in the dark, so that it can create a little bit more peace within this situation.”

Knowing she wanted to work in the fire service came much later in life. She didn’t follow in anyone’s footsteps, become inspired by a certain individual, and didn’t even know anyone in the fire service until she was grown and decided she wanted to be in the medical field.

“I really wanted to travel and be able to help people in different countries,” she said. “Then I was graduating (college) and wanted to join the Coast Guard.”

Upon encouragement to take a “safer” route, her mother suggested the fire service.

“I never really thought about that,” Vaccher said. “So I did a ride along with one of her friends and I instantly fell in love. I was like, ‘Yeah, this is the job for me.’”

Sitting behind a desk, working on a computer, and being in an office from nine to five is simply not the life that Vaccher has ever chased. Since “we’re all blessed with different things,” she strives for a path directed toward helping, healing, and serving those in need.

Vaccher remembers a specific dispatch, when she was on the ambulance and helped deliver a baby that was born with the umbilical cord around its neck. When they unwrapped the cord and the baby began wailing, the moment was so impactful to Vaccher that she ended up crying after the fact.

“It was just the craziest thing. The baby’s alive! [Mom] just gave birth to life, you know?” she said.

Vaccher’s EMT firefighting job is anything but easy, though. She must also face life’s hardest moments, respond to calls from grieving wives, and get hearts beating again.

But it’s the comradery of her team that is unlike any support she faced in her other jobs.

“There’s a group of us who genuinely care, and they care about you as their teammate but also you as an individual,” she said, noting that they often check in on each other after a difficult call.

Her team often asks: “How’s your family? How’s your mental state? Was that rough on you?”

“I feel like you don’t get that at a lot of jobs,” she said.

At the end of the day, Carley Vaccher has found the job perfect for her. And it encompasses a second family, miraculous moments during ambulance rides, and comforting those who need it most.

Kissing House welcoming new chapter with Maury County staples (Williamson County Source)

A new chapter is coming to one of Spring Hill’s most recognizable historic homes.

The Kissing House, which has been part of Spring Hill’s story for nearly 150 years, will soon become home to three local brands under one roof, as they shared on their social media. The concept will bring together The Kissing House, Loosewheels Squashed Burgers, and Babylon Beer Garden.

The new gathering spot is expected to open this summer and will combine history, hospitality, and community in one location.

Loosewheels Squashed Burgers will serve handcrafted burgers made fresh to order, while Babylon Beer Garden will offer a place to relax with a cold beer and good company on Fridays and Saturdays.

Together, the businesses are aiming to create more than a restaurant. The vision is to build a place where people can gather with friends, celebrate, catch up, and slow down for a while.

The Kissing House is located at 412 McLemore Ave, Spring Hill, TN 37174.

More details, including menu items and the people behind the project, are expected to be shared in the coming weeks.

In the past, The Kissing House was home to I Love Juice Bar and Brunch Collective.

Now for a look at your hometown memorials…

Norma Johnson Rosson, 96, a beloved mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and cherished friend, passed away peacefully on Sunday, July 12, 2026, at The Bridge, where she had made her home for the past several years. Funeral services will be conducted Friday, July 17, 2026, at 11:00 a. m. at Oakes & Nichols Funeral Home with Andrew Phillips officiating. The family will receive friends Friday from 10:00 a. m. until the time of the service at the funeral home. Burial will follow at Polk Memorial Gardens.

Charles Sloan Delk, 87, a Maury County native, longtime resident of Blue Ridge Road, and retired engineer with L&N Railroad/CSX Transportation, passed away peacefully at his residence on Tuesday, July 14, 2026.

Graveside services will be conducted at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, July 18, 2026, at Polk Memorial Mausoleum with Rusty Colvett officiating.

Bethany Lynne Secrest Hord, 58, a lifelong resident of Columbia, Tennessee, passed away peacefully on Sunday, July 13, 2026, at Maury Regional Medical Center.

Funeral services will be conducted Friday at 2:30 p.m. at Oakes & Nichols Funeral Home with Rev. Tony Brown officiating. Burial will follow at Polk Memorial Gardens. The family will receive friends Friday from 12:30 p.m. until the time of the service at Oakes & Nichols Funeral Home. Online condolences may be extended at www.oakesandnichols.com.

And now news from around the state…

State reports new records in business filings, population growth stays strong (RELEASE)

New business filings in the first quarter of 2026 were the highest for a first quarter in the 33-year history of the data, according to the new Quarterly Business and Economic Indicators report issued by Secretary of State Tre Hargett’s office. Tennessee also set an all-time record for annual reports filed in the quarter, showing that business resilience and creation remain exceptionally strong.

“Our state leaders work diligently to offer a welcoming business environment that supports jobs and opportunities,” said Secretary Hargett. “Tennessee’s recipe of lower taxes, light regulations, and responsible fiscal management is why people from across the country continue to move here.”

During the first quarter, 24,852 new entities filed in Tennessee, a 20.6% year-over-year increase. A high level of business filings typically leads to jobs, personal income, and state revenue growth. 241,706 entities filed annual reports in the quarter, a huge 30.4% year-over-year increase. Over the last 12 months, there were 84,893 new entity filings and 373,992 annual reports.

Davidson and Knox counties saw the largest number of filings in the third quarter, followed by Shelby and Hamilton counties. These four most-populous counties accounted for 42.6% of new filings statewide and grew collectively by 20.1%. Tennessee’s other 91 counties grew even faster with year-over-year growth of 21%.

The report also includes a feature on Tennessee’s population growth that increased nearly 64,000 in 2025 to reach 7.32 million people. Net domestic migration (people moving to Tennessee from other U.S. states minus people moving out of Tennessee) was the primary driver, but net international migration and natural growth (births minus deaths) also contributed.

Although Tennessee’s growth has returned to pre-pandemic norms, it remains strong. Tennessee had the 4th largest net domestic migration in the nation in 2025, and the 5th largest as a share of its population. Davidson County saw the largest increase, and 81 of the state’s 95 counties gained population.

“The entrepreneurial spirit in Tennessee really shines through in this record-breaking level of both new entity and annual report filings,” said Dr. Don Bruce, Director of the Boyd Center for Business and Economic Research. “It shows that our state continues to be a hot spot for new businesses, which, in turn, creates more jobs and a stronger tax base—all good things to increase the quality of life for Tennesseans.”

This report provides a snapshot of the state’s economy based on key indicators, including new business data from the Secretary of State’s Division of Business and Charitable Organizations. It is published through a partnership with the University of Tennessee Knoxville’s Boyd Center for Business and Economic Research and the Secretary of State.

To review the complete Q1 2026 Tennessee Quarterly Business and Economic Indicators report and past reports, visit sos.tn.gov.

Final story of the day…

CFD hosting push-in ceremony Friday (FPR)

Columbia Fire and Rescue is inviting the community to a historic fire service tradition tomorrow morning.

You're invited to the Engine 5 Push-In Ceremony and Community Open House this Friday, July 17th, from 10:00 a.m. until noon.

Dating back to the days of horse-drawn engines, a push-in ceremony is a tradition where firefighters and community members manually push the new apparatus into the station, symbolizing teamwork and service.

The open house features fire station tours, activities, free food, and fire safety fun for the whole family. You can also meet your local firefighters and see the new Engine 5 up close.

It all takes place at Fire Station 5, located at 2633 Nashville Highway in Columbia. Everyone is welcome to attend.