Southern Middle TN Today News with Tom Price 7-18-25

SH Student Honored at Annual SkillsUSA Workforce Development Event (Release)

A Spring Hill High student won a Skill Point Certificate at the SkillsUSA 2025 Championships held last month in Atlanta. Om Patel, who lives in Columbia, was awarded a Skill Point Certificate for his proficiency in the Principles of Engineering-Technology.

The SkillsUSA Championships is the largest skills competition in the world. Covering 1.79 million square feet (equivalent to 31 football fields or 41 acres), the event hosted more than 6,500 students as they competed for certifications in career and technical education.

First-place state winners were invited to the event to demonstrate their technical skills, workplace skills and personal skills in 114 hands-on occupational and leadership competitions including robotics, automotive technology, drafting, criminal justice, aviation maintenance and public speaking. Industry leaders from 850 businesses, corporations, trade associations and unions planned and evaluated the contestants against their standards for entry-level workers. More than 1,200 industry judges and technical committee members participated this year.

All SkillsUSA Championships competitors were honored on Friday night, June 27 at the closing SkillsUSA Awards Session at State Farm Arena. As an indicator of proficiency, Skill Point Certificates were awarded to the national contestants who met a predetermined threshold contest score for their SkillsUSA event, demonstrating workplace readiness. Students can add this certificate to an employment portfolio.

"This showcase of career and technical education demonstrates SkillsUSA at its finest," said SkillsUSA Executive Director Chelle Travis. "Our students, instructors and industry partners work together to ensure that every student excels. This program expands learning and career opportunities for our members."

The SkillsUSA Championships event is held annually for students in middle school, high school or college/postsecondary programs as part of the SkillsUSA National Leadership & Skills Conference. The national, nonprofit partnership of students, instructors and industry is a verified talent pipeline for America's skilled workforce that is working to help solve the skills gap.

Applications Now Open for Columbia Fire & Rescue’s Citizens Fire Academy (Press Release)

Columbia Fire & Rescue is now accepting applications for the 2025 Citizens Fire Academy—a free, hands-on learning experience for adults age 18 and older. More than just an educational program, the Citizens Fire Academy is a unique opportunity to build relationships, educate citizens, and showcase the outstanding work performed daily by Columbia Fire & Rescue personnel.

This six-week program offers participants a behind-the-scenes look at life in the fire service—providing firsthand insight into the operations, challenges, and teamwork that define the department’s commitment to protecting the Columbia community.

Interactive activities include:

• Live equipment demonstrations

• CPR training

• Station tours

• Presentations from CFR’s Emergency Management, Fire Marshal, and Training divisions

• A hands-on mock fire scene drill featuring hose deployment, ladders, and search-and-rescue tactics

Led entirely by CFR personnel, the Citizens Fire Academy is designed to strengthen the department’s bond with the community through education, transparency, and engagement.

The program begins Monday, August 11, 2025, and runs through Monday, October 13, 2025, with sessions hosted at various Columbia fire stations.

Applications are now available at www.ColumbiaTN.com through August 4, 2025. For more details and to view the full agenda, please visit the City’s website or contact Columbia Fire & Rescue directly at 931-560-1700.

Surgeon completes 2,000th robotic-arm assisted procedure (Release)

Orthopedic surgeon W. Cason Shirley, MD, recently hit a major milestone at Maury Regional Medical Center (MRMC) — performing 2,000 procedures using Stryker’s Mako robotic-arm system for knee and hip replacements.

“Performing my 2,000th Mako robotic surgery is extremely rewarding,” Shirley said. “It is an honor to use this innovative technology that revolutionizes joint replacement surgeries in our region, allowing us to individually tailor surgical plans to our patients for better outcomes.”

First introduced at MRMC in 2017, the Mako SmartRobotics™ System by Stryker is designed to elevate surgeon control and optimize implant placement. By combining Mako’s 3D CT-based planning and AccuStop™ haptic technology into one platform, surgeons can plan for better outcomes by creating personalized surgical approaches based on each patient’s unique anatomy before entering the operating room. The Mako system’s surgical precision can offer less pain and faster recovery time compared to traditional open surgery.

In addition to Shirley, physicians on the medical staff utilizing the Mako System include surgeons Scott W. McCall, MD, and J. Fredrick Wade, MD, who perform total and partial knee replacement procedures. All three surgeons are on the medical staff at Maury Regional Medical Center and are associated with Tennessee Orthopaedic Alliance Columbia.

“Orthopedic surgery is a high priority for Maury Regional Health as the number of otherwise healthy adults needing to repair or replace damaged, arthritic joints continues to grow,” CEO Martin Chaney, MD, said. “Through advanced technologies in the hands of skilled surgeons, paired with our ongoing strategic growth plan, we are committed to ensuring patients in our region have access to the best-practice orthopedic care they need right here in Columbia.”

In May 2024, Maury Regional broke ground on a 34,000-sq.ft. expansion to the Outpatient Pavilion, which will house the new Orthopedic Surgical Institute. The new space will feature four operating suites, two procedure rooms, a sterilization and surgical supply unit and space for future expansion. It will be equipped with advanced technology for joint and spine procedures, including the Mako System.

Chase Bank plans second Spring Hill location (CDH)

The Spring Hill Planning Commission approved site plans for a Chase Bank to be located at the Towne Crossing mixed-use development at the corner of Saturn Parkway at Port Royal Road.

Plans for the 3,330 square-foot drive-through bank appeared before planners during the board's July 14 regular meeting. The bank will be located next to a future Starbucks coffee shop approved by the planning commission in January.

Prior to the vote, Spring Hill planning staff expressed concerns regarding parking, particularly five parking spaces on the west side of the building requested to be angled as to align with the adjacent Starbucks' parking design.

Nick Madonia, representing Chase applicant Kimley-Horn design group, said angling the spaces would run the risk of reducing the number from five to three. However, the two reduced spaces can be relocated.

"With Chase clients being mainly senior people, they want to maximize the amount of parking around the building," Madonia said. "Reducing that to three spaces would then bring another two spaces to the south side of the drive aisle."

Madonia added that changing from 25 to 18 overall spaces is atypical for Chase Bank.

"Chase normally shoots for 30 spaces, and so 18 was a lot less than their typical parking count," Madonia said.

No discussion was made by planners at the July 14 meeting, with the vote ultimately resulting in a 6-0 unanimous approval.

In addition to Chase Bank and Starbucks, the city has also previously approved plans for a Publix grocery store at Spring Hill Towne Crossing in 2023.

Bib & Tucker Unveils Fusion of Tennessee Bourbon and Muletown Coffee (MC Source)

At the crossroads of heritage and innovation comes a new signature expression from Bib & Tucker Small Batch Bourbon: Gold Roast Bourbon, a 6-Year Tennessee Bourbon artfully finished with whole roasted Arabica coffee beans using a refined cold extraction method.

Gold Roast Bourbon is a celebration of two time-honored American traditions. Inspired by the turn of the century, when bourbon and coffee were rituals of connection, comfort, and craft, this release reimagines those traditions for the modern drinker.

Crafted using coffee beans from Muletown Coffee Roasters, a Tennessee-based purveyor of fine coffee, Gold Roast Bourbon begins with Bib & Tucker’s award-winning 6-Year bourbon. Aged in new American oak barrels and passed through the Lincoln County Process for added smoothness, the bourbon is infused in its final stage with cold-steeped, custom-roasted Arabica coffee beans sourced from the Agalta region of Honduras. The result: a distinctively smooth and complex spirit with layered notes of roasted coffee, vanilla, milk chocolate and oak.

“With Gold Roast Bourbon, we set out to honor the timeless relationship between coffee and bourbon, two American rituals that have gone hand in hand since the turn of the century,” said Alan Kennedy, Master Blender at Bib & Tucker. “Starting with our signature mash bill of corn, rye, and barley, we carefully crafted a spirit that could carry the richness of a proprietary Arabica coffee roast without overpowering the delicate character of our 6-Year Tennessee Bourbon. The result is a finish that delivers the perfect balance of smoothness and roasted coffee complexity. It’s refined, nuanced, and unmistakably Bib & Tucker,” he adds.

Every element of the Gold Roast process was meticulously designed to create a harmonious blend of whiskey tradition and coffee sophistication:

The bourbon is first filtered through sugar maple charcoal in the traditional Lincoln County Process for added smoothness.

It is then aged for a minimum of six years in new American oak barrels.

Muletown’s Arabica coffee beans are then roasted to Master Blender Alan Kennedy’s specifications and introduced during the final stage of maturation.

Using a cold extraction method, we steep this proprietary blend in our cask-strength whiskey, infusing the spirit with deep aromatics and roasted complexity.

Finally, the finished bourbon is expertly blended into the full batch for a smooth, balanced expression worthy of the Bib & Tucker name.

“Partnering with our neighbors Muletown Coffee was a natural choice for us,” adds Kennedy. “Like our team, they’re deeply committed to a small-batch, artisan approach. They work with farmers to source direct trade coffee, valuing quality over quantity. Locally owned and rooted in Tennessee, Muletown’s attention to craft and origin mirrors our own, making them the ideal partner to bring this bourbon-coffee expression to life.”

And now a look at your hometown memorials, brought to you by Oakes and Nichols Funeral Home…

Mrs. Betty Sue Wade Reedy, 88, wife of James Reedy, and a resident of Columbia, died Saturday, July 12 at Maury Regional Medical Center. Funeral services will be conducted Friday at 2:00 PM at Oakes & Nichols Funeral. Burial will follow in Polk Memorial Gardens. The family will visit with friends Friday from 12:00 PM to 2:00 PM at Oakes & Nichols Funeral Home.

Mrs. Valerie Coleman Brantingham, 69, retired secretary for Columbia First United Methodist Church, and resident of Columbia, TN died Friday, July 11 at her residence. Funeral services will be conducted Saturday at 2:00 PM at Columbia First United Methodist Church. Burial will follow in Polk Memorial Gardens. The family will visit with friends on Saturday from 11:00 until 2:00 PM at Columbia First United Methodist Church.

Mrs. Katherine June Underwood Henson, 78, longtime resident of the Hollywood Community of Culleoka, passed away on July 16 at Maury Regional Medical Center. Funeral services will be conducted Sunday at 2:00 PM at Oakes & Nichols Funeral Home. Burial will follow in Polk Memorial Gardens. The family will visit with friends Sunday from 12:00 PM to 2:00 PM at Oakes & Nichols Funeral Home.

Your weather forecast is brought to you by Workout Anytime Columbia, join at Workout Anytime.com/Columbia or at the gym on 125 Bear Creek Pike.

Here's your weekend forecast.

Today: Mostly sunny with a slight chance of showers and thunderstorms in the morning, followed by a chance of showers and thunderstorms this afternoon. It will be humid with highs around 90 degrees. Winds will be out of the south at around 5 mph. The chance of rain is 50 percent.

Tonight: Mostly cloudy with a chance of showers and thunderstorms this evening, then becoming partly cloudy after midnight. Lows will be in the lower 70s with south winds around 5 mph. There's a 50 percent chance of rain.

Saturday: Partly sunny. A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms in the morning, then showers are likely with a chance of thunderstorms in the afternoon. It will be humid with highs in the upper 80s. Southwest winds will be 5 to 10 mph. The chance of rain is 60 percent.

Saturday Night: Mostly cloudy with a slight chance of showers and thunderstorms in the evening, then partly cloudy after midnight. Lows will be in the lower 70s. There's a 20 percent chance of rain.

Sunday: Mostly sunny. A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms in the morning, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms in the afternoon. Highs will be in the lower 90s, with a 50 percent chance of rain. Heat index values could reach up to 110 degrees.

Sunday Night: Partly cloudy with a slight chance of showers and thunderstorms in the evening. Lows will be in the mid 70s. The chance of rain is 20 percent.