Southern Middle TN Today News with Tom Price 7-23-25

Spring Hill faces sewage problem, state pressure (WKRN)

The City of Spring Hill has to figure out how to fix a growing sewage problem.

Spring Hill’s sewer treatment plant is near capacity. At Monday night’s meeting, city leaders said they’re facing new pressure from the state to find a solution.

Spring Hill’s Board of Mayor and Aldermen discussed the next steps for the moratorium. The proposed ordinance would prevent new sewer connections and also require new developments to implement alternative sewer treatments.

The city’s sewer treatment plant is near capacity, and if it reaches capacity, the plant will lose the ability to function at certain levels, which can cause severe environmental impact.

Spring Hill Attorney Patrick Carter said the city has even received litigation threats from environmental groups about the problem, and they’re threatening to sue. Right now, an environmental lawyer is representing the city as officials work to navigate the issue.

“That’s going to look like a fine, frankly,” Carter said. “It’s going to look like a sewer connection moratorium as well as other actions the city must take to remedy our problem with our treatment of wastewater.”

The city is now working on a consent order with the Tennessee Department of Environment & Conservation, which is a legal record of an agreement. The agreement could be adopted by the first week of August.

Miss Tennessee coming to Columbia (MSM)

Miss Tennessee, Zoe Scheiderich, will be in Columbia Saturday as part of a fundraising effort for the new Miss Maury County competition coming up in November.

Scheidrich will visit three local businesses as part of Spirit Day, which is a local fundraiser for Miss Maury County to help with competition organization costs, as well as scholarship funds for the winners of the Nov. 8 competition.

Four businesses are participating in Spirit Day, but with one starting a 6:45 a.m., Scheidrich will be visiting the three later events.

Proceeds from purchases made at these businesses during their assigned times will be donated to the Miss Maury County Organization.

The early business, where Scheidrich will not be attending, is Vive Cycling, 510 N. Garden St., Suite A in Columbia from 6:45 a.m. - 8 a.m. Proceeds from those times will be donated to the Miss Maury competition.

Scheidrich is scheduled to be at Towne Coffee & Cuisine, 1201 N. Commerce St., Columbia, from 8-10 a.m.

From 10 a.m. - noon Saturday, Scheidrich is scheduled to be at Baxter’s Mercantile, 808 S. Garden St. in Columbia.

Scheidrich will wrap up her visit to Columbia from noon-2 p.m. at Hattie Jane’s Creamery, 16 Public Square, Columbia.

Miss Maury County organizer Corbin Davis said the organization is also seeking sponsors for the first ever Miss Maury County competition to be affiliated with Miss Tennessee America. The competition will have two categories Miss Maury County and Miss Maury County Teen.

The fundraiser and search for sponsors is all part of the effort to bring the Miss Maury competition to Maury County as a preliminary to the Miss Tennessee and ultimately Miss America competitions.

“The goal for the Miss Maury County Organization is to pull in young ladies from all over,” Davis said. “This is not closed to Maury County residents only, it is open to the entire state. One of the goals is to pull in visitors to Maury County. The economic impact there will hopefully be huge.

“But we’ll also be introducing these young ladies to Columbia and Spring Hill and Mt. Pleasant. Then, hopefully, long term, they come back.”

The Miss Maury County competition is for young ladies 18-28. Miss Maury County Teen competition is for girls 14-18.

The winners of the Miss Maury County competition will receive scholarship money and will represent Maury County in the Miss Tennessee competition in the summer of 2026. The winner of Miss Tennessee goes on to compete for Miss America.

“Maury County has never had a preliminary for Miss Tennessee before, so, it’s the first time we’ve done it,” Davis said. “The young ladies compete in an interview, onstage questions, evening gown, fitness and talent.

“Then whoever wins Miss Maury County, basically her role for the next year is as much fundraising and community service as she can possibly do.”

These are the same kinds of roles and the same kinds of influences the creation of the Miss Maury County competition will bring to the local community, Davis noted.

“These young ladies will go around the community, attend fundraisers to help local organizations raise money,” Davis said. “Miss America is very heavily tied to the American Heart Association. So the winner will raise money for that organization along with her own community service initiative that can be whatever platform she chooses.”

The winners also get scholarships that are paid once they are enrolled.

Davis urged potential sponsors to consider the hard work and dedication of the young ladies competing in the Miss Maury County competition.

The Miss Maury County and Miss Maury County Teen competition is open to any young lady in the proper age ranges who lives in the state of Tennessee. To register visit the Miss America website at MissAmerica.org. The deadline for the Nov. 8 Miss Maury County competition is the week before.

City of Mt. Pleasant promotes Todd Stewart to Fire Chief (MSM)

The city of Mt. Pleasant appointed Todd Stewart as its Fire Chief, effective July 2025. With over 27 years of dedicated service in firefighting and emergency response, Chief Stewart brings a wealth of experience, integrity and leadership to his new role.

Chief Stewart began his fire-service career in 1997 and joined the Mt. Pleasant Fire Department in 2007, where he steadily advanced through the ranks. For his commitments to operational excellence, training, and team development, he was promoted to Assistant Fire Chief in 2017, and as Fire Chief he promises to guide the department to continued advancement and community-focused service.

Chief Stewart has shown his consistent dedication to emergency response and safety training by serving as a licensed Emergency Medical Responder, TARS Instructor in Vehicle Extrication, and EVOC Instructor. The state Firefighting Commission has credentialed him in multiple roles, including Firefighter, Fire Officer, Instructor, Inspector, Incident Safety Officer, Hazardous Materials Operations, Pump Driver, Swift Water Rescuer, and Aircraft Rescue Firefighter.

In his role as leader, Chief Stewart will oversee departmental operations, manage the fire department's budget, and coordinate its personnel. The city extends its congratulations and full support to Chief Stewart as he leads the department into this new chapter.

Duck River Conservancy Opposes Columbia Dam Completion (MSM)

Middle Tennessee landowners serving on the Duck River Conservancy Board of Directors voted this month to oppose recent efforts to revive the halted Columbia Dam project, voicing serious environmental and health concerns.

“Our top priority is the preservation of the Duck River, and this dam would seriously harm the biological diversity and environmental health of one of our nation’s most important rivers,” said Doug Jones, chairman of the Duck River Conservancy and the owner of 150 acres on the Duck in Hickman County. “This project would completely undercut the Governor’s commitment to preserving the Duck River watershed, without any meaningful benefit to the local residents who rely on the river and enjoy it every day.”

The Duck River, which has experienced historic drought conditions in recent years and increased water withdrawals by utilities, would have even less water if the dam is built. Landowners questioned the efficacy of the dam, citing reports of severe water waste by utilities already occurring as a result of leaking pipes.

CPWS is a regional leader in water conservation, with one of the lowest leak loss rates at just 10-15%. While many utilities struggle with higher losses, CPWS's proactive maintenance and leak detection efforts ensure efficient water distribution and protect our vital Duck River source.

“These companies should focus on making good use of the water we already have, rather than sucking up even more water from an endangered river,” said Vice President Danny Rochelle, another Hickman County property owner who would be downriver from the proposed dam. Gov. Bill Lee appointed Rochelle to the Board of Directors of the Duck River Development Agency. “We cannot allow the growth and development of surrounding communities to intimidate us into giving up our most precious resource.”

The Duck River, which is 284 miles long and home to more than 50 species of freshwater mussels and 151 species of fish, is internationally renowned for its biodiversity. Advocates and state officials, including Lee, have focused on the drought conditions, which are an existential threat to both the river’s native life as well as the surrounding communities that rely on it for water and recreation. The Duck River provides water for about 250,000 Middle Tennessee residents. In addition, approximately 150,000 people use the river each year for kayaking, fishing and other outdoor activities. The Columbia Dam project also would hurt several recreational businesses that operate along the river.

The Duck River Conservancy, formerly known as Hickman County for the Duck, is a committee of landowners who know the importance of being a good steward of the river and the importance of protecting the No. 1 most biodiverse river in North America.

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

Mrs. Deborah Kaye “Debbie” Andrews Locke, 68, resident of Culleoka, passed away peacefully at her home surrounded by family. Funeral services will be conducted Wednesday at 10:00 AM at Oakes & Nichols Funeral Home. Burial will follow in Friendship Cemetery. The family will visit with friends Tuesday, from 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM at Oakes & Nichols Funeral Home.

Mrs. Lisa Ann Johnson Tubville, 66, lifelong resident of Columbia, died Friday, July 18, at Maury Regional Medical Center. Funeral services will be conducted Wednesday, July 23 at 2:00 PM at Oakes & Nichols Funeral Home. Burial will follow in Polk Memorial Gardens. The family will visit with friends Wednesday from 12:00 PM to 2:00 PM at Oakes & Nichols Funeral Home.

OneGenAway will Provide Free Groceries in Columbia (MC Source)

Franklin-based nonprofit OneGenAway will host a drive-thru Mobile Pantry event, providing free groceries to anyone in need. Recipients will receive fresh produce, pantry staples and more. No registration is needed, and no questions are asked.

The event takes place on Saturday, July 26, 2025. Distribution begins at 9:00 a.m. and continues until food runs out (approximately 10:00 a.m.). Volunteers are needed and are encouraged to arrive at 7:30 a.m. No registration needed to volunteer. Volunteers serve outside rain or shine.

Find the food distribution at Columbia State College, 1665 Hampshire Pk, Columbia, TN.

The event is open to anyone in need of food assistance. OneGenAway operates its Mobile Pantry almost every Saturday throughout its service area, which includes Middle Tennessee, North Alabama and the Florida Panhandle. They have also been serving areas affected by Hurricane Helene as a way to support these communities.