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

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Southern Middle Tennessee Today

News Copy for July 7, 2025

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

We start with local news…

Ogles Votes Yes on One Big Beautiful Bill (CDH)

Tennessee lawmakers have responded to the U.S. House of Representatives’ July 3 passing of President Donald Trump's proposed legislative package of tax reductions and Medicaid cuts, known as the "One Big Beautiful Bill."

U.S. Rep. Andy Ogles, R-Tennessee, 5th Congressional District, joined GOP legislators from East to West Tennessee in a solidary "yes" vote, praising the bill.

The narrow 218-214 House vote came following the U.S. Senate's 51-50 July 1 near-tie approval earlier this week. U.S. Rep. Tim Burchett, a Republican who resides in Knox County in East Tennessee, played a key role in the bill's passage by changing his stance against the bill.

Burchett, who often votes against bills that add to the deficit, according to The Knoxville News Sentinel, reached a "yes" vote after talking to Trump and the Freedom Caucus this week.

The Congressional Budget Office says the bill will increase the national debt by $3.3 trillion over 10 years.

“After numerous discussions with President Trump, Speaker Johnson, and my colleagues in the House, I decided that a YES vote is the best way to help the people of East Tennessee,” he said in a news release.

Explaining his rationale, Burchett cited his support of border security, a permanent extension of tax cuts, Trump's campaign promise for no taxes on tips, American car tax breaks and tax deductions for seniors on Social Security.

Ogles celebrated the landmark approval in a media statement on July 3, saying the bill "made history."

"I was at the White House with President Trump for several hours yesterday and spent countless hours whipping votes with Speaker Johnson for the One Big Beautiful Bill," he said. "This historic legislation will unleash our economy and usher in a new golden age for America."

Ogles's statement also included a list of what he believes the bill's passage will achieve, pending Trump's signature.

“Let me be clear: what Republicans accomplished today under President Trump’s leadership will launch:

• Historic tax cuts

• Critical border security

• No tax on tips and overtime pay

• A war chest for ICE patriots to deport every last invader

• American energy dominance

• The Golden Dome

" ... Wins like this are exactly why he deserves serious consideration for a third term—AND why so many believe he belongs on Mt. Rushmore."

Ogles has advocated this year for Trump to be allowed to run for a third term as president.

U.S. Rep. David Kustoff, R-Tennessee, who represents portions of West Tennessee, also explained his support of the bill in a July 3 statement.

“The One Big Beautiful Bill will secure our border, unleash domestic energy production, and help get able-bodied Americans back to work," Kustoff said. "It will also ensure a more efficient federal government and execute the largest spending reduction in history."

The sprint to vote on the bill led to polarizing opinions on both political sides, with naysayers adamantly stating the bill could cause more harm than good.

Debates emerged over cuts to Medicaid and SNAP programs that would leave nearly 12 million Americans uninsured and affect 2 million people on SNAP, according to the Congressional Budget Office. Of the nearly 12 million affected, an estimated 1.4 million people without verified citizenship, nationality, or satisfactory immigration status would no longer be covered in state-only funded programs in 2034, according to the CBO.

Though a mandate in the bill would require states to provide supplemental costs, or matching funds, for lost federal funds on SNAP and Medicaid programs.

Minority representative U.S. Rep. Steve Cohen, a Democrat representing Memphis, joined other U.S. House Democrats in voting against the bill.

“The GOP’s One Big Ugly Bill fails every basic moral test,” Cohen said in a statement. “They are taking food and health care away from poor people so that the wealthiest individuals who have ever lived can become even wealthier. It is cruel, indefensible, and it is likely the worst bill that has ever been presented by Congress for the citizens of Memphis and Tennessee’s Ninth Congressional District. I was proud to vote ‘NO’.”

All of Tennessee's Republican delegation, Reps. Diana Harshbarger; Chuck Fleischmann; Scott DesJarlis; Ogles; John Rose; Mark Green and Kustoff, voted with Burchett in support of the bill. Both of Tennessee's senators, Republicans Marsha Blackburn and Bill Hagerty, voted in favor of the Senate version.

“The One Big Beautiful Bill Act prevents the largest tax hike in American history and secures the largest tax cut ever for individuals and families who endured four years of crushing inflation and reckless spending," Blackburn said in a July 1 statement.

Giles County Trafficking Charges (Fox17.com)

The Giles County Sheriff's Department has announced an investigation that resulted in the rescue of eight victims and multiple charges, including trafficking for forced labor.

Detectives have announced an investigation into James and Kelli Hewitt, one that involved 15 different agencies as well as search and arrest warrants.

The Hewitt's face charges of trafficking for forced labor, involuntary labor servitude, three counts of animal cruelty and one count of aggravated animal cruelty.

Police say eight victims of various ages have been rescued and placed in a safer environment.

The investigation is ongoing with detectives reporting they anticipate more victims and charges. If anyone has any information on the case, they are encouraged to call the sheriff's department at 931-363-3505.

County Passes Budget (CDH)

The Maury County Commission approved its 2025-2026 fiscal budget, fixed its property tax rate to include no new increases since last year and OK'd budgets for Maury County Public Schools.

The commission at its June 16 meeting passed $55.3M in the general fund to fund county services, with a total expenditure budget of $293M.

The county's tax rate will remain at $1.91 per $100 of assessed value of taxable property.

The 2025-2026 fiscal budget also shows no new debt, as well as $13.8 million in capital expenditures, with $37 million in borrowing capacity, if the need were to arise.

County reserves are also being used to offset any deficit budgets, according to the Maury County Finance Department.

Maury County Public Schools' general fund totaled $161M with nearly $3 million allotted to road capital projects.

MCPS teachers are set to receive a $3,800 raise, plus a 1.6% step raise meeting the $50,000 minimum salary requirement for teachers but will be for one year only.

Non-teaching staff will also receive a 3% step raise plus a 1% cost of living raise.

County employees will also receive a 3% cost of living and 2% merit raise. Elected officials will also receive a 3% cost of living increase.

The 2025-2026 fiscal budget also includes funds for 18 new county positions, as well as 28 new positions for the school district.

Prior to the June 16 commission vote, Maury County Mayor Sheila Butt offered comments regarding the budgeting process, calling it "never an easy task" for anyone involved.

"It is a grueling process, and it is for everybody involved," Butt said. "We know that we can't do everything, and we have to pray for wisdom and try to make the best decisions for the people of Maury County. I don't think there is a commissioner here who doesn't want to do that."

"We hear mostly what everybody needs, which we would like to give," Butt said. " I am proud of this county commission trying to do things right, trying not to raise taxes, and I think we have worked very well together. I appreciate every one of [the commissioners], every one of the department heads for bringing your needs to us. We are all in this together."

Butt also encouraged public communication among citizens and leaders not just when something is needed but to provide support.

"We hear your complaints all of the time, we understand, and we would like to give you everything," Butt said. "But that being said, when you see a commissioner, who is serving well and trying to do their job, I wish you would give them a compliment every now and again, because we don't hear a lot of the compliments."

Prior to the commission's vote, District 5 Commissioner Scott Sumners said one of the hardest parts of organizing an annual budget is compromise.

"It's not easy to say 'No' to people, but we didn't say 'no' a lot this time around," Sumners said. "We have got a big budget here."

Sumners also warned that "it is going to be a tough budget year," and that revenue needs to be a primary focus to regenerate budget funds due to upcoming capital projects.

"We are at a tipping point with revenue, and we are kind of hamstrung with revenues next year because of the reappraisal process," Sumners said. "I would look for us to be having some major discussions on that in the coming months."

Senior Center Discussed by County (MSM)

At special-called Maury County Budget Committee meetings recently, discussion tended to center on one or two big-ticket topics including whether to renovate the Senior Center at Maury County Park, to plan to build a whole new community center there, or to do both at different times.

Several Committee members, Parks Department staff and public commenters were in favor of the renovations. The bathrooms in particular were mention as aging quickly, especially the water pipes, which the Parks and Recreation Department has said they plan to replace entirely, leaving the old pipes in the ground to rust away. Other bathroom problems stated include the stalls being far too small to accommodate wheelchairs or walkers. The 40-year-old Senior Center predates the 1991 Americans with Disabilities Act, and only became subject to it in the last 15 years.

“ADA only became applicable to parks in 2010, and everyone has been playing catch-up,” said Al Ray, Director of Maury County Parks and Recreation.

Public commenters like Candace Whorley and Kathy Hasse also noted that there isn’t enough space to do activities like line-dancing, playing pool and card games, and that the broken air-conditioning units have forced people to bring personal fans to mitigate the inside temperature, which they claim reaches over 80 degrees.

Some county commissioners strongly challenged the $440,000-$610,000 quote given by Bell Construction to renovate the bathrooms and fix the HVAC units, and they demanded that the number be taken off the budget since the county hadn’t even started the open bidding process.

“$600,000 is a lot of money to put in a building that you wouldn’t pay $200,000 for,” Commissioner Kevin Markham said. “[Air conditioning and bathrooms] ain’t going to cost $600,000. If it does, I’ll take that contract!”

Ray said his department is aware of the condition of the front row of buildings at Maury County Park, and they’ve been proceeding with maintenance and renovations according to a 2015 master plan. He added that the Parks and Recreation Board has instructed him to refrain from maintaining the old buildings except when it’s strictly necessary.

Commissioner Gabe Howard favored keeping “the bones of the building, [which are] probably good,” and advised the other commissioners not to underestimate either construction costs or the benefits of spending the money. He also suggested re-envisioning the Senior Center as part of a larger community-center complex at Maury County Park, though he admitted such an idea wasn’t in the cards for the near future.

“I would love to see a $18-25 million-dollar community center that’s got pools and a bigger senior center, but it’s just not realistic,” he said. “Kudos to Columbia — I’m glad they protected [the former Muletown Rec Center by buying and renovating it] for our community.”

Howard also asked whether the Budget Committee could put the high estimate for senior-center renovations in its budget, then bid it out to contractors to get a lower cost and keep the budget surplus. County Finance Director Doug Lukonen said that such a course had been taken recently with another budget item, but the county’s appropriations rules would have to be revisited to make it standard practice.

Whatever the county decides to do for the Senior Center or a community center, Ray advised the committee to make a plan first — Parks and Recreation have paid for making “knee-jerk” decisions in the recent past, he said. But he was broadly in favor of the renovations.

“We’ve been talking about this for a long time, and now we have a fund that could help service some of the cost,” Ray said. “I think it’s realistic.”

Pucketts to Feed Thousands (MauryCountySource)

Puckett’s Restaurant is hosting Puckett’s Love: Feed the Community, a program for nonprofit organizations providing nearly 4,000 free meals this summer. With locations in Nashville, Chattanooga, Columbia, Franklin, Hendersonville, Murfreesboro and Pigeon Forge, as well as Cullman, Ala., Puckett’s is providing breakfast or lunch for children at organizations near each respective Puckett’s location during the months of June and July.

“The Puckett’s brand and our associates have been blessed by the communities we serve. I am absolutely humbled that our team members came up with this idea of loving them back through a pop-up summer meal program.” said Andy Marshall, A. Marshall Hospitality

CEO and proprietor. “Our partnership with Boys & Girls Clubs of Middle Tennessee over the years has been so rewarding, not just to me personally but to the entire AMH team. We are thrilled and honored to help provide delicious, nutritious meals to so many children this summer.”

Puckett’s estimates to feed nearly 4,000 children this summer through their feeding program efforts. The family-owned and operated restaurant will be donating breakfasts and lunches for members of Boys & Girls Clubs in Tennessee, City of Hendersonville’s Parks

and Recreation Program and City of Cullman’s Parks & Recreation Program. Through their donation value of nearly $40,000 in meals, Puckett’s Love is helping combat the food insecurity that many families face during the summer months.

“At Boys & Girls Clubs of Middle Tennessee, the safety and well-being of our youth is our top priority. Every day, we provide a safe, supportive environment where young people can thrive—physically, emotionally and socially. Through our commitment to healthy lifestyles, we serve thousands of nutritious meals and snacks each year, especially during the summer months when many families face food insecurity,” said Eric Higgs, CEO of Boys & Girls Clubs of Middle Tennessee. “We’re proud to be a reliable source of nourishment and care for the kids who need us most. We’re especially grateful to Puckett’s Restaurant for their generous collaboration in helping us make this possible.”

A. Marshall Hospitality’s involvement with local Boys & Girls Clubs goes back many years, and the hospitality group has presented the nonprofit with percentage donations, restaurant promotions and more throughout their partnership. In 2024, Andy Marshall was

inducted into the Boys & Girls Clubs Hall of Fame for his long-term generosity and dedication to the organization.

For updates and more information about Puckett’s and the AMH family of restaurants, visit www.amarshallhospitality.com.

Operation Stand Down (Press Release)

Mark your calendars for September 11th to attend the Operation Stand Down Columbia Heroes Breakfast sponsored by Maury Alliance and Tennessee Veterans Services.

The event will take place at the Mulehouse, located at 812 S. High Street in Columbia, where you will hear the story of retired Command Sergeant Major Mario G. Vigil, bronze star recipient and Deputy Director of Special Programs with the Tennessee Department of Homeland Security.

Registration and networking begin at 7:30am and the breakfast program begins at 8:00am. The cost is $60 for individual tickets and $500 for a table.

Operation Stand Down Tennessee engages, equips, and empowers military Veterans and their families through crisis, career, connection, and community services.

For more information email development@osdtn.org.

Grant Writing Workshop (Press Release)

Join Maury Alliance on Monday, July 14 for a comprehensive Grant Writing Workshop for Nonprofits led by Patrick McElhiney, Director of Grants at Columbia State.

Whether you're new to grant writing or looking to sharpen your skills, this workshop will provide valuable tools to help your organization successfully secure funding.

Patrick will walk you through the full grant process—from identifying opportunities to crafting compelling proposals—and even explore how AI can support your efforts.

Topics include:

• Researching & Identifying Funding Opportunities

• Understanding Grant Guidelines & Requirements

• Planning, Research, and Proposal Development

• Writing Tips & Using AI in the Process

• Grant Submission, Follow-up & Implementation

This workshop is free to attend but space is limited! (RSVP required)

Don’t miss this opportunity to learn from one of the best in the field and strengthen your organization’s funding strategy!

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

William Lloyd Brooks (“Bill”), retired attorney and judge, passed away peacefully at his home in Nashville, TN, at age eighty-three. 

Services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday, July 8, at St. George’s Episcopal Church, 4715 Harding Road, in Nashville. The family will receive visitors beginning at 9:30 a.m. at the church prior to the service. A private interment for the family will be held at St. John’s Churchyard at Ashwood, Columbia, TN.

Mrs. Dorothy Anne Dalton Pruitt, 84, a resident of Columbia, died Saturday, July 5 at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. Funeral services will be conducted Wednesday, July 9 at 10:00 AM at Oakes & Nichols Funeral Home. Burial will follow in Historic Spring Hill Cemetery. The family will visit with friends Tuesday, July 8 from 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM at Oakes & Nichols Funeral Home.

Mrs. Deborah “Debbie” Frances Ballard, 72, a resident of Spring Hill died Friday, July 4 at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. Funeral services will be conducted Wednesday, July 9 at 2:00 PM at Oakes & Nichols Funeral Home. Burial will follow in Concord Cemetery. The family will visit with friends Wednesday from 12:00 noon until 2:00 PM at the Oakes & Nichols Funeral Home.

And now, news from around the state…

Three Injured by Celebratory Gunfire (Tennessean)

Celebration turned dangerous as three Nashvillians were shot by apparent Fourth of July gunfire.

Shortly after the music and fireworks ended at Centennial Park, three people were hit by falling bullets, police said. The victims were among 365,000 celebrants who attended the "Let Freedom Sing" events in Nashville, police said.

All three victims were treated at Vanderbilt University Medical Center.

A 60-year-old man was shot in the foot.

A 58-year-old woman was shot in the chest. She had been sitting, waiting for a shuttle bus at the corner of 7th Avenue and Broadway.

A 26-year-old woman was grazed by a bullet across the bridge of her nose as she waited for a ride at the corner of 1st Avenue and Demonbreun Street.

Police call the injuries "non-critical."

Nashville has a dubious recent history with Fourth of July shootings. In 2024, four people were shot after the downtown music and fireworks celebration.

Final Story of the Day (Maury County Source)

Stand Up To Cancer® (SU2C) announced that its ninth biennial televised fundraising special will air on Friday, August 15, from Nashville, bringing together country music stars, celebrities, athletes, cancer researchers, and survivors for a powerful evening of inspiration and celebration. This marks the first time the telecast will be broadcast from Nashville and will take place at The Pinnacle, a new premier event venue in the heart of Music City. The telecast will feature artists from country and other musical genres coming together in unique collaborations, an artistic reflection of Stand Up to Cancer’s commitment to scientific teamwork, where researchers unite to accelerate progress. Music icon Dolly Parton will appear in the special, with GRAMMY® Award-winning artist Sheryl Crow serving as host. Additional performers and celebrity participants will be revealed in the weeks ahead.

To learn more about the 2025 event, visit standuptocancer.org/show.