Southern Middle TN Today News with Tom Price 8-11-25

WKOM/WKRM Radio

Southern Middle Tennessee Today

News Copy for August 11, 2025

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

We start with local news…

Hit and Run Investigation (MauryCountySource)

The THP is investigating a hit and run crash where a pedestrian was struck and killed in the area of 1190 Hwy 7 in Maury County.

The incident occurred around 8:20 pm on August 7, 2025.

Anyone with information is asked to call the THP Lawrenceburg Dispatch Center (800) 736-1759.

Fire Station 1 Opens (Press Release)

The City of Columbia proudly celebrated the grand reopening of Fire Station No. 1 on Friday, unveiling a newly renovated and expanded facility that marks the most significant upgrade to the station since it was originally built in 1978. The ribbon cutting ceremony, held at the station located at 1000 S. Garden Street, marked the culmination of a project years in the making, with planning beginning in 2022 and construction officially starting in 2023. The total investment in the project was approximately $5.17 million.

Joining city officials and community members for the occasion was Commissioner of Commerce and Insurance and State Fire Marshal Carter Lawrence, who participated in the ceremony and offered his support in celebrating this significant milestone for Columbia’s public safety infrastructure.

“This renovation isn’t just about improving a building, it’s about investing in the safety and readiness of our firefighters and ensuring the public is served from a facility that’s as strong as the community it protects,” said Fire Chief Chris Cummins.

The upgraded station includes a number of critical improvements aimed at enhancing both operational efficiency and the working conditions for first responders. The facility now features expanded east and west wings, allowing for increased square footage to support staff and equipment. It also includes separate male and female sleeping quarters, a new kitchen and firefighter lounge, and dedicated administrative office space. One of the most significant additions is an Emergency Operations Center (EOC), built to withstand up to an F4 tornado, ensuring continuity of operations during severe weather events. A new multi-functional training room has also been added, which can serve as an emergency shelter if needed. To improve public accessibility, the station now has a repositioned entrance and expanded parking area, along with five apparatus bay doors to accommodate emergency vehicles.

“This project represents a meaningful investment in our city’s public safety infrastructure and the people who work every day to keep our community safe,” said Mayor Chaz Molder. “It’s more than a new look; it’s a renewed commitment to public safety, preparedness, and service. It exemplifies our commitment to the men and women who have dedicated their lives to saving the lives of others. And, it is a significant upgrade for our flagship fire station, which is a flagship fire department in the State of Tennessee.”

City Manager Tony Massey also emphasized the long-term value of the project: “The reopening of Fire Station No. 1 reflects our continued commitment to investing in essential infrastructure that supports the safety and well-being of our community,” he said. 

The reopening of Fire Station No. 1 represents another step forward in the City of Columbia’s ongoing commitment to providing high-quality services and facilities that meet the needs of a growing community.

Spring Hill License Kiosk (MauryCountySource)

The Spring Hill Police Department has introduced a new Driver License Self-Service Kiosk in the lobby of its headquarters at 800 Hathaway Blvd. The kiosk is open to all Tennessee residents—regardless of county—and offers a convenient alternative to visiting the DMV.

Available Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., the kiosk allows users to:

* Renew a driver license

* Obtain a duplicate license or state ID

* Change their address

* Pay reinstatement fees in full

The kiosk does not accept cash or checks; payment must be made using a credit or debit card.

No appointment is necessary. For more information about the service, visit www.tn.gov/content/tn.

Kelly Scholarship Launches (CDH)

Maury County students attending Tennessee State University this fall have a new scholarship opportunity. 

The scholarship has been created by the African American Heritage Society of Maury County and an anonymous donor to highlight the work of two distinguished Columbia educational leaders: Edmund and John H. Kelly, who made an impact on Black history dating back to the 1800s.

The Edmund and John H. Kelly Scholarship at TSU will provide up to $10,000 for the 2025-26 academic year.

Students applying to TSU for the scholarship will write a brief essay connecting one of the men’s lives and values to their own experience growing up in Maury County.

The scholarship is listed at https://tnstate.academicworks.com/opportunities/21724. For more information contact Ms. Tiffany Baker, tbaker02@tnstate.edu.

"After considering the contributions of the many people who called Maury County home or who briefly passed this way, Edmund and John H. Kelly, were selected because they consistently fought to make Maury County a better place to live," JoAnn McClellan, AAHSMC president, said.

Rev. Edmund Kelly was one of the first African Americans ordained in state of Tennessee. He was the co-founder and first minister of the Mt. Lebanon Missionary Baptist Church.

In 1847, his owner gave him permission to leave the state because she was having financial difficulties. For this privilege, he paid his owner $10 per month with money he earned working as an evangelist. In 1851, Kelly purchased the freedom of his wife and their four children and settled in New Bedford, MA.

In 1863, Kelly was with a delegation of African American ministers who met with President Lincoln to get permission to cross the union lines to minister to the formerly enslaved. Kelly believed that the formerly enslaved should join the fight for their freedom.

Kelly’s son, William, fought with the 54th Massachusetts Regiment, joining the 180,000 formerly enslaved men, who fought with the United States Colored Troops, including more than 400 from Maury County.

Kelly became famous because he proved that regular church-going African Americans, with little education, could become knowledgeable about the Bible. In 1866, he published, “Open Questions,” at his expense, for use in Sunday Schools and Bible Classes.

After the contentious election in 1876, laws were implemented to remove the political and economic gains made by the formerly enslaved during reconstruction. Kelly published the “Appeal to Lovers of Freedom, Righteous Progress, and Christianity. Kelly wrote, “… select and vote for such men only as are willing to guarantee to the colored people all of the rights embodied in the amendments; such being the result of the war.”

Considered one of the greatest organizers of his day, Kelly traveled extensively, preaching and organizing churches in Connecticut, Massachusetts Virginia, and Rhode Island in the late 1860s; then he came back to Maury County in 1872 to organize the Mt. Zion Missionary Baptist Church and School in Spring Hill, Tenn.

John Henry Kelly founded the first public school for African Americans in Maury County. Born and raised in New Bedford, Massachusetts, Kelly finished school at an early age and began the study of law with the view of making this his life’s work. While visiting his family in Columbia, he discovered the need for teachers and decided to work to educate African American students.

First, he and partner Frank Wigfall acquired the former orphan asylum for three years for school purposes. In 1880, supporters of the public-school concept, gathered "friends of the cause" to discuss the school situation in Columbia.

The discussion resulted in an ordinance to provide common school education for both Black and white children. The committee secured a building for the white children and developed a plan to fund and build a structure for the Black children.

The Board of Mayor and Aldermen purchased two acres to build the new school. In 1885, an agent representing the school went to the North to raise funds to assist in the building of the new school.

In 1886, the Colored Public School at College Hill, later named College Hill School, opened with Kelly serving as the first principal.

The next challenge was finding African American teachers. In 1896, Kelly established the Maury County Colored Teachers’ Institute. Each summer, 85 to 100 new or inexperienced teachers attended a two-week session. The superintendent of schools placed the students who passed the “certification” examination in city and county schools.

In 1913, fifty years after the emancipation and almost a 40-year career in education, Kelly wrote, “The past is secure, but of the future, who can tell? It is only in the bosom of the great God above who knows what the future shall be. We will not give up, not surrender a foot of the vantage ground of freedom.”

In the 1920s, Kelly, with the local business owners and community leaders, turned their attention to healthcare. American hospitals gave African American health professionals virtually no opportunity to practice or be trained and excluded African American patients. Responding to this situation, African American leaders began "making a place for themselves" by establishing African American controlled hospitals.

Established in 1923, the Maury County Colored Hospital evolved out of a critical need to provide medical care for African Americans in Maury and surrounding counties. 

The Maury County Colored Hospital remained in good standing with the Tennessee State Medical Board until it closed in 1954 when Maury County Regional Hospital opened with the promise to create a 30-bed wing for African Americans.

The new scholarship, named after two of the most influential Maury Countians to have lived in the 19th and 20th centuries, will go far toward securing education for the generation of the 21st century.

Roaming Man Rye Launches (CDH)

The spirit of Tennessee appears in many forms, whether in a song, the state flag or, on this occasion, how it is bottled, mixed and served with a side of steak.

The Tennessee Troubadour Makky Kaylor and his Swanky South brand launched a new roaming man rye whiskey, which debuted Aug. 2 in partnership with Sugarlands Distilling Company. The event, held at Prime & Pint in Columbia, also featured a new TN Troubadour cocktail, which will now be served at the 105 East 6th St. steakhouse.

A TN Troubadour, created by Prime & Pint bar staffer Kayla Sims, consists of an "old-fashioned style" cocktail with house-made smoked cinnamon bitters, honey syrup and a candied orange.

"We have been working on this cocktail for several months," Sims said. "We hope you all enjoy it, and it has been fun working with Makky, Roaming Man and Sugarlands. You all have been wonderful and so nice."

Though a Memphis native, Kaylor and his family have called Columbia "home" for more than 20 years. The Roaming Man Rye also has ties to Kaylor's recent song, "Tennessee, in My Dreams," which was proclaimed by Gov. Bill Lee on April 16, 2024 as the Volunteer State's 14th official State Song.

"Tennessee is known for having great State Songs, and there are some states that don't have State Songs, which is kind of sad," Kaylor said. "Tennessee has 14, and I am thrilled that mine is the newest."

In addition to partnering with Sugarlands and Prime & Pint, the new whiskey was also made possible in collaboration with Whiskey University, which teaches 130 courses on whiskeys distilled in North America and around the world, including Canada, Puerto Rico, the United Kingdom and Ireland.

"Colonal" Craig Duncan, WU's founder and featured on Kaylor and co-host Brenda Lynn Allen's "Swanky Southern Nights" radio show, said he couldn't be more proud to see the new rye hit the shelves, and that while it ties into Kaylor's career and Tennessee's rich whiskey history, Columbia is its proper home.

"There is nothing that gives me more pride than going around talking about the 40 distilleries here in Tennessee," Duncan said. "We are so thankful, since 98% of the work we do is not in Columbia. However, this is our home and we are very proud to be from here."

Sugarlands master distiller Greg Eidam, who founded the Gatlinburg operation in 2014, commented on the continuing rise in local distilleries, and that for smaller businesses it is more than simply producing a good product.

"It has been rejuvenated, and having a local presence of a distilleries around the country is kind of fun," Eidam said. "The big boys make great juice, but the smaller distilleries can really connect with the communities."

Prime & Pint owner Gabe Howard, who also serves as District 8 County Commissioner, said the choice to use Roaming Man Rye as the basis for the new cocktail was "the key ingredient."

"It was truly transformational in that cocktail, and in that drink once the Roaming Man was introduced," Howard said. "If you have not been to [Sugarlands Distilling Company], they have some unique flavors. One is Eggo waffles, which tastes like your childhood with a waffle and syrup."

The Aug. 2 event was also attended by Columbia Mayor Chaz Molder, who praised the new endeavor on behalf of the city, its small businesses and history.

"When I think about how fortunate Columbia is and how many people have moved here, how this community has grown and progressed, I think of Makky Kaylor and his family, and how fortunate we have been ever since that happened," Molder said.

"I want to celebrate the talent that we have, Makky and his team in making Columbia shine. Thank you for showcasing the city of Columbia and all that you all are doing."

Scholarships for New Teachers (MSM)

The road to teacher certification in Maury County just got a lot easier, thanks to a partnership between Maury County Public Schools (MCPS) and the Youth Educational Foundation (YEF). The Tennessee educator preparation program through iteach, allows individuals to become a teacher without a traditional education degree. MCPS and YEF are offering up to 40 iteach scholarships, worth a total combined value of up to $112,000 to qualified Maury County Public Schools employees who desire to become a teacher. 

iteach is a nationally recognized job embedded program that allows an individual with a bachelor’s degree from an accredited university, a minimum 2.5 GPA, and meets certain criteria set by the state  of Tennessee to become a teacher. Individuals can take the program before becoming a teacher or  can complete it after obtaining a teaching role with Maury County Public Schools while going  through the online program (working on a permitted status through the state of Tennessee). 

“This inclusive and affordable pathway towards a teaching certification makes it accessible to any Maury County Public Schools employee who aspires to positively impact the world through education,” said Maury County Public Schools Superintendent, Lisa Ventura. “Teachers are leaders, mentors, and role models. They don’t just prepare students for tests – they prepare them for life. We are so appreciative of YEF’s willingness to invest in Maury County Public Schools.”  

“YEF is proud to partner with MCPS to bring up to 40 newly certified teachers into Maury County Public Schools classrooms,” said YEF Chair, Renee Adams. “We are grateful to our donors for enabling the organization to make this historic investment in the community’s future. We understand the importance of having motivated, qualified, and caring teachers in the classroom.  Scholarship recipients will have received recommendations from their principals and committed to at least three years of service with MCPS. We look forward to the positive impact this will have on Maury County Public Schools students and to strengthening our partnership with MCPS”. 

To apply, visit www.iteach.net.

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

Mrs. Myra Lorine Dial Young, 82, resident of Columbia, TN, and retired LPN for Dr. Dake’s Office, passed away Thursday, August 7 at Life Care Center of Columbia. Funeral services will be conducted Tuesday at 1:00 PM at Oakes & Nichols Funeral Home. Burial will follow at Polk Memorial Gardens. The family will visit with friends Tuesday from 12:00 PM to 1:00 PM at Oakes & Nichols Funeral Home.

Now, news from around the state…

Electricity Rates on the Rise (Tennessean)

Electricity costs are climbing across the United States this summer, driven by a mix of scorching temperatures and the rapid growth of energy-intensive data centers powering artificial intelligence technologies, including those in Tennessee.

According to a Department of Energy-backed study, electricity demand from U.S. data centers will nearly triple over the next three years, potentially using up to 12% of the nation’s total power supply, Reuters reported.

The most recent data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration shows that the average residential electricity rate in the U.S. is 17.47 cents per kilowatt-hour. That marks a 6.5% increase from the previous year, according to energy broker Choose Energy.

Idaho currently has the lowest residential electricity rates in the U.S., averaging 11.88 cents per kilowatt-hour. In contrast, Hawaii tops the list with the highest rates at 41.03 cents per kilowatt-hour.

As of May 2025, Tennessee residents were paying 13.88 cents per kilowatt-hour, up from 12.38 cents in 2024.

Despite the Volunteer State not having the most expensive electricity rates, it did experience one of the highest increases. The 12.1% year-over-year increase is among the highest increases in the country, just behind Illinois (12.2%) and Oklahoma. (12.4%)

Teacher Survey (Press Release)

Today, the Tennessee Department of Education and Tennessee Education Research Alliance (TERA) at Vanderbilt University released key findings and responses from the 2025 Tennessee Educator Survey. 

"The Tennessee Educator Survey is an important tool that helps us understand what teachers are experiencing in and outside their classrooms every day,” said Lizzette Reynolds, Commissioner of Education. “I’m grateful to the educators, administrators, and school staff across Tennessee who took the time to share their feedback through the survey. Your input is incredibly valuable as we work to better support schools and strengthen the education experience for all students.” 

Responses from the 2025 Educator Survey play a critical role in guiding the department’s efforts to enhance educator’s experience. These insights offer policymakers and researchers critical feedback to better meet the needs of teachers and students statewide. 

"The 2025 Tennessee Educator Survey continues to be one of the most important tools we have for understanding educators’ experiences and needs,” said Laura Booker, Executive Director of TERA. “We hope that state and local leaders use the department’s survey report, survey results website, and TERA’s one-pagers and survey briefs to guide decisions that strengthen teaching and learning." 

The survey measures key topics that district and school leaders monitor annually, including educator evaluations, ELA and math instruction, school culture, professional learning, and student readiness. This year, the survey also introduced new questions to address the emerging topics of artificial intelligence and cell phone policies. 

Key findings from the 2025 survey include:  

• Three out of four math teachers agreed that they can deliver high-quality lessons using the curriculum as designed. High school math teachers are particularly satisfied with their curriculum. 

• Nearly 90% of administrators reported that teacher evaluation helps them improve their teaching. 

• Over 80% of teachers said they plan to continue teaching in their schools next year. Teachers reported strong leadership and staff culture as important factors driving their decisions to stay at their schools.  

• Eighty-five percent of CTE teachers agreed that their programs provide students opportunities to earn valuable credentials and help prepare students for college and careers. 

The Tennessee Educator Survey is a voluntary and confidential survey, open to all teachers, administrators, and other certified staff across the state. Survey questions, statewide results, the overview brief and more can be found at www.tn.gov/education. 

Final Story of the Day (Maury County Source)

Stand Up To Cancer® (SU2C) has added more star power to its ninth biennial roadblock televised fundraising special. The telecast will feature performances by Jonas Brothers, Noah Cyrus, Gavin DeGraw, Marcus King, Brothers Osborne, Jon Pardi, Jelly Roll, Dan + Shay and CeCe Winans – joined by Nashville Community Gospel Choir, all lending their talents to help raise critical funds for cancer research. The special will also include pre-taped segments featuring Kevin Bacon, Jamie Foxx, Tim McGraw, Reese Witherspoon and Keith Urban. Grammy® Award-winning artist Sheryl Crow will serve as the evening’s host and also perform, along with remarks by SU2C co-founder Katie Couric. Music icon Dolly Parton previously participated in a tune-in campaign to raise awareness for the Nashville telecast.

The show will take place at The Pinnacle in Downtown Nashville.

To learn more about SU2C’s 2025 telecast, visit standuptocancer.org/show.