Southern Middle TN Today News with Tom Price 8-20-25

WKOM/WKRM Radio

Southern Middle Tennessee Today

News Copy for August 20, 2025

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

We start with local news…

Hardison Resigns, McCullen Accepts (MSM)

At last week’s Columbia City Council meeting, the council selected a new city councilman for Ward 1. DaVena Hardison, the representative since November 2024, resigned to get married and start her family, and Mayor Chaz Molder spoke for the other council members when he said that they were sad to see her leave and wished she were there to receive their final farewell.

“This opportunity to represent and serve our community has afforded me that honor. I am grateful to all who have supported my journey. It has been a privilege to build relationships with each of you,” Hardison wrote in her letter of resignation. “Thank you for your understanding, and I wish the entire city council continued success in efforts to serve the community.”

In her place the city council nominated and accepted former city councilman Carl McCullen, who resigned his post as District 4 county commissioner to accept the city position. Hardison’s own pick to replace her, pastor Demetrius Nelson of Carmack Boulevard Church of Christ, was disqualified because he had spent part of the previous year living outside of Columbia.

“I think that Carl McCullen will be able to hit the ground running with his prior municipal experience,” Molder said. “We tell him congratulations… and we look forward to him sitting next to Council Member Huffman at the next month’s meeting.”

County commissioners Jerry Strahan and Gary Stovall attended the meeting, and Molder asked them from the council podium to remind the County Commission, when they choose McCullen’s replacement, to consider the welfare of the City of Columbia.

Maury Alliance quarterly presentation

The Council heard the quarterly presentation from Maury Alliance CEO Wil Evans. Growth measurements like jobs added, business expansions and capital investment are slightly lower than in recent years, but they’ve still dramatically increased in the same time frame. In other metrics, Maury County’s median household income rose by 36 percent since 2020, retail sales grew 85 percent from 2013-2023, the civilian labor force grew four times as fast as it did in the rest of the country, and by all growth metrics Maury County outperformed the rest of the Nashville metropolitan area and the State of Tennessee. This kind of growth, and their workforce development initiatives, make Maury Alliance a chooser, not a beggar, when courting investment: they can select companies which promise higher earning potential and sustainable, desirable work.

Among the established companies here, General Motors and Ultium Cells will retain their current employment numbers and retool their operations in 2026: GM to build the gas-powered Chevy Blazer and several Cadillac models, Ultium to produce cheaper lithium ion phosphate electric car batteries. Evans also said that Maury Alliance is working with JLL, the broker for the Fiberon factory in Columbia, to look into finding a client business which could feasibly use the 500,000-square-foot facility. After building the facility, Fiberon chose to consolidate their operations elsewhere.

City business

The council considered several important new developments, most significantly the approved easement for the Columbia Power and Water Services (CPWS) intake pipe in the Williamsport stretch of the Duck River. The $500 million pipeline, which has been approved by the EPA, TVA and TDEC, will draw 12 million gallons per day from the Duck for Columbia and its municipal clients.

Duck River Planning Partnership Meets (MSM)

The Duck River Watershed Planning Partnership, a working group put in place following Gov. Bill Lee’s Executive Order 108, to continue preservation efforts for the Duck River, heard updates from partners, stakeholders and activists in a public meeting at the Farm Bureau of Tennessee headquarters in Columbia last week.

During the four-hour meeting, partnership committee members from Manchester to Maury County heard from government agencies, such as the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation and the Duck River Agency, and were given updates on their research into the current status of the Duck River and where the river stands in terms of drinking water availability for the growing need along the watershed.

Public outreach

Leaders of the meeting touted the work done to collect and publicize valuable information, using intergovernmental digital networks based on ESRI’s ARC-GIS mapping platform, and best practices like the Army Corps of Engineer’s Hydrologic Engineering Center’s-River Analysis System (HEC-RAS) river-impact model, to obtain information, create graphs and maps, and share them with the public.

Sunny Fleming and Mike Bialousz, who worked extensively in conservation before taking positions with ESRI, spoke of the mapping software’s potential to make the water situation “intuitive” to the layperson. They have partnered with federal and several state governments to visualize and fix the water situations of many sites across the country — resilience plans for two watersheds in Wisconsin, maps of aquifer levels in southern California and Arizona, and “story maps” of drought and pollution remediation in Kentucky, North Dakota and Florida. ESRI can also assimilate information received from experts and government teams into their interactive maps. Such teams retain “control” of their data and whether to publish it to the public site, and they can use all the data to create “story maps” to craft narratives about a particular aspect of the conservation process.

“The data can become very complex,” Bialousz said. “That’s where graphics and data maps come into play… to make it understandable.”

“Tennessee is already leading in a lot of these areas… You are already using this technology,” Fleming said encouragingly.

What the Planning Partnership needs for the Duck River Watershed, she argued, is a “system of systems”: an ARC-GIS hub in which agencies could communicate and collaborate for the best response.

The beginnings of such a hub can be seen at their new website for the Planning Partnership, which features not only mapping and narratives but also subpages and links — to datasets from the TVA, TWRA and TDEC — covering the other metrics of the Duck River and its management. Members of the public can also continue to submit their concerns and hopes to the Duck River’s online survey, bit.ly/DuckRiverSurvey, which the committee encouraged people to take before it closes on Oct. 15.

David Money, the new executive director of the Duck River Agency, announced that digital tools available on their website will track key HEC-RAS indicators for the Duck River online — effluent releases, water intake, the level of water in the Normandy Dam and data from United States Geological Survey (USGS) measuring stations on the Duck River, among other metrics. The DRA are also digitizing their 30 years of historic records and publishing them to their website.

TDEC personnel presented their and Duck River Watershed municipalities’ ideas for water conservation. Policy Advisor Emma Bartolo broached the topic of reusing non-potable water, especially “gray water” (household wastewater not contaminated with sewage) for household uses like lawn and garden irrigation and more industrial uses like watering golf courses. As a strategy, it prevents the over-withdrawal of fresh water and keeps nitrogen and phosphate, which cause destructive algal blooms in large quantities, from being reintroduced to the Duck River with wastewater.

Angela Jones, TDEC’s manager of engineering services in the Division of Water Resources, noted that at a systemic level, TDEC now requires water permit applicants to look into such water-reuse policies before they’ll grant a withdrawal increase, and they advocate for requiring developers to install “purple pipe” water recycling systems in their new construction. 17 sites across the state already recycle water, one for industrial use and the rest for irrigation, and Memphis’s pioneering proposal would use 13 million daily gallons of treated wastewater to cool its controversial new xAI data center (which powers the large language model “Grok”).

“This is an expensive project, over $30 million. So that’s something that the Partnership is considering,” said Director of the Office of Policy and Planning at TDEC Peter Murrey.

April Grippo, the director of TDEC’s Water Resources division and a resident of Maury County, transmitted the Drought Working Group’s recommendations to the Duck River Agency. They include revising the Regional Drought Management Plan; monitoring drought and clarifying TDEC’s role in drought management; updating the Comprehensive Regional Water Supply Plan; creating a state-wide water monitoring council and Duck River watershed dashboard; and partnering with the users and stakeholders.

As for Maury County’s water use, Grippo confirmed that TDEC has approved CPWS’s request to put a second intake valve in the Duck at Williamsport, which will take in up to 12 million gallons per day for Maury County and its municipalities. Spring Hill’s application for an input line of its own is complete, and the permit is expected to be issued in a few weeks. Meanwhile Maury County Water Systems is working on its own inter-basin transfer project, only the 28th in the state, to bring in Harpeth River water through a partnership with Hillsboro, Burwood & Thompson’s Station Utility District. Their TDEC permit allows two million gallons per day, but the county Health AND Environment Committee recently discussed widening the pipe to take in three million.

Competing solutions to water supply

During public comment, representatives of competing interest groups and nonprofits spoke for and against different ideas to protect the Duck River and meet the water needs of the Watershed counties.

Jason Gilliam, who sits on the Maury County Water Utility, advocated for a dam on the Duck near Columbia. He framed it as the most fiscally responsible choice. Gilliam estimates it would cost $500 million to build a dam, though no formal studies have taken place to justify the estimate. He claimed a dam offers guaranteed water, flood control and recreational uses worth $350 million a year in economic benefit — a better return on investment than $500 million for the Williamsport intake valve planned by CPWS, or the estimated $1 billion that Maury County and its municipalities are considering for a 50-million-daily-gallon line to the Cumberland River that would service entities in Williamson County as well. A feasibility study on the Cumberland River option, commissioned by Middle Tennessee utilities in Maury and Williamson Counties, is nearly complete.

“In regard to building the Columbia Dam… we owe it to the people of Duck River basin to do the right thing,” he said.

Other public commenters spoke in favor of the dam idea as well, but opponents of the dam also made themselves heard, bringing up geological problems, further property confiscation by eminent domain — a fate Gilliam’s own family farm suffered when the first, unfinished TVA dam was being built — and the loss of up to 54 of the most beautiful miles of the Duck River in Maury and Marshall Counties.

“There will never be a dam built in Columbia where TVA originally planned,” according to TVA reports, said Sarah Gilliam, an organizer of the Facebook group Don’t Dam the Duck. “There are less invasive alternatives that have been proposed; these need to be considered before damming the Duck River.”

Jason Gilliam, water activist Bart Whatley, Brian Rivers and Duck River Conservancy president Doug Jones all favored raising the walls of Normandy Dam to capture more rainwater until a permanent solution could be reached. Randal Braker of the Duck River Utility Commission pointed out that recent hard rains had only added a couple feet of water to the Normandy Reservoir, as much of the rain soaks into the ground.

Jones warned that Hickman County, where his conservancy started, experienced a severe drought last fall which was a sign of things to come. Whatever the solution was, he knew it wouldn’t be easy, but it needs to come quick.

“It’s not the same anymore. We’ve got massive growth,” he said, recalling the testimony of waterfront property owners who watched it “disappear into the karst.” “I’ve got a buddy in [the] Marshall County [fire department] — they couldn’t get enough water to put a fire out.”

Columbia State and TCAT Crump Partner (Press Release)

Columbia State Community College and the Tennessee College of Applied Technology — Crump recently announced a new educational partnership for the Wayne County area.

In a meeting with Clifton Mayor Mark Staggs, County Executive Jim Mangubat, President and CEO of People’s Bank Autrey Gobbell, Columbia State Foundation Board members Byron Davis and Rena Purdy, Executive Director of the Columbia State Foundation and Vice President for Advancement Bethany Lay, Columbia State President Janet F. Smith and TCAT Crump President Stephen Milligan outlined the new collaboration.

Beginning in October 2025, TCAT Crump will be expanding their offerings at the Clifton Campus to include Earthmoving Equipment Technology, Building Construction Technology and Electrical & Plumbing Construction Technology. These programs are in addition to the Health Information Management Technology program that is currently taught.

“I am excited about the educational opportunities that this partnership will provide for the citizens of Wayne County,” said Dr. Janet F. Smith, Columbia State president. “Columbia State is not going away, but teaming up with a partner to enhance workforce training programs offered at the Clifton Campus. We will continue to offer college courses scheduled to support students in obtaining their first year of college, plus.”

Columbia State will continue offering classes, but with a two-day course scheduling that is designed to serve dual enrollment and college students. There is no change in the Fall 2025 semester offerings.

Additionally, a college advisor will be available to provide enrollment and other assistance.

To better accommodate this educational partnership, as it pertains to the curricula offered, Columbia State will transition the operation of the campus to TCAT Crump.

That transfer will occur during the fall.

“The expansion of technical education programs at our Clifton Campus reflects our commitment to meeting the evolving needs of our students, local employers, and the community,” said Stephen Milligan, TCAT Crump president. “By increasing access to high-quality, hands-on training, we are investing in the future workforce and strengthening the economic foundation of our region.”

This transition marks a new chapter for the Clifton Campus. After 27 years as an extended campus of Columbia State, it will now serve as a shared space designed to meet the educational and career-training needs of the Wayne County community. The addition of TCAT programs will give students greater access to career-ready training without having to leave the community.

The Clifton Campus was created for—and will continue to be—a place of learning dedicated to serving both Wayne County and the Middle Tennessee region.

The beginning of the Clifton Campus dates back to 1996, when the Hassell Charitable Foundation encouraged the start of a higher education institution to further the educational goals and recreational services provided for the citizens of Wayne County. From that encouragement, a committee of community leaders and elected officials banded together to identify the need for higher education in the community­. The consensus was that Wayne County needed a facility for higher education. 

Then, on Jan. 8, 1998, the Clifton Campus opened its doors for the first time. From that day in 1998 through 2025 and beyond, the space will continue to best serve the local student population.

Columbia State is looking forward to the new opportunities that the partnership with TCAT Crump brings to our students and the community.

More details about the transition, including information for current and prospective students, will be shared in the coming weeks. An official community open house will be announced at a later date.

Breakfast with the Mayors (Press Release)

Join Maury Alliance for a special morning of breakfast, conversation, and community insight with our local mayors!

This annual gathering brings together local leaders for meaningful dialogue, collaboration, and a shared vision for Maury County’s future. Attendees will have the unique opportunity to hear updates on local initiatives, ask questions, and strengthen connections that impact our region.

Enjoy a delicious breakfast provided by Puckett’s Restaurant.

Speakers:

• Moderator – Maury Alliance President Wil Evans

• Maury County Mayor – Sheila Butt

• City of Columbia Mayor – Chaz Molder

• City of Mt. Pleasant Mayor – Bill White

• City of Spring Hill Mayor – Matt Fitterer

The event will take place at the Memorial Building located at 308 W. 7th Street on Tuesday, September 9th from 7:30-9:00am.

The cost is $25 for Chamber members and $30 for non-members.

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

Amy Mae Ingram, 80, died Wednesday, April 30, 2025 at Levine and Dickson Hospice House in Charlotte, North Carolina after a brief battle with cancer.

A graveside service will be conducted Saturday, August 23, 2025 at 11:00 AM at Bryant Cemetery in Mooresville. Oakes & Nichols is in charge of arrangements and online condolences may be extended at www.oakesandnichols.com.

Now, news from around the state…

Tennessee Colleges Among the Best (MauryCountySource)

For students and families navigating the maze of higher education options, the right college can make all the difference in shaping success and opportunity. Unlike traditional rankings that focus on test scores and selectivity, Colleges of Distinction highlights institutions that excel in engagement, teaching, community, and outcomes. These schools provide more than just academics—they offer hands-on learning, supportive faculty, vibrant campus life, and strong career pathways that prepare students for life after graduation.

Here are the colleges in Tennessee recognized for delivering an exceptional undergraduate experience and earning the Colleges of Distinction honor for 2025:

• Belmont University

• Carson-Newman University

• Christian Brothers University

• Johnson University

• Lee University

• Lincoln Memorial University

• Lipscomb University

• Maryville College

• Middle Tennessee State University

• Milligan University

• Tennessee Technological University

• The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga

• The University of Tennessee, Knoxville

Tennessee Send National Guard to DC (Tennessean)

Tennessee is sending 160 National Guard troops to Washington D.C. to assist President Donald Trump in his federal crackdown on crime in the nation's capital.

Elizabeth Johnson, a spokesperson for Gov. Bill Lee's office, in an Aug. 19 statement said the governor responded to the president's request to aid in the effort. She said the service members will deploy this week and will assist "as long as needed."

"These service members will join the D.C. Joint Task Force and work alongside local and federal law enforcement agencies to assist with monument security, community safety patrols, protecting federal facilities, and traffic control," she said.

Tennessee is the latest in a handful of Republican-led states to send more than a thousand National Guard troops to help in a federal takeover of Washington D.C. Other states include Mississippi, Louisiana, West Virginia, South Carolina and Ohio.

In an extraordinary move, the president on Aug. 11 ordered 800 National Guard troops and took temporary control of the city's police department to fight what he characterized as an epidemic of violent crime and homelessness.

Local officials, however, have rejected that notion and have pointed to data showing that the city's violent crime rates have dropped since 2023, though murder rates remains higher than most major U.S. cities.

The administration has also ordered other agencies, like the FBI, to assist. While it pushed for a takeover of the city's police department, it later negotiated a deal to keep Police Chief Pamela Smith in charge of operations.

Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry said he deployed about 135 Guard soldiers to Washington, while Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves said he had ordered 200.

"Crime is out of control there," Reeves said in a statement, "and it's clear something must be done to combat it."

Final Story of the Day (Maury County Source)

Mark your calendars for Peddling in the Hills on Saturday, October 4th, 2025, from 10 am – 5 pm, an artisan and antique festival at Natchez Hills Vineyard and Winery (109 Overhead Bridge Rd, Hampshire, TN).

Local makers, antique and vintage, home decor and more, food truck, live music, and wine tastings.

If you are interested in becoming a vendor and would like more information, please email aosborne931@gmail.com