Southern Middle TN Today News with Tom Price 8-24-26

WKOM/WKRM Radio

Southern Middle Tennessee Today

News Copy for August 24, 2026

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

We start with local news…

County Employee Accused of Timesheet Fraud (WKRN)

An employee with the Maury County Clerk and Master’s Office has been indicted after an investigation by the Tennessee Comptroller’s Office determined she received more than $2,000 in pay for time not worked.

The investigation reportedly began after Maury County officials identified and reported questionable time reporting by Kim Davis, who logged at least $2,075.95 in illegally recorded paid time.

According to the comptroller’s office, between Oct. 14, 2024, and Dec. 17, 2025, Davis used a mobile timekeeping application on her personal cellphone without authorization to clock in before arriving at the Maury County Judicial Center in Columbia. According to the report, Davis was not issued a work cellphone with the mobile timekeeping application on it and was not authorized to use the application to clock in remotely.

Investigators compared Davis’ electronic time records with building entry records and found of 250 workdays reviewed, Davis clocked in before entering the building on 202 of them. The differences in time ranged between a few minutes to hours, totaling at least 83 hours, 25 minutes, and 14 seconds.

The comptroller’s office said these entries also increased Davis’ compensatory time balances by pushing her reported hours beyond a normal 40-hour workweek.

Davis was indicted by a Maury County Grand Jury on one count of theft over $1,000, one count of falsification of government records, one count of forgery, and one count of official misconduct.

“Employee time records must accurately reflect when people employees are actually working,” Comptroller Jason Mumpower said. “Clear policies for remote work and proper supervisory review of employee time records are important safeguards against inaccurate or unauthorized compensation.”

The comptroller’s report detailed how the county lacked proper policies for detailing work-from-home arrangements that could have helped prevent the time theft, noting employees would occasionally work from home or off-site for personal matters “rather than requesting sick or vacation leave.”

“The county should adopt a policy that establishes the circumstances under which employees may work outside their primary work location, including the approval requirements, work expectations, timekeeping procedures, and supervisory oversight,” the report detailed.

Additionally, the report noted the clerk “failed to provide adequate oversight of employee time entries.”

Investigators reportedly determined employees could record the beginning of their workday before they entered the building. They recommended officials implement new controls to “ensure employee time entries accurately reflect employees’ presence at their assigned work location.”

The Maury County Clerk and Master reportedly indicated he “has corrected or intends to correct” the deficiencies noted in the report.

SRTC Opens at CSCC (WKOM Audio 4:54)

On Friday evening, the new Southern Regional Technology Center on the campus of Columbia State Community College held their grand opening. Front Porch Radio’s Delk Kennedy attended the event and spoke to Columbia State President Dr. Janet F. Smith about what the facility will offer the community…

With more on the evening’s events is WKOM’s Drake Pugh who spoke to a number of attendees including community and academic leaders to learn more about the Southern Regional Technology Center at Columbia State…(8:53)

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

Thomas Michael Long, 85, died Tuesday, August 18, 2026, at Poplar Estates in Columbia, Tennessee, where he had recently made his home after moving from Dixon, Illinois, where he had lived for many years.

No arrangements have been planned at this time. 

George M. Neenan, 72, of Clarksville, TN passed away at home from natural causes.

Funeral services will be conducted Wednesday, August 26, 2026, at 2:00 PM at Oakes & Nichols Funeral Home. Burial will follow in Haynes Cemetery in Culleoka with military honors provided by the Fort Campbell Funeral Detail. The family will visit with friends Wednesday from 1:00 PM until the time of service at the Funeral Home. 

Jeffery Allen “Jeff” White, 36, a resident of Columbia, passed away Friday, August 21, 2026, in Ramer, TN.

Funeral services will be conducted Tuesday, August 25, 2026, at 1:00 PM at Oakes & Nichols Funeral Home. Burial will follow in Polk Memorial Gardens. The family will visit with friends Monday from 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM at Oakes & Nichols Funeral Home. 

Catherine Burns Choate, 96, a lifelong resident of Columbia, passed away Friday, August 21, 2026, at Maury Regional Medical Center.

A graveside service will be conducted Friday, August 28, 2026, at 1:30 PM at Jones Cemetery. The family will visit with friends Friday from 11:00 AM until 1:00 PM at Oakes & Nichols Funeral Home.

Pauline “Polly” Carpenter Rankin, 96, a resident of Columbia, passed away Friday, August 21, 2026, at NHC Maury Regional Transitional Care.

Funeral services will be conducted Thursday, August 27, 2026, at 3:00 PM at Oakes & Nichols Funeral Home with David Morris officiating. Burial will follow in Polk Memorial Gardens. The family will visit with friends Thursday from 1:00 PM until the time of service at the funeral home. 

And now…more local news…

CPJI To Honor Two Leaders (Press Release)

The Columbia Peace and Justice Initiative (CPJI) will honor founding members of the Boys & Girls Club of South Central Tennessee, Hernandez “Paco” Havard and the late Rev. Talvin Barner, Jr., on Tuesday, September 29. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. for fellowship and refreshments, followed by the program at 6 p.m. This free event, presented by title sponsor Heritage Bank & Trust, will be held at Maury Hills Church, located at 101 Unity Drive in Columbia.

“The CPJI board and Legacy Night committee want to honor the initial visionaries and recognize the continued success of the Boys & Girls Club of South Central Tennessee in preparing our youth to make a positive impact on our community,” said CPJI President Demetrius Nelson. “CPJI believes that nonprofit agencies should support, collaborate, and encourage one another to advance the progress and prosperity of everyone in our community.”

On July 28, 1995, two men had a bold vision to inspire, educate, and empower the youth of Maury County. Hernandez “Paco” Havard and the late Rev. Talvin Barner, Jr. refused to let drugs, gangs, poverty, and low academic standards dictate the future of young people in their community. Together, they launched and incorporated the Boys & Girls Club of Maury County with the support of a dedicated group of board members. For the past 30 years, this organization has provided thousands of youth with hope, assistance, and a sense of honor.

The mission of the Boys & Girls Clubs of America is to enable all young people, especially those who need it most, to realize their full potential as productive, caring, and responsible citizens. The Boys & Girls Clubs exist to encourage three pillars of excellence:

• Academic Success: Ensuring every member graduates from high school with a concrete plan for the future.

• Good Character & Citizenship: Instilling leadership skills and encouraging youth to give back to their communities.

• Healthy Lifestyles: Providing guidance and activities that promote physical and mental well-being.

“Since its formation, the Boys & Girls Club now serves more than 1,500 youth annually across 14 sites in Maury and Giles counties,” said CPJI Legacy Event Co-Chair Trent Ogilvie. “This impact would not have been possible if it were not for the vision and dedication of the organization’s founders.”

In addition to Havard and Barner, visionaries included Ora Thompson, Dr. Eslick Daniel, Jennifer Graham, John Stevens, Kim Criswell and James Martin. On September 27, 1995, the Boys & Girls Club of Maury County officially appointed its inaugural Board of Directors, which included:

• Andre’ Martin

• Donna Hunt

• Richard Smith Sr.

• Dora Mack

• Millicent Thompson

• Jennifer Graham

• Homer Martin

• John Pointer

• Eugene Bond

• Ophelia Tisby

• Rev. Leland Webster

• Revis Harris, Jr.

• Jacqueline Martin

• Jim Cook

• James York

• Freddie Boges

“The community owes a debt of gratitude to the leaders and supporters who 40 years ago turned a vision into a movement that forever changed our community and provided inspiration for youth to reach their full potential,” said CPJI Legacy Event Co-Chair Patrick Carter.

Past CPJI Legacy honorees are community and higher education leader Dr. Christa S. Martin, retired Tennessee Secondary School Athletic Association (TSSAA) Executive Director Bernard Childress, Civil Rights Attorney Fred Gray, and educator Barbara Dobbins.

Final Story of the Day (Maury County Source)

Columbia’s Riverwalk Park will once again become an outdoor theater this September as the Riverwalk Arts Festival returns with six free performances of Cyrano.

Watershed Public Theatre’s 2026-27 season will open with the festival, featuring a new adaptation and direction of Edmond Rostand’s classic play by Payton McCarthy.

The performances will be held Sept. 10-12 and Sept. 17-19 at Riverwalk Park, 102 Riverside Drive. Food trucks will open at 6 p.m., followed by pre-show entertainment at 6:45 p.m. The play begins at 7:30 p.m. each night.

The Riverwalk Arts Festival is free and open to the public, with open seating. Guests are encouraged to bring chairs and blankets.