Southern Middle TN Today News with Tom Price 8-28-26

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Southern Middle Tennessee Today

News Copy for August 28, 2026

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

We start with local news…

Illegal Gambling Crackdown (Press Release)

On Tuesday, Aug. 25, officers and agents simultaneously executed 22 search warrants at 20 Columbia businesses and two residences. In total, authorities recovered over $1.3 million in cash, more than 100 pounds of kratom and THCA and 144 gambling machines, and made 13 arrests.

The multi-agency operation included the Columbia Police Department, Gallatin Police Department, Portland Police Department, Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, Internal Revenue Service, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, 22nd Judicial District Attorney’s Office and 22nd Judicial Drug Task Force.

The investigation began in July 2026 after the Columbia Police Department and Mayor’s Office received multiple complaints from residents and business owners regarding suspected illegal gambling activity. Undercover officers with CPD’s Investigations Division subsequently entered 50 businesses throughout Columbia and found 20 conducting illegal gambling and paying out winnings from gambling machines.

“This was a lengthy and complex investigation, and I want to begin by thanking every law enforcement agency that worked alongside the Columbia Police Department to make this operation possible,” said Columbia Police Chief Jeremy Haywood. “Our investigators spent weeks gathering evidence and identifying illegal activity occurring throughout our community. The results of this operation demonstrate the professionalism of our officers and the strength of the partnerships we have with law enforcement agencies at the local, state and federal levels.”

During the investigation, officers also observed gambling payouts involving minors believed to be as young as 9 or 10 years old and noted increased drug activity at the locations. Investigators also identified two residences, one in Columbia and one in Gallatin, where proceeds connected to illegal gambling activity were being housed.

“An operation of this scale requires an extraordinary level of coordination, and the City is grateful to each agency that assisted the Columbia Police Department,” said City Manager Tony Massey. “I commend Chief Haywood, the men and women of the Columbia Police Department and all of their partners for the excellence demonstrated throughout this operation.”

Mayor Chaz Molder also commended the department’s efforts.

“I want to commend the Columbia Police Department for their efforts yesterday, which were the culmination of a months-long investigation into illegal gambling activities taking place in our community. I am grateful for the safety of everyone involved during this large-scale operation, and I anticipate the successful prosecution of these cases in the criminal justice system. There’s no place for illegal activities in our community”

The investigation remains ongoing, with additional indictments anticipated. 

CPWS Gets Loan Approvals (Press Release)

Columbia Power & Water Systems (CPWS) has secured a major financing milestone expected to save ratepayers approximately $50 million in interest costs while supporting critical investments in the community’s water infrastructure.

 The Tennessee Local Development Authority (TLDA) approved Monday to place the utility’s $75 million state loan on parity with its federal Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (WIFIA) debt, unlocking the lower cost financing for its Long-Term Water Supply Program. The financing will support CPWS’s long-term capital improvement and water infrastructure initiatives, designed to increase treatment capacity, enhance regional system reliability and meet the needs of residential and commercial customers throughout Middle Tennessee.

 “Our top priority is ensuring our community has safe, reliable water infrastructure for generations to come, while keeping costs as manageable as possible for our customers,” said Jack Baxter, interim President and CEO of CPWS. “Securing parity for this $75 million loan allows us to maximize the cost-saving benefits of both state and federal funding programs. We are deeply grateful to the TLDA board and our state and local partners for working with us to secure this historic $50 million in savings for Columbia’s ratepayers.”

 By leveraging subsidized low-interest state and federal financing structures in tandem, CPWS continues its proactive strategy to minimize long-term borrowing costs and protect local utility rates.

 For more information about the project, visit CommunityH2O.org

Mt. Pleasant Approves Howard Field Transfer (MSM)

A change regarding the future of Howard Field was presented during the Mount Pleasant City Commission meeting as commissioners considered the property’s future in Maury County. 

The resolution outlines an amended and restated Memorandum of Understanding between Maury County, the Maury County Library Board and the City of Mount Pleasant. 

The original MOU stated that Maury County would have the entire property. Under the new proposed agreement, Maury County would receive a portion of Howard Field to construct a new, state-of-the-art public library. 

The property would be divided into two parcels: one for the new library and another that would remain under Mount Pleasant’s control for recreational uses, including a new girls’ softball field, a restroom and the existing dog park. 

Maury County would be responsible for obtaining and funding the required survey, subdivision and site plans and submitting them to the Mount Pleasant Planning Commission for approval. The county would also have one year after receiving the library property to allocate funding for construction and two years from the start of construction to complete the new library. The county would also be responsible for deconstructing the existing baseball field and constructing a new girls’ softball field and restroom on the portion of Howard Field that remains under Mount Pleasant’s control. 

Mount Pleasant would transfer the designated portion of Howard Field to the county after the required survey, plans and plat are completed. The city would retain ownership and responsibility for the softball field and restroom and would receive perpetual shared use of the new library’s parking lot. 

Once the new library opens, the existing Maury County Library would close and its property would be transferred to the City of Mount Pleasant free of restrictions. 

The agreement includes a 36-month deadline. If Maury County does not obtain the required survey, plans and plat for the proposed library within 36 months of the memorandum’s execution, the agreement will expire. 

The commissioners approved the resolution.

CSCC Foundation Adds New Leadership (Press Release)

The Columbia State Foundation Board is pleased to announce Felicia Brown, Judge Lee Bussart, Hugo Lopez, Luis Parodi and Alan Thompson as new Foundation board members.

“As chairman of the board, I am extremely pleased with the quality of our new board members,” said Stacey Shedd, Columbia State Foundation chair. “This talented group brings a strong commitment to our mission, a genuine passion for education, and a wealth of professional expertise that will further strengthen the Foundation. Their diverse skills and dedication will enhance our ability to serve our community and advance our goals. I look forward to working alongside both our returning and new members and am excited to see the many accomplishments this board will achieve together in the years ahead.” 

“I am excited to welcome our new board members to the Foundation,” said Bethany Lay, Columbia State vice president for advancement and executive director of the Columbia State Foundation. “Their exceptional backgrounds and dedication to our mission will bring fresh energy and invaluable perspective to our work. We anticipate collaborating and building a stronger future with them.”

“Their distinguished leadership and commitment to building relationships will be instrumental in advancing the college and creating opportunities for our students,” said Dr. Janet F. Smith, Columbia State president. “I look forward to working with each of our board members this year.”

Felicia Brown is senior vice president and treasury management officer at Heritage Bank and Trust, with more than 25 years of experience in banking and financial services. In addition to leading the treasury management division, she also oversees the bank’s deposit growth initiatives and marketing strategy. Brown earned a bachelor's degree in finance from Middle Tennessee State University and a master’s degree in business administration from the University of Tennessee Southern. 

Judge Lee Bussart serves as the general sessions and juvenile judge for Marshall County. She also presides over both an adult recovery court and an adult mental health court. A graduate of the University of Tennessee College of Law, Bussart previously served as president of the Marshall County Bar Association and held several leadership roles with the Tennessee Bar Association. Currently, Bussart serves on the University of Tennessee College of Law Professional Development Institute Advisory Board and the Tennessee Youth Court Board.

Hugo Lopez is the president and owner of Lopez Group, LLC, and Amigo’s Mexican Grill in Lewisburg, along with multiple other locations throughout Middle Tennessee. He is an entrepreneur as well as a recently elected public servant in Marshall County. Lopez attended Middle Tennessee State University.

Luis Parodi is the vice president, senior regional CRA and community development officer at Republic Bank with many years of experience in the finance sector. Parodi earned his MBA in finance from Butler University. He is a board member and former chairman of Williamson, Inc., and has served on numerous boards, as well as on Leadership Middle Tennessee in 2014.

Alan Thompson serves as vice president of marketing at Pape-Dawson. He holds a bachelor’s degree in landscape architecture from the University of Georgia. Thompson currently serves as a board member for Williamson, Inc. He serves as board chairman for Cumberland Region Tomorrow, a nonprofit focusing on regional growth across Middle Tennessee, as well as being a 2024 alum of Leadership Franklin. 

For a full list of the Foundation board members, staff and executive committee members, visit www.ColumbiaState.edu/foundation/foundation-staff-board-members.html.  

Columbia State Foundation board members serve three-year terms and represent leaders from across the nine-county service area. The Columbia State Foundation is a 501(c)(3) organization that supports and partners with the college to positively impact student success and the communities in which it serves. For more information, visit www.ColumbiaState.edu/Foundation. 

Loose Wheels Moves into Historic Spring Hill House (MSM)

The Loose Wheels Burger truck is moving its famous “squashed burgers” into the historic Kissing House on McLemore Avenue, just off Spring Hill’s Main Street. Owner Bill Benedict, a native of Manchester and a 20-year Spring Hill resident, hopes that Loose Wheels and his own Babylon Beer Garden are the kind of “adaptive reuse” that can make the Kissing House as a community hub for food, gatherings and the arts.

“Owning a historic home is definitely a labor of love,” Benedict, who’s owned the Kissing House for a decade, told Main Street Maury.

“Adaptive reuse is taking a historic home and opening it to the community, but also helping sustain the property by adding revenue.”

The Kissing House, built in 1878 in the “carpenter Gothic” style of the time, got its name from the broken engagement between Spring Hill belle Sally Odil and Hugh Brown, a significantly older businessman from Nashville. Two months into their engagement, Odil’s father read in the newspaper that Brown had married another woman, and the Odils successfully sued him for breach of promise. Sally Odil used the $2,800 court award to buy the “Ritter-Morton House,” which became known as “the house that kisses bought” and eventually contracted to “the Kissing House.”

The house is one of the few really old buildings left in downtown Spring Hill. Though the city had a bustling downtown comparable to Columbia’s in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Benedict says, much of it was destroyed by fires and tornadoes in the mid-20th century. While Spring Hill’s economic revival has given people many shopping and eating “options,” he thinks it could use more “places” where neighbors can stop and get to know one another.

“I love the community of Spring Hill… I love the fact that you can drive 15 minutes and be at the Duck River, it feels like rural Tennessee but with all the modern conveniences,” said Benedict, who’s served on the city’s Historic Commission and Downtown Redevelopment Commission.

“But we don’t really have a heart, a place for people to gather, so this concept is… a place for people to come, hang out.”

To bring people to his planned oasis, Benedict has started serving beers from his own Babylon Beer Garden brand in one wing of the house, and partnered with Marcus Malone to permanently move the operations of Malone’s Loose Wheels Burgers truck into the main Kissing House.

“We had a brick and mortar in Columbia from 2014 to [2020], and then COVID kinda yanked the carpet out from under us,” Malone said.

His famous “squashed (not smashed) burgers” have won awards, including “Best in State” from Travel magazine, and a following from their time roving Columbia in the Loose Wheels truck, and he’s ready to settle back into a stationary kitchen.

“It’ll be like you’d see in an old general store or an old diner,” he promised.

“This is our home… [We intend to] grow the brand, meet new people, enjoy what we’ve got going,” said Katie Rose, who now works in the truck.

When Loose Wheels moves into the Kissing House, hopefully in about a week, they’ll serve salads, soups and a Burger of the Month as well, but they won’t get rid of the truck.

“We absolutely love to cater, that’s one of our favorite things to do… We’re booked out a whole nother year, so we’ll definitely be doing events,” Rose said.

Benedict believes the Kissing House grounds can support not only the food and drink concepts, but also the work of Spring Hill’s visual artists and musicians.

“I think this marriage between Babylon and Loose Wheels is enough to sustain the property, but in the future we plan to do live music, support local artists, let them set up [on the lawn and sell pieces],” said Benedict.

“We’ll have artists display their artwork up front, if we ever do the Art Walk again… [and] it’s a great place to play… We do a lot to support local artists.”

America 250th Lecture (Press Release)

The Maury 250th Commemoration Committee will continue the Lecture Series on August 29, 2025 at 10am at the West 7th Church of Christ located at 405 West 7th Street in Columbia, TN. It is free and open to the public.

The speaker, Dr. Lynn Nelson, will discuss President George Washington and some of the challenges he faced as this country’s first president.

Dr. Nelson is a Professor of History at Middle Tennessee State University. His research and teaching specialties are in Revolutionary America, the early American frontier, and environmental history. He has a Ph.D. from the College of William and Mary; a MA from the University of Kansas; and a BA from the University of Chicago.

He is the author of “Pharsalia: An Environmental Biography of a Southern Plantation, 1780-1880” (University of Georgia Press, 2007).

The Maury County 250th Committee includes representatives from the African American Heritage Society of Maury County, Columbia State Community College, Maury County Archives, Maury County Historical Society, and City of Mt. Pleasant and Spring Hill Library. “In addition to the lectures series, this committee has scheduled programs and events that will amplify the diverse voices and connect local and state history to the broader American story,” said Jo Ann McClellan, Project Director.

For more information about the schedule of events, please visit maury250.com.

Citizens Fire Academy (Press Release)

Columbia Fire & Rescue is now accepting applications for the 2026 Citizens Fire Academy, a free, hands-on learning experience for adults ages 18 and older. The six-week program provides participants with a behind-the-scenes look at life in the fire service, offering firsthand insight into the operations, challenges and teamwork that define Columbia Fire & Rescue’s commitment to protecting the community.

“The Citizens Fire Academy is an important opportunity to strengthen community engagement and provide residents with greater insight into the work of Columbia Fire & Rescue,” said City Manager Tony Massey.

Participants will have the opportunity to take part in a variety of interactive activities, including:

• Live fire equipment demonstrations

• CPR training

• Fire station tours

• Presentations from CFR’s Emergency Management, Fire Marshal and Training divisions

• A hands-on mock fire scene featuring hose deployment, ladder operations and search-and-rescue tactics

Led by Columbia Fire & Rescue personnel, the Citizens Fire Academy is designed to strengthen the department’s connection with the community through education, transparency and engagement. Participants will gain a greater understanding of the department’s operations and the many services provided by its personnel each day.

“Every day, our firefighters rely on training, teamwork and preparation to serve this community,” said Fire Chief Chris Cummins. “The Citizens Fire Academy gives residents the chance to experience some of that training firsthand and see what it takes to be a member of Columbia Fire & Rescue. We look forward to welcoming this year’s class and sharing more about the work our department does to keep Columbia safe.”

The 2026 Citizens Fire Academy will run from September 15 through October 20, with sessions held every Tuesday evening from 6:00–8:00 p.m. at various Columbia fire stations.

Applications are available at ColumbiaTN.gov now through September 4.

For additional information or questions, contact Columbia Fire & Rescue at 931-560-1700.

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

Penny Ann Wright, 58, passed away on Thursday, August 21st.

A graveside celebration of Penny’s life will be held Saturday August 29th at 11:30 AM at the Morrow Cemetery in Hampshire, TN

And now, news from around the state… 

Home Prices Stabilizing, Says Sec. of State (Press Release)

New business filings in the 2nd quarter of 2026 were the second highest of any quarter in the 33-year history of the data, surpassed only by the first quarter of 2026.  The new Quarterly Business and Economic Indicators report issued by Secretary of State Tre Hargett’s office also examines housing prices, noting that prices have stabilized in Tennessee since 2024 after rapid increases coming out of the pandemic.

“Business creation remains incredibly strong in Tennessee’s welcoming economic environment,” said Secretary Hargett. “Although every state has challenges to tackle, state leaders give Tennesseans an edge through lower taxes, light regulations, and responsible fiscal management that supports opportunity and investment.”

During the second quarter, 24,733 new entities filed in Tennessee, a 23.1% year-over-year increase. A high level of business filings typically leads to jobs, personal income, and state revenue growth. Over the last 12 months, there were 89,532 new entity filings.

Davidson and Knox counties saw the largest number of filings in the second quarter, followed by Shelby and Hamilton counties. These four most-populous counties accounted for 43.7% of new filings statewide and grew collectively by 24.4% year-over-year. Tennessee’s other 91 counties grew at a slightly slower but still robust 21% rate.

“The latest surge in new entity filings shows that Tennessee continues to be a fertile economic environment for new businesses,” said Dr. Don Bruce, Director of the Boyd Center for Business and Economic Research.  “The addition of nearly 90,000 new businesses to the state economy over the past 12 months bodes well for employment, income, and tax revenue growth over the next several months.”

The report also includes a feature on housing prices in Tennessee. After rapid increases in the wake of the pandemic, prices stabilized beginning in 2024 but remain high. The report details several of the demand, supply, population, and interest rate factors impacting home prices. Construction of multi-family housing has helped ease price pressures, with construction permits nearly doubling in Tennessee between 2019 and 2021 and remaining elevated through 2024.

The report provides a snapshot of the state’s economy based on key indicators, including new business data from the Secretary of State’s Division of Business and Charitable Organizations. It is published through a partnership with the University of Tennessee Knoxville’s Boyd Center for Business and Economic Research and the Secretary of State.

To review the complete Q2 2026 Tennessee Quarterly Business and Economic Indicators report and past reports, visit sos.tn.gov.

Final Story of the Day (Maury County Source)

Spring Hill city leaders, first responders and local business leaders will take the field this fall for the city’s first City vs. Citizens Softball Game, a fundraiser aimed at restoring Spring Hill’s first fire engine, known as Fire Belle. 

The event will take place Saturday, Nov. 7, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Evans Park and will feature two fundraising softball games.

The day will begin with a matchup between the Spring Hill Fire Department and Spring Hill Police Department, followed by the City vs. Citizens game.

Proceeds from the event will benefit efforts to restore Fire Belle. The Spring Hill Fire Department needs more than $60,000 to complete the restoration of the historic fire engine.

Tickets will be $5 per person and will include admission to both games. Children under 2 will be admitted free. Tickets are expected to go on sale in the coming weeks.