Southern Middle TN Today News with Tom Price 9-28-26

WKOM/WKRM Radio

Southern Middle Tennessee Today

News Copy for September 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…

Missing Woman (MauryCountySource)

We have an update to our missing person’s report last week pertaining to Savannah Pierce.

It is with heavy hearts that the Maury County Sheriff's Office shared that

Ms. Pierce has been located and, tragically, was found deceased.

The investigation into the circumstances surrounding her death is ongoing. The Sheriff’s office wants to recognize the diligent and swift work of our Criminal Investigations Unit, who moved quickly from the initial report of a possible missing female to locating her and identifying those responsible. Their dedication reflects our department's commitment to working diligently on behalf of the families they serve.

The Maury County Sheriff’s Office also wants to thank the surrounding law enforcement agencies, including the Williamson County Sheriff's Department and the Marshall County Sheriff's Department, for their work in this investigation, as well as the public for the tips and information that were shared— every piece of information matters, and they are grateful for the community's support.

Maury Regional Adds Seven New Docs (MSM)

Maury Regional Medical Center has recently added seven physicians to its medical staff, including specialists in orthopedic spine surgery, neurology, obstetrics and gynecology, internal medicine and critical care.

Joseph T. Hare, MD, an orthopedic surgeon specializing in spine surgery, has joined the staff at Maury Regional Medical Center. He is affiliated with Tennessee Orthopaedic Alliance (TOA) in Spring Hill.

Hare received his medical degree from West Virginia University School of Medicine in Morgantown, W. Va. He completed his residency at the University of Kentucky in Lexington, Ky., and a fellowship in spine surgery at Indiana Spine Group in Carmel, Ind.

His office is at 2160 Reserve Blvd., Suite 100, Spring Hill. Office hours are 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Dr. Joseph K. Vaughan Jr joined Maury Regional’s Neurology department, where he joins Dr. Chaohua Yan in providing specialized neurological care to the southern Middle Tennessee region. Vaughan earned his medical degree and completed his residency and a fellowship in Neurophysiology at the Medical College of Virginia in Richmond, Va.

MRMG Neurology is in the Maury Regional Plaza, Suite 203, at 854 W. James Campbell Blvd. in Columbia. The office is open 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday. Patients must have a physician’s order.

For a complete list of services or to learn more, please call 931.490.7348 or visit MauryRegional.com/MRMGNeurology.

Maury Regional Medical Group’s (MRMG) OB-GYN practice has added Dr. Brandi W. Trammell, a board-certified physician in obstetrics and gynecology (OB-GYN) and obesity medicine. Dr. Trammell earned her medical degree from the University of South Alabama College of Medicine in Mobile, Ala., and completed her residency at Yale New Haven Medical Center in Connecticut.

Trammell joins a team that includes Drs. Nicole Falls, Taylor Masters, Michael J. Pelletier and Andres Rodriguez, and FNP-BCs Brittany Legg, Leslie McBroom and Jill McDonald. The practice provides care for women from childbearing years through post-menopause. No physician referral is required.

MRMG OB-GYN occupies the entire fourth floor of the Medical Office Building on the Maury Regional Medical Center campus at 1222 Trotwood Ave., Suite 400, Columbia. Hours are 8:30 a.m. – 4 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 8:30 a.m. – noon Friday.

To schedule an appointment or learn more, call 931.490.1295 or visit MauryRegional.com/mrmgobgyn.

Maury Regional Medical Group has added internal medicine specialists Jacob L. Daniel, Alexander Scavo and Arie Szeinfeld as well as critical care specialist Jayesh Patel, MD.

Maury Regional Medical Group, an affiliate of Maury Regional Health, provides hospital medicine physicians for Maury Regional Medical Center and Marshall Medical Center. These physicians devote their time and expertise to adult and pediatric patients exclusively within the hospital setting.

Daniel received his medical degree from Lincoln Memorial University – DeBusk College of Osteopathic Medicine in Harrogate. He completed his residency at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center College of Medicine in Knoxville.  

Scavo received his medical degree from Marian University College of Osteopathic Medicine in Indianapolis, Ind. He completed a residency at The Christ Hospital in Cincinnati, Ohio.

Szeinfeld received his medical degree from American University of the Caribbean School of Medicine in Miramar, Fla. He completed his residency at HCA JFK Hospital, part of the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine GME Consortium, in Atlantis, Fla.

MRMG Critical Care is a specialty practice dedicated to providing care to patients who are hospitalized in the Critical Care Unit at Maury Regional Medical Center.

Patel received his medical degree from B.J. Medical College in Ahmedabad, India. He completed a residency at Rochester General Hospital in Rochester, N.Y. He also completed a fellowship in critical care at the University of Kentucky Medical Center in Lexington, Ky. He is board-certified in nephrology and internal medicine.

For an overview of physicians and Advanced Practice Professionals specializing in internal medicine and critical care, visit MauryRegional.com/providers.

Lockridge Farm in Spring Hill Historically Significant (MauryCountySource)

The City of Spring Hill has designated Lochridge Farm on John Lunn Road as a Historically Significant Site.

The Board of Mayor and Aldermen approved Resolution 26-271 this week, recognizing the farm for its longstanding history in the community.

Lochridge Farm is a Tennessee Century Farm, meaning it has remained in the same family for at least 100 years while continuing agricultural production.

The Lochridge family has been in Spring Hill since near the time the town was established in the early 1800s.

The city said it was proud to recognize the farm as a Historically Significant Site and expressed appreciation for the Lochridge family’s continued presence in Spring Hill.

Spring Hill Woman Honored for 9/11 Memory (WilliamsonHerald)

During its regular meeting on Monday, the Spring Hill Board of Mayor and Aldermen honored a city resident for her efforts to preserve the memory of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.

Mayor Matt Fitterer read a proclamation congratulating Jamie Garrison for launching and continuing the city’s annual Sept. 11 tribute, which honors local first responders as well as the hundreds of firefighters and police officers who died during the attacks in New York City and Washington, D.C.

The event, called Honoring Our Heroes, started in 2012 and involves residents bringing food to fire and police stations in Williamson and Maury counties. Firefighters at the Duplex Road station received a meal from Grecian Family Restaurant and Bakery on Sept. 11, while the police station received a cake and cupcakes, among other treats.

“Jamie’s efforts have created an opportunity for the Spring Hill community to come together each year to remember those who made the ultimate sacrifice, to meet and engage with the men and women who serve our community and to actively express our gratitude and appreciation for our local heroes,” Fitterer said.

Garrison accepted a copy of the proclamation but did not speak during the recognition.

Conference on AI at CSCC (Press Release)

Columbia State Community College will host "AI for Small Business," a one-day conference designed to help entrepreneurs, business owners and professionals learn how to leverage artificial intelligence to streamline operations, strengthen marketing efforts and improve productivity.

The conference will take place Friday, Oct. 9, from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Columbia State's Williamson Campus in Franklin. Registration is $75 per person and includes lunch.

As artificial intelligence continues to reshape the business landscape, small businesses are increasingly looking for practical ways to incorporate AI tools into their daily operations. The conference will provide attendees with real-world strategies and demonstrations focused on improving efficiency, enhancing customer engagement and supporting business growth.

“Artificial intelligence is no longer a technology reserved for large corporations,” said Dr. Mehran Mostajir, Columbia State dean of the Business and Technology Division and assistant professor of Engineering Systems Technology. “This conference is designed to help small business owners and professionals understand how AI can be applied in practical ways to save time, increase productivity and strengthen their competitive advantage.”

Conference topics will include:

•    Creating marketing materials with AI

•    Customer communications

•    Back-office operations

•    Teaching AI to build and transform websites with personality

•    Solving business problems using AI

The conference keynote address, “Recent Developments in AI Applied to Your Practice,” will be presented by Dr. Jesse Spencer-Smith.

The event is intended for small business owners, entrepreneurs, startup founders, self-employed professionals, managers, team leaders and professionals working in marketing, operations and sales. Individuals interested in learning more about the business applications of artificial intelligence are also encouraged to attend.

The conference supports Columbia State's growing leadership in artificial intelligence education and workforce development. Earlier this year, the college received a $2.02 million federal grant from the U.S. Department of Education's Fund for the Improvement of Postsecondary Education to establish a new AI division through the COMPASS initiative, or Community College Operational Model for Promoting AI Student Success. The initiative is designed to build institutional capacity for AI while expanding AI literacy, workforce readiness and community engagement opportunities throughout the region.

“Through initiatives like COMPASS and events such as AI for Small Business, Columbia State is helping ensure that students, employees and business leaders have access to the knowledge and tools needed to thrive in an AI-driven economy,” Mostajir said.

Registration is now open at https://qrco.de/bgsVsw. To learn more about our Workforce and Continuing Education programs, visit www.ColumbiaState.edu/Workforce. For more information, contact Mostajir at mmostajir@ColumbiaState.edu or by phone at 931.540.2710.

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.

WKRN News 2 morning anchor Nickelle Smith will serve as the master of ceremonies for the Columbia Peace and Justice Initiative (CPJI) Legacy Night on Tuesday, September 29.

“We are honored to have Nickelle serve as our master of ceremonies. Since joining WKRN News 2 in 2019, Nickelle has reported on breaking stories and community activities that impact Middle Tennesseans,” said CPJI Legacy Event Co-Chair Trent Ogilvie. “She is also a member of the National Association of Black Journalists and an inspiration to our youth who aspire to make a difference in their community.”

“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

“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.

Maury County Clerk Satellite Office (Press Release)

The Maury County Clerk’s office can now help residents with renewals of license plates or placards each Wednesday from 8am to 3:30pm at the Maury County Senior Center located at 1020 Maury County Park Dr.

Please drive around to the back of the building and look for the car tag renewal sign near the back door.

Forms of payment include credit/debit card or check – no cash.

Any Maury County Resident can use this office.

All other transactions will still need to be done through the main office located at 10 Public Square.

Also, you can renew online at TNCountyClerk.com or at kiosks in Spring Hill City Hall, Mt. Pleasant Courthouse, and at Walmart in Columbia.

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

Bettye Joyce Mobley Patton, 86, of Mobley's Bend, Tennessee, passed away peacefully on September 22, 2026.

Funeral services will be conducted at 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday, September 29, 2026, at Oakes & Nichols Funeral Home. Burial will follow at Polk Memorial Gardens in Columbia, Tennessee. The family will visit with friends and family on Monday from 4:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m at Oakes & Nichols Funeral Home.

Mr. James Lee Wilson, 82, a resident of Columbia, died Tuesday, September 22, 2026, at Magnolia Healthcare and Rehabilitation, where he had made his home in recent years.

A graveside service for Mr. Wilson will be conducted Wednesday, September 30, 2026, at 1:00 P.M. at Middle Tennessee Veterans Cemetery, 7931 McCrory Lane, Nashville, TN 37221. Military honors will be provided by the United States Navy Honor Guard.

And now, news from around the state…

Flu Vaccine Available (Press Release)

The Tennessee Department of Health is offering everyone over the age of six months the opportunity to receive this year’s flu vaccine. Flu vaccinations will be free on Tuesday. Oct. 20, 2026, at all local health departments in the state for Fight Flu TN ’26.

“Getting a flu shot is the best thing you can do to reduce the risk of getting the flu and having severe disease. Additionally, your decision to get the flu shot can help prevent others from getting sick,” said State Health Commissioner Dr. John Dunn. “It is important for Tennesseans over the age of six months to consider a flu shot. Talk to your provider today about the risks and benefits of flu vaccine.”

Fight Flu TN 2026

On Tuesday, Oct. 20th, more than 200 locations across the state, including Local Health Departments and partners participating in the event, will offer free flu vaccine to Tennesseans, ages six months and older, who are eligible.

Fight Flu TN, now in its 9th year, is an annual event that offers free vaccine while also exercising your Local Health Department’s ability to provide important services in the community.

The flu vaccine is safe and effective and can protect against the most common types of flu, and the virus’s worst symptoms and outcomes. Nationally, flu vaccination is estimated to have prevented about 10 million flu illnesses, 5 million medical visits, 180,000 hospitalizations and 12,000 deaths during the 2024 – 2025 influenza season.

Pregnant women, infants, the elderly, and those with chronic medical conditions are at the highest risk of getting the flu and facing its severe complications. Flu symptoms can include mild to severe cough, fatigue, fever, headache, muscle aches, sore throat, and stuffy or runny noses.

Precautions to prevent the spread of the flu virus include proper handwashing with soap and water, covering coughs and sneezes with a tissue or the bend of an elbow, and staying home if you are sick.

For more information about precautions against respiratory viral illnesses, like the flu, visit TDH’s Respiratory Viral Illness webpage.

UT Has Highest Enrollment Ever (Press Release)

For the sixth consecutive year, the University of Tennessee System has achieved enrollment growth, welcoming 65,618 students this fall and reaching a new systemwide enrollment high.

The fall 2026 enrollment represents a 1.2% increase over last year’s total of 64,866 students and an increase of 17.1% over the past five years. The growth comes as Tennesseans report increasing confidence in both the University of Tennessee and the value of a four-year degree.

A new statewide public opinion survey conducted on behalf of the UT System found that 82% of Tennesseans have a positive opinion of UT, up from 76% last year. Seventy-two percent also said a four-year degree from a Tennessee public college or university is worth the investment, up from 59% in 2025.

“Across Tennessee, people are telling us that they believe in the value of a college degree and in the University of Tennessee,” UT System President Randy Boyd said. “This enrollment growth shows that confidence is translating into action. Students and families are choosing UT because they see the opportunity a degree can create and the value of an education that prepares them for the future.”

Final Story of the Day (Maury County Source)

The 48th Annual Fall Tennessee Craft Fair 2026 is open for free to the public Oct. 9, 10, & 11, 2026, outdoors in the heart of Nashville at beautiful Centennial Park, adjacent to the iconic Parthenon (2500 West End Avenue, Nashville, TN, 37203).

The show is ranked in the top 25 of premier craft art fairs in the country. Attracting approximately 45,000 visitors annually, an opportunity for artists to directly meet and engage patrons, collectors, and the public. This juried art show presents traditional and contemporary fine craft, handmade by ~200 individual artists. Open to artists who reside in the United States.

A unique feature of Tennessee Craft Fairs requires artists to be on-site. While shopping, you’ll meet the artists, learn what inspires them, and how they take raw materials like clay, wood, metal, and glass and transform them into fine craft.

More information is found at www.tennesseecraft.org.