Southern Middle TN Today News with Tom Price 9-3-26

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Southern Middle Tennessee Today

News Copy for September 3, 2026

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

We start with local news…

Spring Hill Theft (MauryCountySource)

Spring Hill police are asking for the public’s help identifying two men accused of stealing from a Circle K and threatening an employee.

The incident happened at the Circle K on Jim Warren Parkway. According to the Spring Hill Police Department, the men allegedly stole items from the store before walking behind an employee-only area as they left.

Police said the men threatened and shoved an employee while opening drawers behind the counter.

The suspects then left the store in a dark-colored sedan.

A video capture of the suspects can be viewed on MauryCountySource.com. Anyone who recognizes the men is asked to contact Detective Wright at twright@springhilltn.org or submit an anonymous tip.

TLDA Backs CPWS Loan on Parity (MSM)

The Tennessee Local Development Authority (TLDA) voted unanimously Aug. 24 to place Columbia Power & Water’s (CPWS) planned $315 million federal loan “on parity” with its $75 million state loan, meaning both will be repaid at the same time. Together with an additional $60 million CPWS plans to request from the state next year, the loans will fund a Duck River intake, 17-mile pipeline and water treatment plant.

The project’s advocates recounted how the Duck River Watershed Planning Partnership (DRWPP) had voted 12-2 to endorse it at their August meeting. At the end of July, the TLDA had declined to approve the parity financing arrangement until the DRWPP had signed off on the project, which prompted the project’s supporters on the partnership to bring it up for a vote at the next meeting.

“There were some questions of [CPWS Vice President] Matt Wheeler… [Maury County] Mayor [Sheila] Butt [spoke] about the concerns that she had about water system customers not having a say in city-set rates,” said April Grippo, the director of Water Resources for the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC), recounting the meeting. “We also heard a presentation from a contractor called WFX, which has been for some months working on a regionalization study… [WFX’s representative] stated that he had not gone into the study pursuing a water source other than this intake. [He] saw no need to wait on… the outcome of his study, and emphasized that any discussion of regionalization and the suggestions that would come about in his study could take place after this project was already approved.”

Before the meeting, Dustin Kittle, a local environmental attorney, argued that 20 percent yearly rate increases will unfairly penalize CPWS’s “suburban” ratepayers, whose already higher rates would compound far more than those of “urban” customers.

“We have a unique situation here: we have a municipal utility, and they have made rate decisions for people in the county,” Kittle said.

Kittle cited a 2020 rate study commissioned by CPWS, which apparently found that the rate hikes would increase the disparity between urban and suburban customers. He also announced he has been retained by multiple property owners who intend to fight the pipeline easements CPWS is preparing to condemn.

“With across-the-board 20 percent [increases], county rate-payers will be paying more for this pipeline than people inside the city will. The ironic part of that is, the county rate-payers won’t have any stake in that at all: this is an asset that will belong to the city.”

“The rate studies done each year… will dictate the rates, and the process is designed to keep the gap from widening and to allocate costs appropriately by rate class,” CPWS later told Main Street Maury.

“The goal [is] to get each rate class as close to 100-percent recovery as possible without jeopardizing the necessary revenue to pay for the project.”

State Comptroller Jason Mumpower praised the public input process before casting his vote.

“I would just like to state my appreciation for everybody who’s testified on both sides of this issue over the past few months. I think we rightfully delayed this decision until today’s meeting… We gave an opportunity for more local dialogue, and I hope that has been constructive,” Mumpower said.

“This board deals with the financing of these projects. We at the TLDA cannot stop this project… [With] local elected leaders [is] where the credit and the blame lie… In fact, the local government in Columbia has made it very clear that regardless of what we do, they plan to move forward… When faced with that choice, I’m going to take the step of saving the rate-payers $50 million.”

Before voting yes, TLDA board members counseled the leaders of CPWS and Columbia to listen to non-constituent stakeholders and customers, think in regional terms and avoid losing their identity to suburban sprawl.

State Treasurer David Lillard advised the city’s leaders to seriously consider input from county residents directly affected by issues such as the water rate increase.

“There’s a need, I think, to make sure that in the future the opinions of rate-payers that are outside the city of Columbia are clearly heard in the matter, and there are a number of ways that can be done… in the future,” Lillard said.

“People feel a lot better… once they feel like they’ve had the chance to say their point of view on things, and further that they feel like they have been heard.”

Loudon County Mayor Buddy Bradshaw warned that unchecked growth was straining infrastructure across the state.

“This is a direct result of high-density development, letting people come in left and right [with] no restraint. Very quickly, it looks like the infrastructure’s been overwhelmed,” Bradshaw said. “If the cities and the counties don’t do something to curb some of this high-density development, we’re going to lose who we are. And this is a huge tab we’re fixing to put on not only the city residents, but the county residents.”

Lillard offered a broader warning about the state’s trajectory.

“As Tennessee becomes a larger and larger state, we’re going to see this more and more, and I’m sure that… [your] water difficulties… will just become more acute.”

Mt. Pleasant Approves Howard Field Division (MSM)

Mount Pleasant commissioners have approved a resolution that would divide Howard Field, setting aside a portion for a new Maury County public library while keeping the remainder under city control for recreational use.

The Mount Pleasant City Commission considered the measure at its Aug. 18 meeting. The resolution outlines an amended and restated Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between Maury County, the Maury County Library Board and the City of Mount Pleasant.

The original MOU stated that Maury County would receive the entire property. Under the new agreement, the county would receive only a portion of Howard Field on which 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 have one year after receiving the library property to allocate construction funding 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 city 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 MOU’s execution, the agreement will expire.

Legal Objections Halts Re-Plat (MSM)

Cedar Grove Partners withdrew their application to get the Maury County Planning Commission to re-plat their Ridgeline Reserve subdivision, after an attorney for a lot owner announced that Tennessee law required his clients’ consent before the plat could be brought for approval — consent that had not been obtained.

Bryan and Taylor Easterly, represented by attorney Dustin Kittle, announced they did not agree to the re-platting of the project requested by the developer. Because the Easterlys had already purchased Lot 6 in the Ridgeline Reserve plat, Kittle said, Tennessee Code Annotated (TCA) § 13-3-402(a)(2) and county subdivision code § 1-109 require their consent before the subdivision can be brought for approval or the plat changed. Without that consent, he said, any approval at the meeting would have been legally void.

“Bryan Easterly owns Lot 6 because they’ve already sold it to him, and so it’s a violation of Tennessee law for this to have even been presented to this commission tonight,” he said.

Kristi Ransom, the attorney for the county building and zoning department, agreed.

“Mr. Kittle is right… If all the property owners haven’t consented, it’s not properly ‘before you’ and you can’t take action on it,” Ransom said, adding that she had seen a similar situation arise in another county just the previous month.

“It would probably be helpful to the developer, should they bring something back without Lot 6, to get the rest of [the adjoining property owners’] concerns and comments,” she said.

Ransom asked Cole Newton, an engineer representing Cedar Grove’s application, to withdraw the item from consideration.

“Dustin, I appreciate you bringing that to our attention. Next time, call me in the afternoon so I can prepare,” Ransom said.

“Then I wouldn’t have got to talk,” Kittle joked.

Ridgeline Reserve is an 82-acre subdivision made up of 13 residential lots on the rural East Sheepneck Road. Neighbors have criticized the project since work began, with Chris Gramling and Teresa Sparks appearing at dozens of meetings in an effort to get the county to review the subdivision. The building and zoning department did not know of a legal reason to intervene until the neighbors’ research uncovered what Kittle called a “turning point” — a state law setting an “infrastructure trigger” for government review. TCA § 13-3-401(4)(i-ii) requires any development that requires “new… utility construction” — such as the water service Ridgeline Reserve obtained from Columbia Power & Water Systems — to come before the planning commission for review.

“These concerns started with a simple question: how could approximately 82 acres be divided into as many as 16 five-acre lots with no oversight from the regional planning commission at all? So we began researching state law,” Sparks said.

“On Feb. 26, [Kittle’s firm] Humble Law submitted a legal memo to the Regional Planning Commission, concluding that this project should in fact be classified as a subdivision… Kristi [Ransom] wrote [another document] agreeing… that the development is subject to the subdivision regulations,” she said.

“[Ridgeline Reserve will go down as the point] when we figured out that we’ve been misinterpreting what the subdivision rules require, for who knows how long,” Kittle said.

Other residents of East Sheepneck Road objected to the public-safety risks they anticipated from dozens of new daily commuters on their curvy country road. Many of them walk or jog along East Sheepneck, sometimes with their children, and drive tractors, trucks with trailers and other utility vehicles on the road.

Birdie Foster, who said she had almost been hit by a Mack truck the previous week, urged the planning commission to measure sight distances from Ridgeline Reserve’s prospective driveways. She cited the county’s own standard, which requires 150 to 400 feet of visibility for turning vehicles depending on the road’s usage classification.

“[Stopping distance or intersection visibility] isn’t something we should be guessing about, it can be measured,” Foster said.

“Measure the conditions, apply the standards. The lives of those of us living on East Sheepneck might depend on it,” she said.

“It’s a farm community. You’ve got ATVs, you’ve got tractors, you’ve got four-wheelers… The line of sight [is poor]. You’ve heard about S-curves, dangerous curves,” said Jordan Rouden, who lives nearby in Culleoka.

Drake Sparks, who stretches water hoses across the road, hauls hay and takes cattle to the slaughterhouse along East Sheepneck, said the road was never meant to handle the added traffic.

“East Sheepneck, from its early days [as a] paved [road], was conceived as an agricultural road to serve the farmer. And I don’t know how it’s going to serve the farmer anymore when… I’ve had people trying to run me off the road when I’m pulling hay,” Drake Sparks said.

Troy Blackmon, one of the partners in Cedar Grove, later told Main Street Maury that the development was intended to respect the rural character of East Sheepneck.

“Many people in the area live on three- to 10-acre lots, and the proposed plan, for lots of five to 10 acres or more, follow the area’s tradition of country acreage living, as opposed to high-density development,” Blackmon said.

“Our focus is on creating five-plus-acre rural properties for families who value country living, including hobby farms and multigenerational homesteads, while preserving the rural character of the area and taking seriously the safety of those who live and travel nearby.

IN OTHER BUSINESS

Several landowners on East Sheepneck Road, including the Sparks family and Gramling, petitioned the planning commission to place their properties into Agricultural Preservation conservation easements. The parcels up for rezoning total about 317 acres.

The planning commission approved the rezoning of Snow Creek Ranch into a 103-acre religious retreat, the construction of a new classroom at Zion Christian Academy, the conversion of the Boondox bar in Rally Hill into a convenience store, and the plat for 82 residential lots in the Forest Trails Subdivision in District 8.

Planning Commissioner Mike Diaz announced his retirement from the planning commission.

Columbia City Perception Survey (Press Release)

The City of Columbia is inviting the community to share what makes Columbia unique through a new community perception survey, the next step in the City’s community branding initiative. The survey will be available September 2 through September 16.

The quick, 10-minute survey gives residents and others familiar with Columbia an opportunity to share what they value about the community and the qualities they believe help define Columbia.

Community branding is about more than a logo or tagline. A community’s brand reflects its identity, reputation and what distinguishes it from other places. A strong, authentic brand will help tell Columbia’s story, strengthen community pride and support efforts to attract visitors, businesses, investment, talent and new opportunities.

The City selected Chandlerthinks to lead the branding initiative. The process has already included extensive research, including a public meeting and stakeholder interviews, along with market research and strategic analysis.

Feedback gathered through the community survey will add another important perspective to that research and help identify the characteristics and perceptions that should inform Columbia’s brand. The goal is not to create a new identity for Columbia, but to develop a brand that authentically reflects the community and what makes it distinctive.

The City encourages anyone with a connection to Columbia to participate and help shape how Columbia’s story is shared for years to come.

Community members can complete the survey online at ColumbiaTN.gov or by scanning the QR code provided.

Residents may also complete the survey in person at Columbia Fire & Rescue Station No. 1, located at 1001 S. High Street, between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. Those completing the survey in person should park behind the fire station and ring the bell at the side door.

Fruit Teaser (Press Release)

Columbia Main Street will host the Fruit Teaser a one-time-only community celebration to recognize a drink deeply connected to Columbia while celebrating the proclamation of Columbia, Tennessee as the “Fruit Tea Capital of the World” and “Fruit Tea as the official drink of Columbia”, on Saturday, September 12, from 3–8 p.m. in Downtown Columbia's Maury County Parking Lot (707 Woodland Street).

At the heart of the event is the $5 Fruit Tea Tasting, allowing guests to sample more than a dozen different Fruit Teas prepared by restaurants, caterers, and local businesses. Attendees will vote for their favorite Fruit Tea, while a separate panel of judges will select its favorite. Tickets are for sale at the event (cash/card). Attendees who pre-purchase a ticket on online (columbiamainstreet.com) are guaranteed a 16oz Fruit Tea collectible cup. 

The friendly competition continues with an adult Fruit Tea Chugging Competition, where one contestant will walk away with $100 and the title of Fruit Tea King or Queen. Columbia’s younger generation is getting involved through the Youth Fruit Tea Poetry Competition, with cash prizes awarded to the top three poems.

The Main Stage will feature three local performances throughout the afternoon. Laci, winner of Columbia Parks & Recreation’s Battle of the Bands, kicks off the music at 3:15 p.m., followed by Columbia youth band Speed Trap at 4:30 p.m. and David Rondoni at 6:30 p.m.

Local artist Susan Jones will also create a Fruit Tea-inspired painting live during the event, allowing guests to watch the artwork take shape throughout the afternoon before seeing the finished piece.

For families, the Game & Learning Zone will offer yard games, chalk art, temporary Fruit Tea tattoos and face painting provided by Junior Main Street volunteers. An interactive Fruit Tea learning area will take visitors through the story of how the water from the Duck River ultimately makes its way into the Fruit Tea served in our homes. Guests of all ages can also help complete large Fruit Tea-themed coloring posters, turning the educational area into a collaborative community art project.

Fruit Tea will even make its way into the event’s shopping experience. Specialty craft and bakery vendors will offer Fruit Tea-inspired products, flavors, scents and treats, while food and dessert trucks will serve additional menu options throughout the afternoon.

The celebration will include two proclamation readings from the City of Columbia recognizing Columbia’s Fruit Tea identity. The event will build toward its finale on the Main Stage with the Fruit Tea Awards, when Columbia will find out which competitors have officially earned bragging rights for having the Best Fruit Tea in Columbia, Tennessee.

The Fruit Teaser is hosted by Columbia Main Street with support from City of Columbia, Visit Columbia, TN, Tennessee Valley Authority, Renewal by Andersen, Habitat for Humanity Williamson-Maury, State Farm – JennaLynn Drake, Agent, and Bostelman Automotive Group.

Fruit Teaser | Saturday, September 12 | 3–8 p.m | Downtown Columbia’s Maury County Parking Lot | 707 Woodland Street

Event information and Fruit Tea Tasting details are available at ColumbiaMainStreet.com/fruit-teaser. Follow us on social media at @columbiatnmainstreet .

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

Buford Wayne Moss, 62, of Columbia, passed away Monday, August 31, 2026, at Maury Regional Medical Center.

Funeral services will be conducted Friday, September 4, 2026, at 12:00 PM at Oakes & Nichols Funeral Home with Brother Randy Isabell and Brother Bob Vassar officiating. Burial will follow in Polk Memorial Gardens. The family will visit with friends Thursday, September 3, from 4:00 PM until 8:00 PM at Oakes & Nichols Funeral Home.

Glen Dorris Rodgers passed away on Saturday, August 29, 2026 at his home in Hendersonville, Tennessee. He was 82 years old.

Funeral Services will be held on Saturday, September 5th at 2:30 PM at the Hendersonville Church of

There will be a visitation for family and friends at Oakes and Nichols Funeral Home in Columbia, Tennessee on Sunday, September 6th from 1:00-2:30 PM. Interment will follow the visitation at Delk Cemetery in Williamsport, Tennessee 

Margaret Susan Kinzer Ivey, age 85, passed away on August 28, 2026, at Poplar Estates in Columbia, Tennessee.

Services will be held on Saturday, September 5, at Williamsport United Methodist Church at 2:00 PM. Burial will follow at Williamsport Cemetery, located behind the church. Visitation will be held at the church for two hours prior to the service.

Keilyn Marquise Osborne, 23, of Mt. Pleasant, passed away Sunday, August 30, 2026.

Funeral services will be conducted Tuesday, September 8, 2026, at 12:00 PM at Oakes & Nichols Funeral Home. Burial will follow in Polk Memorial Gardens. The family will visit with friends Tuesday from 10:00 AM until the time of service at Oakes & Nichols Funeral Home.

Zenita Ann Bartlett, 83, of Columbia, Tennessee, died Tuesday, September 1, 2026.

No funeral arrangements have been made at this time.

Earnest Allen Bailey, 72, of Culleoka, Tennessee, passed away Wednesday, September 2, 2026.

No funeral arrangements have been made at this time.

And now, news from around the state… 

State to Fund Imagination Library (Press Release)

Tennessee House Speaker Cameron Sexton (R-Crossville) and Chairman Bo Watson (R-Hixson) have pledged for the state to pick up the local cost of Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library as part of Tennessee’s budget in 2027.

“Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library is one of Tennessee’s greatest gifts to the next generation,” said Speaker Sexton. “What started in Tennessee is now in all 50 states. Millions of children have been inspired and discovered a love of reading because of Dolly. There is no better way to honor her extraordinary legacy than to ensure every single Tennessee child, in every county and in every community, continues to have access to the Imagination Library for generations to come.”

“Doing whatever is necessary to improve early literacy has always been a top priority of mine,” said Chairman Watson. “Dolly Parton has always been a pioneer in the movement to improve children’s lives through books and reading, and she has left a lasting legacy on the country. We are honored to continue the work she started through her Imagination Library.”

Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library began in Sevier County in 1995. Inspired by her father’s humble beginnings, she set out to give young children access to books and inspire a love of reading. For over 20 years, Dolly’s foundation has delivered more than 304 million books directly to children across the United States and around the world, free of charge. As of 2025, nearly 70% of Tennessee children are enrolled in the Imagination Library program.

Currently, the Governor’s Early Literacy Foundation partners with local governments to ensure free books are available to children in every corner of Tennessee. Thanks to our state’s balanced budget and commitment to fiscal responsibility, Tennessee has the funds to pay for the entire program. Tennessee Republicans can continue investing in opportunities that help every child succeed, regardless of their zip code or financial circumstances.

Final Story of the Day (Maury County Source)

Cheekwood Estate & Gardens will celebrate the beauty and traditions of Japan during its 12th annual Japanese Moon Viewing Festival, or Otsukimi, on Sunday, Sept. 27, from 4 to 9 p.m. 

Held near the date of the Harvest Moon, the festival will feature an evening of Japanese art, music, food, storytelling and cultural traditions throughout Cheekwood’s gardens.

Presented in partnership with the Consulate-General of Japan in Nashville and the Japan-America Society of Tennessee, the event will include tea ceremony demonstrations, taiko drumming, shamisen and shakuhachi performances, a kimono fashion show, mochi pounding, kamishibai storytelling, ikebana and bonsai displays, art activities and guided tours of the Blevins Japanese Garden.

“The celebration of the Harvest Moon is a time of reflection and appreciation,” said Shinji Watanabe, Consul-General of Japan in Nashville. “The Japanese Moon Viewing Festival at Cheekwood is an extraordinarily unique event in our region with Japanese cultural performances and demonstrations that are hard to find anywhere else.”

Festival highlights include performances by Nashville Taiko and Shamisen Knoxville beginning at 5 p.m., followed by the welcome ceremony at 6 p.m. A kimono fashion show is scheduled for 6:30 p.m., tea ceremonies will take place at 7 and 8 p.m., and a shakuhachi performance is set for 7:30 p.m.

The evening will conclude at 8:30 p.m. with a closing ceremony featuring a reading of the Japanese folktale “The Bamboo Cutter.”

Cheekwood Estate & Gardens is located at 1200 Forrest Park Drive in Nashville. Tickets and additional information are available at Cheekwood.org.