Southern Middle TN Today News with Tom Price 9-9-25

WKOM/WKRM Radio

Southern Middle Tennessee Today

News Copy for September 9, 2025

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

We start with local news…

Two Dead in Columbia Hotel (MSM)

Police responded to the Super 8 Motel in Columbia on the morning of Thursday, Sept. 4, near the intersection of Interstate 65 and Bear Creek Pike, after two people were found dead in one of the rooms.

CPD has not yet released the identities of the deceased individuals and would not comment on the scene, citing the ongoing investigation.

GM Layoffs (CDH)

Spring Hill United Auto Workers Local 1853 President John Rutherford said although imminent layoffs at the General Motors plant might appear concerning, it is "only temporary," and not uncommon to the auto industry.

General Motors announced last week plans to shift its production of two electric SUVs at the automaker's Spring Hill plant, which will include temporary layoffs affecting 700 shift workers, , according to a memo obtained by the Detroit Free Press the Tennessean reported.

The temporary layoffs will include half of the 1,400 shift workers.

The impending shutdown is scheduled to begin in January with a return date of May 11. The retooling will include ceasing production of the Cadillac Lyriq and Vistiq, both produced in Spring Hill.

"Obviously, it is scary when you see [layoffs], but we have investments coming, which is a really good thing for us," Rutherford said. "We are going to be down, yes, which is tough, but that's the auto industry. You have to deal with retooling, changing things, revamping things. That happens in the auto industry, and why we tell people to save for a rainy day."

The production changes are due to new products coming online in 2026, such as the next generation Cadillac XT5 and gas-powered Chevrolet Blazer, Rutherford said.

Spring Hill GM UAW members briefly joined a "Stand Up Strike" in 2023 as the national organization underwent contract renegotiations with three autogiants, GM, Ford, and Stellantis.

The planned shutdown also comes following GM Spring Hill's planned downtime during the week of Oct. 6, Thanksgiving and all of December.

"We were expecting some downtime and some retooling for the new Chevy Blazer, and we also have two new engines coming on the GPS Powertrain side," Rutherford said. "It's bittersweet news where we have some downtime, but we've got future product coming too, which is a good thing. The downtime was longer than we expected, and a lot of that is due to the demand of the EVs."

Rutherford added that losing the EV production will also mean losing eligibility for the Federal EV Tax Credit for new vehicle purchases, which according to GM's website, is set to expire Sept. 30, 2025.

Full-time employees facing temporary layoffs will be eligible to receive compensation and unemployment benefits, Rutherford added. Temporary employees, which he said make up about 29-30 total, would only be eligible for unemployment, which in Tennessee expires after 13 weeks.

"It's always a good thing when it is labeled 'temporary,' because you have a return date, and also your benefits, your supplemental pay and things like that," Rutherford said. "You don't get 100% of your pay, but you get a lot of your pay, and so you are not going to go without."

The temporary layoffs will not affect adjacent Ultium Cells battery employees.

Meanwhile, production has been delayed at another EV giant in West Tennessee at the $5.6 billion Ford BlueOval City project in Stanton, Tenn. expected to create 6,000 future jobs along with BlueOval SK battery plant.

Ford informed suppliers and employees in June of plans to delay mass production of its new electric trucks at BlueOval City until 2028, according to The Commercial Appeal. Prototype builds remain on track to start at BlueOval City in 2027.

City of Columbia Embarks Upon Paving Project (CDH)

The City of Columbia will continue its largest paving project in history by providing fresh asphalt to the roadways and parking lots at Fairview Park, pending a council vote.

Columbia City Council discussed the Fairview project during its Sept. 4 study session, which included a change order vote to increase the original $4.5 million paving project's maximum budget to $4,696,346.

City Manager Tony Massey said the paving project, approved by Columbia City Council in March, has completed more than 20 miles of city streets, with about eight more miles to go. There is also $196,346 in the city's State Street Aid budget earmarked for paving, which would cover the change order's cost.

"They hope to be finished by the end of this month," Massey said. "After that, they have a small county project they have to move on. With this change order to do Fairview Park, it looks like we could have $200,000 when that is over with. We will know better in the next few weeks."

Vice Mayor Randy McBroom asked if the gravel lots at the park would also receive paving. Massey said they would not due to potential runoff, which would cause erosion at the adjacent ballfield, though the city is planning to redo the gravel itself.

"It will get redone, we just have concerns about the pavement," Massey said.

Massey added the city could also consider further expanding its paving project to resurface and strip additional roads not included in the original list.

"The other information we got from the contractor is that if oil prices are not where they are right now in the spring, they will honor this bid going into 2026," Massey said. "That could mean an opportunity for us to come to [council] in the spring with some additional streets to be done too."

Mayor Chaz Molder concluded saying the project appears to be "ahead of schedule and under budget."

"We have had a lot of good feedback on the paving, particularly with the paving we just saw that occurred downtown on the public square area," Molder said. "It really makes our downtown district pop in the best kind of way. I really appreciate the work that is happening there."

Oppenents To Dam Speak Out (NewsChannel5)

For the first time, state agencies and an influential hunting group are weighing in on the debate over the future of the Duck River, and a potential new dam in Maury County. "We think it’s a bad idea," said Mike Butler, CEO of the Tennessee Wildlife Federation.

"This will equate to lost wildlife habitat and public access for hunting and outdoor recreation," says a spokesperson for TWRA.

With such rapid growth in Maury County, utility providers are worried there will come a day when you turn on the faucet and no water comes out. There are controversial ideas about how to help with the water supply, including resurrecting the Columbia Dam project on the Duck River or a system of pipelines in order to bring additional drinking water into the area from other communities.

Building a dam in Columbia, on the Duck River, isn't a new idea. Back in the 1970s, the Tennessee Valley Authority actually started construction. But controversially, that included the federal government seizing nearly 13,000 acres of privately owned land, largely through eminent domain, to make way for a new lake. Work continued until an environmental lawsuit, contending the dam would threaten several freshwater mussel species, halted all construction work.

Eventually, TVA decided to abandon the project and dismantle what they had built. TVA also couldn't return the land to the original home, farm, and business owners, so instead, they gave nearly 13,000 acres to the state of Tennessee. The state, in turn, created the Yanahli Wildlife Management area, a free place for hunters and anglers to enjoy the outdoors.

NewsChannel 5 reached out to several state agencies to see if they had taken public stances on how to solve Maury County's water woes. The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA) took the most forceful stance. They stated:

The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA) is aware of the growing conversation around water resources in the Duck River Watershed and the competing proposals to address it.

The Agency supports Governor Bill Lee’s Duck River Watershed Planning Partnership, which was established in November 2024 through Executive Order 108 with the goal of balancing economic growth with the need to conserve natural resources.

TWRA is a member of the planning partnership and is the agency responsible for managing and protecting the numerous species that inhabit North America’s most biologically diverse freshwater river. Notably, the Duck River watershed historically harbored 75 species of mussels, including 15 currently listed as threatened or endangered under the U.S. Endangered Species Act. The Agency is committed to the conservation of these, and other species found in the area and will continue to be actively engaged in collaborative discussions among stakeholders on how best to manage water resources.

Additionally, TWRA manages 12,800 acres of public land at Yanahli Wildlife Management Area (WMA). The WMA features cedar glades and oak-hickory hardwood forests, mixed with some cropland. A good mix of edge and forest provides for diverse flora and fauna. Early successional bird species include Northern Bobwhite, American Kestrel, and Prairie Warbler, all of which are local nesting birds uncommon elsewhere in Middle Tennessee. Forest birds include Summer and Scarlet Tanager, Wood Thrush, and Red-headed Woodpecker. Wild Turkey are common year-round.

One proposal to address water resources challenges is to dam the Duck River. While this proposal potentially could require action at both the federal and state level, if this proposal was implemented - and depending on pool elevation - upwards of 9,000 acres of the WMA could be inundated. This will equate to lost wildlife habitat and public access for hunting and outdoor recreation.

Because of the potential for loss of lands to the sportsmen and women of Tennessee, TWRA supports a thorough and diligent review process, with all stakeholders at the table, to balance all the competing interests. We believe in the work of Governor Lee’s Duck River Watershed Planning Partnership, and look forward to working with all stakeholders to determine the best path forward for wildlife conservation as well as Tennesseans,” said Emily Buck, Director of Public Relations for TWRA

The Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC) stated that they also support the Governor's task force studying a pipeline project.

"TDEC is committed to the ongoing work of the Duck River Watershed Planning Partnership to identify and study solutions that balance economic growth, water resource management, and conservation. The partnership is reviewing current data, assessing best practices, and evaluating a range of viable alternatives to make recommendations for the benefit of the Duck River that can also be used as a model for statewide water management and other watersheds in Tennessee," said Jennifer Donnals, Senior Communications Advisor for the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation

The Tennessee Wildlife Federation (TWF) also backs the pipeline study and raised major concerns about proposals to bring back the Columbia Dam. Mike Butler, CEO of the TWF, says constructing a lake will eliminate thousands of public hunting lands out at the Yanahli Wildlife Management Area. "If you want to small game hunt, if you want to turkey hunt, if you want to deer hunt, if you want to go fish, where are you going to find a 12,000-acre block of land?" he asked. "It’s big enough that you can get lost, and that’s hard to do in Middle Tennessee."

Butler argues, sacrificing Yanahli Wildlife Management Area comes with steep financial penalties, too, thanks to a Tennessee law that requires the state to replace any public hunting land it gets rid of. "We wrote a lot of that provision ourselves," Butler says.

Sure enough, Tenn. Code Ann. 70-5-101(f)(7) says in part that "When lands owned by the agency are closed to hunting or fishing, the agency shall mitigate the closure by opening new lands to be used for the same purpose, within twelve (12) months of closure."

The statute also stipulates it must be "at least equal to the acreage of lands closed by the agency" and "located in the same grand division of the state."

Butler thinks all of these factors would come into play if TWRA decided to deed Yanahli WMA back to TVA to build the Columbia Dam, which would force the state to find replacement hunting grounds in Middle Tennessee. "That’s not a cheap endeavor, especially in Middle Tennessee with the land prices we have," said Butler.

Butler has other concerns about the dam, too, like how much water the lake would actually hold year-round. The Tennessee Wildlife Federation has pointed to a Congressional Report from 1980 that includes concerns that much of the lake would be the equivalent of mudflats during the winter months, when water levels were lowered. "It’s not going to be this resort lake that we think people are being sold at this point," said Butler.

Butler acknowledges that a pipeline project presents its own complications and expenses, but supports Governor Bill Lee's task force studying the idea. "That's what the partnership is about, it’s finding what is the most efficient and effective way to do it," he said.

He says he is convinced that the Columbia Dam is not the direction the state should take. "We keep coming back to the fact -- it just doesn’t make sense," said Butler.

In a statement, TVA insisted there are no current plans to move forward with the Columbia Dam Project. "TVA has no plans at this time to build a new dam or reservoir in our seven-state region," wrote Scott Brooks, a spokesperson for TVA. "TVA will continue to work with federal, state and local partners to help ensure there is sufficient water supply for communities along the Duck River."

According to public records, the last dam TVA completed was the Tellico Dam in East Tennessee back in 1979.

Columbia Damn Now, a group of citizens pushing for a new dam, sent a statement. It reads:

Columbia Dam Now is the grassroots organization that has made tremendous strides in the effort to rebuild the Columbia Dam and we are not trying to work against or circumvent the duck river watershed planning partnership or any agency involved. What Columbia Dam Now is doing, is pushing for all those involved in solving the long-term water solution for those in the duck River basin is to assure that the dam is one of the long-term options being considered for a myriad of reasons. First and foremost, the reservoir is the only long-term solution that would provide affordable water to the rate payers utilizing that water. Secondly, the reservoir would help protect the level and flow of the duck river even during dry seasons. Thirdly, the reservoir is the only option that would provide a tremendous economic impact to Maury and surrounding counties. The reservoir would also prevent flooding downstream in Hickman and counties further west. It would create an environment where many species would grow and thrive. There are almost too many benefits to list that the Columbia Dam would bring to the Duck River Watershed and the Dam should have never been torn down.  And for the betterment of those who are affected by our future water needs the Columbia Dam should be rebuilt.

Columbia Dam Now fully believes the best solution to solve the need for water in the Duck River is to first raise the Normandy Lake Water Level which has been recommended by several agencies doing studies over the past 20 years and that will give some relief for water while the construction of the Columbia Dam is completed which is the 100 year solution for our water needs in the Duck River Basin.  All other proposals so far will be in the billions to finish and raise consumers water bills by $200.00 dollars

We think the best use right now of the 65 million dollars allocated by Governor Bill Lee and the Tennessee General Assembly is to contact with TVA to raise Normandy Lake and use those funds to pay for it.

To our knowledge the TWRA according to the Director has always had a NEUTRAL POSITION to all solutions being offered to increase the amount of water in the Duck River Basin.

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

Harry McKinley Ervin, 92, retired lineman for AT&T, died Saturday, September 6 at his residence in Spring Hill.

Funeral services will be conducted Wednesday at 1:00 PM at West Point Cumberland Presbyterian Church. Burial will follow in West Point Cemetery. The family will visit with friends Wednesday from 11:00 AM until 1:00 PM at the church.

Now, news from around the state…

BCBS To Lay Off 150 in Chattanooga (Tennessean)

At least 150 employees in Chattanooga will be phased out of their jobs with BlueCross Blue Shield of Tennessee this month.

The health insurance company announced in July that it planned to shutter its subsidiary Shared Health, which specifically served patients with Medicare, Medicaid and special needs.

"This was a tough decision because it will affect around 150 talented, dedicated employees who support Shared Health. But we no longer see a sustainable path forward for this line of business," the company said in a statement.

BCBS said some employees at Shared Health in Chattanooga will be kept on staff to "wind down" the business through early 2026.

Shared Health has around 5,500 members in Mississippi and Texas that will continue to receive coverage through the duration of their terms.

As for those who have other plans with BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee, the company said there will be no impact on services.

BlueCross BlueShield isn't the only healthcare company that has been hit with layoffs in Tennessee. Vanderbilt University Medical Center officials announced ongoing layoffs in June that could affect up to 650 employees, as well as a $300 million reduction in operating costs.

Vanderbilt's layoffs were partly due to federal cuts to costs that National Institutes of Health research grants previously covered nationwide.

Other major Tennessee businesses, like Dollar General, FedEx and International Paper have also had mass layoffs this year.

While not qualifying as layoffs, General Motors' Spring Hill plant recently announced that it will close the week of Oct. 6 and the week of Thanksgiving, as well as the full month of December, according to the memo sent to employees Sept. 3.

National Guard Deployment (Tennessean)

With National Guard troops posted across Washington, D.C., some of Tennessee’s congressional Republicans are calling for guardsmen to be deployed in Memphis and Nashville to help fight crime ― something Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee says he hasn't ruled out.

U.S. Sen. Marsha Blackburn, and U.S. Reps. Andy Ogles, R-Columbia, and Diana Harshbarger, R-Kingsport, all said Sept. 3 that they’d support deploying troops to Tennessee’s “lawless” blue cities.

“In D.C., President Trump has shown that when you bring real deterrence, crime goes down. It’s just plain common sense,” Harshbarger told The Tennessean. “If the liberal mayors of Memphis and Nashville won’t do what is needed to protect their own citizens, the president should do what has proven to work in D.C. and send in the National Guard to clean up their streets.”

Blackburn, who is running for governor, said this week she wants to see guard troops deployed to Memphis.

“Blue cities like Memphis need all the help they can get to combat violent crime, and I’m grateful for President Trump’s tremendous work to hold leftist officials accountable for putting their own citizens at risk by pushing soft-on-crime agendas,” Blackburn said in a statement 

Their calls came hours after a federal judge found President Donald Trump’s use of National Guard troops in Los Angeles this summer to be illegal, “creating a national police force with the president as its chief.”

Trump announced Sept. 2 that he intends to send more troops to Chicago and Baltimore.

Final Story of the Day (Maury County Source)

Highland Realm Farm (4443 Hampshire Pike, Hampshire, TN 38461) presents its 3rd Annual Fall Festival on Saturday, October 18th, 2025, from 11 am – 5 pm!

LIVE MUSIC! Hay rides, horseback riding, pumpkin painting, face painting, giant bounce fun house, between 30-40 very talented local vendors, many great food trucks, Ooh LaLa icee truck, and more to see and enjoy right here on the farm!

More information can be found on Highland Realm Farm’s facebook page.