Latest / Front Porch Radio - Southern Middle TN Today News with Tom Price / Southern Middle TN Today News with Tom Price 12-23-25
Transcript
- WKOM/WKRM Radio Southern Middle Tennessee Today News Copy for December 23, 2025 All news stories are aggregated from various sources and modified for time and content. Original sources are cited. We start with local news… Suspect Named in Murder (MSM) A Columbia man has been named as a suspect in a killing on Bluegrass Drive last week. Wesley Mabry, 40, of Columbia has been named as the suspect in a killing which took place on Dec. 11. Mabry is charged with criminal homicide, aggravated domestic assault and especially aggravated kidnapping. He was identified by the Maury County Sheriff’s Department, which arrested him and is still investigating the case. He’s being held without bond in the county jail and will appear in general-sessions court on Jan. 7. The Maury County Sheriff’s Department has declined to release any information on the case, noting that it is still under investigation. County Invokes Moratorium (CDH) Maury County commissioners have put a pause on development in county-zoned land due to a recent 10-month building moratorium effective until Oct. 1, 2026. At a Dec. 2 special called meeting, The Maury County Commission voted 16-4 to approve a resolution enacting the temporary moratorium. The reasoning, according to some commissioners, was primarily so the county could develop a long-term Comprehensive Land-Use Plan. "There has been lots of good conversation regarding what is the right thing for the rural character?" District 8 Commissioner Gabe Howard said. "Why I am sitting in this seat tonight is, 'What do we want Maury County to look like for our kids, our grandkids?' And really that 50-year plan." The vote comes at a time when other Maury County boards are considering similar measures, such as Columbia City Council's Dec. 11 approval of an ordinance, which would raise Columbia Power & Water Systems' customer water rates by 20% in 2026. On Monday, Dec. 15, the Spring Hill Board of Mayor and Aldermen also approved its first reading of a resolution to enact a sewer moratorium for new development. Maury County's building moratorium, however, does not necessarily mean all development will cease on unincorporated county land for 10 months. The county would still allow applications for subdivisions of five lots or less or "minor lots." "We can only build a county once, and that's going to turn into whatever that turns into in perpetuity," District 7 Commissioner Aaron Miller said. "I want everyone to understand this is just an incremental step towards what we can do to influence the growth of this county. To the builders and realtors, this is a very short period of time that we are going to take to reorganize some things and it doesn't restrict you all the way." Developers may also still apply for projects through the county's permitting process during the moratorium. In November, the commission passed a new county zoning ordinance for the first time since 1986. Maury County Building & Zoning Director Robert Caldiraro said, for the last five years, his department has issued an average of 250 building permits per year, with roughly 1,000 existing buildable lots currently in the county. "The zoning ordinance was a heavy lift, there is no doubt about it," Caldiraro said. "I do suspect, on the other side of the land use plan to have a little more density around the municipalities to prevent what is urban sprawl." Caldiraro affirmed the moratorium would not affect municipal city property, only county land. The 1,000 buildable county lots would also not be affected through vested rights, he said. The moratorium was met with several opposing voices at the Dec. 2 meeting, both from the public and elected officials. District 1 Commissioner Jerry Strahan said he opposed the resolution, describing it as a "knee jerk reaction." "This moratorium, in my mind, will only penalize the local builders, but not only the local builders," Strahan said. "Nobody is going to buy a piece of property now, a sizeable piece of property, because they don't know what the moratorium is going to do. A local real estate agent can't sell a piece of property that a local guy owns to a local builder. It handcuffs all three of those parties because we put in a moratorium." Strahan also expressed concern about potential litigation the moratorium could cause, and if pausing for 10 months would be worth the risk. David Townsend, a local real-estate agent, argued that the growth issues in Maury County aren't necessarily due to what's being developed on county land, but rather the municipalities. "What you are going to do is create this ring that's going to concentrate more growth coming outward," Townsend said. "It's going to have a negative effect on what you are wanting to do. "I don't believe it's a county problem. I think it's really a city problem, and that's what we need to be working on." Miller later addressed concerns stemming from the county's zoning ordinance, such as if a property owner wished to split their land to build additional units. "If the hangup is that property owners can't put a house down for their children, or whatever the case may be, this doesn't stop that in either event, and if the moratorium did, we could still implement changes to the zoning law," Miller said. "This is a proactive measure, not a reactive measure. We do not want to wait until we are in a position where we have to be reactive, because then we are behind the power curve. That's the whole point of this entire resolution, this entire moratorium, to be proactive for the people of this county." Miller also addressed the argument of potential litigation the county might encounter due to the moratorium. "Some fights are worth having, even though we know we might lose," Miller said. "Our children's future is worth taking the risk of getting into a fight." Gabe Howard to Run for Maury County Mayor (CDH) Maury County Commissioner Gabe Howard, District 8, has announced he will be putting his name in the running for Maury County Mayor in 2026. Howard's announcement comes on the heels of current Maury County Mayor Sheila Butt's confirmation she will be seeking a second term. Howard said he will be running as a Republican, and that his focus will be on "Building a Maury County that works today while preserving what makes it worth passing on to the next generation." "I’m running because Maury County isn’t just where we live — it’s where we’re raising our family, building our lives and shaping the future our children will inherit," Howard wrote in a Dec. 19 Facebook post. "Maury County is growing. Growth is not the enemy — unmanaged growth is. The next chapter of this county must be guided by vision, planning, and a clear understanding of who we are and who we want to be." Howard added that some of his main focus will be cultivating "responsible, intentional growth that protects our farmland, rural character and small-town communities." Planning for long-term water security is another priority Howard listed. "This is about building a Maury County that works — not just today, but 10, 20, and 30 years from now," Howard wrote. "A county where opportunity exists without losing our identity. Where progress doesn’t come at the expense of the land, the people, or the quality of life that brought so many of us here in the first place. "I believe Maury County can move forward with purpose — protecting what makes us special while planning wisely for what’s next. That’s the future I want for our boys, and it’s the future I want for every family who calls this place home." The first day to pick up petitions for the county primary is Dec. 22 with a qualifying deadline of Feb. 19 a noon. Early voting in the 2026 Primary Election will run July 17-Aug. 1, with Election Day on Thursday, Aug. 6. This includes the General Election for state judicial and applicable county offices. Maury Regional Named Flagship Partner (Press Release) Maury Regional Health has been named a Tennessee Flagship Industry Partner, an honor recognizing its outstanding collaboration with Maury County Public Schools to expand high-quality work-based learning opportunities for students. The designation, awarded by the Tennessee Department of Education, highlights employers that demonstrate exemplary commitment to preparing students for postsecondary education and high-demand careers through meaningful partnerships with local school districts. “Maury Regional Health’s commitment to providing real-world learning opportunities for our students has made a lasting impact in our community,” said Amy Roberts, Director of Maury County Career and Technical Education. “Through meaningful work-based learning pathways, students gain not only valuable skills and confidence but also a clearer vision of what a career in health care can look like. Their support helps bridge the gap between classroom instruction and workforce experience, preparing our students for success after graduation.” Maury Regional Health accepted the recognition from Maury County Public Schools in appreciation of its continued investment in student learning and workforce development. “This partnership represents a shared commitment to the future of our community,” said Chief Human Resources Officer, Dennis Fisher. “By working alongside Maury County Public Schools, we are helping students explore health care careers, develop professional skills, and see firsthand how they can make a difference right here at home. At the same time, we are strengthening our workforce pipeline and ensuring our hospital and community continue to thrive. When education and industry collaborate, everyone benefits.” Work-based learning is a key component of Career and Technical Education and allows students to apply classroom instruction in real-world settings through internships, job shadowing, clinical experiences, and paid employment. These opportunities help students build career readiness skills while supporting local employers in developing a skilled and sustainable workforce. Maury Regional Health has long served as a cornerstone of health care in southern Middle Tennessee and remains committed to supporting education, workforce development, and community well-being. Through its partnership with Maury County Public Schools, Maury Regional Health continues to play a vital role in preparing the next generation of health care professionals. Mt. Pleasant Votes Down Development (MSM) The Mount Pleasant City Commission voted 5-0 last Tuesday to “abandon and discontinue” the proceedings to annex the 106-acre Armstrong property, also known as the historic Ashwood Hall property. John Maher Builders had hoped to build a subdivision of 247 houses on the property, with utility services from providers including the city of Mount Pleasant, Columbia Power and Water Systems and the new private entity Edge Wastewater. The city Planning Commission voted twice against the annexation and plan of services, but when it first appeared before them a slim majority of the city commissioners indicated they might vote for the development, variously because it would add rooftops, tax and fee revenue, and economic and social vitality to the city. However, months of organized opposition from hundreds of people — more than 70 spoke at the last public-comment session alone — convinced the developer and the city commission to back down. A local attorney Dustin Kittle, also challenged the plan of services, especially the wastewater provider, over the rate of failure in the proposed wastewater treatment plant, and even raised the possibility of a lawsuit if it went forward. At the city’s study session the previous week, the city commission and developer seemed to make their peace with cancelling the development. “I’m just glad it’s coming to an end,” said Commissioner Mike Davis, who from early in the process had objected to incorporating a development that Mount Pleasant couldn’t provide with all city services. “I know this is not an easy choice, especially with social media in the age of information, when it’s all laid bare,” said Katie Martin, one of the main organizers of the protests against the development. “I think that moving forward, we can… facilitate conversations before hard decisions are presented to the community… What everybody in this room wants is open communication and to know what’s going on.” Chris Gramling, a resident of Culleoka, asked the city commission to consider advertising major developments in media that would reach a greater number of passive viewers, many of them too busy to stay on top of city business. “I think that we need to do something beyond just the [city] website and the newspaper. I don’t know if we need to put something on a billboard,” he said. “There are a lot of people that are deeply affected by these issues, and they don’t even know what’s going on.” City Commissioners Willie Alderson and Pam Johnston replied that the city already publishes development notices in several venues; citizens have to take the initiative to find out, and tell their neighbors about, developments that might affect them, to keep track of them, and to comment on them at city study sessions. “Yes, we can do a better job of trying to spread the word, but really, it [only] happens when you guys are here and listening to what’s being discussed,” Johnston said. “At most of those discussion meetings, there is nobody here. Then people show up on the decision nights… and they get frustrated. I would just encourage you to continue to be involved and… ask questions… All of us [city commissioners] are open to being called or emailed.” In other Mt. Pleasant business The city bestowed Life Safety Awards on six public servants that night, for saving Christopher Duke’s life on May 11. Two police officers, Scotty Beach and Jason Cogdill, and four firefighters — Corey Fields, Caleb Clayton, Matthew Johnson and Lt. Deon Hardison — responded to a “man down” alert on Locust Street on that afternoon in May. Fields and Hardison resuscitated the victim with several rounds of CPR and defibrillation, and the other men helped keep Duke stable until EMS arrived. Duke recovered enough to leave Maury Regional Medical Center on May 17, and he and his wife attended the meeting to give their personal thanks to the first responders. The staff and officials of the City of Mount Pleasant have been hard at work on water and wastewater issues lately. In the afternoon on the day of the meeting, TDEC informed Mayor Bill White that they had closed a two-decade-old consent order against the city’s wastewater plant. White said he called his predecessor Jim Bailey, to thank him for making progress on getting the order resolved, and former USDA head Jim Tracy, for getting the plant large amounts of government money — $10 million in non-matching grants and a 40-year loan at one-percent interest — for the required improvements, which greatly eased the burden on sewer rate-payers. “This is monumental,” White told the audience. “And we did not have to increase the tax rates to do this.” Budget Director Shiphrah Cox pointed out that the city has put $869,000 of its own money into improving and augmenting water infrastructure in the last two months. The city can count on lower “maintenance” costs once these and other assets are complete, she said, but Mount Pleasant is striking while the financial iron is hot. The infrastructure investments are reportedly paying off, too. Grooms announced that by finding and fixing 129 leaks throughout their city water system, the city also saves 400 gallons per minute that it would have otherwise lost. According to the mayor, so much water has been saved that they hardly purchase water from other suppliers anymore. Another USDA grant has recently bought a third filtration “skid” for their water-treatment plant at Sandy Hook, and Mount Pleasant Water is in the process of drilling a well next door that is expected to be capable of drawing 100 gallons per minute. “We are doing everything possible that we can do without raising rates… to become self-sufficient in water,” Mayor White said. City Manager Philip Grooms also praised Employee of the Month Eric Kennedy, for serving as Manager of city wastewater for a quarter-century and being “a valuable asset during the transition… to the new facility.” MRMC Gets ANCC Reaccreditation (Press Release) Maury Regional Medical Center’s Registered Nurse (RN) Residency Program has earned reaccreditation with distinction from the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) Practice Transition Accreditation Program (PTAP). This accreditation is for a four-year period and marks the program’s third consecutive designation with distinction, the highest level awarded by ANCC. The ANCC PTAP recognizes programs that meet rigorous, evidence-based standards for professional development, patient safety and organizational support. This recognition reflects the strength of hospitals’ transition-to-practice programs and an organization’s commitment to supporting new nurses as they begin their careers in clinical practice. “Achieving this reaccreditation with distinction is a testament to the dedication and exceptional clinical skills of the nursing team at Maury Regional Medical Center,” said Chief Nursing Officer Cathy Malone, MMHC, BSN, RN. “It is also indicative of Maury Regional’s ongoing commitment to training and preparing nurses for long-term success, while continuing to provide high-quality care to the patients we serve.” The reaccreditation was led by Tracy Ferguson, Program Director, and Jackie Miles, Program Site Coordinator, with support from nursing leadership and teams across the system. Maury Regional Medical Center also holds a Magnet® designation from the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC). The Magnet® program serves as the gold standard for nursing excellence, recognizing an organization’s commitment to quality patient care, implementation of advanced nursing practices, nursing excellence and professional practice in a positive work environment. Maury Regional Health’s award-winning nursing team cares for patients at various locations and in different specialties throughout our region, ranging from our hospitals and outpatient facilities to physician practices. Maury Regional’s RN Residency Program provides new graduate nurses with structured education, preceptorship and mentorship during their first year of practice, helping build confidence, competence and long-term retention within our health system. Learn more about our nursing team and career opportunities at MauryRegional.com/Nursing. And now, Your Hometown Memorials, Sponsored by Oakes & Nichols Funeral Home… Sarah Elizabeth McCoy Ramsey, passed away December 17, 2025 on her 81st birthday at Life Care Center of Columbia. There are no services scheduled but online condolences may be extended at www.oakesandnichols.com. Now, news from around the state… Popstroke Nashville to Open (Tennessean) Tiger Woods' PopStroke Nashville is ready for its official debut on Dec. 28. The massive golf entertainment indoor-outdoor complex, featuring a restaurant, bar, playground, games and ice cream shop, will be the brand's largest location yet. "I love Nashville, I think it's a beautiful place," PopStroke CEO Greg Bartoli said. "This is our first location of this magnitude, so we are all in on Nashville and we're excited to be a part of this community." PopStroke, founded by Bartoli in 2019 in partnership with Tiger Woods and TaylorMade Golf Company, has expanded to 20 locations across seven states: Alabama, Arizona, Florida, Nevada, South Carolina, Tennessee and Texas. The Nashville location features three 18-hole mini-golf putting courses spanning both inside and outside, which makes for an all-weather entertainment destination. The venue is designed to cater to families and individuals of all ages, Bartoli said. For young kids and families, there's a playground, games like foosball, corn hole and ping pong and an ice cream parlor with 24 flavors, milkshakes and other treats. For adults, a full-service bar and restaurant is included, and guests can order drinks from their phones to be delivered directly to them on the putting green. Corporate and special events are also expected to be popular, with private events possible for groups of 15 to 500 people. The facility consists of a warehouse-like building with garage-style doors on each side, which can be opened to provide an indoor-outdoor environment on good weather days. The bar area is a two-story beer garden with bar tops, tables and lounge seating. There are two large turf areas, both indoor and outdoor, with cornhole, foosball and table tennis. PopStroke Nashville was originally announced in late 2023, and construction began in February. Bartoli said the amount of development and business activity in the area is one reason PopStroke picked the Century Farms development site. And the growth of the greater Nashville area overall creates multiple avenues for demand, from downtown to the suburbs, he said. "Nashville is booming," Bartoli said. "It's just a very dynamic city with a tremendous amount of culture. It made a lot of sense for us with our 20th location across the United States to enter into the Nashville market." Final Story of the Day (Maury County Source) One of Columbia’s most anticipated New Year’s traditions will return to the Historic Public Square as the Mule Drop celebrates its 10th anniversary with a free, family-friendly event welcoming in 2026. Festivities begin at 9 p.m. with the lighting and raising of the iconic Mule Drop, followed by food trucks, a beer garden, hourly countdowns and celebratory toasts throughout the evening. The celebration will conclude with a fireworks display and a large confetti blast at midnight to mark the start of the new year. Sponsorship opportunities are available for those interested in supporting the event. More information can be obtained by contacting Cindy Sims with Center of Hope or by visiting www.centerofhopetn.org.