Latest / Front Porch Radio - Southern Middle TN Today News with Tom Price / Southern Middle TN Today News with Tom Price 8-12-24
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- WKOM/WKRM Radio Southern Middle Tennessee Today News Copy for August 12, 2024 All news stories are aggregated from various sources and modified for time and content. Original sources are cited. We start with local news… Four-Wheelers Stolen (MauryCountySource) On August 7, 2024, The Maury County Sheriff’s Department took a report of two stolen 4-wheelers. On August 6, 2024, an unknown white male and white female were found on a property on Cliff Amos Road. The following morning the 4 -wheelers were missing. Photographs of the stolen 4-wheelers and the suspect’s truck are available to view at www.maurycountysource.com. If you or someone you know can help locate the 4 wheelers and the owner of the truck, please contact Detective Shawn O’Brien at 931-375-8693 or sobrien@maurycounty-tn.gov. Maury County Schools Athletics Upgrades (MSM) Bids will be opened during the next Maury County Public Schools School Board meeting for part of the $28 million athletic upgrades that will include athletic projects and a concession building at Cox Middle and Spring Hill High School. Recommendations will include bids for a concession stand and restrooms at Cox Middle School, which will also be the main entry gate into that facility. Assistant Superintendent of Operations Eric Perryman said that this is the last item in its completion. Other recommendations are for Spring Hill High School’s softball field to be moved out of the flood area, which would include the construction of a new field. “It is converting that area that floods into a retention pond, then also into a parking lot that would serve as handicap parking for the football stadium,” Perryman said. “So new entry into the stadium, along with a new concession stand and restrooms for Spring Hill High School stadium.” Perryman said that the old facilities will be demolished, and this project will also complete these upgrades for the SHHS campus. “But they’re pretty large projects,” Perryman said. “We bid them together with the ability to separate if need be. “So, I could be bringing you one bid that would complete both projects, or two bids, one for Cox and one for Spring Hill High School.” The board also heard during its July work session that Battle Creek High School’s baseball field was being started mid-July and its softball field was finished; turf started going down on the Mount Pleasant football field around the same time and excavating the softball field was to begin the week after; and excavation at Central’s softball field was already in progress as well as the grade change at the baseball field. Police Competition (MSM) During the week of July 13-19, members of the Columbia Police Department’s Explorers program competed against 14 other police agencies in an annual police explorer competition which was held in Summerville, S.C. Explorers Daisy Boyle, Brenden Pavlik, Shelby Davis, Wyatt Bridge, Max Cochran, and Teddy Robinson participated in team and individual events. These events include basic and advanced situations a police officer would face in the course of their duties. Explorers also had the opportunity to compete in individual events such as the physical agility course, legal knowledge test and report writing. Program advisors Cpl. Landen Barber and Cpl. Cheryl Macpherson were also able to participate by competing against other advisors in a firearms scored event. Columbia Explorers earned a number of awards in the weeklong competition. Individual awards were: Legals test – Daisy Boyle – first place; EVOC – Brenden Pavlik – first place; Advisor firearms – Cpl. Landen Barber – third place and Cpl. Cheryl Macpherson – second place. Team awards were: Drug search warrant – first place; Domestic Violence – first place; Active shooter – second place; Crime Scene – second place; Courtroom testimony – second place; Unknown risk traffic stop – third place; Explorer team firearms – third place. The Columbia team also placed third overall out of the 15 competing teams. The Columbia Explorer team also competed in a multi-agency scenario with South Carolina Police Explorers from Lexington County and Union PD. The team had to handle escaped inmates and officers down who needed to be rescued. The combined group received first place in this event. State of Education Panel Discussion (Press Release) Join Maury Alliance on Wednesday, August 21 at 11:30 am for their annual Education Lunch featuring a State of Public Education and the 2024 Education Report. During this year's event Maury Alliance President & CEO, Wil Evans will lead a panel discussion with representatives from Maury County Public Schools. They will discuss the current state of public education, Career and Technical Education (CTE) Programs and the Inaugural 2024 Education Report, which will be released during the event. Panelists include: Lisa Ventura, MCPS Superintendent Amy Roberts, MCPS Career & Technical Education Supervisor Michelle Gilbert, MCPS Director of Teaching, Learning & Assessment For more information and to register, visit www.mauryalliance.com. Registration closes on Monday, August 19th a noon. Sculpture Unveiling (WKOM Audio 2:20) On Friday, the City of Columbia unveiled three new sculptures in the arts district. Front Porch Radio’s Delk Kennedy attended the unveiling ceremony and spoke to one of the artists, Nicholas Ricaurte about the new public art now available for viewing. Columbia Academy Lecture (Press Release) Columbia Academy will host an event detailing the history and architecture of the Columbia Arsenal and details found from the recently discovered blueprints housed at the National Archives in College Park, Md. The presentation will consist of a panel including: architect Justin Lowe of Centric Architecture, Columbia Academy President Dr. James A. Thomas, and me, County Archivist Tom Price. Built in 1890 by the United States Government, the 67-acre campus was an active military installation known as the Columbia Arsenal and originally consisted of 10 buildings, six of which remain today. The arsenal closed shortly after the Spanish-American War in 1901 and transitioned into Columbia Military Academy in 1904. In 1979, the academy was turned over to a board from local Churches of Christ as they established Columbia Academy, a now PreK-12th grade private Christian school. The lecture will take place in the Polk Hall (Upper School) Auditorium on Thursday, September 5th from 7:00-8:30 p.m. This free event is open to the public, and no tickets are necessary for admittance. THP Sobriety Checkpoint (Press Release) The Tennessee Highway Patrol will be conducting sobriety roadside safety checkpoints during the week of August 16th on State Route 50 East, .2 Miles East of the 19 mile marker in Maury County starting at 10:00PM. Impaired driving is a serious crime that kills more than 16,000 people and injures 305,000 people every year in the United States. Troopers will evaluate drivers for signs of alcohol or drug impairment. Troopers will target those who operate a vehicle while impaired and take corrective actions for other violations observed while ensuring the protection of all motorists. The Tennessee Highway Patrol recognizes that sobriety checkpoints are highly visible and effective tools in the battle against impaired driving. City Announces Exhibit Opening (Press Release) The Visit Columbia Welcome Center is pleased to announce the opening of a new art exhibit featuring esteemed artist, musician, and author Ron York. The exhibition will be on display now through the end of September. Admission is free, and all of York’s artwork is available for purchase. Ron York, a respected local artist with an acclaimed career, has put together a compelling collection of his works for this exhibit. York, who began his artistic journey after transitioning from a career in interior design, has had his pieces displayed in galleries both nationally and internationally. His work is part of prestigious collections at Belmont University, Tom Collins Music, First Baptist Church, Renasant Bank, and the Nashville City Club. Notable figures such as Vince Gill, Keb’ Mo’, and Kelly Clarkson also own pieces of his art. Beyond his achievements in visual art, York is a celebrated musician with eight CDs of original compositions and an award-winning author with two non-fiction books and eight novels published under St. Broadway Press LLC. Although he retired from operating his art gallery in 2023, York continues to actively engage in his creative endeavors. The public is encouraged to experience this exceptional exhibition at the Visit Columbia Welcome Center located at 713 N Main Street. For further details about Ron York and his body of work, follow him on Instagram @ronyorkartist and Facebook. Blood Drive (MauryCountySource) The City of Columbia and Blood Assurance are hosting a blood drive on August 16th from 10am – 3pm at Riverwalk Park. Schedule your appointment at www.bloodassurance.org/riverwalk or come down between the hours of 10-3pm to donate. Riverwalk Park is located at 102 Riverside Drive, Columbia. Did you know that one donation can save up to three lives and that Blood Assurance keeps the donations local? This means your donation will directly impact your community. Plus you get a free tote bag as a very special “Thank you” New Exhibit From TSM and AAHSMC (Press Release) The African American Heritage of Maury County (AAHSMC) presents Building a Bright Future: Black Communities and Rosenwald Schools in Tennessee, a new traveling exhibition, on display now through September 13, 2024, at the Maury County Public Library. Created by the Tennessee State Museum in partnership with The John Hope and Aurelia E. Franklin Library at Fisk University, the exhibition traces the history of education for Black Tennesseans from the Reconstruction period, through the development of the Rosenwald program, and into the present day. “The Rosenwald Schools served African American students in Rural Maury County for more than 40 years. In addition to the traveling exhibition from the Tennessee State Museum, the AAHSMC’s companion exhibition will include photos of teachers, students, and the 15 Maury County Rosenwald Schools. Also, the AAHSMC is hosting “In Conversation: Former Rosenwald School Students.” Former students will share their educational experiences on August 10, 2024, 2:00pm - 3:00pm, at the Maury County Public Library,” said Jo Ann McClellan, AAHSMC President. What are commonly referred to as Rosenwald Schools were the result of an initial partnership between Sears, Roebuck, and Co. president Julius Rosenwald, Tuskegee Institute president Booker T. Washington, and Black Communities throughout the South. Between 1912-1937, that partnership resulted in the construction of almost 5,000 schools for Black children across 15 southern states, including 354 in Tennessee. Rosenwald schools drove improvement in Black educational attainment and helped educate the generation who became leaders of the Civil Rights movement. The traveling exhibition on display at the Maury County Public Library consists of five two-sided panels and includes the engaging stories of alumni and community members from 16 different Rosenwald Schools in Tennessee. “TSM and Fisk wanted to build a more diverse and inclusive space for all Tennesseans to learn about and honor the history and legacy of Black education in the state,” said Debbie Shaw, Senior Curator of Archaeology at the Tennessee State Museum. “The resilience and perseverance of these Black communities as they strived for equal access to education is highlighted through their work with the Rosenwald School program. The legacy continues today as members from these same groups work toward the preservation of these schools and communities.” “Our teams at the Fisk University John Hope and Aurelia E. Franklin Library and the Forging Future Pathways Forward: Building a Portal to Rosenwald Collections for all at Fisk University project were thrilled to partner and collaborate with Tennessee State Museum,” said DeLisa M. Harris, Director of Library Services at Fisk University. “This exhibit is the first major showcase of the impact and legacy of the Julius Rosenwald Fund Rural School program in Tennessee.” This traveling exhibit is an expansion of Building a Bright Future: Black Communities and Rosenwald Schools in Tennessee, an initiative that included a 4,000 square foot temporary exhibit at the Tennessee State Museum and a two-day symposium. The project won a 2024 American Association for State and Local History (AASLH) Leadership in History Award of Excellence and the 2024 Tennessee Association of Museums President’s Award. For more information visit www.tnmuseum.org. And now, Your Hometown Memorials, Sponsored by Oakes & Nichols Funeral Home… Lynn Marie Kizer, age 64, passed away on Saturday, August 3, 2024, at Magnolia Healthcare in Mount Pleasant, TN. Graveside services will be conducted on Tuesday, August 13,2024, at 2:00PM at Polk Memorial Gardens. A celebration of life service is being scheduled for a later time. Cheryl Lynn Powell Church, 71, retired Clerk & Master for Maury County, and resident of Columbia, died Wednesday, August 7, 2024 at Maury Regional Medical Center. A Memorial service will be conducted Saturday, August 17, 2024 at 2:00 p.m. at Riverside United Methodist Church with Rev. Tony Brown officiating. The family will visit with friends Saturday, August 17, 2024 from 12:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. at Riverside United Methodist Church. Mary Frances Campbell Hancock, passed away on Saturday, August 10th. Visitation will be held at Oakes and Nichols Funeral Home Wednesday, August 14 from 4-8 and Thursday August 15 at 11 with a memorial service to follow at noon. Danny Lee “Dan” Buie, 78, resident of Columbia and preacher for Jones Chapel Church of Christ, passed away on August 10, 2024 at NHC Maury Regional Transitional Care. Funeral services will be conducted Tuesday, August 13, 2024 at 2:00 p.m. at Oakes & Nichols Funeral Home. Burial will follow in Rose Hill Cemetery. The family will visit with friends Tuesday from 12:00 p.m. until service time at the funeral home. Condolences may be extended online at www.oakesandnichols.com. Now, news from around the state… Wildlife Photo Contest (MSM) Outdoor enthusiasts from Tennessee and beyond once again have the opportunity to showcase Tennessee’s wild and wondrous outdoor places through their own lens. Tennessee Wildlife Federation’s 10th Annual Wildlife and Landscape Photo Contest is open for submissions until Aug. 31, 2024. Photographers of all skill levels are invited to share their perspectives of Tennessee’s wildlife and wild places, and to join the Federation in highlighting the importance of conservation. Photos of Tennessee’s incredible wildlife and wild places can be submitted at tnwf.org/photo-contest. Photographers can submit one photo with a $5 suggested donation, up to five photos for $10, and up to 20 photos with a $20 donation. This donation helps support the Federation’s mission to lead the conservation, sound management, and wise use of Tennessee’s wildlife and great outdoors. A panel of judges will select the best photos to be featured in the Federation’s 2025 calendar and across the Federation’s digital platforms. Prizes for winning photographers include gift cards to Bass Pro Shops, Tennessee Wildlife Federation and more. The deadline to submit photos is 11:59 p.m. Central on Aug. 31, 2024. Voting for the People’s Choice winner will be open to the public on Sept. 6. For contest guidelines, submission details and more information, visit tnwf.org/photo-contest. Tennessee Wildlife Federation leads the conservation, sound management and wise use of Tennessee’s great outdoors. Since 1946, the Federation has spearheaded the development of the state’s wildlife policy, advanced landmark legislation on air and water quality and other conservation initiatives, helped restore numerous species and introduced thousands of kids to the great outdoors. To learn more, visit tnwf.org. Final Story of the Day (Maury County Source) Centennial Park Conservancy announced that Musicians Corner, Nashville’s beloved free concert series, will continue celebrating its 15th year this fall with a five-week season of live music in Centennial Park, beginning on August 29, 2024. The multi-genre free music festival will kick off with a three-day Musicians Corner’s Free Fest in partnership with Lightning 100 from August 29-31, 2024. Musicians Corner will continue every Friday in September from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m., including a special partnership with AMERICANAFEST® on September 20. Musicians Corner’s Fall Series will feature performances from 35 multi-genre artists, including Real Estate, Soccer Mommy, Michigander, Parker Millsap, and Birdtalker. The family-friendly and pet-friendly festival will continue to bring together a vast lineup of the city’s finest food vendors, local artisans, and Kidsville activities. Learn more at conservancyonline.com.