Latest / Front Porch Radio - Southern Middle TN Today News with Tom Price / Southern Middle TN Today News with Tom Price 8-5-24
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- WKOM/WKRM Radio Southern Middle Tennessee Today News Copy for August 5, 2024 All news stories are aggregated from various sources and modified for time and content. Original sources are cited. We start with local news… Rental Home Scams (MSM) Officials with the Spring Hill Police Department are reminding the community to be aware of a home rental scam they are seeing pop up once again. SHPD warns that if the price is too good to be true, it probably is. In a 2021 case, a victim found a home for rent through Facebook Marketplace and received a code from the online real estate website, OpenDoor, after contacting the person on the listing. The victim was able to open the door to the house with the code and had sent $1,200 to the suspect, who sent him a lease agreement to sign. But as it turned out the house was for sale, not for rent. The Federal Trade Commission advised that the best way to avoid this type of scam is to do your online research on the rental company and of the home itself; compare prices – it could be a red flag if the rent is way cheaper than other rentals in the area; take a tour and ask for identification from the rental agent you are speaking with; and never pay with cash, wire transfers or gift cards. Spring Hill Police say if you do fall victim to a rental scam, you should report it to the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center. The Spring Hill Police Department has previously warned people before about similar home rental scams that originate on Facebook Marketplace. Primary Election Results (WKOM) Thursday night’s federal and state primary and county general election took place. Maury County had a low voter turnout, as it does historically for primary elections, despite the fact that some of the races were quite close. Here are the winners in Thursday’s political races: For United States Senate, Marsha Blackburn defeated Tre Wittum, gaining 89.5% of the votes in the Republican primary In the Democratic Primary for the same senate seat, Gloria Johnson won handily in the field of four with 72.1% of the 2909 votes in Maury County. In the hotly contested US House District 5 Race, incumbent Andy Ogles defeated Courtney Johnston by about 2900 votes locally, and garnered 56.5% of the votes, district-wide. Johnston, a Metro councilmember who earned money and support from Tennessee’s Republican establishment throughout her bid against Ogles, eyed the seat after a series of scandals and controversy damaged Ogles’ credibility. She announced her bid, backed by campaign treasurer and well-connected Republican fundraiser Kim Kaegi, in February. Rather than focus on policy — both broadly agree on mainstream GOP positions against immigration, legal abortion and gun control — Johnston’s challenge hammered Ogles for lacking professionalism and antagonizing party leadership. Her campaign raised more than $700,000 with the help of Kaegi, formerly a fundraiser for top Republicans including Gov. Bill Haslam and Sens. Fred Thompson and Bob Corker. Republicans are favored in the general election for the congressional seat, which was redrawn in 2022 by GOP state lawmakers. In name, the district had long belonged to Davidson County and was held for decades by centrist Democrat Rep. Jim Cooper. It now contains the county’s wealthy enclaves of Oak Hill, Green Hills, Forest Hills and Belle Meade, as well as diverse and quickly growing neighborhoods in southeast Davidson County. The district also wanders through Wilson, Williamson, Maury, Marshall and Lewis counties. In the Tennessee House District 64 race, incumbent Scott Cepicky beat Ray Jeter 3950 votes to 3294 votes. In the District 64 Democratic Primary, Eileen Longstreet defeated Alex Pierce 832 to 578. In the Republican State Executive Committee Race for District 28, incumbent Chris Morris beat Vincent Cueves 5320 to 2540 votes. In the contested school board races, Frank Bellamy won the District 2 race, Darryl Martin won the District 4 race, David Moore won the District 5 race, and Brendan Babcock won the District 8 race. For full election results, visit the Maury County Election Commission Website. Critical Care Doc Joins MRMC (Press Release) Kyle White, MD, recently joined the medical staff at Maury Regional Medical Center. He is affiliated with Maury Regional Medical Group (MRMG) Pulmonary and Critical Care. Dr. White received his medical degree from the University of Tennessee Health Science Center College of Medicine, Memphis, Tennessee. He completed his residency, as well as a fellowship in Pulmonary & Critical Care, at University of Florida, Gainesville. He is board certified in internal medicine and pulmonary disease. MRMG Pulmonary and Critical Care is a specialty practice dedicated to the care of adults with conditions related to the lungs and pulmonary system. The practice includes specialists who see patients by appointment in the Columbia office as well as specialists who provide care to patients who are hospitalized in the Critical Care Unit at Maury Regional Medical Center. Patients may be referred to the practice by a primary care provider or specialist for diagnosis and treatment of lung-related conditions. In addition to Dr. White, practice physicians are John Forstall, DO, Jon Freels, MD, Spencer Jensen, MD, Karthik Jothian-andan, MD, Brett Norman, MD, MPH, and Thomas Quinn, MD. MRMG Pulmonary and Critical Care is located in suite 503 of the Maury Regional Medical Center Medical Office Building at 1222 Trotwood Avenue in Columbia. For more information, call 931.490.7775 or visit MauryRegional.com/Pulmonary. In other Maury Regional News… Maury Regional Medical Center (MRMC) has received the American Heart Association’s Get With The Guidelines® - Resuscitation Gold quality achievement award for its commitment to treating in-hospital cardiac arrest, ultimately helping to improve survival rates. Each year, more than 300,000 adults and children experience an in-hospital cardiac arrest. Survival from cardiac arrest largely depends on timely medical emergency team response and effective CPR. The Get With The Guidelines - Resuscitation program was developed to help save the lives of patients who experience in-hospital cardiac arrests by consistently following the most up-to-date research-based guidelines for treatment as outlined by the American Heart Association. Guidelines include following protocols for patient safety, medical emergency team response, effective and timely resuscitation (CPR) and post-resuscitation care. Get With The Guidelines puts the expertise of the American Heart Association to work for hospitals nationwide, helping ensure the care provided to patients is aligned with the latest evidence- and research-based guidelines. “Maury Regional Medical Center is committed to improving patient outcomes by adhering to the latest evidence-based resuscitation guidelines,” said CEO Martin Chaney, MD. “I’m appreciative of our physicians and clinical teams who are dedicated to providing outstanding, up-to-date patient care. Although we are proud of this recognition from the AHA, the end goal is to ensure more people in southern Middle Tennessee can experience longer, healthier lives.” MRMC received the award for meeting specific measures in treating adult patients who experience cardiac arrest in the hospital “We are pleased to recognize Maury Regional Medical Center for its commitment in following these guidelines,” said Tia Raymond, MD, national chairperson of the American Heart Association’s Resuscitation Systems of Care Advisory Group and a pediatric cardiac intensivist at Medical City Children’s Hospital in Dallas. “Hospitals that participate in Get With The Guidelines often see improved patient outcomes and improved survival rates – a win for health care systems, families and communities. As southern Middle Tennessee’s only Heart Center, MRMC provides a vast array of cardiac services that include interventional procedures as well as pacemaker and defibrillator implants. MRMC is recognized as a Chest Pain Center with PCI by the American College of Cardiology and holds certification in the treatment of heart failure from The Joint Commission. MRMC is also the only hospital in Tennessee to receive the excellence in patient safety and outstanding patient experience awards from Healthgrades® in 2024. Learn more at MauryRegional.com/Heart. 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 August 2, 2024, 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. Applications Open (Press Release) Applications for the 2024-25 Columbia Mayor’s Youth Council (CMYC) term will open on August 1st. The CMYC is open to all high school students located within Maury County, including those attending public, private, and home schools. The 2024-25 term will begin in September 2024 and conclude in May 2025. Mayor Chaz Molder stated, “The Columbia Mayor’s Youth Council is an excellent opportunity for our young people to gain firsthand experience in local government and develop their leadership skills. By participating in CMYC, students will not only learn about the inner workings of our city but also have the chance to make a real impact on their community. I strongly encourage all eligible students to apply and be part of this incredible educational experience.” The CMYC aims to educate students about local government, foster leadership skills, and encourage community involvement among Columbia’s diverse high school population. The CMYC is composed of Maury County high school students who value academic excellence, community involvement, and leadership. Selected students will have an opportunity to actively participate in various activities and programs, addressing issues affecting youth and the community, leading and volunteering in community projects, and learning about city departments. The CMYC selection committee will review all completed applications to select this year’s youth council members. Applications will be open from now through August 23rd, and applicants will be notified of their acceptance by September 3rd. CMYC meetings will be held monthly, in addition to community and volunteer projects. CMYC applications can be found on the City of Columbia’s website at columbiatn.gov or at your high school’s administrative office. Follow the Columbia Mayor’s Youth Council on Facebook and Instagram at @cmyctn. For questions, please contact Hanna Miller at hmiller@columbiatn.gov or (931) 560-1512. CPJI Sponsoring Civil Rights Attorney Fred Gray (Press Release) The Columbia Peace and Justice Initiative (CPJI) will be hosting an evening with Civil Rights activist and Presidential Medal of Freedom recipient attorney Fred Gray on Thursday, September 19 at 6 p.m. The event will be held at Maury Hills Church, located at 101 Unity Drive in Columbia. Fred D. Gray is a pioneer of the Civil Rights Movement. Mr. Gray’s life mission has been to destroy racial segregation wherever he finds it, and that is what he continues to do. He has practiced law since 1954, specializing in civil rights litigation, and continues to practice today at the age of 93. He has been a cooperating attorney with the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) and Legal Defense Fund Inc. since 1956. He represented many civil rights icons and organizations, including the victims of the Tuskegee Syphilis Study, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Rosa Parks, Claudette Colvin, Congressman John Lewis, the Freedom Riders and Walkers, Selma to Montgomery Marchers, NAACP, Southern Christian Leadership Conference, Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC), Congress of Racial Equality (CORE) and others. Attorney Gray is the recipient of many honorary degrees and awards. On July 7, 2022, President Joe Biden awarded Mr. Gray the Presidential Medal of Freedom, which is the highest award a civilian can receive. In 2023, he received the American Bar Association’s Medal, which is its highest award given and was also awarded the Legal Defense Fund’s Thurgood Marshall Lifetime Achievement Award. He has served as president of the National Bar Association and Alabama Bar Association and is the current president of the Tuskegee Human & Civil Rights Multicultural Center. Proceeds from this CPJI Legacy Fundraiser, which will replace the traditional Legacy Luncheon in 2024, will support the completion of the Thurgood Marshall Roundabout coming in 2025 in partnership with the City of Columbia. The roundabout will feature a sculpture of Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall created by renowned sculptor David Alan Clark. It will be located at the intersection of South Main Street and East 8th Street, a gateway to the historic Black business district and the epicenter of the 1946 Columbia Race Riot, a pivotal moment in Columbia’s history that sent shockwaves across the nation. Marshall played a role in the subsequent trial. Marshall’s dedication to protecting the rights of all citizens earned him the nickname “Mr. Civil Rights.” His distinguished career included successfully having the Supreme Court declare segregation in public schools unconstitutional (Brown v Board of Education, 1954), President Lyndon B. Johnson nominated Marshall as the first African American to serve on the U.S. Supreme Court in 1967. Sponsorship opportunities are currently available. For more information, contact Russ Adcox at russ@mauryhills.com or 931.628.0736. Individual tickets are $55 and may be purchased at cpji.org. And now, Your Hometown Memorials, Sponsored by Oakes & Nichols Funeral Home… Myrna Cheek Jett, 87, wife of Clayton M. Jett and lifelong resident of Columbia, died Sunday, July 28, 2024 at Maury Regional Medical Center. Visitation with Mrs. Jett’s family will be on Tuesday, August 6th, 2024 from 11:00 AM till 1:00 pm at Oakes & Nichols Funeral Home, followed by graveside services at 1:30 PM at Friendship Cemetery in Culleoka, Janice Anita Polk Goodgine, 74, retired employee of South Central Bell, and resident of Columbia, passed away unexpectedly Thursday, August 1, 2024 at Maury Regional Medical Center. Funeral services will be conducted Wednesday, August 7, 2024 at 2:00 p.m. at Oakes & Nichols Funeral Home. Burial will follow in Sparkman Cemetery. The family will visit with friends Wednesday from 12:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. at the funeral home. Condolences may be extended online at www.oakesandnichols.com. Now, news from around the state… Tennessee to Offer Free Diapers (Tennessean) In August, Tennessee will become the first state in the nation to help families cover the cost of diapers. Beginning on Aug. 7, TennCare and CoverKids members under two will be eligible to receive up to 100 free diapers per month, as part of the TennCare Diaper Benefit program. The benefit is expected to eliminate the financial burden which comes from buying diapers, something which until recently, wasn't covered by state or federal programs. The benefit was introduced by Gov. Bill Lee back in January of 2023, as a “pro-life” and “pro-family” way to use the $330 million in savings from the state’s new Medicaid block grant funding structure. As previously reported by the Tennessean, lawmakers approved $30 million in funding for the diaper benefit during the 2023 legislative session. "Strong families are central to strong communities, and Tennessee is leading the nation in prioritizing resources for families in need," said Lee in a statement to The Tennessean. "We are the first state in the nation to cover the cost of diapers for mothers in the first two years of a child's life, and we hope this is a model for others." Any TennCare or CoverKids member under the age of 2 is eligible for the benefit. If you're unsure about your child's eligibility, participating pharmacies can help check to see if a child is eligible. A prescription is not required, however, make sure to have your child’s OptumRx pharmacy card or Social Security number. For newborns, who may not yet have their OptumRx card, the parent’s OptumRx card or SocialSecurity number may be used. Eligible members will be able to receive up to 100 diapers every 30 days from the list of approved brands/types of diapers. Pharmacies across the state will be participating in the diaper benefit, tn.gov/tenncare will be providing a list of participating pharmacies on Aug. 7. TennCare will be providing four major diaper brands during the benefit. Within ease of those brands, specific package sizes and types of diapers will be covered. Brands include: Huggies Cuties Pampers Luvs Final Story of the Day (Maury County Source) You can see Mariah Carey in November at Bridgestone Arena! Carey shared on social media, “Mariah Carey’s Christmas Time, my biggest holiday tour to date, is coming to 20 cities starting November 6, 2024!” The tour kicks off on November 6th and will stop in Nashville on November 25th. It just happens to be the 30th anniversary of the holiday album Merry Christmas, which features the record-breaking single “All I Want for Christmas is You.” Tickets go on sale on Friday, August 9th. Find tickets at www.bridgestonearena.com.