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Southern Middle Tennessee Today
News Copy for December 17, 2024
All news stories are aggregated from various sources and modified for time and content. Original sources are cited.
We start with local news…
Changes to Columbia City Government (CDH)
Columbia City Council bid farewell to three outgoing members Thursday, as well as its city attorney, each having played a role in the city's progress during their respective times of service.
This included City Attorney Tim Tisher, along with Councilmen Deborah Wiles, Ward 2, Anthony Greene, Ward 3, and Danny Coleman, Ward 5.
Newly elected members Charles Huffman and Cheryl E. Secrest will be sworn in to represent Wards 2 and 3 during a 5 p.m. special called meeting Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2025. Andy Hart, who was elected to serve Ward 5, issued a letter of intent not to serve, which the council voted to accept Thursday.
At the conclusion of the council's meeting, Mayor Chaz Molder and city staff recognized the outgoing board members before presenting each with a commemorative plaque.
Tisher, who has served in many roles with the city, was appointed as city attorney in 2001, although his total time with the city adds up to nearly 30 years. He will be stepping down effective January of 2025.
"With Tim Tisher leaving, a lot of institutional knowledge is leaving, but with Tim Tisher leaving a good person is leaving as well," Mayor Chaz Molder said. "Tim Tisher is well respected not just amongst his peers internally ... but is also someone who has become a respected municipal attorney and has represented us well in that capacity and beyond our jurisdictional borders."
City Judge Jake Hubbel will serve in the new city attorney role, while City Prosecutor Richard Matthews was voted Thursday to fill Hubbel's vacancy as judge.
"I've always enjoyed government, and when I look back at what has been accomplished over the last 20-plus years my role in that was very small, but we've done a lot," Tisher said. "That's because we've had a good council, a good manager, good partner heads and a very, very good staff. I've thoroughly enjoyed working for them."
City Manager Tony Massey said a big part of the city's success over the years has been in its ability to make decisions while avoiding litigation based on advice from its counsel.
"The reason why we have all this litigation over the years is because we listened to you," Massey told Tisher with a laugh. "I've been doing this for a while, and I've been around a lot of city attorneys over the years. There have been a lot on my stops along the way, but [Tisher is] the best, and will be missed."
Tony Greene, whom Molder called "The Dean of our City Council," has been the longest serving member for a total of 10 years.
Greene was first appointed to the city's third ward following former Ward 3 Councilwoman Christa Martin's election to vice mayor in November 2014 and was re-elected for two additional terms in 2016 and 2020.
"Ten years of service on this council is a long time to be in elected office, and over the last 10 years it has become increasingly more difficult ... and sometimes that can get daunting, but Tony Greene was consistent, continued to do his job to represent Ward 3," Molder said.
"Ward 3 has been well served for a number of years by a number of good council members, and Tony Greene is someone we would add to that list of when we look back years from now of the people who served on this council, Tony Greene will be long remembered."
Greene, who was brought to tears by the city's tribute, as well as words from his colleagues on council, said of all the roles he has taken on as a public servant, whether it is in the U.S. Military, a Columbia Police officer or management, serving his city as a councilman and leader has meant the most.
"I hope I did my best work, and through all trials and tribulations we went through, the mountains we climbed together and the obstacles we overcame, this has been the most rewarding job I've ever taken on," Greene said. "This particular job working for the people, nothing will ever surpass that. It's overwhelming."
Coleman, the youngest of the city's council, sought office in 2020 to represent a vacant Ward 5 seat in a tight race against three opponents, winning by a margin of 254 votes.
"[Ward 5] has been probably one of the most challenging wards in terms of the growth that it's experienced," Molder said. "A lot of times, when developers would approach me about projects in Ward 5, my first question would be, 'Have you talked to Danny Coleman?' because Danny Coleman was someone who understood development and growth and understood the need for positive and smart growth."
Though he did not seek a second term in November, Coleman said he plans to remain a civil servant. Despite having served only one term, which also included a stint on the city's planning commission and the Columbia Arts Council, his time with the city is far from over.
"I know this city will continue to thrive and I'm excited to see where it goes next, and I know I'll keep working with the city thanks to my job," Coleman said. "I look forward to continue seeing all of you, and I thank you for your time, your trust and camaraderie."
Wiles, who was not present Thursday, was first appointed to the position in September of 2022 following the passing of her late husband, Kenneth Wiles, who had been serving the role.
"When Ken passed away, there was really no need to look any further, because we knew that Debbie would be someone to fill those shoes, get up to speed quickly and she did that," Molder said. "She did that in spite of herself being a retired educator and doing a lot of traveling with grandkids. She kept her public service and her public duties because she knew that's what Ken would have wanted, but also because she had that in the fiber of her being, which is to serve the public."
In October, the city dedicated the playground at Woodland Park in her late husband's honor.
City of Columbia Purchases Muletown Rec (CDH)
Columbia City Council voted Thursday to approve the purchase of Muletown Rec for $4.3 million, a decision that was met with applause from a packed City Hall audience.
The vote comes after what Mayor Chaz Molder described as a "heavily vetted" process, which ultimately came down to how the purchase would benefit citizens as a whole.
The 1446 Oak Springs Drive complex's storied history has, at its heart, been one of community support despite financial struggles to remain open.
Over the years, maintenance costs of the facility have been heavily debated. In 2020, grassroots fundraising efforts contributed to pool upgrades and kept three competitive pools open. The city itself has also contributed an annual $100,000 allotment to the facility over the last four years.
"When you consider what this project means to the Parks and Recreation inventory, we are essentially tripling the square footage of 'under roof' square feet we currently have in our parks facilities. We are also going from zero pools to what amounts to three pools, two that are indoor and two that allow for swimming competitions at the highest levels," Molder said.
Molder added that while the purchase is cause for celebration, it will also present its share of challenges moving forward, but there is a positive momentum to meet them head-on, he said.
"I believe the reward for this challenge is going to be great for our community at large, and if we're not here for that then what are we here for," Molder said.
The $4.3 million price tag also won't break the bank, according to city officials, or cause any undue burden to taxpayers any more than what has already been marked in the city's budget.
"The reality is that we have the ability to do this at this time, and that this is not going to equate to a strain on our General Fund," Molder said. "We are well beyond the minimum requirements, and I think we have an obligation for some of that money to be put to work on causes that can reach the most people. We're not here to just hang onto it but invest it back into the community that's investing in us."
Molder said the city has already budgeted about $250,000 to begin certain repairs and upgrades, including making the facility more ADA compliant.
"There are also some pool updates we need to make that will ensure better longevity there," Molder said. "At the end of the day, it would take over $15 million to build a facility just like this and far more to build a facility bigger."
In addition, other upgrades being planned over the long term include the need for a new roof and HVAC system. There are also opportunities to create a conference space and establish partnerships with organizations like the Maury County Senior Center.
"We will be able to budget that in over the years to where it's sort of spread across multiple years, but in the immediate there will be some updates done," Molder said. "Some of our parks staff will start moving over there to oversee the facility, while also trying to retain some of the Muletown Rec employees there now so we can have some continuity of services."
Thursday's meeting also included comments from three citizens, all speaking in support of the purchase.
Marcia Fryslie of Culleoka said Muletown Rec is a valuable asset for many reasons, such as its pools are used by several area schools and sports teams as their primary training facility.
"There's not a lot of gyms and not a lot of options here, and the two things I think are important are [first] the fitness classes. Other gyms don't really offer that, and I've made a lot of friends in those classes, and it would be a loss to lose that," Fryslie said. "Also, the indoor pool is a huge one, because as you know there's not really another one around, and it's been tough lately since they've been cutting hours."
For Carrie Nivens of Columbia, it was being welcomed as a newcomer that drew her in.
"I am a senior citizen who has lived here about three months, and I discovered this beautiful asset Columbia has in Muletown Rec," Carrie Nivens of Columbia said. "I've got arthritis, and they have the nicest pools and exercise classes that are just wonderful. Along with that, for the seniors that go there, there is a lot of camaraderie."
As an employee, Muletown Rec Swim Program Director Catherine Davis said she has seen firsthand how having the facility remain open has and will continue to benefit people of all ages.
"I've watched families come in and out, watched seniors, kids, high schoolers, basketball players, pickle ball players, religious gym goers, runners and cyclists. But most important, I see families," Davis said. "I've also had kind of a bird's eye view of some missed opportunities, and so I'm excited and thrilled [the city] would consider it, and proud that our city of Columbia has recognized, proposed a plan and will take action to make health a priority."
When the former YMCA, or Wellness and Aquatics Complex (WAC) as it was later named, faced closure in 2016, local business owner David Baxter stepped in to take ownership, invest in a redesign overhaul and later reopen as Muletown Rec.
In 2020, when the facility's pools again faced closure due to the ongoing cost of maintenance and repairs, a grassroots effort by the community raised more than $350,000 in pledges to ensure that wouldn't happen.
The grassroots funds were able to pay for a new ventilation and dehumidification system for the indoor pool area, a new heater and plumbing system for a whirlpool as well as the resurfacing of the center’s lap pool which had been leaking water.
During Thursday's meeting, Vice Mayor Randy McBroom said the community is again in support of the facility, the city's decision to purchase it and that its best years are still ahead.
"It will be great for the community," McBroom said. "I know [Parks and Recreation Director] Mack Reagan, in a year or two, will make this the top rec center in Middle Tennessee, or even the state, and it will be right up there with our crown jewel at Ridley Park."
Concert to Benefit BGCSCT Toy Drive (MSM)
At 6 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 20, Gary Chapman and Friends will play Christmas carols in a free concert at the Mulehouse in Columbia. Attendees are asked to bring toys, which will be donated to the Boys and Girls Clubs of South Central Tennessee’s toy drive.
Families with children are encouraged to attend the event, where hot cocoa will be served and Santa Claus will be present.
Chapman sings Christian contemporary music and has received five Dove Awards and seven Grammy nominations over the course of his career.
Peter Poon Kwong, Director of Marketing & Communications for BGCSCT, said the organization was exciting about the opportunity the concert will provide.
“This is pretty new; we were approached by The Mulehouse. It will benefit us as they’ll be collecting toys for our toy drive,” Kwong said.
BGCSCT has operated its toy drive for over 25 years, Kwong added, and has helped provide toys to thousands of children in that timeframe.
“Every year we serve close to 1,600 kids,” he said.
MRMC Smoking Cessation (Press Release)
For those seeking to kick the habit of smoking or nicotine use, Maury Regional Health will offer a free four-part nicotine cessation program in January 2025.
The nicotine cessation program will meet on Tuesdays in the new year, with classes beginning Jan. 7 and continuing Jan. 14, 21 and 28. Each class begins at 6 p.m. and will be held in Maury Regional Medical Center’s Medical Office Building (1222 Trotwood Avenue in Columbia). Meetings will take place in the conference room on the first floor.
“Quitting cigarettes, vaping products and smokeless tobacco may be the single most important thing a person can do to improve their health,” said Sharon Dobbins, a respiratory therapist who will lead the sessions. “As a former smoker, I can personally relate to the challenges that come with trying to stop using tobacco products and encourage those who are trying to quit to join this supportive group session.”
According to the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC), cigarette smoking and tobacco use is responsible for more than 480,000 deaths in the U.S. each year. More than 16 million Americans are also living with a serious disease or health condition caused by smoking, such as cancer, heart disease, diabetes and lung disease.
Over time, people who quit smoking or other nicotine products see many benefits to their health. After you stop using nicotine products, your body begins a series of positive changes that continue for years, including:
Improves health status and enhances quality of life
Reduces the risk of premature death
Reduces the risk of many adverse health effects, including cardiovascular diseases, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and cancer
Advance registration for the nicotine cessation program is required so that course materials may be prepared. To register, visit MauryRegional.com/Quit or call 931.381.1111, ext. 7011.
Grace House Open House (MSM)
Room at the Inn’s new Grace House, at 1131 Mapleash Avenue, will hold an open-house event on Wednesday, Dec. 18 from 3-6 p.m.
The open house will discuss the work that Grace House does for homeless families. They take in four families at a time, who have to abide by conditions like church attendance, keeping a job, and sobriety.
Starting in January 2025, the families will get a room apiece in the Grace House and various kinds of support (childcare, tutoring, transportation, subsidies for food, medicine, and clothing) as they work towards maintaining themselves and moving into their own single-family homes or apartments. The process for a single family takes eight to 12 months.
“Our 4 rooms will offer families with children support, shelter and steps leading to new lives,” explained Rev. Jeff Kane, the PCUSA minister who leads Room at the Inn. “Our new director Samantha Baugus is organizing the Grace House and will direct Columbia’s unique mission.”
Maury County Clerk Satellite Office (Press Release)
The Maury County Clerk’s office can now help residents with renewals of license plates or placards each Wednesday from 8am to 3:30pm at the Maury County Senior Center located at 1020 Maury County Park Dr.
Please drive around to the back of the building and look for the car tag renewal sign near the back door.
Forms of payment include credit/debit card or check – no cash.
Any Maury County Resident can use this office.
All other transactions will still need to be done through the main office located at 10 Public Square.
Also, you can renew online at TNCountyClerk.com or at kiosks in Spring Hill City Hall or Mt. Pleasant Courthouse.
And now, Your Hometown Memorials, Sponsored by Oakes & Nichols Funeral Home…
Mrs. Debbie Rose, 63, lifelong resident of Columbia, passed from this world on Sunday at Maury Regional Medical Center after a sudden illness. A Memorial service is planned for December 29 at Williamsport United Methodist Church. Visitation will start at 2:00 PM with a celebration of life to follow at 3:00 PM.
And now, news from around the state…
New Poll Addresses Marijuana and Gun Control (Tennessean)
Tennesseans remain at odds with Republican lawmakers on policies around firearms and cannabis access, a new Vanderbilt University poll found, even though approval for state lawmakers has increased this year.
A majority of both Republicans and Democrats polled post-election support recreational marijuana legalization and some gun safety reform, such as requiring gun owners to report a stolen gun or temporarily restricting gun access for some individuals deemed a risk.
The Vanderbilt Poll found 63% of polled voters support legalizing recreational marijuana — 53% of Republicans and 78% of Democrats.
On guns, 86% of respondents either strongly or somewhat support a law to require gun owners to report a lost or stolen gun, including 74% of Republicans who self-identify as "MAGA" Republicans, or conservatives more closely aligned with President Donald Trump. Meanwhile, 78% of respondents would either strongly or somewhat support a "red flag" law to restrict guns from people deemed a high risk to themselves or others.
Vanderbilt found women across political parties support gun safety reform at higher rates than men.
The polling indicates how the priorities in the legislature, where the GOP supermajority has resisted changes to gun and marijuana policy in recent years, and those of a broad segment of Tennesseans don't always line up.
“While much ink has been spilled about what the election results mean about the electorate, these results suggest little change in the opinions of Tennesseans, which means the misalignment between voters and elected officials continues,” John Geer, co-director of the Vanderbilt Poll and a Vanderbilt University political science expert, said in a statement.
Still, the legislature's approval rating jumped seven points from May to December, with 53% approving of the work of the General Assembly. The timing of the poll is notable, though, considering the May 2024 survey fell immediately following the legislative session.
“Tennesseans expressed increased satisfaction with their state officials as well as the U.S. Congress,” Vanderbilt Poll co-director Josh Clinton said. “This is likely an afterglow of the election and possibly reflective of a fading memory of the contentious last session."
Overall, Tennesseans ranked the economy and education as the top issues for government to address. Support for Gov. Bill Lee's school voucher plan slightly outweighed opposition, with 47% either somewhat or strongly supporting the plan to give public tax dollars to pay for private schools and 44% either somewhat or strongly opposing it.
The majority of Republicans and independents support the plan, while the majority of Democrats opposed it.
The Vanderbilt Poll surveyed 955 Tennessee registered voters between Nov. 18 and Dec. 4. It has a margin of error of plus or minus 3.6 percentage points.
Final Story of the Day (Maury County Source)
If you’re looking for a great New Year’s Eve party, check out Jason Alden’s Kitchen + Rooftop Bar, where you can hang out all night on the rooftop with amazing food and drink, live bands and DJs.
Tickets are $40 for Main Floor General Access, which includes access to the Main Floor and Mezzanine levels, with live bands all night and buffet until midnight on the Mezzanine. The Rooftop General Access ticket is $100, and includes access to all areas at Jason Aldean’s including the rooftop patio, with live music on all levels and rooftop DJ starting at 10 p.m.
Tickets are $250 for the Platinum Pass, which grants expedited full-venue access to Jason Aldean’s Kitchen + Rooftop Bar, Morgan Wallen’s This Bar + Tennessee Kitchen, Luke’s 32 Bridge, Miranda Lambert’s Casa Rosa and Lainey Wilson’s Bell Bottoms Up. Platinum Pass entry is contingent on venue capacity. New Year’s Eve tickets are available to ages 21+ only.
Tickets are available for purchase on LineLeap.com.
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