WKOM/WKRM Radio
Southern Middle Tennessee Today
News Copy for December 30, 2024
All news stories are aggregated from various sources and modified for time and content. Original sources are cited.
We start with local news…
Farm Bureau Endorses Grown in America Act (CDH)
U.S. Rep. David Kustoff, R-Tennessee, 8th Congressional District, recently introduced the Grown in America Act of 2024 (H.R. 10494) in the House of Representatives, that would provide a tax credit for businesses to encourage U.S. agricultural buying.
Cosponsors include Reps. Jim Costa, D-California, David Rouzer, R-North Carolina, Mike Carey, R-Ohio, and Mark Alford, R-Missouri.
This bipartisan legislation would create a federal tax credit to help businesses shift away from foreign markets and purchase more agricultural commodities here in the U.S., a press release from Kustoff's office said.
"A strong and resilient agriculture and food sector is vital to America’s economy and national security," Kustoff said. "It is imperative we support our famers here at home and ensure they are not losing out to foreign competitors. That is why I introduced the Grown in America Act of 2024. Incentivizing businesses to purchase from American farmers will help strengthen our supply chains, stimulate domestic investment and job creation, and reduce our over-reliance on foreign markets."
Costa added that the legislation is "a win for American farmers, producers, dairymen and women," especially those in the San Joaquin Valley.
“By offering tax credits for manufacturers who purchase U.S.-grown agricultural products, it strengthens supply chains and supports farmers who are price takers, not price makers," Costa said. "This vital step ensures American agriculture remains competitive, helping both farmers and manufacturers thrive in the global economy."
Rouzer noted that the Grown in America Act not only supports U.S. farmers and ranchers, but also helps America First companies to compete against cheaper imported products.
“American goods should be made with American products," Rouzer said. "Bolstering the use of American agriculture products builds a more resilient supply chain for our manufacturing base while providing new and expanded markets for our producers."
It also prioritizes domestically grown and sourced agricultural producers by incentivizing businesses to buy American, Alford added.
“Missouri’s farmers and ranchers are the backbone of our economy and our communities," Alford said. "Through this we will strengthen markets for our agricultural producers and promote domestic investment to secure our U.S. food supply chain. I’m proud to support this legislation along with my other colleagues and look forward to getting it across the finish line."
The Grown in America Act of 2024 was endorsed by the Tennessee Farm Bureau, which its headquarters is located in Columbia, and the Ag Investment for America Coalition.
“Tennessee Farm Bureau is proud to endorse the Grown in America Act of 2024,” said Tennessee Farm Bureau Federation President Eric Mayberry.
“It is vital we establish tax policy which promotes domestic agriculture and the farm-processing industry. Food security is national security, and Americans desire local food. This act will help secure these objectives.”
“Our broad coalition of American manufacturers and growers supports the Grown in America Act, a bipartisan proposal to encourage U.S. manufacturers to source more agricultural products from U.S. farmers,” said a spokesperson for Ag Investment for America.
“This new incentive for purchasing American-grown crops would benefit the U.S. economy, increase supply chain stability, and encourage domestic job growth. Now is the time to incentivize domestic investment and support American farmers and manufacturers.”
According to a press release from Kustoff's office, current geopolitical tensions with China, along with supply chain disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, have highlighted the vulnerability of U.S. food supply chains and the agricultural sector’s exposure to foreign markets.
"Maintaining America’s status as the global economic powerhouse depends in part on our ability to protect critical domestic industries and fortify our supply chains," the press release states.The Grown in America Act of 2024 will incentivize businesses to purchase agricultural commodities from U.S. farmers, instead of importing them from overseas. Specifically, this legislation creates a tax credit to qualifying businesses for purchasing agricultural commodities sourced from American growers:
Qualifying businesses include those using agricultural inputs to create products intended for human consumption.
Businesses must source a certain percentage of their agricultural products from domestic growers to be eligible for the credit.
The eligibility threshold (the percentage of agriculture products a business must source domestically) begins at 50% in year one and increases by 5% annually over an eight-year period until it reaches 85%.
The eligibility threshold(s) are based on a three-year rolling average to address potential, unavoidable market disruptions.
The credit is calculated as 25% multiplied by the ratio of US to non-US agriculture purchases.
Old School Vapor Gets Settlement (MSM)
The owners of two hemp businesses raided by the Spring Hill Police Department earlier this year have reached a $735,000 settlement after filing a federal lawsuit over the seizure of legal inventory.
SHPD seized 231 pounds of legal hemp from Old School Vapor and SAK Wholesale in Columbia on May 9, 2024.
On Monday, May 20, Litson PLLC filed a civil rights lawsuit in federal court on behalf of clients Old School Vapor and SAK Wholesale for what it called the “illegal seizure of $1.35 million worth of legal hemp products by the Spring Hill Police Department.”
The warrants authorizing the searches of the stores reportedly did not allow for the seizure of hemp products, which are legal under federal and Tennessee law as long as the Delta-9 THC levels are not more than 0.3 percent of dry weight. The lawsuit also claimed that there was no warrant issued to search SAK Wholesale’s Columbia warehouse.
In filing the lawsuit, it was noted that District Attorney General Brent Cooper reportedly told law enforcement that hemp and marijuana were the “same damn thing,” despite that not being the case.
“Today, that statement has proven both legally and financially costly. This settlement is more than a financial recovery – it’s a critical statement about law enforcement’s responsibility to understand and respect the law,” attorney Alex Little said in a press statement. “Hemp is a legal agricultural product, and businesses should not live in fear of arbitrary seizure based on ignorance.”
Cooper responded to Main Street Maury that a statement would be forthcoming, but one had not been received at press time.
SHPD Public Information Officer Lt. Michael Foster issued a statement on the city’s behalf, stating, “The settlement dictates that the City of Spring Hill will pay $375,000 and the State of Tennessee will pay $375,000. The Spring Hill Board of Mayor and Aldermen have to approve all lawsuit settlements prior to payment. The vote on this payment will likely occur early next year. The monies for the settlement will come from the City’s Insurance Fund. In this settlement, the City does not admit any wrongdoing.”
Foster went on to say, “SHPD officers receive frequent training on hemp laws, but this is an area of law quickly evolving with additional changes expected to be mandated by the State of Tennessee in 2025. The City will remain vigilant in its training to make sure officers understand the law and best practices relative to the same.”
Columbia MTSU Students Participate in Mock Trial (MSM)
Middle Tennessee State University forensic science majors met at the intersection of justice and science in the courtroom of Circuit Court Judge Barry Tidwell recently for the culmination of a semester-long project.
Two dozen students in the forensic senior seminar participated in a mock trial program organized by Tidwell and MTSU adjunct instructor Andrea King, who is also a forensic scientist with the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation. Among the participating students were Regan Alley of Columbia, Rachel Briggs of Columbia and Kenedy Carter of Spring Hill.
“One of the big things a forensic scientist has to do is testify in court,” explained Frank Bailey, MTSU professor and director of MTSU’s Forensic Science program offered through the Department of Biology within the College of Basic and Applied Sciences. “You must be believable and confident on the stand.”
Tidwell, whose 16th Judicial District covers Rutherford and Cannon counties, presided over the mock trial, which took place in mid-November at the Rutherford County Judicial Center in Murfreesboro. Rutherford County Assistant District Attorney Allyson Abbott and public defender Sean Williams cross-examined students based on prefabricated scenarios they created as part of coursework.
In the weeks leading up to the mock trial, students in the class crafted their own cases and professional “characters,” then wrote up reports based on the scenarios, King explained.
“The big picture is, you’re telling the court the science you performed. Overall, what they learn is comparison science vs. hard science,” King said. “Testifying with a judge and defense in a court proceeding, and being able to tell them what you do, gives them a leg up.”
Following each student’s participation, Tidwell offered constructive critiques on their performances.
“I place a high value on the students getting the experience of being in court, being placed under oath, and answering questions from attorneys based on their reports and investigative scenarios,” Tidwell said. “I believe it is important for them to be able to see and feel what it is like to have their work subjected to questioning and review by the lawyers and the court as if it was a real case.”
The program was started in 2010 by the late Laura Cole, an adjunct instructor and forensic scientist who passed away in 2023. Her legacy is kept alive with an annual award named in her honor, given to the student with the best mock trial performance. This year, senior Camile Phillips won the award.
Bailey said most students laud the mock trial as one of the most advantageous experiences in MTSU’s undergraduate forensic science degree pathway, which is one of 31 programs in the country that is accredited by the Forensic Science Education Programs Accreditation Commission.
Students must take “an extremely rigorous curriculum” to garner experience in scientific tests and techniques.
To learn more about the program, visit www.mtsu.edu/program/forensic-science-b-s/.
Storybook Trail (MauryCountySource)
This is your last chance this month to take your family to Maury County Park and visit the Storybook Trail. The Storybook Trail features a monthly, seasonal story and is located along the Nature Trail.
The December story is “Bird Count” by Susan Edwards Richmond. The National Audubon Society’s annual Christmas Bird Count stars in this charming picture book, just right for young community scientists, bird watchers, and nature aficionados. A young girl and her mother participate as community scientists in the Christmas Bird Count. The girl is excited when Big Al, the leader of their team, asks her to record the tally this year. Using her most important tools (her eyes and ears!) she eagerly identifies and counts the birds they observe on their assigned route around town. She and her team follow the rules, noting the time of day, the habitat, the birding ID techniques used for each sighting. Finally, they meet up with the other teams in the area to combine their totals for a Christmas Bird Count party and share stories about their observations.
Maury County Park is located at 1018 Maury County Park Dr, Columbia. To access the trail: Enter Maury County Park and continue straight on the main park road. Pass the Kids’ Kingdom playground on the right, and continue straight up the hill. Halfway up the hill, there is a trailhead with parking on the right.
The Storybook Trail features storybooks presented on child-height panels, along a short accessible trail to promote adult-child interaction around books and nature in a healthy, outdoor activity. Books are rotated monthly, so there is always a new, seasonal story to enjoy.
Maury Regional PT (MSM)
After a serious hiking injury on the challenging Camelback Mountain in Arizona, Spring Hill resident Bill Brown faced a long and difficult path to recovery. With injuries including a broken shoulder, six cracked ribs and a punctured lung, his journey back to health required multiple surgeries and extensive rehabilitation.
Following initial treatment in Arizona, Brown turned to Maury Regional Physical Therapy in Spring Hill where he began an intensive therapy program to regain strength and mobility in his shoulder. With three sessions each week under the guidance of therapists Joshua Lunn, PT, DPT, Tyler Clark, PT, DPT, Amanda Kesterson, PT, DPT, and Lori Czaplewski, PTA, Brown made remarkable progress over a grand total of 48 appointments.
“I’m very goal oriented, and I’m driven when I set my mind to something,” said Brown. “A few months into physical therapy, my wife and I decided we’d travel back to Scottsdale, Arizona, to visit our friends, and I was determined to play pickleball. I brought my racket to our PT sessions, and they built it into my recovery program. The staff was wonderful to work with. Joshua Lunn was very innovative with how to approach my treatment. Tyler and Amanda were phenomenal to work with and helped push me every visit — they matched my energy and fueled my drive.”
As a point of measurement, the shoulder’s potential is a full 180-degree range from a resting position parallel with the torso to lifting into the air parallel with your head; however, this varies from person to person and can also sit in a range of 150-170 degrees and still be considered healthy depending on health conditions and age. After four months of continued improvement, Brown was able to have better range in his injured shoulder at 167 degrees of motion versus his uninjured arm, which had 164 degrees of motion.
“Bill was very determined,” shared Lunn. “As a physical therapist, we’re there to push our patients and help them succeed, but when our patients are motivated, it has a great impact on their recovery. Bill is a perfect example of that determination.”
Today, Brown continues to do at-home physical therapy exercises and set new goals.
“The probability that I survived a fall on Camelback Mountain is incredible. I should have been dead,” said Brown. “My advice to anyone looking to recover in physical therapy after an extreme shoulder injury is to take baby steps and stay driven. There will be some pain, but there’s so much more to gain by sticking with the program provided by your physical therapists.”
Maury Regional Health offers physical therapy services to help you return to doing what you love across eight locations in Columbia, Spring Hill, Lewisburg, Chapel Hill, Pulaski, Hohenwald, Mount Pleasant and Waynesboro.
To learn more, visit MauryRegional.com/PhysicalTherapy.
Wreaths Across America (MSM)
On Saturday, Dec. 14, Wreaths Across America laid flags at the graves of soldiers in the cemetery of Zion Presbyterian Church. The Navy JROTC of Columbia Central served as the color guard and the local Marines also participated. Reverend Darryl Martin of New Life independent Baptist church made the commemorative prayers.
The wreath-laying tradition was begun in the early 1990s at Arlington National Cemetery, by a wreath maker named Morrill Worcester and his local American Legion chapter. One Christmas season, Worcester donated his company’s unsold wreaths to be hung on graves in older, more neglected sections of Arlington. Today, three million wreaths are laid at military graves in 3,700 cemeteries around the country.
Three hundred wreaths were laid in Columbia alone. The Daughters of the American Revolution specially commemorated the Revolutionary War soldiers at Zion Presbyterian, which was founded in the early 19th century and contains the graves of several men who moved to Tennessee after fighting for American independence. They included James White Stevenson, the founding pastor of Zion Presbyterian and a schoolteacher whose students included future president Andrew Jackson and possibly James Knox Polk; James Armstrong, one of the first parishioners at Zion; Dr. Samuel Mayes, an army doctor who was captured twice by the British; and David Matthews, a native Irishman who was the last Revolutionary War soldier to die in Maury County. They also took a wreath later to the yard of St. John’s Episcopal Church, where one Revolutionary War soldier is buried.
County Commissioner Connie Green reminded all of the reason for the remembrance.
“The ancient Egyptians said that a man dies twice: once when his body stops, and finally when no one remembers his name,” she said. “We are here to remember [their] names.”
Daughters of the American Revolution representative Dianne Breyfogle laid the wreath on David Matthews’ grave.
“These were the founders of Maury County,” she said.
And now, Your Hometown Memorials, Sponsored by Oakes & Nichols Funeral Home…
Robert Scott Howell, 53, resident of Murfreesboro, died Friday, December 20, 2024 at Alive Hospice- Murfreesboro.
A graveside service will be conducted Sunday, January 5, 2025 at 2:00 PM at Rose Hill Cemetery.
Linda F. Morris (Neal) passed peacefully on December 19 in her home in Mill Neck, NY.
Visitation will be held in Columbia at Oakes & Nichols (320 West 7th Street) on Thursday, January 2 from 5-7pm with funeral service at First Presbyterian Church (801 South High Street)(livestream) on Friday, January 3 from 2-3pm followed by interment at St. John’s Episcopal Church Ashwood.
And now, news from around the state…
Education Savings Account (Press Release)
This week, the Tennessee Department of Education announced significant gains in participation and academic outcomes for the state’s Education Savings Account (ESA) program, reflecting a growing demand for educational choice and flexibility. The release of the 2023-24 Tennessee Education Savings Account (ESA) report highlights the second year of the program in operation.
The ESA program allows students who are zoned to attend a Memphis-Shelby County Public School, a Metro Nashville Public School, a Hamilton County Public School or a school that was in the Achievement School District (ASD) on May 24, 2019, to use state and local funding toward pre-approved education expenses, including tuition and/or fees at approved, participating non-public schools.
“A quality education has the power to change the trajectory of a child’s life, and I’m pleased with the positive gains students are making through enrollment in Tennessee’s Education Savings Account Program,” said Governor Bill Lee. “It’s time to build upon this foundation of progress and deliver school choice for all Tennessee parents through the Education Freedom Act.”
“The ESA program provides eligible Tennessee families with added opportunity in finding the best educational environment for their students,” said Lizzette Reynolds, Commissioner of Education. “This report shows families are satisfied with the educational opportunities afforded by the program, and we are encouraged by the academic performance of the students participating.”
ESA program highlights for the 2023-24 school year include:
Participation in Tennessee’s ESA program grew by 362% in its second year, with 2,088 students enrolled in non-public schools using ESA funds.
An overwhelming 99% of participating families reported satisfaction with the program, reinforcing the value of providing parents with educational options.
ESA students achieved a 4-point increase in English Language Arts (ELA) proficiency and a 6-point increase in Math proficiency on the TCAP between 2022-23 and 2023-24.
ESA students in Memphis-Shelby County outperformed public school students in ELA and matched their proficiency in Math, while economically disadvantaged students in the ESA program outperformed their public school peers in ELA and Math.
Nearly half (49%) of ESA participants identify as Black or African American, and 43% as White, showcasing the program’s broad reach.
Final Story of the Day (Maury County Source)
Comedian Karen Mills will perform at The Mulehouse on January 10th at 7:30pm.
Karen Mills has been a nationally touring comedian for over 25 years. She can be heard daily on SiriusXM comedy channels and clips from her comedy special “Pink Pants” have gotten over 21 million views. Karen appeared on Season 12 of America’s Got Talent and has had numerous appearances on The Grand Ole Opry. She is currently touring theaters across the country with Leanne Morgan. Karen and Leanne have worked together since 2004 when they first met doing the Southern Fried Chicks comedy tour.
Karen has a straight-forward approach to the realities of life. Her smart, funny, keen observations will keep you laughing at yourself as you relate to her experiences.
The Mulehouse is located at 810 W 7th St, Columbia.
For more information, visit www.themulehouse.com