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Southern Middle Tennessee Today
News Copy for February 26, 2025
All news stories are aggregated from various sources and modified for time and content. Original sources are cited.
We start with local news…
Local Governments Oppose Landfills (CDH)
The Maury County Commission unanimously voted on a resolution this month declaring its opposition to a proposed state law amendment which would allow landfills near scenic pastoral rivers.
Maury County Mayor Sheila Butt presented the resolution to the full commission Feb. 18, directly opposing House Bill 0895 and its companion Senate Bill 0725.
Butt, who was appointed by Gov. Bill Lee to the Duck River Planning Partnership, said she, and the county, will actively raise awareness that Maury County is indeed not in support of both bills' potentially damaging effects to Tennessee river sites, while also negating the efforts in the past to approve legislation ensuring its protection.
"If drafted, these could [have] adverse [effects on] the Duck River's preservation," Butt said. "0895 is simply taking one word out of that bill, and the bill [currently] says there cannot be a landfill within two miles of a Class II, and this bill would simply take the word 'landfill' out of that."
Butt added that she had spoken with the bill's sponsor, District 73 Rep. Chris Todd, R-Jackson, about his intent in pursuing the proposed amendment.
"He said, 'Sheila, I don't mean that for things that are grandfathered in. I mean it for the future,'" Butt said. "The fact is, no scenic class river needs to have a landfill within two miles of it, and so we need to work toward defeating that bill."
County commissioners passed the resolution without any further discussion, however other local leaders have taken to social media to show their support in the county's opposition, such as Columbia Mayor Chaz Molder, who said he recently met with Butt to discuss ways the city and county can work together to protect its beloved natural resource.
"I am pleased that the Governor appointed [Mayor Butt] to the Duck River Planning Partnership, a vital group that will explore ways to best protect the Duck River," Molder posted to Facebook on Monday.
"We also discussed our shared interest in ensuring the Scenic Waterway designation retains the protections necessary to keep landfills away from our natural primary drinking source such as the Duck River. Unity on key issues like this is important for our community as a whole. I'm grateful for it."
Twelve Sentenced to Federal Prison for Meth (MauryCountySource)
Twelve members of a drug trafficking conspiracy were sentenced last week for their roles in conspiring to distribute and possess with intent to distribute controlled substances in middle Tennessee and elsewhere, announced Acting United States Attorney Robert E. McGuire for the Middle District of Tennessee.
According to court documents, around 2022, agents with Homeland Security Investigations, the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Drug Enforcement Administration began investigating large shipments of counterfeit fentanyl-laced pills that were inscribed “M30,” methamphetamine, and marijuana that someone was shipping to Tennessee and approximately 16 other states from California. Agents reviewed shipping materials, monitored social media accounts, and conducted surveillance before identifying Matthew Cox as the individual who was shipping these packages to members of the drug trafficking conspiracy. In their messages on social media applications and phones, the defendants discussed drug prices, drug shipments, and quality of the drugs. One defendant, Quortez Duncan, told Cox that he wanted stronger pills to get customers hooked on the pills to increase profits. Cox complied and attempted to send Duncan these pills, but Agents seized them. Agents also learned that another defendant, Khyre McClain, attempted to establish and launder money through a limited liability corporation.
In addition to this evidence of shipments to other states, agents seized packages of drugs that were being shipped to Tennessee. Specifically, on July 25, 2022, HSI agents seized a package from a UPS Store in Sebastopol, California, which was destined for Nashville, Tennessee. This package contained thousands of counterfeit fentanyl-laced pills weighing over two kilograms. The package also contained more than eight pounds of methamphetamine. On August 9, 2022, HSI agents intercepted two additional packages from the Santa Rosa, California, area which were destined for residences in Nashville. One package contained 472 grams of counterfeit fentanyl-laced pills, and the other package contained approximately four pounds of methamphetamine.
After collecting an overwhelming amount of evidence, law enforcement officers executed search warrants at multiple residences in California and Tennessee. They recovered handguns, assault rifles, bulk cash, expensive cars, marijuana, and large amounts of counterfeit fentanyl-laced pills.
“Stopping the trafficking of deadly fentanyl is a major priority of the Department of Justice,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Robert E. McGuire, “these successful prosecutions demonstrate our continued commitment to hit fentanyl traffickers with the full force of the law.”
“These defendants took part in a cross-country conspiracy that brought significant amounts of fentanyl, methamphetamine, and marijuana to Tennessee,” said Special Agent in Charge Joseph E. Carrico of the FBI Nashville Field Office. “The FBI and our law enforcement partners remain committed to holding those accountable who attempt to poison our communities.”
Each defendant was convicted of conspiring to distribute controlled substances. Three defendants were also convicted of unlawfully possessing firearms after previously being convicted of felony offenses. The defendants were sentenced as follows:
Quortez Duncan, age 37, was sentenced to 15 years in federal prison
Mathew Cox, age 28, was sentenced to 11 years and 8 months in federal prison
Jonny Rodriguez-Gonzalez, age 26, was sentenced to 11 years and 2 months in federal prison
Ricardo Molinero-Alcarez, age 29, was sentenced to 10 years in federal prison
Khyre McClain, age 23, was sentenced to 10 years in federal prison
Davontay Holt, age 30, was sentenced to 10 years in federal prison
Marcus Johnson, age 27, was sentenced to 5 years in federal prison
Tristain Orr, age 25, was sentenced to 5 years in federal prison
Ethan Kimes, age 22, was sentenced to 2 years in federal prison
Marquitues Sawyers, age 24, was sentenced to 1 year and 8 months in federal prison
Jahari Armstrong, age 22, was sentenced to 3 years of probation
Jaydan Armstrong, age 22, was sentenced to 3 years of probation
This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration; Homeland Security Investigations; the U.S. Postal Inspection Service; the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Nashville Field Office; the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation; and the Columbia Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ahmed Safeeullah and Rachel Stephens prosecuted this case.
Maury Alliance State Eggs and Issues (MSM)
Maury Alliance hosted a “State Eggs and Issues” breakfast on Friday, Feb. 21, that allowed the state legislators who represent Maury County to speak to the challenges facing Maury County and the state of Tennessee more generally. Each legislator spoke more on some topics than others, owing to his specialization.
Senator Joey Hensley spoke the most to money issues, serving on the Finance Committee and Revenue Subcommittee as well as the Health and Education Committees. Rep. Scott Cepicky (R-Culleoka), the chair of the Education Committee and an important shaper of state education policy, had the most to say about the schools and school system. Rep. Kip Capley (R-Hohenwald) weighed in mainly on finance and his culture-war bills.
The first thing they addressed was the recent bill threatening the integrity of the Maury County stretch of the Duck River. House Bill 895 would strip away the two-mile ban on landfills in the vicinity of Class II Scenic Rivers, including the Duck. Cepicky said he confirmed through studies with colleagues that the bill would pose a real threat to the river’s ecology and the potable water, its usefulness and the enjoyment it provides to millions of Tennesseans.
“It was very, very contested. Sen. Hensley and myself and Rep. Capley, we fought that through the General Assembly,” he said of the Scenic Duck River bill that the Maury legislators brought two years ago, expecting to sleepwalk through the approval process. “I really thought it was a nothing-bill, but it turned out to be one of the biggest bills of that year.”
The current bill has been withdrawn by its Senate sponsor, J. Adam Lowe, but Cepicky and Capley hope to get it voted down in this year’s House legislative session.
“We made it very clear that we don’t have the patience for this this year,” Capley said resolutely. “They need to leave the Duck River alone; they need to leave Maury County alone.”
Meanwhile, Gov. Bill Lee has shown himself sympathetic to the cause to protect the Duck River, signing an initiative with that title. He’s dedicated $125 million to do so and created a committee with Sen. Hensley and Maury County Mayor Sheila Butt on it, which will start meeting in a couple weeks to investigate the Duck’s importance to all the regions through which it runs.
Hensley named the prospective Cumberland River pipeline to Maury County as one way to take pressure off of the Duck. The pipeline’s billion-dollar price tag won’t be nearly covered by Lee’s “generous” offer, but, Hensley said, “That will be enough to get started.”
Addressing transportation issues
The legislators talked a long time about problems and solutions in transportation. One big reason for potholes and delayed road projects is lower receipts on gas sales taxes, caused by the popularity of electric and fuel-efficient cars. Capley said this has caused the state to fall $38 billion behind on its transportation projects. On top of that, skilled road workers are scarce.
“One of the problems we’re having across the state of Tennessee is, the people that are building… and repairing the roads are struggling to find individuals to do that work,” said Cepicky. “Hopefully, with this new money for TCATs, it will remove the barrier… You can ask people in the construction industry, these are not minimum-wage jobs, these are very high-paying jobs.”
Fortunately there’s hope, in the form of Gov. Lee’s Transportation Modernization Act and TDOT’s receptiveness to repeated requests from municipalities with skin in the game. Hensley advised the county and the cities to invest their own money in road projects first, which confirms for the state the necessity of repairing or expanding a certain road. TDOT ponied up $230 million to improve Highway 31 between Spring Hill and I-840 because the local government put money and effort towards it first, and the legislators hope the same for needed expansions of Bear Creek Pike and I-65.
On everyday driving inconveniences, Hensley urged patience and engagement with one’s local government.
“We know there’s potholes. If you’ll be patient, TDOT is out there… [fixing] potholes fast,” he said. “But you have to let us know, because I can’t drive every road that you drive on.”
He advised his constituents to alert their city and county leaders to large-scale traffic problems, so that they could pester TDOT enough times to get them fixed.
“Without pushing, we would have never gotten the $230 million for Highway 31,” Hensley concluded. “So now we have to continue to push for 65… [and] Bear Creek Pike. I make a phone call every Monday to TDOT and talk to Commissioner Lee and say, ‘Here’s the list.'”
Choice Lanes, extra non-toll roads beside interstates which are mostly funded by private companies, are also being considered to alleviate I-65 commute traffic. The governor added $1 billion to the highway budget for this (TDOT’s share of “choice lane” costs is 10%), and taxes from tire sales will likely be used for it too.
TDOT is also considering widening I-65 between Franklin and Spring Hill, since the June Lake interchange has done nothing to relieve the daily commute logjam in that stretch.
“We drive north on 65 every morning, and we know that June Lake has not relieved the problem,” Cepicky said, to knowing chuckles from the audience. “However, it may have a silver lining. Now TDOT recognizes that we have a problem, and it may expedite the expansion of 65 coming from 840 down past Saturn Parkway.”
Improving education
Cepicky spoke at length about his work on the Education Committee, where for two years he helped draft the private-school voucher program that grants families up to $7,000 per year to get better outcomes by sending their child to a private school. Hensley and Cepicky claimed that popular complaints from both sides against the bill were unfounded. The voucher program is funded by $62 million from taxes and fees on legal sports betting, not by the regular education budget. That same sports-betting fund could also be raided by Tennessee Promise, which funds post-secondary education and training at TCATs, if its funds run low. The Education Committee also promised “maintenance of effort,” i.e., to fix the current school funding as the future minimum, so that transfers out of the school system wouldn’t affect their bottom line.
“[It] will give them more money for less students,” Cepicky said.
He also spoke to the concerns of parents and schools who opt out of the public school system for religious or ideological reasons, who worried that the state would get to call the tunes once they started paying the piper.
“One of the concerns with Columbia Academy or Zion was, ‘Well, if we start taking these students, the state’s gonna start to tell us what curriculum we can teach,'” he said. “We put a provision in there that (from what I know) is unheard-of in the country: where a state has basically written into law that we have no jurisdiction over curriculum, textbooks, religion, anything, in private schools that accept these children.
“My colleagues in education around the country [are] looking at this piece of legislation and trying to figure out how in the world we were able to do this,” he added. “So maybe this will have some positive impact [on] other states in our country, to start to look at… the way we do things.”
Cepicky also trumpeted the sharp increase in third-grade literacy his committee had overseen, from 29% to 40% in two years, which he proudly called “the fastest growth in a two-year span ever recorded in the country, in third-grade literacy.”
Cepicky said the increase was helped by the phonics program, of which Maury County Superintendent Lisa Ventura is also a fan, and the English improvement has pulled math scores up with it from 29% to 37%. He also advertised his hope that the 2025 class of eight-year-olds, who were born too late to be hindered by the coronavirus learning gap, could improve that score by another 8-9%. A third-grade literacy rate of almost 50% would make Tennessee one of the top 20 states by that metric.
Finally, the legislators discussed the urgency of saving Tennessee’s arable farmland from overdevelopment. They pushed a failed bill last year which would have prevented developers from turning excessive amounts of farmland and pasture into residential zones; state legislators rejected it, worried that the government would be dictating outcomes to private property owners.
Cepicky, a cattle farmer himself, said he understands why farmers sell out. Farmland’s malleability makes it dangerously easy to build upon, and as the farming class ages with few children or grandchildren willing to replace them, they find it hard or impossible to resist the enormous checks that developers dangle before their eyes. But Cepicky foresees dependence on other countries as the consequence of scarce farmland, and advocates government preservation to keep that from happening.
“It’s gonna maintain our… ability to feed the people of this country,” he said, “instead of becoming dependent on Brazil or other parts of the world.”
The representatives mentioned lesser issues they were working on, such as returning a portion of real-estate transfer taxes to the counties; expanding education and training programs through TCATs, community colleges, universities and the military; maneuvering a $2,000 bonus past school administrations and directly into the pockets of teachers; the quick passage of last year’s education budget, done to take advantage of federal fund disbursements; Cepicky’s initiatives to increase elementary-school recess to 40 minutes and ban cell phones in classrooms; and Capley’s current bills, which would mandate that driving tests be administered in English and liberalize Tennessee’s firearm self-defense laws (a response to the prosecution of people who brandished or fired guns at looters, after the hurricane in East Tennessee). Capley also recently shepherded a bill to passage which makes assaulting a law-enforcement officer a felony instead of a Class A misdemeanor – “now if you play stupid games, you win stupid prizes,” he deadpanned – and he hopes to expand it to include parole officers, prison guards and other authority figures.
Maury County’s legislators ultimately started and ended by touting the greatness of the area they represent, and of their state too.
“We’re all very fortunate that we live in Tennessee, the best state in the country, and we want to keep it that way,” Hensley said. “We want to keep it business-friendly, so that we have businesses moving to this state so we can keep our taxes low.”
“It’s a privilege to get to represent Maury County in the General Assembly because we talk about you a lot,” Cepicky revealed. “More than you realize, people watch Maury County, [because] it kind of shows the trajectory of the state, believe it or not.”
And now, Your Hometown Memorials, Sponsored by Oakes & Nichols Funeral Home…
Mr. Hueston Gene Marshall, 84, of Columbia, passed away February 19 at Maury Regional Medical Center. Funeral Services will be conducted Thursday, February 27, 2025 at 7:00 PM at Oakes & Nichols Funeral Home. The family will visit with friends from 4:00 PM until the service time. Burial will be conducted February 28, 2025, at 11:00 AM at the Moss Church of Christ Cemetery in Celina, Tennessee.
Mr. James Wayne Malugin, 76, retired employee of L & N Railroad and lifelong resident of Columbia, died Thursday, February 20 at his residence. Services are incomplete at this time, and will be announced later by Oakes & Nichols Funeral Directors.
Donald Fred McTaggart, 61, passed away on Friday 21st.Visitation will be held Thursday, February 27th from 12pm-2pm at the West Point Cumberland Presbyterian church located at 1533 Theta Pike, Columbia, TN 38401. The funeral service will begin at 2pm at the same location, with burial following immediately after at the church cemetery.
And now, news from around the state…
Education Survey (Press Release)
Today, the Tennessee Department of Education and the Tennessee Education Research Alliance (TERA) at Vanderbilt University launched the 2025 Tennessee Educator Survey. All educators, administrators, and certified school staff in Tennessee are invited and encouraged to take the survey and share their perspectives and expertise on education issues affecting their classrooms and schools, and help inform strategies and goals at the state, district, and local school levels.
Tennessee educators should receive an email with a personalized survey invitation link to participate by the end of this week. The survey is voluntary, confidential and will remain open February 24th through April 11th. Through a lottery, six schools with over a 90% participation rate will be eligible for a staff appreciation grant of $5,000 each.
“The Tennessee Educator Survey continues to be an impactful tool to hear directly from educators as our state’s leaders make insightful decisions that are beneficial to Tennessee’s students,” said Lizzette Reynolds, Commissioner of Education. “I strongly encourage all Tennessee educators to participate in the survey to better inform decision-making across K-12 education.”
Now in its 14th year, the survey measures key topics that district and school leaders monitor annually, including school climate, educator evaluations, ELA and math instruction, professional learning, and student readiness. Last year, over 55% of Tennessee educators completed the survey, offering key insights into learning acceleration, teacher satisfaction, postsecondary readiness, and much more.
Final Story of the Day (Maury County Source)
Nashville Zoo’s Teddy Bear Clinic, presented by Swauger & Suiter Pediatric Dentistry, is back Saturday, March 8 and Sunday, March 9. Guests are invited to bring their kids and their favorite teddy bear for a routine examination to help them learn more about animal healthcare. Registration is required for this event, and spots can be booked on the Zoo’s website.
Teddy Bear Clinic is a separate ticketed event, not included with Zoo admission. Zoo guests must also purchase admission tickets to participate in this un-fur-getable experience. Tickets for the event are $10 per child. Get them at www.nashvillezoo.org.
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