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Southern Middle Tennessee Today
News Copy for February 27, 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.
Road Named in Honor of Superintendent Boshers (MSM)
The main event at the Maury County Commission’s February meeting was the dedication of a stretch of Wheelerfield Road to Van Boshers, who led the county’s Highway Department for almost 20 years.
When Boshers took office in 1996, the county had 400 miles of unpaved roads; when he retired in 2024, the county had 820 miles of paved road, with only 20 miles remaining unsealed. His actions in saving tax payers money while getting the job done was one of his legacies. Commissioner Gwynne Evans told the story of how Boshers had taken over some bridge projects from the state, which had done little with eight years and $800,000, and fixed the bridges up in less than a year for $360,000. Boshers was also known for his integrity and leadership: the state associations of County Services and County Highway Officials both elected him their president, and in 2018 he received the Robert M. Wormsley award for Outstanding County Official.
Commissioner Patti Hollinsworth volunteered to read Resolution 02-25-20, which had a long list of “whereas” reasons why the road was being named for Boshers. The other commissioners were also highly complimentary.
“This is a fitting honor,” said Commissioner Eric Previti, who lives near Boshers on Whitney Drive. “If we wanted to change Whitney Drive at some point to your honor, I would be willing to do that as well.”
“You can’t always make everybody happy, [and] you’ve stood up here many times and taken those shots. It takes a special person to do that,” said Commissioner Scott Sumners, who then quipped, “I just want to thank you for always answering your phone… and for not getting too mad at me when we tried to cut your budget.”
“[For] 26, 27 years… you could find him at Hardee’s before he went to work,” said Commissioner Carl McCullen. “Hardee’s ain’t the same when you’re not at breakfast.”
Boshers, a lifelong Maury County resident, said that the stretch of Wheelerfield being renamed, between Old Polk Lane and Arrow Mines Road, had great personal meaning for him. As a boy in the late 1940s and ’50s, he had walked along the unpaved road many times to reach the school bus stop.
“We walked the dinky track, trying to keep our shoes half-decent, three miles to the bus at Arrow Mines. I pretty much know about every rock that I stumped my toes on, going barefoot [on] that dinky track,” he said with emotion. “And I just can’t say ‘Thank you’ enough… to this commission, for being in favor of naming that road in my honor.”
He thanked Ken McKee and the other Highway Department employees, and entrusted the county’s roads to them, saying, “I wanted to leave it better than I found it, and Jerry and I feel like we did.”
Kedron Square Development Stalls (MSM)
One of the most anticipated development projects in Spring Hill hit a roadblock in February when the city’s Board of Mayor and Aldermen were forced to discuss calling in the performance bond for Kedron Square. Ultimately, the full $7,395,300 bond for Phase 1B of the project was not called in full, but did see questions raised on the city’s policies regarding development bonds.
Kedron Square, originally approved in 2019, has been behind schedule due to COVID-19 and subsequent supply chain issues that followed immediately after the pandemic. Due to the development having the entire project on a performance bond, it allowed the project to develop more quickly in the beginning, but can cause some issues with deadlines, according to Spring Hill CIP Director Missy Stahl.
“The (Unified Development Code) does not have provisions for partial releases or reductions,” she said.
Because the deadline of March 1 is quickly approaching, the developer’s bank advised the city it did not intend to reissue the full bond, Stahl added. The developer expressed displeasure with the city not having provisions in place to accommodate for infrastructure that had been completed.
Stahl and city staff, along with the city’s Planning Commission, resolved to reduce the bond to 30 percent as a maintenance bond, following the UDC’s guidelines, reducing the bond to $2,218,590 for one year. The $7.4 million bond is only one of several performance bonds held on the project.
Most of the phase is completed, but still missing are: sidewalks, storm water, curbing, signage, binder, asphalt topping, water lines, sewer lines and street lights, according to the planning commission’s resolution allowing for the reduction.
Additionally, a performance bond of $27,500 was required in cash for the installation of some sidewalks, crosswalks and ADA compliant ramps, and a certified check was delivered at the BOMA meeting on Monday, Feb. 17.
The project is broken down into four phases, originally set to all be completed by 2030. The first phase consists of 81 single-family homes, and the third and fourth phases consist of the commercial, hotel and office space, though a hotel now appears to be off the table due to several hotels being approved in the city within the past year.
New Doc Joins MRMC (MauryCountySource)
Elliott Chen, MD, an internal medicine specialist, has joined the medical staff at Maury Regional Medical Center as a hospital medicine physician.
Dr. Chen received his medical degree at American University of the Caribbean Medical School, Cupecoy, Sint Maarten. He completed a residency in internal and pediatric medicine at Louisiana State University Health, Shreveport, LA. Dr. Chen is board certified in internal medicine.
Maury Regional Medical Group, an affiliate of Maury Regional Health, provides Maury Regional’s hospital medicine physicians. These physicians are specialists who devote their time and expertise to adult and pediatric patients exclusively within the hospital setting. The hospital medicine physicians are trained in internal medicine and pediatrics and can care for patients ranging from infants to the elderly.
City Swears in New Prosecutor (MauryCountySource)
The City of Columbia is pleased to announce the swearing-in of Wes Bryant as the new City Prosecutor.
Wes was born and raised in Columbia, Tennessee. After earning his degree from Ole Miss in 1999, he went on to attend the University of Tennessee College of Law. During his time there, he served as the Student Materials Editor for the prestigious Tennessee Law Review. After graduating with his Doctorate of Jurisprudence in 2002, Wes returned to Columbia to practice law.
The City of Columbia welcomes Wes to this important role and looks forward to the expertise and dedication he will bring to the city.
Maury County Distinguished Student Named (Press Release)
Columbia Academy is honored to recognize senior Mac Jackson as the Maury County recipient for the prestigious Distinguished Tennessean Scholarship from the University of Tennessee Knoxville.
This scholarship is offered to only 95 of nearly 70,000 Tennessee high school seniors. One representative from each Tennessee county is chosen after a thorough review of community involvement and academic standing.
Academic, professional, and personal recommendation letters were submitted on behalf of Jackson. Mac Jackson is a top scholar at Columbia Academy. He is a leader within his school serving as the Student Body President, National Honor Society President and Football Captain. Jackson participates on the Mock Trial and Tennis teams. He is a part of the ACT 30+ Club, is a Boys State Representative, and a Senator at Boys State. He has received athletic recognition such as All-State Defensive Back in football and All-Region Defensive Back three years in a row. He is also expected to receive his Eagle Scout soon.
Since its inception in 2022, we have had four students receive this scholarship that will cover full tuition and mandatory fees for up to four years at the University of Tennessee Knoxville.
CSCC Art Exhibition (Press Release)
A new art exhibit has just opened at the Pryor Art Gallery at Columbia State Community College. Altered Pieces: The Art of the Late Clifford Gordon will be on display from now until March 14th.
Mr. Gordon was an associate professor of art at Columbia State Community College from 2008 until 2024. While on a study trip with students on the coast of Brazil, Professor Gordon was struck by a wave and swept away. His body was recovered a few days later. No students were seriously injured in the accident.
Mr. Clifford was also a talented artist and had numerous exhibitions throughout the state. Clifford was known for producing amazing works of collage and painting to draw the viewer into a world informed by various ideas, traditions and modern discourses. In addition, Clifford traveled to Brazil many summers and taught himself how to speak Portuguese.
Clifford held an Associate of Science degree in art from Chattanooga State Community College, a Bachelor of Science degree in art from Tennessee State University, and a Master of Fine Art degree in studio art from the Memphis College of Art.
This exhibit may be viewed during the gallery’s open hours which are Monday-Thursday 8am-7pm and Friday 8am-4pm.
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.
And now, news from around the state…
Vape Tax Progresses (Tennessean)
Tennessee lawmakers have taken a first step toward imposing a 10% tax on certain vapor products such as vape pens, vape molds, cig-a-likes and pod mods, and requiring FDA approval before vape products are sold.
A Republican-led measure heard for the first time on Tuesday seeks to impose a 10% tax on vape products and add consumer safety rules for vape products.
An estimated 400,000 people in Tennessee regularly use vaping devices. Tennessee is one of about 20 states — many of which are located in the southeast — that does not currently levy a tax on vape products, according to the Tax Policy Center.
Members of the Senate Commerce and Labor Committee approved Senate Bill 763 in a vote of 7 to 1, despite rigorous opposing testimony.
The bill is sponsored by Sen. Ken Yager, R-Kingston, who is facing DUI and hit-and-run charges in Georgia, and Senate Finance Chairman Bo Watson, R-Hixson.
"We need to stop the influx of illegal Chinese vape products that are addicting our children and wrecking their lives," Yager said during the hearing Tuesday. "It is not an attack on legitimate businesses. It is an attack on people who are selling their soul and poisoning children to make a buck."
The vast majority of vape products in the United States are imported from China. As of 2024, the FDA had approved only 34 vape products such as vape pens, hookah pens, electronic cigarettes, e-cigars and e-pipes.
In addition to a new 10% tax on vapor products, Senate Bill 763 would also require vapor product manufacturers to register with the state and pay an annual $25 fee to ensure only FDA-approved products may be sold.
The bill would also require customers to show proof of their age when buying tobacco, vape, hemp and smokeless nicotine products.
Danny Gillis, president of the Tennessee Smoke Free Association and owner of three vape shops, called the bill an effort to "allow big tobacco to take over our harm reduction industry."
"This is a big tobacco crafted bill. It's an attack on the state of Tennessee's vaping industry in our stores, and more importantly, on the rights of every adult consumer to access harm reduction products," Gillis said. "This is the latest example of a continued weaponization of public health rhetoric to justify the prohibition of vaping products under the guise of protecting youth."
Gillis warned that the bill would "take 99% of vape products off the market," "create an unfair tax structure" and could lead to the closure of as many as 700 vape businesses across the state.
"There is no public health justification for removing safer alternatives to cigarettes while allowing combustible tobacco cigarettes to remain widely available," Gillis said.
The new tax is projected to bring in nearly $16.5 million in new tax revenue for the state, according to a fiscal analysis.
Tennessee currently levies a $0.62 per pack excise tax on cigarettes and a 6.6% tax on other tobacco products. Smokeless nicotine products would continue to not be subject to state tax.
Final Story of the Day (Maury County Source)
Comedian Bill Murray is headed to The Ryman this fall with his band, Blood Brothers.
The show is on Friday, October 3, 2025, at 8 pm. Backed by Mike Zito and Albert Castiglia known as Blood Brothers.
Murray is also famous for his work on Saturday Night Live. Murray has been part of the music scene on numerous occasions over the years performing at events including Eric Clapton’s Crossroads Festival and John Prine & The Steeldrivers at the Grand Ole Opry.
Find tickets at www.ryman.com.