WKOM/WKRM Radio
Southern Middle Tennessee Today
News Copy for March 4, 2025
All news stories are aggregated from various sources and modified for time and content. Original sources are cited.
We start with local news…
Crash Claims Culleoka Youth (MSM)
The Culleoka Unit School community is mourning the loss of a student who was killed in an automobile accident on the afternoon of Friday, Feb. 28.
Maury County Fire Department crews were dispatched just before 3 p.m. to the scene of a one-car accident on Mooresville Pike in Columbia. Firefighters responded and found the vehicle rolled over with a single occupant.
The occupant was later identified as 16-year-old Kayden Briley Patterson.
Culleoka Unit School officials shared a social media post Friday evening announcing the death, saying, “As you may be aware, our school community experienced a heartbreaking loss on Friday afternoon with the passing of a sophomore student in a car accident. This tragedy has deeply impacted both our students and staff.
“In response, our district’s crisis support team is prepared to assist students and their families during this difficult time. We understand the importance of providing a supportive space for students to process their emotions, and counselors will be available at school on Monday to offer guidance and care.
“Thank you for your compassion and support as we come together to navigate this loss as a school community.”
A funeral service will be held on Tuesday, March 4, 2025, at 1:00 PM at Heritage Funeral Home. Following the service, he will be laid to rest at Polk Memorial Gardens.
Culleoka Horse Trapped and Rescued (MauryCountySource)
On Saturday morning, Maury County Fire Department responded to a reported horse stuck in a hole on Culleoka Highway. The Williamson County Fire Large Animal Rescue Team was requested to respond with their animal harness.
The horse was found to be trapped against a large rock in a drainage ditch. A local heavy equipment company was requested to respond with his excavator to dig an exit path for the horse. The equipment and operator arrived within 15 minutes and quickly went to work. Multiple attempts to get the horse to stand up and walk out were unsuccessful.
Williamson County Fire arrived and the harness was placed on the horse. Little’s Excavating responded quick with precise operations that allowed for a successful rescue of the horse. The horse was successfully lifted out of the hole and laid on the ground 1 hour and 15 minutes after the first arriving unit.
After several minutes of the horse resting from the incident, he was able to stand up. A veterinarian on site did not find any injuries.
CSCC Offers Workshop for Future Educators (Press Release)
Columbia State Community College recently hosted two events with high school students from southern Middle Tennessee where aspiring teachers received vital information about careers in education.
Students from several local high schools, including those in Maury, Williamson and Lawrence counties, saw presentations about the education program offerings at Columbia State followed by a tour of their nearby campuses in Franklin and Columbia.
Columbia State degree paths discussed in the presentations included:
Associate of Science in Teaching:
Early Childhood Education (Pre K-3)
Elementary Education (K-5)
Secondary Education:
English
Mathematics
Social Studies
Special Education
Associate of Science:
Physical Education
The presentations offered details about each degree requirement and what students can do while still in high school to successfully prepare for their next step in education.
“I need you to be active in high school,” said Kirstin Senske, Columbia State program director and associate professor of education. “I need you to be in clubs, I need you to do service projects — all of those things look really great on your teacher resume. I also need you to get good grades, and I need you to get a 21 or higher on your ACT.”
The events featured conversations from active teachers, school principals and current students in Columbia State’s education program. This offered a true picture into the working life of educators, as well as what the college course load for education students looks like.
One of the many topics discussed centered around the best characteristics for a teacher to have in the classroom.
“I think one of the most important traits to have is flexibility and adaptability, because you never know what you're going to walk into,” said Maty White, a fifth-grade math teacher. “You’ve always got to be quick on your feet to be able to switch gears, which was something that I was never really good at until I became a teacher and was thrown into it, and you just had to figure it out.”
“One of the most important things is just being fully committed to students and remembering your why if you decide to go into education,” said Amanda Fuller, an elementary school principal. “Every kid in your classroom is somebody's world, just like your parents have felt about you through your education. And so, coming in every day, knowing that the job can be hard at times, but it's also extremely rewarding.”
Offering a real picture of being a teacher in the modern workforce was also a priority.
“Being a teacher is hard work,” Fuller said. “And I think a lot of times people talk about, ‘Oh, you have summers off, and you get the holidays.’ Those things are true, and those are perks that are really nice, but it is hard. It is hard work, but it is also so rewarding, and you have an opportunity to really invest in the future for the next generation.”
Students who enroll in an associate degree program at Columbia State may also be eligible to participate in tuition-free scholarship programs such as Tennessee Promise or Tennessee Reconnect. The associate degree paths are for students who intend to transfer to a four-year college or university to complete a bachelor's degree.
For more information on the education paths Columbia State offers, visit our website https://www.ColumbiaState.edu/Teaching.
Mt. Pleasant to Upgrade Water Meters (MSM)
At their February monthly meeting, Mount Pleasant’s City Commission took up “new business” to invest $1.2 million in upgrades to its residential water meters. The prospect comes after months of complaints from residents, who theorized online that they were being billed incorrectly or charged for leaks in the city water lines.
USDA agreed to give the city a grant that would leave the city to supply $1 million for the upgrades. City Finance Director Shiphrah Cox expects to borrow that money from United Community Bank, in a loan which will “mature” in seven years but can be paid off free of penalties after three years.
Cox further reported that in the last year, Mt. Pleasant has invested $500,000 in capital improvements to its water system. Few of the current leaks were caused by freezing water, and 2024 leak fixes are saving the city up to 100,000 gallons per day.
“We’re using City of Mount Pleasant water; we’re not taking any more from the north side of town with CPWS water,” Cox noted. “We’ve been sustaining our own system for a year this month.”
The city also introduced a resolution to contract Civil and Environmental Solutions to create a stormwater utility for $57,000. The company, which has already analyzed Mount Pleasant’s watersheds, would begin to plan improvements to stormwater system and possibly build a separate municipal storm-sewer system. Eventually CES will deliver a report with their findings and a fee structure.
“Most every community our size… in this [region] that we’re in already has this,” argued Mayor Bill White. “It’s a real need.”
The Commission deferred voting to approve the agreement to next month.
Podiatrist and Cardiologist Join MRMC (Press Release)
Christopher Dreikorn, DPM, a specialist in podiatry, has joined the medical staff at Maury Regional Medical Center. He is associated with Advanced Foot & Ankle Care Centers in Columbia.
Dr. Dreikorn received his Doctor of Podiatric Medicine degree at Temple University School of Podiatric Medicine in Philadelphia, PA. He completed a podiatric residency at University of Pittsburg Medical Center, Pittsburg, PA. He is board- certified in podiatric medicine.
Advanced Foot & Ankle Care Centers is located at 1503 Hatcher Lane, Suite 100, Columbia, TN 38401. Dr. Dreikorn’s office hours are Tuesday and Thursday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more information or to schedule an appointment, call 931.388.9922.
Maury Regional Medical Center (MRMC) also welcomes Julie Moon, DO, an interventional cardiologist with Ascension Saint Thomas Heart Columbia, to the medical staff.
Dr. Moon received her medical degree from West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine in Lewisburg, WV.
She completed a residency and fellowship in cardiovascular disease at University of Kentucky Medical Center in Lexington, KY. She completed a second fellowship in interventional cardiology at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville, TN. She is board-certified in internal medicine, cardiovascular disease and interventional cardiology.
Ascension Saint Thomas Heart Columbia is located at 1222 Trotwood Avenue, Suite 211, in Columbia, Tennessee. Office hours are Monday–Friday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. To make an appointment, call 931.777.2300.
With the addition of Dr. Moon, the medical staff at Maury Regional Health include 14 heart specialists with expertise in general cardiology, interventional cardiology and electrophysiology. The Heart Center offers a vast array of cardiac services ranging from diagnostic and interventional procedures to pacemakers and defibrillator implants, and recently invested $1.9 million to enhance cardiac services, which included new state-of-the-art technology in its cardiac catheterization labs.
The medical center has been 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. In addition, U.S. News & World Report has recognized the medical center as a high performing hospital for heart attack treatment for 2023-2024.
Summit Student Wins Art Competition (MSM)
Summit High School student Madison Lindsay was recently named the winner of Artsonia’s Artist of the Week contest, a voting competition held on Artsonia.com, the world’s largest collection of student art portfolios exhibiting over 100 million pieces of student art.
Lindsay received over 400 online votes for her winning art, a mixed media piece titled, ‘Trapped in the Dark.’
“My biggest inspiration for my winning artwork was emotion. Many people overlook the harsh feelings they feel for the good and happy ones. Without the sad ones, you can’t really be in touch with yourself,” Lindsay said.
Lindsay said she was honored to be named Artist of the Week.
“I am overjoyed to learn that I won Artist of the Week. I’m proud of myself and happy that others find my work as relatable and emotional because that’s what it was intended to be,” Lindsay said.
Lindsay’s teacher, Corley Calhoun, has been teaching art for more than eight years.
“I have always loved art, and I love when my students have those ‘a-ha’ moments when they create something they never knew they could,” Calhoun said.
Calhoun is one of the thousands of art teachers who use Artsonia to digitally showcase student art, organize and plan art lessons, and fundraise for their classrooms. Artsonia allows family and friends of student artists to view the art online and create custom keepsakes from the student art. Artsonia gives back 20 percent of all revenue to the local art classroom.
“Artsonia is a great way to keep photos of art electronically forever. I have had students over the years contact me and tell me that they still look at their art from high school,” Calhoun said.
Artsonia developed Artist of the Week 20 years ago to encourage teachers to submit student artwork and engage the school and community to vote on and recognize students for their creative accomplishments. Every week, Artsonia selects 12 random submissions in each of four different age groups (PreK-3, 4-6, 7-9, 10-12) from artwork submitted the previous week. Voting is open to the public for several days before the winner is announced.
When asked what it means to have a student recognized for their artistic achievement, Calhoun said, “It is one of the most rewarding achievements because it’s not just me that is recognizing them, it’s others out in the world.”
Blick Art Materials generously donates a $100 gift certificate to the winning school and an individual $50 gift certificate to the student artist.
“Artsonia’s mission is to bring communities together to recognize children’s creative expression,” said Jim Meyers, CEO, and co-founder of the company. “Artist of the Week serves as a way to encourage local schools, families, and friends to get involved in the process of creating and celebrating student art.”
For more information, visit artsonia.com.
Columbia 101 (Press Release)
The City of Columbia is excited to announce the return of Columbia 101, an interactive program designed to connect residents with local government and community services. Following a successful inaugural session in the Fall of 2024, Columbia 101 is now accepting applications for its second installment taking place on Tuesday, April 22, 2025 and Wednesday, April 23, 2025.
Columbia 101 is constructed to educate and engage participants in the workings of local government by offering a behind-the-scenes look at city operations. Over two consecutive days, participants will start each morning at City Hall before engaging with all 12 city departments and touring select municipal facilities, such as the Police and Public Works Departments.
“Columbia 101 is about fostering an informed and engaged community,” said Mayor Chaz Molder. “We want to provide residents with a deeper understanding of how their city operates and the many ways they can contribute to its success.
The enthusiasm and participation we saw in the first session were inspiring, and I look forward to seeing even more citizens take part in this unique experience.”
A Fall 2024 participant shared their experience, saying, “Columbia 101 allowed for an in-depth look into what keeps Columbia thriving. Seeing the faces, meeting the people, and visiting the facilities behind those processes helped me see how I can be a better citizen and how important it is to work together as a member of the Columbia team.”
Applications for Columbia 101 are available now and will close on Friday, March 14th at 4:00 PM. The program is open to all City of Columbia and Maury County residents and is held twice per year. There is a $25 program fee for all accepted applicants, which covers program costs, including food and transportation.
City Manager Tony Massey emphasized the program’s importance, stating, “Providing opportunities for residents to engage with their local government is a priority for the City of Columbia. Columbia 101 is an excellent way for citizens to gain firsthand knowledge about city services and become more involved in their community.”
Lexi Dearborn, Program Director, added, “We are eager to bring Columbia 101 back for another session and build on the excitement from the Fall. This program is a fantastic way for residents to connect, learn, and take an active role in shaping Columbia’s future.”
Columbia 101 applications are available at www.ColumbiaTN.gov or at the reception desk on the 3rd floor of City Hall.
Follow the City of Columbia on Facebook and Instagram at “CityofColumbiaTN” for updates. For questions, please contact Lexi Dearborn at LDearborn@ColumbiaTN.gov.
Farm City Breakfast (Press Release)
The Maury Alliance Agribusiness Committee invites you to the annual Farm City Breakfast honoring the agriculture and agribusiness industry of Maury County.
This year's Farm City Breakfast will be held on Friday, March 28th, at the Ridley 4-H Center. The breakfast line opens at 6:45 am with the program beginning at 7:00 am and concluding by 8:30 am.
The Keynote Speaker is Mr. Andy Holt, Deputy Commissioner, TN Department of Agriculture. This year’s honoree is the Fox Farm of Santa Fe as a Century Farm.
There is no charge to attend the breakfast, however we will be collecting donations during the event for our 2025 Farm City Scholarship Memorial Fund. This year scholarships will be given in memory of Sam Whiteside.
Scholarships are currently available for Maury County Seniors pursuing degrees in an Agriculture related field of study. The deadline to apply is March 14th. Please share this application with anyone you know who may qualify!
Learn more by visiting www.mauryalliance.com/
And now, Your Hometown Memorials, Sponsored by Oakes & Nichols Funeral Home…
James Marshall “Jamie” Cheek, 59, died Thursday, February 27, 2025 at his residence in Columbia.
A Celebration of Life service will be held Thursday, March 6, 2025 at 6:00 PM at Oakes & Nichols Funeral Home. The family will visit with friends from 4:00 PM to 6:00 PM at Oakes & Nichols Funeral Home. Online condolences may be extended at www.oakesandnichols.com.
Mr. James Wayne Malugin, 76, retired employee of L & N Railroad and lifelong resident of Columbia, died Thursday, February 20 at his residence. A memorial service will be held on Saturday, March 8th, 2025 at 2:00 PM at Oakes & Nichols Funeral Home, with military honors provided by the Herbert Griffin American Legion Post 19. The Family will visit with friends Saturday, March 8th, 2025 from 12:00 PM until the service time at the funeral home.
Duane Thomas “Turkey” Jones, 78, of Lynnville, Tennessee passed away at his home on February 27th, 2025.
A celebration of Duane’s life will be at 11:00 a.m. Thursday, March 13, 2025 at St. Peter’s Episcopal Church. The family will receive friends in the Parish Hall from 9:30 a.m. until the time of the service. St. Peter’s is located at 311 W 7th St, Columbia, TN.
Interment will take place in Shreveport, Louisiana at a later date.
Chance Harding Luna, 33, died unexpectedly Saturday, March 1, 2025 at his residence in Columbia.
Funeral services will be conducted Saturday, March 8, 2025 at 11:00 AM at Oakes & Nichols Funeral Home. Burial will follow in Lynnwood Cemetery in Lynnville. The family will visit with friends Friday from 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM at Oakes & Nichols Funeral Home. Online condolences may be extended at www.oakesandnichols.com.
And now, news from around the state…
Device Ban in Classrooms Passes House (Tennessean)
A bill requiring Tennessee school districts to ban use of cell phones, laptops, smart watches and other devices during instructional time passed the state House of Representatives with bipartisan support on Monday.
House Bill 932 passed the House in a vote of 80 to 10 on Monday afternoon, and now needs one final Senate vote – expected Thursday – before it heads to Gov. Bill Lee’s desk. Tennessee is one of several states considering similar statewide policies this year.
“With everything that we have learned about the harm that cell phones are doing, the amount of time it takes for a student to refocus after they have had a message show up on their cell phone, all the information that we have have been given in the past year has led us to the assumption that every school district should want to do this type of policy if they want what's best for their students,” said Rep. Rebecca Alexander, R-Jonesborough.
As written, the bill would require each school district to develop and implement policies restricting the use of any wireless communication devices — including cellphones, tablets, smart watches, laptop computers and gaming devices — during instructional time. Exceptions would be made for students who need to use devices for educational purposes, students with disabilities and medical needs, such as diabetic students who need to check their insulin level, and students with special learning needs.
Policy specifics would be up to local school boards’ discretion, and would be submitted to the State Board of Education. Districts could adopt policies requiring students to stop device use at the beginning of the school day – bell to bell – or adopt restrictions on their use during classroom time only.
The bill requires districts to allow students to access and use devices in emergency situations.
If signed into law, the measure would take effect on July 1, and apply statewide beginning in the 2025-26 school year.
Final Story of the Day (Maury County Source)
Uncle Dave Macon Days is “coming home.”
Roots Rendezvous presented by Uncle Dave Macon Days will return to Murfreesboro entertainment venue Hop Springs with “A Coming Home” theme on Sept. 19-21, the music organization announced Feb. 25.
Nashville-based bluegrass cover band The Cleverlys are scheduled to headline the main stage on Saturday night.
Other announced music artists are the Stones River Bluegrass Band, Jake Leg Stompers and Dew Drop Jamboree. The complete entertainment lineup and schedule has not yet been announced.
Information: www.rootsrendezvous.com.