Southern Middle TN Today News with Tom Price 4-2-25

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Southern Middle Tennessee Today

News Copy for April 2, 2025

All news stories are aggregated from various sources and modified for time and content. Original sources are cited.

We start with local news…

Tornadoes Confirmed in Maury County (CDH)

The National Weather Service confirmed two tornadoes touched down Sunday in Maury County, an EF-2 in the Hampshire area and an EF-1 in Mt. Pleasant.

A home located off Rippey Lake Road was destroyed in Hampshire, while many trees were downed and other structures in the area were damaged.

Maury County emergency responders continue to assess roads and areas affected by Sunday's storms, which also resulted in multiple fallen power lines and power outages earlier this week.

The EF-1 that hit Columbia and Sunnyside traveled 4.10 miles, was 300 yards wide and reached wind speeds of 100 mph.

The Maury County Office of Emergency Management issued a press release Monday following the storms, which Director Jeff Hardy described as "leaving a trail of destruction in its wake."

"These storms brought intense winds, heavy rainfall and possible tornado activity," Hardy states in the press release. "They caused significant damage to the county that we all call home."

The National Weather Service Nashville reported four tornadoes total touched down Sunday in Middle Tennessee.

An EF-0 was reported near the Hickman and Williamson County line and the four touched down was an EF-1 in McEwen in Humphreys County.

The Hampshire tornado reached 120 mph winds, was 400 yards wide and spun for 5.10 miles.

Storm surveyors said the EF-1 tornado in McEwen reached max wind speeds of 95 mph, was 150 yards long and traveled 1.7 miles.

The EF-0 tornado in Fairview reached winds speeds of 85 mph, was 150 yards wide and traveled 2.20 miles.

Areas of Trotwood Avenue from Old Sunnyside Lane to Rutherford Lane were also reported to be so severe that the road remained closed until about 2:30 p.m. Monday, Maury County OEM stated.

The Tennessee Department of Transportation also reported two state routes closed due to storm damage. State Route 243 in Maury County was closed due to flooding. In Cheatham County, State Route 250 was closed for a downed tree and power lines.

"The National Weather Service will be in the area to assist in damage assessments," Hardy stated in Monday's release. "We do ask that people remain vigilant while driving. There will be branches, trees, power lines and other forms of debris on the road. Residents are advised to stay tuned to local news outlets and official emergency management channels for the latest developments."

Last spring, on May 8 a tornado ripped through northeast Columbia in the Bear Creek area destroying multiple rural homes and resulted in one death.

Farm City Breakfast (CDH)

The 31st annual Farm City Breakfast honored the age-old tradition of farming and its agricultural impacts shared by generations of Tennessee families.

Friday's event was hosted by the Maury County Chamber & Economic Alliance in partnership with the Farm Bureau and the Maury County Agribusiness Committee.

As a yearly tradition held at the Ridley 4-H Center off Lion Parkway, the Farm City Breakfast is a time for farmers, local leaders and key agriculture industry players to come together and celebrate what has remained Tennessee's top industry, as well as its historic past and outlook for the future.

"Today we are here to celebrate, recognize and remember the huge part agriculture plays in our community, and still to this day," said Ag Committee Chair Jonathan Hickerson, an 11th generation Maury County farmer. "It is more important now than ever that we uphold our values, our morals, traditions and love of community that we have always shown."

Maury County's farming community consists of 1,442 total farms, with approximately 209,805 acres of farmland, with an estimated economic impact of $475.9 million and generating 2,734 jobs.

The Farm City Breakfast also issues scholarships each year in memory of a late farmer, this year honoring the family of Sam Whiteside.

"He was agriculture all the way, wanted everybody to work hard, play hard and just get at it," Whiteside's son, Paul Whiteside said. "He would truly be honored, would be very proud of this."

Each year, the Farm City Breakfast honors a local century farm, or a farm which has operated for more than 100 years by a certain family and its descendants.

This year's honoree was the Fox Family Farm of Santa Fe, first established in 1922 off Leiper's Creek Road in the Bethel community, originally consisting of an 86-acre plot purchased by Tina Mae Thompson Potts.

When the Great Depression struck in 1929, the Fox Family Farm expanded an additional 13 acres and operated without electricity nor indoor plumbing. Relying heavily on horses to conduct farming, the Fox Family Farm primarily produced corn, hay, beef cattle, milk cows, hogs, sheep and chickens.

Tobacco was added to the farm's production in 1936 and remained until 1993, though the original tobacco sticks and presses still reside on the farm. The farm was also used as a filming location for Dolly Parton's 1999 made-for-TV movie, "The Blue Valley Songbird."

The farm now includes third, fourth, fifth and sixth-generation families and spans 147 connected acres, with an additional 30 acres down the road. Approximately 99 acres of the original property remain.

Sen. Joey Hensley, R-Hohenwald and Rep. Kip Capley, R-Summertown, later presented the Fox family a proclamation honoring their century farm.

"We want to thank the Fox family for what they do, and all of the farmers who are here," Hensley said. "This is a great event."

Farm City Breakfast's keynote speaker was Tennessee Department of Agriculture Deputy Commissioner Andy Holt.

Holt spoke about his own history in agriculture, which despite his appearance and job title, he did not grow up on a generational farm. Rather, his childhood curiosity about farming and agriculture stemmed from a school instructor, who encouraged him to sharpen his reading skills.

And the books that grabbed his interest were always about agriculture.

"I just kept gravitating toward these books about agriculture, and this was a kid who had never stepped foot on a farm before," Holt said. "I found myself being drawn to the equipment they talked about, the animals they talked about, the tasks they talked about. As a young kid, that was a gravitational pull to me."

Holt emphasized that farming today continues to be a viable industry, though that doesn't mean there isn't room for improvement. Part of the improvement, he said, comes from communication among farmers, ag industry workers, leaders and the public.

"We really need to get our story straight, and between these groups, we need to make sure we are in concert with one another. The story of agriculture is one that, historically, is transitioning," Holt said.

"Things look different around here than maybe they did 10 years ago, 20 years ago, and that's happening all across the state. That kind of change, from an agricultural standpoint, can cause a lot of emotion, cause a lot of competition, thinking they are trying to change our lifestyle."

He also said he believes Tennessee is positioned for growth in the industry and more room for young people to consider an agricultural career.

"Tennessee is an ideal place for industrial growth and for all of these other things to take place, and what I have to remind myself of is ... who can blame anybody for wanting to live in Tennessee?" Holt said. "We need to acknowledge the positive attributes that all of these groups bring to the equation."

The future of agriculture will also come down to planting the proverbial bug in the hearts of young people, who much like himself might gain interest in farming from an educator who encouraged him.

"The average age of a Tennessee farmer right now is 58.9 years old, which is not old, but it's also no spring chicken either," Holt said.

"We need to be encouraging to students to come into agriculture and forestry as a career option. What that number signals to me is there is opportunity for young people right now."

Spring Hill Airport Plan Seeks Extension (CDH)

The Spring Hill Commerce Center property, which is proposing changes to its plans to allow for an airport district west of Interstate 65, could receive a long-awaited update following months of deferrals.

The 706.46-acre property was brought before the Spring Hill Planning Commission on Monday, with applicant Richmond Co., which is seeking a one-year extension to the project's preliminary development plan (PDP).

According to a Spring Hill planning staff report, the request for extension is due to delays in federal funding, unavailability of a potable water service and the need for an updated traffic impact study.

"This has been a very significant and complex project," said Thomas White, an attorney with Tune, Entriken & White of Nashville, representing the applicant. "We have had tremendous input from the staff for the time they have given in keeping this project on track and moving forward. There would be no downside in moving this forward at this time."

In December 2022, the Planning Commission initially submitted its favorable opinion of the property, formerly known as South Nashville Commerce Center, to the Board of Mayor and Aldermen. The Preliminary Development Plan was adopted in January the following year.

The project was reintroduced in November 2024, seeking modifications to the approved Preliminary Development Plan, one of which would include allowing use of an airport district.

Other proposed changes would include the use of electric vehicle charging stations, removing private EV stations from on-site accessory use, adding a table listing native/drought tolerant plant species and updating the district boundary.

These changes have yet to be approved by the BOMA and have been deferred repeatedly over the past few months at the applicant's request.

Alderman Matt Fitterer said that the BOMA is working diligently with city staff to amend the project's development agreement, and that other changes to the initial plan, all on behalf of the applicant, should be considered.

"Close to 3,000 entitled homes were removed," Fitterer said. "I am very in support of extending their clock since they showed us a good faith effort in doing something positive for the city with removing the home entitlement at the onset of this process."

Alderman Trent Linville added that while the project has experienced many unexpected challenges, such as securing a proper utility service, the request is absolutely reasonable.

"With something this complex, it warrants that extension," Linville said.

Since Monday's meeting was a work session, no votes were cast. However, the Planning Commission agreed that the item will appear on the board's April 14 regular meeting as part of the consent agenda, or items grouped together and deemed noncontroversial.

New Docs at MRMC (Press Release)

Dr. Maggie Jackson, DO, a specialist in emergency medicine, has joined the medical staff of Maury Regional Medical Center (MRMC). She is affiliated with Middle Tennessee Emergency Physicians.

 Dr. Jackson received her medical degree from the University of Pikeville, Kentucky College of Osteopathic Medicine in Pikeville, KY. She completed a residency at Texas A&M School of Medicine, Christus Health in Corpus Christi, TX. Dr. Jackson is board certified in emergency medicine.

 Middle Tennessee Emergency Physicians (MTEP) is a local, independent group that provides physicians and advanced practice providers to health systems. Currently, MTEP serves seven other hospitals in Middle Tennessee in addition to MRMC and Marshall Medical Center (MMC) in Lewisburg.

Hayden Fobare, MPAS, PA-C, is a certified physician assistant who has joined the hospital medicine program at Maury Regional Medical Center. She is affiliated with the Maury Regional Medical Group.

 Fobare received her bachelor’s degree in biology at East Tennessee State University in Johnson City, TN. She obtained her master’s in physician assistant studies from Lipscomb University in Nashville, TN.

 Maury Regional Medical Group, an affiliate of Maury Regional Health, provides Maury Regional’s hospital medicine program professionals. These providers are specialists who devote their time and expertise to adult and pediatric patients exclusively within the hospital setting.

Columbia Clean-Up (Press Release)

The City of Columbia is pleased to announce the launch of its Clean Up Columbia campaign in recognition of Litter Awareness Month this April. This initiative highlights the critical importance of community collaboration, education, and proactive efforts to create a cleaner, more sustainable environment for all residents.

“We are thrilled to bring the community together to participate in Litter Awareness Month,” said Mayor Chaz Molder. “The Clean Up Columbia campaign reflects the importance of teamwork and education in fostering a cleaner Columbia. We encourage everyone to join us in these efforts to reduce litter and help protect our local environment.”

As part of the campaign, the City is partnering with local litter mitigation organizations, Keep Maury Beautiful and the Triple C’s (Columbia Community Clean-Up Team), to host two community clean-up events in Columbia:

East Columbia Clean-Up

Date: April 12, 2025

Time: 8:00 AM - 10:00 AM

Meet-Up Location: County parking lot - corner of E 7th St. and Woodland St.

Columbia Arts District Clean-Up

Date: April 26, 2025

Time: 8:00 AM - 10:00 AM

Meet-Up Location: Maury County Public Library - 211 W 8th St.

All necessary litter clean-up supplies will be provided at both events. In addition to these efforts, the City will host two Litter Awareness Education events for young children at the Maury County Public Library. These events will take place on April 15th and April 26th from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM. During the events, city officials will read Catch That Litter Bug, a children’s book by local author Michael Fulbright, to teach kids about the importance of managing litter in their community.

The City’s Public Works Department will also conduct recycling truck demonstrations and discuss waste management practices in Columbia. Keep Maury Beautiful and the Triple C’s will lead interactive, hands-on activities that help families and children understand their role in maintaining a clean environment.

By uniting as a community, the Clean Up Columbia campaign presents a powerful opportunity to create a lasting impact on the environment. Through active participation in clean-up events and educational programs, residents can foster a greater sense of responsibility for their shared spaces and contribute to a cleaner, more sustainable future for the city.

For more details about these events and to find out how you can get involved, visit ColumbiaTN.gov.

Columbia State Student Named Scholar (Press Release)

Columbia State Community College student and Phi Theta Kappa member Bretta Kent has recently been named a 2025 New Century Workforce Pathway scholar.

Kent, a Marshall County resident pursuing her Associate of Applied Science degree in nursing, will receive a $1,500 scholarship.

She is the sole student from Tennessee to be named a New Century Workforce Pathway scholar after receiving the highest scores in the state based on academic and extracurricular accomplishments.

“Bretta’s leadership skills became evident at the Lewisburg Campus as she rallied students to join and participate in campus activities and establish study groups,” said Dr. Michelle Koenig, Columbia State dean of access, retention and regional services. “I was moved by her effortless ability to connect with faculty, staff and her peers.”

Kent will be recognized at an event during the Association of Community College Trustees’ Leadership Congress in October in New Orleans, Louisiana.

“I was honestly really surprised that I had the honor of receiving this scholarship,” Kent said. “I couldn’t have gotten as far as I have in my college career without the steadfast encouragement I’ve received from the staff at Columbia State and my fellow students. It makes it special being a first-generation and a non-traditional student. College is hard work, but the people you meet and the skills you learn are priceless.”

Columbia State’s chapter of PTK, Beta Kappa Theta, was chartered in 2000 and has since achieved Five Star status many times. Membership into Phi Theta Kappa is limited to roughly the top 10% of students based on academic achievements.

And now, Your Hometown Memorials, Sponsored by Oakes & Nichols Funeral Home…

Garry Lewis Farris, 71, resident of Nashville, died Saturday, March 29, 2025 at TriStar Skyline Medical Center.

Funeral services will be conducted Saturday, April 12, 2025 at 2:00 PM at Oakes & Nichols Funeral Home. Entombment will follow at Polk Memorial Gardens. The family will visit with friends Saturday, April 12, 2025 from 12:00 PM till 2:00 PM at Oakes & Nichols Funeral Home.

And now, news from around the state…

TVA Hires New CEO (KnoxNews)

The Tennessee Valley Authority Board of Directors selected Chief Operating Officer Don Moul (pronounced MALL) as its next CEO.

Moul joined TVA in 2021 after nearly four decades in the utility industry, including two stints as a chief nuclear officer and senior nuclear reactor operator. He will become TVA's fourth CEO on April 9 in what he described as a "seamless" transition in an interview with Knox News.

The announcement came after Sens. Marsha Blackburn and Bill Hagerty of Tennessee asserted the board was conducting an "inside job" to find the next CEO. The senators called for an interim CEO to ensure TVA's proposed small modular reactors would come online fast enough for President Donald Trump to be christened "America's Nuclear President."

The TVA board selects new CEOs, not the president or the U.S. Senate. Trump fired a board member on March 27, after the board offered Moul the job, though Moul said he believes the termination and his hiring are "not directly tied whatsoever."

Trump has not said publicly why his administration fired board member Michelle Moore of Virginia, and the White House has not responded to a request for comment.

Jeff Lyash, who came to TVA as its chief executive in 2019, announced in January he would retire this year once the board selected a successor.

“TVA needs a steady hand right now,” Moul told Knox News. “We're in a period of growth like we've not seen before, making one of the largest capital investments in our history, and we also have to make sure we have reliable, resilient power for the next generation of American jobs."

The CEO position is emblematic of TVA's status as a quasi-public corporation. It is the highest paid federal job at $10.5 million in total compensation last year, but the salary is paid by ratepayers rather than taxpayers, and is lower than CEO compensation at similarly sized private utilities.

Severe Weather Possibility (Tennessean)

The National Weather Service has issued a flood watch for portions of Middle Tennessee ahead of a week-long period of storms. The watch is in effect from 7 p.m. Wednesday through 7 a.m. Sunday.

Counties in the watch include: Cheatham, Clay, Davidson, Dickson, Hickman, Houston, Humphreys, Jackson, Lewis, Macon, Maury, Montgomery, Perry, Pickett, Robertson, Rutherford, Smith, Stewart, Sumner, Trousdale, Wayne, Williamson and Wilson.

Heading into Wednesday, the region will move into a "very unsettled and uncertain weather pattern," said the weather service, periods of heavy rain will bring a flooding threat to the area, particularly in the northwest where some locations could receive over five inches of rainfall.

According to the weather service, the best chances for severe weather are Wednesday and Thursday; damaging winds, large hail and tornadoes are all possible.

A cold front will move south towards Middle Tennessee Wednesday evening into Wednesday night, said the weather service. However, it is currently uncertain how quickly the front will reach the region and how far east it will progress.

Final Story of the Day (Maury County Source)

According to Forbes 2025 annual Billionaire's List, Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk now reigns king of the richest people on earth, towering over the second wealthiest person on the planet by $126 billion.

With a net worth of $342 billion, the South African-born Canadian-American business magnate has ownership stakes in social media platform X, and has also served key roles with PayPal and Neuralink.

Placing second on the list: Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg ($216 billion) followed immediately by Amazon founder Jeff Bezos ($215 billion).

The list, according to Forbes, consists of 3,028 billionaires worth a combined $16.1 trillion. According to Forbes, America has the most billionaires, followed by China and India.