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

WKOM/WKRM Radio

Southern Middle Tennessee Today

News Copy for April 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…

Farmers Clean Up After Tornado (CDH)

It might have all happened in just a few seconds, but the storms which swept through Maury County on Sunday has left lasting damages to a few local Maury County farmers.

When the alarms sounded off and Maury County was placed under a tornado warning, Joe and Danise Grice were in their home on Rippey Lake Road, which sits on their sprawling horse farm completed in 2021.

Despite a harrowing experience, coming face-to-face with the tornado's destruction upon their home, the couple was not seriously injured.

"I went to sleep and did not hear the siren," Danise Grice said. "I woke up when the tornado hit the house, picked up my bed and tossed me and the bed into the wall. That woke me up, but then I noticed my husband and our dogs were not in the room, and I was afraid they had been sucked outside."

As it turned out, Joe had taken the dogs into another room to watch weather updates on the television with only seconds to react once the alarm sounded.

"He threw the dogs into the bathroom, and they were all fine," Danise Grice said. "He said it was like a freight train had hit. The chimney had fallen off of the fireplace through the family room floor and into the crawlspace, and so when he went into that room it was dark, and he fell through the crawlspace.

"He has a few scratches, but that's about it."

Once the Grices were able to seek shelter, it wasn't long before emergency responders arrived to assist.

"The sheriff's department got here so quick because they had gone to check on the Mule Day Wagon Train," Danise Grice said. "They were just up the road camping and got here so fast without us even calling them."

The cleanup has also been easier with the help of neighbors, friends and anyone lending a hand to rebuild.

"We have the best neighbors, and everybody has been pitching in," Danise Grice said. "We are hoping to rebuild everything exactly the same. We have gotten so much done already and we couldn't be more thankful for this community."

While the Grice's received significant damage to their home, other neighboring farmers in Hampshire have also spent the following days cleaning up the aftermath.

Larry Church of nearby Church Family Farm and Beef Barn said although his family's home was spared, it wasn't without its own set of losses.

"It got about 2,500 feet of fence, and we've been cleaning up all day long," Church said. "It's going to be a long process. I'll be 74 in July, and I've never seen anything like this. It's like the Alabama border flew up into Tennessee."

The experience, Church added, has also been one of gratitude, humility and an example of neighbor helping neighbor. It also could have been much worse, he said.

"The good Lord has just blessed us beyond measure, and luckily we didn't suffer any structural damage other than the tree line," Church said. "We had one cow, which we don't know if the tornado picked it up and dropped her over in that field, but it was absolutely terrified when we got her back in. She is okay as far as I know."

Church's daughter, April, said one of the biggest takeaways has been the positive attitude they and the Grices have maintained throughout the ordeal.

"My husband helped build their house, and it's been pretty wild, their experience," she said. "They have great attitudes and have been so optimistic. It's just so amazing."

Mule Train Arrives (CDH)

After another round of storms swept through Maury County on Wednesday evening, emergency workers continue assessing damages and if attendees will endure a soggier-than-usual Mule Day this year.

In Maury County, several church shelters opened for those seeking refuge from the storm Wednesday, which brought high winds, heavy rain and a tornado warning.

The storm follows two tornadoes that touched down in Maury County just days before on March 31, destroying a home in Mt. Pleasant in Maury County.

As of Thursday evening, Mule Day events have not been affected by this week’s storms, Mule Day PR Director Louise Mills said.

"Everything is coming off normal, and we are prepared to open the park today at 10 a.m.," Mills said on Thursday morning. "Everything is good here, and we don't have any wet ground. It didn't rain much here at all. We heard the wind a little bit, but it was all good."

The annual Mule Day Wagon Train also reached Maury County Park without a hitch after a few days of travel by mule-drawn wagons throughout counties in Southern Middle Tennessee.

“The mule train had a fabulous week traveling and arrived at the park about 4 p.m. Wednesday,” Mills said. "I think they had three very nice days on their wagon train."

Columbia Mayor Chaz Molder posted to social media on Wednesday stating that safety during Mule Day is the city's number one priority.

"Mule Day emergency preparedness and oversight is one of the most sophisticated operations we handle," Molder stated. "The latest predictions show a 'break' in the bad weather for Friday thru Sunday afternoon. As far as events, most events will be inside the park and OEM and the Maury County Sheriff’s Department have EOC set up at the [Ridley] 4-H center to monitor events. CPD will assist with any requests for help."

Southern Baking Company (WKOM Audio 1:23)

Yesterday, a ribbon cutting was held for Southern Baking Company, a new bakery in Spring Hill. Front Porch Radio’s Delk Kennedy stopped by the opening to sample the homemade treats the have to offer…

Street Paving Plan (MSM)

In a recent public statement, the City of Columbia announced that it would begin work on the largest street-paving initiative in its municipal history. Last month, the City Council allocated $4 million to improve 19.6 miles of streets across Columbia, in the hope of creating smoother, safer and more efficient roadways for residents and visitors alike.

“This paving plan is a major step forward for the City of Columbia,” Mayor Chaz Molder said. “I’m especially proud of the technology we’ve introduced, which has streamlined the entire process. The computerized system that grades the streets ensures transparency and fairness, allowing us to make data-driven decisions that truly prioritize the most critical areas.”

The city had a comprehensive street assessment conducted in 2020 using RoadBotics, an advanced technology that uses machine learning and high-resolution cameras to evaluate pavement conditions. The most distressed streets that the machine identified were personally inspected by city officials, who compiled the final list to give the project as much long-term usefulness as possible.

“This investment reflects our ongoing commitment to improving the city’s infrastructure and ensuring that our streets are in optimal condition,” City Manager Tony Massey said.

Massey also highlighted the thorough and strategic nature of the plan, which will be carried out in phases. The city will provide regular updates to residents about road closures, detours and construction timelines, in order to minimize disruptions and ensure that the project is completed in a timely and effective manner. This largest paving plan in Columbia’s history represents a critical investment in the city’s infrastructure and is intended to contribute to a more efficient transportation network for the entire community.

A list of selected streets and the project map are available online at columbiatn.gov/DocumentCenter/

Maury Regional Airport Breaks Ground (CDH)

The Maury County Regional Airport has begun work to transform its longstanding terminal into an upgraded destination for flights and state-of-the-art technology.

A ceremonial groundbreaking took place earlier this month to mark the terminal project's beginning, which was attended by many Maury County leaders, workers and builders.

"It's going to be two stories, all the fixings," said airport manager Paul Turner, who has been overseeing daily airport operations for the last 17 years. "We were once the oldest terminal in the state, and now we are going to be the newest, one of the biggest and one of the nicest."

The new terminal will feature an observation deck, a new speaker system and other technological upgrades.

"There's going to be a TV out there so people can visualize on Flight Aware and see when the plane's going to come here," Turner said.

The Maury County airport is also heavily utilized in the freight and manufacturing industry, as well as a site for flight training.

Maury Regional airport is recognized as one of the busiest airports of its size in Tennessee, with one of the longest runways in the state and selling approximately 20,000 gallons of fuel per month.

It rakes in millions in revenue for the county.

The airport's economic impact on Maury County is estimated at $13.9 million annually, with visitor spending accounting for $3.4 million.

"This is one of our best assets here in Maury County," Maury County Mayor Sheila Butt said.

Mt. Pleasant Mayor Bill White added that in 2023, the airport generated approximately $23.2 million, which he credits much of its success to Turner's dedication as director.

"In 2023, Paul was recognized as the airport general manager of the state of Tennessee, and that is a big honor," White said. "It was well deserved."

In addition to the new terminal, the airport has also purchased nine acres of additional land to be developed as additional hanger space.

Officially founded in 1961, The Maury County Airport was a project in partnership between the city of Columbia and Maury County, with each contributing $27,000, with Mt. Pleasant donating the land known as the Wheeler Farm.

The airport's runway, completed in 1974, remained unchanged until 2023 when an $8 million project funded its resurfacing, as well as installing LED lighting to the 6,000-foot stretch of concrete.

Columbia Mayor Chaz Molder concluded that the airport is highly regarded not just for its success in aviation, but is the result of city and county leadership working together.

"When I think about partnerships and the need for our community to partner together, to get along and find ways to solve problems instead of just talking about the problems, this building is one of the biggest testaments as to what can be done when we work together," Molder said.

"Because we all do better when we are all doing better, and this building's next chapter should be a reminder to us that when Columbia, Maury County, Mt. Pleasant and Spring Hill work together, we can all move forward as a community together. This is a historic day."

New Doc at MRMC (Press Release)

Nicholas Spinuzza, MD, a board-certified physical medicine and rehabilitation physician, has joined the staff at Maury Regional Medical Center. He is affiliated with Tennessee Orthopaedic Alliance (TOA) in Columbia.

 Dr. Spinuzza received his medical degree from George Washington University in Washington, D.C. He completed a residency as well as an internship at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland. Dr. Spinuzza is board certified in physical medicine and rehabilitation.

 Dr. Spinuzza’s office is located within TOA Columbia, at 1050 North James Campbell Blvd., Suite 200. The office hours are Monday-Friday from 8 AM to 5 PM.

Road Closure (Press Release)

The Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) will close a portion of Carters Creek Pike (SR 246).

Starting Thursday, April 3, at 8:30 a.m., crews with Eubank will fully close SR 246 from mile marker 0 to Les Robinson Road (SR 247) until 2:30 p.m. This closure will occur daily through Wednesday, April 9, and a detour will be in place, routing traffic to Dr. Robinson Road and Beechcroft Road. Additionally, intermittent lane closures will occur daily on SR 246 from mile marker 0 to mile marker 9.67. These closures are necessary for milling and paving operations.

As always, drivers are reminded to slow down, allow for extra time for travel, and move over when traveling through a work zone. The Move Over Law was passed in 2006. The penalty for violating the law in Tennessee can be up to 30 days in jail and a maximum fine of up to $500.

Find Maury the Mule (Press Release)

Maury the Mule is lost in Maury County and we need your help to find him!

Maury Alliance’s annual “Where’s Maury the Mule?” shop local passport adventure kicks off on Tuesday, March 26th. The rules are simple: pick up a passport, find Maury the Mule hidden in as many businesses as possible, and turn in your completed passport at the Maury Alliance office by 4:00 pm on Tuesday, April 9th. Share your adventure on social media using #maurythemule so everyone can follow along!

This year’s event is proudly presented by Roto-Rooter, a trusted name in plumbing and drain services. Their support has made it possible for Maury Alliance to offer their biggest prize yet—the Golden Mule Jackpot of $1,000!

Here are your ways to win:

Find Maury the Mule in at least 5 businesses for a chance to win!

Visit 20 businesses to be entered into the grand prize drawing!

Visit 25 businesses for a double entry into the grand prize drawing!

Visit 30 businesses for a triple entry into the grand prize drawing!

Visit 40 businesses for a triple entry into the grand prize drawing PLUS the Golden Mule Jackpot!

One lucky winner will receive the $1,000 Golden Mule Jackpot -

sponsored by Roto-Rooter!



Grand Prize winners (2) will receive gift cards from participating businesses!



Additional winners will receive Local First Gift Cards!

Share your search for Maury the Mule on social media using #maurythemule and tag @mauryalliance.

Good luck and happy searching!

CSCC Performance Series (Press Release)

Columbia State Community College welcomes Big Bad Voodoo Daddy to the Cherry Theater on April 10 as part of the Performance Series sponsored by First Farmers and Merchants Bank.

Together for more than 30 years, Big Bad Voodoo Daddy — famously named after an autograph by blues legend Albert Collins — has appeared in concert venues across the world, sold millions of records and had their music appear in hundreds of movies and television shows. With sold-out concerts from the Hollywood Bowl to Lincoln Center, appearances with many of the country's finest symphony orchestras, and television appearances ranging from Dancing with the Stars to Superbowl XXXIII, Big Bad Voodoo Daddy continues its decades-long mission to celebrate and revitalize jazz and swing music — America's original musical art form — and bring joy to audiences around the world.

“Whether you’re a longtime fan or new to the swing genre, experiencing Big Bad Voodoo Daddy live is like stepping into a roaring jazz club where every note brims with excitement and soul!” said Tammy Rosson, Columbia State director of events and alumni relations. “Enjoy world-class swing music in a beautiful theater with free parking and affordable tickets — all without the drive to Nashville.”

This is the last performance in the 2024-2025 First Farmers Performance Series.

Tickets for each performance are priced at $35 and include all fees. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit ColumbiaState.edu/PerformanceSeries.

Individuals may also contact the Performance Series ticket line at 931.540.2879, Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

On performance nights, the box office opens at 6 p.m. in the Kenneth and Ramona Cherry Theater, located in the Waymon L. Hickman Building on the Columbia Campus. Doors open at 6:30 p.m., and all shows begin at 7 p.m. The Columbia Campus is located at 1665 Hampshire Pike in Columbia.

For more information, visit www.ColumbiaState.edu/PerformanceSeries.  

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

Bernard Hatcher Brown, 71, a resident of Waynesboro died Monday, March 31, 2025 at his residence.

Graveside services will be conducted Tuesday, April 8, 2025 at 2:00 PM at Jones Cemetery. Online condolences may be extended at www.oakesandnichols.com.

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…

Trump Fires TVA Board Chair (Tennessean)

The Trump administration fired the chair of the Tennessee Valley Authority Board of Directors, stripping the governing body of the nation's largest public power provider of its ability to conduct business with only four members left.

Joe Ritch, a Huntsville, Alabama, lawyer and community leader who had previously served as chair of the TVA board, was terminated at the direction of the president via an email from the White House Office of Presidential Personnel on April 1, the federal utility confirmed to Knox News on April 1.

TVA is a federally owned and self-funded utility created by Congress during the Great Depression. It produces electricity for 10 million people across seven Southeast states today and provides economic development and environmental stewardship to the Tennessee Valley.

The White House' second firing of a TVA board member in less than a week emphasizes the administration's attention on TVA as the board moved swiftly to select a new CEO and faces pressure to meet growing power demand.

"We appreciate Chair Ritch's service at TVA," a spokesperson for the utility told Knox News in a statement.

The remaining four members do not constitute a quorum to conduct business, according to the amended TVA Act of 1933. The board voted at its February meeting to make Bill Renick of Mississippi its next chair, effective in May, or earlier if Ritch was unable to fulfill his duties.

Ritch was nominated to a second term by President Joe Biden in July 2022 and confirmed by the U.S. Senate in December 2022. His term was set to expire May 18. Though board members are nominated by the president and confirmed by the Senate, the governing body is nonpartisan and its members typically serve under multiple presidents.

Trump fired board member Michelle Moore on March 27, but neither he nor his administration publicly said why. Trent Morse, deputy director of presidential personnel under Trump, has not responded to a Knox News request for comment about Moore's termination.

The lack of public statements about the terminations stands in stark contrast to when Trump fired two TVA board members in 2020 over outsourcing of labor and called for TVA CEO Jeff Lyash to be fired, a power the president does not hold.

Trump lashed TVA in several public venues, including a press conference and a recorded signing of an executive order barring federal agencies from outsourcing jobs overseas.

Final Story of the Day (Maury County Source)

Columbia's biggest celebration is in full swing this weekend, highlighted by the Mule Day Parade starting at 11 a.m. Saturday along West 7th Street.

In addition to the parade, competitions and late-night entertainment featured throughout the weekend, Maury County Park won't be the only spot for Mule Day fun.

The Factory at Columbia, 101 N. James M. Campbell Blvd., will host its Muletown Market from noon to 7 p.m. Friday and 1-5 p.m. Saturday, with vendors, family activities and mule-themed items.

David Phelps will even get in on the Mule Day fun at his Culleoka farm, 2659 Culleoka Highway. The Dove Award-winning singer will host his Mule Day Barn Bash starting at 6:30 p.m. Saturday. Tickets are $55 and are available at www.DavidPhelps.com.

For the full schedule of Mule Day events, visit www.MuleDay.com.