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Southern Middle Tennessee Today
News Copy for July 19, 2024
All news stories are aggregated from various sources and modified for time and content. Original sources are cited.
We start with local news…
County Commission Recap (CDH)
The Maury County Commission voted this week to adopt a new three-year ambulance agreement with Maury Regional Medical Center.
The agreement will provide $2 million per year, as well as a 5% increase each following year. This would allow Maury Regional to purchase at least two ambulances per year.
The agreement also states that there would be seven 24-hour ambulances on duty at all times, along with two 12-hour ambulances.
The request for more ambulances began in 2023, when Maury Regional Health issued a letter to the county stating the need was based on continued population growth.
The previous agreement allocated $600,000 per year by the county for ambulance services.
Once brought before a vote, the agreement passed 16-1.
In addition to the Maury Regional's ambulance agreement, two other Maury County organizations received approval votes for additional grant money.
The Maury County Health Department will also be receiving a grant from the Tennessee Department of Health of up to $1,488,225 through June 30, 2025. The grant is to provide additional medical services to rural areas.
Maury County Animals Services will receive $1,100 from the Tennessee Department of Agriculture for a low-cost sterilization program for dogs and cats.
Prior to the main meeting, Maury County Sheriff Bucky Rowland spoke about the recent 20th annual Maury County Sheriff's Rodeo, which he said was "a huge success."
"It was a phenomenal weekend, and I greatly appreciate the bleachers that were donated by [the county], but we need more," Rowland joked. "We could have filled that much more up and then some. By far the two largest nights that there has ever been in that arena for any event."
In addition to a packed arena and vendor alley, the Sheriff's Rodeo is also held every year as a charity benefit for the department's annual Shop with a Cop program.
"We had Christmas in July, and you guys will see the benefits come November and December in how it affects our youth," Rowland said.
Rowland concluded by sharing how the event has grown in its 20 years.
"When it started out, it was the SROs and the reserves, and now it's truly the Sheriff's Department's rodeo. and it's everybody involved," Rowland said. "It's the community's rodeo is really what it is. The proof is in the pudding, and over the last 10 years it's just gotten bigger and better."
City Breaks Ground on Water Treatment Plant (CDH)
Columbia City officials broke ground on its new wastewater treatment plant, taking the first steps on what has become the largest investment project in the city’s history.
The project totals approximately $95.5 million from the city and was recently approved to begin construction starting July 15. The city marked the occasion with a ceremonial groundbreaking Monday.
Wastewater Director Donnie Boshers said that this was very much a need, given the current facility was built in 1978 and has worn out its useful lifetime.
""The biggest reason we are building this plant is the age of the old facility," Boshers said. "Even if there wasn't a lot of growth, we would still have to do something."
City Manager Tony Massey agreed that this was a major need for the city given the old plant's age.
"We were talking about doing this project even before all of the growth became an issue with us," Massey said.
The new plant is expected to be fully operational by June of 2028, Boshers said, but customers won't expect any change to the service provided.
This is due to the need to transition the old plant to the new one, which could take more than a year after the new facility is complete. The first phase, which is to bring the new plant online, is anticipated to be complete in April of 2027. Phase two will involve the transition, and to do so without disrupting services.
"That will be about a 13-month project," Boshers said. "For 30 days after its time to bring the new plant on, we will shuffle between the new plant and the old plant until we get everything lined up. Everything has to run continuously as its being built."
Ward 5 Councilman Danny Coleman, who attended Monday's groundbreaking, said a big part of this new plant is the longevity it will sustain for future generations.
"This is going to be something that lasts 40-50 years into the future. It's getting ahead of problems when it comes to managing water, rather than waiting until we are in crisis mode," Coleman said. "This is happening just in time, so we aren't jumping the gun by any means, but timing-wise we are doing a good thing for Columbia's future growth."
The new plant will feature many upgrades and modern-day technology, which will not only provide a much greater daily average, while also remaining energy efficient.
The current facility, Boshers said, pumps an average of 5-6 million gallons per day, with a capacity to pump 14 million. The new plant is expected to up that average to about 25 million per day, which could elevate to about 35 million during periods of heavy rain.
The new plant will also provide state-of-the-art filtering equipment, which will make removing some of the tougher materials easier, and environment friendly.
"One thing that gets harder and harder to treat is the nitrogen and phosphorus out of the wastewater," Boshers said.
"This new process will do it all biologically and no external chemicals injected into the water. We do not use chemicals to treat at our existing facility, but as our limits continue to get tighter on nutrient removal, these oxidation ditches will get rid of all the phosphorus and nitrogen biologically. It will be much more energy efficient."
Massey added more about the new plant's benefits.
"This new plant will be much more environmentally friendly, especially if we are relying on biological processes to treat the waste sludge. And because of that we will be using less chemicals and less electricity," Massey said. "It's truly a 21st Century treatment plant and a much superior design than what we've got right now."
With a project of this magnitude, it will certainly come with its share of costs, ones that could affect customer sewer rates.
Earlier this year, Columbia City Council approved the rate increase, with the extra funds feeding directly into the new plant's cost. This was the first time the city adopted a rate increase in more than a decade.
However, the increase will likely be unnoticeable to most customers and will more likely affect new developers and companies with industrial use.
"The majority of the increase is going to go to industrial users, big users," Coleman said. "I can't quote on the exactness of the regular rate increase, but this rate will be heavily focused on developers. We're talking about cents of an increase for regular users."
MRMC Womens’ Center Accredited (Press Release)
Maury Regional Women’s Center has achieved accreditation under the American College of Surgeons (ACS) National Accreditation Program for Breast Centers (NAPBC).
“Maury Regional Women’s Center voluntarily participates with ACS NAPBC to ensure women receive exceptional breast health services, from screening to cancer treatment. The benefits of accreditation align with our mission for clinical excellence and compassionate care,” said CEO Martin Chaney, MD. “It’s our goal to be the organization our community can trust for health and wellness, especially for diseases that impact so many of our friends and family like breast cancer.”
Breast cancer is the most common cancer diagnosed in women in the United States—after skin cancer—affecting one in eight women. Programs accredited by the NAPBC follow a model for organizing and managing a breast center to facilitate multidisciplinary, integrated and comprehensive breast cancer services. The NAPBC focuses on the spectrum of a patient’s journey with breast cancer or breast disease, including prevention, screening, treatment and survivorship. By setting high standards, NAPBC accreditation guides breast centers in providing comprehensive breast care based on scientific evidence.
The requirements for accreditation include a detailed evaluation of multiple standards alongside an onsite visit every three years. This process is completed by a trained reviewer from NAPBC to ensure that the medical organization is compliant.
“I want to personally commend the multidisciplinary team of physicians and professional caregivers for their commitment to breast health by obtaining the recent re-accreditation status from the National Accreditation Program for Breast Centers,” said Administrative Director of Oncology Dana Salters, MBA. “This national recognition will grant assurance to patients that state-of-the-art breast health care is available here in our community.”
Maury Regional Women’s Center provides support services and educational programs on conditions and topics facing women today. These services include 3D mammography, breast biopsy, breast ultrasound and bone density studies.
As an NAPBC-accredited institution, Maury Regional Women’s Center also becomes an ACS Surgical Quality Partner. Being a Surgical Quality Partner signifies an institution's dedication to consistently improving procedures and approaches, while maintaining a critical eye on processes at every step. The Surgical Quality Partner designation lets patients know MRMC is dedicated to quality and relentless self-improvement and has been verified or accredited by the ACS. Patients can trust that the care they receive at Surgical Quality Partner hospitals adheres to the most rigorous standards in surgical quality.
"ACS Quality programs are grounded in more than a century of experience and participation is an important measure of a hospital’s surgical quality. As an ACS Surgical Quality Partner, Maury Regional Medical Center has shown a commitment to providing the best possible patient care, evaluating that care in a rigorous fashion and dedicating themselves to continuous self-improvement," said ACS Executive Director & Chief Executive Officer Patricia L. Turner, MD, MBA, FACS.
Learn more about Maury Regional’s Women’s Center at MauryRegional.comWomen.
African American Heritage Society to Meet (Press Release)
The next meeting of the African American Heritage Society of Maury County will take place on Saturday, July 20th and feature Ray Bonner, assistant track and field coach at Middle Tennessee State. His talk will be part of the society’s quarterly lecture series on the 2024 theme of “African Americans Making History in Sports and Coaching”.
A Winchester native and a Franklin County High School graduate, Bonner was one of MTSU’s first two African-American players signed to football scholarships by legendary coach Charles “Bubber” Murphy in 1969.
He went on to start four seasons at cornerback for the Blue Raiders, earning accolades as part of the program’s memorable “Mod Squad” defensive secondary. As a junior, he added punt return duties to his repertoire, posting a 7.1-yard average that ranked third nationally with two touchdowns on 31 returns – an MTSU single-season and career record.
Bonner earned all-Ohio Valley Conference honors as a senior in 1972 and was selected by the Detroit Lions in the 10th round of the 1973 National Football League Draft, but a suspected heart murmur cut short his professional aspirations.
He went on to serve four years in the United States Navy before embarking on a coaching career that included stops in the Georgia high school ranks as well as collegiate assignments at Alabama A&M, Texas Southern and Tennessee State.
Prior to joining the staff at MTSU in 2013, Bonner served as head football and track coach at Cedar Grove (Ga.) High School.
Earlier this year, the AAHSMC recognized the county’s African-American coaches from the conclusion of segregated high schools forward, featuring those in their annual calendar. The April installment of the lecture series featured Columbia natives Bernard Childress, retired executive director of the Tennessee Secondary School Athletic Association, and Maury County Public Schools athletics director Chris Poynter.
Saturday’s event will be held at 10 a.m. at the Maury County Archives, temporarily located at the Muletown Rec (1446 Oak Springs Drive). The free and open to the public.
City Receives Municipal League Award (Press Release)
The Tennessee Municipal League annually honors cities across the State for excellence, improvement, outstanding programs, or departmental achievements. The City of Columbia, committed to environmentally resilient and green infrastructure, is proud to announce it has received the Tennessee Municipal League’s award for Excellence in Green Leadership. This prestigious award will be presented on Tuesday, July 23, 2024, at the 84th Annual Conference of the Tennessee Municipal League (TML) at the Knoxville Convention Center.
Mayor Chaz Molder stated, “I am so proud of this recognition, not only because it represents the commitment that city leaders have made to investing in infrastructure for today, but also because it recognizes our vision for the future. We know our city was well-positioned for this extraordinary moment in time, and we must ensure Columbia remains on that same trajectory for years to come. This recognition highlights our vision to create a cleaner, more efficient way of doing business and our sound fiscal management.”
The City hired PATH Company to manage the conversion of 6,000 streetlights to LED bulbs. Previously, Columbia Power and Water Systems (CPWS) owned the lights, and the city bore the costs of power consumption, maintenance, and installation. The LED conversion has reduced these costs, saving the State Street Aid Fund $450,000 annually. Maintenance responsibilities have now been transferred back to CPWS under the new agreement.
In addition, the City has made plans to upgrade its existing wastewater treatment plant, originally built in the 1970s. A new HVAC system has already been added to the administration building, providing energy and cost savings. Lighting at the plant has been upgraded to energy-efficient LED. Plans for a new facility, soon to be under construction, include multiple energy-saving advances in keeping with the City of Columbia’s green-oriented goals.
City Manager Tony Massey remarked, “We are very honored to be recognized by TML for Excellence in Green Leadership. Converting Columbia’s streetlights and implementing energy-saving measures has been a key strategic goal of the Columbia City Council. Our citizens now enjoy the benefits of this conversion, and we thank TML for this recognition.”
Assistant City Manager Thad Jablonski added, “The City of Columbia is serious about its commitment to the environment. This follows from the City Council’s leadership and support of projects that value conservation and sustainability. The City’s Management Team and City departments will continue to ensure that City projects impact the environment positively and in accordance with the City Council’s vision.”
The City’s latest strategic plan also includes the installation of new EV charging stations. City leaders are collaborating with CPWS and TVA to place these charging locations downtown, further demonstrating Columbia's commitment to a sustainable and environmentally friendly future.
Columbia State Leadership (Press Release)
Columbia State Community College’s Office of Workforce and Continuing Education leadership development program is designed to benefit new and emerging leaders to help them develop the necessary skills and a toolkit of resources to help them excel as they move into and grow in their leadership roles.
“I am extremely proud to be bringing this program to our communities,” said Melody Murphy, Columbia State Workforce and Continuing Education director. With ‘Now Hiring’ posted on almost every storefront, it is becoming harder for employers to find and keep good employees. This program is an excellent opportunity for a company to identify dedicated employees' value and hard work and build them up through this program for leadership and supervision roles.”
The Columbia State Leadership for Operational Excellence program nurtures success and provides participants with the skills and resources for them to excel as leaders within their organizations.
Topics covered will include leadership styles, generations and teams, employee engagement and productivity, communication and leading your team, business finance and budgets, presentation skills and networking as well as delivering outcomes and managing change.
“Many of us have seen firsthand how promoting internally for these positions based on performance can be problematic, because doing a job and leading others to do a job are very different things that require somewhat different skill sets,” Murphy said. “This program aims to give participants the necessary leadership skills to be successful leaders.”
Registration is now open for the program, which consists of eight full-day sessions with two full days conducted back-to-back. Participants should plan to attend all sessions, which will take place at Columbia State’s Williamson Campus. The program begins in August with the dates of August 8 – 9, September 12 – 13, October 3 – 4 and November 14 – 15. Cost is $2,995, with lunch provided.
To register, please visit https://www.campusce.net/columbiastate/course/course.aspx?catId=23.
For more information, please contact Murphy at mmurphy19@ColumbiaState.edu.
And now, Your Hometown Memorials, Sponsored by Oakes & Nichols Funeral Home…
Shirley Jean Spires Bunting, 71, long-long resident of Columbia, and retired store manager for McDonalds, died Saturday, July 13, 2024 at Maury Regional Medical Center.
A Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, July 20, 2024 from 11:00 a.m. till 1:00 p.m. at Loyal Chapel Free Will Baptist Church with Rev. Steve Swango officiating.
Marilyn Miller Johnson Stevens, 86, of Baileyville, IL passed away Sunday, June 9, 2024, at FHN Memorial Hospital in Freeport, Illinois .
Memorial services will be held at 3:00 P.M. Saturday, July 20, 2024, at Fly Church of the Nazarene, 5688 Leipers Creek Rd, Santa Fe, TN. The family will visit with friends from 1:00 P.M. until the service time at the church.
Patricia Lou Outlaw, 79, resident of Nashville, died Wednesday, July 10, 2024, at NHC Cool Springs following a brief illness.
Funeral services will be conducted Saturday, July 27, 2024, at 2:00 PM at St. Peter’s Episcopal Church in Columbia, TN. Burial will follow at St. John’s Episcopal Churchyard in Columbia. Visitation will be Friday, July 26, 2024, from 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM at Oakes & Nichols Funeral Home Columbia, TN and Saturday, July 27, 2024, from 1:00 PM to 2:00 PM in the Parish Hall at St. Peter’s Episcopal Church.
Now, news from around the state…
Banning Phones in Schools? (Tennessean)
It's a tale as old as - not time - but the advent of social media and smartphones. How do the two impact mental health, especially of young children. New York Governor Kathy Hochul is considering banning smartphones in New York schools but could that happen in Tennessee?
An attempt was made earlier this year by Tennessee state Rep. Rebecca Alexander, a Republican representing Jonesborough, the state's oldest town, to ban cell phones in schools. Her bill would have required schools to stop students from using electronic devices during instructional time without permission.
Her bid failed, never making it past the Education Administration committee.
Sophie Elkins is a rising senior at Halls High School and the newest voice on the Knox County Schools board of education.
While she said she does believe cell phones can be distracting in schools, she doesn't see a need for a complete blanket ban. Her middle school, Halls Middle School, was a cell phone free campus and "students were more focused," she said.
During lectures, cell phones should be put away, but after that, it should be up to students to discipline themselves, she said.
That would also train students for future work place, she said, and teach them responsibility.
Metro Nashville Public Schools' handbook prohibits students from using personal technology, including cell phones, iPads and portable gaming devices, during instructional periods except when used as part of the instruction, as directed by a teacher.
Shelby County Schools also prohibit students from possessing cell phones that are tunred on or visible during school time.
Knox County Schools also has a similar policy on cell phones. The devices must be turned off and kept in a backpack and can only used by permission.
Three states recently passed laws banning or restricting cell phone use in schools. Florida was the first to do so in 2023. In 2024 alone, lawmakers in at least eight states have considered passing legislation to do the same.
Earlier this year, Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb signed a bill that requires school districts to limit cell phone use during class time. Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine signed a similar bill in May that requires every school district to establish an official policy governing cell phone usage during school hours.
Oklahoma, Washington, Kansas and Vermont and Connecticut have all introduced similar legislation.
High school teachers are more likely than others to see cellphones as problematic with 72% saying students being distracted by them is a major problem, compared to 33% middle school teachers and 6% elementary school teachers, according to a Pew survey done in fall of 2023.
The survey found that while most schools in the country have a policy around cell phones, it can still be difficult to enforce rules.
High school teachers are more likely than their peers to report difficulties in enforcing restrictions, the Pew survey reported.
According to previous reporting from USA TODAY, a Common Sense Media analysis of a small group of adolescents found they received nearly 240 cellphone notifications over the course of the day, a fourth of them during school.
Cell phones distract those young and old: Stateline reported findings from a survey of college students in 37 states and Alberta, Canada. The average respondent spent 19% of their class time engaged with a smart device for non-class use.
Final Story of the Day (Maury County Source)
In a recent study by AirHelp, Nashville International Airport (BNA) was named one of the top 10 airports in the United States, one of the top 20 airports in the world and one of the most popular airports in the world for service, facilities, and cleanliness.
Sharing on social media, BNA wrote:”Exciting news!! BNA ranked 6th best airport in the U.S. and 18th best in the WORLD according to the new AirHelp Score Report! We continue to work to build a world-class airport.”
The AirHelp study ranks Nashville as 18th in the global airport listing. Doha Amad Airport (Qatar) claimed the number one spot in the global listing. The first U.S. airport that appears on AirHelp’s global list is Salt Lake City at number eight, followed by Washington Dulles (#11), Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County (#15), Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson (#16), Minneapolis-St. Paul (#17) and then Nashville at number 18.
Nashville BNA placed sixth on the list of the Best Airports in the U.S., with Salt Lake City, Washington Dulles Airport, and Detroit Metro Wayne County Airport listed as the top three U.S. airports.
Airhelp shares on its website that their annual global ranking compares the world’s most popular airports using extensive real-world data combined with passenger insights and opinions to give travelers a comprehensive overview of airport performance.
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