August 2026 Murfreesboro Pulse

grace & grit

Murfreesboro’s American Idol

Jordan McCullough Returns to Town for Live in the Boro Concert

Fundraiser for Greenhouse Ministries

murfreesboro Woman continues 60-year-old manufacturing company

n ature

hummingbirds Prepare to migrate, l ocal festival s et for s ept. 5

18

jordan Mc c ullough

Murfreesboro's American Idol returns for Live in the Boro concert benefiting Greenhouse Ministries.

20

chasIng the checkered flag

Local racing fan Steven Luboniecki celebrates visiting 100 racetracks.

22

hIt the Beach

Anderson Beach brings a seaside feel to Middle Tennessee.

24

flock caMeras

Murfreesboro now operates over 100 license plate readers documenting the movement of vehicles.

32

Blades & BlessIngs

How an unexpected phone call led to Murfreesboro woman saving a 60-year-old manufacturing company.

6 Events

calendar Water Fest, Peach Cobbler Fest, Vintage Base Ball, Wilson County-Tennessee State Fair, Family Float, Howl at the Moon 5K, Bingo Benefit and more!

14 Sounds

concerts

MusIc notes Kelty Greye

Molly Hatchet

Friday Night Live

23

Living

nature news Hummingbird Fest

26

Food

restaurant

Krustaceans Seafood

28 News

BusIness Buzz

218 Tavern, Sprout & Sprig, Joanie’s, Baskin-Robbins, Spirit Halloween, Ollie’s, Cadillac of Murfreesboro, Bob’s, Sewart’s Landing and more!

WELCOME TO A NEW iSSuE; welcome to a new month! We have crab legs, we have auto racing, we have local business news, fundraisers, hummingbirds, an inspiring story from the owner of a local flail blade manufacturer, and concerts—all in this here edition of the Murfreesboro Pulse. The new Joanie’s on the Square is looking great, the Howl at the Moon 5K is set for Aug. 21, restaurants continue to come to town, the Peach Cobbler Fest is scheduled for this month, and football season is basically upon us.

34 Opinion

sports talk

Titans to induct CJ2K into Ring of Honor; hit 2026 season with new coaching staff tech talk

Electrical demand from data centers

Mr. MurfreesBoro

Local property being considered for new jail was once home to horse races, carnivals lIVe . . . well!

Protecting your peace

What a time to be alive—a network of Flock cameras spying on citizens all over the country, here in Rutherford County local leaders acting upon the desire to seize someone’s land and construct an even larger jail than the one the county already has (we can use the Flock cameras to help populate it!), chemtrails fill the sky, data centers are being built all over, the world seems on the brink of nuclear war, humidity is in the air, and a probable political plot to assassinate the beloved Charlie Kirk continues to unfold from day to day.

So, with these Flock license plate readers, if the taxpayers are funding this new surveillance network, which tracks and archives each time a vehicle’s license plate passes by each camera, why not make the database of all of this activity available for all? Should be simple enough, right? Just have the searchable report on the internet for anyone to access at any time. Wait, that would be a dangerous invasion of privacy where anyone could stalk anyone else? Exactly.

Whatever you do: making a pupusa, tricking out a car, photographing wildlife, taking a walk, composing a tune, planting a tree, throwing a Frisbee, spending time with a friend, child or associate, playing a game, digging a hole, unclogging a drain, building a chair or printing a shirt, do it to the glory of God, and I expect you will find some peace, joy and fulfillment.

Bracken Jr. and I have committed to this year's Titans Foundation 5K in September. I have always wanted to do that. And now it’s the last year of the old stadium. We'll finish the race strong out on the 50-yard line of an NFL field.

Junior and I also got the opportunity to serve as judges at this year’s Murfreesboro Hot Chicken Festival, held on the Square in July. The first two rounds—Most Creative and Best in the Boro—were a great experience, extremely enjoyable. However, after some tiny, tiny samples in the final round—the “Hottest of the Hot”—the Pulse judges declined to continue.

Otherwise, lately it’s been Mega Man and Mario Kart, sausage gravy and spinach smoothies.

Through recent conversations, I have realized that a capybara, chupacabra and kookaburra are all vastly different creatures.

The print industry lives! Printed periodicals are alive and well; at least the Murfreesboro Pulse continues rolling off the press. The people love it.

Thanks to everyone who is involved, reading, writing, distributing, advertising, editing, sharing the stories, and giving us tips, events, news, information and support. Unless you are reading this on our website, reading the Pulse involves no battery, no Wi-Fi, no algorithm, no data retention, no location tracking—just old-fashioned paper and ink in your hands.

Peace, Bracken Mayo

Publisher/Editor in Chief

Aug. 4 & 18

Bapen

Business and Professional Events for Networking (BAPEN) meets at Steak ’n Shake Murfreesboro (2091 Old Fort Pkwy.) on Tuesdays Aug. 4 and 18, and the first and third Tuesdays of every month, from noon–1 p.m. The idea behind the free networking group is for small business owners and sales professionals to share ideas and leads and to help attendees’ businesses grow. For more information, find a Rutherford BAPEN group on Facebook.

Aug. 6

Back-to-school tIe dye

Create a colorful back-to-school T-shirt during the Back-to-School Tie Dye program at 11 a.m. on Thursday, Aug. 6, at the Technology Engagement Center (306 Minerva Dr.). Participants will learn tie-dye techniques while making a one-ofa-kind shirt. Free, but participants must bring their own item to dye. No registration required. For more information, visit rclstn.org or call 615-225-8312.

Aug. 7

frIday nIght lIVe

The next Friday Night Live is set for Friday, Aug. 7, as Main Street Murfreesboro throws a musical party on the Murfreesboro Public Square from 6:30–9:30 p.m. The band that night is Third Party Thieves, performing energetic classic and current country and Southern-rock favorites. There’s always room in front of the stage to cut a rug, or bring a chair and enjoy the music while relaxing. Organizers encourage community members to arrive early to have dinner at one of the locally owned downtown restaurants and do a little shopping around the Square before the music begins. For more information on Main Street Murfreesboro and its 2026 concert series, visit mainstreetmurfreesboro.org/friday-night-live

Aug. 8–9

water fest

Water Fest returns to Hop Springs Beer Park (6790 John Bragg Hwy.) on Saturday, Aug. 8, from 11 a.m.–8 p.m. and Sunday, Aug. 9, from noon–6 p.m. The weekend event features giant water slides, carnival rides, Salty the Mechani-

Aug. 8

VIntage Base Ball trIpleheader

The Tennessee Association of Vintage Base Ball was established in 2012 to entertain and educate communities by recreating the civility of 19th-century base ball, using the rules, equipment, costumes and culture of the 1860s, emphasizing honor, team play, respectful conduct and community pride. Visit Oaklands Park (427 Roberts St.) and see how baseball was played in the 1860s. On Saturday, Aug. 8, bring a comfy chair and a picnic basket and watch as the Nashville Maroons and the Knoxville Knoxvilles play at 11 a.m. Then cheer for your hometown Stones River Scouts as they play the Knoxville Knoxvilles at 1 p.m. followed by a game with the Lightfoot Club of Chattanooga at 3 p.m. Admission is free; the Hot Dog Guy will be on hand. For more information, visit tennesseevintagebaseball.com

cal Shark, live music, vendors, giveaways, Smashboro burgers and a school supplies drive benefiting local students. Admission is free. For more information, visit hopspringsbeerpark.com

Aug. 8

peach coBBler festIVal

The 5th Annual Peach Cobbler Festival returns to the Lane Agri-Park (315 John R. Rice Blvd.) on Saturday, Aug. 8, in two indoor buildings and an outdoor area. Shop with over 100 vendors, food trucks, kid zone, petting zoo and more. There will be a $5 Public Peach Cobbler Contest where you can vote for your favorite to win. Admission and parking are both free. Email briannavictoryevents@gmail.com, call 931-952-0472 or find the 5th Annual Peach Cobbler event on Facebook for more information.

Aug. 8

school

of rock Back to school Bash

School of Rock Murfreesboro will host its Back-to-School Bash on Saturday, Aug. 8, from 6–9 p.m. at Cedar Glade Brews (906 Ridgely Rd.). The free, familyfriendly event will feature live performances by School of Rock students as they celebrate the end of summer and the start. For more information, visit schoolofrock.com/locations/murfreesboro

Aug. 9

faMIly float

Join the Smyrna Outdoor Adventure Center team for an afternoon on the water at Sharp Springs Natural Area (1000 Espey Dr., Shelter C—E.A. Victory Shelter) on Sunday, Aug. 9, from 1–3 p.m.

Boats, PFDs, and paddles are provided; sunscreen and bug spray are recommended. Bring a bottle of water and wear proper clothing that can get wet, including closed-toed shoes or sandals firmly adhered to the foot. Walk-ups are welcome. The cost to participate is $2. Ages 5 and up are welcome; anyone under the age of 18 must be accompanied by an adult. Email mike.kraft@townofsmyrna.org for more information.

Aug. 11

lIVIng sent

The August 2026 Living Sent Murfreesboro meeting will be held Tuesday Aug. 11, from 11:45 a.m.–1 p.m. at Wilson Bank & Trust (3110 Memorial Blvd.). Hear Larry and Cindy DeGrie explain how we can turn our jobs and careers into ministry. A complimentary lunch will be provided by Adcock Auctions. Please park on the perimeter of the parking lot. RSVP by emailing promisedland57@gmail.com

Aug. 13–22

wIlson county faIr

tennessee state faIr

The Wilson County Fair – Tennessee State Fair is one of the premier family-friendly events in the state, featuring thrilling carnival rides, live entertainment, agricultural exhibits, livestock shows, delicious fair food and exciting competitions for all ages. Held at the James E. Ward Agricultural Center (945 E. Baddour Pkwy., Lebanon) Aug. 13–22, the fair proudly celebrates Tennessee traditions. For tickets, entertainment schedules and more information, visit wilsoncountytnstatefair.com

Aug. 13–16 & 20–23

TWelfTh NighT

the Bard’s faIre Murfreesboro Little Theatre is proud to host the inaugural Bard’s Faire at Oaklands Mansion (900 N. Maney Ave.) Aug. 13–16 and 20–23. Thanks to the TN Arts Commission, The Bard’s Faire is expanding from just the Free Outdoor Shakespeare production of Twelfth Night to also include “A Midsummer Night’s Market,” a curated space for local artisans to display and sell their work. Each

night, the vendors will be open at 5 p.m. prior to the Twelfth Night performance beginning at 7 p.m. each night. Bring a picnic, a lawn chair or blanket and join the community for a night of the arts. While this is a free event, donations will be accepted online through “purchasing a ticket” or through cash donations on the day of a performance. These donations ensure that the arts through Murfreesboro Little Theatre stay accessible for everyone. Stay tuned to the Murfreesboro Little Theatre Facebook page for information on the vendors and food trucks that will be showcased each night. Visit mltarts.com or oaklandsmansion.org/events-calendar for more information.

Aug. 14

lunch on the plaza

Lunch on the Plaza returns to Murfreesboro Civic Plaza (111 W. Vine St., located in front of City Hall) this summer with a rotating lineup of food trucks, live music from Roland Justice, and lots of fun. Plan for lunch on Friday, Aug. 14, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Remaining dates for the season include Sept. 11 and Oct. 16. For more information, call Murfreesboro Parks and Rec at 615-890-5333.

Aug. 14 & 15

dow street strIng orchestra audItIons

Dow Street Community Music School expands its string orchestra offerings for fall 2026. Playing in a string orchestra provides children and teens with opportunities to develop social skills, teamwork skills and cognitive skills. In addition, students have fun collaborating with their peers. Four levels of orchestras are offered for string players (violin, viola, cello and bass) ages 6–18, Prelude: Mondays at 5:10 p.m. with Laura Shaw; Intermezzo: Thursdays at 5 p.m. with Susan Mullen; Capriccio: Tuesdays at 5 p.m. with Allison Cowan, and Sinfonia: Thursdays at 6:10 p.m. with Susan Mullen. These orchestras are offered during school’s fall and spring terms. Students will attend 12 weekly meetings and perform in a finale concert. Auditions are required for participation. Students will complete a short audition for acceptance and placement in the correct group level. Audition days are Friday, Aug. 14 (4:30–7 p.m.) and Saturday, Aug. 15 (9 a.m.–noon and 1–4 pm). Interested parents should contact the school for information about setting an audition time. Dow Street Community Music School is a nonprofit that operates at 1272 Dow St. For more information, dowstreetmusic.org.

Aug. 15

gruMpy Bookpeddler annIVersary

Celebrate 15 years of stories, friendships and finding the perfect book at the anniversary celebration for The Grumpy Bookpeddler (610 W. College St. #110) on Saturday, Aug. 15 from 10 a.m.–4 p.m. There will be book-loving vendors, bookish fun, community and memories made celebrating Murfreesboro’s oldest used book store. For more information, visit thegrumpybookpeddler.com.

Aug. 15

sIegel Band pancake Breakfast

The Siegel High School Band has a legacy as a competitive, respected band program in Murfreesboro. Under the direction of Katiana Nicholson Reed, Siegel High School Alumna, and Nathan Mohnke, the Siegel High School Marching Band will practice long hours and participate in multiple competitions, not only to produce a great show for the season, but more importantly to build a sense of family, unity, hard work and community leaders.

On Saturday, Aug. 15, a pancake breakfast and silent auction will be held in the Siegel cafeteria (3300 Siegel Rd.) from 8–10:30 a.m. to raise funds for the band. Silent auction items will feature themed baskets, gift cards, entertainment packages, tickets, home decor, crafts, Siegel Band thrift shop and more. Hot breakfast includes fluffy pancakes, sausage and bacon, fresh fruit, coffee, milk and juice and more. There will be a live performance for parents and friends. Monetary donations are greatly appreciated. For more information on the event and the Siegel Band program, email seho_colorful@icloud.com or siegelbandsecretary@gmail.com

Aug. 16

cedar glade classIc car cruIse-In

Shine ‘er up and drive ‘er in to the Cedar Glade Classic Car Cruise-In (906 Ridgely

Aug. 21

howl at the Moon 5k

Athletes, fitness fans, and motivated people of all ages will participate in the upcoming Howl at the Moon 5K Run. The annual event is scheduled for Friday, Aug. 21, starting at 8 p.m. at Veterans Memorial Park, Pavilion B (115 Floyd Mayfield Dr., La Vergne). Pre-registration is $30, $35 for regular registration and $40 on the day of the race. There are eight age divisions ranging from young runners to senior citizens. Awards will be given to the top three finishers in each category and to the first male and female overall. Run under the moon and unleash your wild. For more information, contact La Vergne Parks and Recreation at 615-793-3224, or visit lavergnetn.gov/223 or runsignup.com

Aug. 22

oflow hIgh tea party

Rd.) on Sunday, Aug. 16 from 1–3:30 p.m. Every car that comes to show gets $3 off their first pint of Cedar Glade beer. CruiseIn will proceed as planned if “somewhat rain or shine” but check socials if it’s nasty outside. Find the Cedar Glade Classic Car Cruise-In event on Facebook to learn more.

Aug. 16

tInkercad

Learn how to create your own 3D models using the free TinkerCAD software during this introductory class led by instructor Michael Murphy at the Technology Engagement Center (306 Minerva Dr.) on Sunday, Aug. 16 at 1:30 p.m. The class is recommended for ages 10 and older, and children under 13 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. No registration is required. For more information, call 615893-4131 or visit rclstn.org

Aug. 20

the connectIon

Champy’s World Famous Fried Chicken (1290 NW Broad St.) will host the August 2026 installment of The Connection: An Evening of Professional Networking and Business Brainstorming from 5–7 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 20. All Middle Tennessee entrepreneurs and professionals are welcome to attend this casual, free, noobligation networking event, where they can meet other small business owners and tap into one another’s experience and energy. Networking begins at 5 p.m. with introductions at 6 p.m.

OFLOW (115 N. Maple St.) will host its next high tea party on Saturday, Aug. 22, with seatings at 1 and 3 p.m. The limited-set menu will feature nine different pastries and savories as well as fresh-brewed loose leaf tea from Music City Tea, coffee from Narrow Gate Coffee, and Taiwanese Bubble Tea. The cost is $35 per person or $25 for children between 3–8 years old, plus tax. OFLOW asks that you dress for a high tea party (semi-formal or smart casual). There will be a prize for the best-dressed. Reservations are limited. A nonrefundable $10 per-person fee is required to secure your spot. For more information, call 615-9001676 or visit overflowb.com/events

Aug. 23

Bones and Brews class

Come out and experience a day filled with oddity art and local brews at Middle Ground Brewing (2476 Old Fort Pkwy.) on Saturday, Aug. 23, from 1–3 p.m. Each person will leave with one finished piece of bone/oddity art. Participants will learn how to craft an item using real, sustainably sourced bones, flowers and moss. Each person will get to pick their bones/skulls, a plaque, flowers, moss, etc. You will be using hot glue, so please be sure to use caution. Each person will then assemble their own work of art. There will be plenty of time to make the items and enjoy libations from the venue. Make your piece according to your style. For more information, visit middlegroundbrew.com or find Middle Ground Brewing Company on Facebook. Aug. 24

hooked on yarn

Hooked on Yarn will be a space for any fiber crafter—crochet, knitting, embroidery, etc.—to work on projects and talk with other artists at Smyrna Public Library (400 Enon Springs Rd. W.) on Monday, Aug. 24, from 4–5 p.m. Supplies will be provided, but you can also bring your own supplies. This event meets the 4th Monday of each month in the Conference Room at the Smyrna Public Library. For more information, call 615-459-4884 or visit rclstn.org/venue/smyrna-public-library

Aug. 25

BIngo BenefIt nIght

Come out for Bingo Benefit Night at Middle Ground Brewing (2476 Old Fort Pkwy.) on Tuesday, Aug. 25. For more information, visit middlegroundbrew.com or find Middle Ground Brewing Company on Facebook.

Aug. 26

jeep crew Meetup

The Rutherford County Jeep Crew has a meetup scheduled for 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 26, at Middle Ground Brewing Company (2476 Old Fort Pkwy.). All Jeepers are welcome. For more information, visit middlegroundbrew. com or find Middle Ground Brewing Company on Facebook.

Aug. 27

stars on the porch

Stars on the porch is an action-packed night of fun the whole family can enjoy, featuring performances by talented local youth and a few local celebrities who are “young at heart,” silver carpet photos, dinner, themed mocktails and artists performing music, dance, even juggling and more. The event is set for Thursday, Aug. 27, at 5 p.m. for VIP guests with the main event from 6–8 p.m. at Middle Tennessee Association of Realtors Event Center (311 Butler Dr.). There will be dinner, silent art auction, a wine and spirits pull, a photo booth, and a hope-inspiring community art project (which will later be installed in the Rutherford County Juvenile Justice building), all benefiting Thriving Together TN. Thriving Together TN helps families and caregivers receive the support, resources and hope they need to overcome challenges and create loving, safe, stable, and nurturing homes for their children. Visit thrivingtogethertn.org/stars-2026 for more information.

Aug. 27

archery eVent

Ignite your fire and explore the sport of archery with USA Archery Certified Instruc-

tors for an afternoon of themed games on a regulation outdoor range at Smyrna Outdoor Adventure Center (100 Sam Ridley Pkwy E.) beginning at 4 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 27. Ages 8 and up are welcome; $5. All equipment is provided. For more information, email soac.group@townofsmyrna.org.

Aug. 28

4th frIday fun*workIng

Turn your Friday into an opportunity for connection and inspiration at Fun*Working, held the 4th Friday of the month, Aug. 28, beginning at 5 p.m. Meet at the Spread the Positive Studio (105 N. Maple St. Suite 1) right in the heart of Murfreesboro on Friday night for a unique networking experience featuring a live podcast. This is your chance to connect with business professionals, nonprofit leaders and community champions as organizers spotlight good things happening. A happy hour meetup begins prior to the main event at 4 p.m. Bring your energy, your ideas, and your love for building a better community.

Aug. 28

letter QuIllIng class

Create a one-of-a-kind piece of art that’s uniquely yours at Middle Ground Brewing (2476 Old Fort Pkwy.) from 6–8:30 p.m. In this guided workshop, you’ll choose your favorite letter and select a color palette that speaks to your style, then bring it to life using the delicate art of paper quilling. Learn basic quilling designs and techniques, then use them to fill in your letter, creating a piece that’s both skillful and personal. All materials are provided. By the end of the session, you’ll have a beautifully framed quilled letter, ready to display. For more information, visit middlegroundbrew.com or find Middle Ground Brewing Company on Facebook.

Aug. 29

faMIly caMpfIre and stargazIng

Join the SOAC staff around the campfire for fun games, friends, and yummy s’mores on Saturday, Aug. 29, from 7–9 p.m. at Sharp Springs Natural Area (1000 Espey Dr., fire pit located behind the Green Building). Talk about the stars, what other cultures believed about them, and how to identify the many constellations. A telescope will be available for attendees to view the moon and stars. Food is first-come, first-served. This is a weather-dependent program. All ages are welcome; anyone under the

age of 18 must be accompanied by an adult. The cost to participate is $2. Registration is suggested through the Community Pass. Walk-ups are welcome. For more information, email mike.kraft@townofsmyrna.org

Aug. 29

red letter awards show

The Red Letter Awards organization promotes faith-based entertainment and arts through its annual award show. This year the ceremony will be at the Washington Theater in Murfreesboro on Saturday, Aug. 29. The Gold Carpet takes place at 4 p.m. with the Award Show at 6 p.m. Tickets can be purchased at redletterawards.com/red-letter-awards.

sept.

4

eVeryBody druM soMe

Everybody Drum Some will offer a relaxing and fun hands-on rhythm experience from 6–7:30 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 4, on the Square in downtown Murfreesboro in conjunction with the Boro Art Crawl. All ages and all skill levels are invited to come explore the joys of recreational musicmaking on a wide variety of drums and percussion instruments. Come play some drums and enjoy a stress-free evening of rhythm and community. There is no charge to participate or spectate, but donations are welcome. For more information, email ross@everybodydrumsome.com or call 615-631-7458, or find Everybody Drum Some on Facebook or Instagram, or visit everybodydrumsome.com

sept.

4–12

coffee county faIr

The annual Coffee County Fair returns Sept. 4–12 at the Coffee County Fairgrounds (99 Lakeview Dr., Manchester). The annual fair features carnival rides, livestock shows, pageants, live entertainment, exhibits, food vendors and family activities throughout the week. For more information, visit coffeecountyfair.com

sept.

18

lIVe In the Boro

Greenhouse Ministries will present Live in the Boro on Friday, Sept. 18, at Hop Springs Beer Park (6790 John Bragg Hwy.). American Idol Season 24 runnerup and Murfreesboro native Jordan McCullough will headline the benefit concert, with additional local performers and a talent competition offering a $1,000 grand prize. Proceeds benefit Greenhouse Ministries. General admission is $25, with VIP meet-and-greet CONTiNuEd ON PAgE 10

“I

CONTiNuEd FrOM PAgE 8 packages also available. For tickets or more information, visit liveintheboro.org

through Nov. 20

hallowed ground photo exhIBIt

As part of Rutherford County’s America 250 celebration, the Rutherford County Chamber of Commerce & Convention and Visitors Bureau presents Hallowed Ground: Reflections on Stones River National Battlefield, a temporary photography exhibition featuring the work of local photographer Jane Powell. A longtime local photographer and volunteer at Stones River National Battlefield, Powell is passionate about historical preservation, conservation, and environmental education. As a Certified Tennessee State Naturalist, she has a deep respect for the battlefield and National Cemetery, which continue to inspire her work documenting the beauty and significance of Rutherford County’s historic landscapes. The exhibit is free and open to the public at the Rutherford County Chamber of Commerce & Visitors Center, 3050 Medical Center Pkwy., during regular business hours, 8 a.m.–4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, through Nov. 30.

moNdAys

Monday nIght hIstory

The Patriot Institute presents free Monday Night History classes every Monday night at 6:30 p.m. at Champy’s World Famous Fried Chicken (1290 NW Broad St.).

The group will continue to explore Civil War campaigns. Instructor Galen Walker formed The Patriot Institute in 2015 and has taught Monday Night History at various locations ever since. For more information, visit thepatriotinstitute.org or find The Patriot Institute on Facebook.

moNdAys & tuesdAys

sIlly song and dance

Join Ms. Nicole for Silly Song and Dance Mondays and Tuesdays at 10 a.m. at Smyrna Public Library (400 Enon Springs Rd. W.). This is an exciting, high-energy program for all ages. Songs are geared for toddlers and preschoolers to stretch, dance and sing. Learn about shapes, colors, letters and numbers while singing and dancing. Adult participation is encouraged. Programs will close to arriving participants 10 minutes after start time. For more information call 615-459-4884 or visit rclstn.org/venue/smyrna-public-library

tuesdAys

coMputer BasIcs

Learn basic computer skills, Windows, Google Docs, and Microsoft Office applications including Word, Excel, and PowerPoint during a free, beginnerfriendly computer class held every Tuesday at the Technology Engagement Center (306 Minerva Dr.) at 2 p.m. For more information, visit rclstn.org or call 615-225-8312.

tuesdAys

afternoon clIMBIng cluB

Join SOAC staff on Tuesdays to climb on the indoor rock wall and challenge yourself at the Smyrna Outdoor Adventure Center (100 Sam Ridley Pkwy. E.). Climbers must weigh at least 50 pounds and wear closed-toed shoes and clothing appropriate for climbing. The cost to climb is $2. All ages are welcome; walk-up guests are welcome. For more information, call 615-459-9710 or email soac.group@townofsmyrna.org.

tuesdAys & FridAys

rutherford county farMers Market

Pkwy.), offering a fun and social way to learn popular line dances in a casual setting. Open to all experience levels, the weekly event invites participants to dance, meet new people and enjoy an energetic night out.

WedNesdAys

all ages story tIMe

Come out to the Smyrna Public Library (400 Enon Springs Rd. W.) for All Ages Story Time from 10–11 a.m. Read stories, sing songs and play fun games to enhance early literacy. Programs will close to arriving participants 10 minutes after start time. For more information, visit rclstn.org/venue/smyrna-publiclibrary.

WedNesdAys

wIld wednesday

Discover something wild about the natural world with the SOAC staff on Wednesdays, from 4:30–5:30 p.m.

Meet a SOAC animal or enjoy a naturebased activity each Wednesday at the Smyrna Outdoor Adventure Center (100 Sam Ridley Pkwy. E.). There is no cost to join. All ages are welcome; walk-up guests are welcome. For more information, call 615-459-9710 or email soac.group@townofsmyrna.org

Hungry Hearts Church is led by dedicated Elders true to God’s Holy Sabbath. We are Torah observant, teaching and holding to the God-made rules in the first five books of the Bible as modified by God through His Holy Prophets and as magnified by Yeshua Messiah. We are filled with the Holy Spirit and use the spiritual gifts. We use some Hebrew prayers and worship tools to clear our minds and open our spirits to the Living God.

Hungry Hearts Church also celebrates the Sabbath in Jackson, TN, and Corinth, MS, every Saturday, and holds a monthly service on the fourth Sabbath of each month in Cookeville, TN Meeting at the Hampton Inn, 325 N. Thompson Ln., Murfreesboro

Saturday, August 8 at 1 p.m.

Upcoming Meetings: Oct. 10, Nov. 14 and Dec. 12

For more information, a livestream and videos, visit hungryheartsministry.com

The Rutherford County Farmers Market continues its summer season at the Lane Agri-Park (315 John R. Rice Blvd.), featuring locally grown produce, meats, eggs, baked goods, flowers, honey and handmade items from area vendors. The market now includes expanded Tuesday afternoon and evening hours from 2–7 p.m. on Tuesdays in August in addition to its regular Friday market, 7 a.m.–noon. For more information, visit rutherford .tennessee.edu/farmers-market-2

WedNesdAys wrIters group

The Murfreesboro Writers Group gathers each Wednesday at 6 p.m. in the second floor meeting room at Linebaugh Public Library (105 W. Vine St.). Writers of all interests and experience levels are welcome to join this regular critique and writing community meetup to share work, offer feedback and grow their craft together. Styles may include science fiction, poetry, alternate reality, memoir, fantasy, mystery, literary fiction and others. For more information on Rutherford County Library events, visit rclstn.org/event

WedNesdAys

lIne dancIng

Krisdale Hoggatt presents line dancing lessons every Wednesday night at 6 p.m. at Strike and Spare (1720 Old Fort

thursdAys

BaBy tIMe

Come out for Baby Time at Smyrna Public Library (400 Enon Springs Rd. W.) on Thursdays from 10–11 a.m. Baby Time is a story time adventure designed for caregivers and babies aged 0–24 months. Snuggle up for a gentle story, interactive rhymes, singing and sensory play in a supportive environment that fosters early literacy and bonding. Programs will close to arriving participants 10 minutes after start time. For more information, visit rclstn.org/venue/ smyrna-public-library

thursdAys

cedar glade run cluB

Whether you’re chasing a PR or just looking for an excuse to earn your beer, there’s a place for you at Cedar Glade Run Club. Choose your pace and your distance: a two-mile route or a four-mile route. All paces are welcome—walkers, joggers, seasoned runners and firsttimers. Your first Hoppy Hour beer will be waiting when you get back. Come for the run, stay for the conversation and leave with new friends. The run club meets every Thursday at 6 p.m. at Cedar

Glade Brews (906 Ridgely Rd.). For more information, find Cedar Glade Brews Run Club on Facebook.

FridAys get crafty!

Get Crafty at an all-new monthly crafting program for adults at Smyrna Public Library (400 Enon Springs Rd. W.) on Fridays. Themes and crafts rotate each week, follow on social media for program updates. This is a free event and open to the public; registration is not required. Children are welcome to attend, but this is a crafting group for parents and adults wanting to meet new people and socialize over crafts. For more information, email smyrnays@rclstn.org or call 615-459-4884.

FridAys

c3 networkIng

C3 is an open networking group for local business professionals at Achieve Entrepreneur and CoWorking Center (1630 S. Church St.) held on Fridays from 8:30–10:30 a.m. The mission is to build relationships, connect local businesses with potential clients, support each other’s professional growth and educate people on how to participate in the local community. Complimentary coffee and snacks are pro-

vided. For more information, find Prohibition Home Brewing on Facebook.

sAturdAys

MoVIes under the stars

Fountains at Gateway (1500 Medical Center Pkwy.) will continue the Movies Under the Stars series on Saturdays through Oct. 31. Bring your blankets or lawn chairs to this outdoor series featuring popular animated movies. Free for all ages. The August schedule includes: Despicable Me 4 on Aug. 8; Zootopia 2 on Aug. 15; The Emperor’s New Groove on Aug. 22; and Moana 2 on Aug. 29. Movies begin at dark.

sAturdAys

saturday Market

Main Street Murfreesboro presents the annual Murfreesboro Saturday Market every Saturday through October around the Historic Rutherford County Courthouse from 8 a.m.–noon. The Murfreesboro Saturday Market features locally grown produce, locally raised beef, poultry, and pork, fresh eggs, and baked goods from local bakers as well as featuring artisans, crafters and local musicians. There are 94 vendors lined up for the 2026 season, and 73 vendor spots each Saturday. Find the updated map on mainstreetmurfreesboro.org. Visitors to the farmers market will be able to scan a QR

FridAys

MurfreesBoro coMMunIty chess

Murfreesboro Community Chess meets at McAlister’s Deli (2357 Medical Center Pkwy.) every Friday from 6 to 9 p.m. Organizers invite those of all ages and skill levels to this casual chess meetup each week. Those attending may bring a board and a clock, but there should be plenty of supplies on hand.

code to enter to win prizes and receive free merchandise. Friendly dogs are welcome, but please be respectful of the large crowds. For more information, call 615-895-1887 or visit mainstreetmurfreesboro.org/saturday-market

sAturdAys

sMyrna depot

farMers Market

Smyrna’s Farmers Market returns every Saturday through Sept. 19 from 8 a.m.–noon for fresh produce, food and drinks, arts and crafts and live music every week. For more information, visit carpeartista.com/farmers-market

sAturdAys

sIngo at nacho’s

Check out SINGO every Saturday night at 7 p.m. hosted by BrainBlast Trivia at Nacho’s Murfreesboro (2962 S. Rutherford Blvd.). SINGO is the musical BINGO game that will have everyone dancing in their seats; no singing is required. It is family friendly, free to play, and there are prizes every time. For more information, find BrainBlast Trivia on Facebook or visit brainblasttrivia.com.

sAturdAys

coffee & conVersatIon

The Rutherford County Historical Society has been preserving and promoting Murfreesboro’s local history since 1971. The RCHS aims to be a community resource for those researching their family, property or perhaps just old fun facts.

The Historical Society hosts Coffee & Conversation each Saturday morning from 9 a.m.–noon at the Ransom School House Museum (717 N. Academy St.). This is a very informal, fun and informative event. Bring old photos or questions about the past to ask members, and enjoy free coffee and donuts. For more information, visit rutherfordtnhistory.org.

oNgoiNg

f3 workouts

F3—which stands for fitness, fellowship and faith—holds free, outdoor, peer-led workouts for men across the country. The free weekly workout sessions welcome all men and always end with a “circle of trust,” emphasizing the group’s commitment to faith. In Murfreesboro, F3 holds workouts on the Murfreesboro Public Square at 5 a.m. on Tuesdays; at Oakland Middle School (853 Dejarnette Ln.) at 5:30 a.m. on Wednesdays; at the Murfreesboro Medical Clinic/Gateway Island parking lot (1272 Garrison Dr.) at 5 a.m. on Thursdays; and at Old Fort Park (201 Golf Ln., at the north entrance parking lot) at 6 a.m. on Saturdays. In Smyrna, F3 meets for workouts at Cedar Grove Elementary (354 Chaney Rd., Smyrna) at 5:30 a.m. on Tuesdays; at Thurman Francis Arts Academy (221 Todd Ln., Smyrna) at 5:30 a.m. on Thursdays; and at Stewarts Creek High School (301 Red Hawk Pkwy., Smyrna) at 6 a.m. on Saturdays. The group meets every week, rain or shine, hot or cold. For more information, visit f3murfreesboro.com.

concerts

Live Music in M idd L e tennessee

Wed, 8/5

Boro Bour B on & Brews

Connor Loveless; Blues

Collective Blues Jam

Happy’s s ports Lounge

Wednesday Night Jam

& Musicians Hang

Hop s prings

Bullet Boys

s myrna VF w p ost 8422

Sharon & Dave

t hurs, 8/6

Boro Bour B on & Brews

Nick Jackson

Fri, 8/7

Boro Bour B on & Brews

Grayson

Burger Bar

Jeff Lysyczyn

Cedar gL ade Brews

Tony Hartman

Happy’s s ports Lounge

Pretty Grimm

Heroes d en

Aether Slade

Hop s prings

Line Dance Night

m idd L e g round Brewing Co.

Jack Crowley

m ur Frees Boro pu BLi C s quare

Third Party Thieves

p op’s Bar & g ri LL

Linn Roll & Friends

s myrna VF w p ost 8422

Shane and the Money Makers

sAt, 8/8

Boro Bour B on & Brews

Eden Storm

Cedar gL ade Brews

School of Rock

Front street p u B

Jeff Lysyczyn

Happy’s s ports Lounge

Miller Holler

Heroes d en

Roland Justice;

Piano Night with Slice

Hop s prings

Rubiks Groove

m idd L e g round Brewing Co.

Blue Willow

p op’s Bar & g ri LL

Sharon & Dave

s myrna VF w p ost 8422

Shane and the Money Makers

t win yo L k

The Friendly Four

s u N , 8/9

Boro Bour B on & Brews

Rebecca Lynne

Hop s prings

Da Jam Band

Hop s prings

The Adams Effect

(Bryan Adams Tribute)

m o N , 8/10

Burger Bar

Jeff Lysyczyn

Hank’s Honky tonk

Open Mic Night

s myrna VF w p ost 8422

Randy and Friends

t ues, 8/11

Boro Bour B on & Brews

Rhett Mason McDonald

Hig H s o C iety

Shane Douglas

Wed, 8/12

Boro Bour B on & Brews

T.J. Powers

Happy’s s ports Lounge

Wednesday Night Jam & Musicians Hang

Hop s prings

Karaoke Night

s myrna VF w p ost 8422

Sharon & Dave

t hurs, 8/13

Boro Bour B on & Brews

Griffin Williams

Carmen’s taqueria

Jeff Lysyczyn

Hop s prings

Charlie Allen

Fri, 8/14

Boro Bour B on & Brews

Mikki Zip Band

Burger Bar

Jeff Lysyczyn

Cedar gL ade Brews

Poor Elijah; Isaac Corbitt

Happy’s s ports Lounge

Southern Toast with Bill Lenk

Heroes d en

The Tune Twisters

Hop s prings

John Corabi; John Salaway & the Regulators

C i V i C pL aza

Lunch on the Plaza with Roland Justice

p op’s Bar & g ri LL

Linn Roll & Friends

s myrna VF w p ost 8422

Shane and the Money

Makers

sAt, 8/15

Boro Bour B on & Brews

Rockin’ Country

Happy’s s ports Lounge

JILLfm

Heroes d en

Jeff Caron Band

Hop s prings

Fear Not; White Cross; Applehead; Devin Williams

La Cu C ina ita L iana

Steven Gary

m idd L e g round Brewing Co.

Roland Justice

p op’s Bar & g ri LL

Sharon & Dave

s iege L Hig H sCH oo L

Siegel High School Band

s myrna VF w p ost 8422

DJ Fuentes

t win yo L k

The Friendly Four

s u N , 8/16

Boro Bour B on & Brews

Brooklyn Ray Hop s prings

School of Rock; Da Jam Band

m o N , 8/17

Burger Bar

Jeff Lysyczyn

Hank’s Honky tonk

Open Mic Night

s myrna VF w p ost 8422

Randy and Friends

t ues, 8/18

Boro Bour B on & Brews

Macy Krew

Hig H s o C iety

Shane Douglas

Wed, 8/19

Boro Bour B on & Brews

Blues Jam

Happy’s s ports Lounge

Wednesday Night Jam

& Musicians Hang

Heroes d en

Shane Douglas

Hi Lton g arden i nn s myrna

Jeff Lysyczyn

s myrna VF w p ost 8422

Sharon & Dave

t hurs, 8/20

Boro Bour B on & Brews

Chris Jordan

Cedar gL ade Brews

Songwriter Open Mic

with Beau Tatum

Hop s prings

The Black Dogs (Led Zeppelin Tribute)

Fri, 8/21

Boro Bour B on & Brews

Jack Finley Band

Heroes d en

Eric Crowley; Cary & Sherrie Lynn

Burger Bar

Jeff Lysyczyn

Happy’s s ports Lounge

Cam Shelton

Hop s prings

The Weird Sisters

La Cu C ina ita L iana

Steven Gary

m idd L e g round Brewing Co.

Muddy Boots

p op’s Bar & g ri LL

Linn Roll & Friends

s myrna VF w p ost 8422

Shane and the Money Makers

sAt, 8/22

Boro Bour B on & Brews

JILLfm

Happy’s s ports Lounge

Rudge Powell Band

Heroes d en

Dueling Pianos

Hop s prings

Kyle Smith; Rizz & the Believerz

p op’s Bar & g ri LL

Sharon & Dave

s myrna VF w p ost 8422

Luther Lewis & White Lightening

t win yo L k

The Friendly Four

s u N , 8/23

Boro Bour B on & Brews

Jackie Saturday

Hop s prings

Molly Hatchet; Da Jam Band

m o N , 8/24

Burger Bar

Jeff Lysyczyn

Hank’s Honky tonk

Open Mic Night

s myrna VF w p ost 8422

Randy and Friends

t ues, 8/25

Boro Bour B on & Brews

Jennifer Alvarado

Hig H s o C iety

Shane Douglas

Wed, 8/26

Boro Bour B on & Brews

Loraine Moxham

Happy’s s ports Lounge

Wednesday Night Jam & Musicians Hang

Hop s prings

New Faces Night

s myrna VF w p ost 8422

Sharon & Dave

t hurs, 8/27

Boro Bour B on & Brews

Nick Jackson

Fri, 8/28

Boro Bour B on & Brews

DJ Rod Youree

Burger Bar

Jeff Lysyczyn

Happy’s s ports Lounge

Jack Finley Band

Heroes d en

Steve Hardesty;

Danny & Mike

Hop s prings

Little Hopes

La Cu C ina ita L iana

Steven Gary

p op’s Bar & g ri LL

Linn Roll & Friends

s myrna VF w p ost 8422

Shane and the Money Makers

sAt, 8/29

Boro Bour B on & Brews

Suburban Legends

Cedar gL ade Brews

Jeff Lysyczyn

Happy’s s ports Lounge

Memory Train

Heroes d en

Eden Storm

Hop s prings

Excitable (Def Leppard Tribute)

La Cu C ina ita L iana

Steven Gary m idd L e g round Brewing Co.

Whiskey Hollow

p op’s Bar & g ri LL

Sharon & Dave t win yo L k

The Friendly Four

s u N , 8/30

Boro Bour B on & Brews

Lefty Ferguson

Hop s prings

Lovesong (The Cure Tribute); First Wave; Da Jam Band

m o N , 8/31

Burger Bar

Jeff Lysyczyn

Hank’s Honky tonk

Open Mic Night

Hop s prings

Ramblin’ Ricky Tate; Bryan Raymond

s myrna VF w p ost 8422

Randy and Friends

t ues, 9/1

Hig H s o C iety

Shane Douglas

Wed, 9/2

Hi Lton g arden i nn s myrna

Jeff Lysyczyn

AUG. 7 THIRD PARTY THIEVES

Country/Southern Rock, Rock/Classic Rock 80's Tribute Band

SEPT. 25 MIXTAPE

Murfreesboro Saturday Market

Every Saturday 8am-12pm around the Courthouse May - October

Sounds

MTSU Alum

Kelty

Greye’s Version

of

“The Middle” Featured in New

Supergirl Film

TWO yEArS AFTEr grAduATiNg

from Middle Tennessee State University’s commercial songwriting program, alum Kelty Greye is hearing her music in one of Hollywood’s biggest summer films. Greye’s cinematic cover of Jimmy Eat World’s “The Middle” is featured in DC Studios’ new Supergirl film—a milestone that fulfills a lifelong dream and showcases the growing impact of MTSU’s College of Media and Entertainment.

“I got an email in mid-April from a music supervisor asking if they could use my cover in a film,” Greye recalled. “They didn’t mention what film. I assumed it might be for a small indie film.”

Instead, the request turned out to be anything but small.

“An hour later, my agency emailed me a draft of the proposal under a working title labeled Warner Brothers and DC Studios, and I thought it had to be a joke,” she said. “After a minute of Googling, I realized it was for the new Supergirl movie, and I was in complete shock.”

According to a recent piece in Rolling Stone, DC Studios co-chair James Gunn specifically wanted her version of “The Middle” for the movie.

For Greye, the placement represents much more than another career achievement.

“This means everything to me,” she said. “I used to walk to the movie theater after class in high school to see the latest superhero movie. My number one life goal since I was 8 years old has been to be involved in the production of a movie.”

As a young musician, she immersed herself in film music, teaching herself composer John Williams’ scores by ear on the violin and listening to soundtracks on her iPod. Seeing her own name appear alongside Williams in the film’s credits, she said, felt “surreal and magical.”

Ironically, the recording that ultimate -

ly found its way into a major studio film began in a much smaller setting. After her sync licensing agency paired her with producer Scott Feldman, known professionally as KidMotel, the pair selected “The Middle” from a list of songs available to cover.

Greye, a longtime fan of the emo genre, immediately gravitated toward the Jimmy Eat World hit. Because she wanted to create something uniquely her own, she and Feldman slowed the song down and transformed it into a cinematic, stringfilled arrangement.

“I’ve been playing violin for 20 years, and I love a chance to make something cinematic with strings,” Greye said. “I actually first recorded it in my bedroom in 2023 while I was studying at MTSU.”

That hands-on experience was nothing new for the recent graduate. Greye credits MTSU’s commercial songwriting program with preparing her for nearly every aspect of her career.

“The program prepared me in every single way,” she said. “I couldn’t have done any of this without my time at MTSU.” She said she regularly applies lessons from commercial songwriting professor Bess Rogers’ music for TV and film course when creating music for sync opportunities, and that professor John Ouellette’s entertainment IP law classes gave her the confidence to understand contracts and navigate conversations with agents.

“Kelty was clearly interested in pursuing sync licensing as part of her music career, and she absorbed every bit of information like a sponge,” Rogers said. “I was always impressed by how she applied what we discussed in class to the songs she was writing and performing.”

For aspiring songwriters, Greye encourages students to remain curious and persistent.

“Watch TV and movies and study them,” she said. “Listen to what’s happening in the scenes. Study the artists you love. Write good songs, bad songs, halffinished songs. Create because you love it, and don’t be too hard on yourself if you hit a bump in the road. Dream big, but don’t get discouraged when things don’t happen the way you expect them to.”

To learn more about MTSu’s commercial songwriting concentration and other MTSu music programs, visit mtsu.edu/ wearemusic.

flirtin’ With disaster: Molly hatchet Brings southern rock legacy to hop springs

Th E r Egi ON ’ S S O u T h E r N rOC k FANS will have the chance to experience one of the genre’s legendary names live when Molly Hatchet performs at Hop Springs on Sunday, Aug. 23.

Formed in Jacksonville, Florida, in 1975, Molly Hatchet helped launch the Southern rock movement, combining twin- and triple-guitar harmonies with hard-driving rock, blues and boogie influences.

The band’s breakthrough album, Flirtin’ With Disaster, achieved multi-platinum status and remains a staple of classic rock radio.

Although the band’s last surviving founding member, guitarist Steve Holland, passed away in 2020, the current band isn’t simply a tribute act made up of newcomers. Several members have been associated with Molly Hatchet for decades. The longest-serving member and the band’s leader for nearly 40 years, lead guitarist Bobby Ingram, toured with several classic-era members and has overseen the band’s recordings and live performances since the late 1980s. Keyboardist John Galvin joined the band in 1983, and bassist Tim Lindsey actually played with Molly Hatchet founder Dave Hlubek in a group that pre-dated Hatchet in the early ’70s. The current players faithfully perform the classics that made Molly Hatchet famous—favorites including “Flirtin’ With Disaster,” “Gator Country,” “Whiskey Man,” “Dreams I’ll Never See” and “Fall of the Peacemakers.”

The Ivan Pulley Band will be opening for Molly Hatchet at Hop Springs.

music notes

Led by the multi-talented Ivan Pulley, the group is a captivating Americana/rock ’n’ roll outfit known for electrifying live performances and dynamic sound. The band blends unique styles to create a one-of-a-kind musical experience.

Find tickets for Molly Hatchet’s Murfreesboro appearance with The Ivan Pulley Band on Ticketweb; Hop Springs is located at 6790 John Bragg Hwy.

friday night live series continues

MAiN STrEET MurFrEESBOrO'S Friday Night Live concert series continues with free live music on the Murfreesboro Public Square, featuring Third Party Thieves on Aug. 7 and Mixtape - ’80s Tribute Band on Sept. 25. Concerts are held from 6:30–9:30 p.m. on the Murfreesboro Square.

The Friday, Aug. 7, performance features third party thieves, a Tennessee-based cover band known for a range spanning multiple decades, playing music from artists ranging from Tom Petty, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Nitty Gritty Dirt Band and the Rolling Stones, designed to appeal to fans of both classic guitar-driven rock and contemporary country.

The 2026 series concludes Sept. 25 with Mixtape - '80s tribute Band. The group's setlists regularly feature arenarock and pop classics from bands including Journey, Bon Jovi, REO Speedwagon, Van Halen and many more. Local fans of Mixtape report its high-energy performances are nostalgic trips through the 1980s including lots of audience participation.

For more information, visit mainstreetmurfreesboro.org/ friday-night-live.

Sounds

Mg race & g rit

upcoming September benefit show marks an opportunity to welcome home one of Murfreesboro’s newest hometown stars.

on American Idol.

story By Bo BBy s chne I der

urfreesboro native Jordan McCullough has stayed busy following his run to the grand finale of American Idol. After captivating millions of television viewers as the runnerup on Season 24 of the popular singing competition show, McCullough is proving that the finale was only the beginning.

The Oakland High School graduate, longtime worship leader and emerging artist has wasted little time building upon

his national success. Since the American Idol season concluded in May, McCullough has made his debut at the Grand Ole Opry, released his first major-label single and signed with one of Nashville’s best-known record labels. Now, he’s preparing to return home for a special benefit concert that will support one of Murfreesboro’s most impactful nonprofit organizations.

For local fans who watched his remarkable journey unfold week after week, the

McCullough entered American Idol as an unknown singer from Murfreesboro and quickly emerged as one of the season’s favorite performers. His audition performance of CeCe Winans’ “Goodness of God” earned praise from judges Carrie Underwood, Lionel Richie and Luke Bryan, while performances throughout the competition—with songs including Bill Withers’ “Grandma’s Hands,” MercyMe’s “I Can Only Imagine,” Queen’s “Somebody to Love,” Bonnie Raitt’s “I Can’t Make You Love Me,” and Smokie Norful’s “Dear God”—showcased a vocalist equally comfortable with gospel, soul, classic rock and contemporary music. Richie described him as “a teacher, a preacher, and a helluva singer.”

Although he finished as the season’s runner-up, McCullough’s career has accelerated rapidly.

On July 17, he released his debut single, “See Me,” a deeply personal song inspired by the whirlwind experience of competing

“‘See Me’ has been a journey and we are just getting started,” McCullough wrote on Instagram while announcing the release.

In interviews surrounding the song, McCullough said “See Me” reflects what he experienced throughout the competition and expresses his hope that listeners will better understand who he is as both an artist and a person.

Another dream became reality on June 18, when McCullough stepped onto the stage of the Grand Ole Opry, a milestone many country and gospel performers consider among the highest honors in music.

“Thank you Opry for allowing this Tennessee-grown boy to step into the circle,” McCullough said afterward.

The appearance came just weeks after the Opry surprised him with the invitation while he was filming his hometown visit for American Idol

McCullough has also signed with Sugar Hill Records, one of Nashville’s most respected labels, whose roster includes artists across the Americana, country and Christian music worlds—currently the label

“They said I’d never break though, but look what grace and grit can do.”

home of Sarah Jarosz, Sam Bush and Lee Ann Womack, with previous releases from the likes of Dolly Parton, Nickel Creek and Doc Watson. The partnership gives the Murfreesboro native a platform to continue developing the blend of gospel, soul and inspirational music that defined his television performances.

Now, McCullough is bringing his music back to Rutherford County.

He says he is excited to headline this year’s Live in the Boro show, a concert and talent show set for Friday, Sept. 18 at Hop Springs Beer Park, with proceeds benefiting Greenhouse Ministries, a Murfreesboro nonprofit that has served the community since 1999.

Founded by Cliff and Jane Sharp, Greenhouse Ministries has grown from a small volunteer effort into one of Rutherford County’s largest community outreach organizations. The nonprofit provides a grocery-style food pantry, clothing, furniture assistance, counseling, job-readiness resources, educational classes including GED preparation and budgeting, and mentoring programs designed to help

individuals and families move toward long-term stability and self-sufficiency.

More than simply meeting immediate needs, the ministry emphasizes helping clients build lasting independence and meaningful lives while creating volunteer opportunities for the broader community.

The Hop Springs event will showcase an array of other local talent, with an areawide talent competition offering a $1,000 grand prize to the winning performer.

For McCullough, the concert represents more than another stop on an increasingly busy schedule. It’s an opportunity to return to the hometown that celebrated him with a parade following his American Idol success and to use his growing platform to support a ministry dedicated to serving Murfreesboro people and sharing the love of God.

FiNd TiCkETS for the Sept. 18 Live in the Boro, priced at $25, at liveintheboro. org; a viP upgrade including a meet-andgreet and photo op with the singer is also available. hop Springs is located at 6790 John Bragg hwy.

Living

story By Bracken Mayo

c heckered f lag c hasing the

l ocal r acing f an c elebrates Visiting 100 r acetracks

murfreesboro resident Steven Luboniecki reached a milestone more than five decades in the making in July when he visited Kokomo Speedway in Kokomo, Indiana, for Indiana Sprint Week, making it the 100th different racetrack he has visited since first falling in love with auto racing as a child.

His journey as a racing fan, photographer, competitor and journalist has now spanned 55 years, taking Luboniecki to racing venues from Ontario, Canada, to Florida, from New York to Missouri, while covering virtually every level of the sport—from hometown Saturday night dirt-track racing to NASCAR, IndyCar, Formula One and sprint car competition.

For Luboniecki, the racing craze sparked in 1963.

“Our family went on an outing to Cimarron City, a Western-themed attraction near Monticello, New York,” he says. “When we got there, it was closed permanently. To appease my disappointment, my father stopped to ask what else was there to do. On hearing that Orange County Fair Speedway had stock car races that night, we made a beeline for the track.

“The roar of the engines, the bright colors . . . racing on a 5/8th-mile clay track—I was hooked.”

That childhood fascination grew into a lifelong hobby. Luboniecki has attended races as a fan, photographer, journalist and even a driver. He’s been to Talladega, Bristol, Charlotte, Daytona, Indy, Atlanta and Pocono; his travels have taken him from the New York State Fairgrounds to the Orlando Dragstrip and dirt tracks and drag strips all over the eastern U.S.

When asked about some of his favorite memories, Luboniecki told the Pulse: “There are so many— coming out of the tunnel to the infield at Indianapolis Motor Speedway and facing that wall of grandstand seats, taking in the expanse of the place.

“Then there was the time a group of us went to Watkins Glen to watch our first-ever Formula 1 Grand Prix and see Mario Andretti race.”

During his career covering motorsports, he has photographed races across North America and interviewed notables including Jack Roush, Kenny Schrader, Joseph Newgarden and legendary NASCAR artist Sam Bass, along with many regional stars and promising young drivers.

His experiences have also put him in the driver’s seat. Another favorite memory came during the Indy 101 Driving Experience at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, where he climbed into a real Indy car and reached 165 mph.

“My 16-year-old son beat me,” he said with a laugh. “He ran 166.”

Luboniecki’s name appears on a commemorative plaque at Nashville Superspeedway as one of the facility’s original Legacy Fans, having attended opening day and remaining a season-ticket holder through the years. He also attended the inaugural Music City Grand Prix, watching IndyCars race through the streets of downtown Nashville during that event’s first running, another of the historical racing moments Luboniecki got to witness firsthand.

As far as the 2026 visit to his 100th documented track, “The visit to Kokomo went very well,” Luboniecki said. “As with any dirt track, the dust flew in the main feature event.”

At the race and mingling in the tailgate area, Luboniecki said he met many nice fellow racing fans, and mentioned the occasion being a special day, being his 100th different venue.

“Almost everyone was excited for me, but believe it or not, some fans had me beat,” he said.

Where to c atch r acing in m iddle tn

Middle Tennessee offers plenty of opportunities for racing fans to experience race action—from weekly dirt-track competitions to the thunder of NASCAr to hobbyist mechanics tuning up a project car on a drag strip.

d uck r i V er r ace Way Park

1100 haskins Chapel rd., Lewisburg

A favorite among dirt-track fans, Duck River Raceway Park features race classes including late models, crate late models, open wheel mods and many other divisions on its high-banked, quarter-mile clay oval near the Wheel community in Bedford County. Saturday night races continue through the summer with the Duck’s Big Deal weekend set for Sept. 25 and 26. duckriverracewaypark.com

n ash V ille f airgrounds sP eed Way

625 Smith Ave., Nashville

One of America’s oldest continually operating racetracks, the historic Fairgrounds hosts major touring events throughout the season. Upcoming highlights include the Bass Tire Family Night featuring the Pro Late Model 100 and multiple support divisions on Aug. 8, Autumn Thunder on Oct. 3. nashvillefairgrounds speedway.racing

n ash V ille s u P ers P eed Way

400 victory Ln. dr., Lebanon Middle Tennessee’s NASCAR venue hosts the NASCAR Cup Series, Xfinity Series and Craftsman Truck Series each season. nashvillesuperspeedway.com

m usic c ity k art P lex 3225 highway 231 N., Shelbyville

Many local racing fans still remember Twin Fountains Raceway, the paved track in between Murfreesboro and Shelbyville that hosted Saturday night stock car racing for decades before closing in 2023. The facility was later reborn as Music City Kartplex, a professional outdoor karting complex featuring a challenging road course that attracts racers

of all ages—from beginners to nationally competitive drivers. musiccitykartplex.com

Veterans m otor P lex at t he r im

6801 kelly Willis rd., greenbrier

Long known as Highland Rim Speedway, this classic Tennessee short track hosts racing every Saturday night beginning at 6 p.m.

highlandrim.com

m iddle t ennessee d rag Way

680 rock Springs rd., Buffalo valley

This 1/8th-mile International Hot Rod Association-sanctioned strip near Cookeville hosts street drags every Tuesday (weather permitting). middletndragway.com

e thridge m otors P orts Park 29 dooley rd., Ethridge

This Lawrence County strip has attracted competitors from across Tennessee and Alabama for decades. The 1/8th-mile concrete dragstrip regularly hosts bracket races, grudge racing, test-andtune nights and specialty events with upcoming race dates set for Aug. 8, 22 and 29. ethridgemotorsports.com

b ristol m otor sP eed Way 151 Speedway Blvd., Bristol For serious racing fans, “The Last Great Colosseum” out in the eastern tip of the state hosts NASCAR’s biggest stars twice each year and remains one of the most iconic venues in motorsports. NASCAR Playoff Weekend is set for the Bristol half-mile, with the massive stadium surrounding the legendary track packed fans Sept. 17–19 for the Craftsman Truck Series, Xfinity Series and the Bass Pro Shops Night Race in the NASCAR Cup Series. bristolmotorspeedway.com

Living

hit the Beach

Beach Brings a s easide

to Middle Tennessee

DID you know ThAT MIDDLe Tennessee hAs A BeACh?

“But Tennessee has no ocean coastline!” you say.

At the end of Anderson Road in Antioch, just a few miles off of I-24, Anderson Beach offers about the closest thing that the Volunteer State has to a true beach.

When Middle Tennessee temperatures climb into the 90s, many dream of heading to the Gulf or one of Florida’s famous beaches, or an even more distant tropical paradise. But for those looking to cool off with a quick swim without the long road trip and the complexities of planning for an extended stay, Anderson Beach makes for a sandy local alternative, just 30 minutes from Murfreesboro.

Situated along the western shore of Percy Priest Lake, this popular swimming area draws families and groups of friends who’d like to spend an hour, or the majority of a day, in the water, the sun, or the shade. There’s plenty of all three at Anderson—lots of room to splash and swim in the water in the roped-off, shallow designated swimming area here (this just a miniscule segment of

If You Go a nderson Beach

4060 Anderson rd., Antioch cost: $5 per vehicle

the giant Priest Lake), plenty of room to spread out on the shore and get some sun, and ample shady areas under the cover of large trees lining the area nearby the lake.

While many lake access points offer little more than a boat ramp or rocky shoreline, Anderson Beach provides a broad stretch of sand, sparsely dotted with bits of gravel,

rather than seashells.

The atmosphere feels like a cross between a breezy beach vacation and a bustling city park. The area has two playgrounds, a few covered pavilions and lots of picnic tables and grills available for use.

The smells of smoked meats fill the air on a hot July day, while the sounds of “Ma-

carena” and other upbeat Spanish-language music, mingled with children’s laughter and splashing, drift across the beach.

Out in the distance, boats and jet skis power their way through the lake, occasionally lapping a gentle wake that makes it to the beach area, the only movement of the water, generally much calmer than the crashing waves of an ocean beach.

Beach balls fly and some individuals float around lazily on inflatables.

Reportedly, the parking lot can fill up on summer weekends and the spot can draw large crowds of Middle Tennessee beachgoers, but even on many busy days, most groups can find a piece of ground to claim and head in for a swim. Those looking for a quiet escape from the crowds can roam the shoreline and find some solitude not far from the packed beach gathering spot.

For some exercise swimming or a time to relax in the shade, a cookout, a cooldown, or all of the above, now you know—Nashville has a beach. There are no waves to surf or ocean wildlife here, but Anderson Beach captures just a taste of that coastal water spirit.

nature news

Hummingbirds Preparing for Migration Murfreesboro Celebrates Tiny Birds With Sept. 5 Fest

story and photos By a shle I gh n ewnes

e ve Ry ye AR AR oun D LAT e su MM e R , hummingbirds start packing in as many calories as possible before making their long flight down to Central America. If you’ve noticed extra activity around your feeders lately, you’re not alone.

This time in Middle Tennessee brings a massive surge in feeder activity as hummingbirds enter hyperphagia, a pre-migration feeding frenzy where they double their body weight to prepare for the journey.

To celebrate these tiny birds before they make their grand exit, the Wilderness Station at Barfield Crescent Park is hosting its annual Hummingbird Festival on Saturday, Sept. 5.

The free, family-friendly event gives the community an up-close look into the lives of local pollinators while offering a fun day outdoors for all ages.

If you’ve never seen a hummingbird up close, the morning session is where you’ll want to be. Between 8 a.m. and 10:45 a.m. Cyndi Routledge of Southeastern Avian Research will be holding live hummingbird banding. Seeing these ultra-fast birds held gently in a researcher’s hand to receive a tiny leg band is one of the highlights of the day.

Banding wraps up promptly at 10:45 a.m., so arrive early if you want to see it in action.

While the birds are a huge draw, the event is also about slowing down and appreciating other local wildlife.

“As our city continues to see growth, this festival serves as a reminder of the other captivating creatures we share our space with,” said Wilderness Station Coordinator Amanda Rodriguez.

Beyond the morning banding, the festival runs until 3 p.m. with plenty to do across the grounds. You’ll find local art vendors, environmental education booths, garden tours, food trucks, and hands-

on nature play areas for kids.

There’s also a solid lineup of brief educational presentations scheduled to take place inside the retreat room throughout the day. This includes: 10:45 a.m. – Tagging Butterflies: Citizen Science with Monarch Watch (Lauren May)

11:15 a.m. – Meet the Ruby-Throated Hummingbird: Tiny Pollinators, Big Adventurers! (Cyndi Routledge)

12:30 p.m. – Butterflies of Tennessee (Rita Venable, author of Butterflies of Tennessee)

1:30 p.m. – Hummingbird Photography: iPhone to Pro (Kim McCollom, Boro Birders)

At its heart, the festival is about making nature accessible and building community connections across Murfreesboro.

When asked why the event means so much to the Wilderness Station team, Rodriguez responded, “because it serves as a welcoming space for every person in our city to come learn together! Participants of all ages and backgrounds come to share their excitement and knowledge.”

If you’re a long-time backyard birder, looking for a free weekend outing with the kids, or just want an excuse to wander the back trails at Barfield Park, it’s a great way to spend a Saturday.

If You Go

hu MMI ng BI rd fest IVal Saturday, Sept. 5

Live Banding: 8–10:45 a.m.

Activities & vendors: 10 a.m.–3 p.m. Wilderness Station at Barfield Crescent Park (401 volunteer rd.)

Free and open to the public

News

f lock c ameras r aise Pri Vacy Questions

Nov. 10–25, 2025. According to Hill, many searches contained blank case-number fields or general entries such as “Lookup” and “Night Shift Case” instead of an incident number.

flock map of Murfreesboro, maps.deflock.org

Murfreesboro now operates over 100 license plate readers documenting the movement of vehicles

story By ashlen jones

you’re driving down a Murfreesboro road and see a new camera set up on a black pole. What is it for? Are you being recorded? It’s likely a Flock Safety license plate reader, part of a recently growing automated system used by the Murfreesboro Police Department and many other law enforcement agencies.

According to MPD’s Real Time Crime Center webpage, the systems “capture images of vehicles and use software to process the vehicle’s license plate information.” MPD says the cameras identify vehicles, not people, and do not use facial recognition.

Critics, however, say the systems make it too easy for law enforcement to track motorists’ movement in real time, and to target and surveil citizens with no probable cause, warrant, case number or active investigation, and strongly object to the network of cameras, citing concerns of privacy and the growing surveillance state.

Earlier this year, Murfreesboro resident and privacy advocate Jay Hill created an online petition titled “Flock Block Murfreesboro” to raise awareness about what he describes as a lack of public consent and transparency, along with concerns about data privacy, information sharing and

potential misuse. As of July 28, the petition had received 1,100 verified signatures.

A growing number of U.S. cities across the country have already removed or deactivated Flock Safety license plate readers after public outcry, according to reports.

Eugene, Oregon, ordered a pause on its network of Flock cameras after its internal police audit showed that federal agencies had accessed and searched the local system without city authorization.

The mayor of Appleton, Wisconsin, raised “concerns about the integrity of Flock's underlying system.” That city announced it would stop using Flock cameras, and Knox County, Tennessee, is discussing the controversy surrounding its Flock network amidst public pushback there, with Knox County Mayor Glenn Jacobs saying that Flock cameras and their AI-driven system “have no place in Knox County.”

The Murfreesboro Police Department now currently operates 106 Flock license plate readers (Flock being the brand name of the private company manufacturing the devices). Locations were selected primarily based on historical crime data and trends and traffic patterns within Murfreesboro city limits, according to information from MPD Real Time

Crime Center Supervisor Ryan Lawrence.

Many of these are located near the city’s major intersections, busy parts of town that see heavy traffic flow. The city has, however, placed some cameras directly in the midst of quiet residential neighborhoods as well.

Other Flock cameras are located on the outskirts of Murfreesboro, with a growing system in Smyrna, and in communities all over the country.

MPD said it can use separate law enforcement databases to connect a license plate with its registered owner and other personal information. However, the department said the Flock Safety system does not directly access those databases, meaning personal information cannot be retrieved directly from the LPR system.

Hill said his ultimate goal is the complete removal of the cameras. He said data retention policies and requirements that searches have a legitimate law enforcement purpose do not do enough to prevent misuse.

“We should not trade our constitutional rights for law enforcement convenience,” Hill said.

Hill said his concerns intensified after he obtained audit logs through a public records request covering searches conducted from

“Without a legitimate case number, there is zero paper trail tying a search to an official incident,” Hill said.

MPD says it uses LPR systems to identify and locate “vehicles of interest to law enforcement” and that the publicly posted audit logs were redacted records produced in response to an open records request. The department said an empty Case Number field does not indicate that a search lacked a legitimate law enforcement purpose.

The department says scanned plates are compared with law enforcement databases containing plate numbers for vehicles associated with active investigations, including missing-person cases, Amber or Silver Alerts, stolen vehicles and stolen license plates. It also says stored plate information may help investigators identify vehicles associated with crimes and develop leads.

Paul Engel, who has studied the Constitution and related documents for almost 15 years, said he does not believe recording vehicles and license plates visible from public roads is itself unconstitutional. In his view, the primary concerns involve data retention, security and how government officials search the collected information.

MPD said no current law or department policy requires it to obtain a warrant or establish an emergency justification before searching historical LPR data.

The department currently retains LPR data for 30 days, after which it is automatically deleted and no longer accessible. Data relevant to an investigation may be retained. Under Tennessee Code Annotated Section 55-10-302, captured plate data generally may not be stored longer than 90 days unless it is retained as part of an ongoing investigation. The law requires the data to be destroyed when the investigation or any resulting criminal action concludes.

Engel questioned whether a 30-day retention policy and a requirement that searches have a legitimate law enforcement purpose provide enough protection without clear enforcement procedures.

“Those are just words,” Engel said. “I would ask what procedures are in place to make sure these goals are met.”

Engel said safeguards should include proper training, an audit trail, regular reviews and consequences for anyone who accesses the system improperly. He also cautioned officers against treating a possible match as proof that a vehicle or its occupants are connected to a crime.

“Flock and other systems are only tools,” Engel said. “They are not to replace proper investigations.”

Hill believes the current safeguards are not enough and continues to call for the cameras’ removal.

MPD said users must select an offense type and enter a justification in a required Search Reason field, while the separate Case Number field is optional. According to the department, personnel routinely enter the applicable case number, incident number or other law enforcement justification in the required Search Reason field.

Search access is limited to personnel assigned to MPD’s Real Time Crime Center, according to the department. Lawrence said those personnel receive training on system operation and applicable laws, policies and procedures. The department said access logs are audited internally at least quarterly, no audit has identified an unauthorized or improper search, and audit findings are public records.

Ken Mayer, an assistant professor of computing at Lipscomb University’s School of Computing, said the technology can capture a vehicle’s make, type, color, license plate and distinguishing features, including damage or alterations. It also records where the vehicle passed the camera before transmitting the information to a cloud-based database.

Mayer, who said he has researched privacy for 25 years, explained that computer vision and machine learning allow the system to identify and categorize those details. However, technology can still make mistakes.

MPD said an LPR alert alone does not establish reasonable suspicion for a traffic stop or detention. Before making a stop or detention, an officer must visually confirm that the license plate matches the information in the alert. MPD also said all LPR alerts must be confirmed through the National Crime Information Center by Communications before criminal charges can be initiated.

Although MPD describes each image as a “moment-in-time” capture rather than constant surveillance, Mayer said data collected by multiple cameras could be connected to reveal patterns in a vehicle’s movements. Sharing information with other law enforcement agencies could allow those patterns to extend beyond one city, he said.

Mayer said storing the information on a private company’s system also creates questions about who can access it, how long it is kept, and whether it could be used for purposes beyond the original investigation.

MPD said it owns the data, does not sell it and does not share it with people or organizations outside law enforcement. The department directs the public to its Flock Transparency Portal for a list of law enforcement agencies with access to Murfreesboro’s data. MPD said outside agencies are responsible for establishing their own auditing procedures and complying with applicable laws and policies.

A subset of Flock Safety employees can view MPD’s LPR data to troubleshoot performance issues, but the department said those employees cannot access it without MPD’s express permission.

Mayer said an independent group outside city control should review access records and other safeguards. He said audit logs should show who accessed the system, when it was accessed and what the user searched for.

Copies of city contracts provided by Hill show that the city first agreed to purchase 15 license plate reader cameras under an agreement effective Aug. 1, 2025. That contract totals $128,250 over three years, or $42,750 annually.

An amendment effective Sept. 19, 2025, authorized the purchase of additional equipment for Murfreesboro parks and greenways. It lists 17 standalone license plate readers, eight dual-camera license plate reader bundles, one combined license plate reader and video unit, 23 pan-tilt-zoom video cameras and two fixed video cameras.

The 2025 Murfreesboro amendment allocates over half a million dollars over three years to the system: $195,515.10 for the first year and $161,158.80 in each of the following two years. Combined with the earlier $128,250 agreement, the two 2025 agreements total $646,082.70. The agreements cover license plate readers, video equipment and related services.

“We need the police to be able to do their jobs effectively,” Mayer said. However, he said officials should be open with residents about the surveillance technology being used and allow detailed public discussion.

The system and their concerns raise a central question for Murfreesboro to consider: How should the city use technology that may help solve crimes while protecting residents from unnecessary surveillance and misuse?

view a map of Flock camera locations at maps.deflock.org.

Where Crabs Swim in Butter

Murfreesboro s eafood Fans welcome k rustaceans to Church s treet

story By B racken M ayo photos By sarah M ayo

Seafood lovers have a spot in Murfreesboro; Krustaceans Seafood, which opened on Church Street near Indian Hills Golf Course in 2025, serves coastalstyle boils with crab, shrimp and lobster tail; fish and chips, fried shrimp baskets, fluffy waffles, and frozen drinks.

Here at Krustaceans—a sister store to the brand’s Nashville restaurant on Lebanon Pike, both owned and operated by Antoine Riley—find giant boiled seafood platters.

These range from a platter option with 10 shrimp, a sausage link, a boiled egg, corn on the cob and potatoes, going for $24.99, to the sharable King Krab Seaside Platter, a $150 spectacle complete with four king krab clusters, 15 shrimp, two sausages, two corn, two eggs and potatoes.

All of the platters come drenched in butter, with your choice of six flavorings—original Old Bay, Cajun, honey garlic, lemon pepper, spicy or garlic parmesan.

“Ordered the large shrimp boil with Cajun/garlic parmesan. Wife had the small with Cajun/Old Bay. This was the best boil I’ve had in years,” Scott Evanietz said following a meal. “What a great experience!”

The Bayside Platter is a hefty experience

with a full length of sausage, one krab cluster (Krustaceans consistently spells crab with a “k” on its menu), 12 shrimp, sausage, egg, corn and potatoes, for $38.49.

Everything is swimming in the deliciously seasoned butter, especially tasty on the shrimp and potatoes. And the Krustaceans team brings out a big bucket for waste, plastic bib, scissors and a crab cracker tool with all of these boil platters.

“Food was awesome; my boyfriend and I love us some seafood boils,” posted Krustaceans kustomer Kayla. “The potatoes had to be one of the best cooked and seasoned potatoes there is; shrimp tasted really fresh.”

A meal doesn’t necessarily have to be such an extravagant seafood feast at the Church Street eatery, though.

Krustaceans also offers a shrimp and chips lunch special containing eight fried shrimp, fries and a drink for $13.99, as well as a traditional fish and chips option.

Local diner Andy Zotti praised the fried fish and shrimp at Krustaceans

“The batter is excellent,” he reported. “And the restaurant is super clean. . . . Fantastic food!”

The

Dish k rustaceans s eafood

that

cook up smell delicious, giving off a sweet, freshly baked aroma to compete with the frying fish smells in the air.

These tasty fluffy waffles—available in plain and red velvet—are based on Riley’s grandmother’s waffle recipe.

Waffles do not have to be small and crisp things, a team member says, and the giant, puffy Krustaceans waffles prove that.

The restaurant serves these with a delicious, sweet cream cheese drizzle sauce.

Various colorful frozen drinks spin in the machines behind the counter—Krustaceans offers a full bar.

Otherwise, the menu has shrimp or fish po’ boy sandwiches, broccoli . . . and that’s about it. It specializes in seafood boils and fried shrimp and fish, but doesn’t have an overly large and complicated menu.

Krustaceans staff member Jewel gets great reviews, working front of the house.

“Fried shrimp, hush puppies, and fries were amazing, and swamp sauce fire,” said Lindsay Robinson. “Portion sizes definitely match the price. Jewel was a great server!”

If you don’t care for seafood, Krustaceans is probably not your place, unless you

2858 S. Church St. Mon.–Sat.: 11 a.m.–10 p.m. Sun.: 11 a.m.–8 p.m. 615-962-8203

Fish & chips: $21.49; Bayside Platter (1 krab cluster, 12 shrimp, sausage, egg, corn and potatoes): $38.49; Shrimp & chips lunch special with drink: $13.99; Fried lobster tail & red velvet waffle: $29.99; Seaside Platter (3 krab clusters, 15 shrimp, 2 sausages, 2 eggs, corn and potatoes): $74.99; Plain waffle: $7.49

murfreesboro.krustaceanstn.com

just happen to be in the mood for Cajun fries, a good waffle or a frozen piña colada. A bit surprisingly, even dine-in seafood boil orders arrive in foam clamshell containers, but metal trays are available upon request.

The bill can rack up at Krustaceans, but with the fried lunch specials and the option to split a platter, a diner can make a visit about as expensive as they wish.

Some report that the standard crab clusters are a bit on the smaller side, but overall, the portion sizes are really quite generous, and although the seafood may not fill up a diner, the sausage and potatoes certainly should.

So, seafood eaters, for a delicious coastal experience right in the heart of Murfreesboro, hit up Krustaceans. It just opened in 2025, but the relaxed spot is already becoming known as a place to celebrate a special occasion.

It seems that many in Murfreesboro definitely desired a restaurant selling good shrimp and fry baskets, and crab, shrimp and lobster boils.

“So happy we have a good seafood restaurant here,” TaShay Spencer posted.

a

round t o W n

218 Tavern, Sprout & Sprig, Joanie’s, Baskin-robbins, Spirit halloween, Ollie’s, Cadillac of Murfreesboro, Bob’s, Sewart’s Landing

By d elores e ll I ott

BiBLES ANd COFFEE has opened its family-owned and operated cafe at 214 W. Main St. after more than 10 years operating as an online business, with more than 15,000 Bibles sold and shipped nationwide.

The new downtown Murfreesboro coffeeshop will serve as a place for conversations and Bible study and will sell various Bibles with custom covers.

Hours are Monday through Saturday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more information, visit facebook.com/biblesandcoffee or biblesandcoffee.com/pages/visit

218 TAvErN has opened at 218 W. Vine St. In addition to the indoor tavern space, it offers an outdoor concert and hangout area, with live music from local bands.

BASkiN-rOBBiNS will open a new location on South Rutherford Boulevard near the Publix and Oscar’s at the Broad Street intersection.

The new location of the popular ice

JOANiE’S has opened its newly expanded next-door space on the Murfreesboro Public Square. The expansion nearly doubles the restaurant location’s footprint while preserving the atmosphere, food and drink offerings that have made Joanie’s a downtown favorite.

The addition features a new coffee bar, a comfortable lounge area with couches, expanded table seating and a fun collection of colorful artwork throughout the space. Guests can also enjoy a nostalgic touch with an old-school Pac-Man tabletop arcade game. Joanie’s has also expanded its wine selection.

Joanie’s is located at 13 S. Public Square in the heart of downtown Murfreesboro and is open for breakfast, brunch and lunch from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sundays. For more information, find Joanie’s on Facebook or Instagram or visit joaniesboro.com.

cream shop with 31 flavors of ice cream (so customers can try a different one each day of the month) will celebrate its grand opening on Saturday, Aug. 15, according to

OLLiE’S will open at the Mercury Plaza on Sept. 2. The discount retail store known for selling closeout merchandise, excess inventory, and overstock items at prices up to 70% off regular retail prices will offer a variety of items including food products, kitchen and bath, cleaning, decor, patio furniture, books, automotive, travel, toys, pet items, electronics and more. Visit ollies.com for further information.

Hours at Sprout & Sprig’s Murfreesboro shop are Monday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Visit sproutandsprigplants.com for more information.

PAuL MiTChELL ThE SChOOL MurFrEESBOrO has announced an agreement to teach-out of the Murfreesboro campus of gEOrgiA CArEEr iNSTiTuTE, which closed its doors on July 24, 2026.

The contract means that currently enrolled students from GCI can transfer their hours and finish their education at Paul Mitchell without financial penalty or disruption.

Georgia Career Institute was founded as Artistic Beauty College in 1975. In 1989, Joyce Meadows purchased the school and renamed it Georgia Career Institute, opening the Murfreesboro campus in 2004. GCI built a reputation for its small class sizes, hands-on salon-floor training, and career placement support that follows graduates for life.

management, with a soft opening happening earlier in the month.

McGuire Restaurant Group has opened a new MCdONALd’S location on Highway 231 near MMC South. This is Rutherford County’s 17th McDonald’s.

SPiriT hALLOWEEN has opened at the former Forever 21 in The Avenue (2615 Medical Center Pkwy.). Hours are Monday–Saturday, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Another location will open at the old Bargain Hunt off Old Fort Parkway (near Outback Steakhouse, between Walmart and Home Depot)—same location as last year—expected to open by end of August.

SPrOuT & SPrig PLANTS has opened a physical location at 418 N. Maney Ave. after previously operating online and at local pop-ups.

The local plant shop offers more than 300 items online, including rare plants, pet-safe plants, merch and art. Its website also provides detailed care tips for specific plants.

The Paul Mitchell name goes back to 1980, when hairstylist Paul Mitchell and businessman John Paul DeJoria launched John Paul Mitchell Systems with just $700 and three products, building it into one of the world’s most iconic professional hair care companies. The company later partnered with motivational speaker and business expert Winn Claybaugh to open the first Paul Mitchell School in 2001. Today, the network spans more than 100 accredited locations nationwide. The Paul Mitchell School brand arrived in Murfreesboro in 2010.

Paul Mitchell will continue to offer programs in cosmetology, esthetics, nail technology and cosmetology instructor training at its school, located within the Stones River Town Centre (1720 Old Fort Pkwy.), to aid in preparing graduates to take their respective Tennessee state board licensing examinations.

Prospective students and salon guests can learn more by calling 615-225-5130 or at paulmitchell.edu/murfreesboro

BOB’S diSCOuNT FurNiTurE will open a new Murfreesboro store on Aug. 17 at 2075 Old Fort Pkwy., bringing the national furniture retailer’s selection of affordable home furnishings to Rutherford County.

The new store will offer a variety of furniture for bedrooms, living rooms, din-

ing rooms and home offices, along with mattresses, decor and accessories. The company focuses on providing lowerpriced furniture options with delivery and financing services available.

Founded in 1991 in Connecticut, Bob’s Discount Furniture has grown to more than 150 locations across the United States. The Murfreesboro location joins an ever-growing list of major national retailers to open locations along Murfreesboro’s Old Fort Parkway corridor.

For more information, visit mybobs.com

huNgry SPOT JAMAiCAN CuiSiNE has transitioned from its restaurant spot on Memorial Boulevard, to operating out of its food truck, often located at 124 W. Northfield Blvd. in the Bestway Rent-to-Own parking lot, and at local events, serving its jerk chicken and curries.

dAiLy dEAL dEPOT has opened at 306 SE Broad St. and offers bin sales with different prices dependent on the given day. Hours and inventory can vary; find Daily Deal Depot on Facebook for updates.

gOLdEN ASh CigArS has opened at 1630 S. Church St. The new cigar lounge offers space for seasoned cigar enthusiasts and newcomers, as well as plenty of parking space. Hours are Monday through Thursday from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., Friday and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., and Sunday from 12 to 6 p.m. Visit goldenashtn.com for more info.

ChEvrOLET BuiCk gMC of Murfreesboro will build a new Cadillac of Murfreesboro facility near the John R. Rice and Fortress intersection, just across John R. Rice from the main Chevrolet Buick

GMC campus and the neighboring Nelson Mazda dealership.

ThrivE OrThOPEdiCS ANd rhEuMATOLOgy has opened a new local office at 1272 Garrison Dr., inside the Murfreesboro Medical Clinic, now taking appointments and new clients.

Nurse Practitioner Melissa Malley, with over 28 years in adult orthopedic experience, will work alongside Dr. Brant Bell, PA-C, the original founder of 7 Springs Orthopedics/Sport Ortho Urgent Care.

Dr. Jeff Peterson will also offer the new Jiffy Knee procedure, a minimally invasive, muscle-sparing knee replacement that avoids cutting major tendons or muscles to promote a quicker recovery.

The facility offers in-house imaging. To schedule an appointment, call 615-413-0388.

ACAdiAN AMBuLANCE has opened a new Rutherford County station at 315 Quecreek Circle in Smyrna, expanding the company’s emergency medical services operations in Middle Tennessee. A ribbon-cutting ceremony was held July 28 to celebrate the new facility.

The new station provides an additional operational base for Acadian Ambulance, allowing the company to better serve transportation needs throughout Rutherford County and surrounding areas. Acadian Ambulance is one of the largest private ambulance services in the country, providing emergency and non-emergency medical transportation, patient transfers, disaster response and other healthcare-related services.

Private ambulance companies operate differently from local government emergency medical services, typically maintaining their own dispatch centers and ptoviding scheduled or non-emergency transporta-

intersection of Silohill Lane and Greshampark Drive on a lot bordering I-24. The five-story hotel will provide 124 rooms and will stand approximately 63 feet tall, according to plans.

Set on the historic grounds of the former Sewart Air Force Base, and located on the corner of Sam Ridley Parkway and Highway 41 in Smyrna, SEWArT’S LANdiNg is a transformative $400 million mixed-use development built across 44 acres. It will offer 280,000-square-feet of retail space, approximately 400,000-square-feet of medical and office space, 240 hotel rooms, and 268 multi-family residential units.

CiTy BArBECuE—which recently opened its Murfreesboro location—said it expects its Smyrna restaurant at Sewart’s Landing to open by the end of August. Other confirmed tenants include WAWA, SPrOuT’S, JONAThAN’S griLLE, BrEW y ’ALL, hANd & STONE, SCiSSOrS & SCOTCh, ENCOrE NAiLS, and kEkE’S BrEAkFAST CAFE.

Many of the units expect to open in 2027 with other buildings in the Sewart’s Landing project remaining under development over the coming years. Visit sewartslandingsmyrna.com for updates.

tion, such as moving patients between hospitals, nursing homes, rehabilitation facilities and other healthcare locations. They may also provide contracted ambulance services depending on local arrangements.

Founded in Louisiana in 1971, Acadian Ambulance now operates across multiple states and employs thousands of paramedics, EMTs and support staff. For more information, visit acadian.com .

dOLLAr gENErAL has announced plans to build a new market on North Tennessee Boulevard, just south of East Northfield Boulevard.

Dollar General now operates over 20,000 stores in the contiguous 48 states, and has begun expanding into Mexico; its headquarters are located in Goodlettsville.

Rutherford County Schools is preparing to open its 53rd campus with the addition of POPLAr hiLL MiddLE SChOOL

The new $59.9 million, 169,000-square-foot middle school will serve approximately 860 students. Located at 5100 Baker Rd., Poplar Hill will hold a two-hour orientation day on Aug. 7, with the first full day of school set for Aug. 10. The home of the Bobcats.

closIng dEEP SOuTh grOWLErS (1602 W. Northfield Blvd.) will close in mid-to-late August, after more than 11 years in business. The Nashville location will remain open. Visit deepsouthgrowlers.com for more information.

Mi CAMiNO rEAL, located at 1890 Almaville Rd., has closed after 18 years of business. Mi Camino Real is unrelated to the popular local Camino Real brand.

After a few years in business, MAyA griLL MExiCAN FOOd has closed its Murfreesboro location at 805 Old Fort Pkwy.

Just a month after opening, hONkyTONkiN ‘BOuT has closed its location at 1 N. Lowry St. in Smyrna. According to reports, the business owners opened a similar business in Oregon, closed it quickly, and left that area.

Tractor Supply Co. announced that it will close 74 underperforming PETSENSE stores, reducing its pet retail store chain to 135 locations. The closures include the Murfreesboro location at 137 Wendlewood Dr., along with 4 other Tennessee locations.

s P otlight on local business

Blades & Blessings

How an Unexpected Phone Call Led to Murfreesboro Woman Saving a 60-Year-Old Manufacturing Company story and photos By

Bracken Mayo

soMe BusIness owneRs ARRIve where they are through meticulous career path planning and carefully mapping out their future. Others ride the wave and let things unfold.

Local small business owner Carrie Richards didn’t set out to be the owner/operator of an American manufacturing company specializing in flail mower blades from a young age, but the longtime Murfreesboro resident calls her journey to ownership of a mower parts manufacturer “a God thing.”

Today, Richards runs Flail-Master, a Murfreesboro-based company with roots stretching back more than six decades. The company produces steel mower blades and replacement parts used everywhere, from Tennessee farms to military bases overseas, cranberry bogs, airports, vineyards and even ski resorts.

Flail-Master traces its history back to the 1960s, when founder Harold Mensior began manufacturing replacement flail mower blades in Michigan. The business later relocated to the Berry Hill area

of Nashville before eventually moving its manufacturing operation to Murfreesboro, where its products—namely, flail mower replacement blades—are still produced today.

Flail mowers—heavy-duty machines used by farmers, highway departments, municipalities, landscapers and property managers—don’t rely on one large rotating blade as do standard mowers, but rather individual teeth mounted to a rotating drum.

“These mowers take anywhere from 40 to 216 blades,” Richards said.

Even if a replacement blade costs $5

to $10, outfitting an entire machine can represent a sizeable investment for the flail mower operator—but still far less than replacing the entire piece of equipment.

Flail-Master manufactures these blades, as well as hangers, brackets, skid shoes and other wear parts, while also serving as a distributor for rotary mower blades, hay cutter blades, hay tines, chainsaw products and other related equipment.

For years, Richards worked in the local service industry, tending bar and serving customers in Murfreesboro restaurants while raising her family as a single mother, but she has since found her role, her niche, and a passion for mower parts, carving out a fulfilling career in the manufacturing industry.

Murfreesboro Pulse: how did you acquire flail-Master?

carrIe rIchards: I was working at Cheddar’s; I was actually desperate to get out of Cheddar’s. The manager at the car place next door, City Auto, he used to come in and eat with me. He told me, “Bring me

a résumé and you can come sell cars. You need to get out from behind here. You need to make more money. You’ll have insurance.” I was going to be a car salesman.

So I went to the unemployment office, used the computer, did my résumé. The next morning I got up—this was July 2015—I got up and was drinking coffee getting ready to go over to City Auto. I got a phone call [from someone else, at FlailMaster] and she asked me if I wanted to come in for an interview. Before we hung up, I said, “How did you get my résumé?” And she said “The tennessee.gov website sent it over to me because you had keywords on there for the job position we had open.” So from the very get-go, this has been a God moment for me.

My first day was Aug. 31, 2015. I was hired as a salesperson, basically, lowest man on the totem pole. I wasn’t here a month and a half, and I’ll never forget, my boss came to me and she was like, “Do you have your passport?”

And I said, “No, ma’am, I’ve always wanted one.” And she was like, “We’re going to pay for you to get it if you want to go on this trip with us. And if you’ve got somebody you want to take with you, you get a plus-one.” I was just floored. It was the first time in my life that I felt like I had somehow landed it.

I got put in the sales manager position in 2017 and worked in that function until we closed [in late 2019]. Did a million dollars in sales in 2018; I was pretty proud of that.

[Flail-Master founder Harold Mensior passed away in 2009; his wife, Mary Ann, passed away in 2016 and their son, Kerry, who lived out of state, inherited the business and owned it during this time.]

His name is Kerry. We always thought that was funny. He lived in California. It wasn’t his thing. So we closed [Flail-Master] a week

before Christmas 2019. I still had a mortgage. Couldn’t find a job. COVID was just starting. I was in my backyard, in my hammock, crying to God. “I know you didn’t help me get this house—and I just bought a car—and then, you know, pull the rug out.” It was very scary. [Richards went on unemployment briefly, receiving only $200 a week; in an effort to pick back up in the mower parts industry, she began trying to sell some parts out of her garage on eBay.]

One morning, I woke up in April [2020] And I audibly heard God say, “Get a business license.” I was like, it’s $15, it’s worth it. And so I did. Two or three days later, that’s when I got the phone call from the previous owner. He was like, “Hey, I need your help. I sold the building, but I was not able to sell the trademark and the proprietary stuff that goes with Flail-Master. The phones are forwarded to my cellphone, and it won’t stop ringing.”

I said, “Well, Kerry, I got a business license three days ago. This is what I’ve been doing.” And he was like, “Well, I’ll just send them to you until I get it figured out.” I set everything up and was selling more parts in my bedroom. It was June when I finally asked [longtime Flail-Master machinist] Patrick Dunn, because we stayed in touch, “You think he’d sell it to us?” We went straight into planning right after that phone conversation.

We both were very excited. We went and met with the bank, and the guy, we were showing him our business plan. It was the president of the bank. I’ll never forget that man looking at us and he was like, “You know, this is a really great opportunity, but I just don’t think you understand. You’re unemployed. I can’t get the board to approve a loan.”

We were both kind of low in the mouth when we left there. We knew we could do this together with his expertise and mine. But [Patrick] called me the night after that. He said, “I’ll help you, but I just can’t put everything I got on the line.” I said, “Well, okay, but I don’t even know how I’m going to do it.”

In July, Kerry called again, and he said “The people who bought the building, they’re really wanting these machines out of the building. Do you think that you and Patrick could go over there and measure them up, figure out what it’s going to take?”

It was father and son who owned the place. We got ready to leave after we went and measured them, and the father asked what we were going to do with the machines. I said, “I plan to send them to a facility down in Alabama and have blades made; I’m going to continue the business.”

He goes, “You ever seen Shark Tank?” And I said, “Yes, sir.” And he goes, “Well, I’d like to see your business plan if you got one. . . . “Yeah, me and my son, we sold the business we bought this building for, and hey, if it’s a

good investment, I mean, it sounds like you need space to rent.” And I was like, “Well, I wish I could.” He’s like, “Let’s meet.”

So I did. I met with them, and I sent them a business plan. And three hours after they sent me an offer I couldn’t refuse.

Kerry flew in and my partners put up the money for us to buy all the proprietary stuff. We had it all legalized. We signed all the things and moved right back in this building, November 2020, and started right back up.

. . . Now, this is our sixth summer.

There is no way we’d be where we are right now if Patrick hadn’t come back to help me.

I’m forever grateful for that. He’s taught my son [Max, himself now an important part of the Flail-Master team] things that he can’t go to school and learn—the intricacies of what is done in the shop. He knows what he’s doing.

who are your customers?

Our customer base is everything from Joe Farmer to a city, county, state department, military, airports. We’ve got blueberry farmers, a lot of cranberry farmers up north, lots of vineyards that use these to do their in-between rows. We’ve got customers in Hawaii, Canada, Australia, Sweden. One of our customers is a military base out in Guam. Colleges. Prisons. Anywhere that somebody’s got flail mowers.

We’ve got small manufacturers. One in par-

ticular in Ohio, they decided they were going to make a flail mower. We’re their only source for parts outside of what they make themselves. We had a company that used our blades in their machines that fluffed insulation. A ski resort uses them in a machine to fluff snow. We service the Amish. They go to the pay phone still in town to call us and ask me the total and send me a check. But I send them their parts, because I know they ain’t lying.

what is the most challenging aspect of running the business?

It’s hard. It’s a lot. There are days when they see me cry. We have a season, and then we have an off-season. It gets real iffy. But I think I’m learning that I really do have it.

what’s your favorite part?

Well, proving that even though I’m a girl, I know what I’m talking about when it comes to mowers. Earning the trust of the men who call me.

A little story: We’ll say “Mr. Farmer” called me, and he wanted to argue with me about the part he needed for his mower, but I knew what flail mower he had, and I said, “You know, Mr. Farmer, I’m looking at the schematic breakdown for your mower, and I believe, really, this is the part number that you need.” And he yelled at me, and he said, “Your job is to

take the order, and your job is to send me the parts, and don’t worry about the rest.” And I said, “Well, you know what, I’m going to do that, Mr. Farmer, but I want to make sure I let you know that when this part gets there and it’s wrong, you’re going to pay to send it back to me, but I will be happy to send you the part I believe you need.” He said, “Fine” and hung up on me. A week later he called and I said, “Hey, Mr. Farmer, how can I help?” And he says, “Well, hold on a second. Let me get outside.” And he goes, “I had to get out of earshot of my wife because I had to tell you you was right, and I was wrong, and I am so sorry. I will never question you again.”

I’m so grateful to be able to write paychecks. I’m so grateful to have the opportunity to employ people and build our business locally. It’s been really rewarding. Every morning when I pull out of my driveway now, I look at my little house. Every single day, even when I’m upset, I say the same things for the four miles. “Thank you God for my home. Thank you God for my kids. Thank you God for my life. Thank you for my work. Thank you for my friends. Thank you for everything.”

what advice do you have for people starting a small business?

Don’t forget that your dream can be bigger, even if you haven’t imagined it yet.

My favorite all-time quote is: “If your ship doesn’t come in, swim out to it,” by Jonathan Winters.

For a long time, people just saw me as a bartender. And a hot mess. But I’ve always been driven to be an entrepreneur. I just didn’t find where my gears were fitting until I looked at a mower breakdown and realized numbers are my thing.

anything else Murfreesboro should know about flail Master?

We’re getting ready to have a full line of safety arborist gear. We don’t just do mower parts. We sell chainsaw bars and chains and now we have tree climbing safety equipment. It’s a full arborist supply. We’re going to bring in bulk rope; nobody in Middle Tennessee actually has bulk rope for arborists but that’s going to be part of what we’re expanding into.

We have pine straw.

For our local customers, we always keep their mower blades in stock so that if they bend one, break one, whatever it is, they know they can depend on us to be here.

We’ll leave parts outside for them for pick up at their convenience if they’ve already paid or they’re local.

For more information on Flail-Master or to shop online, visit flailmaster.com.

Opinion

titans

to induct cJ2k into ring of honor

team to h it 2026 s eason With n ew c oaching s taff; n o m en in Women’s s ports!

ThE TrAiN dAddy iS BACk with sports news, life lessons and politically incorrect talk. All aboard! Let me start by offering prayers for Chris Johnson and his family. The legendary Titans running back recently shared his ALS diagnosis. He found out he had the disease that attacks the nerves that control muscles, also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, at the young age of 39. It’s a brutal thing, and I can’t even fathom what he and his family have been dealing with. It was awesome seeing all the love the fans and

franchise sent his way in prayer and the thousands of completed ALS ice-bucket challenge videos.

I am looking forward to the home opener on Sept. 13, Week 1 vs. the Jets. CJ2K will be inducted into the Titans Ring of Honor at halftime as one of the franchises’ best running backs. Chris will become the first inductee who began his career in the Tennessee era rather than the Houston era. Call me biased, but Tennessee is the best state in the country and American football is the best sport in the world.

World cuP

With that said, there were many people who wanted the World Cup to fail in America and blame President Trump for it. It was a massive hit, and the international fans became the stars of the party. Social media had a blast watching fans turn their trips into viral celebrations embracing American culture, the food and hospitality of all these host states. It certainly drowned out the noise of those rambling about American politics and geopolitical tensions, even if only for a short time. I do have one complaint, though. Sure, soccer players may have the best cardio in sports, but rolling around crying to refs has got to stop. I understand it’s part of the game, selling the pain for a penalty, but it’s an embarrassing, stupid part of the game.

Will Team U.S.A. ever win the World Cup? Good luck. It’s not an easy thing to do. I certainly appreciate the effort given. Winning the group stage and advancing to the Round of 16 is a step in the right direction. Many doubted the Americans would make it that far, and while it ended in disaster against Belgium, they got a round of applause from me—well, for everyone except Christian Pulisic. The marquee player did nothing but lose possession of the ball. On a global stage you can’t help but respect the massive popularity of soccer. It’s also cool that here in the best state in America we currently have the best team in the MLS. Shout-out to Nashville Soccer Club, sitting atop the standings with a very balanced team that leads the MLS in goal differential. Move over Lionel Messi, this is Hany Mukhtar’s year to bring an MLS cup to Nashville.

W nba

Sophie Cunningham and the WNBA, the latest sports star to publicly take on the insane issue of trans athlete participation. It really is baffling that this is still a debate. The vast majority over-

whelmingly agree with Sophie’s “common sense” take.

Cunningham believes trans women and girls have no place in female sports. I concur! Biology matters in sports. It directly influences athletic strength, speed and performance and is the scientific basis for originally separating men/women in certain sports.

It makes zero difference how many examples we have. Even one is too many. One becomes two becomes four, and so on and so on. The fact it’s even a debate is enough to speak out about.

I appreciate people like Sophie standing on business now, so this nonsense doesn’t take root.

We even recently had one of the owners of the Seattle Storm verbally confront two teenage fans courtside for holding signs and wearing shirts supporting Indiana Fever star Sophie Cunningham’s stance on trans athletes.

You can’t make this stuff up— an angry butch co-owner of a professional team in the stands, yelling at teen girls who simply believe only women should be allowed to play in women’s leagues.

Thankfully the WNBA punished team co-owner Celeste Keaton with a ban and fine. It’s ridiculous the bubble these people live in, and thank God for Sophie Cunningham and these brave teen girls for shaking it up.

I am not telling anyone how to live life; adult trans individuals should have the right to live life as they see fit. But in the realm of sports there is nothing complex about the topic. It’s a very simple matter regarding fair play.

I should just stick with football talk, which creates less drama and fewer angry DMs and emails. But it feels necessary to speak out, and I believe the majority of you readers appreciate it.

l et’s talk t itans!

The Tennessee Titans are currently in camp with preseason football just around the corner. The team has a new coaching staff, new look, new players and

a QB who is now entering year two of his NFL career with very high expectations.

It’s been rough football these last few years. Coach Callahan was a disaster, but we have new leadership in the building, and so far, it shows. Head Coach Salah brings a fast and violent defensive-minded culture, and he certainly has the right player in Big Jeff Simmons to help him execute those plans.

Originally, I wanted an offensive-minded coach to lead as head coach. Everything about this team’s success and future sits on the shoulders of Cam Ward, the number-one overall pick last season. That’s why I was thrilled when the Titans hired the former Giants head coach in Brian Daboll to run this offense.

Nobody can deny Coach Daboll’s track record in working with quarterbacks—Josh Allen, Tua Tagovailoa, Jalen Hurts, Brett Favre, Daniel Jones and Russell Wilson, just to name a few. He has a young QB in his hands with Cam Ward. Daboll will deploy heavy mental repetition with Cam and hopefully have him becoming a more efficient passer and using his feet more often when the play breaks down.

The offense will continue its growth, with positive play as the goal. Cam Ward certainly has better weapons around him than he did as a rookie. From his new receivers to a couple gigantic tight-ends I call the bash brothers in Helm and Bellinger.

The only real question mark remains at offensive line, and it’s a huge worry for me. They struggled last year and they didn’t do much to address it. If that’s the case, Coach Daboll better be prepared to have Cam get rid of the ball quickly and use those legs more often.

I can’t wait for my favorite time of the year, and it’s almost here. The fall season in the hills of Tennessee, with football in full swing. It’s a beautiful time to be living life. The Train is rolling into the station. Choo-choo!

tech talk

By Byron glenn

The Power Question

Surge in Electrical d emand From d ata Center Servers

Part 3 of an ongoing series on data centers, power, and the grid in Middle Tennessee.

yOur hOME’S ELECTriC

meter speeds up in the morning, slows down while you’re away, picks up again at dinner, and eases off overnight. Now, imagine a building where every appliance runs at full power all day, every day, even on holidays. That’s what a data center is like. It’s always on, never leaves, and never lowers the thermostat.

For about 15 years, Tennessee’s electricity use stayed mostly the same. Homes became more efficient, people switched to LED bulbs, and energy use stayed flat. But around 2020, it started to rise for the first time in 20 years.

A July report from ThinkTennessee, a nonpartisan Nashville think tank, says data centers are the main reason. Data centers’ electricity use in the Tennessee Valley grew about sevenfold between 2020 and 2025.

deMand Is serVers, not faMIlIes

The Tennessee Valley Authority’s numbers show the same trend. In 2025, data centers made up about 18 percent of TVA’s industrial electricity use,

and shopping list. It projects electricity demand rising 16 percent by 2040 in its baseline case and up to 60 percent in the high-growth case the region is currently on track to reach. Meeting that could require up to 32 gigawatts of new capacity: as much as 26 gigawatts of natural gas, up to 5 gigawatts of nuclear, plus storage, solar, and efficiency programs. TVA also wants small modular reactors at its Clinch River site near Oak Ridge, a 300-megawatt design capable of powering roughly a quarter million homes.

buy” the energy their projects need rather than lean on ratepayers. Governor Lee signed on too. Worth knowing: the pledge is voluntary and non-binding. It promises what the April law already requires, and it covers only who pays for power. Water, the subject of Part 2, goes unmentioned, along with noise and emissions. Pledges set the tone. Rules set the bill.

a graIn of salt

and TVA expects that share to double by 2030. If you add up all the data centers running now and those planning to connect, TVA says they would use as much power as about six million homes, which is more than twice the number of households in Tennessee. The surge in demand is real, but it’s not because of how families use electricity. It’s not about someone leaving the lights on. The growth comes from servers.

what t Va plans to BuIld

To meet it, TVA has launched what it calls the largest capital program in its history: 6.2 gigawatts of new generation, including a 1.5-gigawatt natural gas plant at Cumberland City expected online this year and another near Kingston in 2027.

To better understand units: A megawatt is a unit. One megawatt equals a thousand kilowatts. One gigawatt is a thousand megawatts. Each step is a thousand times bigger than the last. A single gigawatt can power about 800,000 homes.

The future is bigger still. In June, TVA released its 2026 Integrated Resource Plan. Think of it as the utility’s 20-year budget

A federal licensing hearing on the reactor is scheduled for Aug. 13, one week before the TVA board meets. And in February, TVA’s board voted to keep the aging coal plants at both sites running through 2039, a reversal that the Southern Environmental Law Center estimates could cost $730 million just to keep the Cumberland plant operating.

Remember the pattern from Part 1. The real question isn’t if the grid will grow, but how it will grow and who will pay for it.

who pays?

Tennessee has begun setting new rules. The April law discussed in Part 1 of this series stops utilities from covering infrastructure costs for large data centers. In February, TVA sent a letter to all 153 local power companies, suggesting that data centers should have their own rate class and pay upfront for the infrastructure they need. In other words, the always-on refrigerator pays its own price. ThinkTennessee’s report points out what’s at stake: in Tennessee counties with data centers, residential bills went up 3.2 percent from 2023 to 2024, while commercial customers’ bills went down a little. One more sheet of paper recently landed on the stack. On July 23, TVA signed the White House’s Ratepayer Protection Pledge, which urges data center operators to “build, bring, or

On Aug. 20, TVA’s board meets to vote on the Integrated Resource Plan and set next year’s capital budget. The proposed data-center rate class could come up as early as the same meeting. Pay attention to how much natural gas infrastructure gets built, whether nuclear stays on schedule, and whether data centers get their own rate class with their own price tag.

The build-out was never in question. The bill is.

Nationally, utilities report receiving up to 10 times more data center connection requests than facilities that get built. Developers shop the same project to multiple utilities, like a homebuyer getting pre-approved at multiple banks. That’s why TVA plans in ranges and scenarios instead of a single number. Announcements are not buildings.

Next month, Part 4: Memphis. Inside the xAI project, the environmental fight it triggered, and what happens when a data center outruns its regulators.

Byron glenn is a speaker, business consultant, nonprofit co-founder, app developer, and Murfreesboro Tech Council Advisory member.

From e ntertainment to Detainment

Murfreesboro property being considered for new jail was once home to horse races, carnivals

heLLo eveRyone, I hope the summer finds you all well, and hopefully you’re getting to travel a little bit. Here, I thought we would go back in time with all of the hoopla over eminent domain and Rutherford County looking into building a new jail on the old fairgrounds property. This land sits just behind Krystal on South Church Street.

Several years ago I did a story on that property and I thought I would refresh everybody on what used to be there, considering the jail discussion getting a lot of attention lately. I bet you didn’t know that, right behind Krystal, Murfreesboro had a fairgrounds that held several events over the years. It began in 1868 just after the Civil War when some northern investors bought 30 acres of the Alfred Miller estate. They built a fairground, enclosed with a plank fence. It contained a half-mile track for training horses and, later, harness racing.

They also built an amphitheater with a show ring that had a grandstand for all the spectators. There were stalls and stables for the livestock. Reportedly, the grounds were very well landscaped. This new facility was called the Tennessee Central.

A good nearby point of reference is the Sanbyrn Bridge on South Rutherford Boulevard that crosses the railroad tracks just behind Wendy’s. Back in the day, the train would stop there and let the race horses and jockeys off and they would make their way up South Rutherford Boulevard to the fairgrounds on race day.

Beginning in the late 1800s, harness racing was the big draw to the fair. Cash prizes were typically $20. Around the early 1900s the fairground property was very active with exhibitions, circuses and even revivals. Later, during the Great Depression years, the fairgrounds struggled.

There were great hopes for the fairgrounds in 1934. The Rutherford Courier reported a three-day fair that had a carnival with six riding devices, 10 side shows and 30 concessions. There were agricultural and domestic exhibits and competitions. Daytime harness racing and nighttime horse shows filled the arena.

While the racetrack was primarily used for horse racing, there are also accounts of auto races being held at the property long

ago. Today, you can still see some of the remnants of the fairgrounds, like asphalt.

Did you know . . . ? Back in 1987, Rutherford County was one of several counties across Tennessee that were being considered for parimutuel gambling, which meant there was a possibility of horse racing coming back to Rutherford County. When the Tennessee General Assembly passed the Racing Control Act of 1987, allowing parimutuel gambling on horse races, it also set up the Tennessee State Racing Commission to issue track licenses and make sure people followed state law. There was a gentleman here in Murfreesboro by the name of Claude Cockrell who was hoping to bring horse racing to Rutherford County. It was frowned upon because some thought that gambling could bring some criminals and seedy activity with it. Before it all panned out, Cockrell himself was indicted for some illegal activities and it never got off the ground.

On a personal note, back in the 1970s my grandfather, Bill Wilson, who served as Rutherford County Road Superintendent, was in charge of the Rutherford County Workhouse. Today it’s known as the Juvenile Center. It sits next door to the fairground property that the county is wanting to build a new jail on. I remember as a small child going to have breakfast at the workhouse with him, other jailers, and prisoners alike. Granddaddy kept his mules in a barn on the old fairground property, and I can vividly remember going with him and my brother, David Wilson, to check on those old mules.

Personally, I think Rutherford County is big enough to have fairgrounds. It could actually be on the property we’re talking about, though the county has found it necessary to build a new jail there. The property will have gone from a place for entertainment to a place for detainment. What are your thoughts, my good people?

I hope everybody has a blessed summer and remember to always go out and do something nice for somebody. God bless!

Some of this information comes from John Spence’s book Annals of Rutherford County and from rutherford County historian greg Tucker.

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 24TH

6:00PM - 9:00PM

HISTORIC DOWNTOWN MURFREESBORO

By jennIfer durand

Protecting your Peace Live Exceptionally...Well!

PRoTeCTInG youR PeACe is one of the greatest acts of self-respect. In a world that constantly competes for our attention, protecting your peace isn’t selfish, it’s essential. We often think of peace as something we stumble upon during a vacation, a quiet morning, or a rare moment when life finally slows down. But true peace isn’t found in perfect circumstances. It’s created through intentional choices we make every day.

Protecting your peace means recognizing what nourishes your spirit and what quietly drains it. It means giving yourself permission to step away from things that create unnecessary stress, negativity or emotional exhaustion. It’s not about avoiding life’s challenges; it’s about choosing how you respond to them and deciding what deserves access to your heart and mind.

The truth is, we cannot pour from an empty cup. When we neglect our own well-being, every relationship, responsibility, and goal begins to suffer. Protecting your peace allows you to show up as a healthier, kinder and more present version of yourself. It isn’t about building walls around your life, it’s about creating healthy boundaries that allow you to thrive.

One of the biggest misconceptions about protecting your peace is believing it means eliminating all conflict. Life will always present difficult conversations, disappointments and unexpected obstacles. Peace isn’t the absence of problems; it’s the presence of stability within yourself, even when circumstances are less than ideal. It comes from knowing that not every battle deserves your energy and not every opinion requires your response.

takes a significant toll over time. Protecting your peace sometimes means limiting your exposure to unhealthy dynamics while investing more deeply in relationships that encourage, inspire and support you. Another overlooked pitfall is carrying things we were never meant to carry. We often take responsibility for other people’s choices, emotions or expectations. While compassion is a beautiful quality, there is a difference between caring for others and carrying burdens that belong to them. Learning where your responsibility ends and someone else’s begins is one of the healthiest forms of emotional freedom.

So what does protecting your peace actually look like in daily life? It may begin with something as simple as creating a quiet morning routine before reaching for your phone. Instead of immediately inviting the outside world into your thoughts, spend a few moments stretching, praying, meditating, journaling or simply enjoying your coffee in silence. Those first few may shape the tone of the entire day. Protecting your peace may also look like setting boundaries with your time. Not every invitation requires attendance. Not every text demands an immediate response. Not every problem needs you to solve it. Giving yourself permission to pause before saying “yes” creates space for more intentional decisions. It also means paying attention to what you consume. The books you read, the conversations you engage in, the news you absorb, the music you listen to, and the content filling your social media feed all influence your mindset. If something consistently leaves you feeling anxious, discouraged or emotionally depleted, it may be time to make a change.

There are, however, several pitfalls that can quietly steal our peace if we’re not paying attention. One of the most common is over-committing. Many of us have a difficult time saying “no” because we don’t want to disappoint others. We say yes to one more obligation, one more favor, one more event, until our calendars are full and our spirits are empty. Every “yes” to something unimportant is often a “no” to something that truly matters—our health, our families, our rest, or ourselves.

Daily gratitude is another powerful practice. Peace often grows where gratitude lives. Taking a few moments each day to acknowledge what is good shifts our focus away from what’s missing and toward what is already present.

Forgiveness also plays a significant role in protecting your peace. Holding onto resentment is like carrying a heavy backpack that only grows heavier with time. Forgiveness doesn’t excuse harmful behavior or erase healthy boundaries. It simply frees you from allowing someone else’s actions to continue occupying your emotional space.

Another peace thief is comparison. Social media has made it easier than ever to measure our lives against someone else’s carefully edited snapshots. Yet everyone is walking a different path with different challenges that aren’t always visible. Lasting peace grows when we focus on our own journey instead of someone else’s highlight reel.

Negative relationships can also quietly erode our well-being. While no relationship is perfect, consistently spending time with people who criticize, manipulate, gossip or drain your emotional energy

Protecting your peace requires giving yourself grace. There will be days when you feel overwhelmed, make mistakes, or react in ways you wish you hadn’t. Peace isn’t about perfection; it’s about returning to center with compassion instead of criticism.

Jennifer durand is the owner and operator of The Nurture Nook day Spa & gift Shoppe. Call 615896-7110 or visit nurturenook.com to learn more.