American Classical Academy Rutherford has unveiled new details about its location in La Vergne, which will welcome students this fall.
Read the full storyTag: Rutherford County
Head of School at Rutherford Classical Academy Phillip Schwenk Announces New Charter School Will Be Located in La Vergne
Phillip Schwenk, the founding head of school at Rutherford Classical Academy, announced that the charter school will be located in La Vergne on Ingram Boulevard, close to I-24, and will accept 340 students the first school year.
The Rutherford County School Board voted last April to approve the building of the charter school by a vote of 5-2.
Read the full storyMysterious Email Supporting Property Assessor Rob Mitchell Sent to Rutherford County Employees
Several Rutherford County officials received a mysterious email message cautioning them to support incumbent property assessor candidate Rob Mitchell following a Tennessee Star report about his hiring practices, according to an email obtained by The Star.
Ahead of Mitchell’s bid for reelection, he hired the son of two Rutherford County officials, Michael Maxwell, for a position in the property assessor’s office created for Maxwell after determining he was unqualified for the original job posting, The Star previously reported.
Read the full storyRutherford County Property Assessor Hires Son of County GOP Chairman and a School Board Member for Newly Created Position After He Was Determined Unqualified for Original Position
Rutherford County Property Assessor Rob Mitchell hired the son of the Rutherford County GOP chairman for a position he was unqualified for ahead of Mitchell’s bid for reelection in 2024.
Mitchell hired Michael Maxwell, son of Rutherford County GOP Chairman Austin Maxwell, in January 2024 despite not meeting the minimum requirements of the position he applied for, according to documents obtained by The Tennessee Star with an open records request.
Read the full storyCommentary: Ensuring Substitute Teachers Are Trained on Safety Procedures in Tennessee
Our schools are the bedrock of our communities, serving not only as centers of education but also as places of refuge and safety for our children. In an era of heightened concerns about school safety, it is essential that we leave no stone unturned in ensuring our schools are secure environments. One critical aspect of this is the requirement for substitute teachers to be adequately trained on lockdown procedures and safety protocols. It’s a seemingly small detail, but it plays a pivotal role in keeping our schools safe and our students protected.
Read the full storyState Ruling Denies Vanderbilt University Medical Center’s Proposal to Build New Hospital in Murfreesboro
Vanderbilt University Medical Center (VUMC) was recently denied approval from building its proposed 48-bed hospital in Rutherford County, according to reports.
Read the full storyRutherford County Holds Public Comment Hearing on Proposed Property Tax Rate Hike
The Rutherford County Budget and Finance Committee held a public comment hearing on Tuesday night for residents to weigh in before the county commission votes on the mayor’s 16.17 percent property tax rate increase.
Read the full storyFormer Tennessee State Sen. Dolores Gresham: Story Claiming American Classical Education Charter Schools’ ‘Core Knowledge’ Program Has ‘Links’ to Common Core Is False
American Classical Education (ACE) board member Dolores Gresham, a former Tennessee state senator, said Tuesday the story at Tennessee Lookout that claimed Hillsdale College’s affiliated ACE charter schools are teaching a curriculum with links to the Common Core Standards, is “false.”
“The Core Knowledge Foundation program is not the same thing as Common Core,” Gresham said in a statement. “It is decades older than Common Core and is already in use by many schools in Tennessee – including all three of Nashville’s top-performing charter schools.”
Read the full storyRutherford County American Classical Education Charter School to Begin Application Process Later This Year
Friday morning on The Tennessee Star Report, host Michael Patrick Leahy welcomed Phil Schwenk with American Classical Education charter schools in studio to react to approval by Rutherford County to open up the application process.
Read the full storyRutherford County Approves Charter School Application from American Classical Education
The Rutherford County School Board voted on Tuesday to approve American Classical Education’s (ACE) application to build a charter school. The vote was 5-2.
Read the full storyRutherford County Mayor Joe Carr Explains the Benefits of the Proposed 2023 Property Taxpayers Protection Act
Wednesday morning on The Tennessee Star Report, host Leahy welcomed Rutherford County Mayor Joe Carr to the newsmaker line to explain the details of the proposed 2023 Property Taxpayers Protection Act.
Read the full storyRutherford County Seeks Parity from Legislature in Options for Cities and Counties to Deal with Growth
Rutherford County is seeking parity from the state legislature in terms of options available for cities and counties in dealing with the expansion of services demanded by the unprecedented growth in the state.
At the regular meeting of the Rutherford County Board of Commissioners held Thursday evening, a resolution was passed by a vote of 18 to 3 requesting the county’s legislative delegation to support any bills presented in the 2023 legislative session to amend the 2006 County Powers Relief Act.
Read the full storyAmerican Classical Education Announces Intent to Apply for Charter Schools in Five Tennessee Counties
American Classical Education (ACE) informed the Tennessee Department of Education and school boards of education in five counties – Rutherford, Montgomery, Madison, Maury, and Robertson – in separate letters last week it intends to apply for public school charters to operate classical schools in those five counties.
“We’ve filed our letters of intent with the school districts and the department,” Dolores Gresham, an ACE board member, former Tennessee State Senator, and former Senate Education Committee Chair, told The Tennessee Star.
Read the full storyRutherford County Public Works Committee Selects Engineering Firm to Design New Municipal Solid Waste Transfer Station
The Rutherford County Public Works Committee recently selected TriAD Environmental Consultants, Inc. of Nashville, to begin designing a municipal solid waste transfer station. A transfer station is a facility where solid waste is delivered and prepared for transport to its final destination.
Read the full storySumner, Rutherford County Sheriff Offices Warn of Scam Caller Falsely Claiming to Represent the Sheriff’s Office
The Sumner County Sheriff’s Office issued a warning to the public on Friday to be aware of an increase in scam calls impersonating the Sumner County Sheriff’s Office.
The Sumner County Sheriff’s Office released a statement on Facebook, saying, “Recently there has been an increase in scam calls. When the calls are answered, the subject claims to be from the Sheriff’s Office and will even provide a name, in some cases they have used a third-party application, so the caller ID shows the Sheriff’s Office phone number. When you check the number, it appears to be from the Sheriff’s Office. The caller will request payment for bond or claim you missed jury duty and need to pay a fine to avoid being arrested.”
Read the full storyRutherford County School Board Says Schools Are at Full Capacity
The Rutherford County Board of Education expressed their concerns regarding the lack of space available for teachers, students, and storage at the board of education meeting on Wednesday.
Dr. Sullivan expressed his concern at the board of education meeting, saying, “We have an extra gym class on what used to be the stage. We have split our structured setting CDC classroom into four different classrooms, so they have different pods within that structured setting. Every teacher work room but one has been turned into a classroom.”
Read the full storyThe Tennessee Department of Environment Announces over $34 Million for Infrastructure Grants
The Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC) announced on Tuesday that 12 grants totaling $34,585,121 from Tennessee’s American Rescue Plan, will be administered in the form of water, wastewater, and stormwater infrastructure grants.
“These grants will address important water infrastructure needs across our state, especially in disadvantaged communities. We commend communities who have gone through the application process, and we look forward to the substantial improvements the grant will bring,” said Governor Bill Lee.
Read the full storyTwo Rutherford County EMT-Ps Assisting Hurricane Ian Victims in Florida
Two EMT-Ps from Rutherford County are in Fort Myers, Florida assisting victims of Hurricane Ian, according to a press release from the county.
Read the full storyAmerican Classical Education Withdraws Appeals to the Tennessee Public Charter School Commission
American Classical Education (ACE) announced Thursday that it had withdrawn its appeals to the Tennessee Public Charter School Commission that would open charter schools in Madison, Montgomery, and Rutherford counties.
Read the full storyGOP Nominee for Rutherford County Mayor Joe Carr Committed to Renegotiating Contract on Middle Point Landfill
Thursday morning on The Tennessee Star Report, host Leahy welcomed all-star panelist, Clint Brewer and the GOP nominee for mayor of Rutherford County, Tennessee, Joe Carr, in-studio to talk about his biggest concern, Middle Point Landfill and his commitment to renegotiating it’s contract.
Read the full storyRutherford County GOP Mayoral Candidate Joe Carr Talks Tremendous Growth, Working with Other City Mayors
Tuesday morning on The Tennessee Star Report-host Leahy welcomed the new GOP nominee for mayor of Rutherford County, Tennessee, Joe Carr, in-studio to talk about the growth of Rutherford County and creating a cohesive working relationship with mayors within the county.
Read the full storyCommentary: Joe Carr Is the Right Choice to Be Rutherford County’s Next Mayor
After several repeated attempts to serve his country and state it appears Joe Carr has found a place where the voters will appreciate his service.
Former State Representative Joe Carr was victorious in the Rutherford County Republican Mayoral Primary. Carr won with 38% in a field of three other candidates. County Commissioner Rhonda Allen came in second with a respectable 34% of the vote, Mayor Bill Ketron came in a disappointing third place with less than 25%. Aaron Coffey finished a distant fourth with 3%.
Read the full storyMurfreesboro Mayor Shane McFarland Discusses City Government Structures and Colorado-Based Notes Live’s Planned New Amphitheater
Wednesday morning on The Tennessee Star Report, host Leahy welcomed Murfreesboro, Tennessee’s Mayor, Shane McFarland to the newsmaker line to learn about his background and discuss the new Notes Live amphitheater that will be built.
Read the full storyJoe Carr Wins Rutherford County Mayor GOP Primary
Former Tennessee State Representative Joe Carr is the Republican nominee for mayor of Rutherford County.
In the May 3 primary, Carr received 6862 votes, while Rhonda Allen came in second, receiving 6239 votes.
Read the full storyRutherford, Washington Counties Set to Hold Household Hazardous Waste Mobile Collection Service This Saturday
The Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC) mobile household hazardous waste collection service will be in Rutherford and Washington counties this Saturday, April 2nd, according to the department.
Read the full storyNew Poll Gives Joe Carr Comfortable Lead in Race for Rutherford County Mayor
A new poll reveals strong support for former Tennessee State Representative Joe Carr’s campaign for Rutherford County mayor. The Oregon-based Triton Polling and Research released the poll this week. The company polled 455 likely Rutherford County voters between January 19 through January 21 of this year, according to a press release.
Read the full storyHillsdale College’s Assistant Vice Provost Kathleen O’Toole Discusses Barney Charter School Initiative Coming to Three Counties in Tennessee
Friday morning on The Tennessee Star Report, host Leahy welcomed Hillsdale College’s Assistant Vice Provost, Dr. Kathleen O’Toole, to the newsmaker line to explain the implementation of Barney Charter Schools making their way to three Tennessee counties.
Read the full storyControversial Juvenile Court Judge Donna Scott Davenport Announces Retirement
Rutherford County Juvenile Court Judge Donna Scott Davenport announced this week she would not seek reelection in 2022. This follows backlash she received from a ProRepublica article on her court practices published in October 2021, and new legislation recently filed for consideration of her removal.
Read the full storyRutherford County Drops Emissions Testing, Increases Registration Fee
Tennesseans in Rutherford County will notice a few changes this year when renewing their vehicle tags, according to a press release by Rutherford County Clerk Lisa Duke Crowell.
Read the full storyTennessee Approves of New Vanderbilt Hospital in Rutherford County
Vanderbilt Health announced Thursday that Rutherford county officials have approved plans for new hospital. The medical center will hold 42 beds, and be located at the intersection of Veterans Parkway and state route 840 in Murfreesboro.
“We are pleased with the outcome and want to thank members of the Health Services and Development Agency for the approval to build this new hospital. Our goal continues to be to serve the needs of the many citizens of Murfreesboro and Rutherford County who choose Vanderbilt for their care, and we can now do that with Vanderbilt Rutherford Hospital,” C. Wright Pinson, MBA, MD, Deputy Chief Executive Officer and Chief Health System Officer for Vanderbilt University Medical Center said in a statement.
Read the full storyRutherford County School Board Members Reject Proposed Charter School
Members of the Rutherford County School (RCS) Board recently turned down an application for a new charter school. Officials with the Nashville-based ReThink Forward first sought to open a school in the Smyrna-La Vergne area in February, according to The Murfreesboro Post.
Read the full storyNoble Education Initiative’s Sherry Hage and Richard Page Discuss New Rutherford Collegiate Prep
Wednesday morning on the Tennessee Star Report, host Michael Patrick Leahy welcomed Sherry Hage and Richard Page of Noble Education Initiative to discuss their new charter school Rutherford Collegiate Prep and local school board passivity.
Read the full storyMTSU Removes Rutherford Juvenile Court Judge from Adjunct Staff Amidst County Lawsuit
Juvenile Judge Donna Scott Davenport will no longer hold her position as adjunct professor at Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU) following a recent lawsuit. The suit claims that Davenport sent nearly 1,500 students to jail, regardless of the crime.
Individuals born after October 1997 who were jailed at the Rutherford County Juvenile Detention Center may file a claim to collect a portion of an $11 million settlement connected to the class action lawsuit.
Read the full storyRutherford County Parents Fume, Say Local School System is Mishandling COVID-19
A group of parents said Monday they are seething after Rutherford County Director of Schools Bill C. Spurlock decided his month to unilaterally remove and then quarantine non-symptomatic and non-COVID-19 positive students from schools. The parents said Spurlock did this without consulting with members of the Rutherford County School (RCS) Board. RCS Board members had previously approved a procedure that would have prevented COVID-19-free or symptom-free students and staff from quarantine, parents said.
Read the full storyNashville Area’s Population Approaches Two Million People
The Nashville metropolitan area was the 20th-fastest growing statistical area in the country since 2010, according to data released by the U.S. Census Bureau.
With a growth rate of 20.9% from 2010 to 2020, the Nashville area now is the 36th-largest metropolitan area in the country with nearly 2 million residents. The census numbers showed the metro Nashville population increased by 343,319 people to 1,989,519.
Tennessee’s population grew by 8.9% between 2010 and 2020; lower than the 11.5% and 16.7% increases during the previous two census counts. Four of the past six census counts have shown double-digit increases in Tennessee’s population growth.
Read the full storyJoe Carr Traces Source of Allegations Against Him, Calls Them ‘A Big Nothingburger’
Former State Rep. Joe Carr, currently running for Rutherford County mayor, disclosed certain people accused him of harassment while he worked at a state agency, but he described the allegations as “a big nothingburger.” Carr addressed these allegations in a nearly 1,200 word post on Facebook Tuesday.
Read the full storyRutherford County Mayoral Candidate Joe Carr, ‘We Are More Than Middle Tennessee’s Trash Can’
Wednesday morning on the Tennessee Star Report, host Michael Patrick Leahy welcomed Rutherford County Mayoral candidate Joe Carr to the
newsmakers line to announce his candidacy and why he’s running.
Tennessee Rep. Mike Sparks Discusses the Opportunity Scholarships Program Bill and Irresponsible Spending
Wednesday morning on the Tennessee Star Report, host Michael Patrick Leahy welcomed Tennessee State Rep. Mike Sparks to the studio to discuss his new bill and the challenges in fighting the unnecessary spending on schools in response to county growth.
Read the full storyTennessee Man Arrested After Feared Copycat Vehicle Attack
Police in Rutherford County arrested a man Sunday afternoon when they feared he was about to perpetrate a copycat attack similar to the Christmas day bombing in downtown Nashville.
“Sheriff’s deputies in Rutherford and Wilson Counties are investigating a box truck parked at a store playing audio similar to the Christmas explosion in Nashville. The driver was stopped by deputies and detained. Residents evacuated. Investigation active,” the Rutherford County Sheriff’s Office (RCSO) said on Twitter.
Read the full storyRutherford County Schools Tell Parents Not to Monitor Their Child’s Virtual Classrooms
Parents of students who attend Rutherford County Schools (RCS) must agree not to monitor their child’s online classroom sessions.
Officials at all county schools are asking parents to sign forms agreeing not to watch these virtual classes.
Read the full storyJoe Carr Endorses Dr. Manny Sethi for Senate, Hosts Candidate, Sen. Rand Paul at Cookout
Joe Carr, a conservative leader in Rutherford County, on Thursday endorsed Dr. Manny Sethi in his U.S. Senate race and said he will host the physician as well as U.S. Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) at a cookout on July 18.
Read the full storyRutherford County and Somerville Women Charged with TennCare Fraud
Tennessee officials have arrested women from Rutherford County and Somerville and charged them with TennCare fraud.
Read the full storyKelsey Ketron Pleads Not Guilty in Rutherford County
Kelsey Ketron pleaded not guilty in Rutherford Monday to multiple charges related to fraud and her father’s business known as Universal International Insurance.
Read the full storyKelsey Ketron Indicted on Fraud Charges
Kelsey Ketron’s legal problems have reportedly worsened, as a grand jury, this week indicted her on charges of fraud, perjury, and money laundering.
Read the full storyDetails of Tennessee Opioid Crisis ‘Will Turn Your Stomach,’ Rutherford County Official Says
Rutherford County officials are scheduled to hold a town hall forum on opioid abuse and mental health issues at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday at Smyrna’s Parkway Baptist Church.
Rutherford County Commissioner Craig Harris, one of the scheduled panelists, told The Tennessee Star Monday that the problem has hit his county particularly hard, as it ranks No. 4 statewide for overdoses.
Read the full storyRutherford County Schools Spend Money on New Track, but Not to Fix Damaged Restrooms
Some parents and officials in Rutherford County are upset that the school district spent $200,000 to renovate La Vergne High School’s track rather than fix the restrooms, which are in a state of disrepair.
Read the full storyMiddle Tennessee State University Official Allegedly Stole Nearly $40,000
Authorities have arrested and indicted a former Middle Tennessee State University international recruiter charged with stealing nearly $40,000 from the school.
Read the full storyRutherford County GOP Target of Apparent Bomb Scare
The Rutherford County Republican Party headquarters received a package Friday morning that party officials said was apparently a bomb, according to a Tennessee Republican Party press release. Officials contacted authorities and then evacuated the building on East Main Street in Murfreesboro. Murfreesboro Police Spokesman Larry Flowers said in a statement that authorities evacuated several other downtown businesses while they investigated the suspicious package. Later in the day, Flowers said authorities had rendered the package as safe. “Police K9 was brought in. Everything is safe, the scene is clear and employees have returned to work,” Flowers said. Flowers said someone found the package outside the building that housed the party headquarters. An employee took the box inside, opened it and saw what was a possible explosive device, Flowers said. “An all-clear was given and the evacuation was lifted after the device was rendered safe and the area cleared with the assistance of a Police K-9,” Flowers said in a statement. Murfreesboro Police and agents with the ATF U.S. Bomb Data Center are investigating, Flowers said. Flowers told The Tennessee Star Friday he had no other information to provide. The Nashville-based WKRN reported the package contained a note saying the following:…
Read the full storyRutherford County Mayor Bill Ketron Talks Trash at Community Forum
MURFREESBORO, Tennessee — Although it’s hypothetical at this point, Rutherford County residents could have to pay a new monthly fee to handle the county’s growing trash problem, County Mayor Bill Ketron said last week. This could start a trend that reverberates across all of Middle Tennessee, said county residents who showed up for a meeting to discuss the matter. “One of our cities charges $5 on a local water bill per month. We may have to rethink the way we think about trash and the way we handle it. It may be that handling our trash becomes another utility bill with homeowners to look at,” Ketron told a gathering of about 100 people at Murfreesboro’s Patterson Park Community Center. “Now, I’m just saying maybe to this. Don’t quote me saying it will happen. These are all things that have to be considered. At some point in time, dealing with our trash is not going to be free. It’s getting to that point where we are all going to have to pay the price, but a lot of that will come from recycling and reeducating and now it’s time to be bold.” That boldness apparently will include stiffer penalties for people…
Read the full storyProposed New School in Rutherford County Near Potentially Hazardous Waste Site
Members of the Rutherford County School Board are interested in building a school on farmland in the Walter Hill residential community, even though it’s near a landfill with a history of potential hazards. Multiple neighborhoods, businesses and churches surround the property, near the existing Walter Hill Elementary School, said Rutherford County School spokesman James Evans. “The land for the schools has undergone environmental and geotechnical testing and has been deemed suitable for school construction,” Evans said in an emailed statement. According to a 2011 Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation document, the landfill had aluminum waste deposited there between the 1990s and 2007. The landfill is on the north side of the East Stones River, one half mile east of Walter Hill and six miles north of Murfreesboro, according to the Consent Order between TDEC and BFI Waste Systems of Tennessee. In 2011, the document went on to say, this location had an apparent exothermic reaction, and that caused elevated temperatures. A series of piping was installed to draw off heat and pressure from the area. A hot void was discovered in the landfill. “The respondent has identified that aluminum waste within the Middle Point Landfill is undergoing an exothermic…
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