Last Saturday Swan Ball 2024, chaired by Sally Nesbitt and Carolyn Taylor, was held at Cheekwood Estate and Gardens.
Celebrating its 62nd year, the Swan Ball raises funds annually to benefit Cheekwood.
This year’s Swan Ball was one of the most beautiful ever, with ball concept by Dori Thornton Waller, of The Social Office, and floral design by Jim Knestrick.
The theme for the evening was a celebration of light, romance and enchantment, adding a magical and larger than life touch to the time-honored ball.
As guests arrived, a tranquil harp serenaded them while they ascended the grand staircase, which was covered in peach, blush and vibrant pink blooms.
The dinner tent was bursting with the bright colors coral and apricot and adorned with larger-than-life florals, crystal chandeliers and stone accents.
Hanging above the dining tables was an enormous and impressive wrought iron trellis, which was detailed at the base with Lenten roses and Lilies of the Valley, and transitioned to massive faux blooms that cascaded above.
The Swan Award was presented to Amy Grant at the white tie event. Grant, a longtime Nashvillian, has built a long, successful
career as a singer-songwriter and musician. She began her career in contemporary Christian music before crossing over to pop music in the mid-1980s. Grant has been referred to as “The Queen of Christian Pop.”
The featured jeweler was Kentshire, a family firm founded in 1940, which is one of the foremost dealers of fine period and estate jewelry. All the ladies at the ball loved perusing, and buying, the outstanding jewelry and objects of enduring design and elegance.
Caterer Kristen Winston began the delicious meal with baby iceberg wheels topped with tomatoes, bacon and buttermilk herb dressing.
The entrée was filet of beef, served with cheddar grits, green beans, zucchini ribbons, and roasted corn.
Dessert was peach berry shortcake, with strawberry sorbet. The wines for each course were donated by the always generous Lipman Brothers.
Following dinner, there were rumors of a musical surprise and everyone quickly came to attention when a young trumpeter began to play on the dance floor.
More and more performers came from all directions until everyone realized this was a musical flash mob! Sam Levine and his City
Lights Band organized this special treat, which was greatly appreciated by the crowd.
The headline entertainment was Old Crow Medicine Show, an Americana string band based in Nashville, which has been recording since 1998. They are members of the Grand Ole Opry and have won two Grammy Awards. They performed their raucous show for the guests, who enjoyed clapping, singing along and dancing to their lively songs.
The evening continued with music for dancing, played by Jessie’s Girls, until the party ended at 2 a.m.
Among those who RSVPed were: Cheekwood Board Chair Ronald Roberts, Deborah Roberts, Corrina Grant Gill, Bo and Nicole Watson, Elizabeth and Donnie Nichols, Elizabeth and David Dingess, Anne and Rich Maradik, Peggy and Randy Kinnard, Sissy Wilson, Elizabeth and Clark Akers, Mary Catherine and David McClellan, Jerry and Ernie Williams, Jason Bradshaw, Bob Deal, Lake and John Eakin, Carol and John Rochford, Laura and Charlie Niewold, Felice and Spook Oldacre, Kathy and Bobby Rolfe, Laurie and Jim Seabury, Allen DeCuyper, Steve Sirls, Brenda Corbin, Anne and Tommy Nesbitt, Ann and Ron
Pierre Vidal French, 1849-1913
“Dancers at the Moulin Rouge”
William Malherbe French, 1884-1951
Pastel on paper; 14 ½ x 19 inches
Signed and dated 1899 lower left
“Repose after Picking Apples”
Oil on canvas; 24 x 26 inches
Signed and dated lower right
Arthur J. Beaumont American, 1897-1956
“St. Ives Harbor, Cornwall, England”
Oil on canvas; 25 x 31 inches
Signed and dated lower left
The Swan Ball 2024 Auction Party was held at Belle Meade Country Club, where hundreds of people gathered for the fundraiser to benefit Cheekwood Estate and Gardens.
The Swan Ball chairs were Sally Nesbitt and Carolyn Taylor, and the auction chairs were Allison DeMarcus, Allison Schaufele and Mary Jo Shankle. The auction party chairs were Paula and Robert Kinard and Phyllis and David Vandewater, and Dance Committee chairs were Catherine Bradbury and Abby Granbery.
The live auction was conducted by Jamie McDonald, an award-winning podcast host, fundraiser and presenter. Based in New York, McDonald has spent the last eight years on stage helping numerous charities raise millions of dollars for their organizations throughout the U.S.
The Auction Party is a separate event preceding the Swan Ball, and was presented with the latest in auction bidding technology, using highly visible plasma monitors throughout the venue with all bidding placed on-line through Clickbid on smart phones or tablets, or via a Dance Committee member.
The Swan Ball Auction has been the sole venue for many years for bidding on the trips, experiences and treasures offered in the live auction.
In keeping with the invitation’s enchanted garden theme, the club was decorated by Ostara Gardens, with lovely seasonal florals in shades of pink, coral and green.
The live auction was held outside under a clear tent. White St. Tropez sofas accented with pillows covered in colorful florals provided seating, as well as round tables of ten.
When guests arrived, they visited
one of the bars for a cocktail and began perusing the silent auction, which offered trips to Ireland, South Africa, England, Rome, Greece, Mexico, France and other wonderful places. There also were domestic trips to Utah, Georgia, Chicago, Idaho, Miami, Canyon Ranch, California, Florida, Colorado, Montana, and additional desirable destinations.
Also up for bid were a songwriters’ night with Amy Grant, a private trip with the Titans, a party for 24, exclusive dining for 30 at Cafe 100, and other special experiences.
The delicious menu offered shrimp and grits, chicken and cheeseburger sliders, brisket on steamed buns, fried oysters, country ham biscuits, mini Ahi tuna tacos, and much more.
Supporters included: Jon Nesbitt, Steve Taylor, Elizabeth and Donnie Nichols, Amy Liz and John Riddick, Patti and Brian Smallwood, Sissy and Bill Wilson, Katie and Kevin Crumbo, Larry Trabue, Heather and Scott Asbury, Mara Papatheodorou, Jim Berkeley, Natalie and George Clements, Denise Cummins, Allen DeCuyper, Steve Sirls, Carrie Playfair, Linda Raymer, Julianne and Jeff Williams, Laura and John Reed, Julie and John Schneider, Melanie and Darrin Yappen, Neel and Graham Young, Paula Bennett, Amanda and Thomas Beck, Angela Bostelman-Kaczmarek, Sara and Richard Bovender, Debbie and Summer Bryan, Louise and John Bryan, Susan Chapman, Caroline and Burk Lindsey, Monica and Alec McDougall, Tricia and Doug McDowell, Felice and Spook Oldacre, Elizabeth and Larry Papel, and Sharon and Todd Sandahl.
• Exhaust & Catalytic Converter
• Brakes
• Tire Balancing
• Alignment
• Batteries
• Shocks & Struts
• Electrical
• Diagnostic
• Air Conditioning
• Check Engine
• Oil Changes
Daniel Singh gets $200,000 in deal as commission
looks to put the chaos of
last year behind it
BY CONNOR DARYANI, NASHVILLE BANNER
This story is a partnership between the Nashville Banner and The News. The Nashville Banner is a nonprofit, nonpartisan news organization focused on civic news. Visit nashvillebanner.com for more information.
Metro Arts and its embattled director have finally parted ways.
The Metro Arts Commission voted late last month to pay Metro Arts director Daniel Singh $200,000 in return for his resignation.
The agreement is the product of negotiations between Metro Legal and Singh’s lawyer, Jamie Hollin, over the past week and was finalized Thursday night. The Metro Council must still approve the agreement at its June 4 meeting, but it would seem that the dust is beginning to settle around the chaos that resulted from a botched FY24 grant cycle and has consumed most of the Metro Arts Commission’s bandwidth for months. With what interim executive director Paulette Coleman called a “clean slate,” it is now up to the commission and its staff to forge a path out of the cloud of controversies that have shrouded the department for years.
Singh went on FMLA leave on Feb. 23 and was concurrently put on paid administrative leave while the commission worked out how to proceed. Commissioners signaled they would bring a vote to fire Singh
on Friday, with multiple members referencing reports of a fraught relationship between Singh and staff as reason for the move.
But Metro legal director Wally Dietz announced a settlement before the commission took any action.
“This is a walk-away settlement on both sides,” said Dietz, explaining that Hollin approached him over the previous weekend to make a second attempt at avoiding Singh’s termination. The commission voted unanimously to approve the settlement. The body then voted unanimously to keep Singh on paid administrative leave until June 6, when Singh will resign if the Metro Council approves the deal.
With Singh’s departure, the commission will begin the nationwide search for a permanent replacement. Metro Human Resources director Sharon Hall told the commission that such a search typically takes three to four months. In the meantime, Coleman will remain interim director.
While commission members might want to leave the past 18 months behind them, the grant distribution process isn’t quite in the rearview mirror.
The Metro Arts Commission voted in July to approve a grant distribution formula that was considered the most equitable of the options, providing independent artists and small arts organizations with historic
funding levels. A Metro Human Relations Commission report — conducted as a result of the past year’s events — found that since 1987, the commission has awarded approximately $61,572,329 to arts organizations in Nashville, and 71 percent of it has gone to organizations with an annual budget of $1 million or more.
But a month later, in August, following a Metro Legal opinion that the July vote could open the commission up to litigation due to its reliance on race as a data point, the commission revoted on new formulas, this time approving a formula that looked closer to what MHRC executive director Davie Tucker would later call the “status quo.” The change caused an uproar among Nashville artists who lost the funding they had been promised in July.
Fast-forward to earlier this year: With half of the funding for the August formula still not sent to arts organizations, MHRC complaints were filed against the commission over the removal of grants from independent artists. Due to Singh’s leave, Metro Arts did not have leadership as it was simultaneously navigating closing out the FY24 grant cycle and getting started on the FY25 cycle.
In March, Metro Legal and Metro Finance announced that $3 million would be directed to Metro Arts to pay anyone promised funding at a level greater than they
were pledged between the July and August vote. During the Metro Arts Commission’s budget hearing before the Metro Council Budget and Finance committee on Thursday night, Metro Finance assistant director Amanda Deaton-Moyer gave an update on artist payments.
“Not everyone has responded, but 62 have and have been processed for payment ... out of 91,” said Deaton-Moyer. “And more every day.”
However, once those payments are sent out and FY24 is all squared away, the issue of how to move forward remains. On top of $2 million in surplus funding allocated to the Arts Commission for grant funding last year, the agency also received the additional $3 million allocation. With a flat budget this year, it’s unlikely Metro Arts will receive much money outside of its typical budget of around $5.5 million.
With all eyes on Metro Arts, commissioners will have to find a way to distribute meager grant funding resources equitably.
“I do not want to build another grant cycle on guidelines that we know need revision and reexamination,” said Coleman. In a typical year, the FY25 grant cycle would already be underway. Still, due to the changes in funding, discussions in the commission have seemed to err toward delaying the cycle until the fall to work out the formula.
A meeting of the commission’s Grants and Funding Committee is scheduled for Thursday; Coleman expects more substantive discussions of how to move forward.
As the commission navigates these issues, it still has only 11 of its 15 members. Mayor Freddie O’Connell will need to fill the four empty seats. The mayor’s office confirmed earlier this month that while they are working through vetting candidates, they have not yet sent nominees to the council. They expected to do so soon and tell the Banner the administration had received more than two dozen applications.
Not only will O’Connell’s choices on who to appoint be widely scrutinized, but he will also need to make them soon. Quorum has been an ongoing issue for the commission following multiple resignations.
Additionally, a piece of legislation brought before the Metro Council by District 32 Councilmember Joy Styles aims to make changes to Metro Arts’ grant formula approval process and add a councilmember seat to the commission. Styles deferred the legislation one meeting during the council’s May 21 meeting.
A 13-year-old boy was shot and killed and his 16-year-old sister was wounded at Red Caboose Park in Bellevue on May 29.
The alleged shooter, 15-year-old De’Anthony Osasosifo, has been charged with one count of criminal homicide and one count of attempted criminal homicide.
Metro Nashville Police said that the shooting occurred just before 8 p.m. when a fight broke out between teens, most of whom are middle school-aged girls.
Police identified the 13-year-old victim as Aayden Hayes but did not name Hayes’ wounded sister who was transported to Vanderbilt University Medical Center.
“It was initially a relatively small number of females who were fighting,” MNPD spokesperson Don Aaron told reporters at the scene. “Others joined the fight, other teens who were also in the park. During the fight, a gun was produced and shots were fired.”
“After the 16-year-old girl was hit, she made it to the fire hall just up the street and reported the shooting to the firefighters who were in the hall at the time, and they began rendering medical aid to her.”
“As they [police] arrived, they saw the 13-year-old boy down on the pavement of Red Caboose Park,” Aaron said. “He was shot multiple times, where he has been pronounced dead.”
Police recovered a 9mm semi-automatic pistol near the scene and found Osasosifo walking on Highway 70 about a half-mile away from the park. Police said the gun had been reported stolen from a vehicle in Murfreesboro in 2023.
“During an interview at police headquarters, Osasosifo admitted to having a gun and shooting it during a fight among
Donald Trump speaks at the International Christian Media Convention in Nashville, February 2024
PHOTO: HAMILTON MATTHEW MASTERS
Tennessee’s Republican leaders are reacting to the historic criminal conviction of former President Donald Trump with outrage and calls to action. Trump was convicted this week on 34 felony charges after illegally falsifying business records related to a $130,000 payment to adult film star Stormy Daniels. He has vowed to appeal the ruling.
Tennessee’s Republican senior U.S. Sen. Marsha Blackburn released a series of statements and social media posts, including one reading simply, “WITCH HUNT!” Blackburn also appeared on SuperTalk 99.7, where she conjectured that “people are going to rise up like they have not in a long time, because they know full well that if
you can do this — if you can weaponize the government against a former president — if you can exercise two tiers of justice and if you can do this to him, they certainly can and will do it to you.”
Exactly how the “people are going to rise up” is unclear, but Blackburn, along with fellow Republican U.S. Sen. Bill Hagerty, has supported Trump pre-insurrection and postinsurrection. That violent 2021 attack on the U.S. Capitol saw the attempted overturning of the will of the people and resulted in the deaths of several people.
Hagerty called Trump’s conviction a “dark day for American democracy” and an example of “lawfare,” which he described as “a new political strategy to damage your opponent so you don’t have to meet your opponent at the ballot box.”
Tennessee’s U.S. Rep. Mark Green (R-Clarksville) also alleged that Trump’s conviction was an attempt to “affect the results of the upcoming election.” Green has himself dodged questions over the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection after leaked texts revealed that he was in direct communication with former Trump White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows about overturning the 2020 presidential election.
U.S. Rep. Andy Ogles (R-Columbia), who on May 16 spoke outside of the Manhattan courthouse with fellow Republicans in support of Trump, said that
“Biden and his Democrat cohorts have officially made a mockery of our courts.”
“A politicized justice system does nothing to serve the American people,” said Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee. “Voters in Tennessee and across the country recognize this verdict for what it is — a political attack — and they’ll bring a change on Election Day in November.”
“What an incredibly sad day for America,” Tennessee’s Senate Majority Leader Jack Johnson (R-Franklin) posted on X. “This is what Democrats do to their political enemies.” Johnson’s wife is sitting Williamson County Circuit Judge Deanna Johnson
More openly hostile groups like far-right hate group the Proud Boys called for “war” following the verdict. The extremist group has been active across the nation, including in Tennessee, where they have pushed back against LGBTQ and gun reform activists. In 2022, members of the group attended an anti-trans rally in Nashville, which featured remarks from Blackburn, Johnson and other Republican lawmakers.
Trump’s sentencing is set for July 11, four days before he is expected to accept the Republican nomination in this year’s presidential election. President Joe Biden did not immediately address the historic moment, instead relying on a campaign spokesperson to warn that Trump will be the Republican nominee and could win the election as a felon.
“Donald Trump has always mistakenly
believed he would never face consequences for breaking the law for his own personal gain,” the Biden administration’s statement reads in part. “But today’s verdict does not change the fact that the American people face a simple reality. There is still only one way to keep Donald Trump out of the Oval Office: at the ballot box.”
Trump spoke at length about his conviction on Friday morning, vowing to “continue the fight” against what he called “bad” and “sick” people who he also labeled “fascist.” Trump said the trial was “all done by Biden and his people,” specifically referring to Biden as a “Manchurian candidate.”
The Trump campaign is raising funds for the now self-described “political prisoner” in a continued effort to capitalize on the historic political blow.
“It’s time for every conservative Republican to wake up, participate, donate, and get involved,” reads a social media post from the Tennessee Republican Party. Blackburn says the verdict will “energize” Republican voters, along with disheartened independents and Democrats. That sentiment is also reflected among local Republican leaders, including Williamson County GOP Chair Tracy Miller, who told The News: “We, as Republicans, as Americans, are far more resolute in our support for him now than ever before.”
The Metro Nashville Public Schools district shared its ongoing goals for redesigning alternative learning centers at a school board meeting Tuesday. There are three alternative learning centers — schools that serve students who have been expelled or suspended from their original schools — in the Metro Nashville Public Schools District: Johnson Alternative Learning Center, W.A. Bass Learning Center and Park Avenue Elementary School (which also hosts traditional pre-K to fifth-grade students). Chief of student support services Elisa Norris laid out the plans for the second phase of a long-term redesign process meant to emphasize social and emotional learning and academic support, which is part of the district’s wider pandemic recovery goals. The first phase sought to enhance academic programming by providing credit recovery opportunities and academic support programs like the Advancement Via
Individual Determination (AVID) program. The district has also increased student social and emotional services and added transition success specialists to help students navigate the process of returning to their original schools. The second phase of the plan includes rebranding alternative learning centers to be called A.C.E. (“amplify, cultivate, engage”) centers. The district also hopes to start “student success centers” across the district’s different quadrants. Norris described these as places to “keep students on a path to success in the least restrictive setting possible” through “proactive intervention for students in need of additional levels of restorative approaches.” Students would attend the centers for 20 to 60 days. Phase two will also focus on fostering more community partnerships and college and workforce preparation opportunities.
Director of Schools Adrienne Battle noted that these plans will be factored into next
year’s aspirational budget, which means they aren’t coming anytime soon, and there’s no guarantee that they will be funded.
Johnson Alternative Learning Center principal Myron Franklin told the board that recent interventions have improved student successes at his school. He shared struggles that the school has experienced, including a riot, daily fights, frequent suspension and disciplinary actions. Franklin discussed how wraparound services, support from counselors and increased communication with students and their families have helped decrease suspensions and increase attendance.
“What we’ve learned is by giving students those things upfront, it makes it much easier when they transition back to the schools,” said Franklin.
Students from the Johnson Alternative Learning Center were recognized at the May 14 school board meeting for their work on the Hawks Talk Podcast, which launched
in January. The podcast features interviews with various Nashville leaders, including a two-part discussion with Battle. Students addressed the school budget and school lunches and expressed a desire to bring sports and more opportunities outside of academics to alternative learning centers. They also highlighted the need for a later school start time, which could help students who have to work and stay up late to finish assignments. One student expressed concerns about continuing pathways from traditional high schools at alternative schools. Battle’s responses mentioned the work that’s happening to increase those pathways but also the complexities and financial barriers that come with it.
This story was first published by our sister publication Nashville Scene.
complaint says officials ignored department policy, manipulated investigations, lied about reforms and helped pass a law gutting the Community
BY ELI MOTYCKA
Metro Nashville police regularly interfered with internal investigations, selectively followed policy and ran a department on double standards, alleges a 61-page complaint filed with MNPD’s Office of Professional Accountability last week by a retired police lieutenant. Metro released a redacted version of the complaint on Thursday evening.
Complainant Garet Davidson, who ended his career within MNPD’s OPA, describes systemic malfeasance from top MNPD officials, including Chief John Drake and Deputy Chiefs Mike Hagar and Chris Gilder. Davidson’s allegations read like a retrospective from more than a decade within the department. Specific incidents span mistreatment and physical harm toward female employees, rank bias in internal investigations, and Gilder receiving an award for helping pass legislation that gutted the Metro Nashville Community Oversight Board (COB).
Davidson further alleges that the police department has repeatedly lied about reform, specifically in response to recommendations from a 2020 Policing Policy Commission under then-Mayor John Cooper.
“The department’s effort and DC Gilder’s work to change COB law undoes efforts made to create transparency and build trust with Nashvillians,” Davidson’s complaint reads. “It upends progress in creating a culture of accountability with the public, eliminates a specific mechanism of this, and further enables the department to insulate its own culture of how accountability is performed or not performed.”
The breadth of Davidson’s complaint presents conflicts of interest with respect to a follow-up investigation by MNPD, OPA, the Community Review Board (formerly COB) or the mayor’s office. Mayor Freddie O’Connell released a statement Friday
morning indicating that the city will enlist former U.S. Attorney Edward Stanton III to look into Davidson’s allegations.
“Recognizing that these are allegations, which are unproven at this time, I, Chief of Police John Drake, Civilian Review Board director Jill Fitcheard, and the Department of Law Director Wally Dietz all have a strong interest in ensuring the integrity of the investigation,” O’Connell’s statement reads, in part. “I have insisted that our process be above reproach. Mr. Stanton will have access to resources from Metro Legal, MNPD, Human Resources, the CRB, and anything else needed to conduct a thorough investigation.”
The CRB held a special meeting Tuesday to discuss the complaint. At the meeting, the body endorsed an independent investigation vetting Davidson’s claims. Gov. Bill Lee previously hired Stanton to look into Tennessee’s lethal injection protocol after the state repeatedly botched executions.
Much of the complaint focuses on efforts by MNPD to avoid, diminish or otherwise control external accountability for police officers. Internal investigations inconsistently applied department policy, Davidson writes, and exhibited bias for higher-ranking officers facing disciplinary matters, which he terms “cherry-picking winners and losers” among police ranks. Davidson names several officers whose cases support this pattern.
“The department continues to cherry pick cases and delay them from going to a departmental hearing for reasons outside of policy and procedure,” Davidson writes. “In my estimation, these are violations of employees’ due process rights.”
Following the allegations, Chief Drake released a statement reading, in part:
The police department has been reviewing and will investigate the complaint submitted by Mr. Davidson on May 22. As this occurs, we will look at whether our administrative processes for internal investigation and discipline need any refinement. A periodic review of practices and procedures in a large police department such as ours is healthy for the organization.
Mr. Davidson did not bring any complaint to me, or, I am told, the Director of the Office of Professional Accountability, prior to his resignation becoming effective on January 5, 2024.
This story was first published by our sister publication Nashville Scene.
The City of Oak Hill, Tennessee, hereby provides certain financial information for the Fiscal Year 2025 Budget in accordance with the requirements of Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 6, Chapter 56, Section 206. There will be a public hearing concerning the budget at City Hall, on JUNE 25th, 2024 at 6:00 PM. All citizens are welcome to participate. The budget and all supporting data are a public record and are available for public inspection by anyone at the City Hall.
Exquisite 4-bedroom, 3.5-bathroom, 4,400 sq ft historical home in the heart of town. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, it was built in 1859 by William Wharton and has served as a dormitory, college, and Civil War field hospital. Combining historic charm with modern amenities, it features intricate woodwork, soaring ceilings, and luxurious finishes. A separate carriage house with a full bath offers customization possibilities. Situated on manicured grounds, this property is a blend of serenity and splendor. Embrace the legacy and luxury of Dr. Jesse F. Adams’ timeless masterpiece.
April 2024 saw a record number of Tennesseans employed as jobless rates improved in all 95 counties across the state for the month.
According to data released by the Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development (TDLWD), the state’s seasonally adjusted jobless rate matched a record low of 3.1 percent which occurred from April through June of 2023. Tennessee’s unemployment rate improved by 0.1 percent from its March figure and is 0.8 percent lower than the country’s rate of 3.9 percent for April. The state’s workforce
grew by 5,100 nonfarm jobs during the month, with the Trade, Transportation, and Utilities sector accounting for the largest increase in new jobs.
According to the TDLWD’s release, Williamson County recorded the state’s lowest unemployment rate in April at 2.0 percent, a 0.2 percent improvement from March’s figure.
The rate matches Williamson County’s figure from April 2023 and is 0.1 percent better than the county with the secondlowest unemployment rate, Sevier.
Davidson County was not far behind
with an unemployment mark of 2.3 percent, improving upon its 2.5 percent rate from March. Davidson’s figure was 2.2 percent in April 2023.
Clay and Lauderdale counties tied for the highest unemployment rate in the state at 4.1 percent, both of which marked improvements from the 4.5 percent rate each boasted in March.
STAFF REPORTS
A 19-year-old woman has been charged with criminal homicide, theft of a firearm, and tampering with evidence in the April 19 “domestic-related” shooting death of a man in Bellevue.
Jamya Bolton-Madison was arrested by Metro Nashville Police Department detectives on Thursday after the months-long investigation into the murder of 37-yearold Dorsey Moorlet outside of his home at Forest Park Apartments.
In April, police said that after leaving for work around 10:15 p.m., Moorlet returned to his apartment for an item he had forgotten.
He was then shot and later found outside of his apartment. Moorlet died at Vanderbilt University Medical Center.
Police said in a news release that Moorlet was dating Bolton-Madison’s mother, and she allegedly stole her mother’s pistol. Bolton-Madison is jailed in lieu of a $112,500 bond and is scheduled to appear in court on June 3.
Last Thursday, the House advanced a Farm Bill draft that puts the welfare of millions of animals at risk. Instead of upholding state-level farm animal protections, improving protections for dogs suffering in puppy mills, and protecting our nation’s horses from the cruelty of slaughter, the House’s proposed Farm Bill fails animals—and the majority of American voters—on all three counts.
With 15 states having passed laws restricting the extreme confinement of
Please cease and desist printing the complaints again this summer from the old fool bitching about the noise of lawn mowers and leaf blowers. The constant beleaguering of these summer chores is not only irritating, but inane and redundant. This poor, unhappy man needs to get a life and ear plugs. As I’ve said before, Antarctica and the North Pole have no yards.
farm animals, 83 percent of Americans opposing the slaughter of horses for human consumption, it is upsetting that Congress has chosen to prioritize industry profits over the public’s desire to see animals treated more humanely.
I urge my Representative, Rep. Ogles, to help protect animals by voting against any version of the Farm Bill that does not include the full text of Goldie’s Act and the Save America’s Forgotten Equines (SAFE) Act, bipartisan bills that will help protect
dogs and horses from extreme cruelty. And in the interest of our state government and all state and local government across the country, I urge all of Tennessee’s delegation to vote against any Farm Bill that strips states of their ability to pass laws that reflect the values of their voters and protect the welfare of farm animals.
~Nina ElcaoREPORTER
LISA BOLD PRODUCTION MANAGER
CHELON HASTY SALES OPERATIONS MANAGER
ELIZABETH JONES CORPORATE CREATIVE DIRECTOR
Has everyone ever noticed that what ever political party is in power and no matter what they do it pisses the other party off yet if you were to look back when the other party was in power the same things were tried and it pissed the opposing party off.
A prime example, Sunday on three political news programs the Republican guests complained that the judge in the Trump hush money trial should have recused himself because he donated twenty or thirty bucks to the Biden campaign and his daughter was
I am Ticked-Off at the recent AM TV news report of the death by shooting of the Franklin teen a day after she graduated from High School. The report focused on the memorials being scheduled, and not a word about how she was killed by an AR-15 assault weapon used by another teen with no charges filed-there is much more to this story!
involved with the Democratic Party. These three Republican politicians seem to have forgotten that TWO Supreme Court Judges wives, (at least that is what they claim) were involved in shady acts while these judges were involved with cases, if you happen to forget one was an issue over flags being hung upside down and another flag issue. The other involved a wife of Justice Thomas being involved with the Jan. 6th insurrection.
The comments in the Ticked Off column do not reflect the views of FW Publishing.
TODD PATTON CFO
MIKE SMITH PRESIDENT AND CEO
BILL FREEMAN OWNER
It’s hard to say a program that has qualified for 18 consecutive NCAA baseball tournaments is in dire need of rebuilding. But for Vanderbilt, a reassessment of that program certainly seems in order.
The Commodores, by the very lofty standards they’ve set for themselves under coach Tim Corbin, are at their lowest point in years following a quicker-than-expected departure from the Clemson Regional over the weekend.
Tennessee, meanwhile, is rolling right into Super Regional competition, after capturing the Knoxville Regional with three
consecutive wins by a combined margin of 33-12. The top-seeded Vols (53-11) will next host the winner of Monday’s game between East Carolina and Evansville.
Sunday’s 12-3 triumph over Southern Miss extended Tennessee’s NCAA regional streak to 12 straight games, as the Vols have gone unbeaten in regional competition in 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024. Tennessee downed Northern Kentucky 9-3 and Indiana 12-6 in its first two games at Lindsey Nelson Stadium.
Things aren’t nearly so cheery for Vanderbilt (38-23), which didn’t have much to look back on for the last couple months of
this season — aside from three straight wins in the SEC Tournament and the extension of the team’s NCAA regional mark.
Those accomplishments pale in comparison to what Vanderbilt had done over the previous dozen full seasons — a resume that included nine regional titles, five trips to the College World Series and national championships in 2014 and 2019.
This year’s Commodore team won its fewest overall games since 2018, posted its worst SEC record (13-17) under Corbin and lost in two straight games in a regional for the first time since 2016 — the only other time it’s happened under Corbin. Vandy has failed to win a regional for three straight years, the first time that’s happened under Corbin since 2005-09.
The final nail in the coffin came Saturday, when High Point rallied from five runs down to defeat Vandy 10-9, earning its first NCAA regional victory in the process.
“That’s kind of new territory for us,” Corbin told reporters afterward. “But that falls on myself. Got to look in the mirror and say it’s not good enough, at least from the standard we’ve created, I guess. You’d like to play deeper into this thing. You’d like to give yourself a chance to play for a super and get to Omaha. But at the end, it just wasn’t good enough and … you have to live with that. That’s real.”
Vanderbilt was stung by significant injuries throughout the season, a trend that continued in Clemson, where starting shortstop Jonathan Vastine was sidelined for the High Point game due to illness and starting catcher Alan Espinal had to leave that contest early due to a knee injury.
Still, Vanderbilt never excelled in any particular category throughout the season.
The ‘Dores finished with a .286 batting average that ranked 110th nationally, a slugging percentage of .465 (109th), a total of 72 home runs (tied for 103rd) and a team ERA of 5.18 (tied for 69th).
“I‘m not [prepared] to just start breaking down everything right now,” Corbin said. “[I’ll] look at a lot of things when we get back. You got to say bye to seniors and people who have been in your program for a long period of time, then I’ll sit down and see what we got to do. But it’s got to get better. That’s with me.”
Vandy had given its fans a bit of hope heading into the regional by winning four of its last five games, including victories over Kentucky, Florida, Tennessee and Mississippi State.
But the pitching staff blew up in the regional, surrendering a combined 20 hits, 23 runs (21 earned), 12 walks and eight hit batters. Vandy also committed three errors against High Point, the last one — made by RJ Austin playing out of position at shortstop — eventually resulting in the game-winning run in the ninth inning. It was an especially brutal moment for Austin, who had gone five-for-five at the plate, driving in three runs.
“To be honest, we didn’t deserve to win that game,” Corbin said. “We can’t play that way on that side of the ball and expect to win. Now we played hard and we hit the ball and we gave ourselves an opportunity. But from a pitching [and] defensive standpoint, it wasn’t good enough.”
This story was first published by our sister publication Nashville Post.
A season full of accomplishments for the Vanderbilt men’s golf team came to an end with an upset loss at the 2024 NCAA men’s golf championships in Carlsbad, Calif., on Tuesday.
The second-seeded Commodores fell 3.5-1.5 to seventh-seeded Ohio State in the quarterfinal round of match play at the competition.
It was a day for the underdogs overall, as the first, second, third and fourth seeds were each upended by lower seeds.
The ‘Dores had earned their spot in the quarterfinals by finishing second in stroke-play competition at the NCAA championships over the weekend, posting a four-round score of 10-over 1,162 that
trailed only Illinois.
It marked the seventh time Vandy had reached the quarterfinal round of match play.
“It’s tough right now for sure and I hurt for our guys. I know how much they wanted this,” Vanderbilt men’s golf head coach Scott Limbaugh said in a release. “Everything you do is to help your team be ready for these moments. We didn’t make the plays today that [are] necessary at this time of year. This is certainly a tough moment.”
In the individual portion of the competition, Vanderbilt junior Gordon Sargent finished in a six-way tie for second place at 2-under 286 after four rounds. Sargent, who won the event as a freshman
in 2022, had a chance to force a playoff. But his six-foot putt for birdie on the final hole rimmed out, leaving Georgia Tech’s Hiroshi Tai as the victor.
In addition to Sargent, Vandy golfers Cole Sherwood (4-over 292, tied for 25th), Matthew Riedel (5-over 293, tied for 27th) and Jackson Van Paris (5-over 293, tied for 27th) each finished in the top 30.
It was an impressive season for the ‘Dores, who won their third NCAA regional in four years, finishing 13 strokes ahead of secondplace Purdue.
Riedel, Sherwood and Sargent earned AllSEC first-team honors, while Van Paris made the All-SEC second team.
In addition, Riedel, Sherwood and William Moll earned pro status through the PGA TOUR University program by finishing inside the top 10 of the 2024 PGA TOUR U. rankings.
Sargent has said he will return to Vanderbilt for his senior season.
“These are special men,” Limbaugh said. “They are special people that have made me better. Vanderbilt golf is a special thing and it’s because of these players and the families they come from. They still want to be coached and held accountable. They’ve left a legacy of excellence and I’m very grateful for them.”
This story was first published by our sister publication Nashville Post.
Grilling doesn’t always have to mean big hunks of meat or chicken. Here Julia Sullivan, of Henrietta Red grills hearty romaine hearts with spring onions, red bell peppers, mushrooms and asparagus for an earthy jumble of vegetables all tossed in a
home made yet easy, Caesar Dressing. You can use mayo in place of the home made aioli, but it’s incredibly easy to make too. And oh yes, it’s perfect topped with salmon or beef or chicken.
GARLIC AIOLI
2 egg yolks
2 cloves garlic, chopped
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1/2 cup grapeseed oil
1/2 cup olive oil
lemon juice
CAESAR DRESSING
1 cup garlic aioli
4 tablespoons anchovy paste
1 tablespoon Worcestershire
1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
1 cup grated Parmesan cheese, plus more for garnish
1. To prepare aioli, place yolks, garlic, and salt into food processor or blender. Pulse well.
2. With processor on, slowly add oils until fully incorporated. Aioli should be thick like mayonnaise. Season with lemon juice.
3. To prepare dressing, whisk all ingredients to combine.
1/2 cup lemon juice
1/2 cup balsamic vinegar black pepper
GRILLED VEGETABLE CAESAR SALAD
1 head romaine or escarole, Tuscan kale, or Napa cabbage, quartered
1 bunch spring onions
1 bunch asparagus
1/2 pound oyster or king oyster mushrooms
1 red bell pepper, halved extra virgin olive oil or grapeseed oil
ACROSS
1 Disney princess who sings “A Whole New World”
8 Basic yoga position
13 Baby 43-Across
14 Died down
16 Catering to the ver y wealthy
17 Wimbledon-winning Williams
18 Places to hole up
19 La-di-da
21 Org. for which Anthony Fauci worked for 54 years
22 Bond yield: Abbr
23 Big stretch
26 Hollow center?
27 Fa follower
28 Sound made by a sneaker, say?
30 Unfor tunate wedding forecast
32 Soprano ___ Te Kanawa
33 Typed correspondence
35 Taqueria topping
36 Shy sor ts, with a hint to the answers on this puzzle’s perimeter
39 Lab containers
41 Good thing to have in one’s eye?
42 Their proprietors may be keepers
43 Hoppers between lily pads
45 Surrounded by
66 One of Indiana’s state symbols
67 Scented ingredient in some hand creams and shampoos DOWN
1 Covers with a glossy black varnish
2 Cops to
3 Play-fight
4 Inventor who might be described as dotty or dashing?
5 Kind
6 Once called
7 “It is,” in Ibiza
8 In conclusion
9 Falls in line
32 “Actions have consequences” principle
34 Spor ts org. for the Colorado Rapids
35 Mediterranean or Baltic
36 “Care for a taste?”
37 “___ Dies Dreaming” (2022 best-selling novel)
38 One direction
39 Rainbow’s end
40 Ensnared
43 Word with “casual” or “Freaky”
44 Beatmaker’s genre
46 T iki bar drink
47 Former Indian prime minister Gandhi
48 East Egg resident in “The Great Gatsby”
50 Hard-nosed
52 Rule of ___ (comedic principle)
56 Word with care or aware
58 Corn units
60 “Well, whoopde-___”
62 Onetime Russian space station
63 Meteor tail?
5. On grill or in grill pan, grill vegetables until tender and charred.
4. To prepare salad, brush vegetables with oil and season liberally. Mushrooms will absorb oil and may require a bit more.
49 Bit in a bar
50 Spanish title: Abbr
6. Cut vegetables into 2-inch pieces and serve with grilled romaine halves and dressing. Finish with additional Parmesan, lemon, and steak, if desired.
Follow Edible Nashville on instagram @ediblenashtn and their website ediblenashville.com.
To subscribe to the magazine that comes out 6x/year, go to ediblenashville.com.
51 Legal representative: Abbr
53 Actress de Armas
54 Falcon and Stone in the G.I. Joe franchise: Abbr.
55 Pointers
57 Classic children’s novel set in the Swiss Alps
59 Washed away
61 Citizens of Dubai, e.g.
64 Fantasy author Pierce
65 On the books?
10 Roofing material
11 Contents of a kitchen drawer
12 Some prank pullers
13 Subject of an annual festival in the Netherlands
15 “The Black ___” (1987 crime fiction best seller)
20 Kylo ___, “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” villain
24 Said aloud
25 Green par ty?
29 Dabbling ducks
31 Volunteer’s words
ANSWER TO PUZZLE
Online subscriptions: Today’s puzzle and more than 9,000 past puzzles, nytimes.com/ crosswords ($39.95 a year). Read about and comment on each puzzle: nytimes.com/wordplay.
Crosswords for young solvers: nytimes.com/ studentcrosswords.
This week’s list of summer fun takes you near and far. There’s a SunDrop Festival in Pulaski that might be worth the day trip. You can head down to Murfreesboro to paint to sign up for a junior archivist camp at the Tennessee State Library & Archives. And then down on Broadway, you can brave the throng to check out some free shows with
In downtown Nashville, CMA Fest (taking place June 6-9) includes several fan areas and stages for free beginning at 10 a.m. during the festival. Broadway and Fan Alley will have a full schedule of free shows and meet and greets as well as games, activities and giveaways. You might be able to get in and out of downtown before things get too rowdy at night.
On June 7 from 6-8 p.m., Southern Brushes Paint Parties at Barfield Park will be hosting an evening of painting for folks above 5 years old in an outdoor setting. For $20, attendees will receive an 11x14 canvas, paint supplies, the venue and a popsicle.
If you feel like taking a day trip down to Historic Downtown Pulaski, the city’s SunDrop Festival is a free community festival slated for June 8. The event includes a wide variety of activities, including local and
On June 9 from 2- 4 p.m., this Blue Heeler Pup Playdate at Kids Corner in Murfreesboro includes a playtime visit with everyone’s favorite “Blue Pup” for $25 per child. The event includes open play and admission to the center as well. The center is for children 6 and under only.
The Tennessee State Library & Archives is hosting a summer camp for students aged 8-12 called Historians in Training: Junior Archivist. The camp is slated for June 10-14 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. each day and campers will “explore historical topics and people while learning how archivists care for and protect historical documents for the future,” according to the event description. Junior archivists will learn through handson activities, games and field trips to local historical sites within walking distance of the Tennessee State Library & Archives.
2BR’s, 1BA apt for rent in Green Hills on Brightwood Ave. Close to all schools and shopping. Safe and quiet neighborhood. $1850/mo. No utilities included. (615) 292-5620
is no longer just for retired teachers. All seniors 62 and older may apply with no fee. Efficiencies start at $500 which includes utilities.
One bedroom & studio apartments available starting at $625 per month. Must be 62 and older and live independently.
One bedroom & apartments available starting at $650 per month. Must and older and live independently.
615-297-7536
greenhillsapts@comcast.net
I am super personal assistantHousehold / pet management, driver, security, business / legal consulting, problem solver. $50 / hr. Stellar References. (615) 292-7615
Are you looking for a dependable caregiver or sitter. Honest, hardworking, trustworthy, reliable. Light housekeeping, running errands, doctors appointment a.m. or p.m References upon request. Ms. Batey (615) 578-8664
sos, serving our seniors is committed to providing consistent quality care. Licenced, Insured and background checked. Give us a call to discuss your future care needs.
SOS Serving Our Seniors www.sos-seniors.com (615) 767-2273
Are you looking for Ultimate Care for your Loved One? 31 years of experience. Outstanding references. Serving Middle Tn. Call Laverne (615) 569-2829
