The Daily Herald
The Modine Manufacturing Company has announced plans to expand its operation in southern Middle Tennessee, bringing 45 new jobs to its manufacturing facility in Lawrence County.
A $1.2 million investment, the project includes the relocation of three product lines from operations in Missouri and Rhode Island to the company’s Lawrenceburg facility.
“We are fortunate in light of our current competitive environment to have the opportunity to once again expand our operations in Lawrenceburg,” said David Killen, the company’s Lawrenceburg plant manager said in an announcement.
“We are excited about the addition of our new heat transfer products that we will supply to the mass transit and stationary power markets. I appreciate all of the extra work and support provided by Governor Lee, TNECD, and our local chamber to help secure this new business.”
The Daily Herald
The Maury County Senior Citizens Center is now under new leadership as it continues to remain a lifeline of support to the region s most vulnerable during the ongoing pandemic.
Brenda Grimsley-Glenn, the outgoing executive director of the local center, has handed over the keys of the operation to her successor Jan Graves.
Graves takes on the lead role after serving two years as the center’s activities coordinator.
“I am excited about this opportunity to make a difference in the lives of older adults in Maury County, Graves said. They are valued members of our community, and I am going to do my best to see that they are treated in the way that they deserve.”
The Daily Herald
A corrections officer with the Maury County Sheriff’s Department has died due to complications caused by the COVID-19 virus.
Corrections Officer Shannon Helton served the local department for more than 15 years before his passing at Maury Regional Medical Center in Columbia on Thursday.
He was 42.
“Officer Helton always had a positive attitude and left the people around him with a smile on their face,” Sheriff Bucky Rowland said.
“He is going to be greatly missed.”
Helton is remembered as a supporter of those incarcerated at the county jail in Columbia and for encouraging inmates, “to step towards a brighter future and leave their past behind.
The Daily Herald
The Maury County Commission is considering an increase in pay for deputies and correctional officers at the county sheriff’s department.
During his tenure, Maury County Sheriff Bucky Rowland has repeatedly requested an increase to counteract the loss of patrol deputies and corrections personnel to neighboring communities that offer higher pay.
“The grades should be raised now,” Rowland told the county’s administration committee. “Now is not the time to step away from this. This is by far the biggest need and where we need to stop this hemorrhaging of losing high quality individuals.”
If his proposal is approved by the full commission, Rowland said the increase would be “a huge step in the right direction.”
The Daily Herald
With an increased supply of COVID-19 vaccinations in Tennessee, the state’s health department has expanded its vaccination effort to include more members of the at-risk public.
Tennesseans aged 70 and up may begin registering for COVID-19 vaccination as of Tuesday, Feb. 2 after only previously offering the vaccine to members of the general public to those 75 and older.
The change comes as Tennessee Department of Health is anticipating a 15% increase in its weekly allocation of vaccines, expecting to receive about 93,000 doses each week.
The department estimates there are about 300,000 Tennesseans in the 70-74 year old age group.
Some regions, including Maury County, began offering vaccinations to the new age range last week but the new standard is now effective across the state as of Tuesday.