On March 17, 2025, the Mayor and the Council met at 4:00 pm at City Hall to conduct interviews and select an applicant to fill the vacant seat for Ward 3. After interviewing five candidates, the Council by a majority vote chose to appoint Mr. Ronald Robinson to this seat for the remainder of the term.

On March 14, 2025, the City of Lewisburg received a letter giving the official notice to proceed with the construction phase of the traffic signal project on Mooresville Highway. This notice allows for the acceptance of bids on the project. Approved bids will be opened on April 24 at 11:00 am at City Hall. The construction can begin once a bid has been awarded, and a contract signed. However, we still will not have a definite time frame for completion of the project at this point.

Columbia, TN (March 14, 2025) – The City of Columbia unveiled a historical marker at the site of the former Columbia Female Institute, an institution that played a significant role in the history of education for women in the region. This marker is dedicated to preserving the legacy of the Institute and the contributions it made to the academic advancement of young women during the 19th and early 20th centuries.

The Columbia Female Institute was established in 1834 by a group of prominent Episcopalian families from St. Peter’s Church. At the time of its founding, the school set itself apart from other educational institutions for women by offering a curriculum that included subjects such as geology, chemistry, and physics—fields traditionally reserved for male students. 

 The Institute’s goal was to provide women with a comprehensive education, beyond the typical domestic training offered at most girls’ schools of the era. In his remarks at the unveiling, Mayor Chaz Molder emphasized the historical importance of the Columbia Female Institute, “This marker acknowledges an institution that broke from the traditional educational models of its time. The Columbia Female Institute provided an advanced education for women and challenged prevailing norms. It is an important
chapter in the history of our community and serves as a testament to the foresight of its founders.”

 The Columbia Female Institute operated for nearly 100 years before its closure during the Great Depression in 1932. Afterward, the building was repurposed for various uses, including housing WPA workers, serving as classrooms for a local business college, and even as a nursery school. The structure was ultimately destroyed by fire on March 13, 1959.

City Manager Tony Massey also commented on the significance of the marker, “While the physical structure of the Columbia Female Institute no longer exists, its impact on the educational landscape remains evident. This marker serves to preserve the history of an institution that, for nearly a century, provided young women with the opportunity to receive an advanced education at a time when such opportunities were limited. It was truly a Columbia treasure.”

 The unveiling of the historical marker at the site of the Columbia Female Institute ensures that the contributions of this institution to the education of women will not be forgotten. It is a recognition of both the institution’s educational legacy and the broader impact of progressive educational practices for women in the 19th and early 20th centuries.

TENNESSEE – To ensure that residents can fly domestically and access certain federal facilities without any disruptions, the Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security (TDOSHS) is urging individuals to prepare for the new requirements of the REAL ID Act of 2005, which will take effect on May 7, 2025.

Beginning May 7, Tennessee driver licenses and identification cards that are not REAL ID-compliant will no longer be accepted to enter certain federal buildings, military bases, nuclear power plants, or board commercial flights within the United States.

Tennesseans can apply for a REAL ID before or after the May 7 implementation date. If you are not planning to travel in the near future, you may choose to wait to get a REAL ID. If you think you might need a REAL ID to travel, TDOSHS encourages you to apply for your new credential well before your planned trip. Getting the hard copy of your new ID in the mail can take up to 20 business days.

Obtaining a REAL ID is optional. Non-REAL ID licenses will continue to be accepted for general identification purposes such as driving, purchasing alcohol or tobacco products, applying for federal benefits, voting, or accessing hospitals, post offices, banks, federal courts, etc.

After the REAL ID implementation, Tennesseans who choose not to get a REAL ID may use a valid passport or other federally issued photo ID to fly domestically. For the complete list of acceptable IDs, visit the Transportation Security Administration’s website, tsa.gov/travel/security-screening/identification.

Last year, TDOSHS began issuing new driver licenses and ID cards with a fresh design and improved security features. New REAL ID compliant credentials feature a black circle with a star in the top right corner. Legacy REAL ID compliant credentials have a gold circle with a star in the top right corner. The new and legacy versions of REAL ID both comply with the REAL ID Act and are valid until their expiration date.

To apply for a REAL ID, customers must bring proof of U.S. citizenship or legal presence, proof of their Social Security Number, and two proofs of Tennessee residency. If your name has changed, you must also bring certified legal documents supporting the name change(s). This could include marriage licenses, divorce decrees, etc. All documents must be original or certified copies. Photocopies are not accepted.

To ensure you’re bringing the correct documents, TDOSHS encourages you to have your REAL ID required documents pre-approved online. Pre-approved documents can save you in-person processing time at the Driver Services Center and may eliminate repeat trips. A complete list of accepted documents and the pre-approval portal are available at tnrealid.gov.

Federal law requires REAL ID applications to be made in person. If you already have a Tennessee driver license or ID, you can apply for a REAL ID at one of the 46 Driver Services Centers or 38 participating County Clerk offices across the state. If you do not have a Tennessee Driver License or ID, you must apply for a REAL ID at a Driver Services Center. To find a Driver Services Center or participating County Clerk, go to tnrealid.gov.

Tennesseans can save time at the Driver Services Center by scheduling an appointment for a REAL ID. To meet demand, TDOSHS added 1,432 additional REAL ID-specific appointment slots per day at Driver Services Centers across the state. Tennesseans can schedule an appointment at tnrealid.gov.

If you are getting a Tennessee license for the first time or it is time to renew your license, the cost to get a REAL ID is $28.00. If you get a REAL ID outside of your renewal period, there is a duplication fee of $8 or $12, depending on your license classification.

Most credentials, including REAL ID, renew on an eight-year cycle. The cost to renew a REAL ID is the same as the non-REAL ID version of that credential. Tennesseans with a valid REAL ID do not need to present documents to renew it.

For more information about Tennessee REAL ID, visit tnrealid.gov.

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The Department of Safety and Homeland Security’s mission is to serve, secure, and protect the people of Tennessee.

The Marshall County School Board will have a Special Called Meeting on Wednesday, March 12, 2025 and Thursday, March 13, 2025, at 6:00 p.m. at the Board of Education, 700 Jones Circle, with the following agenda:
Wednesday, March 12, 2025 Agenda
1. Interviews for Director of Schools
Thursday, March 13, 2025 Agenda
1. Interviews for Director of Schools
2. Discussion of Candidate Interviews

The Marshall County School Board will have a Special Called Meeting on Wednesday, March 12, 2025 and Thursday, March 13, 2025, at 6:00 p.m. at the Board of Education, 700 Jones Circle, with the following agenda:
Wednesday, March 12, 2025 Agenda
1. Interviews for Director of Schools
Thursday, March 13, 2025 Agenda
1. Interviews for Director of Schools
2. Interim Director of Schools Contract