COLUMBIA, Tenn. (WTVF) — It's a constant challenge as our area grows: making sure our city services keep up.
Now, a fire station in Columbia is getting a major facelift to address that growing population.
If there's one group who can tell you how fast Columbia has grown in the past several years, it's the folks outside Fire Station 1.
"The biggest thing that's impacted us in Columbia and middle Tennessee, is the growth and the traffic," said Columbia Fire Chief Ty Cobb.
20 years ago, the area's population stood at just more than 30,000. Now it's up to 48,000.
That growth is behind the $5 million year-long renovations now happening at Fire Station 1: in addition to building dorms for both male and female firefighters — housing that didn't exist when the station was built in 1979 — it will also boost wi-fi service throughout the station.
“I’ve never met anyone like Tennie.”
That’s how one neighbor at Stones River Manor in Murfreesboro describes Tennie Fitzpatrick, who has mastered as many as seven different musical instruments. Each day, Tennie shares those talents with residents, workers and visitors. It’s an ability Tennie herself believes is “a gift from God.” That’s because Tennie is blind, and overcame a difficult, abusive childhood. Forrest Sanders shares this truly inspirational story.
- Rhori Johnston
