FRANKLIN, Tenn. (WKRN) — Franklin police are hoping the public can help them identify a suspected fraudster and thief.
According to police a man pulled into a home in Cool Springs moments after a Wayfair delivery was made. In video surveillance footage from the home, the man's white truck is seen leaving with three large boxes delivered by Wayfair.
What's most interesting, according to a post from Franklin police, is that the homeowner never ordered anything from Wayfair and had no idea a delivery was coming. It was later determined that the homeowner's credit card information was compromised, and the man in the truck had used the home address associated with the card as the delivery destination to avoid suspicion about the order.
(Courtesy: Franklin Police Department)
The suspect reportedly placed several fraudulent orders, with a combined loss totaling more than $6,000.
Anyone with information about the man is asked to contact the Franklin Crime Stoppers. There is a cash reward for information in the case.
Tips can be reported to Franklin Crime Stoppers by phone at 615-794-4000.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) - An 18-year-old is behind bars for his involvement in car burglaries that occurred in the Germantown neighborhood, according to Metro police.
Officers were sent to the 1600 block of 7th Avenue North at 4 a.m. to respond to reports of multiple vehicles that were being broken into on Monday, July 31.
Upon arrival, officers found a vehicle in the area that had indicators that it may have been stolen. An arrest report states the vehicle's address came back to a home associated with 18-year-old Robert Turner.
Officers contacted the Department of Children Services (DCS) to determine if Turner was in the area since he wore an ankle monitor.
According to an arrest affidavit, the ankle monitor led officers to the 1600 block of 6th Avenue North, where several individuals were seen running from the area.
Metro police reported officers then activated their lights and yelled for the individuals to stop in the area of 6th Avenue North toward Garfield Street. That’s when officers found Turner attempting to hide under a front porch of a house in the area.
While searching Turner, officers found burglary tools and a window smasher, according to an arrest report.
Turner was taken into custody and charged with two felony counts of burglary of a motor vehicle, possession of burglary tools and evading arrest.
(WFLA) -- Paul Reubens, known for his role in the Pee-wee Herman films, has died at age 70, according to posts on the Pee-wee Herman social media pages.
According to a statement on Facebook, the actor died Sunday night after a six-year battle with cancer.
"Last night we said farewell to Paul Reubens, an iconic American actor, comedian, writer and producer whose beloved character Pee-wee Herman delighted generations of children and adults with his positivity, whimsy and belief in the importance of kindness," his team said in the statement.
The statement added that Reubens had "bravely and privately fought cancer for years with his trademark tenacity and wit."
The post also quoted Reubens apologizing for not going public with his condition.
"Please accept my apology for not going public with what I've been facing the last six years," he said. "I have always felt a huge amount of love and respect from my friends, fans and supporters. I have loved you all so much and enjoyed making art for you."
Calling the actor "gifted and prolific talent," the actor's team said, "He will forever live in the comedy pantheon and in our hearts as a treasured friend and man of remarkable character and generosity of spirit."
Reubens' character with his too-tight gray suit, white chunky loafers and red bow tie was best known for the film “Pee-wee's Big Adventure” and the TV series “Pee-wee's Playhouse.”
Herman created Pee-wee when he was part of the Los Angeles improv group The Groundlings in the late 1970s. The live “Pee-wee Herman Show” debuted at a Los Angeles theater in 1981 and was a success with both kids during matinees and adults at a midnight show. HBO would air the show as a special.
Reubens took Pee-wee to the big screen in 1985’s “Pee-wee’s Big Adventure.” The film, in which Pee-wee’s cherished bike is stolen, was said to be loosely based on Vittorio De Sica’s Italian neo-realist classic, “The Bicycle Thief.” The film, directed by Tim Burton and co-written by Phil Hartman of “Saturday Night Live,” sent Pee-wee on a nationwide escapade. The movie was a success, grossing $40 million, and continued to spawn a cult following for its oddball whimsy.
A sequel followed three years later in the less well-received “Big Top Pee-wee,” in which Pee-wee seeks to join a circus. Reubens’ character wouldn’t get another movie starring role until 2016’s Pee-wee’s Big Holiday,” for Netflix. Judd Apatow produced Pee-wee’s big-screen revival.
His television series, “Pee-wee’s Playhouse,” ran for five seasons, earned 22 Emmys and attracted not only children but adults to Saturday morning TV.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) -- A Nashville motorcyclist lost his life following a Sunday morning collision along Murfreesboro Pike.
According to the Metro Nashville Police Department, the crash took place in the 1400 block of Murfreesboro Pike around 9:30 a.m. on Sunday, July 30.
Based on the preliminary investigation, authorities said 26-year-old Filemon Gerges was riding a Yamaha motorcycle westbound on Murfreesboro Pike. Then, a GMC Yukon -- driven by a 54-year-old Louisiana woman -- reportedly turned left onto the road and the motorcycle collided with the front of the vehicle.
Officials said Gerges was brought to Vanderbilt Medical Center, where he later died. Meanwhile, the SUV driver was taken to Southern Hills Medical Center with non-life-threatening injuries.
According to a witness, the motorcycle was traveling at a high rate of speed before the crash. In addition, police said there were no signs of impairment on the part of Gerges or the SUV driver.
No additional details have been shared about the ongoing investigation into this deadly crash.
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. (WKRN) – A Hendersonville man has been taken into custody after he allegedly made a threat to shoot up an unnamed school to his coworkers at a Murfreesboro business.
According to officials, 23-year-old Landon Brassfield was arrested by the Hendersonville Police Department on Thursday, July 27. The Murfreesboro Police Department (MPD) had asked Hendersonville authorities to go to Brassfield's home and discuss the threats with him.
Police said they found a 9mm handgun in his vehicle. Investigators discovered Brassfield bought the gun two days before he reportedly made the threats to employees at Rooms To Go on Medical Center Parkway.
Detectives from the MPD's Criminal Investigations Division went to Hendersonville to serve Brassfield with a warrant charging him for threats of mass violence, authorities said.
According to police, Brassfield is currently being held in the Rutherford County Adult Detention Center without bond. His hearing in the Rutherford County General Sessions Court is scheduled for 8 a.m. on Monday, July 31.
Officials said this type of arrest highlights the need for active school shooter training, which the MPD, the Murfreesboro Fire Rescue Department, Murfreesboro City Schools, and several other local agencies conducted this week at Overall Creek Elementary School.
News 2 looks at how Middle Tennessee school districts are planning to keep kids safe ahead of the new school year. Find more Back 2 School coverage here.
LEBANON, Tenn. (WKRN) -- One year after law enforcement responded to a deadly overdose in Lebanon, a man was arrested for multiple counts of homicide in connection with the incident.
On July 24, 2022, the Lebanon Police Department said officers were dispatched to a report of a death at Cedarwood Apartments, where they found Chasity Smith dead from an apparent overdose.
Police said they accessed Smith's cell phone and discovered communication suggesting fentanyl could be the cause of death.
After Detective Brockman was assigned to the case, he continued to examine the phone, which reportedly contained text messages and calls that led Brockman to identify Scotty Duane Jackson as a prime suspect.
Scotty Duane Jackson (Courtesy: Lebanon Police Department)
Then, while waiting for the suspected fentanyl to return from the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, officials said Brockman interviewed Jackson, further corroborating Jackson as the prime suspect.
Once all of the evidence was processed, Brockman brought the case to the Wilson County Grand Jury in April. The grand jury indicted 45-year-old Jackson on two counts of second-degree homicide, according to authorities.
Several months later, on Wednesday, July 26, Brockman reportedly contacted the Murfreesboro Police Department, the Rutherford County Sheriff’s Office, and the Tennessee Highway Patrol Air Unit to take Jackson into custody in Murfreesboro.
Officials said Jackson was arrested without incident and transported to the Wilson County Jail, where he is being held on a $75,000 bond for the homicide charges related to Smith's death.
SUMNER COUNTY, Tenn. (WKRN) — We are one day away from the sales tax holiday where families can save on school supplies in Tennessee. But in Sumner County, elementary and middle school parents already have these necessities covered. Sumner County Schools announced all K-8 school supplies will be provided by the school district this year.
Sumner County Schools Director Dr. Scott Langford said it began as a necessity because families couldn't leave their homes during the pandemic — and had limited access to stores. Like many nationwide, parents also lost their jobs or had their hours reduced.
"I think it's exciting, because I think one of the things that we've always tried to do in Summer County Schools is, we truly, you know, when COVID first started, we kept referring to the fact that we're all in this together. And we really are," said Dr. Langford. "I think we have a great partnership with our parents and our families. And that's what we want to exemplify, whether it's serving food, or our bus trips in or our classrooms."
Dr. Langford said this also helps to create more equality among students.
"It's just one more way that we can partner with our parents and help support them. And you know, it's a real blessing when you know, we have some families that do their very best to take care of their kids, but they can't give their kids the same thing that everybody else has, and, and to see everybody start the first day of school with exactly the same thing it's really a blessing for our kids and for our schools."
He said when the federal funding runs out, they'd like to find a way to continue providing supplies.
"We have funded this exclusively out of the ESSER money. Obviously, the ESSER funds run out after this year, but I really think that this will be, you know, our school board will have to vote and decide, but I think this is something that's been such a positive for our community, for parents and students, I think this will be something we'll continue."
Another benefit is getting students the exact supplies needed for their lessons.
"We have a lot of advantages, because we can purchase in large quantities," said Dr. Langford. "We get to buy the folders that are the quality and standards that our teachers like. And then now as we've evolved over the last couple of years, we've been able to give schools choice. So we actually run this massive Google form, so that schools can pick exactly what they want for their kids. And so it's it's become more tailored to the individual schools."
The district said the supplies will be available on the first day of class. They want families to know that any school supply lists at stores are old.
Singer Sinead O'Connor has died, Irish media reported Wednesday. She was 56 years old.
“It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of our beloved Sinéad. Her family and friends are devastated and have requested privacy at this very difficult time,” the singer's family said in a statement to the BBC and Irish broadcaster RTE.
O'Connor, born in Dublin, was recognizable by her shaved head and elfin features. She was a star from her 1987 debut album “The Lion and the Cobra” and became a sensation in 1990 with her cover of Prince’s ballad “Nothing Compares 2 U,” a seething, shattering performance that topped charts from Europe to Australia and was heightened by a promotional video featuring the gray-eyed O’Connor in intense close-up.
Her discography spanned decades. O'Connor released ten studio albums between 1987 and 2014. Her 1991 album "I Do Not Want What I Haven't Got" won the Grammy for best alternative performance.
She was a lifelong non-conformist — she said her shaved head was in response to record executives pressuring her to be conventionally glamorous.
The singer was always outspoken on political matters, from Irish unification to sexual abuse in the Catholic church. During a 1992 performance on "Saturday Night Live," O'Connor ripped up a photo of the pope on live television in protest.
In 1999, O’Connor caused uproar in Ireland when she became a priestess of the breakaway Latin Tridentine Church — a position that was not recognized by the mainstream Catholic Church.
She converted to Islam in 2018 and told fans she had changed her name to Shuhada' Davitt.
FILE - Irish singer Sinead O'Connor performs during the Italian State RAI TV program "Che Tempo che Fa", in Milan, Italy on Oct. 5, 2014. O’Connor, the gifted Irish singer-songwriter who became a superstar in her mid-20s but was known as much for her private struggles and provocative actions as for her fierce and expressive music, has died at 56. The singer's family issued a statement reported Wednesday by the BBC and RTE. (AP Photo/Antonio Calanni, File)
Irish singer Sinead O'Connor performs on stage at Akvarium Klub in Budapest, Hungary, Monday, Dec. 9, 2019. (Marton Monus/MTI via AP)
FILE - Irish singer Sinead O'Connor performs on August 11, 2013 in Lorient, western of France during the Inter-Celtic Festival of Lorient. (Photo by Fred TANNEAU / AFP) (Photo credit should read FRED TANNEAU/AFP via Getty Images)
FILE- Sinead O'Connor performs at the "Albert Nobbs" soundtrack release party at Palihouse Holloway on January 6, 2012 in West Hollywood, California. (Photo by Jason LaVeris/FilmMagic)
Her cause of death was not immediately released.
O'Connor is survived by her three children, the Irish Times reports. Her son Shane died at age 17 last year.
CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) -- The Austin Peay State University community is mourning the sudden loss of 18-year-old Jeremiah Collins, an incoming football freshman who was killed in a crash.
The single-vehicle crash happened on Briley Parkway late Friday night on, July 21. Metro Police reported Collins was was traveling at a high rate of speed when he tried to take an exit on Briley Parkway, which caused his pickup truck to leave the roadway and roll several times.
In an interview with News 2, Austin Peay's Head Football Coach Scotty Walden said Jeremiah was an outstanding person with a positive attitude.
"He lights up a room," said Walden. "He had a million-dollar smile."
Source: WKRN
Coach Walden said it was clear that the defensive back was talented at the sport he was passionate about.
"The other thing that we fell in love with in our time in the summer with him was his just his love and focus for ball," said Walden. "He was so driven to be great."
"We feel like everything, not only from a football standpoint, from a life standpoint, the best was out ahead, you know, for him," said Walden.
Source: WKRN
"We're playing this season and dedication for Jeremiah Collins, and we're playing it for his family, and we're gonna play it with his spirit, and we're gonna attack this season in his honor because we know that's what he would want and we know that's what that's the way he would have done it," said Walden.
The vigil is slated to be held on Tuesday night at 6 p.m. at Fortera Stadium. All are invited to attend.
Walden said the team are planning ways to honor Jeremiah throughout the season, but his jersey number 16 will not be worn by any other defense players this fall in his remembrance.
DEKALB COUNTY, Tenn. (WKRN) -- One man is dead and another has been taken into custody following a shooting at a Smithville home.
The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) released a statement on Saturday, July 22, saying agents joined the DeKalb County Sheriff's Office at approximately 2 a.m. to investigate a shooting in the 100 block of Kings Court Circle.
According to officials, 56-year-old Thomas D. Thomason died as a result of his injuries.
Over the course of the investigation, authorities said they determined 39-year-old Jarrett L. Manning of Smithville, was responsible for Thomason's death.
The TBI reported Manning was arrested Saturday morning and booked into the DeKalb County Jail for a second-degree murder charge. His bond has been set at $500,000.
No additional details have been released about the circumstances surrounding the deadly shooting.
HENDERSONVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — As strong storms move through Middle Tennessee, Nashville and Hendersonville residents are reporting multiple power outages, as well as downed power lines and trees.
Nashville Electric Service's outage map shows thousands of customers without power around Hendersonville, as well as smaller clusters of outages in the northern and northeastern parts of the county. Around 5,000 residents near Old Hickory Lake are without power, as are another 1,411 customers near Mt. Juliet around Old Lebanon Road.
Reports of downed trees and power lines are also coming in from the Mt. Juliet area, according to area law enforcement.
Emergency crews are reportedly on the scene in those areas, and NES is recommended customers to avoid the area in order to allow crews to work repairing lines and restoring power.
Sanders Ferry Road near Imperial Boulevard in Hendersonville is currently closed due to the downed trees and power lines. One report said a tree fell onto and crushed a house on Raintree Drive.
RUTHERFORD COUNTY, Tenn. (WKRN) -- Rutherford County motorists are backed up for several miles along Interstate 24 West due to a multi-vehicle crash near Smyrna.
According to officials, the right lane and right shoulder are closed at the crash site, located between the Almaville Road and Sam Ridley Parkway exits.
(Source: TDOT)
While there is no official word on the extent of the delays resulting from this incident, TDOT's online traffic cameras show motorists at a near-standstill as far away as mile marker 73.4
Authorities urged motorists to use U.S. Highway 41/70 (New Nashville Highway) as an alternate route.
"Please be patient while Tennessee Highway Patrol investigates and the wreckage is cleared," the Rutherford County Sheriff's Office wrote on Facebook shortly before 1 p.m.
FENTRESS COUNTY, Tenn. (WATE) — Two people are facing charges in connection with a May homicide in Jamestown, according to the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI).
On May 29, TBI agents were asked to help Fentress County Sheriff's Office detectives investigate after Jonathan Chad Hall, 40, was found dead in the 3000 block of Buck Mountain Road, officials said.
During the investigation, the TBI said agents determined that Shellie A. Miller and Steven L. Reynolds were responsible for Hall's death.
Warrants charging Miller and Reynolds -- both 48 years old -- with criminal homicide were obtained on Tuesday, July 18, according to authorities.
Both were reportedly served in the Fentress County Jail, where Miller and Reynolds were already being held on unrelated charges.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — The Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee (CFMT) has unveiled its new home in the Green Hills area of Nashville.
The Jane and Richard Eskind and Family Building features plenty of measures to increase sustainability, such as the use of cross-laminated timber and the selection of resilient, low-maintenance plants and preservation of mature trees on the six-acre property. Additionally, the property features a bio-retention area that will be used to promote stormwater infiltration and the use of decomposed granite.
More features of the building include expanded meeting spaces for area nonprofits that partner with CFMT, including the Frist Foundation Room, the Truist Conference Room and the Building Bridges Education and Training Room.
(Photography by Andrew Keithly)(Photography by Andrew Keithly)(Photography by Andrew Keithly)(Photography by Andrew Keithly)(Photography by Andrew Keithly)
The First Foundation Room boasts a capacity of 70 people theater-style, 40 people at square tables or 28 individuals boardroom-style. The room is equipped with a large screen and audio capabilities, as well as space for flip charts and/or hanging of large Post-It Notes.
The Truist Conference Room can comfortably host up to 12 individuals in a conference table setting and is equipped with a large screen and whiteboard.
The Building Bridges Education and Training Room can accommodate up to 35 individuals at classroom-style tables or a configuration of up to 70 people in a theater-style setting. The room is also equipped with a large screen and audio capabilities and has space for flip charts and/or hanging of large Post-It Notes.
All meeting spaces are offered for no rental fee to 501(c)(3) organizations, subject to approval and availability, according to the CFMT. Eligible nonprofits must operate within the 43-county region of Middle Tennessee and Southern Kentucky served by the Foundation and have a current Giving Matters profile. Other nonprofit, governmental or civic organizations may also have eligibility.
"We are committed to creating an intentional space where the community feels welcome and a sense of belonging," the Foundation says of the new home. "To support the diversity of voices and perspectives in our community, we are actively working to eliminate barriers and provide space for BIPOC-led organizations."
Additionally, the Foundation says it recognizes the challenges faced by small organizations and those located outside of Davidson County and will therefore prioritize reservations for diverse-led, small and/or rural-based organizations and "warmly invite them to utilize our space."
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — A man wanted on 11 charges, including multiple counts of identity theft trafficking, was taken into custody on Monday after reportedly evading arrest for over seven months.
Charles Jermell Farr, 35, was among the suspects featured on the Metro Nashville Police Department's "Top 10 Most Wanted" list on May 24. According to police, Farr has an extensive criminal history involving car burglaries, credit card theft and identity theft.
The 11 charges against him include three counts of vehicle burglary, three counts of identity theft trafficking, theft of property, fraudulent use of a credit card, probation violation and two counts of failure to appear.
Under Tennessee law, a person commits identity theft trafficking when they knowingly sell or give someone's personal identifying information to another person in order for them to obtain credit, goods, services or medical information in the victim's name.
(Courtesy: Metro Nashville Police Department)
While Farr has previously been convicted of vehicle burglary and indicted on previous theft charges, the most recent charges against him stem from a string of alleged crimes dating back to Dec. 16, 2022, according to an arrest affidavit.
Sometime between 4 p.m. and 4:40 p.m., a woman told police someone had smashed her driver side window and stolen her purse and its contents, including her credit cards, while her car was parked at Cornelia Fort Airpark on Airpark Drive.
Her stolen credit cards were then used at a nearby Kroger on Gallatin Pike to purchase $1,700 worth of gift cards, police reported. Investigators obtained video footage from the grocery store, which reportedly showed a man believed to be Farr and a woman using the stolen credit cards.
Based on Farr's previous criminal history, detectives believe Farr was coaching the woman on how to use the stolen credit cards to purchase gift cards. Authorities said Farr is also known to target victims at metro parks, where they are more likely to leave their wallets in their cars.
The police department's investigation showed the suspects' car, a 2013 Volvo XC90, was reportedly involved in several similar incidents spanning three months. On March 6, 2023, another victim reported his car had been burglarized while it was parked at Shelby Park on Davidson Street.
Within 30 minutes of the alleged burglary, police said six of the man's stolen credit cards were used to buy a $500 gift card and some candy at a nearby Walmart on Dickerson Pike. Only a day later, officers received reports of a third vehicle burglary at Cornelia Fort Airpark.
The victim told police her stolen credit card had been used to make a $250 purchase at Hairworld and a $22 purchase at a 7-Eleven gas station. Authorities said video surveillance showed Farr and the woman at both businesses only a short time after the alleged burglary.
In two of the alleged car burglaries, police said the victims had left their vehicles unlocked.
Farr was taken into custody on Monday, July 17. As of Tuesday, he remained behind bars with a $33,500 bond. He is among at least 63 wanted fugitives who have been taken into custody since the police department began publishing the “Top 10 Most Wanted” list on Oct. 19, 2022.
According to police, the Criminal Warrants Division has received more than 50 tips regarding “Most Wanted” suspects since then, with nearly 90% of tips leading to an arrest. To view the most recent list of “Most Wanted” fugitives, click here.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — A number of factors have influenced a large shift from traditional learning within the past few years, and for a growing number of American families, nature is becoming the classroom.
According to the North American Association for Environmental Education (NAAEE), the number of "forest kindergartens" and outdoor preschools in the United States has more than doubled from 2017 to 2020, with the trend recently taking off in Middle Tennessee.
“I think the East Coast is still a little bit behind, but if you look at places like California — all over the West Coast — forest schools are really like a normal thing you’d put your children in and we’re still kind of growing. Nashville is growing," said local educator Mackenzie Farrah.
Children play during a program with the Maypop Forest School in Ashland City. (Courtesy: Maypop Forest School)
While forest schools have only recently gained momentum in the U.S., the concept has been in practice overseas for decades. According to American Forests, a nonprofit that specializes in environmental restoration, outdoor classrooms began gaining popularity in Europe in the 1950s and 1960s.
However, the core idea stems back even further from when German educator Friedrich Froebel developed the concept of "kindergarten," which is literally translated to "children's garden," in the 1800s. According to the nonprofit, Froebel actually worked with young children in a garden setting.
His ideas then inspired others to establish kindergartens with actual gardens and a play-based curriculum. Today, the experience is even more immersive, with some nature-based programs existing solely in outdoor classrooms where kids traverse creeks and forests.
Forest school to open in Ashland City for 2023-2024 school year
For Farrah and her best friend and fellow educator Regan Rish, creating an alternative school where children could learn through a play-based curriculum immersed in nature was always a shared dream.
"For every kid it’s different. Some students really thrive in conventional schooling settings," Rish said. However, "the eight-hour school day, five days a week" isn't always "the best environment for children to learn," she added.
Children play during a program with the Maypop Forest School in Ashland City. (Courtesy: Maypop Forest School)
Rish said she, like many kids, never scored well on tests in school and always felt like she was "not smart enough." Then, through farming and being in nature, Rish said she realized she "just needed a different canvas to learn."
After both having kids of their own, Rish and Farrah came together to make their dream a reality by launching forest school programs for a class of around 15 preschoolers in the spring and summer of 2022.
Children play during a program with the Maypop Forest School in Ashland City. (Courtesy: Maypop Forest School)
"There was just this power of two best friends being like, ‘Well, we could do it now. Why would we have to wait?’" Farrah said. "Our community wants it; our community needs it; and so, we hit the ground running."
The Maypop Forest School is among at least two other similar programs in the Nashville area, with Farrah, Rish and a third educator set to teach their first full year of forest school from September through May during the 2023-2024 school year.
“There’s other teachers like us that exist in the greater state of Tennessee, and also just the West Coast," Farrah said. "Right now, the state does not recognize forest schools as a licensed school, so we operate as an exemption because we are an outdoor program.”
"We know the impact that nature has on early childhood development"
Their outdoor classroom is located just 20 minutes northwest of downtown Nashville on a flower farm in Ashland City. The property consists of several acres, with a greenhouse, forest and even a small creek that runs through the winter and spring when the rainfall is heavier.
Rather than sitting down with their workbooks, Farrah said the flow of the class is focused on the children's play and interests, through which they determine the curriculum. “Whatever the subject is, if there’s standard curriculum, we can pull from that. However nuanced it is," Rish said.
Children play during a program with the Maypop Forest School in Ashland City. (Courtesy: Maypop Forest School)
There is no strict daily schedule, besides a few pre-decided activities like building a fire, snack time, wool spinning and natural dying using black walnuts. During the winter months, the school works with families to make sure the children are dressed appropriately, but with a fire and exercise, Farrah said kids are usually shedding their layers by the end of the day.
“I think the key parts are that it is outdoor-based learning, and specifically for a forest school that’s preschool age, it’s practical life skills," Farrah said. "We do have kindergarten readiness, but it’s not as forward bracing as you think it might be.”
A child makes a craft during a program with the Maypop Forest School in Ashland City. (Courtesy: Maypop Forest School)
In forest school, learning might look like reading a cooking recipe or practicing motor skills while playing along a creek or walking on a log. Part of their program also seeks to incorporate elders into lessons, so the children are "learning across ages and abilities," Farrah explained.
“We’ve seen research and we know the impact that nature has on early childhood development, and the longer children are exposed to a natural setting, the better they are at regulating themselves," Farrah said. “The goal is actually not for them to walk away knowing how to read but wanting to read the rest of their life. So, we’re creating a space where children learn the love of learning.”
According to the NAAEE, research suggests that just being in natural environments, gardens, green schoolyards, or outdoor classrooms can enhance a child's brain development, academic performance, communication, emotional resilience and even reduce symptoms of ADHD.
“It doesn’t take anything away. If students want to learn in a more conventional way, they can. But if they’re not, then we have that for them," Rish said. “We don’t teach for tests. It’s really what is best for the child — what is best for the learner.”
The draw to alternative learning, smaller class sizes
The average class size for the 2023-2024 school year will be around 14 students, with kids ages 3 to 6 accepted on a rolling basis as long as space is available. The class size is kept small to provide a more intimate learning setting — something parents are looking for more and more, and what is likely part of the growing intrigue in forest schools.
“The numbers of students I witnessed working within a public school were not as intimate," Farrah said. “I think the rise in school shootings is also a big piece to parents wanting their children in smaller, more intimate settings; for safety reasons but also because of the learning style and the care that we can give small classes.”
Children play during a program with the Maypop Forest School in Ashland City. (Courtesy: Maypop Forest School)
While there is no physical building to meet codes, Rish said she and Farrah take that "unregulated territory seriously." Both of them have taken courses on playground safety and risk assessment, are wilderness and CPR certified, and follow the same regulations as licensed schools.
“There’s a lot of thought that goes into this kind of program and we hope parents know that it is safe," said Rish, who added that the application process "looks very different" from other schools, with questions about the family's story rather than, "When are you available?"
Parents can fill out an application or find out more information about the Maypop Forest School by clicking here. Tuition is $700 per month, but Rish said she and Farrah one day hope to make the school more accessible by eliminating the cost. With their launch in Ashland City, they also hope to see continued growth of alternative learning like forest schools.
“I think that’s something we want families to know is they don’t have to know everything about the outdoors or know what a forest school really is, but I think what draws them is the space and the trust that they have in us," Farrah said. "Their willingness to try something new and offer their child something unique and intimate and nature-based.”
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — Three people have been caught in relation to an illegal drug ring, traveling from Tennessee and Illinois to Kentucky.
According to officials, people are coming from Illinois and Tennessee and traveling to Kentucky to pass along forged prescriptions.
They are primarily traveling on Interstate 65 to Bowling Green and attempting to fill fake orders for the cough medicine promethazine, which is an antihistamine with a known potential for abuse, especially when combined with substances like codeine or alcohol.
So far, three arrests have been made – including 21-year-old Dominic Escamilla, 26-year-old Deion Fisher, and 42-year-old Daniel James Waters.
The director of the Bowling Green Warren County drug task force, Tommy Loving, said they are mainly tipped off by the local pharmacies but says there are more dots to connect.
"We do think there's a bigger picture here, which we're investigating. We've been in touch with the Knoxville police, how to group sensors, the Knoxville connection, we're also reaching out to the Chicago area and see what we can learn there. But this is a developing investigation. I think there's probably a much larger picture here. And we'll see how far we with our partners are able to take that case," explained Director Tommy Loving.
Loving said their work is never done, as new drugs work their way into popularity, but they're working with partners near and far to catch and control illegal use.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — The Metro Nashville Police Department is leading a three-day security summit for Middle Tennessee school safety officials.
“We wanted everybody from the mid-state, anyone from our surrounding counties, to be able to come and just be able to network," said Officer Steven Bowers, captain of MNPD's school safety division. "We know that there’s other agencies out there, there’s other school officials that we want to be able to network with to be able to bring all of our resources together and just learn from each other.”
About 60 people were in attendance Monday. They heard from a series of speakers, including the "Safe & Sound Schools" organization, the TN Department of Homeland Security to discuss legislation and available grant money, and a specialized MNPD representative discussing drugs in schools.
On Tuesday, they'll complete courses on active shooter situations ("CRASE") and "stop the bleed" training.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) - Beep beep! A new study shows motorists should take extra precaution when traveling in certain areas in the Volunteer State.
Four Tennessee cities ranked in the top 25 for the worst drivers in America, according to a new study by Consumer Affairs, with one Tennessee city claiming the number one spot.
The study comes after U.S. safety regulators introduced a proposal that would set higher performance standards for automatic braking systems in new cars.
According to the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the technology could save up to 360 lives per year.
In fact, Tennessee had 34 deadly crashes per 100,000 people in 2021, which is a significant increase compared to the national average of 12 deadly crashes per 100,000 people.
To determine which U.S. cities had the worst drivers, Consumer Affairs assigned each area a "crash score", which looked at traffic fatalities due to violations like speeding and driving under the influence.
According to Consumer Affairs, Memphis ranked first as the city with the worst drivers in America. The study found that majority of deadly crashes in Memphis are caused by bad driving. In fact, the study states that in 2021, bad drivers were the cause of 203 deadly crashes in Memphis, which is more than any other city.
To see the full list of cities with the worst drivers in America, click here.
Hopkins is a five-time Pro Bowler and was drafted by the Houston Texans in 2013 before joining the Arizona Cardinals in 2020. After three seasons, the Cardinals released Hopkins in June of 2023.
Rumors of Hopkins joining the team sparked in June after he scheduled a visit with the team. Titans head coach Mike Vrabel spoke on Hopkins after the team completed their second practice at Mandatory Mini-Camp.
“DeAndre will be somebody that we will bring in next week or early next week, the end of this week and go through the same visit we go through with everybody and then start the process.”
Hopkins has put up Hall of Fame numbers in his career with 853 catches for 11,265 yards and 71 touchdowns.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti has filed a lawsuit against six online liquor stores accused of illegally selling booze to Tennesseans from out-of-state.
The lawsuit, filed in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Tennessee in Nashville on Friday, is seeking to immediately stop "the flow of illegal liquor shipments" through a preliminary and permanent injunction against the six companies.
Under Tennessee law, it is illegal for any person, firm or corporation to ship liquor directly to consumers from outside the state without first obtaining a license from the Tennessee Alcoholic Beverage Commission (TABC).
The lawsuit alleges that multiple online companies failed to do so. On Oct. 5, a special agent with the TABC was reportedly able to purchase one 750 milliliter bottle of Evan Williams Peach Whiskey from a website called Bottle Buzz and have it delivered to a Tennessee address.
Investigators believe Bottle Buzz and five other companies, which undercover agents were able to purchase and receive "unauthenticated and untaxed" alcohol from, have been illegally shipping distilled spirits to Tennesseans for some time.
"These shipments circumvented the state’s three-tier alcohol licensing system that protects consumers in Tennessee by monitoring the manufacture, distribution, and retail sales of all alcohol through state licensure," the Attorney General's Office said in a news release.
The other companies mentioned in the suit are Cask Cartel, Liquor Bros, My Bev Store, Prime Time Liquor and Wooden Cork. After the TABC's investigation, staff attorneys reportedly sent each company cease and desist letters by certified mail.
However, the lawsuit claims the companies ignored the letters and continued to ship distilled spirits to Tennesseans illegally. The lawsuit is asking for an injunction under the 21st Amendment Enforcement Act and civil penalties pursuant to the Tennessee Consumer Protection Act.
Notably, this is the first time a Tennessee Attorney General has prosecuted a violation of law under the 21st Amendment Enforcement Act, which was passed by the United States Congress in 2000.
The Act allows state attorneys general to bring civil actions for injunctive relief against anyone believed to be illegally importing or transporting alcohol within the state.
“I am very happy that General Skrmetti decided to prosecute this case,” Russell Thomas, Executive Director of the TABC, said in a news release. “Our agents and staff worked hard to collect the evidence against these bad actors. Too often, we find websites operated by unscrupulous individuals willing to deceive consumers.”
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — The Metro Nashville Police Department has said it will apply for nearly $3.4 million in grant funding to put school resource officers (SROs) in the 45 Nashville public middle and high schools with full-time SRO positions in the upcoming school year.
A new state grant program allows for law enforcement agencies to apply for a $75,000 grant for each public school that will be staffed with a full-time SRO in the upcoming school year. In Nashville's case, MNPD's 60 SROs will be staffing 45 middle and high schools. The comprehensive high schools, due to their size, have two SROs, according to MNPD.
According to a release issued on Friday, the move is part of Metro Police's "continued planning and strong commitment to school safety, as directed by Chief John Drake."
The department will also continue its School Safety Initiative, which began last school year, relative to elementary schools. Volunteer officers on overtime, who are presently not eligible for grant funding, along with precinct-based officers and Investigative Services Bureau personnel, will be keeping an eye on a number of elementary school campuses. Officers will also provide extra patrol around elementary schools.
The ultimate goal for MNPD is to have full-time SROs in all elementary schools as additional positions are added and hired.
Additionally, police said CRASE (Civilian Response to Active Shooter Events) training for around 8,500 Metro Nashville Public Schools staff will take place over a three-day period next month. It will be conducted by two dozen MNPD instructors, according to the department.
Finally, the MNPD-sponsored School Safety Summit, which is specifically designed for and open to those responsible for the safety of students in a school setting, is scheduled for July 17-19 at Christ Presbyterian Church in Nashville. Anyone in the mid-state with specific school safety responsibilities can register for the summit by emailing schoolsafety@nashville.gov.
