March 21, 2024

BNA celebrates opening of on-site Hilton hotel

BY HAMILTON MATTHEW MASTERS

50 years in, Sperry’s thrives on not changing a thing

BY MARGARET LITTMAN

Whatever you’ve heard about Sperry’s, it’s probably true.

This month, the Belle Meade English pub/steakhouse/special-occasion magnet turns 50. And Nashvillians have a lot of opinions about it.

You might have heard that the restaurant has remained basically unchanged over the past 50 years. It’s been in the same small building on Harding Pike, with the same decor and the same menu (don’t come here looking for avocado toast or flash-fried Brussels sprouts), since 1974. That is true. You might have heard that it’s a place people go for anniversaries only. And it is indeed a special-occasion restaurant — a place to celebrate birthdays, weddings and good report cards.

Nashville’s newest hotel, the 14-story Hilton BNA Nashville Airport Terminal, celebrated its opening with a ribbon cutting ceremony on March 7.

The hotel is located steps away from the airport terminal and marks the culmination of BNA Vision, the multi-year airport renovation.

“This hotel has dramatically improved the experience for all our visitors who traverse through Nashville,” Nashville Airport Authority Vice Chair Jimmy Granbery said.

Amenities include the Aviators Restaurant, Coffee Cafe, Music Lounge, Sky Pavilion and rooftop pool, fitness center, numerous meeting rooms and large ballrooms, as well as a variety of rooms and suites, all of which are tastefully decorated with subtle nods to the aviation destination that is BNA.

But that’s not all Sperry’s is. Yes, it is a place for people of a certain age. But new generations are flocking to the restaurant, which now has two locations (the original in Belle Meade and a second in Cool Springs), as well as a Sperry’s Mercantile market with dishes to go and another Mercantile and a new coffee shop to open soon in Bellevue. As the restaurant hits the big 5-0, it’s worth a look at how they got here and what’s up next. (Spoiler: still no avocado toast or flashfried Brussels sprouts.)

Brothers Houston and Dick Thomas opened the business in 1974 on the site of what had once been Garden Gate Garden Center, owned by Houston’s wife Sue. They named their new restaurant after their great-grandfather, Burton Sperry. It wasn’t anything particularly fancy — steaks, seafood and what has been purported to be the city’s first salad bar. The Nashville dining scene then was nothing like the embarrassment of riches it is today, and the menu, plus the existence of a dance floor and a full bar, made Sperry’s the go-to for a night out.

While the brothers had

Officials at the BNA Hilton ribbon-cutting ceremony

PHOTO BY HAMILTON MATTHEW MASTERS

On-site dining room

PHOTO BY HAMILTON MATTHEW MASTERS

On the Hill: March 11-15 legislative recap

STAFF REPORTS

The state has moved forward with a bill to codify “pretextual stops” despite the wishes of the parents of Tyre Nichols, who was killed by Memphis Police in 2023.

RowVaughn and Rodney Wells on Friday asked Sen. Brent Taylor (R-Memphis) to not bring HB1931/SB2572 to a vote in the state Senate yet. However, Taylor told the Wells family he had decided to advance the bill, leaving the family emotional as they walked out of the legislature before the discussion began.

“I just thought it was in the best interest of everybody involved, the Wells family and the community back home, to go ahead and have closure with this so that everybody can move forward from here. Because, a delay would not have changed the outcome of this vote and I just thought it’d be better to go ahead and have full closure,” Taylor told the media after the vote.

The passage came after some back-andforth prior to the House vote on the bill as well. Rep. Justin Pearson (D-Memphis) called Rep. John Gillespie (R-Memphis) a liar for bringing the bill to the floor. Gillespie denied his assertions that he told Nichols’ parents that the legislation would not be on the floor.

On the Senate floor during discussion, Sen. Charlene Oliver (D-Nashville) raised her hand to speak and said she was recognized by the clerk. However, she was skipped over when Sen. Ken Yager (R-Kingston) called the question to push forward a vote.

“They didn’t want to hear the truth,” Oliver told the media. “That was wrong and they know it. This is a slap in the face and it’s dancing on the grave of Tyre Nichols.”

Oliver and other Democrats held a press conference in which they stressed that this was not the first time for what they feel is such inappropriate treatment.

“What they did to Senator Oliver today was disrespectful,” Sen. London Lamar

(D-Memphis) said. “The Republican Caucus Chair still called the question but if any one of their members … say ‘Oh, my hand was raised, I didn’t get a chance to speak.’ He pulls back his question and allows them to speak but didn’t let Senator Oliver do it.”

Taylor told the media when asked about Oliver not being able to speak that it was “unfortunate” but “that’s what happens.”

DATA PRIVACY

HB1837/SB1745 passed in the Senate unanimously after passing in the House at the end of February. The bill prohibits public higher learning institutions from sharing students’ personal information with a third party, unless there is a written agreement that the information will be used only for the purpose for which such information is originally requested.

‘BABY OLIVIA’

HB2435/SB3767, a caption bill, as amended would enact the “Baby Olivia Act” that requires schools to show students a computer-generated animation or high-definition ultrasound that shows the development organs in early fetal development. The bill refers to “Meet Baby Olivia,” a video by anti-abortion advocacy group Live Action. The bill passed the House Calendar and Rules Committee Thursday and is headed to the House floor Monday afternoon. It will also be heard in the Senate Education Committee Wednesday.

HEALTH CARE BILLS

Senate Bill 2396 failed in the Senate Commerce and Labor Committee due to no motion taken on the legislation. The bill would have required places offering gender affirming care to also provide gender “detransition.”

SB 2125 failed to get a second in the Senate Health and Welfare Committee. It would have guaranteed enrollment in TennCare coverage for children up to 6 years old. A similar bill from Sen. London Lamar (D-Memphis) failed in late February.

Lamar did pass SB1832 out of committee and the full Senate unanimously. The bill creates the Tennessee Maternal Health Equity Advisory Committee within the state’s Department of Health.

WINS FOR DEMS

In addition to Lamar, Sen. Jeff Yarbro (D-Nashville) also passed a bill out of committee and in the full Senate on Thursday. SB1048 sets new caseload requirements in the Department of Children’s Services. It would also require the department to employ special response team personnel, who could help with emergencies and help in maintaining standard caseloads. The department will have to notify the governor, members of the general assembly, and the Tennessee Commission on Children and Youth if staff requirements are not met.

Sen. Heidi Campbell (D-Nashville) passed SB1807, which would establish an Office of Rail and Public Transportation within the Department of Transportation. The bill would require the office to determine the costs and requirements, including engineering, needed to implement passenger rail service on certain corridors.

IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT

HB2124, carried by Rep. Rusty Grills (R-Newbern), passed the House mostly along party lines.

It would require law enforcement agencies to share immigration status with Department of Homeland Security officials, including if a person is not “lawfully present” in the

country. Grills said the legislation is necessary to prevent crime committed by those who are in the country illegally. However, Rep. Justin Pearson (D-Memphis) spoke during discussion that there is not a way to “force” local law enforcement to do such work.

“Your legislation ignores the reality of implementation, which is why it is a very weak piece of legislation that needs more time if it were to ever be considered,” Pearson said. “When you have people who march in Nashville and in Tennessee advocating against immigrants and saying people who are Mexican need to be deported and then we have racist legislation that we seek to pass that helps to support these very negative ideologies — this is wrong. This is not how you address a crisis.”

Currently, local law enforcement is “authorized” to share the information with DHS — but not required to do so. The bill also specifies cooperation with federal officials for “identification, apprehension, detention, or removal” of those in the country illegally.

“Instead of supporting cities and counties across Tennessee in doing what’s best for their constituents, our representatives want to take us backwards, and pretend they know what’s best for our neighborhoods by distracting our local law-enforcement agencies with federal immigration issues,” Judith Clerjeune, campaigns and advocacy director at Tennessee Immigrant and Refugee Rights Coalition Votes, said in a statement. “Not only is HB2124 a confusing piece of legislation that creates additional legal ambiguity regarding what exactly law enforcement officers are required to do, it’s just bad policy.”

This story was first published by our sister publication Nashville Post.

Top Fairgrounds official angles against affordable housing

Board Chair Jasper Hendricks holds out for NASCAR, pushing back on charter revision effort

BY ELI MOTYCKA

PHOTO BY ERIC ENGLAND

Jasper Hendricks, chair of Nashville’s Fair Commissioners Board, is attempting to quash a proposed Metro Charter amendment as it heads toward a referendum vote in November.

The amendment would swap affordable housing with auto racing as a required Fairgrounds Nashville use, tweaking a charter change that passed 2-to-1 in 2011.

Hendricks supported Bristol Motor Speedway’s NASCAR push last year as a commissioner and received $1,100 from the corporation during his failed 2023 campaign for District 19 councilmember.

In a letter dated March 8, Hendricks urged members of the Charter Revision Commission not to approve the affordable

housing amendment at its March 11 meeting. Hendricks invokes his position as Fair board chair twice in the letter, arguing that an affordable housing mandate would burden the city with an unknown fiscal impact. Also, striking racing could derail Bristol’s NASCAR push, which stalled out last summer despite support from then-Mayor John Cooper’s administration, Hendricks notes.

“The speedway requires significant capital improvements,” Hendricks writes in the letter. “Removing Auto Racing from the Charter could jeopardize Metro’s ability to find a suitable industry partner with the financial means to make those necessary repairs.”

Last year, upgrades to make the site

NASCAR-ready proposed by Bristol totaled $164 million. Cooper, Bristol and Butch Spyridon (then the president of Nashville Convention & Visitors Corp) had hammered out a three-way deal over several years to modernize the fairgrounds into a destination racing venue. Opponents skewered the deal’s finances and waged a sustained effort against racing, which they said would ruin quality of life in surrounding neighborhoods. The deal appeared to die when Cooper left office in September.

Attorney Kenny Byrd and neighborhood organizer Heidi Basgall Favorite, formerly a track opponent with Neighbors Opposing Track Expansion, have helped >> PAGE 3

shape the amendment, which they say responds to a critical need for affordable housing near Nashville’s urban core.

“When it comes to a potential Metro Charter amendment, the Fair Board chair is no more or less important than the individual Nashville taxpayer,” Byrd tells the Scene. “Putting a question before the voters simply allows taxpayers to weigh in on the future of this public property.”

Despite Hendricks’ protest, the charter revision certified the substance and format of the proposed affordable housing amendment on March 11. Opponents have 30 days to appeal that decision. Hendricks recently added an item of new business to the Fair Commissioners Board’s March 14 meeting titled, “Discussion regarding racing at The Fairgrounds Nashville.”

“Our job is to listen and compile opinions in the most neutral way,” Diego Eguiarte, one of the Fair Board’s four active commissioners (one board seat remains vacant), told the Post.

“We should not be opinionated, and we shouldn’t be making a decision or pretending to make a decision that is outside our purview, domain or responsibilities. We are not elected officials, and we don’t represent public opinion. That is not a line we should cross. We do what we are chartered to do.”

Hendricks could not be reached for comment.

This article first appeared in Post sister publication Nashville Scene.

In the same week TikTok announced it will be moving its Nashville operations to a space in Midtown, Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti joined a coalition of states supporting legislation that would prohibit the social media app in Montana.

According to a release, Montana’s legislation specifies the company must separate from its

Chinese parent, ByteDance, to be allowed to operate in the state. But the law was blocked in November by a district court judge who issued a preliminary injunction stating the law “oversteps state power.”

Skrmetti said in his press release this week that Montana’s law is “nearly identical” to federal legislation that received bipartisan support earlier this month. The U.S. House of Representatives passed its version on Wednesday. That bill would require TikTok to be sold to a U.S.-based company within 180 days.

Skrmetti said in the release that the legislation in Montana is “not to ban TikTok but rather to protect Montanans and their data” in requesting separation from its Chinese parent. The amicus brief from the attorneys general notes the app was the second most downloaded in the world last year and that the U.S. has the largest audience on the social media platform, particularly with teens.

The brief adds that “TikTok engages in deceptive business practices which induce individuals to share sensitive personal

information that can be easily accessed by the Chinese Communist Party.”

In addition to Tennessee, most of the others who signed onto the brief were from southern or mid-western states with Republican leadership, including Alabama, Georgia, Indiana, Missouri, Nebraska and Texas. Notably, Kentucky, led by Democratic Gov. Andy Beshar, was also a part of the list.

Last year, Tennessee’s House and Senate passed a bill that effectively banned TikTok from college campuses by not allowing access to “a social media platform” on the institution’s network if it is hosted by a company based in China. Gov. Bill Lee signed that into law in April 2023.

On Monday, the Post reported TikTok will take office space in Midtown’s mixed-use Moore Building. Since entering the market in 2021, TikTok has operated from a WeWork space in the central business district’s One Nashville tower.

This story was first published by our sister publication Nashville Post.

Jonathan Skrmetti PHOTO SUBMITTED

several children, it was Al Thomas, one of Houston’s sons, who was smitten with the restaurant from the beginning. As early as age 13, he was begging to work in the restaurant. His dad said he needed to be at least 14 to do so, so he went to work at Varallo’s until he was old enough to vacuum the floors and execute other clean-up tasks. In those days, Sperry’s was a “party bar,” so there was a lot of cleaning to do — but Al didn’t mind. Eventually, he started washing dishes and busing tables, working his way around the restaurant until he left for college.

“This is in my blood,” Al says. “I’ve always been in the restaurant business. So it’s in my DNA. If you cut me, I bleed au jus.”

Working at a restaurant in college, Al met Trish, the woman who would become his partner in life and in business. They wrote

each other daily (on paper — there was no email then) while Al got a degree in hospitality management. They moved 17 times in their first 10 years of marriage, managing, operating and then owning restaurants in Texas, Florida, Tennessee and Alabama.

Houston and Dick were getting older, and their employees (some of whom are still with the restaurant, with tenure of more than three decades at this point) told the kids that someone needed to do something. So Al and Trish started the process of buying the restaurant.

While many second-generation restaurateurs have visions for putting their mark on things, that wasn’t Al’s goal. He and Trish leaned on their experience to implement new processes to make the restaurant run more smoothly; they didn’t overhaul the menu or the decor.

“I wanted to honor my dad and my uncle by not doing anything — excuse me, by not changing anything,” he says. “I grew up here, and there wasn’t any way I was going to come in here and change everything. I want it to be just the way it was.”

In fact, when Al and his team opened a second Sperry’s in Cool Springs in 2006, they replicated as much of the decor as they could. That meant making an exact copy of the art from Belle Meade (being careful only to copy those that they could under copyright law). They did remove two portraits of Confederate generals that the original owners bought. (“Times change,” Al says.) “We didn’t want it to lose the warmth,” Trish says.

Trish was nervous about the expansion at first, but when she learned that the property on Frazier Drive had private dining space, she felt good about it. The small Belle Meade footprint doesn’t have room for weddings or other events, and that’s something that Sperry’s diners want.

The commitment to not changing things

is true of the menu too. The menu is filled with dishes that have fed diners for decades, including crab cakes, twice-baked potatoes, prime rib and the salad bar. But that doesn’t mean they haven’t been tweaked at all. Al is proud of the crab cakes recipe, made with 98 percent crab meat. Al calls his favorite order, which includes those crab cakes, “steak and cake.” The kitchen, he says, makes more than 1,000 twice-baked potatoes a day for the restaurant and the Mercantile.

One of Al and Trish’s daughters, Cate Buchanon, works in the business today, having gotten her start early, just like her dad. She remembers stuffing mushrooms (for the popular mango-sausage-mushroom appetizer) at the age of 5 and believes in the brand’s continuity as one of its cornerstones. Friends of her generation like the old-school/retro vibe of the place. In a time when rooftop spots with city views reign, many gravitate toward Sperry’s — it doesn’t have a view at all, with dark stained glass filling the panes.

As the restaurant approached the half-century mark, the Thomas family brainstormed how they could celebrate with their loyal customers. Someone suggested putting some menu items from the past five decades back on the menu. But, Al says, if something has ever been taken off the menu, it is because it didn’t do well. Instead, the team decided that bottles of wine would be half-price during the month of March. They’re also working on a coffee-table book of tales from customers over the years.

Many of those customers are celebrities. Ask a Nashvillian about Sperry’s and they’ll tell you which celebrity was dining there when they were: Wynonna, Chris Stapleton, Barry Williams (aka Greg Brady) and Post Malone all have been sighted. Dax Shepard detailed a trip with his wife Kristen Bell in an episode of his Armchair Expert podcast last year. (If you’re concerned about the dress code, it’s worth a listen.)

In addition to the restaurants (as well as their other businesses, Sam’s Sports Grill and Sam’s Place), the Thomas family is ready for the Mercantile expansion and the launch of the coffee shop. The first Sperry’s Mercantile opened in 2015. It offers take-home-andmake versions of many of the restaurant’s popular dishes, as well as pimento cheese, cakes and other dishes made by Al’s sister Anne Clayton, a well-known caterer, baker and event maven in Nashville. The shop, which looks tiny from the outside but is jampacked inside, is located in the parking area behind the Belle Meade restaurant. It was moderately successful until the pandemic, when cooking food from favorite restaurants at home became a national pastime. Since then, the shelves of refrigerated twice-baked potatoes, frozen signature peppermint stick ice cream, green goddess dressing and other items are in demand. The Mercantile also serves as a butcher shop, selling Sperry’s Meats, which can also be ordered online and shipped nationwide.

“We work together,” Al says of the restaurant and the Mercantile. “We operate as a unit. If we get any fresh fish in the morning over there, we bring it over here to cook it.” Trish adds that the system helps them reduce food waste.

Both the new Mercantile and Cafe Sperry’s will be located in a former Shoney’s, with lots of square footage. Cafe Sperry’s will also have drive-thru service. Buchanon is helping design the coffee shop. The cafe will have a similar look and feel to the restaurants, with dark wood, a library and a fireplace.

“I’m nervous as hell opening this new coffee shop and Mercantile,” Al says of the project coming to Bellevue. “I might have $3.5 million on the line by the time I get that thing open. So it needs to do good.”

This story was first published by our sister publication Nashville Scene.

Trish and Al Thomas

PHOTO BY ERIC ENGLAND

Menu items at Sperry’s PHOTO BY ERIC ENGLAND

Sperry’s PHOTO BY ERIC ENGLAND

BNA celebrates

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

“By June 30 of this year, we will be just shy of 24 million passengers; four and a half million of those 24 coming from Kentucky, another million are coming from Northern Alabama, and if you’re trying to get that five o’clock flight in the morning, and you show up early, you got to start driving at midnight,” Metro Nashville Airport Authority President and CEO Doug Kreulen said.

“So why not come up here, spend the night, enjoy yourself and be fresh when you go through security the next morning?”

On-site gym PHOTO BY HAMILTON MATTHEW MASTERS

BNA Hilton PHOTO BY HAMILTON MATTHEW MASTERS

Airport Authority president Doug Kreulen

PHOTO BY HAMILTON MATTHEW MASTERS

Lamberth stands down on party buses

Top state lawmaker curbs effort to take over transpotainment regulation after

email from O’Connell

BY ELI MOTYCKA

House Majority Leader William Lamberth (R-Portland) dropped state lawmakers’ quest to take over entertainment vehicle regulations in the House Transportation Subcommittee on Wednesday.

The pivot follows a gentle nudge from Mayor Freddie O’Connell, who assured Lamberth in an email on Monday that the city had Lower Broadway under control.

House Bill 2642 moved out of committee without Lamberth’s 19-page amendment, which would have rewritten the rules and regulations controlling entertainment vehicles — or “transpotainment” — at the behest of industry owners, represented by state lobbyists David McMahan and Beth Winstead. Instead, the bill picked up a shorter attachment that protects the renewal of existing permits for entertainment vehicles and prohibits revoking an active permit without an administrative hearing.

Vehicle operators have long criticized restrictive and inconsistent regulation

by the city. Opponents, including downtown residents and office workers, see entertainment vehicles as a disruptive scourge commandeered by drunken partygoers.

Diana Alarcon, director of the Nashville Department of Transportation, has tightly managed the city’s permitting process via Metro’s Transportation Licensing Commission, where she does not hold a formal position but participates in debate and influences discussion. Alarcon has consistently favored cutting permits for entertainment vehicles. The city had 90 approved permits for ETV operation in Nashville as of Feb. 15; those familiar with the downtown entertainment transportation industry estimate that it generates about $50 million a year.

Political observers could imagine the effort flying through both chambers at this time last year. However, Wednesday’s concession by a top GOP leader reflects a reduced appetite among lawmakers to interfere with issues of local control in Nashville. Court losses

piled up for the state in 2023 after several bills targeting Nashville failed constitutional scrutiny. An explicit written appeal from O’Connell seemingly signals open diplomacy between Metro and the state, a shift toward collaboration that was missing during John Cooper’s mayoral administration.

“We believe the regulatory environment you and the General Assembly helped us secure over the past two years is incredibly helpful, and we hope we can demonstrate that we intend to use the authority responsibly,” reads O’Connell’s letter, reviewed by the Post ahead of Wednesday’s committee hearing. “I believe given more time to focus on enforcement rather than permit reduction impacting existing operators will let us do exactly that.”

In fall 2021, the Metro Council attempted to set up a regulatory regime over the pedal taverns, party buses and various tourism barges that chauffeur out-of-towners downtown. The bill — led by then-

Councilmember O’Connell — gained an easy council majority. In practice, Metro has run into problems enforcing and codifying a single set of rules for the wide range of vehicles moving through Lower Broadway and for those debuting each year — like, for instance, the Music City Fire Engine, a municipal engine repurposed for mobile partying.

Alarcon favors limiting ETV permits and has been consistently critical of the party vehicle industry.

“Your guests are obnoxious, they are rude, they are loud, they create chaos, they try to get attention of the people on the street — it’s a problem,” Alarcon told ETV owners in December. “I don’t think any more permits should be given. Period. End of story.”

Metro Transportation Licensing commissioners have been hesitant to follow Alarcon’s lead without first reviewing data about current vehicles and traffic.

This story was first published by our sister publication Nashville Scene.

Courtney Johnston considers challenging Andy Ogles in GOP Primary

BY STEPHEN ELLIOTT, NASHVILLE BANNER

Courtney Johnston

PHOTO BY ERIC ENGLAND

This story is a partnership between the Nashville Banner and The News. The Banner is a nonprofit, nonpartisan news organization focused on civic news. For more information, visit NashvilleBanner.com.

Sometimes, when a congressional seat opens for the first time in decades, the competitive scramble to fill it precedes only another long stretch of entrenched incumbency.

That has not been the case so far in GOP U.S. Rep. Andy Ogles’ 5th Congressional District, which formerly comprised all of Nashville and was represented for years by Democrat Jim Cooper. Ahead of the 2022 elections, Tennessee’s Republican-

controlled legislature split the seat across several counties, including Williamson and Maury, while keeping parts of Nashville in the district, which now favors Republicans. That move set off a frantic race for the GOP nomination, won by Ogles after Republican officials excluded multiple prominent candidates.

But not all Republicans are willing to sit back and watch Ogles, the former mayor of Maury County and an anti-tax advocate, hold the seat forever. His exaggerated résumé, behavior in Congress and response to the Covenant School shooting are among the reasons cited by some for continuing to oppose the incumbent. Still, party leaders like U.S. Sen. Bill Hagerty and former President Donald Trump have stuck with Ogles.

Among Nashville-area Republicans disaffected by Ogles’ tenure as one of the city’s representatives in Washington, several political realities have emerged. Many believe the best chance to unseat Ogles is for a single opponent to face him in the primary in order to avoid splitting up the more moderate vote. They also say the race could get dirty, with a non-Ogles candidate forced to attack the incumbent while also taking incoming fire. And what’s the prize at the end of the rainbow? A stint in a “dysfunctional” Congress from which members continue to flee.

One potential primary challenger to Ogles is Courtney Johnston, Metro

councilmember for Nashville’s District 26, including the Nashville Zoo and Crieve Hall.

“The people of Middle Tennessee deserve better than Andy Ogles,” Johnston tells the Nashville Banner. “We need a tested conservative leader who can deliver and not just talk. I am taking a very close look at the district and am talking to voters. If I run, I intend to win.”

Johnston has been a reliable fundraiser, having brought in more than $50,000 for a 2023 reelection that ultimately was uncontested. On the council, Johnston has been a conservative voice who has at times sought to avoid overly partisan conflicts.

Pleading the 5th: Rep. Andy Ogles Stumbles Into Congress

“A lot of my colleagues are further left-leaning, but we agree more often than not because good policy is good policy,” Johnston told the Scene last year. “I’m not out here fighting abortion or LGBT anything, like some conservative-leaning groups want me to and have pressured me to do. That’s not what I’m here to do. But we can all agree on fiscal responsibility.”

The ballot qualifying deadline is April 4, and Johnston is not the only Republican looking at the race.

OTHERS WEIGHING, HAVE CONSIDERED A RUN

Baxter Lee, a local businessman who comes from a prominent Knoxville family,

likely is being kept off the ballot for a second cycle in a row after the Tennessee Republican Party Executive Committee voted to fasttrack a new, stricter bona fide standard for GOP candidates in the state. Lee, who could not be reached for comment, has said he voted in the 2020 Democratic presidential primary at the advice of prominent Republicans in order to create a better matchup for Republican Donald Trump. According to Davidson County voting records, Johnston consistently has voted in statewide GOP primaries.

Tom Guarente, a Nashville-area cybersecurity company executive, has filed paperwork to run as a Republican. He moved to the area six years ago from Ohio, where he briefly ran for Congress a decade ago.

Guarente, who said his beliefs are “in line with the Republican platform,” tells the Banner he is running because “the residents of District 5 deserve to have a different type of representative in Washington.” Specifically, Guarente says, Ogles has fallen short by exaggerating his résumé, failing to sufficiently communicate with constituents and seeking attention rather than productivity in Washington.

“I notice there are individuals that treat Washington, D.C., as a stage, and there are individuals that treat Washington, D.C., as a place of work,” Guarente says. “We’re fortunate in Tennessee to have many elected representatives that work hard

when they get to Washington, but when I have spoken with many people from within the district, they don’t feel the same about the current representation they have. … Our nation is at a point right now where it needs true public servants who are not there to be popular and they’re not there to make headlines. They’re there to make progress and be in touch with the people of their district.”

Not everyone is as eager to jump into the fray.

Rush Benton, a longtime Nashville financial professional, tells the Banner he “gave it consideration and decided not to” run for the GOP nomination. Benton, who attends Covenant Presbyterian Church, says Ogles’ response to the Covenant School shooting and overall dissatisfaction with Ogles’ demeanor as a representative inspired him to consider a run.

“It’s clearly a Republican district, which is fine,” Benton says. “I just don’t think it’s a MAGA district, frankly. It’s frustrating that we have a congressman who, it seems to me, is less about policy and more about Instagram hits or Twitter hits. He’s from the camp that wants to continue to stoke the division in the country and not do anything to pull us together.”

Adds Benton about the Covenant shooting: “Here’s this guy with a Christmas card showing his family all holding AR-15s. Like, really? That’s the Congressman that we have? … He’s just completely ignored that whole issue and those families.”

Benton says he spoke with political consultants about the realities of a potential campaign and decided not to run. He says a winning GOP primary challenger would need to unite the anti-Ogles camp while attracting some crossover Democratic support — easier said than done. Benton also laments a lack of “sanity” in Washington and an unwillingness to “bend the knee” to Trump as contributing to his decision.

“There is no room for somebody who is not a Trump supporter in the Republican Party,” Benton says. “I just refuse to bend the knee to Donald Trump. If that’s what it takes to be a Republican, I’m just not going to do that.

“Congress is not a great place right now,” he continues. “If it were a place that had some sanity to it, I think you might find better candidates stepping up and running, but it’s so dysfunctional that you end up with this really, incredibly bad leadership.”

But it’s not just Republicans looking at the district, which though it significantly favors Republicans, is among the more competitive in the state. The Tennessean reports that Nashville advocate and Metro Human Relations Commission Chair Maryam Abolfazli is considering a run for the Democratic nomination. According to multiple Democratic sources, state Rep. Justin Jones (D-Nashville), who drew national attention when he (along with Rep. Justin Pearson) was expelled from the legislature last year after leading a gun violence protest on the House floor, has considered a bid in the 5th Congressional District. He could not be reached for comment. Nor could Ogles.

Game-changer:

Derrick Henry’s move to the Baltimore Ravens

BY BILL FREEMAN

Tennessee Titans running back Derrick Henry, a cornerstone player for the Titans, is set to depart for the Baltimore Ravens, marking the end of an era for both player and team. Henry’s imminent move to join the Ravens’ backfield underscores a significant strategic shift for both franchises and signals a new era for our Titans.

But Henry is leaving on a high note. As noted by by Jeff Zrebiec of The Athletic, “Henry is coming off his fourth Pro Bowl season with the Titans after rushing for 1,167 yards and 12 touchdowns in 2023. The 30-year-old topped the 1,000-yard mark for the fifth time in his eight seasons in Nashville.” The comments section of a recent Facebook post by Titans Nation shows an outpouring of support — Henry will be missed by both fans and his Titans family.

Henry’s tenure with the Titans has been nothing short of legendary. As the heart and soul of the team’s offense, Henry’s bruising running style and unparalleled offensive results have been instrumental in the Titans’ success in recent years. As

reported by ESPN: “In 2020, Henry was named the NFL Offensive Player of the Year, an Associated Press first-team All-Pro and, for the second consecutive season, FedEx Ground Player of the Year after leading the NFL with a franchise-record 2,027 rushing yards. He became the eighth player in NFL history to eclipse 2,000 rushing yards in a season. His 2,027 rushing yards gave him the fifth-highest total in NFL history.”

But despite his remarkable contributions, Henry is now seeking new opportunities with the Ravens. Henry landed a reported two-year, $16 million deal with $9 million guaranteed, plus $4 million more available in incentives.

Henry’s departure will create a significant change in the Titans’ offensive identity. Without Henry anchoring the backfield, the Titans will need to adapt their offensive approach. But don’t be too sad for the team, because they just signed the Dallas Cowboys’ Tony Pollard to a three-year, $24 million contract. Pollard also amassed 1,000-plus yards rushing each of the past two seasons.

On the upside of this situation, the door is always open for Henry to return to the Titans. As Sports Illustrated reports, Titans coach Brian Callahan says of Henry: “He’s been a remarkable player. He’s been the face of the franchise here for a long time. When you think of the Tennessee Titans, you think of Derrick Henry. ... If he’s open to a return, that fits for us. I’m never going to say no to good players.”

As Henry embarks on a new chapter with the Baltimore Ravens, Titans fans everywhere are left to reflect on the impact he made on the franchise. From his electrifying runs to his unwavering dedication to the team, Henry’s legacy will endure long after his departure. While it may be difficult to imagine the Titans without Henry in the backfield, fans can take solace in knowing the team remains committed to building a competitive roster and contending for championships in the years to come.

As Titans fans, we all wish Derrick Henry the best in his new venture. Further, it’s nice to know we can still see him play — albeit

for the Ravens and not our Titans. He’ll miss Tennessee also. “Titans fans, I want to say thank you for the greatest eight years of my life,” Henry said in January. “The ups and the downs. Y’all have been there through everything,”

As the Titans turn the page on the Derrick Henry era, the future is uncertain — even with the addition of Pollard. But one thing is clear: The spirit of Titans football lives on.

Bill Freeman

Bill Freeman is the owner of FW Publishing, the publishing company that produces the Nashville Scene, Nfocus, the Nashville Post and The News.

Derrick Henry PHOTO BY JOE HOWELL / TENNESSEE TITANS

OPINION

TICKED OFF!

RAPID TRANSIT LINES

Are you all CRAZY? I already like many others pay too much in Taxes and now you want me to Pay for a Lane to drive my car on. I don’t need a fast lane. You “Metro Gov’t.” might want to fix all the local neighborhood streets that have been torn up by everyone cutting through to get onto the Interstate to get home. I pay lots of TAXES and where is all this money going, right downtown for the tourists and sports events? And maybe this comment will get someone’s attention, I have been calling on & off for 2 years about the problem on “The White Bridge Road, Bridge”! Someone needs to get the VERY LARGE HOLES in the CONCRETE filled in. You can see and HIT the Metal Rods that should be unexposed. I believe the problem is at the expansion joint, I realize this Bridge, Road is a State road but I have called both Metro & the State about this problem. The city fathers wanted growth well fix the problems you guys have created. I want to see my TAX DOLLAR working for ME!!!

INFLATION

Inflation as we know it has been on everyone’s mind especially now during the political season. We know it is here and we don’t know who can fix it. I had my real indoctrination to inflation (I think) the other day I had a problem with the battery in the key remote in my truck. Not knowing just how to replace the battery I call the Ford dealer where I bought the truck. The service person said they would change the battery for free, I would only have to pay for the battery. So I drove down to the Ford dealer about 20 miles south of Nashville, where I bought the truck and the parts guy changed both batteries in both remotes. No labor charge GREAT. Here is where the inflation comes into view. The two batteries came to $22 dollars and 28

cents. That is $11.14 for each battery. These batteries are about the size of a quarter and cost around $6.98 for a 4 pack at the big box hardware store near me. I am quite sure that the Ford dealer about 20 miles south of Nashville got theirs at a volume wholesale price. So I am wondering, was I a victim of inflation or a victim on HYWAY ROBBERY. Would you call it inflation or as I call it GREED.

SECRET MEETINGS

Well here we go, the supermajority Republican party in Tennessee now wants to hold secret meetings according to Rep Gino Bulso. And this is a quote from the paper”This idea that there is a First Amendment right to hold up a sign in our gallery---no”. I guess Rep. Gino Bulso is confused because the last I heard WE the Tennessean tax payers own that gallery. So why does the Republican supermajority see the need to have secret meetings. Are they going to use every effort and every conniving way to gain more power by having secret meetings that the public is not aware of until it’s too late and they snuck in another unpopular bill or ordinance to meet their agenda.

Friends and neighbors please VOTE and vote to replace the currant legislative board. They have gained so much power now that if they are in for another term the regular people of Tennessee will have nothing to say about how our Great State is managed.

The comments in the Ticked Off column do not reflect the views of FW Publishing.

Investigations continue for missing tourist 22-year-old Riley Strain last seen on March 8

Local investigations are ongoing for Riley Strain, the 22-year-old University of Missouri student who went missing on March 8 while on a fraternity trip to Nashville.

Surveillance video from downtown businesses showed Strain, who was kicked out of Broadway bar Luke’s 32 Bridge, stumbling across a parking lot at 3rd Avenue and Church Street, and then crossing 1st Avenue North to Gay Street, between 9:45 and 9:47 p.m.

In a statement released to its social media accounts, Luke’s 32 Bridge said “During Riley’s visit to Luke’s 32 Bridge, our records show he purchased and was served one alcoholic drink and two waters. At 9:35 p.m., our security team made a decision based on our conduct standards to escort him from the venue through our Broadway exit, at the front of the building. He was followed down the stairs with one member of his party. The individual with Riley did not exit and returned upstairs.”

On March 14, Metro Nashville Police

near Gay St. Investigators said that Strain’s last phone ping registered between James Robertson Parkway and Gay Street at 9:55 p.m. and 10 p.m.

On March 18, MNPD released bodycam footage of an interaction between Strain and officer Reginald Young on Gay Street on the night of his disappearance around 9:50 p.m. Strain did not appear distressed in the video.

The story has become national news in the nearly two weeks since the disappearance, with MNPD deploying the Urban Search and Rescue team to comb the Cumberland embankment.

The case remains a missing persons investigation, with MNPD receiving help from the United Cajun Navy nonprofit and civilian volunteers.

“Our goal is still to bring Riley home,” Strain’s stepfather Chris Whiteid told reporters on March 19. “We think that’s still a very pliable goal.”

Strain stands 6-foot-5-inches tall with blonde hair and blue eyes. Anyone with

Williamson County Commissioner Brian Beathard running for House District 65 seat

BY HAMILTON MATTHEW MASTERS

Williamson County Commissioner Brian Beathard is running for Tennessee’s District 65 House seat. The seat is currently held by Rep. Sam Whitson, who is not seeking reelection.

Beathard has served as Williamson County’s 11th district commissioner since 2010, as well as the commission chair following an election by his fellow commissioners in 2022.

The Texas native currently resides in Franklin and owns and operates RevHD, a local manufacturer of heavy-duty truck parts. He also also serves with numerous community groups and initiatives.

“My goal is to create a more collaborative atmosphere that solves problems without keeping score,” Bethard said. “Like our current representative Sam Whitson, I will work to promote honesty and integrity at the state capitol.”

“I believe in Tennessee’s tradition of fiscal responsibility. I am running for state representative to promote budgetary prudence and small government and to continue fostering an environment that supports job creation. I will vote for policies and laws that keep Tennessee the best state to live, raise a family, grow a business, and retire.”

Haitian nonprofit honors

Lipscomb president

BY WILLIAM WILLIAMS

Haiti-based nonprofit The Joseph School has recognized Lipscomb University President Candice McQueen with its inaugural Luminary Award.

According to a release, the award honors an individual who exemplifies the principles

of service, education and empowerment through leadership.

McQueen has served as Lipscomb president since September 2021.

Former Tennessee senator Jim Bryson founded The Joseph School in 2015, with the nonprofit’s focus to increase school participation with young Haitians. The school began with a kindergarten class of 30 students in 2015.

“Dr. McQueen is an inspiration not only to those in our field but also to anyone with dreams of enacting change and lasting positive impact on the world around them,” Bryson, chairman of the Joseph School Board of Directors, said in the released.

“She embodies the spirit of everything we at The Joseph School strive to accomplish. Not only is she a tremendous educational leader, but her service to and empowerment of others elevate her to the very top of our field. There is no greater calling or purpose than to improve the futures of the next generation.”

This story was first published by our sister publication Nashville Post.

Candice McQueen PHOTO COURTESY OF LIPSCOMB UNIVERSITY/KRISTI JONES

Brain Beathard PHOTO COURTESY OF BRAIN BEATHARD FOR STATE HOUSE CAMPAIGN

Local schools compete at boys basketball state tournament

Independence completes year-long mission to earn program’s first-ever ‘gold ball’

BY CHIP CIRILLO

Mark Wilkins wasn’t even born yet the last time a Williamson County public school won a state title in basketball.

That was way back in March of 1989 when Franklin took the Class AAA championship with a victory over Whites Creek.

Wilkins was born six months later in September, and he ended a 35-year wait when he coached Independence to the Class 4A title with a 53-44 win over Cookeville at Middle Tennessee State’s Murphy Center in Murfreesboro on Saturday.

“That’s crazy,” Wilkins said. “Same year.”

After finishing as the state runner-up last season, the Eagles (33-6) completed their mission for a gold ball with their 17th straight win.

“We came up short and that one definitely stung,” Wilkins said of the 2023 loss to Memphis Overton in the final. “But our kids, to their credit, went back to work even faster than I did. These kids were even a little bit more resilient than I was.”

Indy tied a school record for wins with

last year’s team that finished with a nearly identical 33-5 record.

Wilkins said the Eagles never lost belief or got nervous, making them special.

With nine seconds left, Wilkins began to realize Indy was about to win its first state title in basketball.

“This will be something we remember for the rest of our lives,” Wilkins said.

Independence guard Jett Montgomery led the way with 28 points, including an 11-for11 showing at the foul line, to earn the Most Valuable Player award.

The Southen Miss signee finished his career as Indy’s all-time leading scorer with 2,680 points.

“Well, obviously, I remember sitting in this exact seat crying last year just because my seniors were leaving and we lost,” Montgomery said. “I love winning this, but more than that, this brotherhood that we’ve made over the last four years.”

Montgomery said people throw around the word team, but Indy exemplified it in the truest fashion.

“There was no selfishness,” Montgomery said. “(The gold ball) means so much more because of the journey it took.”

Indy guard Tylan Lewis got emotional as the clock wound down on the Eagles’ season.

“I just started crying, not because of the fact that we won, but that this great team is just coming to an end,” Lewis said. “I’m just sad that it came to an end, but I’m glad that we took all this time out of this year to end

up with a gold ball.”

Wilkins’ dad, Mitch, (Gibson County) and brother, John, (McKenzie) have both coached two teams to girls state titles.

“I guess I can finally get a seat at the table now,” Wilkins said. “My oldest brother lost to my dad last week or he could have won one, too. That’s an incredible story that we’re going to cherish, but I don’t want to ever take anything away from these guys and this moment.”

Independence’s Houston Hicks, the tallest player on the court at 6-foot-8, made only one basket, but it was one of the biggest of the game as the senior’s 3-pointer from the right corner gave the Eagles a 45-38 lead with 2:45 left. The bucket came after Cookeville’s 5-0 run had cut the lead to four, and it ignited a roar from the Indy fans.

“I mean, it was wide open,” Hicks said. “Nobody was guarding me, so I had to shoot. I think (Coach Wilkins) would have gotten more mad if I didn’t shoot It.”

Hicks led all rebounders with 11 and broke the school single-season records for charges taken and blocked shots.

Indy beat LaVergne 88-74 in the semifinals Friday before winning a defensive struggle in the championship.

Eagles assistant Jeremy Whaley told Montgomery Indy hadn’t had “a Jett game” in a while and the senior delivered.

“I was, like, you’re right,” said Montgomery, who picked up three early fouls. “It felt good today.”

East Nashville PHOTO BY HAMILTON MATTHEW MASTERS

Independence PHOTO BY HAMILTON MATTHEW MASTERS

Independence’s Jett Montgomery

PHOTO BY HAMILTON MATTHEW MASTERS

East Nashville PHOTO BY HAMILTON MATTHEW MASTERS

Montgomery hit a 3-pointer with three seconds left in the third quarter to give Indy a 36-33 lead. The Eagles never trailed in the final eight minutes.

“There’s no argument in my mind he’s the best player in the state,” Wilkins said. “I don’t want to take anything away from Emerson [Tenner of Cordova, the 4A Mr. Basketball] or anything like that, but in my mind he’s one of the best, we’ll say, in the whole state, with what he’s done for four years.”

Cookeville (32-4), competing in its first state tournament in 70 years, shot 58% from the floor in the first quarter before slipping to 35% for the game.

“Our shots just didn’t fall,” Cookeville coach Josh Heard said. “Shooting (35%), that’s not indicative of what we’ve done all season.”

Joseph Owens led the Cavaliers with 11 points and Josh Heard added 10. Jalen Heard scored nine points and grabbed 10 rebounds.

Other Local Results:

CLASS 4A:

Brentwood (20-13) fell to Bartlett in the first round 51-45.

CLASS 3A:

Hume-Fogg (25-7) lost to Upperman 61-41 in the first round in its first state tournament appearance since 1989.

CLASS 2A:

Whites Creek (26-6) defeated Hickman County 52-31 before falling to Douglass 6739 in the semifinals.

East Nashville 15-10 lost to Alcoa 74-40 in the first round.

Indpendence fans

PHOTO BY HAMILTON MATTHEW MASTERS

Independence PHOTO BY HAMILTON MATTHEW MASTERS

Indpendence cheerleaders

PHOTO BY HAMILTON MATTHEW MASTERS

SPORTS

Titans free agency roundup: Henry agrees to deal with rival Ravens

Franchise makes splash with Ridley, Pollard signings

BY JOHN GLENNON

It has been a busy beginning to free agency for the Tennessee Titans.

Derrick Henry, the second-leading rusher in Titans franchise history, agreed to a two-year, $16 million deal with Baltimore, per ESPN.

Henry’s departure from Tennessee is sure to disappoint Titans fans, but the fact that he will play for Baltimore may be even harder to stomach.

It will no doubt conjure memories of two Titans legends, quarterback Steve McNair and wide receiver Derrick Mason, who completed their careers with the Ravens. In addition, the Titans and Ravens have shared quite a rivalry, dating back more than two decades.

Henry had said after the 2023 season that his top priority was winning a Super Bowl. The 30-year-old Henry bids farewell to the Titans following an incredible eight-year career in Tennessee.

A second-round pick out of Alabama in 2016, Henry didn’t become the team’s fulltime starter until 2018. But he leaves with 2,030 carries for 9,502 rushing yards, a total second only to Eddie George (2,733 carries for 10,009 yards) in franchise history.

Henry holds the franchise record of 93 touchdowns, 90 on the ground and three receiving touchdowns.

The Yulee, Fla., native earned Pro Bowl honors four times, including in 2023, and he was named All-Pro in 2020. Henry topped 1,000 yards in five of his final six seasons, totaling 2,027 yards in 2020. He had 937 yards in 2021 despite playing only eight games due to injury.

Meanwhile, the Titans will move on without Henry, relying on second-year back Tyjae Spears and free-agent acquisition Tony Pollard. Spears totaled 838 yards of total

offense last season (453 rushing yards, 385 receiving yards), while Pollard — who has reportedly agreed to a three-year, $24 million deal — has totaled 762 carries for 3,621 yards and 23 touchdowns in his five-year career. Pollard has topped 1,000 yards in each of the past two seasons.

Four other starters on last year’s Titans team agreed to new deals elsewhere.

The Titans suffered a significant loss when defensive lineman/edge rusher Denico Autry agreed to a two-year, $20 million deal with the AFC South’s Houston Texans, according to the NFL Network.

The 6-5, 285-pound Autry, 33, was a huge part of the Titans’ defense for the past three seasons, collecting 28.5 sacks, 30 tackles for loss and 108 tackles in 46 games. Autry had a career year in 2023, posting 11.5 sacks, 50 tackles and 12 tackles for loss.

The Titans also lost their leading tackler, inside linebacker Azeez Al-Shair, to Houston. Al-Shaair reportedly agreed to a three-year deal worth $34 million. He played under Texans coach Demeco Ryans when Ryans was San Francisco’s defensive coordinator.

In addition, cornerback Sean MurphyBunting, who started all 14 games he played in last year for the Titans, has agreed to a three-year, $25.5 million deal with the Arizona Cardinals, per the NFL Network.

It was a nice payday for Murphy-Bunting, who didn’t have a great season in Tennessee. He intercepted two passes, broke up eight more and made 57 tackles. Murphy-Bunting allowed 45 completions for 628 yards (14.0yard average ) and two touchdowns, while committing 10 penalties — the sixth-highest total in the league.

The Titans lost starting center Aaron Brewer, who agreed to a reported three-

year, $21 million deal with Miami. The 6-1, 295-pound Brewer had a good season run-blocking in 2023, but struggled in pass protection, allowing six sacks and 34 pressures, per Pro Football Focus.

Former Titans standout Kevin Byard will be playing for his third team in two years when the 2024 season gets underway.

Just over a week after he was released by the Philadelphia Eagles in a cost-cutting move, Byard on Sunday signed a two-year, $15 million contract with the Chicago Bears, per the NFL Network.

In addition to Pollard, the Titans made another big skill position swing by signing wide receiver Calvin Ridley to a four-year, $92M deal with $50 million guaranteed, per The NFL Network.

Multiple reports over the last couple days had suggested the race for Ridley’s services had come down to a two-team race between the Jacksonville Jaguars and New England Patriots.

But the Titans emerged the victor with a contract that will pay Ridley on average $23 million per season, the 10th-highest figure among wide receivers in the league, per Over the Cap.

The 29-year-old Ridley should provide the Titans a deep threat and playmaker that was desperately needed in the passing attack. Veteran DeAndre Hopkins topped 1,000 yards for the Titans last season, but he was a virtual one-man show and he didn’t have the speed necessary to scare opposing defenses.

Ridley is coming off the second 1,000yard season of his career. Working under Jacksonville passing-game coordinator Nick Holz — who’s now the Titans’ offensive coordinator — Ridley posted 76 catches for 1,016 yards (13.4-yard average) and eight touchdowns. In his five-season career, Ridley has 324 catches for 4,358 yards (13.5-yard average) and 36 touchdowns.

Per CBS Sports, the team has also agreed to a deal with Denver center Lloyd Cushenberry.

The 6-4, 315-pound Cushenberry was considered one of the top centers on the freeagent market. A third-round draft pick out of LSU in 2020, Cushenberry was a four-year starter with the Broncos. He missed nine games in 2022 after going on injured reserve with a groin strain, but missed only one other contest in his other three years combined.

Cushenberry is coming off his best season, according to Pro Football Focus, as the 26-year-old posted an overall grade of 73.2 — 76.4 in the passing game and 72.4 in the run game. Cushenberry allowed just one sack and 14 pressures in 17 games and 647 pass-blocking snaps.

On defense, the Titans signed cornerback Chidobe Awuzie to a three-year, $36 million deal, per the NFL Network, and linebacker Kenneth Murray to a two-year deal worth up to $18 million (with a base value of $15.5 million), according to multiple reports.

The 28-year-old Awuzie, a second-round pick of the Cowboys in 2017, is a seven-year veteran who has started 74 of the 86 games he’s played in. In that time, Awuzie has totaled six interceptions, 62 passes defensed, four forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries and 369 tackles.

Awuzie spent his last three seasons in Cincinnati, where new Titans head coach Brian Callahan served as the Bengals’ offensive coordinator.

The 6-0, 202-pound Awuzie suffered a torn ACL in October of 2022, and some of his numbers dipped last year, his first season following the injury. He had six passes defensed, zero interceptions and 57 tackles. Awuzie allowed a 112.8 quarterback rating when targeted in 2023, surrendering three touchdown passes.

The 6-2, 241-pound Murray, a 2020 first-round draft pick out of Oklahoma, was a three-down linebacker for the Chargers. He started 53 of the 59 games he played in over four seasons, totaling 321 tackles, 21 tackles for loss, 10 passes defensed and two interceptions.

Murray, 25, had his most productive overall season in 2023, totaling 107 tackles, seven tackles for loss, three sacks, one interception and four passes defensed.

The Titans also reportedly signed back-up quarterback Mason Rudolph and offensive lineman Saahdiq Charles re-signed wide receiver Nick Westbrook-Ikhineand and kicker Nick Folk to one-year contracts.

This story was first published by our sister publication Nashville Post.

Derrick Henry PHOTO COURTESY OF DONALD PAGE/ TENNESSEE TITANS

Titans GM Ran Carthon

PHOTO COURTESY OF DONALD PAGE/ TENNESSEE TITANS

Brentwood Academy’s Tanner, BGA’s Jones among Mr. Basketball winners

The 2024 Mr. and Miss Basketball winners were announced by the Tennessee Secondary School Athletic Association (TSSAA) on Tuesday, and a pair of local athletes were among the winners.

Winners were named for each of the six TSSAA classifications for both boys and girls basketball.

On the boys side, Williamson County products swept the Division II categories. Brentwood Academy senior Tyler Tanner, a Vanderbilt signee, won the DII-AA award, while Battle Ground Academy senior Kavien Jones, a Tennessee State commit, was honored for DII-A.

Read all the winner below:

2024 MR. AND MISS BASKETBALL WINNERS

Division II-A Miss Basketball

Haylen Ayers, USJ

Division II-AA Miss Basketball

Sydney Mains, Knoxville Catholic

Class 1A Miss Basketball

Savannah Davis, McKenzie

Class 2A Miss Basketball

Micah Hart, Gibson County

Class 3A Miss Basketball

Celeste Reed, White County

Class 4A Miss Basketball

Imari Berry, Clarksville

Division II-A Mr. Basketball

Kavien Jones, BGA

Division II-AA Mr. Basketball

Tyler Tanner, Brentwood Academy

Class 1A Mr. Basketball

Jordan McCullum, Harriman

Class 2A Mr. Basketball

Jahvin Carter, Alcoa

Class 3A Mr. Basketball

Tyler Lee, Fulton

Class 4A Miss Basketball

Emerson Tenner, Jr., Cordova

Vanderbilt dismisses Stackhouse

Commodore

coach

posted a 70-92 overall record in five years, failed to make NCAA Tournament

BY JOHN GLENNON

Vanderbilt has dismissed men’s basketball coach Jerry Stackhouse.

Candace Storey Lee, the university’s athletics director, issued the following statement Thursday afternoon related to the move, noting the two parties agree to part ways:

“I want to thank Coach Stackhouse for his competitive spirit and service to this University for the last five years. I appreciate his care for and attention to our student-athletes as they grew on and off the court. Commodore Nation will always remember the ‘Memorial Magic’ moments we experienced under Coach Stackhouse’s leadership. Given his pedigree, experience, and love of the game, I look forward to seeing what’s next for him. I wish him, Ramirra and his family nothing but the best in the future.”

The move comes a day after the Commodores’ 2023-24 season ended in a 90-85 overtime loss to Arkansas in the first round of the SEC Tournament at Bridgestone Arena.

Stackhouse told media after the contest he planned to talk to Lee at some point about his future.

“Been a long season, not the season that we hoped for,” Stackhouse said after the

Wednesday night game. “But again, I’m so proud of my guys, so proud of how they compete and how they’ve grown. But we understand this is a results business and the results haven’t been there.”

Stackhouse issued the following statement regarding his departure:

“I appreciate the opportunity that Vanderbilt gave me to broaden my experience with the sport that I love, and one that has blessed me in more ways than I can count. It’s been a privilege to serve as the head men’s basketball coach for the last five years. My staff and I depart here extremely thankful for every opportunity we’ve had to help our players grow and develop on and off the floor.”

Vanderbilt (9-23) tied the school record for losses, which was set in 2018-19. Bryce Drew was fired after that 9-23 season, which also featured an 0-18 record in SEC play. The Commodores went 4-14 in conference play this season.

This season’s final record also marked the third time in Stackhouse’s five years the team had won 11 games or fewer.

Stackhouse’s best season came in 202223, when Vanderbilt went 22-15, which included an 11-7 mark in SEC play and two victories in the NIT Tournament.

Stackhouse was named the SEC co-coach of the year that season.

He finished with a 70-92 overall record after five seasons, along with a 28-60 mark in SEC play.

The Commodores have posted only three winning seasons since parting ways with coach Kevin Stallings following the 2015-16 season. Two were under Stackhouse (2021-

22 and 2022-23) and one was under Drew (2016-17).

Vandy has not reached the NCAA Tournament since 2017, in Drew’s first season. This story was first published by our sister publication Nashville Post.

Jerry Stackhouse PHOTO COURTESY OF VANDERBILT ATHLETICS

Brentwood Academy’s Tyler Tanner

PHOTO BY CARL EDMONDSON

Jill’s Carrot Cake

BY EDIBLE NASHVILLE

This is the carrot cake I’ve made for years—40 to be exact. It is from The Montgomery Women’s Club Cookbook that my mom had. It has the perfect balance of pineapple to grated carrots to cream cheese frosting. (Feel free to add raisins too.) It was my husband’s birthday

cake of choice for years. In fact I think carrot cake has some kind of hold on men. Ask any man what his favorite cake is and chances are it will be carrot. It’s perfect for Easter with fresh carrots at the farmers markets. But you also might want to make it for Father’s Day too. -Jill

Melton

16 SERVINGS

CAKE

1 1/3 cups sugar

1 1/3 cups vegetable oil

4 eggs

2 cups all-purpose flour

2 teaspoons baking powder

1 teaspoon baking soda

3/4 teaspoon salt

2 teaspoons cinnamon

2 cups grated carrots

1 (8-ounce) can crushed pineapple

1. Preheat oven to 350F.

2. Combine sugar, oil and eggs in bowl of a mixer. Beat 1 minute. Sift together flour, baking powder, soda, salt and cinnamon. Add to egg mixture and mix well. Add carrots and pineapple and mix well. Pour batter into 2 (8-inch) greased and floured

FROSTING

1/2 cup (1 stick) butter

8 ounces cream cheese

1 cup powdered sugar

1 cup brown sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

cake pans. Bake 25 to 35 minutes or until done.

3. To prepare frosting, combine butter and cream cheese; beat well, about 2 minutes. Add sugars and vanilla and beat well. Frost cake.

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.

ACROSS

1 Confidence

7 In the same quantity

13 Snake on a limb

14 Bubbles on a beach

16 Members of the genus Vespa

17 “Answer the simple question!”

18 Genre associated with guyliner and black nail polish

19 Sword go-withs

21 Word with sock or duck

22 Oklahoma’s ___ Air Force Base

24 Alma mater for Mar tin Scorsese and Lady Gaga, in brief

25 Word used when making a choice, maybe

27 Where the five most widely practiced religions originated

28 “I can help!”

30 Controls

31 Comfor ting touch

33 French holy title: Abbr.

35 Valentine’s Day exchanges … or what this puzzle’s shaded areas are?

40 Witch

42 Actress Wong

43 Achievements for Andrew Lloyd Webber and Elton John, colloquially

46 Yammered

47 Like the blue side, in brief

48 Audacity

58 Connected, as a bathroom

60 Used a little of, as someone else’s speaking time

62 Role in a game of Taboo

63 F inal watcher?

64 Dog tag wearers, in brief

65 Sister channel of QVC

66 Part of GPS: Abbr.

67 Hosp. locales

DOWN

1 Chamomile and cedarwood, for two

2 Popular Italian beer

3 ___ Cariou, Broadway’s original Sweeney Todd

4 Like many bodybuilders, according to B.M.I. alone

49 ___ training (requirement for H.S. graduation in most states)

50 “Have you heard back yet?”

53 Did a marathon, say

54 Puddle producer

56 21, say

57 Bench press muscles, informally

5 Fan of the flame?

6 Sink components

7 ___ seeker

8 Pit, e.g.

9 Fancy billiards shot

10 Sci-fi sky sighting

11 Popular Mexican beer

12 Submit

13 Resource for ser vice members, colloquially

15 Styles

20 Potato part

23 “Scarface”

26 Come into view

28 Salt Lake City athlete

29 Playful suffix for “best”

32 Vegan salon brand

34 High schoolers, typically

35 Walk-ups, often

36 Feathery perennial

37 Kagan on the Cour t

38 Intervals

39 Italian city known for its limoncello

40 Allison Janney’s role on “The West Wing”

41 Easter Island

44 Serial performer

45 Self-driving cars have lots of these

51 Post-its, e.g.

52 “Glad you noticed our hard wor k”

55 Some Greek letters

57 Insta post

59 Kinda sor ta

61 Sister of Helios

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.

EDITED

PUZZLE BY ELLA DERSHOWITZ

Loyal Royal Secret Order of Hooligans

BY HOLLY SPANN PHOTOS BY HOLLY SPANN

Another Loyal Royal Secret Order of Hooligans annual gathering is in the bag! This year’s robust and highly entertaining event was held at the famous Nashville Palace. Father Phillip Halladay gave a rousing Hooligan-style invocation wherein he stated, “Good God, have mercy on a Hooligan for he has a strange blend of shyness, pride and conceit, and a stubborn refusal to bow in defeat.” Since former Mayor-Hooligan Bill Purcell was in Thailand, he introduced keynote speaker Mayor Freddie O’Connell via video. It was an introduction that was heavily laced with humorous jabs. Mayor O’Connell is the tenth mayor of the Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County. When his epic speech concluded, it was truly clear Mayor O’Connell had earned his Hooligan’s badge. Nashville Police Chief John Drake was awarded the coveted Hooligan Shillelagh. Chief Drake began his law enforcement career as a Nashville police officer in 1988 and was honored to be recognized by such a distinguished group of citizens who just so happen to be Hooligans.

Holligans in attendance were David Smith, Mark Fishburn, Father Phillip Halladay, Terry Cobb, Stan Settles, Eddie Davidson, Greg Adkins, Joe Hobbs, Joe Hall, John Curley, Ricky Rooker, Jad Duncan, Buddy Baker, Tee Gorham, Terry Crotzer, Barrett Hobbs, George Rooker, Rob Mortensen, Bobby Joslin, Bob Freeman, Darren Jernigan, Blake Freeman, Parker Toler, Jim Campbell, Aaron Holt, Mike Murphy, John Steinhouse, and Pat Curran.

Aaron Lane, Don Aaron, David Smith, Chief John Drake, Bobby Joslin, and Steve Bass

Father Phillip Halladay

Ann Smith (seated), Horace Johns, and Sharon Kipp

Tammy Williams, Mayor Freddie O’Connell, Joe Hobbs, Walter Hunt, and Victoria Green

Barrett Hobbs and John Aaron Holt

Bob Freeman, Antoinette Lee, Gary Moore, and Yuri Cunza

Tommy Oliphant, Andrew Potts, Nancy Russell, and Nick Bailey

Rep. Darren Jernigan, John Steinhouse, and Parker Toler

Blake Freeman, Pat Curran, and Ricky Rooker

Tee Gorham, Jad Duncan, Greg Adkins, Eddie Davidson, Joe Hall, Rob Mortensen, and Mark Fishburn

Cathy Thomas, Howard Gentry, and Dianne Neal

Terry Reuther Quillen and Mike Kelly

Kathryn Farris, Kathleen Murphy, Pete Westerholm, JoAnn Heidenreich, and Peter Heidenreich

TPAC Prelude Party

PHOTOS BY DANIEL MEIGS

On Leap Day, devoted supporters of Tennessee Performing Arts Center came together at The Electric Jane for the TPAC Prelude Party. The stylish and lively cocktail party, co-hosted by Judith Bright, Kelly Crockett and Kelly Unger, is the official precursor celebration to the upcoming TPAC Gala, the nonprofit’s signature black-tie fundraiser being held on April 6 at Four Seasons Hotel Nashville. Guests enjoyed delicious heavy hors d’oeuvres and handcrafted classic cocktails, including a Classic Martini, Old Fashioned, and Cosmopolitan, while mingling with fellow arts lovers. Because no TPAC celebration is complete without incredible live

performances, The Electric Jane’s stage welcomed Spotlight Award alum Josh Jordan, who recently concluded a tour with Jesus Christ Superstar, to get things started. Jordan performed a spirited rendition of “Your Love Keeps Lifting Me Higher and Higher” before TPAC President and CEO Jennifer Turner shared exciting details about the future of TPAC, including plans for a new state-of-the-art performing arts center coming to the East Bank. Curb Records artist Wyn Starks closed out the night with a soulful performance, perfectly setting the stage for the excitement to come at the 2024 TPAC Gala.

Josh Jordan and Diana Pelham

Kim Hewell and Norm Scarborough

Judith Bright, Kelly Crockett, TPAC President and CEO

Jennifer Turner, and Kelly Unger

Judge Melissa and Gary Blackburn, David Andrews and Matt Paco

Michael and Arie Nettles

Kevin and Terri Colon, and Keith and Cindy Kent Gregory

Jim and Kimberly Lewis

TPAC President and CEO Jennifer Turner, and Jason Jenkins

Bob and Julie Gordon

Five free and cheap family things to do in Middle Tennessee

BY AMANDA HAGGARD

This week it’s one big spring festival. There are several chances to get the kids out in the fresh air and beautiful weather to find some eggs — even one that’ll get them in the water, but will keep them inside if that’s more your speed. You can fly kites in two locations (Franklin and Centennial Park) on

March 23 or you can choose from several egg hunts or visits with the Easter bunny from Rutherford County on up to Belle Meade.

As part of our series on free cheap things to do with the family, here is our weekly roundup of places to spend time together over the next week:

EASTER EGGSTRAVAGANZA AT BELLE MEADE UMC

On March 23, beginning at 10 a.m., the Belle Meade UMC will host its annual Easter Eggstravaganza. The morning includes bounce houses, the Easter bunny, an egg hunt, crafts, activities, a hot dog lunch and more. All community members are invited.

HOLI AND KITE FESTIVAL

At Centennial Park, the Holi and Kite Festival is slated for March 23 beginning at 11 a.m. Holi Dhamal “celebrates the arrival of spring, the end of winter, the blossoming of love and for many, it is a festive day to meet others, play and laugh, forget and forgive, and repair broken relationships,” according to the event description. It is also the beginning of the harvest season. The day will be full of colorful imagery, from the Holi color packets to the kites flying in the sky.

UNDERWATER EGG HUNT

At Longview Recreation Center Indoor Pool in Spring Hill on March 23, your water-loving kiddos can enjoy an indoor underwater egg hunt. Children under 4 will require a parent in the water and children

who cannot swim will use flotation devices. The event is hosted by WCPR and folks can bring their own basket to see how many eggs they can collect while swimming. A therapeutic group begins at 10:00 a.m. with groups to follow for ages 2-4 (10:45 a.m.), 5-7 (11:30 a.m.), 8-10 (12:15 p.m.), and 11-12 (1 p.m.).

10TH ANNUAL KIDS ARTS FESTIVAL OF TENNESSEE

The 10th Annual Kids Arts Festival of Tennessee is also taking place on March 23 in Franklin. There will be stage performers singing, dancing, playing instruments, performing plays and reciting poetry as well as art on display. The event takes place from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in Pinkerton Park.

EASTER PICTURES AT THE RUTHERFORD FARMERS COOP

This kid and pet friendly event welcomes all to the Rutherford Farmers Coop for Easter Bunny pictures. There will also be a live bunny for children to pet while at the store. Photos are free and take place from 10 a.m. to noon.

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