The Murfreesboro Pulse

09/09/2025

Tennessee Deputy Commissioner of Homeland Security Mays to speak at 9/11 Remembrance Ceremony 🇺🇸

Rutherford County Sheriff’s Office will host its annual 9/11 Remembrance Ceremony at 9 a.m. on Thursday, Sept. 11, at the 9/11 Memorial located at the Sheriff’s Office at 940 New Salem Highway in .

Sheriff Mike Fitzhugh invites the community to attend the event to remember the victims killed in the terrorist attacks and to honor the military who responded in defending the United States.

Tennessee Deputy Commissioner of Homeland Security Greg Mays will serve as the keynote speaker. Mays became director of the Office of Homeland Security for the Department of Safety and Homeland Security in January 2020.

Mays earned his bachelor’s degree from Auburn University where he received his commission as an officer in the United States Navy ROTC program. He completed Naval Flight Officer training and was assigned to Patrol Squadron Five (VP-5) where he was designated a Patrol Plane Mission Commander and completed multiple deployments, including numerous missions in support of Operation Desert Storm.

He served with the U.S. Secret Service until his retirement as assistant special agent in charge of the Nashville Field Office where he managed the integrated missions of protecting the nation’s key leaders and conducting investigations to protect the nation’s financial systems.

In his Secret Service career, he coordinated security for several National Special Security Events, including a presidential inauguration and two State of the Union addresses.

The centerpiece of the local 9/11 Memorial is a steel beam from Tower Two of the World Trade Center, pictured.

More Community Events 👇🏻

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09/09/2025

The Human Bean will open a location on Memorial Boulevard between the Reeves-Sain Drug Store and Little Caesars Pizza. It will offer a drive-thru and will include a variety of menu options from espresso drinks to dirty sodas.

The chain has more than 180 locations nationwide and is known for serving a chocolate-covered coffee bean with each drink. Other popular menu items include frozen granitas, Bright Energy drinks, real fruit smoothies and seasonal offerings.

Visit thehumanbean.com for more information.

More Local Business News 👇🏻

https://boropulse.com/2025/09/murfreesboro-business-buzz-layali-dubai-demos-sprouts-boro-bazaar-the-firey-pig-human-bean/

09/09/2025

The start of the school year has already resulted in school shootings, assaults, educators charged with s*x crimes, and outlandish attendance policies. Every year I watch, read and listen to parents grappling with educational decisions for their children. Parents are fed up but don’t know what to do.

It is never too late to home school. The hardest step is always the first one. You can do it. Arm yourself with the information you need and take the leap.

I hope this article will clear up any confusion regarding home-school laws in and give a clear synopsis of what home schooling is and what it is not. No matter your area code, this article also provides you with some tips to make navigating your new home-school journey less stressful. If you haven’t already, embrace the freedom that home schooling provides.

Category IV (the Umbrella School Option) is the option that the majority of home-school families utilize in Tennessee, and the least restrictive. There are hundreds of umbrella schools to choose from and they all vary greatly. Many do not require testing and allow parents the freedom and flexibility to choose the method of home schooling that works best for their child. Parents registering with an umbrella school are not required to submit an intent to home school to their local board of education. Once enrolled with an umbrella school, the school will handle all communication with any public school employees.

More From Free YOUR Children 👇🏻

https://boropulse.com/2025/09/remove-your-children-from-government-schools-and-take-control-of-their-educational-journey/

09/09/2025

Rutherford County Sheriff Mike Fitzhugh announced he will retire next August and not pursue another four-year term in 2026.

“It has been the honor of my life to serve the people of Rutherford County,” Fitzhugh said.

“From the beginning, I’ve sought to leave this department better than I found it by focusing on service, accountability and a workplace where people are proud to come each day,” Fitzhugh said.

Sheriff Fitzhugh announces today he won't seek re-election

Rutherford County Sheriff Mike Fitzhugh announced today he will retire next August rather than seeking another four-year term in 2026.

“It has been the honor of my life to serve the people of Rutherford County,” Fitzhugh said.

“From the beginning, I’ve sought to leave this department better than I found it by focusing on service, accountability and a workplace where people are proud to come each day,” Fitzhugh said.

His achievements include:

• Public safety: Increased patrols and enhanced drug detention efforts in schools; established a monitored “safe zone” at the Sheriff’s Office for secure personal transactions.

• Professional standards: Earned nine consecutive re-certifications of the Rutherford County Adult Detention Center, each without deficiencies; secured certification of the Property and Evidence Unit by the International Association of Property and Evidence.

• Modernization: Upgraded dispatch, records and jail management systems; implemented drone units and new camera systems, transitioned to cloud store for faster and more secure operations.

• Fiscal responsibility: Consistently balanced the budget and completed fiscal years under budged; launched a cost-saving fleet leasing program that reduced maintenance expenses while expanding the number of patrol vehicles.

• Community impact: Expanded inmate education and job-training programs in partnership with local organizations to reduce recidivism and improve re-entry outcomes.

Fitzhugh oversaw energy-efficient upgrades at the Adult Detention Center that resulted in significant savings on utility costs.

He streamlined departmental operations by reducing management layers and aligning job classifications.

09/08/2025

Four Texas men extradited in ATM theft attempt

Four Texas men have been extradited from Texas to in connection with an attempted ATM theft at a 7-Eleven Exxon on East Northfield Boulevard on Aug. 1.

DeAndre Hanks, Tyron Patton, Khamondre Phillips, and Meki Hill, all from the Dallas area, arrived in Murfreesboro in August after being transferred from Arkansas. The suspects each face two counts of theft of property involving stolen vehicles and burglary.

Investigators said the suspects smashed a convenience store window with a sledgehammer, then used a stolen pickup truck and a guy wire to pull the ATM from its foundation. A fifth suspect was shot and killed by a customer during the incident. Authorities have not charged the customer, but the investigation remains active.

Deputies booked Hanks into the Rutherford County Adult Detention Center, where he remains held on a $160,000 bond. His hearing is scheduled for Sept. 12 in General Sessions Court.

Phillips is being held on a $60,000 bond and is scheduled to appear in court on Sept. 12. Patton remains in custody on a $85,000 bond with a hearing set for Sept. 15. Hill is being held on a $110,000 bond and is expected to appear in court on Sept. 21.

09/08/2025

Sept. 13 and 14 – White Oak Craft Fair 🍶🖼️🧶🛍️☀️

The work of over 75 craft artisans will be available for purchase as The White Oak Craft Fair returns for its 35th year on Saturday, Sept. 13 from 9 a.m.–5 p.m. and Sunday, Sept. 14 from 10 a.m.–4 p.m. on the banks of the East Fork Stones River near the The Arts Center of Cannon County (1424 John Bragg Hwy., Woodbury). Shop from top craft artists throughout the region selling their original textiles, jewelry, woodcarving, metalwork, pottery, photography, chairs, baskets, ironwork, stained glass and more. All of the artisans were chosen for their excellence and integrity by a highly respected selection panel. In an age when mass production makes so many things widely available, the White Oak Craft Fair celebrates the inspiration and skill of the individual maker as well as offering an opportunity to appreciate uniqueness. Although most artisans are perennial favorites, new exhibitors join the show each year. Admission to this event is free with a $5 donation to the Cannon County Rescue Squad for supervised parking. For more information, visit artscenterofcc.com/whiteoakcraftfair.

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09/07/2025

Traveling from the Central Valley Trailhead to the Walter Hill Dam on the northern outskirts of , the North Murfreesboro Greenway offers a secluded paved trail experience that winds alongside the East Fork Stones River.

Although this portion of the Murfreesboro Greenway system is not contiguous with the other longer portion of the trail network (the 10-plus mile passage known as the Stones River Trail that travels from Thompson Lane to Barfield Park, running through the heart of town), the North Murfreesboro Greenway makes a lovely, scenic, well-maintained 1.3-mile trail segment of its own.

An out-and-back trip here makes 2.6 miles, quite enough of a walk for many folks looking for some outdoor exercise.

The Central Valley Trailhead, located on Central Valley Road off of Lebanon Road/Highway 231 just north of Richard Siegel Park, features a full 18-hole disc golf course set up in the fields and woods surrounding the parking area, the second disc golf course for Murfreesboro Parks (the other is at Barfield Park). Enter the Greenway at Central Valley and trace the course of the Stones River north while traveling the recently paved path over its 1.3-mile stretch to the Walter Hill Dam.

The journey is comprised of two large hills. While the pavement is smooth, the fairly steep inclines and declines could make the trail quite a challenge for strollers, wheelchairs and young cyclists, though the North Murfreesboro Greenway would be an excellent choice for runners looking to get in some hill training. It could be a blast on a bike or scooter, but keep in mind there’s a bit of a grade.

Soon after leaving the trailhead, the path becomes shady and peaceful. Trees canopy much of the route, keeping it feeling mostly pleasant, even on a sweltering summer day as a party walks along in the shade, hearing only the hum of the bugs.

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https://boropulse.com/2025/09/north-murfreesboro-greenway-a-secluded-hilly-stroll-along-stones-river/

09/07/2025

The new Transit Center, at 324 New Salem Hwy., opens to the public with new routes on Monday, Sept. 8.

The Transit Center includes a passenger pavilion, maintenance facility and administration building. Passengers can enter the complex from Bridge Avenue, while Murfreesboro Transit employees have a separate entrance on New Salem Highway.

The City of Murfreesboro received $9 million in TDOT IMPROVE ACT funds and $5 million in federal dollars for design and construction of the new facility. The city’s required $2.8 million in local matching funds for the project came from the 2019 and 2022 Capital Improvement Program. The new facility sits on a 5.5-acre site across from the Doug Young Public Safety Training Facility.

Murfreesboro Transit operates a fleet of 12 buses and 18 drivers. The central hub had previously been located at 222 W. Burton St. in downtown Murfreesboro since transit operations began in 2007.

Murfreesboro Transit has a mobile app to track public transit service and is available for downloading on Apple and Android devices.

For more information on Murfreesboro Transit, including routes, visit murfreesborotn.gov/248.

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09/07/2025

Sept. 12 – Top Gun Night Run 🏃‍♂️🇺🇸 ✈️ 🎶

The Capt. Jeff Kuss USMC Memorial hosts the annual Top Gun Night Run 6k on Friday, September 12 at 7:30 p.m. in Lee Victory Recreation Park in Smyrna. The 3.7 mile course includes the Smyrna/Rutherford County Airport and Smyrna Municipal golf course with the finish line at the memorial. Spectators and runners will enjoy live music and vendors in the park. The run will be chip-timed and USATF certified and limited to only 650 participants. Proceeds from the annual Top Gun Night Run 6k are applied directly to ongoing maintenance and upkeep of the Captain Jeff Kuss USMC Memorial in addition to funding the Memorial Scholarship created in 2023. Registration closes on Wednesday, Sept. 10. For more information or to sign up, visit https://runsignup.com/Race/TN/Smyrna/TopGunNightRun6k.

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09/06/2025

Tennessee Tempo FC established its place in sports history when it captured its first-ever United Premier Soccer League National Championship in a 1–0 win over LA10 Football Club in August.

The UPSL championship win capped a tremendous spring 2025 season for the side, during which the club posted a regular season record of 10 wins and 1 loss under the leadership of head coach Gift Ndam. From beginning to end, the Tempo demonstrated why they’ve become one of the top teams in the UPSL—a semi-professional soccer association that now boasts over 300 teams across the nation competing in its Premier Division.

Established in 2021 as Beaman United FC, the club rebranded to Tennessee Tempo in 2023, and reached the pinnacle of league play by the end of its spring 2025 season.

Before the national competition, the Tempo were first victorious in the Kentucky-Tennessee Conference championship, taking that July 5 match over the FC Leopards out of Bowling Green, Kentucky. The team kept on winning, earning a spot in the Southeast Region Championship match against the Miami United FC. Goalkeeper Francois Djiba was a brick wall in the game, scoreless until the 83rd minute when Belizean Latrell Middleton scored a dramatic late game-winner to send the Tempo to the national semifinals in California.

The Tempo were then victorious in the Aug. 8 semifinals, held at Championship Soccer Stadium in Irvine, California, versus the Chicago Nation FC, and would go on to face its toughest test yet in the national final against the defensive juggernaut LA10 FC, a team that had conceded just three goals all season.

The Tempo continues to try and ignite a wave of excitement for soccer in Murfreesboro, inspiring young players and fans. With the UPSL national championship win, the Tempo has secured a spot in the 2026 U.S. Open Cup.

Turnaround time is quick in the UPSL; the league holds both spring and fall seasons, with the next season already kicking off this September.

Catch the Tennessee Tempo FC in action in Murfreesboro on Sept. 12 against the Kaistorms Football Club (out of Chattanooga) at 7 p.m. the Richard Siegel Soccer Complex Stadium, and then on Sept. 28 against the Southern Indiana FC at 6 p.m. at Siegel High School.

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https://boropulse.com/2025/09/murfreesboro-based-tennessee-tempo-fc-wins-upsl-spring-2025-national-championship-fall-season-underway/

09/06/2025

Sept. 11 – Cpl. Isaac Diaz Memorial Golf Outing ⛳️🇺🇸⭐️

Minutes Wisely, a local organization that supports veterans, first responders and Gold Star families—specifically with the aim of combating veteran su***de, depression, PTSD and mental illness—holds its second annual CPL Isaac Diaz Memorial Golf Outing at Champions Run Golf Course in Rockvale on Thursday, Sept. 11. This event honors the life and sacrifice of U.S. Army Corporal Isaac Diaz, who was killed while serving in Afghanistan. The golf scramble serves as both a tribute to Diaz and a fundraiser for Minutes Wisely, supporting the nonprofit’s growing mission to provide meaningful experiences for veterans, first responders and Gold Star families. Golfers, sponsors and community members are invited to come together. For more information, visit minuteswisely.org or call 313-909-0128‬.

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09/05/2025

🎶🎤🥁🎵🎸 Check the Pulse Concert Calendar for live music in :

https://boropulse.com/calendar/