🌱 City Fire Marshal On Explosion + Franklin Sen. Explains New Bill

Welcome back, Franklin! I'm here in your inbox per usual to get you up to speed on everything you need to know about what's going on around town.

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But first, today's weather:

Mostly sunny and mild. High: 64 Low: 37.

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Here are the top three stories in Franklin today:

1. Franklin Fire Marshal Andy King provided more information about the explosion on Feb. 8
   that originated at the Williamson County Highway Department's rock quarry, located at 302 Beasley Drive. According to King, there was a "catastrophic failure" during a routine blast from Dyno Nobel, a private licensed blasting company contracted by the county. The explosion exceeded the 140dB noise limit set by the state and the significant air pressure change was heard and felt by most of Franklin and Cool Springs. King said, "This incident was noticeable and disruptive, but we are fortunate that no one was hurt." The State Fire Marshal is conducting a full investigation. (Press Release Desk)
2. A bill to potentially criminalize certain drag shows in Tennessee passed the Senate on a party-line vote on Thursday, Feb. 9. It would outlaw any performance that law enforcement deems ‘prurient,’ which some argue is too vague. Senate Majority Leader Jack Johnson (R-Franklin) defined it as, "Are they doing something that is defined in our statute as harmful to a minor? Are they doing something that involves nudity, sexual excitement, sexual conduct, excess violence or sadomasochistic abuse?" Senate Democrats argued that federal law already outlaws obscenity and Sen. Heidi Campbell (D-Nashville) said, "I’m sure that most of us also saw the self-proclaimed Nazis that were protesting drag shows. Is that who we want to align ourselves with?" (News 19)
3. Williamson County was named the best county to live in Tennessee by Stacker! Using 2022 data from Niche, Stacker compiled a list of the best county to live in each state. Niche ranked counties based on multiple factors including public schools, jobs, and living costs. With a population of 242,386, Williamson County has the highest average income, lowest poverty rate, and is the only county where more than 50 percent of adults have at least a bachelor's degree in Tennessee. (LI Herald)

From our sponsor:

Today’Black History Month Exhibit At Williamson County Public Library, Main Library (9:00 AM)s Franklin Patch newsletter is brought to you in part by T-Mobile. T-Mobile has invested billions to light up their best network ever, covering 99% of people in America with LTE, which helps to keep communities like ours informed and connected. We thank T-Mobile for their support and for making today’s Franklin Patch newsletter possible.

Today in Franklin:

• Black History Month Exhibit At Williamson County Public Library, Main Library (9:00 AM)
• 2023 Garden Talk Series: Small Shrubs For Multi-Season Interest (Virtual) At Williamson County Public Library (1:00 PM)
• Historic Zoning Commission At Franklin City Hall Board Room (5:00 PM)
• Mark and Maggie O’Connor: Live Music & Talk At The Franklin Theatre (7:00 PM)

From my notebook:

• Mark your calendars for Feb. 21! Adult Craft: Book Folding will be held at Williamson County's Main Library in Franklin from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Books, supplies, and a beginner's pattern for this book folding lesson will be provided. Click here to register. (Williamson County Public Library via Twitter)
• The Vigilance Group, which provides vigilance and safety training workshops, has scheduled a women-only public training for Monday, Feb. 20, in nearby Brentwood. According to the company, the two-hour workshop is in direct response to increasingly frequent and violent assaults against women in Tennessee. (Williamson Herald)
• A beautiful and unique five-bedroom is for sale in nearby Thompson's Station! Check out the latest homes for sale in the Franklin area. (Franklin Patch)

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Featured events:

• T-Mobile Tuesdays: Fresh Perks Every Week (February 14)
• Online Event about real estate services in the Franklin area (February 15)
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That's it for today! I'll see you soon.

— Danielle Fallon-O'Leary

About me: Danielle Fallon-O’Leary is a content manager with content creation agency Lightning Media Partners and assists Patch.com with community newsletter curation. Danielle also holds a Master’s Degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders and works part-time as a pediatric speech therapist.