🌱 Man Crashes Car Into River + Pastor Arrested + Main Street Festival

Hello all. I'm back in your inbox this morning with your new copy of the Franklin Patch newsletter. Let's get this Thursday started off right with a quick review of everything you need to know about what's going on these days in town.

But first, today's weather:

Partly sunny and breezy. High: 84 Low: 61.

📢 I'm looking for business owners and marketers in Franklin who want to build awareness, connect with customers and increase sales.

I have a limited number of sponsorships available to introduce our readers to local businesses they need to know. If that's you, then I invite you to learn more and secure your spot now.

Here are the top three stories in Franklin today:

1. A man died on Saturday morning after his car crashed into the Harpeth River, according to the Franklin Police Department. Franklin officials said the driver, 28-year-old Zachary Riggs, lost control of his car and crashed through a guard rail, hit a utility pole, and landed in the river. Police officers and firefighters were able to free an unconscious Riggs from the partially submerged vehicle. Riggs died later at a local hospital. (WSMV)
2. Franklin pastor Daryl Hayes, 50, has been arrested by the Williamson County Sheriff’s Office Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force under six counts of sexual exploitation of a minor. The investigation into Hayes began after receiving a CyberTip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) concerning the upload of child sex abuse material from a local church’s internet connection, where Hayes was the lead pastor. The investigation led to a search warrant being executed at the church and Hayes’ residence. Hayes was terminated from Berrys Chapel Church of Christ. (Williamson Herald)
3. Heritage Foundation’s 39th annual Main Street Festival is back Saturday, Apr. 22, and Sunday, Apr. 23, at 10:00 a.m. Presented by First Horizon Bank and sponsored by Petsense by Tractor Supply, the fest will include a refresh station, a pop-up pet park, a treat-tasting table, and more! The event also boasts a PetZone for pets to play, lounge, and connect with other animals. (Downtown Franklin via Facebook)

From our sponsor:

Today’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:

• Starry Night Owl At Pinot's Palette (6:30 PM)
• Mixtape - 80s Tribute Band At The Franklin Theatre (8:00 PM)

From my notebook:

• The annual Household Hazardous Waste Collection Event returns to Williamson County this Saturday, Apr. 22, from 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at the Williamson County Administrative Complex. For a list of items accepted at the household hazardous waste collection site, click here. (City of Franklin, TN - Municipal Government via Facebook)
• Have unwanted or unused medication lying around in your home? Stop by Kroger at 1203 Murfreesboro Rd Saturday, Apr. 22, from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. to dispose of them free of charge. No sharps. (Franklin Tomorrow via Facebook)
• For those planning to visit the Main Street festival on Saturday, Apr. 22, Franklin Transit will offer shuttle services to and from the festival. Shuttle rides are $1 per person, each way. For a full list of parking and transportation options, visit the link. (Downtown Franklin via Facebook

More from our sponsors — thanks for supporting local news!

Featured businesses:

• Wholesale Nursery Co — (Visit website)
• Elizabeth Leanza, Synergy Realty - Realtor — (Visit Website)
• Franklin, Tennessee Tours — (Visit website)
• Add your business here

Featured events:

• The St. Jude Rock ‘n’ Roll Running Series Nashville (April 22)
• T-Mobile Tuesdays: Get Delighted Every Week (April 25)
• Add your event

Thanks for following along and staying informed! 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.