🌱 Patch AM: How a Franklin fire lieutenant shaped three decades of local safety

Coffee in hand, Franklin? We've got the latest town updates for you. Keep reading to stay in the loop. ☀️

In today's newsletter:

• How a Franklin fire lieutenant shaped three decades of local safety
• How Page High’s perfect season turned into a Titans top honor
• Why a former Goo Goo Dolls drummer sold his Franklin home

Also on today's calendar: The Dinner Detective True Crime Murder Mystery Dinner Show - Franklin, TN and 6 more events.

📸 Have a great pic of holiday decorations from around Franklin? Post it to Franklin photos of the day! ☃️ 🟢-🟠-🟣-🔴-🟡-🔵 ☃️

Today's riddle: Can February March? 🤔 (Answer below!)

Weather forecast:

• Tuesday: Some clouds, then sunshine, with a high of 49 and low of 34 degrees.
• Wednesday: Low clouds may break, temps: high: 53, low: 47.
• Thursday: Windy; rain and a t-storm, with a high of 60 and low of 27 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

• Franklin Fire Lieutenant Todd Stapleton to Retire After 31 Years of Service (williamsonsource.com) — A longtime Franklin Fire Department lieutenant is retiring this week after 31 years of service, including key roles during the 2010 floods and numerous life-saving responses. Residents who’ve depended on Station 3 in Cool Springs will recognize Todd Stapleton’s calm leadership and mentorship. His story highlights how Franklin’s fire service has evolved to meet growing community needs.
   

• Page High coach wins Titans' Coach of the Year after historic undefeated season (fox17.com) — Franklin’s Page High School football coach Charles Rathbone has been named the Tennessee Titans’ 2025 High School Coach of the Year after leading the Patriots to their first-ever undefeated season and Class 5A state championship. Rathbone will be honored at the Dec. 28 Titans game, receives a $3,000 grant for himself and the program, and is now in the running for the national Don Shula Award.
   

• Former Goo Goo Dolls drummer Mike Malinin purchased $1.5M home in Winnetka (chicagotribune.com) — Former Goo Goo Dolls drummer Mike Malinin and his wife have left Franklin selling their Westhaven home for $2 million in January 2025 before buying a renovated house in Winnetka, Illinois. While the story centers on their new North Shore property, it also highlights the value and appeal of Franklin’s Westhaven community in a hot real estate market.
   

📸 Around Franklin

Show off your photography skills and the sights around town! Click here to submit your Photo of the Day to Patch AM!

🗓 Upcoming Events in Franklin

Add your event to our calendar and newsletter!

★ Featured events ★

Wednesday December 17

• Irving Berlin's White Christmas
  Turner Theater, 230 Franklin Rd, Franklin
  6:00 pm

Want to see your event featured? Click here!

Other local events

Wednesday December 17

• Learn about the Libby App
  Main Library Franklin , 1314 Columbia Avenue , Franklin
  2:00 pm
• GMS Basketball vs. TSMS
  Grassland Middle School , 2390 Hillsboro Rd , Franklin
  4:00 pm

Thursday December 18

• WGES - Half-day of School
  Walnut Grove Elementary Franklin, TN 37069
  8:43 am
• PMS Basketball @ BMS
  Brentwood Middle School , 5324 Murray Ln , Brentwood
  4:00 pm
• HEMS Basketball v E A Cox
  Hillsboro Elementary/ Middle School Franklin, TN 37064
  5:00 pm
• Black Business Coalition Holiday Party
  Williamson, Inc. Power Room , 4031 Aspen Grove Dr Suite 630 , Franklin
  6:00 pm

Friday December 19

• HEMS-Winter Break (No Students)
  Hillsboro Elementary/ Middle School Franklin, TN 37064
  8:00 am

Saturday December 20

• The Dinner Detective True Crime Murder Mystery Dinner Show - Franklin, TN
  Franklin Marriott Cool Springs , 700 Cool Springs Blvd , Franklin
  6:00 pm

📣 Franklin Shout Outs!

Want to say something great about someone in town? Click here to submit your Shout Out to Patch AM! It's free!

🗓 Events Nearby

Tuesday December 16

• WMS-JV/V Basketball vs TSMS
  Woodland Middle School , 1500 Volunteer Pkwy , Brentwood
  4:00 pm
• PMS Basketball vs FMS @ PMS
  Page Middle School , 6262 Arno Rd , Franklin
  4:00 pm
• GMS Basketball @ SSMS
  Spring Station Middle School , 1000 Spring Station Dr , Spring Hill
  4:00 pm
• Cancelled - Board of Health Meeting
  Williamson County Calendar Franklin, TN 37064
  5:00 pm

Have we missed something on our calendar? Add an event yourself! As always, before attending confirm event details to ensure accuracy.

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💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

• Morning Morning
  I’m Available for Moving, Delivery and Hauling today Send me a PM or 517-917-0643 ca or message (Nextdoor Liberty Pike)

• Chuy's Tex-Mex Restaurant posted a job opening for Janitorial in Franklin. Apply here.
• Tennessee Staffing posted a job opening for Service Porter in Franklin. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Franklin here.

🗞 Nearby News

Brentwood

• Brentwood Police Maintains National Law Enforcement Accreditation by CALEA (williamsonsource.com)
• Brentwood's 52-Acre Windy Hill Park Opens (thenewstn.com)
• Cleveland Maintains Top Ranking in Second TN High School Wrestling Poll (williamsonsource.com)

Nolensville

• 25 Cheapest Real Estate Transfers in Williamson Co. Nov. 17 (williamsonsource.com)
• Basketball Recap: Amaya Nash's Big Game Can't Quite Lead Rockvale over Nolensville (maxpreps.com)

Ok Franklin! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!

-- The Patch AM Team

P.S. The answer to today's riddle: I don't know, but April May!
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Send it to us!

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