🌱 Williamson County Teacher Awarded + Upcoming FrankTalks Lecture

Morning, everybody! It's me, Danielle Fallon-O'Leary, your host of the Franklin Patch newsletter — back in your inbox with all the most important things happening locally.

But first, your local weather:

• Thursday: Nice with clouds and sun. High: 73 Low: 52.
• Friday: Periods of rain. High: 68 Low: 62.

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Here are the top three stories in Franklin today:

1. English Language Arts Teacher Allison McSwain of Legacy Middle School in Williamson County was honored earlier this week for her excellence in Holocaust education and her teachings to her students. The eighth-grade teacher received the Belz-Lipman award on May 1, as well as a later recognition at the State Capitol, as part of the Holocaust Commission’s Annual Day of Remembrance Holocaust Commemoration. She was also awarded a $1,500 scholarship to further assist her in teaching the topic in the future. (Williamson Source)
2. Metro Nashville police officers arrested 33-year-old Joseph Caruthers after a chase ensued, seizing a large amount of drugs. A Ford Explorer was seen speeding more than 20 miles over the speed limit on I-65 and evaded a detective when they attempted to pull over the vehicle. Officers pursued the car before pulling into the Hill Side Flats parking garage where Caruthers parked the car and attempted to flee on foot. He attempted to dispose of a teal bookbag containing drugs, and officers later found large amounts of marijuana, cocaine, fentanyl, and other drugs, as well as money and a weapon. He was eventually taken into custody. (WZTV)
3. This coming Monday, Franklin Tomorrow will host a free FrankTalks lecture. Serving as a kickoff to National Travel & Tourism Week, Franklin officials will talk about the "dynamic tourism assets of Williamson County." The event will take place at 9:00 a.m. on May 8 at the Harpeth Hotel Riverside Ballroom. Reserve your spot here. (Franklin Tomorrow via Facebook)

From our sponsor:

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Today and tomorrow in Franklin:

Thursday, May 4

• Housing Commission Meeting At Franklin City Hall (8:00 AM)
• May the Fourth Be With You! Star Wars Day At Main Library Franklin (4:30 PM)

Friday, May 5

• First Friday: Your Small Business Toolkit At The Entrepreneurship and Innovation Center (7:30 AM)
• Policy Talks At Columbia State Community College Community Room (7:30 AM)
• Franklin Art Scene At Downtown Franklin Association (6:00 PM)

From my notebook:

• Earlier this week, the City of Franklin celebrated the restoration of the Hayes House at the Park at Harlinsdale Farm. It was a beautiful morning for such a wonderful ceremony. For more information on the project, click on the link here provided by the Friends of Franklin Parks. (City of Franklin, TN - Municipal Government via Facebook)
• With the veteran suicide rate at about double the rate of the general population, one man has decided to take a stand and fight to make a difference in saving the lives of those in this population. Author of "The Warfighter's Soul" Dr. Greg Wark has launched an intense rehabilitative recovery program nearby, designed to help veterans and give them the hope they might have lacked before. Dr. Wark is even giving out his book for free as part of the teachings on how to get better and feel better overall. If you are a veteran in crisis or you know one, please call 988 for help, or you can visit the website for more information about the program. (WZTV)
• Do you love Franklin and want to meet more people who feel the same way? If so, join Franklin Locals this summer! This volunteer program works to provide that southern hospitality experience for visitors on Main Street and provides any assistance needed to make them feel like a local. (Downtown Franklin via Facebook)

More from our sponsors — thanks for supporting local news!

Featured businesses:

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

Featured events:

• St Philip Italian Night Dinner Event (May 6)
• Taxes in Retirement Seminar at The John P. Holt Brentwood Library (May 8)
• T-Mobile Tuesdays: Fresh Perks Every Week (May 9)
• Zoom Meeting about Realtors near Franklin, TN (May 15)

That's it for today. See you all soon for another update!

— 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.