• All convenience centers and our office will be closed on December 24th and 25th for Christmas.
• Convenience centers will reopen on December 26th, but our office will remain closed.
• All the convenience centers will be open on December 31st. The office will be closed on December 31st.
• All convenience centers and our office will be closed January 1st in observance of the New Year.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (Dec. 9, 2025) – Ascension Saint Thomas Hospital Midtown has been named as a 2026 High Performing hospital for Maternity Care by U.S. News & World Report. The hospital is the only facility in Middle Tennessee to earn this prestigious designation, which is the highest award U.S. News gives for maternity services. The recognition from the global authority in hospital rankings and consumer advice highlights the hospital’s century-long reputation as a leading and trusted destination for families seeking safe, personal and evidence-based maternity care.

The High Performing designation reflects strong performance across key quality and safety indicators including, lower rates of C-sections in lower-risk pregnancies, reduced incidences of severe unexpected newborn complications, high exclusive breast milk feeding rates and a commitment to birthing friendly practices.

A Statewide Leader in Care for Moms and Babies
Ascension Saint Thomas Hospital Midtown delivers more babies than any other hospital in Tennessee and is the region’s leading choice for maternity care. As part of the Ascension Saint Thomas system, which welcomes one in three Middle Tennessee babies, Midtown offers a full continuum of services designed to support individualized and compassionate care before, during and after birth. Key offerings include:
● Comprehensive OB-GYN care with dedicated 24/7 obstetrics and gynecology emergency care
● Level III neonatal intensive care (NICU)
● Level 4 maternity care which provides comprehensive care for the most complex pregnancies
● Certified nurse midwives and an experienced team of OB physicians, neonatal nurses and maternal fetal medicine specialists
● Support programs such as childbirth education, breastfeeding consultations, postpartum care and personalized birth planning with a dedicated birth designer
● Modern labor, delivery and recovery suites that provide comfort for parents and families
“At Ascension Saint Thomas, our goal is to ensure every mother and baby receive the safest and highest quality care possible,” said Dr. Shubhada Jagasia, CEO of Ascension Saint Thomas Hospital. “Earning a ‘High Performing’ distinction from U.S. News is a meaningful validation of our Midtown team’s unwavering dedication to mothers, babies, and their families.”

Trusted Resource for Expectant Parents
U.S. News began evaluating maternity care hospitals in 2021, rating hospitals that provide labor and delivery services and submit detailed data to the publication for analysis. For the 2026 edition, approximately 900 hospitals nationwide submitted maternity data for evaluation. Best Hospitals for Maternity Care ratings are intended to assist expectant parents, in consultation with their prenatal care providers, in making informed decisions about where to receive maternity services that best meet their family’s needs.

“Hospitals designated as a U.S. News Best Hospital for Maternity Care are national leaders. This recognition means they are consistently hitting crucial patient safety benchmarks compared to other hospitals,” said Jennifer Winston, Ph.D., health data scientist at U.S. News. “It’s a clear signal to expectant parents about where the highest standards of care are being practiced – when parents see this designation, they can be assured they are choosing a hospital dedicated to exceptional, evidence-based maternity care.”

For more information, visit Best Hospitals for Maternity Care.
About Ascension Saint Thomas Ascension Saint Thomas is a faith-based, nonprofit health system with a 125-year history of delivering personalized care, with special attention to those most vulnerable. The system includes 18 hospitals and 320 sites of care across 45 counties in Tennessee, including affiliated joint ventures, medical practices, clinics, and specialty facilities. With more than 13,000 associates, Ascension Saint Thomas serves millions of patients annually. It is part of Ascension, one of the largest Catholic health systems in the U.S., with approximately 99,000 associates, 23,000 aligned providers, and 121 hospitals. In FY2024, Ascension provided $2.1 billion in care for those living in poverty and other community benefit programs. Visit www.ascension.org. About U.S. News & World Report U.S. News & World Report is the global leader for journalism that empowers consumers, citizens, business leaders and policy officials to make confident decisions in all aspects of their lives and communities. A multifaceted media company, U.S. News provides unbiased rankings, independent reporting and analysis, and consumer advice to millions of people on USNews.com each month. A pillar in Washington for more than 90 years, U.S. News is the trusted home for in-depth and exclusive insights on education, health, politics, the economy, personal finance, travel, automobiles, real estate, careers and consumer products and services. 

11/20/25

NASHVILLE – Seven Tennessee State Parks restaurants will offer Thanksgiving meals on Thursday, Nov. 27, and parks officials are encouraging visitors to make it a weekend getaway by booking overnight stays at lodges, cabins, and campgrounds.

Meals at Montgomery Bell State Park and Henry Horton State Park are already sold out, but people are invited to join a wait list.

Free guided hikes will be at many parks on Friday, Nov. 28.

Here is a breakdown of the holiday offers:

David Crockett State Park
Lawrenceburg
The Restaurant at David Crockett will have a buffet with favorites such as turkey, catfish, and pumpkin pie. Reservations are not required or accepted. First-come, first-served. The entire party must be present prior to seating. The price is $32 per person, ages 4-12 $22, and ages 3-under free. Prices do not include tax, gratuity, or drinks.

After the meal, visitors can enjoy time on the park’s hiking trails or go fishing at the lake.

Information on booking overnight stays at the park’s cabins and campsites can be found at tnstateparks.com/parks/david-crockett.

Pickwick Landing State Park
Counce
Pickwick Landing will have lunch and dinner for Thanksgiving, with a buffet including turkey, fried chicken strips, and fruit cobblers. The price is $32 per person, ages 4-12 $22, and ages 3-under free. Prices do not include tax, gratuity, or drinks. Reservations are not required but preferred for parties of six or more. Reservations are accepted through Nov. 26 at 731-689-3135.

After the meal, visitors can stroll around the park to see fall colors on any of the trails or enjoy time by the lake.

Information on booking overnight stays at the park’s lodge, cabins, or campsites can be found at tnstateparks.com/parks/pickwick-landing.

Cumberland Mountain State Park
Crossville
The Restaurant at Cumberland Mountain will host a buffet for lunch, including turkey and southern glazed ham. Reservations are not required or accepted. The entire party must be present to be seated. The price is $32 per person, ages 4-12 $22, and ages 3-under free. Prices do not include tax, gratuity, or drinks.

After the meal, visitors can take a walk on the accessible Byrd Lake Trail or bring fishing gear for a relaxing day at the lake.

Information on booking overnight stays at the park’s cabins or campsites can be found at tnstateparks.com/parks/cumberland-mountain.

Fall Creek Falls State Park
Spencer
The Restaurant at Fall Creek Falls will offer a buffet for lunch including turkey, fried catfish, and pumpkin pie. Reservations are required and accepted until Nov. 24 at 423-881-2001. The price is $32 per person, ages 4-12 $22, ages 3-under free. Prices do not include tax, gratuity, or drinks.

After the meal, visitors can explore some of the park’s waterfalls and enjoy the many hiking trails.

Information on booking overnight stays at the park’s lodge, cabins, or campsites can be found at tnstateparks.com/parks/fall-creek-falls.

Paris Landing State Park
Buchanan
The Restaurant at Paris Landing will host a meal with favorites including turkey, glazed ham, and cornbread dressing. Reservations are not required or accepted. The meal will be served on a first-come, first-served basis. The price is $25 per plate, ages 12-under $10. Prices do not include tax, gratuity, or drinks.

After the meal, visitors can visit the park’s aviary or take a walk on trails that lead to beautiful lake views.

Information on booking a stay at the park’s lodge, cabins, or campsites can be found at tnstateparks.com/parks/paris-landing.

Montgomery Bell State Park
Burns

While reservations are full, visitors can add their names to a wait list by calling or texting 615-289-1153. Wait list applicants will receive notifications three days prior to the event. Information on booking a stay at the park’s lodge or cabins can be found at tnstateparks.com/parks/montgomery-bell.

Henry Horton State Park
Chapel Hill

While reservations are full, visitors can add their names to a wait list by calling 931-364-7724. Information about booking overnight stays at the park’s lodge, cabins, or campsites can be found at tnstateparks.com/parks/henry-horton.

Hikes

Information about Day After Thanksgiving Hikes at many parks can be found at tnstateparks.com/about/special-events/after-thanksgiving-hikes.

 

11/20/25

NASHVILLE – The Tennessee Department of Agriculture (TDA) announced the appointment of Maria Ramsey as Assistant Commissioner for Public Affairs.

“We are pleased to welcome Maria Ramsey to the Department of Agriculture’s leadership team,” Agriculture Commissioner Andy Holt said. “Maria brings a unique blend of communication and policy experience, and a deep passion for agricultural education and workforce development.”

As Assistant Commissioner, Ramsey will oversee internal and external communications and lead the department’s efforts to engage with the public, stakeholders, and industry partners. She will direct the Public Affairs office, manage media relations, and support programs that promote Tennessee’s agricultural story across the state and beyond.

“It is an honor to serve the citizens of Tennessee in this capacity,” Ramsey said. “Agriculture is built on resilience and a commitment to future generations, qualities that exemplify Tennessee’s producers. I look forward to working with the department’s exceptional team to highlight the impact of Tennessee’s farmers, agribusinesses, and the forest products industry.”

Before joining TDA, Ramsey worked as a coordinator for Public Policy and Government Relations at Merck Animal Health, where she advanced future talent development programs and communication initiatives for the North America Public Policy team. Prior to that, she was manager of the NASDA Foundation, overseeing workforce development programs, grants and partnerships that strengthened the next generation of agricultural leaders.

Ramsey’s connection to agriculture began in New York City, where she joined the area’s only FFA chapter as a high school student. She continues to give back to agricultural youth as a member of the New York FFA Association’s Give FFA Day Committee.

A native of Queens, New York, Ramsey earned a bachelor’s degree in animal science from Kansas State University and a master’s degree in agricultural and environmental education, with an emphasis in agricultural communication, from the University of Georgia. She is pursuing her doctorate in agricultural leadership, education, and communication, with a focus on science communication, at the University of Georgia, where she also serves as a graduate research and teaching assistant.

In her free time, Ramsey enjoys spending time with her husband, Blake, and their two rescue dogs, Georgia and Texas.

The Marshall County Board of Public Utilities will hold their regular monthly meeting Tuesday, December 16th,2025, 9:00 am at 624 West Commerce Street, Lewisburg, TN in the Doug Rogers Board Room.