Local News

Free Movie Fridays — a monthly event from June through September — will kick off June 18 at the Robertson County Fairgrounds. The event, presented by  the City of Springfield’s Parks and Recreation Department and the Springfield Walmart, will set up this year’s showings under the Century Stage, as part of the Robertson County Fair Association Family Fun Night series.  Parks and Recreation director Terry Martin say this Friday night’s movie, “The Croods 2: A New Age” is slated to begin around 7:30.

The new 525-square-foot Electrolux warehouse in Springfield is open.  The facility includes a lounge for truck drivers and a new dog run for travel companions.  The warehouse is part of the appliance manufacturer’s 250-million-dollar expansion of the campus.

 A moderate pastor from Alabama will be the next president of the world’s largest Baptist denomination.  The Nashville-based Southern Baptist Convention elected Pastor Ed Litton yesterday during its annual meeting at the Music City Center.  There was mixed reaction when Litton was announced as the next president, winning a runoff vote over Georgia ultraconservative pastor Mike Stone.  The SBC’s meeting wraps up today.

The Academy of Country Music is going to be honoring Loretta Lynn and Luke Combs at the ACM Honors program.  Lynn will get the Poet’s Award at the August 25th event in Nashville while Combs will get the Gene Weed Milestone Award.  ACM is planning to award country music executive Joe Galante and the band Rascal Flatts with the Cliff Stone Icon.  Toby Keith will get the 2021 Merle Haggard Spirit Award.

The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency says a new law with harsher penalties for boating under the influence start next month.  The TWRA said yesterday that the new law goes into effect on July 1st and will bring boating under the influence penalties in line with those for driving under the influence.  Law enforcement also plans to launch Operation Dry Water on July 4th with officers out in larger numbers to enforce the new law.