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Feds allege wire fraud, money laundering at SommetBy Mindy Tate, Editor

Federal agents this morning raided the Cool Springs Boulevard offices of the Sommet Group, based on a warrant which alleges the company's managing partner, L. Brian Whitfield, and others engaged in wire fraud, money laundering, theft or embezzlement from employee benefit plans, theft or embezzlement in connection with health care and false statements relating to health care matters, according to information provided by the U.S. Attorney's office.

On Tuesday morning, FBI agents, in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Labor and the Internal Revenue Service, executed search warrants at the company's Cool Springs offices at 725 Cool Springs Blvd., according to Keith Moses, assistant special agent in charge for the FBI.

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Up, up and out of floodway: Lewisburg Pike home raised out of floodway so family can return
By Mindy Tate, Editor

If you saw Tammy and Dave Crouch’s home at 903 Lewisburg Pike on May 2, you might have thought the only thing to do was move on after 20 inches reached the interior. Instead, the family of five is moving on up, in terms of up into the air, raising the house almost 7 feet out of the floodway of the Harpeth River.

After removing the brick from the home last week, crews from Expert House Movers came in Friday, placing jacks under the home and hoisting it into the air. Crews then removed the foundation and are replacing it with a new block foundation, with the living space being one foot above the floodway, Crouch said.

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Brentwood track in running for first-ever national title
By Marcus Stone, Staff Writer

Five members of the Brentwood High School track and field team will make history this Friday by competing in the Nike Track Nationals at the University of Oregon’s Hayward Field.

Graduates Ford Bell and Kevin Lazas along with rising seniors Steve Wade, Patrick Kellett, and Josh Killett are one of only 12 teams running in the first-ever national championship competition to name the best high school track and field program in the country.

“This is the biggest deal in high school track, ever,” said Brentwood High assistant track coach Gary Kinder. “It is the coolest thing that I’ve been associated with, and I’ve been to the Olympics.”

Boys and girls programs across the nation have been in a four-month virtual competition from March 1 through June 13 with coaches updated statistics from meets on the tournament’s website. The top teams from eight regions advanced to Oregon with the four programs with the next-highest scores also qualifying.

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Veterans honored with Quilts of Valor during Sunset Concert Series
By Mindy Tate, Editor

Ten veterans who served in the military from World War II through Operation Iraqi Freedom were among those honored June 27 by the Cumberland Valley Quilters Association through its “Quilts of Valor” program.

Receiving handmade quilts were veterans Kelly Austin, Judi Robbins, Julia Coleman, Dexter Syler, Cora White, Ralph Land, Pamela Hale, Ricky Hale, Estrella Whitehurst, and Julie Cyr.

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Bands battle for spot at Fair’s Battle of the Bands
By Carole Robinson, staff writer

What better place for young musicians to get their start at performing than on a stage where so many great musicians have been performed and others have gotten their start. A place not quite as sacred as the Grand Ole Opry, but as close as one can get in Williamson County – the small stage at Puckett’s Grocery in Franklin.

Seven local bands had their 15 minutes of fame when they each performed two songs on stage at Puckett’s recently in the Pre-Battle of the Bands contest. Five of the seven bands were chosen to perform on stage at the Williamson County Fair on Aug. 7 at 1:30 p.m. in the annual Battle of the Bands. The winner of that contest will receive a professional recording session at Dark Horse Studio valued at $10,000.

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