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Habitat House honors Herzog
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Nikki Childers photos Habitat for Humanity’s work is made possible by the selfless work of dedicated volunteers. Standing, at top, is the family who received the latest house alongside some of the volunteers who contributed their time to the build.
Nikki Childers
Published: Jun 15, 2024, 1:02 PM

A pillar of local philanthropy was honored Saturday with the dedication and blessing of Habitat for Humanity of Warren County’s latest building.

This year’s build was dedicated to the late Todd Herzog who died June 12, 2023, and presented to the Smartt family comprised of Mirrandie, Jonathan, their three children Teigen, MaKenzley and Jayston and Aunt Kay.

Herzog was a driving force in community-based altruism, including Habitat which he helped bring to life locally in the ’90s. Since its inception in 1996, Habitat has provided homes for 37 Warren County families in need and made life-altering changes for the recipients.

“I remember so fondly the many years when Todd Herzog, a friend of mine and a great friend of this community and a public servant, organized these events. He was one of the dynamos keeping Habitat in Warren County running and so successful since 1996,” said Bill Zechman of WCPI. “In memory of my friend Todd, it was his dream that Habitat would persist, continue and prosper. It is actually true today, in the 37th house.”

Saturday’s service began with a greeting from Father Marneni Bala Showraiah who said, “This home is not only a dwelling for Mirrandie, Jonathan, Mary, Teigen, MaKenzley and Jayston, but also a symbol to us of God’s loving care and our life together as the family of God.”

Prayer from Reverend Charles McClain followed close behind before Amanda Sain conducted a candle lighting in honor of the Smartt family. A family Bible was presented to the Smartts by Jimmy Haley and the ceremony was concluded with a Prayer of Consecration and benediction after brief words from several supporters and members of Habitat, including Herzog’s wife, Kathy.

“Mirrandie, being a former student of mine and being able to work on this house has given us all great pleasure, but particularly me because I saw the smile on your face in the very beginning and how your heart was warmed by the spirit of togetherness and community in the sense of everyone contributing to you having a home for your family,” said Haley during his speech. “Especially the children who now have their own bedrooms and a safe place to live.”

Haley went on to present Mirrandie with a shadowbox containing a guardian angel pieced together with fragments of the structures which once stood in the same spot as her family’s new home, giving a small glimpse into the lives long passed. He explained it had once been part of a federal encampment on Center Street during the Civil War and later an African American community.

“I want to thank everyone who has worked on this home. I’m sure Todd is here with us today,” said Herzog in her speech. “He always said to me, ‘Kathy, you meet the best people volunteering,’ and I do believe that. There is so much love in this house because of everyone who has participated and I can’t thank you enough for what you have done for all of these people who have received homes.”

After her speech, Herzog explained it was fulfilling to see the house built in her husband’s honor. “He never thought anything like this would ever happen. He just did it out of love and he loved volunteer work,” Herzog said, indicating Todd got his start with Habitat when approached by Father Jim Bretl of St. Catherine’s Catholic Church to work on the nonprofit on the church’s behalf in 1996. “I don’t think my husband would have ever expected to be honored as he was today; he would have been pleased. The family is delightful and I know he was with us in spirit.”

For Mirrandie, who works at NHC, and her husband Jonathan, who works at Batesville Casket Company, the process to receive their home began almost two years ago and the approval was a shock for the couple.

“I was – and still am - so excited. I never thought this would happen,” said Mirrandie of how it felt to have a permanent home for her family. Prior to the new house, her family had been living in a two-bedroom home given to them by her grandfather, but the limited living space left the six-person family strapped for adequate room. “Knowing all the work we were putting in was going toward our future was so rewarding. I saw all the love people put into it, even volunteers I didn’t know, and the fact they were working so hard for us really resonated with me.”

Mirrandie revealed the master bedroom was her favorite part of the house while her three children couldn’t be more pleased with having their own rooms after having to share beds and bunks.

The homes provided by Habitat for Humanity are not free. Homeowners must provide “sweat equity” by assisting in the building of the home and are required to pay the cost of materials financed over the course of 20 or 30 years without interest. All labor on the home is donated by volunteers and local businesses.

Those who apply for a home through Habitat must clear a variety of criteria in order to be eligible. Would-be home recipients are expected to:

• Live in Warren County for a minimum of one full year

• Have satisfactory rental history and reasonable credit history

• Earn steady income for one year

• Demonstrate a need for housing due to sub-standard, unsafe, overcrowded conditions or paying one-third or more of gross income on housing

• Be willing to work 500 “sweat equity” hours

• Have a gross income between 24-30% of Warren County median income

Applicants may be required to furnish various items for verification of the above, which can be seen on the Habitat website located at hfhofwarrencounty.com. Completed applications can be turned into McMinnville Electric System and questions can be directed to (931) 668-9359 or (931) 473-9523.
WCACAC talks about euthanasia
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Nikki Childers
Published: Mar 14, 2025, 11:58 PM

During the regularly scheduled Warren County Health and Welfare Committee meeting on Tuesday, the topic of behavioral euthanasia at Warren County Animal Control and Adoption Center was one of the primary points of discussion.

Although WCACAC does not euthanize animals to create space in its facility, there are some situations, according to staff and the committee, when animals’ wellbeing or quality of life come into question due to factors outside the shelter’s control.

The employee chosen to receive certification to perform euthanasia will be required to submit their TBI background check and an application with a passport photo to begin the process for certification. Their background check and application then go to the Tennessee Veterinary Board and once approved, the employee will be set up for their first day of online classes before having to attend an in-person course which is typically held in Nashville or Murfreesboro.

Previously, behavior euthanasia was performed by vets, but they have largely refused to conduct them in recent years due to the emotional toll it bears. This leaves the shelter with the onus, if the county is to continue euthanizing animals who display extreme aggression.

Health and Welfare Committee Chair Blaine Wilcher asked how many dogs have currently been marked for aggression and the employees indicated there was a handful, all of which had been at the shelter for over two years and were aggressive enough to have bitten employees and trusty inmates during routine procedures such as cleaning cages. Due to liability concerns, these dogs are unadoptable.

According to staff, it is believed the extended stay in the cages has caused the dogs’ mental health to decline, leading them to become aggressive.

“It’s a shame, but they’re basically in prison at this point, without parole,” Blaine said.

Jeff Tubb, who is the Document Controller for WCACAC, indicated he had done hours of his own research trying to find answers or cures for the dogs.

“When you’ve got animals that have been in there for two years, it’s like putting somebody in solitary confinement,” Tubb said. “Even a human will go crazy. The same thing has happened to these animals.”

Beyond the matter of becoming certified to perform euthanasia in extreme situations like this one, the committee discussed baseline criteria to guide the facility on when behavioral euthanasia is necessary and whose call was final word.

“I just want to know who’s picking and choosing the criteria of when an animal needs to be euthanized. Would that be Brandi?” County Commissioner Kasey Owens asked.

Wilcher replied, “I would say she would probably have the main say because she would know more about it than anyone as far as how long the animal has been there, if they are aggressive and other details. I would think she would be the final stamp, wouldn’t she?”

County Commissioner Terry Bell admitted it was something they were still trying to determine and suggested perhaps the committee be the ones to discuss and decide on an animal-by-animal basis.

“No, I don’t agree with that, and I’m going to tell you why,” Owens said. “We don’t have the experience, and it is not our area of expertise to be doing that.”

Bell expressed reluctance to place it squarely on the employees of the shelter, as the task is a difficult one, especially for those who may have forged bonds with the animals while caring for them.

“I don’t want to put that on Brandi or anyone else down there,” Bell said. “It’s not right for anyone to have to step up and say ‘Oh, this dog right here’ — I don’t want to put anyone in that position. No one wants it on them, but that is the uncomfortable situation that we’re faced with. People can’t take care of their animals and that has landed us here.”

The committee suggested keeping track of details such as animals who have been there the longest and whose behavior had been affected grievously by captivity and were no longer candidates for adoption. Due to the limitations on the shelter’s capacity and the effect long-term captivity in a shelter setting has on animals, the committee felt it was neither realistic nor ethical to keep such pets indefinitely.

“In the past, we’ve had directors that actually euthanized,” Wilcher said. “And then we’ve had them take them to be euthanized. They made the call based on the history and all that, we weren’t involved.”

Ultimately, the committee was unable to decide on criteria and opted to table it for a future meeting where WCACAC Manager Brandi Harville could be in attendance to discuss the matter as well.

WCACAC has no plans to euthanize animals for space and maintains its qualification as a no-kill shelter, which means it has at least a 90% placement rate for the animals in its care. For the month of February, 19 animals were adopted into new homes and a free adoption event is currently taking place.