Austin Pollack
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Emmy Award winning features MMJ for @NC5 | Formerly @LEX18News, @WITN and @WDTV5News | @SyracuseU & @NewhouseSU alum | Boston born | Friend to all good dogs
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Articles by Austin Pollack
Georgia champion wins National Banana Pudding Festival as bakers put unique twists on classic dessert
CENTERVILLE, Tenn. (WTVF) — When it comes to banana pudding, everyone seems to have an opinion. Some like the classic recipe. Others put their own spin on it. And then there are those who simply don't want to find a layer of soggy cookies waiting at the bottom. At the National Banana Pudding Festival in Hickman County, competitors had one hour to make their best version of the dessert.
They almost skipped the Titans’ 50/50 raffle. Then came a much-needed happy memory
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WTVF) — Tonya and Sarah Maerker have never entered raffles because they expected to win. For them, it has always been about helping someone else. Watch full report from Austin Pollack They almost skipped the Titans’ 50/50 raffle. Then came a much-needed happy memory “My whole life, my mom and I have done raffles,” Sarah said. “It has always just been a tradition in our family to help anyone that we can, when we can.” Last season, that family tradition gave back to them.
Morning Rise Donuts: Spring Hill couple turns a love of donuts into an unexpected family business
SPRING HILL, Tenn. (WTVF) — Three months ago, RJ and Rebekah Apostol started with some dough in their kitchen. Now, they're building a business. "We are starting a donut business from the ground up," RJ said. The Spring Hill couple makes their donuts fresh, offering classics like chocolate and vanilla alongside more adventurous flavors such as brown butter maple. "I think our niche of like seed oil free and dye free has really drawn in," Rebekah said.
Predators team up with Hatch Show Print for posters made from game-used gear
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WTVF) — Nashville Predators fans have a new piece of memorabilia to add to their collection, and this one has a little bit of the game built right into it. Ahead of the Preds' season opener against the Minnesota Wild, the team partnered with Nashville icon Hatch Show Print to create a limited-edition poster made with materials from game-used equipment.
Camp Bluebird offers community and connection for adults who have or have had cancer
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WTVF) — For adults who have or have had cancer, Camp Bluebird offers something that can be hard to find elsewhere — a community of people who truly understand the journey. "It is like summer camp when you were a kid," said Debi Ponder, a former camper and now volunteer. Brian Gadbois says the connections came almost immediately upon arriving.
Scholastic Book Fair comes to Monroe Carell Jr. Children's Hospital at Vanderbilt for the first time
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WTVF) — The Scholastic Book Fair, a beloved tradition for generations of students, has made its debut at Monroe Carell Jr. Children's Hospital at Vanderbilt. This gives young patients a chance to enjoy the classic school experience, even while receiving care. The two-day fair is set up in the hospital lobby outside of Seacrest Studios. It brings books, posters, and other items to children who may not be able to attend a traditional school setting.
Brent Peterson's legacy lives on through Parkinson's foundation he helped build
DICKSON, Tenn. (WTVF) — Brent Peterson, a former NHL player and coach and co-founder of the Peterson Foundation for Parkinson's, died earlier this month after living with Parkinson's disease for more than 20 years. He passed just a few days before the annual golf tournament he helped create more than a dozen years ago.
Nashville rallied to give this Germantown pizza shop more time — now it's up to the community to keep it
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WTVF) — A Germantown pizza shop that was days away from permanently closing its doors is still open — thanks to an outpouring of support from the Nashville community. Kimberly Wolff, owner of 312 Pizza Company, said this year pushed her business to its breaking point. "This year in particular, 2026, has definitely been – the hardest that we've – that we've experienced," Wolff said. Wolff has owned 312 Pizza Company in Germantown for 12 years.
Meet the two ladies serving up one of the most popular items at the Nashville Fair
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WTVF) — At the Nashville fair, plenty of things will make you stop and stare — but one attraction has people coming back for more: a free milk bar. Patricia Patton and Charlesetta Hall have been running the milk bar for three years. "Well, we're giving out milk today," Patton said. The setup is simple. Volunteers offer cups of white milk and chocolate milk to anyone who walks by — and the response speaks for itself.
Predators legend Brent Peterson spent years turning his Parkinson's diagnosis into a mission
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WTVF) — Nashville Predators legend Brent Peterson died Friday, one night after hundreds of people gathered in his honor at Bridgestone Arena for "Petey's Party" — an annual fundraiser supporting both the Predators Foundation and Peterson's Foundation for Parkinson's. Peterson, known to many simply as "Petey," was a former NHL player and coach who was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease in 2002.
With skies closed on 9/11, a Nashville phone call helped save a baby’s life
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WTVF) — "We've got to figure this out because we can't let another patient die." That's what Jill Grandas from Tennessee Donor Services remembers about her mission on Sept. 11, 2001. Watch report from Austin Pollack The skies were closed on 9/11. A Nashville phone call helped save a baby’s life When thousands of Americans had already lost their lives in the Sept.
Sumner Co. farmers open Oak Grove Farms Grocery Store in Gallatin with 60-plus local vendors
GALLATIN, Tenn. (WTVF) — Sumner County has a new grocery option — and it comes straight from the farmers who grow the food. Zach and Kyndle Erhard, owners of Oak Grove Farms, opened the Oak Grove Farms grocery store in Gallatin in early September. The store features more than 60 vendors, locally sourced products and fresh, seasonal produce. "We thought, why not build a permanent store?" Kyndle said.
Stewart County jail life skills class provides incarcerated individuals with tools for once they are released
DOVER, Tenn. (WTVF) — Some of the people incarcerated at the Stewart County Detention Center graduated from its life skills class in August. This is a course they choose to take in order to provide them with skills that can benefit them once they are released. It prepares incarcerated individuals with practical tools, including job interview techniques, eye contact, and body language. Jeremy Page is among those who completed the program.
Golfer and caddie build friendship one swing at a time through Special Olympics Tennessee
HERMITAGE, Tenn. (WTVF) — Carter Cottrell lines up his shot at the driving range at Hermitage Golf Course on a hot and muggy afternoon in Middle Tennessee. "That was fantastic," Will Drumright said after Cottrell's drive. WATCH BELOW: Golfer, caddie forge bond on the course through Special Olympics Golfer and caddie build friendship one swing at a time through Special Olympics Tennessee The chemistry between the two is easy to see.
New indoor sandbox gives kids and parents a hands-on space to build, explore and bond in Franklin
FRANKLIN, Tenn. (WTVF) — A Franklin play space is giving families more than just a place to drop off the kids — it's inviting parents to get in and play, too. Little Diggers, owned by Noel Hicks and Joey Locker, is an indoor space filled with 200 toy trucks and blocks designed for children seven years old and under. But the owners say it was built with the whole family in mind. "It encourages more of the family being together instead of watching the kid play from a distance," Locker said.
Belmont professor teaches course on Dolly Parton's life, legacy and impact on music
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WTVF) — A Belmont University professor, who co-wrote a song recorded by Dolly Parton, now teaches a course examining how Parton's music shaped the industry and the lives of those who heard it. Jodi Marr teaches songwriting at Belmont and leads a class called "Dolly Parton: Songteller," which uses Parton's most pivotal songs as a lens into her life and career.
Corn-eating rivals return for a rematch (and newfound friendship?) at the Wilson County - Tennessee State Fair
LEBANON, Tenn. (WTVF) — At the Wilson County - Tennessee State Fair, food is not hard to find. In one particular corner of the fairgrounds, things got a little more competitive — and a lot more corny. The annual corn eating contest drew a crowd, and two familiar faces were front and center: reigning champion Chris Powers and last year's runner-up Jesse Davis. Davis came in with a clear goal. "I'm looking for redemption this year," Davis said. Powers, meanwhile, had been preparing.
Coach Maurice Haggins has spent 50 years shaping young lives through Charlotte Lions youth football
CHARLOTTE, Tenn. (WTVF) — For most kids, youth football is a few years of their childhood. For Maurice Haggins, it has been most of his life. For 50 years, the Army veteran has coached the Charlotte Lions Junior Pro Football Program — and he doesn't just plan the plays. He picks up the players, too. "This is my ministry," he said.
Friends Life Community's Treat Truck brings ice cream and joy to Nashville one stop at a time
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WTVF) — When the August heat hits Middle Tennessee, relief can sometimes be found inside a wrapper — and the Friends Life Community Treat Truck is making sure plenty of people find it. Friends Life Community is a Nashville-based program that creates social and growth opportunities for adults with disabilities.
There's singing, dancing, and no shortage of school spirit. Belmont welcomes new students to campus
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WTVF) — Belmont University's move-in day is anything but ordinary. Incoming freshmen arriving on campus in Nashville were welcomed with singing, dancing and enthusiastic cheers from upperclassmen as they moved into their residence halls. For many students, the first day of college comes with a mix of excitement and nerves. But Belmont's tradition makes it hard to focus on the butterflies. "You get here and everybody's shouting, 'What's your name, what's your name?
Leatherwood Distillery in Clarksville joins the Tennessee Whiskey Trail
CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. (WTVF) — A veteran-owned distillery in Clarksville is now one of the newest stops on the Tennessee Whiskey Trail. Leatherwood Distillery, founded by retired Army Special Forces soldier Andy Lang, recently moved from Pleasant View to Clarksville and has officially joined the trail. B.R. Distilling Company in Memphis is the other new addition. Lang said the distillery's roots trace back to a deployment in northern Afghanistan. "One of the trips – we had some down time," Lang said.
For this family, the road to the Little League World Series is about more than baseball
NOLENSVILLE, Tenn. (WTVF) — Some stories are about much more than sports. The Nolensville Little League team is in Warner Robins, Ga., competing in the Southeast Regional Tournament with hopes of earning a trip to the Little League World Series in Williamsport, Pa. For Nolensville, 12-year-old JB Carter is scheduled to take the mound. For JB, the summer is about far more than baseball. His mother, Emily Carter, died in January.
For the last 26 years, these women helped grow women's hockey in Nashville
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WTVF) — Teresa Spychalski, Kirsten Parks, and Lori Macdonald have been playing hockey together for more than 25 years. The three met through the Centennial Ice Rink in Nashville in 2000 and have spent more than two decades not just playing the game, but fighting to make sure women had a place to play it. When you think of hockey in Nashville, the Nashville Predators likely come to mind first.
Sunrise H Camp brings camp experience to kids at Tenn. children's hospital — completely free for families
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WTVF) — Being at the hospital isn't always fun. This month, however, has given kids and their families a little extra reason to smile. Sunrise H Camp set up a camp experience on the sixth floor of the Doctor's Office Tower at Monroe Carell Junior Children's Hospital at Vanderbilt, bringing games, arts and crafts, and other activities to children who might not be able to go to camp this summer. The camp is completely free for families.
She never planned on being a swim instructor. Now she's celebrating 50 years of lessons
FRANKLIN, Tenn. (WTVF) — Nancy Anderson never set out to be a swimming instructor. "I knew nothing about teaching, I read the manual, I reluctantly did it," she admitted. "I didn't want to do it because I didn't know how, but I did my best." This year marks 50 years of teaching swimming lessons for Anderson. She estimates she has taught thousands of children in Williamson County over that time. But around 2010, she nearly walked away from it all.
A national museum heard of a 101-year-old Murfreesboro WWII veteran. Its historian flew in to record his story
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. (WTVF) — John Carroll of Murfreesboro has stories worth preserving — and now, they will be. Carroll, 101, sat down with Chandler Stark, the Gary Sinise Foundation Oral Historian at the National World War II Museum in New Orleans to record his World War II experiences for the museum's historical archives. Carroll was drafted into the U.S. Army at age 19 and served for three years.
Find your story in Cookeville: New mural celebrates city's growth
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. (WTVF) — Cookeville, Tennessee is growing — and a new mural in the heart of the city is inviting people to be part of that story. Artist Katie Tyler painted the mural on the side of the Cookeville History Museum. Tyler lives in the Sparta area, just a short distance from Cookeville, and originally moved to the region from upstate New York. Situated about halfway between Knoxville and Nashville, she chose to call the Upper Cumberland home — and kept painting.
Nashville's steam locomotive 576 fires up its boiler for the first time since 1952
Click here for updates on this story NASHVILLE, Tennessee (WTVF) -- For more than half a century, a locomotive that once helped move troops and supplies in World War II sat as a landmark at Centennial Park in Nashville. It was once a classic photo opportunity for kids, even adults, who grew up in Middle Tennessee. Wednesday, the restoration reached a significant milestone: a fire was lit in the boiler for the first time since 1952.
Senior Ride Nashville has provided 50k+ rides for older adults, in need of more volunteer drivers
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WTVF) — For many older adults, losing the ability to drive means more than losing a car — it means losing independence and connection. Senior Ride Nashville pairs volunteer drivers with seniors who no longer drive but still need to get from place to place, whether that's a doctor's appointment, a trip to the library, or a social outing. I remember when my grandfather was no longer able to drive. It's not just the independence, but truly that ability to get from point A to point B.
Nashville's steam locomotive 576 fires up its boiler for the first time since 1952
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WTVF) — For more than half a century, a locomotive that once helped move troops and supplies in World War II sat as a landmark at Centennial Park in Nashville. It was once a classic photo opportunity for kids, even adults, who grew up in Middle Tennessee. Wednesday, the restoration reached a significant milestone: a fire was lit in the boiler for the first time since 1952.
Clarksville pet boarding business will host grand opening Saturday after tornado destroyed it in 2023
CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. (WTVF) — A Clarksville pet boarding and grooming business will hold a grand opening this Saturday, nearly two and a half years after a tornado destroyed it. Kathy's Pampered Paws will hold its grand opening at 1 p.m. Saturday on the same plot of land where owner Kathy Conn and her late husband built the business nearly 25 years ago. "Pretty much the whole front of it was smashed," Conn said. "It was just gone." The tornado struck in December of 2023.
In 2004, he portrayed a US hockey hero in a movie. Today, he's still lacing up his skates in Nashville
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WTVF) — Nathan West has been around hockey his entire life. These days, he plays in an adult league at the Ford Ice Center in Bellevue — and the number on the back of his jersey tells a story all by itself. West plays on a team called the 'Cold Hickorys' and for him, Monday nights on the ice are a chance to get back to his roots. "I've literally known hockey since, basically I was born," West said. His love of the game once took him far beyond a recreational league.
This Tenn. dentist has spent more than a decade building a miniature railroad around his home
DICKSON, Tenn. (WTVF) — A Dickson dentist spent 10 years building a railroad on his family farm. Dr. Stephen DeLoach embarked on this journey in 2010. He got it running in 2020, and it has been growing ever since. DeLoach has loved trains since he was a child. His mother would push him in a stroller near the railroad tracks in their neighborhood to keep him entertained. "They lived by a railroad and so she would point and say 'Oh, there's the train!'" That fascination never faded.
This couple has been married 80 years. Every Friday, they still have breakfast together at McDonald's
Click here for updates on this story MURFREESBORO, Tennessee (WTVF) -- Every Friday morning, at a McDonald's in Murfreesboro, a husband and wife sit down for breakfast together. John Carroll is 101 years old and a World War II veteran. His wife, Jerry Carroll, just turned 100 in June. The couple celebrated their 80th wedding anniversary on April 18.
This Tenn. couple has been married 80 years. Every Friday, they still have breakfast together at McDonald's
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. (WTVF) — Every Friday morning, at a McDonald's in Murfreesboro, a husband and wife sit down for breakfast together. John Carroll is 101 years old and a World War II veteran. His wife, Jerry Carroll, just turned 100 in June. The couple celebrated their 80th wedding anniversary on April 18. The two are regulars at the Murfreesboro McDonald's near the corner of Compton Road and Memorial Boulevard, where they gather with a group of friends every week.
Singing Barber Noah Peters opens new barbershop on The Square in downtown Columbia, Tenn.
COLUMBIA, Tenn. (WTVF) — Noah Peters, known to millions on social media as the Singing Barber, has opened a barbershop on The Square in downtown Columbia. Peters has built a following of more than 2 million on TikTok and close to a million more on Instagram — all by doing what comes naturally to him: singing while he cuts hair. Now, he's brought that experience to Columbia, where The Singing Barber Barbershop opened two weeks ago.
For siblings of children with cancer, this Tenn. summer camp offers community, connection and understanding
KINGSTON SPRINGS, Tenn. (WTVF) — For siblings of children with cancer, the experience of growing up alongside a sick brother or sister can carry emotions that aren't always easy to process. Camp Horizon, a free summer camp in Kingston Springs, Tennessee, holds a dedicated week for those siblings. SIBS week brings together kids who understand each other. "This week just means getting to hang out with people who understand," said 13-year-old Gracelyn. Marley has been attending for eight years.
One Step at a Time: Nashville's new original musical takes the TPAC stage next week
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WTVF) — A new Nashville-original musical is heading to the Tennessee Performing Arts Center. One Step at a Time tells the story of a struggling school and how teachers and families can help turn things around. The musical stems from the vision of QuaverEd, which develops curriculum and resources focused on students' success skills in schools. Michael Gualtieri plays the bully in the production.
Nashville's Belcourt Theater opens its doors early once a month for Metro Parks' disABILITIES Program
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WTVF) — Once a month, the Belcourt Theater in Nashville opens its doors early for its friends from Metro Parks' disABILITIES Program. The screenings give participants the chance to experience a film before the theater opens to the public. "When they come to the Belcourt, they're able to experience a film before we open to the public, so it's just for them," said Jessica Breanne with the Belcourt Theater. The tradition has been going on for at least a dozen years.
Nashville photographer helps children feel seen through new photo book
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WTVF) — Angelea Yoder has spent her career photographing musicians, artists, fashion models and food. Her latest project is something far more personal. Yoder, a Nashville photographer, is the author of a children's book called "Look at Me, Look What I Can Do" — a project years in the making that has taken her to nearly two dozen cities across the country to photograph close to 30 people living with various medical conditions.
Meet the 91-year-old woman in Tenn. who has attended her local rodeo for 75 years straight
FRANKLIN, Tenn. (WTVF) — Joan Bledsoe has attended every single day of the Franklin Rodeo for 75 years. The 91-year-old has done it while surviving multiple cancer diagnoses. The annual three-day event in Franklin marked its 75th year in May. Bledsoe has been there for all of them — and she has no plans to stop. "I have not and enjoyed every single one of them," Bledsoe said. Her first cancer diagnosis came 40 years ago. She has been diagnosed twice with breast cancer and twice with colon cancer.
Model railroad club keeps history on track at century-old hotel museum in Tenn.
DICKSON, Tenn. (WTVF) — The roads we travel today were once more rail. The United States is approaching 200 years of railroading, and in Dickson, a model railroad display inside a 113-year-old building is keeping that history alive. The Clement Railroad Hotel Museum at the Hotel Halbrook State Historic Site served as a railroad hotel for 40 years. Today, it is home to a detailed, ever-changing model railroad layout built by the Dickson Model Railroad Club.
Nashville Voices of Resilience Homeless Choir uses music to build community
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WTVF) — There's one thing guaranteed to bring the community together in Nashville — and that's music. Members in the Nashville Voices of Resilience Homeless Choir have either experienced homelessness or worked closely with those who have. Founded by Daniel Holmes, who experienced homelessness for five years, the choir is made up of about 10 people united by a shared mission to use music as a bridge between communities.
This Tenn. school closed in 2022, now it has a second life as a family's new home
CANNON COUNTY, Tenn. (WTVF) — A beloved Cannon County school that closed its doors in recent years has found new life, thanks to a couple from California who bought the property and turned it into both a home and a community gathering place. Anita Arnold spent more than 40 years at Short Mountain School — first as a student in grades 1 through 8, then as a teacher for 33 years, and eventually as principal. When the school closed, the community feared what might become of it.
What's next for The Gov? This recent Austin Peay grad seeks professional mascot career
CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. (WTVF) — For AJ Crowder, the costume was never just a costume. Over the last 10 years, Crowder built a career performing as a mascot. He was a mascot for two years in middle school, and all four years of both high school and at Austin Peay State University. The Greenbrier native went to Austin Peay as The Gov on a full scholarship and won a national championship as a mascot. There's even a banner on campus to mark it.
'Maybe one day we can have the Super Bowl here:' A fan and former NC5 reporter reunite seven years later
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WTVF) — The history of the NFL in Nashville goes back a few decades — from the late 1990s, when the stadium was first being built for the Titans, the Music City Miracle, and 2019 when the city hosted the NFL Draft. Eric Hilt covered the draft that year for NewsChannel 5, going around interviewing fans on Broadway. "Oh, this means everything. It shows you what kind of a town Nashville is and what we can do here," said one fan in 2019.
Students help relaunch donation drive for Monroe Carell Jr. Children's Hospital at Vanderbilt
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WTVF) — Three Nashville siblings are helping to bring back a hospital donation program — and they are doing it with the help of red wagons. The Red Wagon Project, a volunteer initiative for kids in kindergarten through 12th grade, relaunched at Monroe Carell Jr. Children's Hospital at Vanderbilt after going quiet for about six years. The program encourages children to organize donation drives and collect items for young patients at the hospital.
Graduating high school seniors return to Dan Mills Elementary School for graduation walk
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WTVF) — Graduating high school seniors returned to Dan Mills Elementary School in East Nashville for a graduation wall. For many, it was a few minutes of nostalgia in the hallways where they grew up. The school's murals, reminding students the world is a better place with them in it, lined the same hallways where these seniors once fought to be first in line.
Nashville Talking Library: A new resource for readers without access to print
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WTVF) — A Nashville Public Library volunteer is lending his voice and his personal story to a program that helps Nashvillians with barriers to traditional reading access the written word. The Nashville Talking Library connects volunteers who read aloud from newspapers, magazines and other publications with residents who cannot read in a conventional way.
Williamson County high schools host Special Olympics at Ravenwood High
BRENTWOOD, Tenn. (WTVF) — Ravenwood High School hosted this year's Williamson County High Schools' Special Olympics, bringing together athletes from across the county for a day filled with competition, school pride, and friendship. Athletes from all Williamson County high schools were invited. While the Special Olympics features several events, the highlight certainly centered around school pride.
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