MURFREESBORO, TN (WGNS) - As if Murfreesboro needed one more reason to brag about its growth, 2026 kicked off with a brand‑new resident arriving right on schedule. Ascension Saint Thomas Rutherford Hospital proudly announced the birth of the city's first baby of the new year: Banks Thomas Reisser, who made his debut at 5:55 a.m. on January 1, proving he already has excellent timing.

Banks weighed in at 6 pounds, 8 ounces and measured a very respectable 19 ¾ inches—stats that would make any proud Murfreesboro parent nod approvingly. His parents, Zack and Callie Reisser, along with big sister Piper, are over the moon and settling into life as a family of four. The hospital reports everyone is doing well, glowing, and possibly already debating which Middle Tennessee sports team Banks will be obligated to support.

Ascension Saint Thomas Rutherford, which delivers one in every three babies born in Middle Tennessee, is once again celebrating its role in ushering in the region’s tiniest VIPs. WithBanks Thomas Reisser, N care, round‑the‑clock obstetrics emergency coverage, advanced NICU facilities, and those famously comfortable labor‑and‑delivery suites, the hospital continues to be the go‑to birthplace for families across the region. Childbirth classes, breastfeeding support, and postpartum care round out the services—because raising a human requires all the help one can get.

Meanwhile, Murfreesboro’s population continues its meteoric rise. The city’s 2025 estimate sits at 168,387 residents, up nearly 10% since 2020. Rutherford County as a whole has surged to roughly 379,939 people, officially leapfrogging Hamilton County to become Tennessee’s fourth‑largest county. It’s also held the title of fastest‑growing county in the state for eight straight years, a streak that shows no signs of slowing—especially with Banks now on the roster.

So as fireworks faded and resolutions began their annual countdown to abandonment, Murfreesboro celebrated something far more enduring: a new life, a growing family, and one more reason to widen the roads.