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Maury County Animal Shelter Works to Help Displaced Animals in Storm’s Aftermath
Issue #088
In this What’s Up Columbia issue…
🗓 List of Upcoming Events
🌧 Columbia Weather - Scattered showers with a high of 75
🐈 Maury County Animal Shelter Works to Help Displaced Animals in Storm’s Aftermath
🥫 Maury County VSO Food Drive Starts Today
😋 Gold’s Delicatessen Opens to Rave Reviews
🎵 This Week’s Live Music
📌 Columbia’s Best Kept Secret: Is Your Business One of Them?
🗓 Know of Some Local Events Not Listed? Send us the Details!

Upcoming Local Events
🗓 Have an event to add? Send us the Details!
Wednesday, May 15th
Maury County VSO Food Drive at Tilted Mule (through May 19th) - 3:00 PM - 8:00 PM
Thursday, May 16th
Third Thursday Trivia (90’s Edition) at Grinder’s Switch Winery - 7:00 - 8:30 PM
Homeschool Field Day at the Polk Home & Museum - 9:00 AM - 1:00 PM
Bingo at the Dr. Christa S. Martin Community Center - 5:00 - 7:00 PM
Friday, May 17th
Car Seat Safety Event at Fire Station 2 - 3:00 - 5:00 PM
Lunch Bunch at Katie Pie & Sons - 11:00 AM
Merchants of Cool Big Band Concert at Riverwalk Park - 7:00 - 9:00 PM
Saturday, May 18th
Columbia Cars & Coffee - 8:00 - 11:00 AM
Nashville Krav Maga - Columbia’s Summer Bash Open House - 11:00 AM - 3:00 PM
May Music on the Porch in Mt. Pleasant - 7:00 - 9:00 PM
Mommy & Me Dance - 5:30 - 7:00 PM
Community Field Day at Riverwalk Park - 1:00 - 4:00 PM
Muletown Flea Market - 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Annie Moses Band & Friends - 7:00 PM
Sunday, May 19th
Vintage Baseball Games at Rippavilla - 12:00 & 2:30 PM
Maury County Historical Society Membership Meeting - 2:00 PM
Monday, May 20th
Zentangle Class - 3:00 PM
Artists Meet-Up at Ollie & Finn’s Counter - 5:00 - 7:00 PM
Tuesday, May 21st
May Meeting of Marine Corps League LCPL Andrew P. Carpenter Detachment 1286 - All Marine, Navy veterans & spouses welcome. (Memorial Bldg, 308 West 7th) Email w/ any questions. - 6:00 PM
Thursday, May 23rd
Chalk the Walk at Riverside Park - 2:30 PM
Saturday, May 25th
Cars ‘N Coffee at The Goldton in Spring Hill - 8:00 - 11:00 AM
Movie Night on the Square (100 Public Square, Mt. Pleasant) - 8:00 PM



Maury County Animal Shelter Works to Help Displaced Animals in Storm’s Aftermath
Almost a week after the tornado struck, the Maury County Animal Shelter is working diligently to assist dogs and cats rescued from the disaster. The shelter, already at full capacity before the tornado, is now experiencing an influx of animals, with staff and volunteers working tirelessly to manage the situation.
In the immediate aftermath of the tornado, the shelter took in nearly 40 animals. Of these, 12 have been reunited with their owners. Some pets remain at the shelter because their owners lost everything in the storm and need assistance, while others are waiting for new homes. Even several days after the storm, more animals continue to arrive.
The director of the Maury County Animal Shelter, Kim Raffauf, noted that all rescued animals are deeply traumatized and frightened. The staff is doing their utmost to cope with the situation, but the number of incoming animals remains steady.
To assist with the overflow, the Williamson County Animal Center (WCAC) has sent technicians to help and has taken in four litters of cats that were not storm rescues. Prior to the tornado, Maury County’s shelter already housed nearly 60 cats, some of which are now receiving treatment for illnesses and stress at WCAC.
Ondrea Johnson, director of WCAC, emphasized the importance of differentiating between storm-displaced cats and those previously surrendered to ensure adequate space for new arrivals. The kittens taken in are not yet available for adoption due to their size, and the ongoing kitten season exacerbates the situation. However, spay and neuter programs are helping to control the population.
Johnson highlighted the scale of the challenge by comparing the current situation to June 2018, when WCAC took in 500 cats in one month. This year, they expect to see about 1,000 cats over the summer, indicating a significant increase.
Both shelters stress the importance of cooperation in supporting animals during emergencies. For those interested in adopting a pet from the Maury County Animal Shelter or volunteering to bottle-feed kittens, additional information is available here. Raffauf reassured that they are striving to make the animals feel as comfortable as possible.
Maury County VSO Food Drive Starts Today

Supporting our local veterans is a noble cause that can make a real difference in our community. The Maury County Veteran Services Office food pantry needs dry and canned goods to assist struggling vets and their families. Join us in this initiative to ensure that no vet in our community goes hungry. Let's unite and show our appreciation for those who have served our country.
May 15 - May 19
Drop off at The Tilted Mule
102 Depot St., Columbia
Gold’s Delicatessen Opens to Rave Reviews

The “Gold’s Special” - Pastrami, Corned Beef and Swiss.
Gold's Delicatessen, a "New England Style" Deli located at Row&Co in Columbia’s Arts District is now open!
The deli opened last week to loads of hungry customers raving about their sandwiches. They stay open until they sell out - and it looks like they’ve been selling out a lot!
“Absolutely amazing Rueben. I’m from Boston, and will say Boston is probably the last place I had a Rueben that great. And believe me, I try them on every menu I see them on. Potato salad, also amazing! Creamy and flavorful. I highly recommend enjoying their food. I can’t wait to go back and try more things on the menu! Best success to the owners!” -Adam Andr
Take a look at their sandwiches on Instagram and get over to what looks to be a place that’s quickly becoming many people’s favorite.
🎵 This Week’s Live Music 🎵


Columbia’s Best Kept Secret: Is Your Business One of Them?
We ❤️ love local businesses!
We know our community is brimming with businesses that have fascinating stories and big hearts. If you're a local business owner making waves, crafting unique experiences, or simply putting a smile on our faces, we want to chat with you! "What’s Up Columbia!" is eager to shine a light on the unsung heroes of our town. Let's collaborate and let the community know what makes your business special. Send us a message, and let's celebrate the spirit of Columbia together!
👇Select an option below:
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