In this What’s Up Columbia issue…

🗓 List of Upcoming Events

⛈ Columbia Weather - Thunderstorms with a high of 87

🧨 When Can You Legally Use Personal Fireworks in Columbia?

⚖️ Franklin Man Sentenced to 15 Years for Arson at Columbia Kroger

📌 Wood Art Show at Gallery 48

🌳 CPWS Annual Tree Trimming

🎵 Today’s Live Music

📣 We Want To Spotlight Your Business! Apply Here

🗓 Know of Some Local Events Not Listed? Send us the Details! 

Upcoming Local Events

🗓 Have an event to add? Send us the Details!

Sunday, June 30th

• Vintage Baseball at Rippavilla - games at 12:00 & 2:30 PM

• Pipe Organ Recital at St. Peter’s Episcopal Church - 3:00 PM

Monday, July 1st

• Vet 2 Vet Breakfast Meet Up at Puckett’s - 7:00 - 9:00 AM

Tuesday, July 2nd

• Hampshire Farmers Market - 3:00 - 6:00 PM

• Connecting at The Factory (Business Networking) - 9:00 - 10:00 AM

Wednesday, July 3rd

• 3rd of July Celebration at The Barn in Mt. Pleasant - Starts at 2:00, Fireworks at 9:00 PM

• Fairview’s Annual July 3rd Celebration - Starts at 3:00, Fireworks at 9:30 PM

• Vet 2 Vet Meet Up at Asgard Brewing Company - 6:00 - 8:00 PM

• Fireworks, Food & Family Fun at First Baptist Columbia - 6:00 PM

Thursday, July 4th 🇺🇸

For a more detailed list of July 3rd and 4th events go here.

• Run for Hunger 5k, Color Foam Run & Bicycle Parade - 7:00 - 10:00 AM

• Wood Art Show at Gallery 48 (through July 6th) - 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM

• Franklin on the Fourth - 10:00 AM until evening

• Let Freedom Sing! Music City (Nashville) - 12:00 - 10:00 PM

• Tennessee National Raceway Fireworks Show (Hohenwald)

• 4th of July Fireworks Celebration at Harlinsdale Farm (Franklin) - 6:00 PM

• Mt. Pleasant’s 4th of July Celebration - 7:00 - 10:00 PM

• Maury County Park Fireworks - 9:00 - 10:00 PM

Friday, July 5th

• Muletown Songwriters Night at The Factory - 5:00 - 8:00 PM

• Columbia First Fridays - 5:00 - 8:00 PM

When Can You Legally Use Personal Fireworks in Columbia?

As summer arrives and July 4th approaches, it's important to review the guidelines for personal fireworks use in Columbia, Tennessee. The Columbia Police Department would like to remind us to always practice safety during holiday celebrations.

In November 2017, the Columbia City Council updated the city's fireworks ordinance to include the following regulations:

• Permitted fireworks may be sold inside the City of Columbia from June 25th through July 5th of each year.

• Permitted fireworks may only be used in the City of Columbia on July 3rd, July 4th, and July 5th between the hours of 10:00am and 10:00pm.

• Mortars: It is unlawful for any person within the City of Columbia to sell, use or possess any mortar firework (single or multiple tubes) with a diameter of one and one-half (1 1/2) inches or more.

• Bottle rockets: It is unlawful for any person within the City of Columbia to use, sell or offer to sell any bottle rocket.

You can find the full Firework Ordinance here.

Franklin Man Sentenced to 15 Years for Arson at Columbia Kroger

A man from Middle Tennessee has pleaded guilty to setting fire to a Kroger store two years ago. Columbia Fire & Rescue reported that 55-year-old Jeffrey Mealer from Franklin accepted a plea deal in Maury County court for the June 2022 incident. He intentionally started the fire at the Kroger on Nashville Highway while the night crew was working inside.

When the fire crews arrived, they found several shopping carts on fire in front of the building, with the flames beginning to spread into the Kroger. All employees were evacuated safely, and no injuries occurred. The fire was quickly extinguished, limiting damage to the front exterior and entrance lobby of the store.

Security footage and witness reports led to Mealer being identified as the suspect. He faced charges of aggravated arson, six counts of reckless endangerment, and possession of methamphetamine with intent to sell.

Mealer has been sentenced to 15 years in prison.

Wood Art Show at Gallery 48

Columbia artist Wayne Weeks' "Wood Art Show" will take place at Gallery 48 on July 4th to July 6th. Wayne is a local artist with a big heart. He is turning pieces of trees downed by the tornado that went through Columbia last month into beautiful pieces of art. A part of the sale proceeds will be donated to Middle Tennessee charity organizations.

Find more information here

CPWS Annual Tree Trimming

CPWS would like to inform you that the annual tree trimming will be taking place in our community in the months to come. Our current vegetation management contractor, Kendall Vegetation Services, will perform the trimming.

CPWS is dedicated to safety and to operating a safe, reliable, and efficient power, water, and broadband utility. To support this, CPWS has established the following Vegetation Management guidelines:

Non-Manicured Areas: CPWS will maintain the following minimum clearances between vegetation and power lines:

• Twenty (20) feet of clearance on each side of distribution lines and from ground to sky from primary voltage lines.

• Ten (10) feet clearance around open secondary lines.

Manicured Areas: CPWS will maintain the following minimum clearances between vegetation and power lines:

• Ten (10) feet clearance, in every direction around primary voltage lines with the exception of conductor to the sky.

• Any tree or tree limb in that “zone” will be subject to removal, although CPWS vegetation contractors will take into consideration the tree species, hardiness, and speed of growth.

• To maintain optimal line accessibility, no woody-stemmed plants may be planted within twenty (20) feet of utility poles or pad-mounted equipment. While CPWS will make every effort to avoid trees and shrubs, landscaping within twenty (20) feet of the CPWS facilities may be damaged during typical maintenance and will not be replaced by CPWS.

🎵 Today’s Live Music 🎵

Sunday, June 30th

Nettie & the Delta Boy, The Tilted Mule. 3 PM
Jay Hoppus, Puckett's, 6-7:30 PM
The Reveal Acoustic, Fozzy's Bar & Grill, 5-8 PM

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