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Tennessee Ranks 27th in U.S. News & World Report's "Best States of 2024"

Issue #139

05 Jul

In this What’s Up Columbia issue…

🗓 List of Upcoming Events

⛈ Columbia Weather - Thunderstorm with a high of 89

⚡️ Lightning Delays Fireworks in Multiple Locations Across Middle Tennessee

📰 Tennessee Ranks 27th in U.S. News & World Report's "Best States of 2024"

🏐 Local Business Spotlight: The Hustle Factory Girl’s Volleyball Club

📌 Tonight: First Fridays in Downtown Columbia

🎵 This Week’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!

Friday, July 5th

Saturday, July 6th

Monday, July 8th

Tuesday, July 9th

Wednesday, July 10th

Friday, July 12th

Saturday, July 13th

Sunday, July 14th

Lightning Delays Fireworks in Multiple Locations Across Middle Tennessee

It seemed like the lightning and rain came out almost on cue with the scheduled fireworks displays last night. Here in Columbia, you could see fireworks right alongside the lightning!

Eventually, the weather cleared and Maury County Parks & Recreation put on a show to round out a great Independence Day celebration.

Just before 7 p.m., the official Twitter account for Nashville, Tennessee posted that Nashville’s Let Freedom Sing show was on pause due to lightning in the area.

Residents in the Mt. Juliet area received this alert just after 7PM:

MJAlert: Due to lightning in close proximity to the outdoor 4th of July Celebration at Circle P Ranch, all attendees have been told to seek shelter. 

This was also a good reminder to be sure to check social media posts from local accounts / authorities in situations like this one so you know what’s going on. You don’t want to end up leaving early and miss the show!

Tennessee Ranks 27th in U.S. News & World Report's "Best States of 2024"

Credit: U.S. News & World Report

U.S. News & World Report has unveiled its "Best States of 2024" list, evaluating how well states perform across various factors such as economy, public safety, and education. Tennessee has secured the 27th position, a mid-range ranking but a drop of three spots from its 2023 position.

In 2023, Tennessee was ranked 24th, which was an improvement from its 29th place in 2022. This year, neighboring states North Carolina, Georgia, and Virginia performed slightly better, ranking 19th, 18th, and 13th, respectively.

The rankings were determined by weighing several categories based on a survey of what residents prioritize, such as health care and education. The assessment also included state economies, infrastructure, opportunities for citizens, fiscal stability, crime and corrections, and natural environment.

Tennessee showed strong performance in fiscal stability (ranked 5th), economy (12th), and infrastructure (21st). However, the state struggled in areas like healthcare and crime and corrections, both ranked 42nd, and the natural environment, ranked 34th. Additionally, Tennessee was ranked 22nd in opportunity and 31st in education.

Local Business Spotlight: The Hustle Factory Girl’s Volleyball Club 🏐

Are you looking for a place where young athletes can grow not only in their volleyball skills but also as individuals? Discover Hustle Factory Volleyball Club (HFVC).

Located at Hustle Factory Sports Complex in Spring Hill and their new branch in Columbia, HFVC offers an inclusive environment for girls ages 7-18 to thrive both on and off the court. 

Founded in 2022 by Tim Cooper, HFVC aims to inspire and challenge players, fostering growth in all aspects of life. Tim’s extensive background, including playing and coaching volleyball for nearly a decade, informs the club’s holistic approach. His experiences range from coaching beginners to college athletes and even leading teams in international competitions in Thailand and West Africa.

“Our club is distinctive from other volleyball and youth sports clubs in that we are focused on the individuals holistic development. While developing their athletic skills is a priority for our club it does not override the importance of character development and helping them to mature into kind, responsible and confident adults. We believe that a coach is able to connect with young athletes in a way parents, teachers and peers cannot. Our coaches are trained and encouraged to look for teachable moments and to develop healthy coach/player relationships throughout the season.” 

The club offers a variety of opportunities to get involved:

  • Seasonal Leagues: Fall, Winter, and Spring leagues cater to beginners and those new to volleyball.

  • Summer Camps: Available for all skill levels, these camps are perfect for honing volleyball skills in a fun, supportive environment.

  • Private Lessons: Personalized coaching sessions with experienced trainers.

  • Travel Teams: Competitive play through club teams and travel seasons.

Exciting news: HFVC is expanding with a new branch in Columbia at the Macedonia Recreation Center with hopes this will be closer to those communities without a volleyball club near them such as Pulaski, Hohenwald, etc. 

Don’t miss the upcoming Fall League starting on August 12th in Spring Hill and August 15th in Columbia. Spots are limited, so be sure to register soon!

For more information, visit Hustle Factory Volleyball Club and check out their volleyball leagues. Join HFVC and be part of a community that’s about more than just sports—it’s about shaping future leaders.

Locations:

Hustle Factory Sports Complex - 5191 Joe Peay Rd, Spring Hill, TN 
HFVC Columbia - 501 Armstrong St., Columbia, TN

Tonight: First Fridays in Downtown Columbia

On the FIRST Friday of each month, April through December, we're closing down the street in historic downtown Columbia from 5pm to 8pm for FIRST FRIDAYS. This is a free, family-friendly event with a vendor market, food trucks, street performers, & a cruise-in. And don't miss FIRST FRIDAYS 'INSIDERS', select merchants have created an experience inside of their stores... look for the balloons to identify participating merchants!

🎵 This Week’s Live Music 🎵

Friday, July 5th

Jazz with Stephanie Adlington, Farmstead Roots Market & Cellar, 6 PM
Justin Bowman & The Drifters, Grinder's Switch Winery, 7-9 PM
Brother Maven, Puckett’s, 7:30-9 PM
Zone Status, Fozzy's Bar & Grill, 8-11 PM

Saturday, July 6th

Khris Glaring Band, The Tilted Mule, 7 PM
Tom Saffell & Robert Johnson, McCreary's Irish Pub, 7-9 PM
Jake Leg Stompers, Puckett’s, 7:30-9 PM
Black Hole Sons, Fozzy's Bar & Grill, 8-11 PM

Sunday, July 7th

John Eason, The Tilted Mule, 3 PM
2 Bad Sons, The Rebel Bar & Grill, 4 PM
Dustin Kines, Fozzy's Bar & Grill, 5-8 PM
Kenny Durham, Puckett’s, 6-7:30 PM

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