Trapped for 15 Hours: Maury County Man Recovers From Pit Collapse

Issue #199

03 Sep

In this What’s Up Columbia issue…

🗓 List of Upcoming Events

☁️ Columbia Weather - Cloudy with a high of 85

📰 Trapped for 15 Hours: Maury County Man Recovers From Pit Collapse

🤔 What Are Those Flying White Furball Looking Things? 

🎭 Sept. 12-22: The Adventures of Tom Sawyer at The Packard Playhouse

🏈 Football Frenzy Photo Contest

🎬 VidAngel’s Labor Day Sale - Watch more stuff, without the bad stuff!

🎵 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!

Tuesday, September 3rd

Wednesday, September 4th

Thursday, September 5th

Friday, September 6th

Saturday, September 7th

Monday September 9th

Trapped for 15 Hours: Maury County Man Recovers From Pit Collapse

David Golden, a Maury County resident, is still recovering after a harrowing incident where a 50-foot wall of dirt collapsed on him and his backhoe, trapping him for more than 15 hours. The incident occurred on March 19 along Keg Springs Road in the Hampshire community. Golden, 54, was loading chert rock when the wall caved in, burying him and his machine under tons of soil.

Golden was immobilized from the neck down with just enough space around his face to breathe. Unable to see or move, he tried to dig himself out with his right arm, but each attempt brought more dirt falling around him. Although the backhoe’s roof was crushed, it shielded him from being completely buried. Isolated and uncertain of the amount of time passing, Golden began to pray for strength and survival.

His wife, Melody, discovered the scene around 11 p.m., alarmed by the still-running dump truck and the site of the collapse. With her brother’s help, they searched through the pit, eventually spotting a piece of the backhoe emerging from the dirt. They called 911, and emergency services were quickly dispatched to begin the rescue.

Multiple fire departments and volunteers worked tirelessly, forming a human chain to remove the dirt by hand and with shovels. After hours of digging, they used machinery to uncover the buried backhoe and cut its roof to free Golden. Video footage from that night shows Golden being carefully transported to a waiting ambulance, which then took him to a LifeFlight helicopter.

Despite his ordeal, Golden miraculously avoided broken bones or internal injuries, though he is still dealing with numbness and wearing a brace. Grateful for his life, he plans to return to driving his dump truck and operating a backhoe once fully recovered, deeply thankful for everyone who played a role in his rescue.

What Are Those Flying White Furball Looking Things?

Woolly aphids are back in the area, leaving their sticky, white presence all over cars and clothing. These tiny insects, part of the eriosomatinae family, are known for their fluffy appearance and sap-sucking habits. They feed on the roots, branches, and twigs of plants, often leaving behind sticky white blotches and a slippery trail on surfaces.

Woolly aphids are covered in a white, waxy substance that helps protect them. As they feed, they excrete a honeydew substance, resulting from consuming more sap than they can handle. This sticky residue can coat nearby areas, making anything beneath infested trees susceptible to an unpleasant mess.

This time of year, woolly aphids are busy reproducing and laying eggs in tree branches, which means parking under trees can quickly result in a sticky car. To manage these pests, it’s recommended to hose off infested branches with a strong spray of water or use a mixture of water and dish soap in a spray bottle to target affected areas every few days. Additionally, introducing natural predators like ladybugs can help reduce aphid populations, as they feed on these pests.

Sept. 12-22: The Adventures of Tom Sawyer at The Packard Playhouse

From the genius of Mark Twain's classic American novel, and in collaboration with the award winning creators of The Packard Playhouse and the Annie Moses Band, comes an original Broadway Musical setting of “The Adventures of Tom Sawyer!”

It's the iconic American story, a riveting tale in a faithful adaptation that Mark Twain himself would be proud to watch. Brimming with brilliant new songs and the charming and hilarious idioms that make Twain's work so beloved, the full effect sends audiences on a rip-roaring good time.

Don't miss this uplifting and fun show that will make you laugh, cry and send thrills down your spine as Tom and Becky try to escape the murderous knife of “Injun Joe.”

September 12 - 22
The Packard Playhouse
614 N. Main St., Columbia

Football Frenzy Photo Contest

It's that time of year and Football is once again upon us. Here is your chance to put those unique photos to use (other than just making your Facebook friends smile).

Starting September 1st and running through September 30th we are hosting a "Football Photo Frenzy Contest." Submissions are to be emailed to [email protected] and the best photo will win the prize. Send us those silly, funny, zanny or unique moments today!

Here are the rules:

All submissions must be directly related to football. It can be high school, college, or even pro as long as it involves a football game. Submissions can be either at a game, a tailgating party, a home watch party as long as it involves the game. Any submissions with vulgar or inappropriate content will be omitted from the competition.

(sponsor)

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Automatically skip or mute foul language, sexual content, violence, and more in the newest movies and TV shows from popular streaming services like Netflix, Peacock, Prime Video, AppleTV+, and more. Click here to see how it works!

For a limited time, get 50% for your first 3 months! For just $4.99, you get access to thousands of movies and TV shows you love without the stuff you’d rather not see/hear.

Vid Angel’s Labor Day sale is available to What’s Up Columbia subscribers through Sept 13th! 

Use Code:
DEEPER

🎵 This Week’s Live Music

Tuesday, September 3rd

Jay Hoppus, Puckett's, 6-7:30 PM

Wednesday, September 4th

Makayla Lynn, Puckett's, 6-7:30 PM

Thursday, September 5th

Marty Raybon, The Mulehouse, 5:30-9 PM
Todd Ciprian, Tito's Spring Hill, 6-9 PM
Justen Harden, Puckett's, 6-7:30 PM
Neal Pennington, McCreary's Irish Pub, 7-9 PM

Friday, September 6th

The Bird & The Bear, Buck & Board, 6-9 PM
Summer Joy, Ransom Spirits and Provisions, 7 PM
November Blue, McCreary's Irish Pub, 7-9 PM
Scott Southworth & The Honky Tonk Anonymous Band, Puckett's, 7:30-9 PM
Golden Soul Review, Grinder's Switch, 7-9 PM
Smokin' Peas, Fozzy's Bar & Grill, 8-11 PM

Saturday, September 7th

Crossbridges, Amber Falls Winery, 3-7 PM
TBD, Natchez Hills Vineyard, 4-7 PM
Kamber, Buck & Board, 5:30-8:30 PM
Tom Saffell & Robert Johnson, McCreary's Irish Pub, 7-9 Pm
Herrick, Puckett's, 7:30-9 PM
Jesse Kramer & The Hwy 12 Band, The Rebel, 7:30 PM
8-Track, Fozzy's Bar & Grill, 8-11 PM

Sunday, September 8th

TBD, Natchez Hills Vineyard, 1-4 PM
John Salaway, Amber Falls Winery, 1-5 PM
Brian & Aletha Golden, Puckett's, 6-7:30 PM

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