Wanted Fugitive Taken into Custody Last Night

Issue #210

14 Sep

In this What’s Up Columbia issue…

🗓 List of Upcoming Events

⛈ Columbia Weather - Scattered thunderstorms with a high of 72

🚨 Wanted Fugitive Taken into Custody Last Night 

☕️ Connecting Community Through Coffee in Columbia

🎸 Tonight: Sunset Rhythm & Vines at The Mulehouse

🎬 VidAngel: 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!

Saturday, September 14th

Sunday, September 15th

Monday, September 16th

Tuesday, September 17th

Wednesday, September 18th

Thursday, September 19th

Wanted Fugitive Taken into Custody Last Night

Credit: Williamson County Sheriff’s Office TN on Facebook

From Williamson County Sheriff’s Office post on Facebook:

WCSO APPREHENDS MOST WANTED SUSPECT

The Williamson County Sheriff’s Office has successfully apprehended Michael Van Dobbs, a fugitive wanted for criminal homicide out of Maury County. Dobbs, 48, was taken into custody at approximately 7:00 PM near Garrison Road and Natchez Trace Parkway in Williamson County.

Dobbs, who is a suspect in the murder of Harold “B.J” Grisham, had been the subject of a multi-agency search after a #TNMostWanted Alert was issued. He was last seen near the Garrison Creek Trail Head on the Natchez Trace Scenic Trail, wearing a maroon long-sleeve shirt, black shorts.

A tip from an alert citizen who recognized Dobbs in the area and immediately notified law enforcement enabled deputies to locate and apprehend Dobbs without incident.

Dobbs is now in custody and will face charges stemming from the criminal homicide investigation in Maury County! 

We would like to thank everyone who shared information and helped bring this situation to a safe conclusion.

Connecting Community Through Coffee in Columbia

Sandie Haskins has been hosting the Maury County Coffee & Conversation Group for the last four years - it’s one of those “hidden gems” out there in our community that we think more people should know about. If you’re looking to make new friends and build community right here in Columbia, check out Sandie’s story below!

Hi, my name is Sandie Haskins and I love coffee and people!

My husband and I moved to Nashville from California just 7 months before the 2020 pandemic. In March of 2020, my role as the Community Relations Manager at my non-profit job dissolved since much of my role had to do with fundraising events and tours that got canceled.

Since I was no longer working, I spent time trying to figure out where we would live next. My husband worked in Franklin and his job was considered “essential,” thank God! Since we only had one job between the two of us, we decided to look into the more affordable city of Columbia for our next place. I was making the 1 hour trip several times a week to look at houses, explore hiking trails and visit lots of coffee shops. I fell in love with Columbia and had a strong feeling we would buy a house there near the downtown square. I was so sure of this that I began to connect with others in town and see myself in the life of the community.

In California, where we had lived for 14 years, I was a Community Pastor and had started a few Meetup groups as a way to connect with others in the community. I loved the opportunity to make new friends through these groups! What I learned through that experience was that so many people are lonely and desperately in need of connection with others. These groups were life-giving (and life-saving) for so many lonely people.

Since my “superpower" is meeting, connecting, and listening to people, I decided to start the Maury County Coffee & Conversation Meetup group at Meetup.com. I started the group when we still lived in the Nashville area. I planned weekly Saturday morning coffee dates at different locations in Maury County. Muletown Coffee, Tennessee Coffee & Smoothie, Buckhead Coffee, and Fainting Goat were some of the coffee spots at the beginning. In the last 2 years, we’ve also visited Bradley Mountain, Cabin Coffee, B’s Salty & Sweet, and Vida Nova.

There has never been an agenda. Just a scheduled time and place to share life with others over some good coffee. I’ve met the most wonderful, caring people who were either new to the area or did not have friends. Some people had lived in the area for a long time, but had not been successful with connecting with others. A few months after starting the Meetup group, my husband and I finally moved into a cute, little house near the beautiful downtown square in Columbia. About a year later, I found a job as the store manager at the non-profit thrift store called ThriftLove. The role allowed me to use my meeting/connecting/listening strengths for the benefit of the staff and customers.

Over the 4 years that this coffee group has been meeting, I’ve seen that it has met a need in all of us to be seen, to belong, and to be loved. Deep friendships have formed. Support has been given during crisis moments. A few people have shared that this group helped them after a divorce or death of a spouse. Some have spent time together outside of the group going on hikes, playing games, going to concerts, and even hunting for rocks! Our love of strong coffee brought us together, but it’s our strong connection through caring conversation and action that keeps us showing up for one another!  

Here are some of the comments that group members have shared on Facebook:

  • “I joined Coffee and Conversation in mid 2022 after going through some big life changes. I met some of the best friends I could ever ask for. Best thing I could've done for myself.”

  • “I moved to the area in 2021 from Illinois, completely alone, on a new adventure. The folks at Coffee and Conversation were some of my first friends in Tennessee, and some of my best friends to this day. It’s such an incredible way to meet people in an open and relaxed environment. Whether you pop in once in a while or are a dedicated weekly attendee, there’s a place for you there. I will cherish my Coffee Family forever!”

  • “For me, I was new to the area and hadn’t really met any authentic friends. At coffee group, you can really get to know people and everyone is so kind and welcoming. Helped me so much to call Tennessee home.”  

  • “A real-world solution to the problem of drinking [coffee] alone. The best part of waking up is conversations with your cup!” 

Maury County Coffee & Conversation Group meets at Vida Nova Coffee Lounge today at 8:30 AM. Join the facebook group to get connected and find out where the next coffee shop meet-ups will be!

Tonight: Sunset Rhythm & Vines at The Mulehouse

Sunset Rhythm & Vines Event holds a special place in our community, bringing people together for a memorable experience while also contributing towards a noble cause.

This event not only offers a platform for individuals to connect and enjoy themselves but also serves as a means to raise funds that directly benefit our local communities.

By blending music, art, and a spirit of giving, Sunset Rythn & Vines creates a vibrant atmosphere where attendees can make lasting memories while making a positive impact on the lives of those around them.

This event will also feature EA Auctioneers for an exciting live auction and the amazing Band "Boys in The Band" an Alabama tribute band.

Tonight, 6-11 PM
The Mulehouse
812 South High Street, Columbia

🎬 VidAngel: Skip the Stuff You Don’t Want to See or Hear

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

Use Code:
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🎵 This Week’s Live Music

Saturday, September 14th

Nick Bentley, Keg Springs Winery, 2-5 PM
Box of Rox, Amber Falls Winery, 3-7 PM
TBD, Natchez Hills Vineyard, 4-7 PM
The Def Leprechaun Band, McCreary's Irish Pub, 7-9 PM
Sunset, Rhythm & Vines, The Mulehouse, 7-11 PM
The Mighty Train Wrecks, Puckett’s, 7:30-9 PM
CJ & The Whiskey Sundown Band, Fozzy's Bar & Grill, 8-11 PM

Sunday, September 15th

TBD, Natchez Hills Vineyard, 1-4 PM
The Sins, Amber Falls Winery, 1-5 PM
Cliff Waddell & Willie Vanhorn, The Rebel, 4 PM
Kenny Durham, Puckett’s, 6-7:30 PM

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