"Save the Duck River" Rally to Address Water Conservation Concerns

Issue #236

10 Oct

In this What’s Up Columbia issue…

🗓 List of Upcoming Events

☀️ Columbia Weather - Sunny with a high of 80

📰 "Save the Duck River" Rally to Address Water Conservation Concerns

✏️ Free ACT Retake Opportunity For TN Public High School Seniors

📌 Tonight: Bingo! 

⛑ Looking For Ways to Help Victims of Hurricane Helene? Click Here

🎵 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!

Thursday, October 10th

Friday, October 11th

Saturday, October 12th

Sunday, October 13th

"Save the Duck River" Rally to Address Water Conservation Concerns

The Duck River Conservancy will hold a “Save the Duck River” rally on tonight at 6:30 p.m. in the Ledbetter Auditorium at Columbia State Community College. The rally aims to raise awareness about the environmental challenges facing the Duck River, which is the most biodiverse river in North America and the third-most biodiverse in the world. The river supports a rich ecosystem with 22 species of aquatic snails, 56 species of mussels, and 151 fish species. It also provides drinking water for 250,000 Tennesseans and serves as a popular spot for recreation.

Despite its importance, the Duck River's water levels and ecosystem are at risk. Increased water withdrawals, including 1.4 million gallons per day by the Ultium plant, have raised concerns. The American River Association has ranked the Duck as the third-most-threatened river in North America due to overconsumption and development pressures.

The Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC) is currently considering eight new withdrawal requests from utility districts, which would total up to 73 million gallons per day. Columbia Power and Water Services (CPWS) is seeking 32 million gallons of that amount. The purpose of the rally is to urge TDEC to limit these withdrawals to protect the river.

Recent drought conditions in the summer of 2024 further highlighted the need for a conservation plan, with parts of Maury County facing moderate-to-severe drought. Local officials implemented drought-control measures, and the Duck River's water level dropped noticeably before recent rainfall helped restore it. Although TDEC began working on a drought plan in 2007, it was not finalized until 2016.

Concerns have been raised about the capacity of the Normandy Reservoir, and there are suggestions to develop a pipeline from either the Cumberland or Tennessee River to supplement the Duck River. Conservationists argue that without significant changes, the Duck River may not be able to sustain the increased water demands from growing industries and residential developments.

Free ACT Retake Opportunity For TN Public High School Seniors

The Tennessee Department of Education is offering a free ACT retake opportunity for public high school seniors in Tennessee to boost their scores on the ACT college entrance exam.   

Tennessee was the first state in the nation to offer public high school seniors the opportunity to take the ACT two times for free during normal school hours. Public school students test once in the spring of their junior year, and then have an opportunity to retake the ACT in the fall of their senior year during normal school hours. In fall 2023, 51,745 students participated in the retake opportunity and 77% of those students increased their superscore, the average of the highest sub scores from each subject of all test attempts. 

“The free fall ACT senior retake opportunity helps Tennessee students improve their scores, potentially qualifying them for additional scholarship funds and increasing their chances to pursue postsecondary education,” said Lizzette Reynolds, Commissioner of Education. “We hope to see all seniors participate in the retake to advance their educational aspirations and set themselves up for success in college and career.”  

Districts across the state will be able to offer the free fall ACT retake opportunities during one of the following windows:  

October 7-11, 2024 
October 15-18, 2024 
October 21-25, 2024 
October 29-November 1, 2024 
November 4-8, 2024 

Since 2018, the General Assembly has provided funding for the ACT Senior Retake in every budget, with over 88,000 students having earned the necessary score to qualify for the Tennessee HOPE Scholarship. 

In 2022, the department earned the inaugural ACT State Equity and Access Champion Award, which celebrates and honors the state’s commitment to postsecondary access by enabling more students to achieve their goals and dreams.

The ACT provides essential data and context for state and district leaders on student readiness for postsecondary opportunities. Students who score a 21 or higher on the ACT also meet criteria for Ready Graduate, the state’s indicator to reward schools and districts whose high school graduates demonstrate postsecondary readiness.   

To learn more about the state’s college readiness testing program, including the ACT and SAT, visit the department’s College Readiness Testing webpage. 

Tonight: Bingo!

Get ready for an exciting evening of Bingo! Join us tonight for a fun-filled night where every Bingo winner gets their name entered into a prize drawing. Bring your friends and family for a chance to win big and enjoy a classic game in a lively atmosphere!

Don’t miss out on the fun! Everyone is welcome—let’s see who can take home a prize!

871 Iron Bridge Rd, Columbia

For more information, reach out to: [email protected] | 931-698-0088

🎵 This Week’s Live Music

Thursday, October 10th

Austin Byrd, Puckett’s, 6-7:30 PM
Bronwen Fair, Buck & Board, 6-9 PM
Todd Ciprian, Tito's Spring Hill, 6-9 PM
Stevierock, McCreary's Irish Pub, 7-9 PM

Friday, October 11th

Brash Betty, Buck & Board, 6-9 PM
Moonlight Grahams, Grinder's Switch Winery, 7-9 PM
November Blue, McCreary's Irish Pub, 7-9 PM
The Mighty Train Wrecks, Puckett’s, 7:30-9 PM
Escape, Fozzy's Bar & Grill, 8-11 PM

Saturday, October 12th

Cliff Waddell, Keg Springs Winery, 2-5 PM
TBD, Hampshire Hills Distillery, 2-6 PM
TBD, Natchez Hills Vineyard, 4-7 PM
Mellie Koska, Buck & Board, 6-9 PM
Eaglemaniacs, The Mulehouse, 7-9 PM
The Def Leprechaun Band, McCreary's Irish Pub , 7-9 PM
Outlaw Apostles, Puckett’s, 7:30-9 PM
Cliff Waddell & Winnie VanHook, The Rebel, 7:30 PM
Rubiks Groove, Fozzy's Bar & Grill, 8-11 PM

Sunday, October 13th

TBD, Natchez Hills Vineyard, 1-4 PM
Murphy Ridge Band, Manor Hall, 216 Pleasant St, Mt Pleasant, TN, 3-5 PM
Apollos Hand, The Rebel, 4-7 PM
Mary Lou, Pucektt’s, 6-7:30 PM

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