• What's Up Columbia!
  • Posts
  • Former Nashville Teacher & Clarksville Native Among Victims of D.C. Plane Crash

Former Nashville Teacher & Clarksville Native Among Victims of D.C. Plane Crash

Issue #343

02 Feb

In this What’s Up Columbia issue…

🗓 List of Upcoming Events

☀️ Columbia’s Monday Weather - Sunny w/ high of 74 & low of 54

📰 Former Nashville Teacher & Clarksville Native Among Victims of D.C. Plane Crash

📰 Legal Battle Looms Over Relocation of Cemeteries on Former Monsanto Site

📌 Napoleon Dynamite to Visit Nashville in April - Gosh!

🎵 This Week’s Live Music

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

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

Upcoming Local Events

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

Monday, February 3rd

Tuesday, February 4th

Thursday, February 6th

Saturday, February 8th

Sunday, February 9th

*More Events Coming Soon!

Former Nashville Teacher & Clarksville Native Among Victims of D.C. Plane Crash

Sarah Best, a former teacher at Pearl-Cohn High School in Nashville and Vanderbilt University graduate, was among the victims of Wednesday night’s plane crash in Washington, D.C. The accident, which occurred at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, involved a collision between an American Airlines flight and a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter, resulting in the loss of 60 passengers and four crew members.

A Clarksville native, Best graduated as valedictorian from Northeast High School in 2009. She then attended Vanderbilt University, where she earned a double major in Neuroscience and Classical Languages. Her career in education included teaching at Pearl-Cohn High School and later working with LEAD Public Schools in Metro Nashville.

Known for her ability to quickly earn the trust of her students, Best was recognized for her commitment to helping young people succeed. Her former students credit her with inspiring them to pursue careers in math and finance. Colleagues recall her as a passionate and skilled educator who made complex subjects accessible and engaging for her students.

Beyond teaching, Best pursued a career in law. She attended the University of Pennsylvania Law School, serving as a senior editor for the university’s law review. At the time of her passing, she was working as an associate at the Wilkinson Stekloff law firm in Washington, D.C.

Her impact extended beyond her professional achievements, as she is remembered for the lives she touched through her dedication and mentorship. Plans for a remembrance are underway in coordination with her law firm. Best is survived by her husband, Dan Solomon.

Legal Battle Looms Over Relocation of Cemeteries on Former Monsanto Site

Credit: Marilyn Whittemore Adams

For decades, the Hodge and Joyce family cemeteries remained undisturbed on the former Monsanto property in Maury County, fenced off and overgrown after the company left in the 1980s. Most of the gravestones are now broken or illegible. The land, declared a Superfund site due to past industrial contamination, is now owned by an out-of-state company planning to build a TDEC-approved tire shredding facility.

Trinity Business Group, operating through Star Hill, LLC, acquired part of the Monsanto land and previously attempted to develop a landfill there. The proposal was met with strong community opposition due to environmental concerns, especially the site's proximity to the Duck River. State legislators ultimately secured protections that blocked the landfill project.

Now, Star Hill is seeking court approval to relocate the historic cemeteries to the Concord Cemetery, a more accessible burial site on the same property. Their petition argues that the graves are currently inaccessible and that reinterment would offer a more respectful resting place. A limited ground survey detected several unmarked graves in the overgrown cemeteries.

The Maury County Historical Society has objected, arguing that the land's inaccessibility resulted from past neglect, not abandonment by descendants. They also contend that more graves may exist beyond the surveyed area, particularly given historical burial practices in the South. The society emphasizes that cemeteries serve as vital historical landmarks and should only be relocated as a last resort.

Tennessee law allows property owners to relocate graves after meeting legal requirements, but a chancery court ruling is required. It is unclear when a decision will be made.

Napoleon Dynamite to Visit Nashville in April - Gosh!

The beloved indie classic “Napoleon Dynamite” was made almost 20 years ago. Since then much has changed; but the characters, as enduring as they are endearing, stay in our hearts. Appealing to the inner–teenager in each of us, the story, and more importantly the dialogue, makes “Napoleon Dynamite” one of the most quoted movies of our time. Napoleon Dynamite makes us laugh–and laugh hard–over and over again. This unique evening includes a full screening of “Napoleon Dynamite” followed by a lively, freewheeling, moderated discussion with fan–favorite cast members; Jon Heder (Napoleon Dynamite), Efren Ramirez (Pedro) and Jon Gries (Uncle Rico).

🎵 This Week’s Live Music

Monday, February 3rd

Troy Castelland, Puckett’s, 6-7:30 PM

Tuesday, February 4th

Rob Harris, Puckett’s, 6-7:30 PM

Wednesday, February 5th

Austin Byrd, Puckett’s, 6-7:30 PM

Thursday, February 6th

Matt Marinchick, Puckett’s, 6-7:30 PM
Todd Ciprian, Tito's Spring Hill, 6-9 PM
Beatles4Sale, McCreary's Irish Pub, 7-9 PM

Friday, February 7th

Josh Keas, Grinder's Switch Winery, 6-8 PM
Tom Saffell & Robert Johnson, McCreay's Irish Pub, 7-9 PM
Smith & Gone, Puckett’s, 7:30-9 PM
Escape, Fozzy's Bar & Grill, 8-11 PM

Saturday, February 8th

TBA, Natchez Hills Vineyard, 4-7 PM
Johnny Jameson & The Empty Pints, McCreary's Irish Pub, 7-9 PM
Kenny Durham Trio, Puckett’s, 7:30-9 PM
Resurrection, The Mulehouse, 8 PM
Broken Morals Band, Fozzy's Bar & Grill, 8-11 PM

Sunday, February 9th

TBA, Natchez Hills Vineyard, 1-4 PM
Jay Hoppus, Puckett’s, 6-7:30 PM

👇 Click the Links to Learn About our Local Business Sponsors! 👇

Want to get your business in What’s Up Columbia? Let’s talk