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One Year After the Tornado: Columbia Reflects, Rebuilds, and Plans for the Future

Issue #431

May 09, 2025

In this What’s Up Columbia issue…

⛅️ Columbia’s Weather - Cloudy w/ high of 74 & low of 52

📰 One Year After the Tornado: Columbia Reflects, Rebuilds, and Plans for the Future

📰 Mt. Pleasant Teacher Receives Jefferson’s Teacher of the Year Award

📌 Tonight: Food Trucks, Cars & Family Fun at Cruisin’ The Co-op

🗓 List of Upcoming Events

🎵 This Week’s Live Music

👉 Do You Love What’s Up Columbia??? VOTE FOR US HERE!

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

One Year After the Tornado: Columbia Reflects, Rebuilds, and Plans for the Future

On May 8, 2024, an EF-3 tornado carved a destructive path through parts of Columbia, taking one life, injuring many others, and damaging or destroying 245 structures. One year later, the community continues to feel the impact—visibly in the damaged landscapes, and emotionally in the memories that remain fresh for those who lived through the storm.

The hardest-hit areas, including neighborhoods near Bear Creek Pike and Blackburn Lane, are still working through cleanup and recovery. Even when houses have been reconstructed, the surrounding land and wooded areas serve as a daily reminder of how quickly everything changed.

While the physical rebuilding has been ongoing, the community has also focused on learning and improving. In response to the disaster, the City of Columbia applied for and received funding to install 12 new emergency sirens, a project still in progress but seen as a critical step in improving preparedness. Officials say the sirens are just one piece of a broader effort to better equip the city for future emergencies.

The storm’s aftermath also prompted the formation of a Long Term Recovery Group made up of nonprofit leaders and volunteers who have stepped up to support affected residents. Clearing debris, offering financial and emotional support, and walking alongside neighbors in their recovery, this group has become a crucial part of the rebuilding process.

State leaders also took action. The Governor’s Office launched a $100 million disaster recovery fund earlier this year to help communities like Columbia that face major losses but don’t always qualify for federal aid. The program is designed to provide flexible support for both current and future disasters.

Maury County residents are still clearing debris, filing insurance claims, and restoring what was lost, but their resilience has been evident at every step. Though the storm came without warning and left a lasting mark, it also revealed the community's deep capacity to care for one another, rise to challenges, and begin again—stronger and more prepared than before.

Mt. Pleasant Teacher Receives Jefferson’s Teacher of the Year Award

Jefferson’s Restaurant is pleased to announce the first-ever Nashville area Jefferson’s Teachers of the Year winners. Each Jefferson’s location in the Nashville area has honored a local winner:

    • Brentwood: Rachel Lytle 
    • Fairview: Angela Campbell 
    • Murfreesboro: Rickey Field 
    • Columbia: Will Walker teaches sixth grade English Language Arts at Mount Pleasant Middle School for the Visual and Performing Arts and has been teaching for over 12 years. Before becoming an educator, he served in the US Air Force.

Mr. Walker had an outpouring of nominations from his students. Many of his students mentioned that Mr. Walker is a great storyteller and makes them laugh–here are some of our other favorite facts and stories from his nomination pool. Mr. Walker:

  • Wears mismatched socks to remind his students that embracing originality is a good thing.

  • Organized a trip to a local bookstore.

  • Brought in his collection of vintage books for a lesson.

  • Loves motorcycles, golf, and Ohio State.

One nominator summarized Mr. Walker’s good-humored care aptly: “Mr. Walker’s dedication to his students is truly remarkable. He always goes the extra mile, whether it’s staying late to help a student struggling with a concept or organizing fun, engaging activities to make learning more enjoyable. His passion for literature is infectious, and he creates a supportive classroom environment where everyone feels comfortable taking risks and expressing their ideas. He’s more than just a teacher; he’s a mentor and a friend to his students!”

Each teacher was chosen from a highly competitive pool of nominations submitted by students and community members. The contest, launched in honor of National Teachers’ Day on May 6, aims to recognize a few of the many deserving teachers in the Nashville area. Jefferson’s selected Lytle, Walker, Campbell, and Field as the Teachers of the Year for their commitment to not only teaching their students, but also changing their lives for the better.

Each teacher will receive a $500 gift card to Jefferson’s, and their achievement will be commemorated with a "Jefferson's Teacher of the Year" plaque for all restaurant patrons to see.

This year is the pilot run for the Jefferson's Teacher of the Year award, launched as a sister program to Jefferson’s Coach of the Year award, which runs in the fall. The teachers’ initiative was open to teachers working with students of any age, and candidates could be nominated by students, parents and guardians of students, school officials, or other community members.

Jefferson’s Restaurant is located at 1050 N. James Campbell Blvd, Suite 115

Tonight: Food Trucks, Cars & Family Fun at Cruisin’ The Co-op

Cruisin' the Co-op is back with our monthly car show series, running from April through October! 

Check out a stunning lineup of classic cars, savor delicious food from local food trucks, and enjoy a fun, family-friendly vibe. And the best part? It's completely free! 

Bring your friends and family for an afternoon filled with cars, food, and great times!

975 Riverview Lane, Columbia
5:00 - 8:00 PM

Upcoming Local Events

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

SPECIAL DEAL: Teachers & Nurses Get 50% OFF (as many times as you want) at Fozzy’s Bar & Grill! (Through May 9th) *Tell them you heard about it in What’s Up Columbia!

Friday, May 9th

Saturday, May 10th

Sunday, May 11th 🌹 Mother’s Day 🌹

Monday, May 12th

Tuesday, May 13th

📌 Mark Your Calendars…

May 15-17: Franklin Rodeo
May 29 - 31: Music City Rodeo

🎵 This Week’s Live Music

Friday, May 9th

Live Music Fridays, The Spot, 5:00 - 8:00 PM
Rob Higginbotham, Buck & Board, 6:00 - 9:00 PM
Johnny Jameson & The Empty Pints, McCreary’s Irish Pub, 7:00 - 9:00 PM
Kiersi Joli, Grinder’s Switch, 7:00 - 9:00 PM
Troy Kemp, Puckett’s, 7:30 - 9:00 PM
MFT, Fozzy’s Bar & Grill, 8:00 - 11:00 PM

Saturday, May 10th

Tom Dixon, Keg Springs Winery, 2:00 - 5:00 PM
Grasskickers, Amber Falls Winery, 3:00 - 8:00 PM
Mellie Koska, Buck & Board, 5:00 - 8:00 PM
Jake Clayton Band, The Rebel, 5:30 - 8:30 PM
Porch Series Writers Round - Michael Farren, Ava Mabury, Dave Kennedy, The Bourbon Gospel, 7:30 PM Reservations Here 
The Wannabeatles, Puckett’s, 7:30 - 9:00 PM
Resurrection, The Mulehouse, 8:00 PM
Zone Status, Fozzy’s Bar & Grill, 8:00 - 11:00 PM

Sunday, May 11th

The Sins, Amber Falls Winery, 1:00 - 5:00 PM
Deltaz Duo, The Rebel, 4:00 - 7:00 PM
Archer, Fozzy’s Bar & Grill, 4:00 - 7:00 PM
Jay Hoppus, Puckett’s, 6:00 - 7:30 PM

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