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Columbia’s Largest Paving Project in City History is Officially Underway

Issue #477

June 25, 2025

In this What’s Up Columbia issue…

🌤️ Columbia’s Weather - Mix of sunshine & clouds w/ high of 96 & low of 72

📰 Columbia’s Largest Paving Project in City History is Officially Underway

📰 Spring Hill PD Offers Safe Way to Dispose of Unused Medications

📰 Columbia State Hosts Topping Out Ceremony

🗓 List of Upcoming Events

🎵 Today’s Live Music

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

Columbia’s Largest Paving Project in City History is Officially Underway

From City of Columbia, TN - Government’s post…

The City of Columbia has launched its most ambitious paving effort to date, investing $4.5 million to resurface 28 miles of city-maintained roads—the most ever paved at one time.

Roads were selected through a comprehensive assessment using advanced technology and machine learning to evaluate pavement conditions and prioritize those in the most critical shape.

Why aren’t some streets in poor condition included?

There are a few key reasons:

Condition relative to others – Some roads, while in poor condition, didn’t rank as high in need compared to others.

Upcoming utility work – Roads scheduled for utility cuts are postponed to avoid damaging fresh pavement.

Planned improvements – Streets with upcoming drainage, curb, or sidewalk work will be paved afterward to ensure long-lasting results.

The City continues to monitor all city-maintained streets and will address them based on priority and need.

Quick Reminders:

Everyday city road maintenance continues. City of Columbia Public Works manages over 240 miles of streets, repairing 20–35 potholes daily, using up to 2 tons of asphalt mix.

Report city potholes: 931-388-8650

State routes are maintained by TDOT, not the City.

Report state potholes: 833-TDOTFIX (836-8349) or tn.gov/tdot/maintenance/potholes

Private or developer-maintained roads are not the City’s responsibility.

Spring Hill PD Offers Safe Way to Dispose of Unused Medications

From Spring Hill Police Department’s post…

The Spring Hill Police Department has partnered with the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation and the Tennessee Dangerous Drugs Task Force to provide a prescription drug drop box at our headquarters building at 800 Hathaway Blvd.

This drop box is available from 7:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. Drop-off is free and no forms are required - just place the items in the box. 

Acceptable items include:

Prescription Medications (including prescription narcotics)
All over-the-counter medications
Pet medications
Liquid medications in leak-proof containers
Inhalers
Pills in any packaging, including glass, plastic container, baggie (Ziploc) or foil
Items NOT accepted include:
Illegal drugs/narcotics
Needles/sharps or syringes with needles
Blood sugar equipment
Thermometers
IV bags
Bloody or infectious waste
Personal care products (shampoo, lotions, etc.)

Columbia State Hosts Topping Out Ceremony

Columbia State Community recently hosted a “Topping Out” ceremony for the Southern Regional Technology Center at the Columbia Campus.

A “Topping Out” ceremony is traditionally hosted to honor the final or top structural beam being added to an important building during the construction process. 

Community members, local officials, Columbia State students, faculty, staff, as well as representatives from the Tennessee Colleges of Applied Technology, all met at the event to sign the beam and see it be added to the SRTC building.

“The muggy weather can't dampen our enthusiasm today!” said Bethany Lay, Columbia State vice president for advancement and executive director of the Columbia State Foundation. “Many, many people and a lot of work has gone into lifting this beam. It represents opportunity and the future of our communities. It brings the SRTC one step closer to opening!”

This ceremony marks a major milestone in the construction of the SRTC building, a facility that will soon bring expanded educational offerings and help fuel careers that will serve to enrich the local economy.

“As we celebrate today and erect this last beam — it is not just a celebration of the building,” said Dr. Janet F. Smith, Columbia State president. “It's not just a celebration that we finally got here, which it did take a bunch of years to get here, but it is a celebration of what the SRTC will be, what it means for you and all the folks in our community, in our region and what it will mean for students. The opportunities, the careers that will be available, all in this state-of-the-art facility. Through programs offered in the SRTC, students will obtain skills and knowledge that allow them to walk out at completion and walk into an industry, a hospital or wherever, they have the skills they need to be successful in their chosen career.”

The approximately 88,000 square-foot building will serve as a regional hub for education and training, addressing the needs of both citizens and employers. It will be a cornerstone of economic and workforce development, offering the latest industry and healthcare training. Emphasizing partnerships through internships, apprenticeships, program development and job placement, educational offerings will include diplomas, technical certificates and Associate of Applied Science degrees.

The SRTC will house programs such as Medical Laboratory Technology, Nursing, Radiologic Technology, Respiratory Care, Medical Informatics, Engineering Systems Technology (including Mechatronics and Robotics), Veterinary Technology, Practical Nursing (LPN), Automotive Technology, HVAC and Welding.

The SRTC is slated to open for students in fall 2026.

To learn more about donation, partnership and endowment opportunities, please visit www.ColumbiaState.edu/SRTC.

Upcoming Local Events

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

Wednesday, June 25th

Thursday, June 26th

Friday, June 27th

Saturday, June 28th

🎵 This Week’s Live Music

Wednesday, June 25th

Oliver Pigott, Puckett’s, 6:00 - 7:30 PM

Thursday, June 26th

Brian Ashley Jones, Whiskey Alley Saloon, 6:00 PM - 9:00 PM
Mary Lou, Puckett’s, 6:00 - 7:30 PM
Todd Ciprian, Tito’s Spring Hill, 6:00-9:00 PM

Friday, June 27th

TBA, The Spot, 5:00 - 8:00 PM
Rob Harris, Tito’s Spring Hill, 6:00 PM - 9:00 PM
Open Mic, Grinder’s Switch, 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM
Ben Cannon, Whiskey Alley, 6:00 - 7:45 PM
Brian and Melanie, Buck & Board, 6:00 - 9:00 PM
Rett Stocstill, Grazie! Italian Eatery, 6:30 - 9:30 PM
The Tim Turner Band, McCreary’s Irish Pub & Eatery, 7:00 PM - 9:00 PM
Wynn Varble, Gordon Kennedy, & Gary Chapman, The Mulehouse, 7:30 PM
Karli & James, Puckett’s, 7:30 - 9:00 PM 
Broken by Monday, Fozzy’s Bar & Grill, 8:00 PM - 11:00 PM

Saturday, June 28th

Grasskickers, Keg Springs Winery, 2:00 PM - 5:00 PM
Crossbridgers, Amber Falls Winery, 3:00 PM - 7:00 PM
Lydia Rae, Buck & Board, 6:00 PM - 9:00 PM
Beyond the Grove, Grazie! Italian Eatery, 6:30 PM - 9:30 PM
Lisa Law & The Fab 3, Puckett’s, 7:30 PM - 9:00 PM
Powerplay, The Boondox, 8pm
South Bound Crows, Fozzy’s Bar & Grill, 8:00 PM - 11:00 PM

Sunday, June 29th

The Sins, Amber Falls Winery, 1:00 - 5:00 PM
CJ Conklin, Fizzy’s Bar & Grill, 4:00 - 7:00 PM
Jay Hoppus, Puckett’s, 6:00 - 7:30 PM

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