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Sheriff Confirms No Survivors in Bucksnort Explosion: “A Tremendous Loss”

Issue #582

October 12, 2025

In this What’s Up Columbia issue…

☀️ Columbia’s Friday Weather - Sunny w/ high of 79, low of 45

📰 Sheriff Confirms 16 Dead in Bucksnort Explosion: “A Tremendous Loss”

📰 $97.5M Investment to Power Columbia’s Wastewater System for the Next 50 Years

🗓 List of Upcoming Events
 
🎵 This Week’s Live Music

Read This Week’s Local Business Spotlight! 👇
Why This Columbia Salon + Barbershop Has Clients Driving from Nashville For a Cut

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

Sheriff Confirms 16 Dead in Bucksnort Explosion: “A Tremendous Loss”

All 16 people who were inside the Accurate Energetic Systems building that exploded on October 10 have been confirmed dead, Humphreys County Sheriff Chris Davis announced during an October 11th press conference outside the facility gates.

“I can tell you at this time, we have notified all 16 families of those people that we feel were involved in this tragedy,” Davis said during an emotional briefing, his voice breaking as he addressed reporters.

The explosion, which occurred around 7:45 a.m. at the AES plant near McEwen in the Bucksnort area, leveled one of the site’s eight buildings and scattered debris across a half-square-mile area. Pieces of wreckage have been found as far as two miles away, Davis said, calling the scene “more devastating than we thought initially.”

Authorities worked through Friday to confirm the identities of the victims using DNA testing, assisted by the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation. The victims’ names and ages are expected to be released soon.

Early reports listed as many as 19 people missing, but that number was later reduced to 16 after investigators determined some of the personal items and vehicles found on-site belonged to individuals who were not in the destroyed building at the time of the blast.

Federal and state agencies, including the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), remain on-site. The ATF’s National Response Team—comprised of bomb technicians, explosives experts, and engineers—arrived to help determine what caused the deadly explosion. Sheriff Davis said the investigation will take time, and it could be weeks or months before officials know whether foul play was involved.

As the community continues to grieve, hundreds gathered Friday night at Maple Valley Baptist Church in Nunnelly for a candlelight vigil honoring the victims and their families. Attendees prayed, sang, and embraced one another as dusk settled over the small rural town.

Residents from surrounding areas shared how they felt and heard the blast from miles away. Many described the facility as a familiar presence in the community, known for periodic testing explosions—but this time, they quickly realized something far worse had happened.

Davis, visibly emotional, called the tragedy a tremendous loss not only for the victims’ families but for the entire region. “It’s a tremendous loss, a great loss,” he said quietly during an earlier briefing.

$97.5M Investment to Power Columbia’s Wastewater System for the Next 50 Years

Columbia City Council and City Department leadership recently toured the construction site of the new Wastewater Treatment Facility, a transformative $97.5 million investment in the City's infrastructure and environmental sustainability.

This state-of-the-art facility will replace the existing plant, which has been in operation since 1978, and is designed to serve the Columbia community for the next 50 years. With advanced treatment processes and increased capacity, the new plant will enhance system performance and reliability.

A portion of the project's funding comes from the Federal American Rescue Plan (ARP) grant received by the City in 2023. JR Wauford serves as the project engineer, and Judy Construction will be bringing the project to life over the next four years.

The new facility is expected to be operational by April 2027, with final project completion scheduled for June 2028. 

Upcoming Local Events

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Sunday, October 12th

Monday, October 13th

Tuesday, October 14th

Wednesday, October 15th

Thursday, October 16th

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

🎵 This Week’s Live Music

Saturday, October 11

The Grasskickers – Keg Springs Winery, 2–5 PM
Box of Rox – Amber Falls Winery & Cellars, 3–7 PM
TBA – Buck & Board, 5–8 PM
The Def Leprechaun Band – McCreary’s, 7–9 PM
Karli & James – Puckett’s, 7:30–9 PM
Mainstreet Vinyl – The Rebel Bar & Grill, 7:30 PM
Fall Series – The Bourbon Gospel, 7:30 PM
No Fun Intended – Fozzy’s Bar & Grill, 8–11 PM

Sunday, October 12

The Sins – Amber Falls Winery & Cellars, 1–5 PM

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