In this What’s Up Columbia issue…

🌨️ Columbia’s Friday Weather - Cloudy w/ rain developing later in the day - high of 57, low of 42

📰 Remembering 2025: Local Highlights You Might’ve Missed

📰 Standout Stories from Around Columbia and Beyond in 2025

🗓 List of Upcoming Events

🎵 This Week’s Live Music

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

Remembering 2025: Local Highlights You Might’ve Missed

Happy New Year Columbia!

From new openings to unexpected headlines, here’s a look back at some of the stories and moments that shaped our community this past year.

This isn’t an exhaustive list — I’m sure we missed some things — but it’s a reminder of just how full a single year in our community can be.

• A new McDonalds opened at Honey Farms and a new Walmart is under construction next door. 

• Spring Hill got a new Publix which is pretty convenient off of the Port Royal exit.

• Downtown Columbia got a new roundabout and a statue of Thurgood Marshall.  

• Columbia Installed a new citywide emergency siren system. 

• In-N-Out opens in Antioch, Lebanon and Murfreesboro - sure, it’s not in Columbia but some people are super excited about this one. The Franklin location (at Berry Farms) is opening in 2026. The company is aiming to open about 35 locations in TN, expanding from the Nashville area outwards.

• The Maury County Archives unveiled their new 27,000 square foot facility in January. 

• Muletown Rec was acquired by the city and became the Columbia Aquatics & Recreation Center. The parking lot was repaved, over a mile of hiking and biking trails have been built, they’re completely remodeling all three pools and more! 

• Southern Sugar Saloon opened their new Columbia location. If you haven’t tried their shakes yet - you better get over there!

• This year, the What’s Up Columbia team mailed out thousands of postcards featuring great coupons from businesses in Columbia and Spring Hill. Let us know if you’d like to be on the next one!

• The Maury County Public Library undergoes major renovation. 

• Fire Station #1 got a major renovation and expansion. 

• Maury County Regional Airport got a new state of the art terminal.  

• 11 Acres of Civil War history were purchased to preserve the land tied to the Battle of Spring Hill. 

• The Spring Hill Police Department opened a new 60,000-square-foot facility.

• The Elephant Sanctuary celebrated 30 years of elephant care in Hohenwald. 

• Ted’s Sporting Goods celebrated 70 years. 

• The Grand Ole Opry celebrated 100 years at the Ryman.

• To close out the year, Carter’s Creek Can Opener Bridge got its 32nd hit of the year on New Year’s Eve night making 2025 the highest annual total in Carters Creek Can Opener history.

Standout Stories from Around Columbia and Beyond in 2025

Below are a few standout stories from the past year that readers really connected with, from unbelievable local moments to feel-good community wins. If you missed any of these when they first ran, this is a great chance to catch up.

• Grand Marshals of Mule Day: The Mountain Mule Packers’ Inspiring Story
  
  Mule Day welcomed the heroic team from Mountain Mule Packer Ranch, whose efforts saved lives during the devastation of Hurricane Helene. Read more…

• Doctors Say It’s a Miracle: Baby Survived Gunshot to the Head in Spring Hill
  
  

  A one-year-old girl was hospitalized after being struck in the head by a stray bullet during an early morning shootout in Spring Hill. What’s amazing is that she survived. Read more… If you’d like to read how the family is doing today 7 months later, the mother has several posts about their journey here.

• Target’s Freezer Malfunction Leads to 4,000-Pound Meat Donation to The Well Outreach
  
  

  Hats off to Target for making the most of a bad situation. Read more… 
  
  

• Maury Regional Surgeon Completes 2,000th Robotic-Arm Assisted Procedure
  
  Orthopedic surgeon W. Cason Shirley, MD, hit a major milestone at Maury Regional Medical Center (MRMC) — performing 2,000 procedures using Stryker’s Mako robotic-arm system for knee and hip replacements. Read more…
  
  

• From Shelter Pup to Superhero: Maury County Rescue Lands Role in New Superman Film
  
  

  Sparrow, a four-year-old terrier-schnauzer mix rescued from Maury County Animal Services went from shelter life to starring on the big screen in the new Superman movie, released in July. Read more…
  
  

• After 8 Days on the Run, Ed the Zebra Finally Captured
  
  

  The story that started a million memes and will have Middle Tennesseans saying “remember when that zebra got loose?” for years to come. Read more… 
  
  

• Why Is Columbia Called “the Dimple of the Universe”?
  
  

  Most of us have heard Columbia called the “Dimple of the Universe”—but have you ever wondered where that nickname really came from? It’s not just a catchy phrase. It’s a story that goes back more than a century, with roots in literature, local pride, and even the U.S. Postal Service. Read more…

Upcoming Local Events

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

Friday, January 2nd

Winter Robotics Camp (Spring Hill) - 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Barber Shop Jam - 6:00 - 8:00 PM
Country Dance Night at The Mulehouse - 7:00 PM

Saturday, January 3rd

Hummingbird Hollow Farmers Market - 9:00 AM - 2:00 PM
Columbia Farmers Market - 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Hidden Gem Farmers Market (Spring Hill) - 11:00 AM - 2:00 PM
Saturday Chess Club at Spring Hill Library - 1:00 - 2:00 PM

Sunday, January 4th

Silent Book Club - 11:00 AM - 1:00 PM

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

🎵 This Week’s Live Music

Friday, January 2nd
Scott Southworth & Daryl - Puckett’s, 7:30–9 PM.

Saturday, January 3rd
Twitty & Lynn - The Mulehouse, 7 PM.
Winter Series - The Bourbon Gospel, 7:30 PM.
Matt Marinchick - Puckett’s, 7:30–9 PM.