🌱 How Route K roundabout delays are squeezing one Columbia tavern

Hi Columbia! We have the latest buzz right here. Let's keep you in the loop and get this morning started right! ☀️

In today's newsletter:

• How Route K roundabout delays are squeezing one Columbia tavern
• How could new bus liaisons and meeting changes reshape Columbia city life?
• What will Columbia’s new 45-acre trucking facility mean for neighbors?

📸 Have a great pic of holiday decorations from around Columbia? Post it to Columbia photos of the day! ☃️ 🟢-🟠-🟣-🔴-🟡-🔵 ☃️

Today's riddle: Can February March? 🤔 (Answer below!)

Weather forecast:

• Tuesday: Sunshine, with a high of 50 and low of 30 degrees.
• Wednesday: Some sun, then turning cloudy, temps: high: 51, low: 44.
• Thursday: Becoming windier; a.m. rain, with a high of 51 and low of 20 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

1. Business owner speaks out about the impact of delayed Old Plank Road construction (komu.com) — Drivers and nearby businesses in southwest Columbia are feeling the squeeze as winter weather delays completion of the Route K and Old Plank Road roundabout until late January. The Old Plank Road Tavern, open only about a month, reports traffic is a fraction of normal but hopes the finished roundabout will ultimately slow cars and improve access.
   

2. This proposed liaison program aims to reduce Columbia bus incidents (columbiatribune.com) — Columbia bus riders could soon see trained liaisons riding city buses to calm conflicts and support people in crisis, if the City Council approves a new contract. Council members are also weighing changes to meeting rules, livestreaming options, and how they advertise board and commission vacancies, all aimed at making Columbia’s government more accessible and efficient for residents.
   

3. Columbia agrees to annex 45 acres that will become site of trucking facility (abc17news.com) — Columbia’s City Council has approved annexing more than 45 acres near Enterprise Drive and Route Z to host a new trucking facility, likely tied to FedEx. The project, valued at up to $40 million, will connect to the city sewer system and could bring significant economic and infrastructure impacts for northeast Columbia residents.
   

4. Columbia agrees to enter agreements with local overnight homeless shelters totaling $1 million (abc17news.com) — Columbia’s City Council has approved more than $1 million for overnight homeless services, funding the Voluntary Action Center and Turning Point for the next year. The agreements will support overnight shelter beds, a drop-in center, and a warming center aimed at keeping unhoused residents safer during severe weather.
   

5. (LISTEN): One for One Holiday food and fund drive is Wednesday in Columbia and Jefferson City (939theeagle.com) — A major holiday food and fund drive is coming to Columbia Mall this Wednesday, aiming to support the Food Bank for Central and Northeast Missouri as local food insecurity hits a near-decade high. Residents can donate food or money from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m., see Santa and firefighters, and support a Columbia-based food bank that serves hundreds of thousands of Missourians.
   

📸 Around Columbia

Show off your photography skills and the sights around town! Click here to submit your Photo of the Day to Patch AM!

🗓 Upcoming Events in Columbia

Add your event to our calendar and newsletter!

Wednesday December 17

• Sensory-Friendly Story Time
  Columbia Public Library - Children's Program Room
  10:00 am
• DIY Digital Archiving Lab
  Columbia Public Library - Training Center
  11:00 am
• Small Business Lunch and Learn
  Columbia Chamber of Commerce , 300 S Providence Rd , Columbia
  11:30 am
• Friends of the Columbia Public Library Lobby Book Sale
  Columbia Public Library - Lobby
  12:00 pm
• Marketplace & Medicaid Open Enrollment Assistance
  Columbia Public Library - Training Center
  2:00 pm

Thursday December 18

• Brighter Beginnings
  Columbia Public Library - Children's Area
  9:30 am
• Toddler Story Time
  Columbia Public Library - Children's Program Room
  9:30 am
• EPIC Holiday Mixer 2025
  MyHouse Sports Bar & Nightclub , 119 S 7th St , Columbia
  5:00 pm

📣 Columbia Shout Outs!

Want to say something great about someone in town? Click here to submit your Shout Out to Patch AM! It's free!

🗓 Events Nearby

Tuesday December 16

• Drop-in Genealogy Help
  Columbia Public Library - Training Center
  9:15 am
• Preschool Story Time
  Columbia Public Library - Children's Program Room
  9:30 am
• Device Advice and Tech Help Drop-in
  Columbia Public Library - Training Center
  2:00 pm
• Socrates Café
  Columbia Public Library - Conference Room B
  6:30 pm

Have we missed something on our calendar? Add an event yourself! As always, before attending confirm event details to ensure accuracy.

Want to see your business here? Click here to connect with local customers.

💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

• Hey, friends.
  I’ve been thinking a lot lately about the process of learning and unlearning and how it’s so much a part of our personal growth. We spend so much… (Nextdoor Broadway/Cemetery)
• Christmas Day Potluck at Unity of Columbia Missouri.
  If you don't have family to spend the holidays with or just need to get away, come join! Read more: https://thingstodocolumbiamo.com/christmas-day… (Nextdoor West Blvd - Stadium)

• Missouri Staffing posted a job opening for Forklift Operator (Part-Time) - Afternoon Shift in Columbia. Apply here.
• Walmart posted a job opening for Stocking Team Associate in Columbia. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Columbia here.

Ok Columbia! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!

-- The Patch AM Team

P.S. The answer to today's riddle: I don't know, but April May!
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Send it to us!

👉 Help make Patch AM better

• Help us grow by suggesting local news sources.
• Shape this newsletter with your feedback.
• List items for sale or services offered

We use a combination of real people and machines to tell you what’s happening around town. Learn more about Patch AM.

Share to NextDoor     Share to Facebook