Latest News

Jackson County Director of Schools Kristy Brown is leaving. Brown will be taking a job as the Chief Academic Officer at the Tennessee Department of Education beginning July 15th. Brown’s responsibilities will include instructional strategy, early learning, special education, and career and technical education. Brown took the opportunity to thank the board and the school system Thursday for the work ... Read More »

Trudy Harper will serve another term as the Tennessee Tech Board of Trustees Chair. Harper’s term will now extend until July 2025. She was the only nominee. “I feel compelled to say before we vote, this wasn’t what any of us had expected, of course, I didn’t expect to do another two years,” Harper said. “Someone told me last night ... Read More »

Jackson County Teachers will be receiving a pay raise in the coming school year. This was passed in the 2023-24 school Year Budget by the Jackson County Board of Education Thursday. Director of Schools Kristy Brown said the raises were changed from a flat rate to percentage-based in order to reward longevity and give teachers raises based on how long ... Read More »

Van Buren County received a no Kid Hungry Grant that will allow them to extend their summer feeding program through July. Van Buren Supervisor of Nutrition Marlene DeLong said the school provides meals during the school year, but children loose access to those meals during the summer and other school breaks. She said the school relies on multiple grants to ... Read More »

Cookeville City Council Member Chad Gilbert said he believes the city should consider performing some of its own paving projects. Gilbert said most paving is usually conducted by a private firm. He said while the contractors are good what they do, it might make more sense and help the city in the long run to pave smaller projects themselves. “We ... Read More »

The Putnam County Budget Committee voted 6-1 Thursday to take the next step with a 27.5 cent property tax increase for county residents. The approved proposal includes fully funding a new pay scale plan for county employees and 91 new employees. Mayor Randy Porter and his team will bring more formal cost estimates to the next committee meeting Monday night. ... Read More »

Putnam County’s Emergency Communications Board passed its 2023-24 Budget on the second reading Thursday. Director Penny Foister said this year’s budget stayed mostly the same as last year’s, with only a few minor things being changed to deal with rising costs due to inflation. “The fringe benefits that we pay for for our dispatchers, maintenance and support costs of course ... Read More »

Oversight of UCHRA’s Court-Appointed Special Advocates program, or CASA, will be moved to CASA of the Tennessee Valley. The program is designed for children going through the court system who need some kind of guardian while they are involved with the courts. UCHRA Executive Director Mark Farley said it has been difficult for the agency to work with CASA because ... Read More »

A new $100,000 Appalachian Regional Commission grant will add a Grant Coordinator for the Upper Cumberland. UCDD Deputy Director Tommy Lee said part of the grant will fund costs of one recently hired staff member for a two-year period. Lee said assisting with federal funding in small counties and cities was essential. “Most of our rural counties can not afford ... Read More »

Power of Putnam presenting a youth conference the next two days promoting substance abuse prevention, mental health resources, and paths to community leadership. Conference Head Makiah  Prince said the summit will promote youth involvement in the decisions that affect them “That’s why the tagline is Nothing About Me Without Me, because none of these things that are dictating their future ... Read More »