This week in the Upper Cumberland the Sparta Board of Aldermen will host its first budget meeting Monday. City Administrator Brad Hennessee will present department head requests and a preliminary spending plan to the board. The city will also work on a plan to spend its ARP money. The Cookeville Planning Commission will meet Monday at 5:30 p.m. Cookeville Regional ... Read More »

Upper Cumberland voters have one more week to get to the poles for early voting. So far, election offices have seen a mixed bag of turnout since early voting began last week. Overton County Election Administrator Craig Story said over 700 people have participated in his county. “Mid-terms are usually a little less on turnout than some of our other ... Read More »

The Cookeville Industrial Development Board refinanced the Shoppes at Eagle Pointe project Friday morning. A lease between the board and Shoppes at Eagle Pointe LLC for the entire property was signed in 2017. Attorney Kent Moore said the leasing entity filed for bankruptcy, created a new group and now has a new lender. “The lender’s requirements are for this new ... Read More »

The Putnam County Sheriff’s Department seeking funding to provide mental health services to correctional officers. Sheriff Eddie Farris said the department is applying for a two-year grant for $175,000 to fund the program. “There’s a lot of things that goes on in a law enforcement, policemen and Farris said mental health in law enforcement is a real issue. Farris said ... Read More »

Jackson County Director of Schools Kristy Brown has been named the Upper Cumberland Superintendent of the Year. The award is voted on by other school directors in the region. Brown said the recognition from peers makes the award even more special. “I’m grateful for the opportunity to serve students and children in my county,” Brown said. “This is where I ... Read More »

The Jackson County School Board started the planning process to build its own CTE space Thursday night. The action came after the school board reviewed a proposed agreement from TCAT Hartsville. The institution currently provides CTE learning for Jackson and Macon County Schools in a joint building. The Hartsville administration indicated last year that it would no longer operate the ... Read More »

The Monterey Downtown Incorporated Board has reformed. The group consists of local business owners that want to grow the town’s economic opportunities. Mayor Nathan Walker said the committee has worked over the last several months to resurrect the board. “There was a lot of business owners, a lot of business leaders here in our community that actually asked for it ... Read More »

Putnam County Solid Waste will be celebrating Earth Day Friday and Saturday at Dogwood Park. Program Manager Lisa Luck said Earth Day serves as a reminder that people can reduce their impact to the environment. “I think it is a good day to make a commitment to doing better,” Luck said. “We can all do better. I don’t care how ... Read More »

Overton County Sheriff’s Department continuing searches for a K-9 unit that went missing over a week ago. The department is now offering a $5,000 cash reward for the safe return or information on K-9 Bella. Sheriff John Garrett said the narcotics dog broke loss from its owners property near Bilbrey Road in Livingston. K-9 Bella is a Belgian Malinois with ... Read More »

Tennessee Tech President Phil Oldham said there is no separation between the university and the life of Millard Oakley. Oldham said Oakley made it a special purpose of his to make a mark on higher education. “He strongly believed in the role of education and how it can help improve the lives and the mobility of individuals in the Upper ... Read More »