The 50th anniversary Sunrise Easter Service at Hidden Hollow Chapel comes this Sunday. Coordinator Larry Self has been a part of the ministry for 35 years. He said the man who created Cookeville’s Hidden Hollow Park started the service in 1972. “Mr. Arda Lee that owned it, he had been around the midwestern states, and he’d seen where they had ... Read More »

White County Executive Denny Wayne Robinson said he will ask the county commission Monday to appropriate the needed match for TDEC’s ARP money. The county has about $5 million to allocate among utility districts. Robinson said the ask will be about $620,000 to $650,000. “I’ll be asking the county commission coming up Monday night to appropriate that match money to ... Read More »

White County School Board Chair Jayson McDonald is seeking re-election to serve on the Tennessee School Board Association Board of Directors. McDonald said he will run for the Upper Cumberland District Director. “TSBA is a great organization,” McDonald said. “They provide a lot of good information for our school districts across the state and just hope to continue to help ... Read More »

The Cookeville Police Department promoting “Slow Down Tennessee” in a two-week campaign starting Friday. Traffic Division Captain Jeff Johnson said the department will conduct speed enforcement in areas where it plays a factor in accidents. “Our main concern here at the Cookeville Police Department is the safety of our citizens and visitors that come to our area,” Johnson said. “A ... Read More »

Gainesboro will be reimbursed about $39,000 from FEMA for the town’s response to last year’s flood. Mayor Lloyd Williams said the town will receive $19,000 for water line repairs and $20,000 split between road and cemetery repairs. “It was for the storm we had,” Williams said. “One grant helped with the repairs of the water lines and the other helped ... Read More »

A Baxter man missing since March has been identified as the man found floating in Center Hill Lake. Dekalb County Sheriff Patrick Ray said the man is 37-year-old William Houghtaling Jr. The body was found floating face down in the lake April 6th at the Johnson’s Chapel Recreation near a boat ramp. An autopsy revealed the identity as Houghtaling Jr. ... Read More »

Van Buren County Committee B has recommended to bid out restoration work for the courthouse steeple. Mayor Greg Wilson said the project has been bid out three times already with no interest. “The north and south end we have some siding that has come off of that,” Wilson said. “We have the siding ready. We already have the siding. All ... Read More »

White County School Board Member Dewayne Howard wants to increase the number of members on the schools budget committee. The school system currently operates as a centralized finance system through the county. The school board appoints one member annually to work with the county finance director and director of schools. Howard said he would like to see three board members ... Read More »

Pickett County Schools celebrated its 6th grade boys basketball team Tuesday for its second straight state championship. Coach Lee Amonett said the championship showed the kids that hard work pays off. “It’s a big thing to win a championship,” Amonett said. “They don’t need to be taken lightly or taken for granted. They put a lot of work in, and ... Read More »

Two more high school career pathways in the Putnam County School System have received state certification. Cookeville High School students will be able to choose Teaching as a Profession and Early Childhood Education Careers pathways. CTE Supervisor Leslie Eldridge said the district offers early career or college experiences. “We have two great programs in Putnam County that they can choose ... Read More »