Livingston Fire Department investigating a possible electrical wiring issue in city’s downtown area. Fire Chief Rocky Dial said crews are trying to find the source of a smell that may be coming from an electrical wire burn. Dial said no fire or smoke is visible, but several fire trucks and crews are on standby. Dial said Main Street in front ... Read More »

The final draft for a Cookeville easement to a city water tank on Shoney’s Hill should be completed this week. Putnam County Mayor Randy Porter said the easement needs to be included in the deed before the property sale closes. “We had to work through some of those issues,” Porter said. “There’s a big 30-inch water line that goes up ... Read More »

Sparta has purchased a new sewer camera to conduct in-house line inspections. City Administrator Brad Hennessee said the purchase means savings for the city. “The typical sewer project has about 10 percent of the project dollar amount in sewer inspections both on the front end and after the project is complete, so we think that this could have an immediate ... Read More »

The Highlands Economic Partnership restructuring its target for investors to include more private donors. CEO and President Amy New said historically, the partnership has focused on industries or companies. Moving forward, New said private investors will also be a focus. “We’re really going to also look for individual investors who are interested in really just making their community a better ... Read More »

Putnam County 911 has opened applications for dispatchers. 911 Director Penny Foister said the department is low on part-time workers and wants two more full-time dispatchers. “We’re going to ask the county commission and 911 board at our next budget cycle to add two more positions, two more full-time positions,” Foister said. “When we do that, we will need to ... Read More »

The Putnam County Election Commission needs more Democratic workers to meet the state mandated 50/50 party split. Election Administrator Michelle Honeycutt said the Republican Party workers are there, but state assistance may be needed for the Democratic side. “Right now, we’re to the point I’m fixing have to call the state and say what do you want me to do?” ... Read More »

Highlands Residential Services reopened its waiting list for Gainesboro and Baxter housing Monday. The portal will be open for one month. You can set up an application interview by visiting the West Jackson office in Cookeville. The housing authority last month also reopened applications for low-income housing in Celina. Director of Operations Chris Cassetty said the portals closed in the ... Read More »

Putnam County dedicated the completion of Hope Park Sunday to the neighborhood and donors that made the project possible. Mayor Randy Porter said the park brings peace to a community that experienced great loss from the March tornado two years ago. “In talking with you with the survivors in the surrounding neighborhoods, the one thing that soon became apparent was ... Read More »

This week in the Upper Cumberland the Putnam County School Board has scheduled a work session to review state grant funding. The State Department of Education recognized the system as a Best for All District for its use of federal COVID money. As a result, the district has received an award grant for the distinction. Board members will discuss how ... Read More »

State Representative Ryan Williams said he believes that the state is fiscally strong enough to offer more than a 30-day grocery tax suspension. Governor Bill Lee proposed a budget amendment that would allow a 30-day suspension of state and local grocery sales tax as a relief for citizens. “I am in support of it,” Williams said. “I feel like the ... Read More »