Livingston starting in-house commercial driving classes for employee certifications. Mayor Curtis Hayes said a new state law has increased the required training to keep a commercial license. Hayes said the courses will prepare city employees for the exam. “They changed the rules to make it what we see things as a little bit more difficult to get their CDLs,” Hayes ... Read More »

Sparta Mayor Jerry Lowery has reappointed the city’s Parks and Recreation Board in an effort to reactivate the body. Lowery said the board of the previous administration stopped meeting. Lowery said he wanted to reform the body to start planning for possible projects. “We’ve got a lot in store for Sparta in the next three years under my administration,” Lowery ... Read More »

More than 800 meals will be delivered across DeKalb County thanks emergency personnel. The DeKalb Emergency Services Association each year provides hot meals to whoever signs up. Vice-President Blake Cantrell said mixture of elderly people, low-income families and thus who come across tough times receive the hot meals. Cantrell said the association is in need of volunteers Christmas Eve to ... Read More »

UCHRA and UCDD has received a clean audit in all of its divisions. Executive Director Mark Farley said this is the fourth or fifth year that the organizations received no findings. “We’re very proud of the team our finance department has,” Farley said. “We have a lot of state funding and federal funding that flows through our office. They do ... Read More »

A shopping event made for procrastinators kicks off Thursday night as several Smithville merchants extend their hours. Male Room Brotique Co-Owner Tony Luna organized the new event. Luna said each year, he sees last second shoppers stressing to find the perfect gift. “I’ve got a friend of mine named Dave who is notoriously a bad gift giver,” Luna said. “Usually ... Read More »

The Livingston Board of Aldermen has approved a company to review the city’s water system for efficiency upgrades. Mayor Curtis Hayes said the engineering firm will look for areas where solar panels could be added to the system. “The preliminary study will be at no cost for the city of Livingston,” Hayes said. “The ultimate goal here is to help ... Read More »

There will be several shelters open Thursday night in Overton County for those needing warmth from sub-zero temperatures. EMA Director Chris Massiongale said locations include the Livingston City Fire Department, Overton County Rescue Squad building, the First Christian Church and the Allons radio tower site on Palestine Road. “Our biggest threat tonight appears to be the 30 to 40 mile ... Read More »

Cumberland County has received a clean audit for the second year in a row. Mayor Allen Foster said having no findings is difficult considering the amount of money that flows. Foster said he credits the fiscal responsibility to the county’s financial department. “It ensures that our tax payer’s money is being spent correctly,” Foster said. “That nobody is doing what ... Read More »

UCHRA Executive Director Mark Farley said he wants to plan a regional opioid summit on how to spend opioid abatement money. Farley said a lot of communities are already receiving payments from court settlements. Farley said the summit would review how the money can be used. “One of the things that we want to make sure is that our mayors ... Read More »

House Speaker Cameron Sexton said he anticipates a two percent increase in the state’s budget next fiscal year. Sexton updated regional leaders about the latest legislative efforts at the UCHRA Board of Directors Annual Meeting Wednesday. “The budget it is very good this year,” Sexton said. “The numbers are still up. You will still see very conservative budget estimates. I ... Read More »