Cookeville Strong, Tennessee Tech and Putnam County have partnered to create a weekly grocery giveaway that starts Friday. Cookeville Strong Member Katelyn Steakley said over 1,200 boxes of food and 1,200 gallons of milk will be distributed weekly for about 10 weeks. “The food is available through a grant with the USDA called, “Farmers To Families,” Steakley said. “Essentially the ... Read More »

Cookeville High School’s Virtual Enterprise class has been ranked one of the top 150 firms in the nation. The class is an online business simulation where students take on the roles of a standard company. Business Teacher Judy Henry said the firm made of 16 students is named, “Pandora’s Box.” “We create our own business, and the students are divided ... Read More »

The Upper Cumberland Area Agency on Aging and Disability is looking for sponsors to keep its pet meal delivery program in service. The once grant funded Animeals operation is an extension of the Meals on Wheel Service for seniors. Family Caregiver Sarah Martin said now, the organization needs donations to continue. “We take that money, and we go over to ... Read More »

The Gainesboro Police Department has three to four applicants being considered to fill an open officer position. The department currently has three active officers. Mayor Lloyd Williams said the city wants at least four, but competing with larger municipalities has made hiring a challenge. “Most of the surrounding counties, even our own county, they pay a higher rate of pay ... Read More »

Putnam County is working towards a spring groundbreaking for long anticipated additions to the County Sports Complex. Parks and Recreation Director John Ross Albertson said the bid package for the two additional fields and entrance should come out sometime next month. “We’ve been able to go ahead and start in all of the in-kind work,” Albertson said. “It is essentially ... Read More »

Jackson County High School Student Zachary Pennington said volunteering his film making skills is his way to thank his hometown. Pennington’s video production with the county’s chamber of commerce led to the recognition as one of the Governor’s Volunteer Star Award winners in 2021. The annual award seeks to honor an adult and youth volunteer from each of Tennessee’s 95 ... Read More »

The city of Cookeville will hold a public hearing Monday to welcome local input on possible grant funding. This is part of the process of applying for a Community Development Block Grant. Planning Director Jon Ward said the plan for now is to use the grant to eliminate sewage overflow at West End. “The project was to replace approximately 4,000 ... Read More »

Tennessee State Park rangers have identified a missing 42-year-old man who was last seen Wednesday in Cummins Falls State Park. Robert James Qucsai III entered the park at around 1:30 p.m. on February 3rd. According to Tennessee State Parks, Qucsai was presumed missing after his car was found abandoned with no evidence of his whereabouts. Local rescue squads and numerous ... Read More »

COVID has changed the way people live their lives, but it may have also transformed how your tax return will look this year. Jennifer Phipps is the owner of Cookeville’s Phipps CPA. Phipps said unemployment benefits could have an impact on your tax position. “Those who were receiving unemployment benefits during 2020, hopefully, you had your taxes withheld at that ... Read More »

Alice Barlow of Jackson County said volunteering to her is all about making a change. Barlow is one of eight Governor’s Volunteer Stars Award honorees in the Upper Cumberland. Barlow said she first came to Jackson County in 1968 and made it her mission to improve her hometown. “I got here and fell in love with the area,” Barlow said. ... Read More »