The Cookeville Ninja Challenge. A new opportunity coming to the community Saturday that will raise funds for the Hope Center Adoption and Family Services. The private domestic infant adoption agency supports pregnant women and foster families. Executive Director Crystal Young said the course is 125 feet of obstacles requiring balance and strength. “It’s something that we have dreamed about for ... Read More »

Cumberland County Schools wants to start introducing students as early as kindergarten to career fields through a new program. The Career Connection Framework is provided by the National Rural Education Association. Director of Schools Billy Stepp said the school board adopted the strategy to create a K-12 career development plan. “It’s as simple as even doing classroom career speakers for ... Read More »

The Upper Cumberland will receive $1.6 million in opioid lawsuit money from the first round of payments announced Friday. The state began making payments this week to county governments under the terms of the lawsuit filed by the Tennessee Attorney General against the nation’s three major pharmaceutical distributors. Putnam County will receive a region-high $350,535 followed by Cumberland County at ... Read More »

This week in the Upper Cumberland the Cookeville Planning Commission will discuss the addition of RV Parks to local commercial districts. The commission last month voted to further study the request. Currently, the city’s zoning codes only allow campgrounds under general commercial. Business starts at 5:30 p.m. The State Department of Economic and Community Development will host a regional meeting ... Read More »

Spencer will have to revisit its funding options for its new raw water intake project after a timing issue with a targeted grant. Mayor Allisa Farmer said she met with USDA officials Thursday and found out the timing of the grant application would not work out. “The meeting didn’t go as well as we planned,” Farmer said. “I’m not so ... Read More »

Cumberland County has a new Veterans Service Officer in James Dignan (Dig-Nen). Dignan was appointed by Mayor Allen Foster and confirmed by the county commission to replace Garry Blaisdell who is retiring. Dignan served in the Navy 29 years achieving a Lieutenant Commander ranking. “A call to continue to serve,” Dignan said. “I knew I wanted to do something that ... Read More »

Overton County Executive Steven Barlow and the county’s fair board wants to construct new facilities at the fairgrounds. Barlow said the county is exploring funding options for a new event pavilion, a new horse arena and barn. “The last thing that was done in the fairgrounds was back around 2000 when we built the ag building we have today,” Barlow ... Read More »

The State Department of Health hosting a free virtual parent workshop Saturday highlighting strategies to keep your children safe online. Regional Public Information Officer Rachael Nichols said registration will be open until Friday at 2:00 p.m. Nichols-1              (:15)                 Q. Information And Tools Nichols said TBI Agent Robert ... Read More »

A Clay County man has completed his six-year term on TWRA’s Fish and Wildlife Commission. Brian McClerran represented the Upper Cumberland District since 2017 after being appointed by Governor Bill Haslam. McClerran said the voluntary commission appoints the TWRA executive director, sets hunting seasons and the agency’s budget. “I had a great experience,” McClerran said. “I really enjoyed being involved ... Read More »

Several student ministries will come together on Tennessee Tech’s Campus Thursday to celebrate the National Collegiate Day of Prayer. Baptist Collegiate Ministry Minister Ben Maddox said each year, a day is set aside by the national organization for the Christian community to come together and lift the campus. “Prayer for one is encouragement, but also seeing a group of people ... Read More »