The Putnam County Budget passed Monday night receiving little opposition from commissioners. Commissioner Ben Rodgers outlined each fund before voting. The spending plan maintains the current tax rate and includes over 10 new positions. A $5,000 raise for emergency workers and $3,000 for the others also moves forward. After commissioners voted for each individual budget, Commissioner Theresa Tayes expressed her ... Read More »

In a report to the Putnam County Commission Monday night, Director of Schools Corby King said the system’s new K-8 school cannot move forward under the current bond. The county commission approved a $44.7 million bond to fund the project last year. King said the project cost is now estimated at about $61 million. “We can’t build a K-8 with ... Read More »

MTAS is set to meet with Livingston officials next week to discuss how the city forms its agendas. At a recent city meeting, Alderman Kelly Coleman requested that agenda practices be included on the August agenda. Municipal Management Consultant Warren Nevad said practices can vary from city to city. “We’re looking at that along with looking at the city’s charter ... Read More »

The White County Justice Center in the final stages of implementing a new keypad entry system. Captain Nate Theiss said the new security will use work IDs for access while providing live updates of entries. “It’s a high-end access hardware, software, which our Justice Center is going on 22 years old and some of our keypads are that old,” Theiss ... Read More »

Celina targeting River Road and East Lake Avenue through its paving efforts in this new fiscal year. Mayor Luke Collins said the city is currently accepting bids for paving rates. “We had an engineering group that did a road survey, and then we had some local people that did one,” Collins said. “Amazingly, the local folks and the engineering group ... Read More »

Putnam County’s School Resource Officers have completed training for the upcoming school year. Putnam County Sheriff Eddie Farris said some 20 officers recently completed a 40 hour active shooter session. “They are certainly able and willing without hesitation to trade their life for students or anyone else in the building,” Farris said. “We work on that, talk about that, and ... Read More »

The Putnam County Sheriff’s Office Citizens’ Academy returns this August. The 10-week class gives residents a behind the scenes look of how deputies operate. Sheriff Eddie Farris said applications are open now. “It’s really a good time and a learning experience,” Farris said. “That’s the way we like to look at it. I think people leave here realizing that law ... Read More »

A longtime high school football writer with some Putnam County ties will end his publication after 34 years. Murphy Fair at 71-years-old has retired the preseason book “Murphy Fair’s Tennessee High School Football.” Fair said he covered Upper Cumberland Football and some basketball for many years. “I used to work for a newspaper called the Dispatch in Cookeville,” Fair said. ... Read More »

McMinnville has received a state award for its wetland restoration project at Bobby Ray Memorial Elementary School. The Tennessee Municipal League has recognized the city for Excellence in Stormwater Management. Stormwater Manager Lyndon Bussell said the project would result in a park for the school. “For a statewide organization to notice some of the things that we are doing especially ... Read More »

Word has gotten around about an existing recreation area that has become a hotspot for paddle sports enthusiast. The Cane Hollow Recreation Area is located in White County on Center Hill Lake. Park Ranger Ashley Webster said what used to be a remote access point has turned into a destination to view Burgess Falls. “We have the unique capability to ... Read More »