This week in the Upper Cumberland the Putnam County Commission will consider its next fiscal year budget Monday. The spending plan that comes from committee includes raises for all employees. Especially emergency workers who would receive $5,000. The commission will also vote on the resignation of Commissioner Jimmy Neal following charges involving child pornography. The committee meetings begin at 5:30 ... Read More »

An increase in hiker rescues reported by the White County Sheriff’s Office serves as a remainder to prepare for your excursion. State Parks Program and Education Director Rob Barrett said the most important rule is to not hike alone. “You should always hike with somebody or at least give a hiking plan to a trusted family member or plan that ... Read More »

The National Suicide Prevention Hotline has changed to an easier three-digit number. State Mental Health and Substance Abuse Commissioner Marie Williams said 9-8-8 is what Tennessee residents will now dial for mental health emergencies. “It’s absolutely good news to me, and I hope it is good news to everybody out there that is in a crisis,” Williams said. “When you ... Read More »

A new water treatment plant moving forward in Gainesboro. Mayor Lloyd Williams said the proposed site is within a mile of the current plant on the same tract of land. “To renovate the old one, it was going to be around $8.5 million to renovate it, and we just found out in the last meeting there was a little bit ... Read More »

Livingston has been named a grant recipient to help build a new dog park. The city applied for the Boyd Foundation Dog Park Dash Grant. Downtown Revitalization Chairman Ray Evans said the non-profit announced Livingston as one of the 15 to win $25,000. “The location is a one acre site that is part of the former shirt factory property,” Evans ... Read More »

The Tennessee Municipal League has recognized Sparta with an Achievement Award for Excellence in Public Works. City Administrator Brad Hennessee said the honor shows the hard work of the department, Mayor and Board of Aldermen. “The department has been faithful in the undertaken of all of this,” Hennessee said. “We knew this it was heading into the right direction, but ... Read More »

Sparta will move forward on a wage study that will be conducted by city staff. Mayor Jeff Young proposed the item Thursday night to answer high turnover rates. Following Board of Aldermen approval, Young shared a message to department heads. “Be sure to pass along to your employees that we are looking at that,” Young said. “If we have someone ... Read More »

A Sparta woman sentenced five and half years for concealing resources intended to be provided to a Foreign Terrorist Organization. 37-year-old Georgianna Giampietro was indicted in 2019 on the charges. She pled guilty to the charges in January. According to court documents, an undercover agent approached Giampietro seeking information on joining a foreign. terrorist group. She provided the agent instructions ... Read More »

Putnam County Commissioner candidate Robert Owens has pulled out of the District 10 race happening next month. Owens said he decided to remove his name after accepting the director position for Boys State. “My wife and I had a conversation and said you’re going to have to choose between the two, and I felt like my reach and my impact ... Read More »

Flooding in Byrdstown lead to a partial building collapse early Thursday morning. Sheriff Dana Dowdy said damage still being assessed at the West Main Street commercial location. “We had a lot of flooding,” Dowdy said. “We had some flooding in town around the post office parking lot,” Dowdy said. “Had some trees down and had one building damaged. We had ... Read More »