Putnam County Chamber of Commerce saw a record-breaking year when it comes to growth in 2022. President and CEO Amy New said the average year will see about 50 ribbon cuttings. She said this year, the chamber celebrated over 75. “I really credit that to the number of people moving to the area,” New said. “People who throughout COVID decided ... Read More »

With 2023 just around the corner, many are making their New Year’s Resolutions. Dr. Derrick Edwards is an associate professor of psychology at Tennessee Tech and a licensed counselor. He said when it comes to planning resolutions, one should do it the SMART way. SMART stands for Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-Bound. “What I would want people to hear ... Read More »

Baxter Fire Department moving forward with two grants that will help the department’s operations. Chief Matthew White said one grant is for some $5,000 through Twin Lakes. “For purchasing an air pack, and SCBA for us to wear,” White said. “We have one that’s currently down and we need to put that back into service.” White said the department also ... Read More »

With New Year’s Eve festivities this weekend, many will be stocking up on their favorite bubbly. John Armstrong is the Director of Hospitality for DelMonaco Winery. He said when it comes to picking the right bottle, it depends on what your preference is. “Try to get a Brut of some sort is what I would say,” Armstrong said. “And then ... Read More »

Warren County General Sessions Court will see changes starting in the new year. Judge Ryan J. Moore said they are implementing three changes in hopes of making dockets more efficient both from the court’s side and the participants’ sides. “Starting court daily at 8:30 a.m,” Moore said. “And on criminal and traffic days we want to get the people who ... Read More »

Drunk driving is even more of a concern this year with New Year’s celebrations expected to occur on Friday, Saturday, and even Sunday nights. McMinnville Police Department’s Mark Mara said that in order to keep everyone safe, it’s important to plan ahead with your celebrations. “It’s discouraging because it doesn’t matter if they’re caught by us,” Mara said. “But if ... Read More »

Good news in Jackson County as water is slowly being restored after portions of the county have been without running water since Sunday night. County Mayor Randy Heady said that about 400 individuals or less are still awaiting water compared to Wednesday’s 1,000. He said the areas still mostly affected include the Bagdad area in the county. “The Jackson County ... Read More »

City of Algood has updated its building permit code to change extension fees. Building Inspector Bob Lane said the permits have a six-month life. He said when builders were coming in to renew the permit, they faced a charge of half the original application fee. “We felt like that was too hard on the contractors and the homeowners,” Lane said. ... Read More »

A fire last night on Cookeville’s Montgomery Avenue caused significant damage to a vacant duplex. Fire Chief Benton Young said crews responded to the call within four minutes just before midnight. “When they arrived on scene they encountered heavy fire and heavy smoke,” Young said. “They had it under control in about 25 minutes or so.” Young said crews were ... Read More »

The presents are gone and the ornaments are up, but what should you do with that live Christmas tree? As opposed to sending it to a landfill, Van Buren County Ag Extension Director Chris Binkley said the tree can has many more environmentally conscious uses. “They make some awesome wildlife habitats and some fishery habitats,” Binkley said. “And even at ... Read More »