Baxter’s Portobello utility extension project has come in under budget by some $350,000. City Engineer Tom Bennett said that is a rarity in the realm of municipal construction projects. He said that is especially true given the conditions of the marketplace right now. “We’ve had good contractors and everything’s just gone as planned we haven’t had a lot of issues ... Read More »

City of Cookeville budgeting $200,000 to redo its current recycling building at the corner of Stevens Street and Lowe Avenue. City Manager James Mills said that it is one of the main recycling locations in the city and there is a need to beautify it. He said they would like to get the project out for construction sometime early next ... Read More »

Byrdstown has launched its new website that will allow water customers to pay bills online. Mayor Sam Gibson said Byrdstown Water dot Com was established in the hope of making bill payments more convenient both for the customer and its employees. “It’s gonna make life a lot easier for people, especially if you want to short notice get online, and ... Read More »

A new bookkeeper for Overton County Government will hopefully ease the burden of work. County Executive Steven Barlow said the county was in desperate need of the assistance. He said the county had been operating in this way for several years, and it was time to make a change. “The ladies that work in this office, they work nights and ... Read More »

Senator Paul Bailey awarded Friend of the Fair in Putnam County, only the second time the award has been given. Fair Board President John Allen said the award began 14 years ago. He said Bailey aids the fair every single year by providing the large trailer that keeps the fair’s $25,000 worth of beverages cool. Bailey was recognized at the ... Read More »

Baxter firefighters had to be treated for heat-related illness while on the scene of a fire for more than three hours Wednesday night. Chief Matthew White said they received the call around 8 p.m. to respond to a residential fire at 144 Chestnut Street. He said when they arrived on the scene there was heavy smoke coming from both the ... Read More »

Tennessee Tech’s campus police force has started the process to become accredited. Director of News and Public Relations Jonathan Frank said that means the police department is working to align its procedures and operations with the standards set by the Tennessee Association of Chiefs of Police. He said the university police is already professional and outstanding, so the force thought ... Read More »

Cookeville Police Department planning to have a permanent place for public feedback on department policies and operations. Sergeant Logan Shrum said this comes as part of new accreditation requirements for community review by the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA), the department’s accreditation agency. He said the comments made by the public will go directly to that commission ... Read More »

Cookeville City Council members are gathering information as they begin to prioritize capital projects and create a long-term plan. Mayor Laurin Wheaton said the council would like to have a work session to discuss these plans in more detail. She said they plan to use input from department heads, city officials and community wants to inform their next steps. “Each ... Read More »

Crossville Fire Department could move forward to purchase property and relocate Fire Station 2. Chief Chris South said the city attorney gave him the approval to take the next steps to purchase the property located off Interstate Drive. At a previous meeting, council noted concerns with a natural gas well on the site. “Randy said that as long as we’ll ... Read More »