Clay County Commission approved its preliminary spending plan for federal American Rescue Plan funding Monday night. The spending plan includes allotting some of the county’s $3.1 million towards HVAC upgrades as well as parks and solid waste department needs. However, the plan isn’t set in stone. New Commissioner Winton Young said he’d like the county to consider putting funds towards ... Read More »

Cookeville Leisure Services Department celebrated its first official day in its new home at 10 East Broad Street. Director Rick Woods said the administrative team moved from the bottom floor of city hall to the bottom floor of the old police department headquarters. “It is very exciting, it’s a great opportunity to be closer to the park, on the same ... Read More »

A young Cookeville native is set to star in a new Peacock streaming show called “A Friend of the Family,” which airs on Thursday. 9-year-old Elle Lisic plays Susan, the sister of an Idaho girl abducted twice by a neighbor in the 1970s. The 9-episode series chronicles the true story of the events. Lisic said she got her start in ... Read More »

Tennessee Tech’s Geoclub team won two first-place awards at the 2022 GeoConclave this weekend. Lab Manager Philip Roberson said GeoConclave is an almost 40-year-long friendly competition for earth sciences and geology departments across the state. He said students take part in both academic and non-academic events, including rock identification and a rock hammer throw. “The students get to compare themselves ... Read More »

One person was airlifted with suspected serious injuries to Skyline Medical Center after a two-vehicle collision in Putnam County Sunday. 55-year-old Michael Dodson of Seguin-Guadalupe, Texas was traveling on State Route 56 when the vehicle of 69-year-old Reba W. Rodgers from Baxter turned into his path. Dodson’s motorcycle struck the front of Rodgers’ Ford Fusion at a front angle. Rodgers ... Read More »

McMinnville making plans to expand its rescue squad building. Safety Committee Chair Zach Sutton said the squad recently purchased a 15-year-old rescue truck that will be able to house all of the equipment necessary for their rescues. “They have to be able to get a lot of equipment to an area and that’s going to be the purpose of that ... Read More »

White Plains Academy set to get a new vocational program. Putnam County Schools Deputy Director Tim Martin said they wanted to expand program opportunities for students at the school through a new construction program. “It’s not going to be to the same level as what the other high schools have they’re not going to be building houses,” Martin said. “But ... Read More »

Clay County jail project taking the next step in a lengthy process. Sheriff Brandon Boone said all that’s needed to put the project out to bid is approval from the USDA, which they expect in the next week. He said their current goal is to put bids out this December. “It was a little delayed, the city is upgrading the ... Read More »

Major changes coming to Cookeville city employees’ health insurance after several expensive years, with the goal of having the city retain its self-funded insurance. Finance Director Brenda Imel said after speaking with advisors, it was strongly suggested the city do what it can to be self-funded, rather than go to companies like Cigna or Blue Cross Blue Shield. “If you ... Read More »

The United States is not officially in a recession until it’s called by the National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER). That’s according to Tennessee Tech College of Business Dean Thomas Payne. He said confusion comes from the textbook definition of recession, which states that recession occurs with two-quarters of negative economic growth. The past two quarters have seen a growth ... Read More »