Cookeville City Council approved an allocation of some $20,000 for Leadership Putnam’s sculpture honoring victims of the 2020 tornado. The sculpture’s committee had raised over $85,000 for the project, but an increase in the cost of materials required additional funds. The sculpture will be set at Dogwood Park. In other business, Council also approved an emergency repair for a water ... Read More »

Several Upper Cumberland Counties will see new leadership following Thursday’s election. Matt Adcock will serve as DeKalb County’s new County Mayor. He defeated challenger Mike Foster. Adcock said he calls the experience humbling. “I really think DeKalb County has some life-changing things here for our citizens, great opportunities we’re going to take,” Adcock said. “We’re considering building a new school, ... Read More »

Laurin Wheaton earned the most votes in the Cookeville City Council election, making her the prime candidate for the mayorship. Wheaton said that she was excited about the opportunity to take on the challenge. She said that Cookeville is in a great spot, and it’s not only because of her previous work on the council. “That is because of what ... Read More »

Incumbent sheriffs enjoyed success in the polls around the Upper Cumberland on Thursday. Van Buren County will be represented by new leadership with Michael Brock. Brock defeated Mark Evans, with Brock receiving 1,393 votes. Evans tallied 685 votes. Warren County’s incumbent Sheriff Tommy Myers lost to Jackie Matheny Jr. Matheny beat Myers by 87 votes. Marty Hinson in Jackson County ... Read More »

Monterey’s Incumbent Mayor Nathan Walker will remain in his position for the incoming term. Walker earned some 97 percent of the votes, just over three percent for write-ins. Ward 1 Incumbent Aldermen Alex Garcia and Ward 2 Jim Whittaker have earned 99 percent of the votes in their respective districts. Ward 4 Incumbent Bill Wiggins earned some 93 percent of ... Read More »

Overton County will move forward under new leadership with its new County Executive, Steven Barlow. Barlow defeated incumbent Ben Danner, getting some 52.2 percent of the votes compared to Danners’ 47.7. percent. Barlow said that he’s ready to get back to business as he takes over the helm. “It’s all about the people and what the people of Overton County ... Read More »

Livingston will engage in the services of attorney Danny Rader to help procure a counsel position for the city. This after Attorney John Meadows left the position last month. Rader said the best way to find a candidate is to advertise to the media and to the Tennessee Municipal Lawyers Association.  He said other communities also send out requests for ... Read More »

Business is slow at election commissions across the Upper Cumberland. Overton’s Administrator of Elections Craig Story said in talking to precincts throughout the day, turnout has been fairly light. “Typically what happens is we have a pretty good rush to start the day off with and then around lunchtime, we have another one and then when we people get off ... Read More »

WCTE’s Third Annual Downtown Film Festival returns with its celebration of storytelling later this month. WCTE President Avery Hutchins said the festival will host a variety of documentaries and short films from independent and local filmmakers. “We just find the importance in telling peoples’ stories, WCTE and PBS have been telling the stories of Upper Cumberland for 44 years,” Hutchins ... Read More »

Cookeville City Council will consider the first reading of an ordinance amending the sale of alcohol. City Clerk Darian Coons said the ordinance would sync up the start time of 10 a.m. for the sale of all alcoholic beverages on Sunday. “Back in 2019, the council opted back into the Sunday start time for the sale of alcoholic beverages,” Coons ... Read More »