Rock Island one of 39 state parks across Tennessee participating in Tennesse Promise Saturday on June 25th. Park Ranger Ethan Greene said that the event occurs annually as a way to help Tennessee Promise scholars get last-minute volunteer hours. He said that the service work varies at each state park, and Rock Island State Park will focus on removing an ... Read More »

Applications are now open for Tennessee Highway Patrol’s Citizens Academy. Sergeant Bill Fitzgerald said that the seven-week course will cover everything from patrol stops to trending state issues from Homeland Security. “So citizens of that area of the community get to know and see and learn,” Fitzgerald said. “And be educated about things that we do more than just writing ... Read More »

Cookeville set to expand Cane Creek Park by another 10 acres. City Council approved the purchase of the property at its meeting Thursday night. Leisure Services Director Rick Woods said that the property will bring the total expansion of Cane Creek Park to almost 42 acres in just two years. “This will be used primarily for green area, green space, ... Read More »

TVA and Upper Cumberland Electric Membership Corporation asking residents to be mindful of energy use during the heat wave. UCEMC CEO and General Manager Jennifer Brogdon said that the ask is not common, but not unusual. She said that when it’s as hot as this, residential and commercial buildings all crank up their AC creating an unusually large power demand. ... Read More »

Baxter officials met with contractors and Portobello officials to discuss Ditty Road’s planned closure starting Tuesday, June 20th. Mayor John Martin said that the road will be closed as they extend water and sewer to Portobello’s new facility. “We’re going to close Ditty Road to all local traffic,” Martin said. “But we’re going to leave it open to the large ... Read More »

Putnam County Sheriff Eddie Farris joined state officials Thursday for the honorary signing of the Truth in Sentencing Bill. Farris said that the bill strengthens sentencing for violent crime offenders. He said that though the bill was signed into legislature this April, this honorary signing shows support from other state officials and law enforcement officials. “Really what this bill is ... Read More »

Cookeville City Council approved the purchase of the property that currently houses the Country Bumpkin at the corner of Willow Avenue and W. Stevens Street. City Manager James Mills said that the property purchase is part of a larger plan to install a center turn lane where Stevens intersects with Willow Avenue. “The survey indicates that the structure already extends ... Read More »

Putnam County firefighters were on the scene of a house fire Thursday night for almost four hours. Chief Tom Brown said that a neighbor called in a fire on Walking Horse Lane around 9:30 p.m. He said that when firefighters arrived on scene the fire was heavy on the front of the house and present in the attic and lower ... Read More »

Sparta will change the location of this Friday’s Bluegrass on the Square event. The city said that they will move to the Civic Center due to extreme heat. The bands set to perform are the Bilbrey’s and the Hot Biscuitz. Read More »

One person has died as a result of a Thursday morning Highway 70 accident near Hillwood Street in rural Putnam County. 27-year-old Johnny Buckner Howard Jr. of Stilwell, Oklahoma was driving a 2018 Peterbilt and pulling a cattle trailer while negotiating a left curve. Howard’s vehicle crossed the center line where a passenger-side tire blew. The vehicle then went off ... Read More »