The city of Baxter celebrated paying off the cost of the Depot with a note burning. Friends of the Depot Member Jeannie Lee said the $400,000 project was covered mostly by a grant from TDOT. She said that the Friends were responsible for 20 percent of the cost at some $80,000. “We’ve had a lot of dinners and fish fry’s ... Read More »

Warren County High School is in the process of finding a new Executive Principal. This, after current Principal Clark George moved into a role at the central office as the new 9th-12th Grade Instructional Supervisor. Director of Schools Grant Swallows said while change can be hard, “Always at the end of the school year we take lots of different things ... Read More »

Employee raises the focus for the DeKalb County School System’s new budget. Director of Schools Patrick Cripps said that while the raises might not be as large as last year’s, they wanted to do something to make sure their employees were taken care of. The budget includes a proposed $2,000 increase for certified personnel and $1,000 increase for non-certified personnel. ... Read More »

Roof replacement at the Leslie Town Center is now complete. Cookeville-Putnam County Chamber of Commerce President/CEO Amy New said that after bids went out this spring, the replacement process took just a week. “It was in pretty bad shape, we had lots of rippling throughout and a couple of small leaks that could have gotten larger had we not gone ... Read More »

Three full-time firefighters the biggest change in Baxter’s 2023 fiscal year budget. The proposed total expenditures are set at some $2.8 million, a $1.1 million increase from 2022’s estimate. Fire Chief Matthew White: “Council decided earlier in the year that this would be one of their top priorities to do,” White said.  “Our call volume has increased over the last ... Read More »

Clay County is working to revamp its Clay County Cultural and Performing Arts Center movement after COVID. Courthouse Curator Thomas Watson said that what started as an Arts Commission grant for a marble museum has turned into a greater project to highlight the culture and heritage of Clay County. “We have thousands and thousands of vehicles that come through Celina ... Read More »

Upper Cumberland Pride celebrating its tenth anniversary this Saturday with its Upper Cumberland Pride festival at Dogwood Park. President Billy George said that UC Pride is an organization that works to connect LGBTQ+ youth with resources or community links they might need. He said that they are excited to celebrate this year’s theme, “True Colors, True You.” “Celebration is always ... Read More »

Clay County School approved a bid to repaint the Hermitage Springs Gym. Athletic Director Rob Edwards said that they received three bids. He said that some of the bids varied based on whether the original paint of the gym was latex or oil-based. “Whether it was oil or latex on the walls, he thought it was latex, he said regardless ... Read More »

Upper Cumberland School leaders say that the annual Fall Creek Falls Leadership Conference was a major success. School Directors, Central Office Staff, and School Principals heard from state officials about the new funding formula, CTE updates and other topics. Clay Director of Schools Diana Monroe said that as a new director, she plans to take the information and use it ... Read More »

An ongoing TBI investigation has resulted in the indictment and arrest of nine Upper Cumberland individuals for various drug-related charges. “Operation Ice Pick” began in February 2021 with agents and partnering agencies investigating a Middle Tennessee drug trafficking ring selling methamphetamine in the Upper Cumberland. On Wednesday, the DeKalb County Grand Jury returned indictments. Over the past two days, those ... Read More »