This week marks the last few days to pay property taxes. Overton County Trustee Peggy Clark Smith said that with the deadline on Monday, this is a very busy time for her office. She said that out of $8 million due, about one-fourth of that is still unpaid. “It is broken down by the county tax rate which is set ... Read More »

Fentress County Commission, E-911, and the Fentress County Board of Education are forming a partnership to upgrade the county’s radio towers. County Executive Jimmy Johnson said that it’s been about 25 years since the last update to the whole system. He said that with all of the mountains and valleys in the county, it’s created issues for open communication. “So ... Read More »

Cookeville Regional Medical Center has the opportunity to expand its sports medicine program. Director of Therapy Services Shona Davis-Smith said that leasing space at a sports rehab facility in Willow Tree Shopping Center will help with the program’s rapid growth, particularly in the pediatric department. The hospital took over providing physical trainers for the athletics departments at Putnam County high ... Read More »

Cookeville Regional seeing some of the lowest COVID patient numbers in weeks. As of Tuesday morning, the hospital had some 31 patients in its facility. CEO Paul Korth said that he attributes this to the omicron variant running its course. “We’re hoping that we’re starting to trend down,” Korth said. “I’ve been in contact with hospitals throughout the state from ... Read More »

Tennessee Quit Week serves to remind people of the negative effects tobacco use can have both on the economy and on one’s health. Power of Putnam’s John Rust said that risk factors from consistent tobacco use can range from heart disease to stroke, to cancer. “There’s going to be a number of days that are lost to their lives that ... Read More »

Cookeville police are trying to reinforce the importance of the hands-free law through extra patrols targeting those violating the law. Traffic Captain Jeff Johnson said that the department saw a 17.8 percent increase in traffic crashes last year. Johnson said that cell phone use one of the top causes. “It’s a habit that people have to break as far as ... Read More »

The Overton County Fair Board is currently seeking bids to upgrade their food booths. Vice President Rithia Winningham said that in addition to updating it, the work will also beautify their fair. “I think it will improve them quite a bit,” Winningham said. “There won’t be as much to clean up when we do our fair things like that will ... Read More »

Conflict between Russia and Ukraine appears imminent, but it’s not too late to avoid it. That’s according to Tennessee Tech Sociology and Political Science Professor Dr. Michael Gunter. He said that he believes that the conflict will not be marked by some full-scale invasion, but rather by a slow takeover. “It would be something infiltration, occupying part of the country, ... Read More »

Putnam County Schools are working to ensure high school students in the 21st-century program don’t fall behind over spring break. Extended Learning Program Coordinator Brenda Hughett said the federally-funded program helps the bottom 25 percent of students who are economically disadvantaged.  She said that the spring break intercession days help those students who are failing or at risk of failing. ... Read More »

The 2022 U.S. Kayak Open and accompanying events will not be coming to Cookeville this spring.. Participants concerned about the pandemic indicated that the event would see much lower participation. U.S. Angling in partnership Cookeville-Putnam County Chamber of Commerce have decided to postpone the event to 2023. “More than anything, we want this event to be a huge success for ... Read More »