A makeshift heating method resulted in the total loss of a structure in Bloomington Springs Sunday morning. Putnam County Fire Chief Tom Brown said that the makeshift heating source came from a fire in a pan. He said that the double-wide trailer was fully involved by the time the team was dispatched. Brown said that the lone resident of the ... Read More »

A Cookeville non-profit is hoping to give visitors the chance to feel special for their big days. Sparkle Baby provides wedding gowns, formal dresses, accessories for an affordable price. Executive Director Kim Vondra said that she understands that beautiful gowns might be inaccessible for some because of price, but that every person should have the chance to sparkle. “Especially in ... Read More »

A good audit requires the work of a good team. That’s according to Chelsea Qualls, Putnam County’s Manager of Accounts and Budgets. Putnam County finished with just one finding in its 2021 audit. She said that audits serve to better both the county and its community. “Make sure we’re following our policies and procedures and doing things the right way,” ... Read More »

The American Legion Post 46 is hosting one of five constitutional oratorical contests in the state on Saturday morning. Post Member Richard Buford said that our region has the most high school students signed up for this year’s contest that he’s ever seen. “I think the word got out that this is a wonderful opportunity,” Buford said. “To learn very ... Read More »

A new fire tanker truck could be the focus for Jackson County’s potential CDBG application. Mayor Randy Heady said that after the public input meeting on Wednesday, that seemed to be the biggest need. He said that a volunteer fire department in the southwest part of the county doesn’t have one of its own and needs to borrow from other ... Read More »

Jackson County Schools will bid out work on the Gainesboro Elementary Gym Roof and work for part of the roof at Dodson’s Branch School. Director of Schools Kristy Brown said that money for the work has already been allocated through ESSER funds. “I will say I appreciate our maintenance coming in on our snow days,” Brown said. “They were up ... Read More »

Jackson County Schools are working on reaching a new agreement with TCAT Hartsville and Macon County Schools on the system’s dual enrollment program. Jackson County Schools Director Kristy Brown said her office was notified last month that the Hartsville campus would not be continuing its long-standing agreement due to rising costs.  “Basically the amount being paid from our schools hasn’t ... Read More »

The Cookeville Regional Board of Trustees approved the replacement of two surgical towers for the surgery center on Whitney Thursday night. CEO Paul Korth said that the equipment is the actual cameras and recording devices that a physician would use during an operation. He said that the current equipment is approximately seven years old. “This gets us up to what ... Read More »

Property owners in downtown Gainesboro’s historic district will have the opportunity to beautify their façades. Jackson County Chamber of Commerce Director Hope Vargas said that the subgrant program can fund new awnings, doors, or windows, among other things. “We are a historical district so anything that’s going to play into that history,” Vargas said. “And anything that really will just ... Read More »

A majority of Cookeville Fire Department’s calls are not fire responses, but medical responses. Captain Daniel Snyder said that over the last four years, medical response calls have increased from 57 percent to 65 percent. He said that he attributes that to manpower. “You know we have the same training as the EMS does,” Snyder said. “Sometimes they may be ... Read More »