A new state law will require the Putnam County Sheriff’s Department to spend additional money for inmates that participate with the county’s work crews. Sheriff Eddie Farris said starting January 1st, any prisoners that leave the jail for work-related programs will have to have ankle monitors or be accompanied by an armed deputy. Farris said they will implement the monitoring ... Read More »

Cane Creek Park paving not including in Cookeville Leisure Services budget for the coming year. Director Rick Woods said the department has made great strides so far in paving parts of the park. He said there is still a portion left on the upper trail on the south side of the lake and other areas that connect to the parking ... Read More »

The Cookeville Industrial Board continues to monitor SAIC’s progress after extending its job compliance agreement with the city. Chairman Bob Bell said the arrangement to have 300 technical employees by last year was made difficult by the pandemic. The extension was set to end this month, but Bell said the company had been working diligently to meet that goal. “The ... Read More »

City of Cookeville finally moving forward with its advanced metering infrastructure project. The council approved an agreement at its meeting Thursday night. Electric Department Director Carl Haney said the system will have many benefits for both the citizens and the city. “Some of the advantages are the automatic reading of the meters, being able to remotely turn on and off ... Read More »

White County School System’s new fiscal year budget has a focus on updating teacher and staff salaries. School Director Kurt Dronebarger said they have revamped the entire salary process for both teachers and staff. He said they have also proposed updating the salary schedules. “We’re excited to not only offer raises but also longevity so our employees can look and ... Read More »

Fentress County received state approval Friday for some $5.2 million to address critical drinking water needs. County Executive Jimmy Johnson said the county serves as a conduit for the funds that will be dispersed to Jamestown, Allardt, and the utility district. He said projects include raw water intake rehabilitation and old waterline replacements by the utility district. “The city of ... Read More »

Housing, childcare, and infrastructure needs: those are the takeaways from Cumberland County’s annual Economic Strategy Session. Mayor Allen Foster said the county meets with economic development partners each year with the Upper Cumberland Development District. He said he specifically wants to hone in on infrastructure improvements for this term and get the county to where it needs to be. “We’ve ... Read More »

Cookeville will apply for a grant to fund the next phase of the Spring Street Sidewalk project, but not without apprehension from some city council members. The long-desired project has experienced almost ten years of delays due to rising costs changing the scope of the project. Council Member Eric Walker said one of his frustrations with the project is that ... Read More »

Ben Lomand Connect CEO Greg Smartt has been named the Tennessee Broadband Association President. Smartt brings 39 years of industry knowledge to the position starting at Ben Lomand Telephone Cooperative in 1984. He became CEO in 2021. The Tennessee Broadband Association is comprised of independent and cooperatively owned companies like Ben Lomand Connect that provide almost 30 percent of the ... Read More »

City of Livingston expecting to increase water rates in the coming fiscal year. Mayor Curtis Hayes said as all utility districts have seen, costs of materials are continuing to rise. He said that goes for water lines, sewer lines, and chemicals. “So to make sure the city of Livingston is a business, and Livingston has a utility company so we ... Read More »