Cookeville Water Department wants the city council to approve a site suitability study for a wet weather storage facility. Director Ronnie Kelly said this is necessary to alleviate water levels after storms along the main line to the Wastewater Treatment Plant. “Water leaks into the sewage system and it fills up the pipe, and we’re trying to alleviate that surcharge ... Read More »

The White County Public Library is taking part in the national summer reading program titled “Tails and Tales,” where kids read books about fairy tales and books about animals. Director Cathy Farley said the program is designed to maintain students’ reading levels over the summer to make them better equipped for learning once school resumes in the fall. “In order ... Read More »

Cookeville City Council members want to think big when it comes to the next phase of the city’s parks and recreation facilities. Council Member Mark Miller said attracting visitors to the community should be the number one focus of the city’s ten-year recreation plan. Cookeville City Council members reviewed the recommendations of Nashville-based Kimley-Horn Monday afternoon. Mayor Ricky Shelton said ... Read More »

The first reading of the Cookeville Regional Medical Center budget will not be considered Thursday because of a council member absence. Council members went ahead with a work session Tuesday afternoon on the $345 million operating budget. Board of Trustees Chair Allen Ray said Cookeville Regional’s proposed budget means more than just dollars. “These surgeons and these doctors are doing ... Read More »

The city of Cookeville’s electricity is back fully after Friday’s storms. Director of Cookeville Electric Department Carl Haney said while there were minimal issues, a majority of the damage came from large fallen trees. “A lot of it touched down around South Willow Avenue, there were some trees down there that we went out and looked at,” Haney said. “It ... Read More »

Tennessee Tech and the College of Education are asking for assistance in providing nutritional food to their Freedom School students. The Elinor Ross Children’s Defense Fund Freedom School is a free, six-week literacy and cultural enrichment program for underprivileged students. Executive Director Janet Isbell said it’s an opportunity for students to see that learning can be fun and inspirational. “We ... Read More »

WCTE’s Great TV Auction will be held virtually for the second year in a row. Last year the auction went virtual because of the pandemic, but Event and Engagement Coordinator Samuel Gray said it went so well they decided to try it again this year. “We had less expenses last year when we had taken everything online and it just ... Read More »

The Cookeville History Museum has a new exhibit that allows visitors to get a glimpse of WWII “Through the Lens of a Cookeville Soldier,” Gaskell Warren. Warren was an avid photographer, and his grandson Curt Warren said he inherited hundreds of photographs, including those from his time as a soldier in WWII. “There’s just so much to it that happened ... Read More »

Experts say good weather and a good spring season has led to a great hay crop for the Upper Cumberland. Warren County Agricultural Extension Agent Heath Nokes said that most farmers he has spoken with is either already harvesting or just about to harvest their hay. “Turned up a little dry now, but we had a great spring and it ... Read More »

Putnam County Schools kick off its summer food service program on Tuesday. Nutrition Program Supervisor Jennifer Mitchell said the program provides both breakfast and lunch to any child under the age of 18. “Children do not have to be present for the meal to be picked up,” Mitchell said. “It’s helping to decrease interactions but also to help increase access ... Read More »