Cookeville City Council hoping to schedule a work session to identify long-term priorities to rank and allocate capital spending. City Manager James Mills said every budget year they try to identify capital projects they want to address in the coming year. He said there is a need to do a more long-term look at what the city needs to do, ... Read More »

As part of its strategic growth plan, Putnam County School System is updating its supplement plan for coaching staff pay. Director of Schools Corby King said the system wants to better compensate all of its employees, not just educators. He said in looking at recruitment and retention of faculty and staff they want the best for the students. “And coaching ... Read More »

City of McMinnville has a new service that allows residents to report non-emergency issues to city maintenance staff. Mayor Ryle Chastain said citizens can use the app to report things such as potholes, water/sewer, property maintenance, stormwater/flooding, garbage, animal control, and graffiti/vandalism. He said users can discover existing problems that have been reported, and even share scenic pictures from around ... Read More »

District Attorney Bryant Dunaway said an additional court judge will aid the workload. Dunaway said the state legislature introduced a bill that would grant several districts a new judge position. He said the bill creates a new criminal court judge for the 13th Judicial District, bringing the total number of trial judges to six. “This judge will handle and hear ... Read More »

Tennessee Tech students tend to be more career-focused during their education. That’s according to Provost Lori Bruce. She said students are serious about their studies but want to know what kind of career their degrees will get them. “Year over year we see that some of our top choices are mechanical engineer, computer science, exercise science because a lot of ... Read More »

Senator Marsha Blackburn says she believes a resolution will soon be reached in the nation’s debt limit crisis. Blackburn said there is always a resolution to this kind of situation and she has no doubt it will be worked out. She said most people feel like there will be some cuts and restraints in federal spending. “Permitting reforms might possibly ... Read More »

Some changes could be coming to the way the Cookeville City Council conducts its business. Mayor Laurin Wheaton said this comes as a result of two state legislation changes. She said one of those has to do with public comments during meetings, which they already allow at the end of the meeting or during public hearings. “But this legislation is ... Read More »

Now that the new Putnam County Veterans Services building is moved in and operating on Highway 70, what is next for the old building? Putnam County Veterans Organization leader Jimmie Loftis said right now, they are looking for additional rentals for some of the space left by the departure of the Veterans Services. “We hope to maintain it, keep it ... Read More »

Putnam County EMS closing out the end of National EMS Week, celebrating its personnel. Director Tommy Copeland they had spent the week eating meals together and giving out individual recognitions. He said it is important to honor the service of these crews, because the job is not easy. “We do things, go places, go through events, see things that honestly ... Read More »

Cookeville Regional Interim CEO Buffy Key said she feels encouraged by Senator Marsha Blackburn’s recent visit. Key said she was proud that the Putnam County area had so much representation at the meeting, including several from the hospital. Key said Blackburn has done a great deal to try and bolster rural health opportunities. “I think the wage index that they’re ... Read More »