White County School System expects to have at least 35 trained individuals for threat assessment teams. Attendance Supervisor Bryan Haley also runs the system’s Schools Against Violence in Education (SAVE) Act Program.  Haley said once they heard that all schools would soon be required by state law to have threat assessment teams, they wanted to get the process underway. “But ... Read More »

Cookeville Water Department looking at the next steps for repairing the damaged chemical storage tank at the water treatment plant. The tank ruptured in April. Director Barry Turner said the 6,000-gallon tank held ferric chloride used at the water plant. “Age and deterioration on the tank, we turned it into the insurance company and they denied the claim,” Turner said. ... Read More »

Putnam County Sheriff’s Office is doing everything it can to try and prevent illicit substances from entering the jail. That after two overdose incidents over the last few weeks. In both cases, the drugs were hidden in a body cavity then shared with inmates. Sheriff Eddie Farris said it is not entirely possible to stop drugs from entering the facility. ... Read More »

The Putnam County Sheriff’s Department has hired two-thirds of its needed staff for the new Jail Facility just a few weeks into its recruitment efforts. Sheriff Eddie Farris said they have hired 20 new employees out of 60, with a goal of hiring 30 by October. He said he attributes the success to the efforts of everyone in his department ... Read More »

Algood Police Department wanting to the public to start taking in what is called the “9 p.m. Routine.” Chief Dale Armour said the goal is to get people in the habit of locking up their cars and homes at night and making sure valuables are secured. He said there have been a few car break-ins in the area recently, and ... Read More »

Starting Monday morning, Robert Matthews Highway will be closed at the Post Oak Bridge area for nine months. Highway Superintendant Jerry Sawyer said the bridge is one of two on that road. He said it starting to deteriorate and needs to be replaced. “When you drive by right now you can look and see the side rails of the bridge ... Read More »

Cookeville Police Department moving forward with a grant opportunity for law enforcement hiring, training, and recruitment Chief Randy Evans said the opportunity came through the state Department of Commerce and Insurance. He said it is designed to aid local law enforcement agencies in their efforts to build up their police force through hiring and retention bonuses. “It is primarily aimed ... Read More »

Sparta Board of Aldermen denied bids for police department vehicles Thursday in hopes of finding more affordable cars. Police Chief Nick Dunn said the most recent solicitation of bids yielded ones that were more expensive than desired. He said they originally solicited bids specifically from dealerships. “For the dealerships, those are what I anticipate are way higher than what the ... Read More »

Overton County starting the process to make improvements to its Rickman Convenience Center. Commission Chair Darwin Clark said money has been made available from TDEC to change the layout for drop-off. However, he said the county will require approval before any updates can be made. “For example in Rickman, we’ve got a car that you drive up on like without ... Read More »

High schools throughout The Upper Cumberland are gearing up for the first week of Friday night football this season.  Warren County Athletic Director Phillip King said the team has been preparing their stadium for weeks. King said while planning out an event that hosts so many people, it pays to be extremely detail-oriented.  “You know, there’s been a lot of ... Read More »