Cumberland County received a legislative appropriation of some $2 million to put towards repairs of its historic courthouse. House Speaker Cameron Sexton said he and State Senator Paul Bailey filed for a budget appropriation through the House and Senate. He said the funds will go towards repairs created by years of water damage. “We were hopeful we could get it ... Read More »

Cumberland County Commission has updated its personnel policy to include Juneteenth as an official county holiday. The policy also loosened the restriction on working from home so any county-wide elected official can grant that ability. Additionally, the new policy authorizes employees to begin participation in the retirement system upon hire instead of having to wait six months. The policy was ... Read More »

Putnam County Fire Department responded to a fire just outside of Baxter on Jack Lewis Road Tuesday morning. Chief Tom Brown said the Baxter Fire Department was the first to arrive on the scene at 5 a.m. He said the location of the fire did not have a specific address. “It was a single-wide trailer fully-involved,” Brown said. “Turns out ... Read More »

Overton County Budget Committee set to focus efforts on employee pay and benefits. County Executive Steven Barlow said he has specifically working on getting better benefits for county employees. He said he has been meeting with the state insurance commission to try and find a more affordable insurance program. “If the county tries to put more money, that even if ... Read More »

Baxter’s rural interchange improvement project has set a scheduled construction let date for spring of 2026. TDOT allocated some $22 million for work on the Exit 280 interchange last year. T-DOT Region 2 Community Relations Officer Rae Anne Bradley said the project is expected to improve the safety and modernization of I-40 at State Route 56. “A defined scope is ... Read More »

Algood Mayor invites local businesses to the inaugural meeting of Algood Business Association. Mayor Lisa Chapman-Fowler said the city would like to work with the association to develop plans that draw people into the business district. She said there are restaurants, a coffee shop and a couple of new businesses in that part of town. “People think Algood stops right ... Read More »

White County Commissioners set to discuss the transferal of the Mitchell’s Ford Bridge Kayak Access area. County Executive Denny Wayne Robinson said the almost two acres are right next to the Dog Cove Loop area. He said the county was able to upgrade the land and provide a picnic area and kayak access to the Caney Fork River. “So we’ll ... Read More »

A Cumberland County teen is now an indoor International Bowhunting Organization world champion. 14-year-old Trevor Thompson competed for the first time ever in this category in Louisville this past weekend. He said he first got into bowhunting when he was four years and eventually joined the Crab Orchard Elementary team in second grade. “I never really thought about bowhunting but ... Read More »

Troopers were on the scene of an I-40 tractor-trailer accident near mile-marker 289 around 4 a.m. Monday after a trailer lost control and rolled onto its side. According to a preliminary Tennessee Highway Patrol report, the driver of the tractor-trailer changed lanes, moving left, to allow a car to enter Interstate 40 from exit 288 on-ramp.  The tractor-trailer driver saw ... Read More »

Cookeville City Council will consider the purchase of additional vehicles for the fire department in the current fiscal year’s budget. Fire Chief Benton Young said he was able to find two Ford Explorer-type vehicles available within two weeks from a dealer in Georgia. Young said if the city does not purchase the vehicles now, the price is expected to increase ... Read More »