Fall Creek Falls State Park continuing clean-up efforts after straight-line winds and severe storms knocked down more than 1,000 trees and 25 power poles. Park Manager Sarah Leedy said at this time most sites are open including the Visitor’s Center, the Nature Center, campsites and a few trails. She said they expect the Scenic Loop and the overlook to be ... Read More »

City of Sparta will move forward with camera work on its sewer system utilizing part of the $500,000 CDBG grant. The Board of Aldermen approved a low bid for the work at its meeting Thursday night. Public Works Director Dillard Quick said the current project will cover approximately 32,000 feet of sewer. “So the contractor will come in, TV everything, ... Read More »

Dodson Branch Schools’ Faith Henshaw appointed to the state’s Developmental Disability Council. Henshaw said the council works to connect those with developmental disabilities and their families to needed services. Henshaw said it is an honor to be appointed. “I hope to get better services and programs and just knowledge to people that are living in rural areas like I do,” ... Read More »

Baxter Alderman Willie Allison would like the city to explore having two police officers on overnight shifts instead of one. Allison said it is a concern to him as someone with law enforcement experience, as a Baxter resident, and as a board of aldermen member. He said if surrounding cities and towns can have multiple officers on an overnight shift ... Read More »

The Tennessee Comptroller’s Office pleased with Van Buren County’s progress, taking them off of the heightened supervision list. Comptroller Communications Director John Dunn said Van Buren originally went under heightened supervision in 2020 when concerns arose about the county’s spending. He said it appeared that the county was letting its cash reserves fall to a risky level and had failed ... Read More »

A Putnam County Sheriff’s Department traffic stop Thursday led to the arrest of Angie Iwanyszyn on drug charges. Iwanyszyn was pulled over for a lane violation on Cookeville Boatdock Road in Baxter, where K9 Rocky alerted the deputies of an issue with the vehicle. A subsequent search of the vehicle resulted in multiple individually packaged baggies with a crystal substance ... Read More »

Cookeville City Council expected to approve the low bid for a new Dogwood Park Christmas Tree. The city’s current tree was originally bought for the annual lighting celebration around eight years ago. Leisure Services Director Rick Woods said each year the department will cover the fountain with an artificial tower tree for the celebration, but the city’s current tree needs ... Read More »

The Upper Cumberland Development District Executive Committee will pursue legal action for a delinquent loan payment. At Wednesday’s meeting, Attorney Danny Rader said they have already sued Shane Woodward with Lone Wolf Transport and received judgment against him for $27,000. Rader said that is more than the actual loan itself, which came from disaster loan funds for businesses that have ... Read More »

Byrdstown will move forward with its water meter replacement project after bidding out the radio system and installation. Mayor Sam Gibson said 2,900 meters will be replaced across its system. He said local technician Stacy Moody was awarded the bid to replace all the meters. “It’s going to be wonderful to have those in and it will make life easier ... Read More »

Livingston Police updating its policy regarding the use of body cameras by law enforcement. Police Chief Ray Smith said that the policy update was suggested by the city of Livingston’s insurance provider, Public Entity Partners. The update was specifically raised regarding the insurance company’s concerns of risk management. “We got to looking at our body cams through the risk management ... Read More »