Overton County Education Association President Jennifer Eilender said the just approved teacher salary increases are a long-time overdue. The state legislature approved Wednesday the largest teacher salary raise in state history. The required base pay for teachers would gradually increase to $50,000 by the 2026/2027 school year. “Tennessee Teachers are some of the hardest working teachers in the nation and ... Read More »

Tennessee Tech taking steps to comply with a new state law that prohibits the use of certain social media platforms on university devices and networks. News and Public Relations Director Jonathan Frank said Senate Bill 834 specifically prohibits using platforms operated or hosted by a company based in China. He said that includes social media like TikTok and WeChat. “I ... Read More »

A Sparta man has been arrested for a motel fire in Bloomington Springs last year. 22-year-old Jacob Steven Flatt was charged with one count of Aggravated Arson, one count of Vandalism, one count of Aggravated Burglary, one count of Theft, and 10 counts of Reckless Endangerment. Jackson County Central Volunteer Fire Department and the Jackson County Sheriff’s Department were joined ... Read More »

A Gainesboro man has been indicted on an arson charge for an August 2022 residential fire. A joint investigation by the TBI and Jackson County Sheriff’s Department found 53-year-old Jeffrey Todd Wilmothresponsible for setting a residence on Dodson Branch Highway on fire. Wilmoth was booked into the Jackson County Jail on a $100,000 bond. Read More »

Dry and windy weather has led state officials to issue a red-flag warning over concerns about outdoor burning. Baxter Fire Chief Matthew White said it is unusually dry, windy, and warmer than normal. He said they recommend avoiding any kind of outdoor burn until conditions improve. “te biggest danger is a small fire becoming a larger fire and not being ... Read More »

York Insitute students set to start raising pheasants and quail for a local hunting lodge. School Director John Bush said the owners of the Sawbriar Lodge were inspired by the revitalization of the institute’s agriculture program. He said they because they already buy pheasants and quail for hunting at the lodge, Frederick Moody thought it would be a good partnership ... Read More »

Cookeville slated to get a new VA Medical Facility to facilitate growth and provide more access to veterans in the Upper Cumberland. Putnam County Mayor Randy Porter said the federal Veterans Administration has been looking at this prospect for some time. He said they have been looking at six or seven locations for the 55,000-square-foot facility. “They look at leasing ... Read More »

Overton County has found a new Veterans Resource Officer in Roxanne Sidwell. Veterans Committee Chair Donna Savage said Sidwell is set to replace Chris Barlow who decided to step away from the job. Savage said Sidwell was selected out of four applicants. “We want the best for Verton County and she seems the best-qualified applicant for that job,” Savage said. ... Read More »

Clay County Sheriff’s Department asking for your help in finding a missing 24-year-old woman. Sheriff Brandon Boone said 24-year-old Tikela Nicole Pickerel is a 5’4″ white female with blonde hair and blue eyes. She was last seen Sunday evening in a leopard print shirt. “We feel like at this point she has left with someone, she met someone online,” Boone ... Read More »

White County Planning has added a new requirement for subdivisions planned to be off of state routes. UCDD Planner Tommy Lee said any time you build a house that has a driveway coming from state route it requires T-DOT approval. He said because it is already required by the state, this is something the county wanted to include in its ... Read More »