One victim from a fire at S. Jefferson Avenue’s Best Western Hotel Sunday evening according to Cookeville Fire Department. Chief Benton Young said the police department was the first to arrive on the scene. He said responders encountered an upstairs room with heavy smoke coming from it. Young said they pulled one victim from the room. Young said Cookeville Fire ... Read More »

Looking to save on your family’s Easter Dinner? UT Extension offers advice to save money on your family’s grocery budget in the face of rising costs. Family and Consumer Science Agent Paula May said the first thing you have to do to save money is to have a budget. “Then we need to know what we have in our refrigerators ... Read More »

New Executive Director for Pacesetters returns to his first interest, helping individuals with intellectual disabilities to live better lives. Larry Rector spent much of his life serving individuals with mental disabilities as a psychiatric technician. Even after graduating from Tennessee Tech with an accounting degree he used his non-work hours to serve as a direct support professional for people with ... Read More »

Cookeville’s DeBerry Heights Pump Station project running into delays due to difficulty getting parts. Water Quality Control Director Barry Turner said work has been ongoing trying to replace the existing pump station. He said the work will improve safety conditions and capacity at the pump station. “The contractor’s been delayed, he’s been having difficulty getting the parts he needs and ... Read More »

City of Livingston received T-DOT approval for its East Main Street sidewalk repair project designs. Consultant Ray Evans said the project was made possible through a T-DOT multimodal access grant. He said the project will reconstruct all the sidewalks on East Main Street and East Broad Street stretching from the courthouse to the Chamber of Commerce. “We’re in the process ... Read More »

Putnam County Director of Schools Corby King said he is appreciative of additional funding from the state to address security needs. Thursday the House passed a bill that would require things like locking the doors while students are present and conducting safety drills. King said he does not necessarily agree with the use of armed guards for the Putnam County ... Read More »

Monterey hoping to start construction on its Whitaker Park upgrades this summer. Cultural Administrator Rafferty Cleary said the town is using some remaining ARP funds to hopefully get some new playground equipment. He said currently, the park has a lot of equipment that has been at the park since the 80s. “They’re unsafe, some of them don’t even work anymore ... Read More »

City of Baxter voted to hire Driving Trainer James Smith to launch its own entry-level commercial driver training. Council member Dustin Stanton said the training program includes books and online materials along with Smith providing hands-on training. Stanton said the alternative is costly in more ways than one. “You have to send these guys to a $5,000 to $5,500 school ... Read More »

Gainesboro Board of Aldermen will consider exploring increasing pay rates for its police department in the upcoming budget season. Alderwoman Nancy Pruett said the city of Gainesboro has the lowest starting salary of all the surrounding cities of comparable size. She said the starting salary for an officer is $13.50 an hour. “All these other towns, they take home their ... Read More »

The final plat for a subdivision at the DeKalb County Line moving forward despite concerns about required fire hydrants not being in place yet. The commission approved the plat provided that a $50,000 letter of credit will bond the developers to install fire hydrants. Engineer Patrick Rinks said he worried about what kind of precedent this would set. “My experience ... Read More »