McMinnville Public Works Department hoping to address issues in its downtown area through a new parking format. Director Frank Southard said there have been complaints of drivers going the wrong way up Spring Street near Main Street. He said part of the street is two-way because of the bank that has a drive-thru. To fix this, Southard said he came ... Read More »

Work on Baxter’s New Ditty Road project moving slower than originally anticipated, the process now delayed by about five months. Mayor John Martin said that T-DOT had been struggling with the right-of-way acquisition portion of the process to move forward to the next step. He said the acquisition of property goes Baxter Road across where the new Ditty Road will ... Read More »

Early voting begins in White County Wednesday for the proposed sales tax referendum. County Executive Denny Wayne Robinson said the election comes after the town of Sparta increased its sales tax rate from the state’s 9.25 percent to 9.75 percent several years ago, around 2019. He said the county’s sales tax is still set at 9.25 percent, which creates a ... Read More »

Pickett County Commission has approved a tentative budget calendar as it plans the next fiscal year. County Executive Stephen Bilbrey said the first step in the budget planning process has already been completed, with budget request letters sent out to department heads and elected officials. He said the first budget committee meeting will be at the end of April. “Of ... Read More »

Upper Cumberland Development District opening registration for a program series that seeks to add a new perspective to the stigma of substance abuse. Recovery2Work Employment Manager Mikel Miller said “Let’s Talk Stigma” came about through a partnership with the University of Rochester. He said the series is meant to be more of an immersive conversation than a simple lecture, utilizing ... Read More »

The State Court of Appeals has ordered a full restitution hearing for a former Fentress County finance department employee. Kellye Rhea Crabtree pled guilty in June 2021 on theft of property over $60,000 and two other charges. The incident involved Crabtree’s work in the finance department from 2014-2018 in which she allegedly stole more than $230,000. Crabtree appealed her 10-year ... Read More »

Cookeville Regional Medical Center Board of Trustees taking the next step on a software purchase for infection monitoring. COO Buffy Key said the software helps the infection prevention department and pharmacy regulate antibiotics more efficiently. She said in regulating the medicine, it helps staff to monitor infection identification, analysis, and reporting. “It makes sure that we are giving the proper ... Read More »

After not receiving bids on the first feasibility study, Pickett County Commission decided Tuesday night to rebid a study on upgrades at Dale Hollow Lake. The project includes work on the area near the Obey River Campgrounds as the site for the Bill Dance Signature Lakes program. County Executive Stephen Bilbrey said since the original bid, they are expecting at ... Read More »

A new possibility to bring more groceries and fresh produce opportunities to Celina will have a positive impact on food insecurity. A new Dollar General Market could be on the way to the community. Tennessee Tech Agriculture Professor Dennis Duncan said the Clay County population under the age of 18 has a food insecurity rate of about 20 percent. “Which ... Read More »

Tennessee Tech’s Rural Reimagined program awarding some $144,000 in grant for faculty research projects. Administrative Chair Michael Aikens said the 10 faculty projects range from mental health projects, drug abuse projects, engineering, and food insecurity. He said working with the faculty projects will help continue to expand Rural Reimagined’s presence in the 76 rural counties in the state. “A presence ... Read More »