A Sunday drag brunch on Cookeville’s West End filled the council chamber Thursday. Local pastors and residents complained about what they consider the adult nature of the show, its proximity to places where families can gather, and the interpreted inappropriateness of the show. Cookeville First Baptist Pastor Scott McKinney said he, along with other local and like-minded pastors, is concerned ... Read More »

Fentress County will no longer have a dump fee in place to dispose of waste materials at its transfer station County Executive Jimmy Johnson said the county had put a $50 per ton fee in place about two years ago. He said the fee became more trouble than it was worth, because it was not easily enforced and created disorder. ... Read More »

Cookeville City Council approved a rezoning for a 25-acre parcel located on Buck Mountain Road. The property at 2730 Buck Mountain Road can now be used for single-family detached dwellings, with a minimum lot size set at 10,000 square feet. At the public hearing for the rezoning Thursday night, South Dry Valley Road resident Ralph Mullins said the prospect of ... Read More »

Cookeville Leisure Services will showcase the Cane Creek Recreation Center’s many fitness opportunities through another year of “Fit Frenzy” sample classes. Special Program Coordinator Jen Webb said the department wanted to create an event for community members to sample all the various activities at the center. Webb said that Fit Frenzy features everything from meditation to strength training, to yoga, ... Read More »

Upper Cumberland School Districts seeing more success in keeping substitute teachers on their roster. Putnam County Schools Communication Director Hannah Davis said while they always need more, their concern about having enough have lessened as applications have increased. She said they attribute that to putting more effort into supporting current subs in hopes of learning how to attract and retain ... Read More »

White County High School in the process of upgrading its gym bleachers. Director of Schools Kurt Dronebarger said the school is looking to replace the chairs on the lower floor that is used as reserved seating. “We’ve had a lot of broken seats, we’ve been piecing them together and they’ve been there for many many years and we finally have ... Read More »

A body was found and identified in Center Hill Lake near the Hickey Boat Ramp in Putnam County Wednesday. Sheriff Eddie Farris said TWRA agents were on a training mission on the lake when they discovered the body of 40-year-old Spencer Harville floating in the water. He said upon the discovery, the agents immediately called the Putnam County Sheriff’s office. ... Read More »

Fentress County’s Best Friends Animal Sanctuary hopeful about their meeting with Fentress County Commissioners. President Sharon Cravens said in discussions with the county commission, they have tried to show how much of a benefit the shelter has been for the community. She said now that they plan on meeting one-on-one two weeks from now. She said she thinks the two ... Read More »

City of Cookeville will consider a sewer agreement with a local developer to upgrade sewer lines on Spring Street at Cedar Avenue. Water Quality Control Director Barry Turner said with the current lines, there is not enough capacity for a planned development at the site. “This sewer was installed in 1935, we actually rehabbed it in 1993 so it’s in ... Read More »

City of Cookeville continues to weigh its options in trying to find a new owner of the property at 545 Woodmont Circle. The city came to own it when a resident had issues with sewer lines. At its last meeting, the council voted to extend its real estate contract and drop the asking price to $280,000, but has since only ... Read More »