Educating students about where and how they park along 8th Street in Cookeville could alleviate parking problems in that area. Cookeville Police Captain Bobby Anderson said he does not believe aggressive ticketing is the answer to the lingering issue. Instead, he said education could be the key. “I don’t know if aggressive enforcement is the word that we would choose ... Read More »

The Director of Communications for the Tennessee Comptroller said the office is pleased at the progress Van Buren County has made to balance its budget. John Dunn said the Comptroller’s office has followed the budget process closely. He said he hopes the full County Commission will implement the decisions of the Budget Committee. “I have to say our office is ... Read More »

The Van Buren County Budget Committee will propose a $40 Wheel Tax be placed on the November ballot. Committee Chairman William Maxwell said the tax will bring in needed funds for schools and will help generate more money for the county’s general fund. He said the revenues would be split evenly between the School Board and county. “The School System ... Read More »

Work is well underway on a new HVAC system at Cookeville City Hall. Cookeville City Manager James Mills said the project began June 22 and has gone well to this point. He said disruptions to city business has been minimal. “It varies from day-to-day,” Mills said. “I think noise would be the biggest disruption. Although, we may have people who ... Read More »

The leaders of the Van Buren County Budget Committee say a property tax increase is necessary to balance the county’s budget. Committee Chairman William Maxwell said the County Commission has put off fixing its financial issues until now. He said the proposed 45-cent tax increase will help balance the county’s budget. “We have come to a point where we can no ... Read More »

Creating new parking spaces could be a potential solution to alleviate parking problems along Cookeville’s 8th Street. Public Works Director Greg Brown said the decision to create new spaces lays with the City Manager. He said after that the question becomes the perpetual upkeep of the lines. “After you paint them or you use thermoplastic or tape,” Brown said, “eventually ... Read More »

The continued shutdown of Upper Cumberland Senior Centers has cut into fundraising efforts. Director Alice Kirby of the Fentress County Senior Center said fundraisers help her center with the cost of special events. “It’s a small part of helping us do some activities such as taking trips or maybe having an ice cream social,” Kirby said. “Just different things. We ... Read More »

Mealtime will look different for students as they return to school in Putnam County. School Nutrition Fund Accountant Stacy Bradford said that although changes are coming to the daily meals, those changes will look different at each school. “Lunches and breakfast will look a lot different this year,” Bradford said. “It is on a school-by-school basis based on the principal’s ... Read More »

The Americans with Disabilities Act turned 30 this month. President George H.W. Bush signed the bill into law on July 26, 1990. Holly Williams is the Director of Area Agency on Aging and Disability with the UCDD. She said the law has been a game changer. “The impact that the Americans with Disabilities Act has had,” Williams said, “has made ... Read More »

The Van Buren County Budget Committee will propose a property tax increase. Budget Committee chairman William Maxwell announced the decision without providing the total increase following Monday’s budget work session. “I know nobody likes a tax increase,” Maxwell said. “But we must pay for what we have. If we’re not willing to pay for the services we have, we must ... Read More »