The recycling program will continue in Van Buren County. Despite a manufacturing company exploring the use of Van Buren County’s recycling center as a factory, Mayor Greg Wilson said it was never his intent to eliminate the program. “It will stay there, yes,” Wilson said. “We were going to make adjustments if need be. We said we’d make adjustments to ... Read More »

Overton County’s rising number of positive COVID tests is troubling, according to Health Department Director Andy Langford. “We’re now hovering around 9-percent on our positivity rate,” Langford said. “That means that almost 1-in-10 people we’re testing, ourselves, the hospital, local physicans, and testing sites. One way or the other, 1-in-10 are positive.” In addition to seeing a higher rate of ... Read More »

Overton County Health and Rehabilitation Center is changing its admission policy in order to combat COVID-19. Public Information Officer Scott Stephens said the stringent measures have been put in place to keep the center’s positive cases at zero. For a patient to be admitted, they will have to have a negative COVID test and go through a quarantine period. “We ... Read More »

The Director of the Cookeville Rescue Mission said it is common for more of the homeless population to take to the street in the summer. Bruce Bailey said the increased visibility of homeless persons has a lot to do with the season. He said the feeling of freedom appeals to the population. “I don’t know what they have,” Bailey said. ... Read More »

Livingston Academy teacher Mark Lee has been removed from his post at the school following allegations of sexual harassment. Overton County Director of Schools Mark Winningham announced the decision at Tuesday night’s school board meeting. He cited the number and nature of claims made against Lee in a written statement delivered to the Board of Education. “It has been determined ... Read More »

Jamestown’s Board of Aldermen voted to eliminate a budgeted raise for the aldermen and mayor. Mayor Lyndon Baines said the pay raises were folded into this year’s budget process. “There was a board member that came in and asked for me a raise and them a raise,” Baines said. “I didn’t know it until I got the copy of the ... Read More »

The City of Jamestown is moving to clean up condemned properties. Building Inspector Earl Sweat told the city council Monday night the city currently has 7 condemned properties. He said property owners have 30 days to clean up before the city moves in to perform any demolition work. “One resident asked me, and I said, if not, the city would ... Read More »

Volunteer State Community College will reopen its Cookeville and Livingston campuses July 20. Coordinator of Public Relations Eric Melcher said visitors will have to take precautions when coming to campus. “The big thing that folks will have to do if they come to campus is to, first of all, wear a face mask,” Melcher said. “We require that at all ... Read More »

Former Jackson County Clerk Amanda Stafford has been released from the Jackson County Jail to a drug rehabilitation facility. Assistant District Attorney Ian Bratton said Stafford was arrested for a probation violation on July 2 for a drug charge. “The violation basis, I believe, was prescription pill use,” Bratton said. “It was something she didn’t have a prescription for, though.” ... Read More »

Cookeville Regional Medical Center reported its sixth COVID-related death Monday. According to a release from the hospital, the patient passed away last week but positive test results were not received until today. The release also said the elderly patient had underlying health conditions in addition to the virus. CRMC currently has 21 COVID inpatients, with 6 of those in the ... Read More »