Year two of the third-grade retention law has been a much smoother process for many parents and educators because of clearer expectations and more communication. That according to Jackson County Director of Schools Jason Hardy who said when the law was rolled out last year, it lacked clarity. He said when parents receive their students’ TCAP scores later this month, ... Read More »

Significant upgrades and new features are coming to Allardt’s Bruno Gernt Park thanks to community donations. Park Committee Member Rebecca Day said because the park is not owned by the city, it is ineligible for most grants. She said this makes funding difficult to come by. Day said thanks to the community stepping up, the park has new benches and ... Read More »

The Van Buren County School system will continue its summer meal program with help from an $8,800 No Kid Hungry Grant. Director of Schools Jared Copeland said stations will be set up throughout the county to provide daily lunches for students. He said the grant would go toward meal coolers, meal storage, and other meal service supplies. He said the ... Read More »

The Town of Gainesboro is looking to double its water withdrawal through the construction of a new water withdrawal intake structure and two raw water lines. The town is currently permitted to withdraw some 750,000 gallons per day and has requested a TDEC permit that would allow it to take some 1.5 million gallons daily. Consulting Engineer Nathaniel Green said ... Read More »

Celina has the legal right to stop property taxes under state law, but the move could pose additional challenges to funding a city’s programs, personnel, and general operations. That according to Tennessee Comptroller’s Office Director of Communications John Dunn. The Celina Board of Aldermen discussed its desire to eliminate the town’s property tax in its new fiscal year budget. Dunn ... Read More »

Putnam County Planning Commission got its first look Tuesday night at a 106-lot residential development planned just outside Baxter. Planning Director Kevin Rush said the 55-acre lot sits between Prosperity Point and Laffew Road, off Highway 70. He said rather than a septic system, developers plan to install a step system for decentralized sewer. He said developers will have to ... Read More »

Celina beginning a project to pave all its city streets with a $2 Million Rural Development Loan likely on the way. Some $300,000 in paving already underway. Celina Mayor Luke Collins said he hopes to secure the loan within three months and keep the project moving. Many of the roads in the city have not been paved in some 35 ... Read More »

Celina Mayor Luke Collins suggested discontinuing the city’s property tax as part of the budget for the 2024-2025 fiscal year. Collins told the Board of Aldermen Tuesday night the city’s property tax brings in some $200,000 annually. He said the current property tax is set at 87 cents. With a fund balance of $1.3 million, Collins said the city is ... Read More »

Overton County Commissioners voted against County Executive Steven Barlow’s proposed travel policy, expressing concern about both the procedures as well as how it was put together. Several commissioners expressed concern that Barlow had simply taken a state policy and put a new title sheet on it. Other commissioners claimed they still had not received numbers from mileage that Barlow submitted ... Read More »

Military veterans in Cookeville can submit work to the National Veterans Creative Arts Festival through a new, local creative arts chapter. Veteran and Retired Author John Koelsch said he brought the idea to the city last year after creating a similar chapter in Salem, Virginia 14 years ago. He said veterans will be able to submit works in art, drama, ... Read More »