Fire crews were on scene for nearly five hours early Sunday morning as a residential home was completely lost on Calfkiller Highway. Putnam County Fire Captain Coty Nash said they received the call at 3:30 AM and responded to a single-story home near the White County line. Nash said it was being paged in as a kitchen fire. “By the ... Read More »

WCTE one of just two stations that will be a part of CBS Sunday Morning’s story on the 50th anniversary of PBS Sunday. WCTE CEO Becky Magura said when they taped with CBS in August she did not know when it would air until this week. Now, Magura said a national audience will see first hand why public broadcasting is ... Read More »

Crossville’s Plateau Women’s Chorus has commissioned an original piece of music for their return to performing. Chorus Director Dana Beal said they will not return to the stage until Fall of 2021, but it gives the chorus time to work out the kinks. Beal said this composition is being composed by internationally renowned composer Heather Sorenson. Beal said Sorenson suggested ... Read More »

Baxter Mayor John Martin said the city “could have had a serious situation” this week as its salt spreader is “terminal.” “We’re in the market to get another one, but this snow that we had the other day, just kind of got our attention,” Martin said. “We wanted to make sure that we has something that could take care of ... Read More »

Putnam County has approval from TDEC for plans to add soccer and lacrosse fields and a new entrance to the county’s sports complex. Parks and Recreation Director John Ross Albertson said the county will start creating its bid packet and send it out by the start of January. Albertson said after waiting over two years to get the project started, ... Read More »

Tennessee Tech students and faculty are generally happy with how fall classes have gone during the COVID pandemic. That’s from a set of Tech surveys and focus groups conducted over the last several weeks. Provost Lori Bruce said the school addressed classes, resources and communication. Among the feedback, students miss the interaction with peers. “That natural congregating isn’t happening as ... Read More »

White County Executive Denny Wayne Robinson was one of four Tennesseans selected to take part in the Appalachian Leadership Institute’s inaugural class. Robinson said this class of 40 leaders took part in problem solving simulations like a large plant closure and tornado response. Robinson said his biggest takeaway from the class is the connections he made with other leaders across ... Read More »

The Highlands Economic Partnership is looking to connect with minority owned businesses in the area to improve representation both internally and in the community. Communications Director Allison Boshears said representing minority groups is something they want to improve at. While also reassessing the way Putnam county is marketed. Boshears said the goal is creating an Inclusion Council and getting them ... Read More »

Portable heaters can be a convenient way to heat a home but can be a fire hazard when used improperly. Overton County Fire Chief Rocky Dial said the most common mistake he sees on responding calls are people using a cheap extension cord to power their portable heater. Dial said these heaters are safe if someone knows how to use ... Read More »

Tennessee Tech will help students feeling financial pressure from the pandemic, by waiving online and off-site fees for most courses in the Spring 2021 semester. Academic Affairs Provost and Vice President Lori Mann Bruce said the exception will be for students in online only programs. She said students knew before hand that the classes would only be available in that ... Read More »