The bid to rough in a new Putnam County fire station on Gainesboro Grade has been awarded. County Fire Chief Tom Brown said the price for this portion of work on the fire station came in at $41,000. Brown said there is still work to be done before the new station becomes operational. “The building will be closed in, we’ll ... Read More »

Emergency Services Appreciation Day in White County will give the community the chance to build relationships Friday. The July 30 event is being put on by American Legion Post 99 and the White County Anti-Drug Coalition. Post Commander Ron Lapierre said agencies from the local rescue squad to overdose prevention specialists will be in attendance at White County Middle School. ... Read More »

The battle for undergraduate admissions for Tennessee Tech and a school like Roane State has ended, with the priority shifting to a focus on the student. Tech Vice President for Enrollment Management and Career Placement Brandon Johnson said if a student’s best interest is the starting point, systems must be in place for students to transfer. Johnson said this mentality ... Read More »

The idea of spending COVID relief funding on pay raises and new hires have been discussed as ways to fill positions. However, County Government Consultant Ben Rodgers said American Rescue Plan and ESSER funding should address long-term goals, without reoccurring costs. Rodgers said the funding will not be there in a few years, bringing repercussions for trying to solve short-term ... Read More »

The national ban on evictions will expire on July 31, but renters still have options to try to remain in their home. Legal Aid Society of Middle Tennessee and the Cumberlands Attorney Bill Bush said landlords cannot lock out, force out or shut utilities off to get someone off the property. Bush said if a tenant is not out by ... Read More »

The final design on a Cookeville Sewer Extension to Tennessee Avenue is wrapping up. Water and Sewer Department Director Ronnie Kelly said the city has his request to use roughly $3 million in American Rescue Plan money for the project. Kelly said the American Rescue Plan money has not been received yet, but expects spending talks to ramp up quickly. ... Read More »

Gainesboro Elementary School is welcoming students back to school on Thursday with a luau theme. Principal Tina Cassetty said the school always looks for a fun theme when it comes to parent engagement events. Cassetty said the event starts at 5:00 PM with an informational meeting, but then comes the moment students wait for all summer. “The kids are very ... Read More »

The process is moving quickly after this week’s $98 million bond approval by the Putnam County Commission. Mayor Randy Porter said the process is getting an extra push because of the current low interest rates Porter said the county’s bond rating will go out to interested bidders, then typically large banks will compete to be the lowest bidder on the ... Read More »

Pickett County’s Amonett House will be restored with $25,000 of grant funding through Tennessee’s ThreeStar program. Byrdstown-Pickett County Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Billy Robbins said the Amonett family is going to provide the remaining money on the $35,000 project. Robbins said there has been interest for nearly a decade from tourists curious about the county’s oldest home. “Constantly people ... Read More »

The Roane State to Tennessee Tech Pipeline is getting a boost this fall thanks to a new partnership between the schools announced Wednesday. Tennessee Tech Undergraduate Admissions Director Dr. Steve Keller said admission to Tech can be guaranteed through two pathways. Dual enrollment through select programs or completion of any associates degree. “We wanted to make it as easy as ... Read More »