New unemployment claims across the Upper Cumberland fell to more typical levels last week for the first time since the COVID-19 outbreak began. 681 people filed for unemployment last week across the region, the lowest since the week ending March 21. Upper Cumberland new claims ranked lowest among the nine state workforce development areas. Statewide, the number declined as well ... Read More »

Cookeville City Government will begin a phased reopening of City Hall next Tuesday. City Manager James Mills said the number of visitors entering the building will be limited. Guests will be encouraged to wear masks. Officials also urge residents to continue using alternative methods to conduct city business, such as continuing to use mail or online resources to pay bills. ... Read More »

Algood plans to proceed with fireworks, music and vendors as part of a socially-distanced July 4th celebration. “We can abide by guidelines as the state of Tennessee releases those,” City Administrator Keith Morrison said. “I think we can still meet them. It’s at the end of June so I think that will give us some additional time to prepare. Morrison ... Read More »

The Crossville City Council approved $1.4 million in contracts with T-DOT for the Highway 127 widening project. The contracts will begin the process of water and sewer easement acquisitions and relocations from Interstate 40 north to Potato Farm Road. The city currently has about $2.48 million in its utility system account with another $440,000 loan payment due on other projects. ... Read More »

The City of Algood approved its new fiscal year budget with no new property taxes Tuesday night. The $3.86 million budget includes a $517,414 overage in expenditures that will be paid for by the fund balance. City Administrator Keith Morrison estimated the June 30 cash balance this year at $6.3 million. The budget passed on second reading Tuesday night after ... Read More »

The state’s first sales tax collections during the COVID-19 outbreak showed a six percent decline. The April tax report released Tuesday shows March collections, including just a few days of a state shutdown. Overall, Tennessee tax collections were off by some $822 million from a year ago. Some of that number the results of tax filing extensions given to businesses ... Read More »

The state court of appeals denied a Putnam County man’s appeal of drug charges. Merle Aaron Degroat was found guilty by a Putnam County Criminal Court in the 2015 case. Charges included the manufacture of methamphetamine and burglary of a motor vehicle. Degroat argued that he did not receive effective counsel in the case. The court disagreed. “Petitioner has not ... Read More »

Warren County Schools Director Bobby Cox said the system should be able to weather COVID-19 with a healthy fund balance of over $5 million. “But actually you will probably have closer to eight million because if you look at our amended budget for what we’re actually going to spend because we’ve not been in school, you know, we probably put ... Read More »

The City Of Jamestown will investigate the possibility of an involuntary bankruptcy filing against Jamestown Regional Medical Center’s owner, Rennova. Jamestown City Attorney Baley Allred shared multiple options on how the city might work to return health care to Fentress County during a Monday board of aldermen work session. The community has been without emergency care since Jamestown Regional closed ... Read More »

The Warren County School Board voted Monday night to approve Grant Swallows’ contract as the new director of schools. The board voted 5-1 to approve a four-year contract for Swallows with an annual salary of $115,000. Swallows will have one year to move to Warren County. He currently serves as principal at White County High School. He will replace Bobby ... Read More »