Cookeville Electric will impose its first retail rate increase since 2007, after TVA discontinued a credit the utility had been receiving. Last month, TVA passed a 4.5 percent rate increase that will be passed on to all electric customers. Electric Department Director Carl Haney said the utility also ended a pandemic credit Cookeville had received. That amounted to some $800,000 ... Read More »

A Putnam County resident made her 76th platelet donation Friday, making her a 12-gallon blood donor. Tiffany Anton said she had no idea of the number or that she had reached what Blood Assurance called a major milestone for any individual with 12 gallons donated. “I had a niece that was born eight years ago, and she was really sick, ... Read More »

The Tennessee Board of Regents approved what it is calling the “fusion” of the TCAT Crossville and TCAT Livingston administration Friday. The regents did not discuss the item at all Friday in its quarterly meeting, but rather reported the work of the Academic Policies and Programs/Student Life Committee Thursday. Executive Vice Chancellor Russ Deaton said Thursday the plan had been ... Read More »

Clay County School Board moved three building projects forward Thursday accepting construction bids. Roof repairs at both Hermitage Springs School and the School Board building approved. The board also approved the construction numbers on the kitchen at Celina K-8. Board Chair Benji Bailey said the system ready to get that project finished. “It’s something that we’ve been, we’ve identified earlier ... Read More »

The Van Buren County Board of Education voted unanimously Wednesday to join numerous school boards across Tennessee in a lawsuit against various social media corporations. The list of companies contains many popular social media platforms including Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, and TikTok. Director of Schools Jared Copeland said the lawsuit targets the negative impacts of social media on young people. “It’s ... Read More »

In an effort to improve traffic flow, Cookeville officials want to conduct a pilot program with a new traffic light synchronization technology. The product uses sensors and beams on traffic lights instead of the old technology placed in roadways. Public Works Director Blake Mayo said the sensors can be mounted on stoplights in minutes. In addition, the settings can be ... Read More »

The State Medical Examiners Office has identified the two people killed in a Dekalb County house fire last week. 33-year-old Kristin Kerrigan of Nashville and 34-year old William Waynick of Franklin died in the house fire in the River Watch Community. Sheriff Patrick Ray said the Waynick family owned the home. The cause of the fire remains under investigation. When ... Read More »

Cookeville pursuing an engineering study to see if the footprint of the TVA electrical structure at the corner of Jefferson Avenue and Neal Street can be reduced. City Council will vote on a $30,000 deposit for the study Thursday night. TVA would study whether the transmission tower could be moved or reduced to a two-pole structure. Cookeville City Manager James ... Read More »

At least five master keys for the Van Buren County Jail are missing, according to an audit conducted by Sheriff Michael Brock’s department. Brock told County Commissioners Wednesday night the master keys open every interior jail door, including doors that would allow access to the exits. The missing keys were discovered during an audit by the chief deputy earlier this ... Read More »

Jackson County Commissioners will further discuss the idea of an agreement between the county and the county highway department to allow for repairs to roads housing cemeteries. The Highway Department cannot repair any roads not owned by the county within an interlocal agreement. Such an agreement exists within the Jackson County Schools, according to County Mayor Randy Heady, where the ... Read More »