Demolition is complete on a Willow Avenue business, the next step in the City Of Cookeville’s project to widen West Stevens Street. As part of the project, the city entered into an agreement to purchase a portion of the property where the Country Bumpkin sits. The store has moved into its new location next door, the demolition is finished, the ... Read More »

White County Schools enrollment remains basically unchanged from a year ago, still down from pre-COVID numbers. Director of Schools Kurt Dronebarger said some 3,850 students are enrolled after the first month of the school year. Dronebarger said the number is about where schools officials expected. “We’ve seen an increase in Doyle, and we have plans to add onto that school ... Read More »

A wet start to the summer will likely bring the Upper Cumberland beautiful fall colors and a slew of fall allergens. Local Allergist Dr. Erin Rohman said as the grass pollen season ends, the ragweed season is ratcheting up. Ragweed and goldenrod are the biggest pollen producers around the region, with the peak coming in the next few weeks. Rohman ... Read More »

Overton County will receive money to upgrade security at two county court facilities. “They’re looking at bulletproof glass for the court clerk and then also the Chancery Court,” County Executive Steven Barlow said. “So we had met with several judges and of course the Circuit Court Clerk was there and the Sheriff and everything and we was looking at the ... Read More »

A safety drill will take place Monday afternoon at Warren County Middle School, testing emergency personnel on a potential gas leak. Warren County Director Of Schools Grant Swallows told parents in a letter sent last week that the drill would help emergency personnel work on evacuation of the building and reunification. Swallows said students will be removed to the Milner ... Read More »

White County School Board Member Dewayne Howard wants to change the board’s planning meeting dates to allow for more input and study. Currently, school board members hold a committee session just prior to the School Board Meeting each month. Howard said that means digesting a lot of information in a short amount of time. “So if we wish to have ... Read More »

A White County School Board member called Director Of Schools Kurt Dronebarger insubordinate Thursday night for refusing to bring a teacher before the board to answer for a controversial writing assignment. The August creative writing prompt focused on the killing of someone and the aftermath. Dronebarger updated the board Thursday on how the system handled the incident including a meeting ... Read More »

With several potential residents interested in long-term commitments, the Upper Cumberland Regional Airport Board voted Tuesday to move ahead with bidding new t-hangars. Airport Manager Dean Selby said he has spoken to residents interested in leasing the hangars for ten years. Selby said by bidding the project now, they can get down to the truth of the project’s economics. A ... Read More »

House Speaker Cameron Sexton announced some $357,000 in Highway Safety Grant funding for law enforcement agencies in the district. The money will help with safety on local roadways as well as efforts to fight drunk driving. The Cumberland County Sheriffs Department will receive $55,000 for DUI enforcement. The Fairfield Glade Police will receive $50,000 for a senior driver safety campaign ... Read More »

Algood will begin the bidding process for upgrades at the tennis courts. The rehab process includes resurfacing of the courts, repairs to the fencing, and lining the courts to be used for both tennis and pickleball. City Administrator Keith Morrison said the bids are due October 4. He said they hope to be ready to consider the bids at the ... Read More »