City of Sparta will solicit bids for a new 300-horsepower high service pump for the water plant after a storm damaged the old pump several weeks ago. City Council voted Thursday night to begin the bid process. Public Works Director Dillard Quick said the city will end up with a second higher powered backup unit if the bids come in ... Read More »

A new Dollar Tree proposed for Baxter’s Highway 70 received preliminary Planning Commission approval Thursday night, pending a Public Works review. Construction set to begin on the 10,000 square foot facility soon. It will be located off Oliver Way, the new housing subdivision being built near Gainesboro Grade. The store will not have entrances off Highway 70. After a ground ... Read More »

Cookeville City Council voted to rezone some four acres off West Broad Street to local commercial Thursday night. The four acres on Crescent Drive are located adjacent to the former Bob’s Body Shop property that has been cleared in recent months. Community Development Director Jon Ward said the land currently has two different zones and the rezoning would provide consistency. ... Read More »

Putnam County School Board approved a new cell phone policy Thursday night that will limit middle and high school student access during class time. Students will be required to place their phones in pockets located near the door of each classroom at the start of the class period. Students can pick up the phone at the end of class and ... Read More »

The state announced Tuesday that just eight counties — including Clay County — are considered economically distressed, the lowest number in the state’s history. Clay County is the only middle Tennessee county included. Grundy and Morgan Counties both advanced off the list Tuesday. A total of 15 counties were designated distressed in 2019. The Appalachian Regional Commission ranks counties based ... Read More »

A Boil Water Advisory will remain in effect for water customers of Livingston and the North Overton Utility District until midday Wednesday. Livingston Mayor Curtis Hayes said an electrical transformer failed in the early morning hours, causing water supplies to be depleted. “The failure disabled necessary equipment required for proper treatment,” Hayes said. “The issue has been addressed and the ... Read More »

A problem at the Livingston Water Treatment Plant Tuesday morning has led city officials to issue a Boil Water Advisory. Mayor Curtis Hayes said residents should boil water until further notice. The advisory also covers customers of the North Overton Utility District. Hayes said residents may also notice low water pressure and a lack of water. He said officials are ... Read More »

Cookeville’s Planning Commission denied a request to rezone a North Jefferson Avenue property near Tennessee Tech from residential to commercial Monday night. The .53 acre property, located near 7th Avenue, is currently zoned RS-15, a low-density residential zoning. The property owner wants to use the location for a full-service hair salon. Resident Susan Vandergriff said rezoning this plot of land ... Read More »

The Putnam County Budget Committee voted Monday to reduce the property tax increase to 18.8 cents, sending the budget to Mayor Randy Porter to be finalized. The budget includes 91 new employees, the majority of which will serve the expanded County Justice Center. It also includes a marketplace adjustment to bring county salaries more in line with similar government and ... Read More »

Several Jackson County Citizens petitioned County Commissioners Monday night to set a speed limit on Aarons Branch Road. The concern is vehicles that frequently speed on the narrow one-lane road. Mayor Randy Heady said the Jackson County Commission has never set speed limits before. “More and more of these roads in these communities, they’re asking us to do this,” Heady ... Read More »