The United States Census Bureau has named Cookeville as one of the country’s highest-gaining micropolitan areas for the second year in a row. Cookeville Mayor Ricky Shelton said the ranking indicates more people are becoming interested in what the city has to offer. “It just shows that people have recognized how great our entire area is,” Shelton said. “We have ... Read More »

Cookeville City Council will consider purchasing a new phone system during Thursday’s meeting. Information provided during Monday’s work session indicates the city will pursue Mitel MiVoice Connect for all city departments. The new system would cost approximately $135,000 with a majority of the funding coming from the city’s general funds. City IT personnel who presented the package reports several departments ... Read More »

Motlow State Community College in McMinnville will begin offering new robotics classes next week. Executive Director Larry Flatt said courses at the new Automation & Robotics Training Center will help prepare students for the future. “It is all about training young men and women to receive jobs that allow them to have a good income and enhance their life,” Flatt ... Read More »

Citizens of Red Boiling Springs have elected Kenneth Hollis as their new mayor following the arrest of current mayor Joel Coe. The Macon County Election Commission reports Hollis received 107 votes, defeating the incumbent Coe and Terry Newberry in Saturday’s election. The election comes after Coe was arrested Thursday by the Macon County Sheriff’s Office for criminal conspiracy and tampering ... Read More »

Farming and agricultural retailer Rural King will still come to Crossville. City Manager Greg Wood said the company continues to work on renovating the former Kmart site despite not receiving a tax incentive. “Anytime a big group comes in, they’re going to try and do some negotiations,” Wood said. “The council just felt they didn’t want to give them an ... Read More »

The UCHRA could soon give part of its South Jefferson Avenue headquarters to a Tennessee state agency. Executive Director Mark Farley told the agency’s Board of Directors that state officials are interested in leasing part of the UCHRA’s facility. “We are in serious talks right now with the State of Tennessee,” Farley said. “I’m not going to get into the ... Read More »

Developers are continuing preparation work for the future expansion of East 10th Street in Cookeville. That according to City Planning Director James Mills. “Part of the agreement reached between the city and the developers was they would provide the engineering and surveying work, and that’s being completed now,” Mills said. “We’re waiting until we get plans prepared so we can ... Read More »

Crossville has started the process of searching for the city’s first leisure services director. City Manager Greg Wood said the position will help Crossville’s parks and recreation department run more efficiently. “We are doing some reorganization over in parks and recreation and it seemed like an appropriate time to bridge that gap,” Wood said. “The wage study that we were ... Read More »

Cookeville Regional Medical Center will lift flu restrictions Tuesday. The hospital implemented a temporary restriction on some visitors to help prevent the spread of illness during peak flu season. The Center for Disease Control reports Tennessee only had local flu activity as of April 20 after being downgraded from ‘widespread’ to regional on March 9. Visitors under 16 years of ... Read More »