A new hotline allowing Tennesseans the ability to report possible cases of opioid abuse will go into effect Jan. 1. Rachael Randolph is the Program Coordinator for the Cumberland County Rise anti-drug coalition. She says although details are uncertain, the hotline will be a much-needed community resource. “We are all for in support of anything that will help curtail opioid ... Read More »

Local officials in some of the Upper Cumberland’s more rural areas are continuing to push for expanded four-lane roadways to increase development and industry. Fentress County Executive Jimmy Johnson says although expanding roadways leading into the county would be great, discussions with the state and industrial businesses lead nowhere. “It’d make all the difference in the world,” Johnson says. “The ... Read More »

A public petition has created a special election in Van Buren County over a proposed wheel tax. County Mayor Greg Wilson says the tax would help pay for new correctional positions at the new county jail. “With the new positions being hired for correctional officers and the expense of that, we were looking at about $200,000 for that additional expense,” ... Read More »

People who use live Christmas trees during the are often faced with the challenge of what to do with their holiday centerpiece once the season is over. Area Farm Management Specialist Alan Galloway says those with live trees have several options when it comes to disposing of their trees. “If a person has woodland themselves, a Christmas tree can just ... Read More »

Jackson County officials are using a new TDOT application process to request Highway 56 be widened coming into the county. County Mayor Randy Heady says the expansion project is vital to the county’s future. “The Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development wants to help us and wants us to have slabs ready for buildings to be put on for ... Read More »

The Putnam County School System’s Rolling Reader Bus will be ready to go next month. PreK-5 Curriculum Supervisor Jill Ramsey says the bus needs a few more finishing touches before it hits the road. “The interior is almost finished. We are going to be painting the inside of it as soon as we get back in school,” Ramsey says. “The ... Read More »

The Upper Cumberland Human Resource Agency looks to address the region’s opiate crisis through additional grant funding. Executive Director Mark Farley says the grant funding would help create a drug treatment program and provide additional services to all 14 counties. “We have submitted an application… to try and get some funds to provide a regional coordinator in our region,” Farley ... Read More »

Cumberland County High School announced Friday that Eric Belew will serve as the Jets’ head football coach in 2019. The 24-year-old out of Columbia last served as an assistant coach at Landmark Christian School in Fairburn, Georgia. Belew also played for his father, Vance, at Columbia Central High School and went on to win the Class 5A state title in ... Read More »

The Tennessee Highway Safety Office encourages people traveling this holiday season to stay safe on the roadway. Highway Safety Liaison Fred Sherrill says higher volumes of traffic will require drivers to be mindful of their surroundings. “One of our big things is making sure everyone slows down. Families are out and they’re traveling from place to place and still doing ... Read More »