Three acres of Cane Creek Park in Cookeville have been planted as pollinator habitats, according to the Putnam County Master Gardeners. Leisure Services Director Rick Woods said the habitat will benefit both area wildlife and the community as a whole. “I think the pollinator fields are a great use of space within Cane Creek Park that is currently not in ... Read More »

The Tennessee Highway Patrol issued a citation to an Arkansas truck driver Monday for driving on a suspended license following a crash on Interstate 40. The incident happened on I 40 eastbound near mile marker 307 in Cumberland County. A report stated that the accident happened as 44-year-old Brandon Paul Lyerly attempted to pull over onto the shoulder of the ... Read More »

Work will begin this week to reconstruct the roundabout on Cookeville’s Highlands Park Boulevard at the intersection of Venture Drive. Cookeville Public Works Director Greg Brown said Highlands Park Boulevard will be closed to all traffic from the intersection of Lee Seminary Road just east of Ficosa. Detours will be in place. “We can’t allow any traffic at all because ... Read More »

An unidentified man has passed away after falling from a bluff in Cumberland County Sunday afternoon. Cumberland County Emergency Management officials confirmed the man’s death Monday morning. The incident happened in the Grandview area off of Highway 68. According to officials, the man was rappelling when he fell an estimated 80-feet from the bluff.   Read More »

Van Buren County held an open house for it’s new administrative building Sunday. County officials lowered an American flag at the new building to mark the official opening of the new state-of-the-art facility. Will Maxwell is a 4th District County Commissioner. He said the flag that came down flew at the old administrative building that burned to the ground in ... Read More »

A bear is roaming the Cookeville city limits, according to Putnam County 911. Mayor Ricky Shelton reported that the bear was spotted on North Maple near Freeze Street A Facebook post from Putnam County 911 has asked residents to not approach the bear and to call Cookeville Police if the animal is spotted. Police units are in the area and ... Read More »

Tennessee Tech University (TTU), the State Department of Agriculture, and Seed Fork of the Highlands have partnered to create urban gardens in Cookeville. Dr. Dennis Duncan is the Director of Tennessee Tech’s School of Agriculture. He said Cookeville’s Urban Gardens will be beneficial to the community. “It’s really an educational program that we hope will be long-term and could impact ... Read More »

Cummins Falls State Park broke a record this past Memorial Day Weekend with an estimated 19,500 visitors over a three day period. Jackson County Mayor Randy Heady said it’s big news for his county and the surrounding area. “I just don’t know if everyone in the area knows what an economic impact that is for us,” Heady said. “It’s huge. ... Read More »

Potential increases to indigent defense compensation may not be enough in the eyes of attorneys. That according to Cookeville Attorney Gordon Byars of Byars Law Office. The Tennessee Supreme Court is soliciting comments on a potential amendment to Rule 13, increasing hourly rates for indigent defenders from $40 to $50. “The downside to it is it still makes [Tennessee] last ... Read More »

The Cumberland County Board of Education voted Thursday to extend the contract for Director of Schools Janet Graham. The board voted 8-1 to extend Graham’s contract. Board member Shirley French Paris said she didn’t like the idea of extending the contract at the current time. “It’s an election year and it doesn’t have anything to do with Mrs. Graham personally,” ... Read More »