Downtown revitalization. In many areas of the United States…it’s an issue that communities are trying to find answers to downtowns that are boarded up….with few tenants…areas where crime and poverty reign. However…downtowns across the Upper Cumberland….are just the opposite. They are places of historic value….of current viability….and with plans for the future. One of those downtowns, is McMinnville. Main Street McMinnville….is led ... Read More »

Classes began as scheduled in White County Monday. Director of Schools Kurt Dronebarger said the day began without a hitch. “I think buses all ran, everybody was picked up, didn’t miss anybody to my knowledge, got in before the rain hit today and kids are in school and teachers are teaching,” Dronebarger said. Building projects at Doyle and Woodland Park ... Read More »

With Tennessee Tech’s fall semester beginning later this month, rental agents and landlords will be hopping. Cookeville Codes Department Director Jeff Littrell said if he was looking for an apartment, there’s some simple things he’d look for. “I’d look for a place with working smoke detectors, interconnected, make sure the windows are operable in all the bedrooms, make sure there’s ... Read More »

Middle Tennessee’s Better Business Bureau said thieves have been sending out emails with their name and logo. If you receive an email from the BBB, it may actually be a phishing scam. Phishing scams look legitimate, but are really fronts to steal passwords and account information. The BBB said it’s working with law enforcement and a private firm to get ... Read More »

The White County Public Library had a busy day Monday. By 11 a.m. Director Cathy Farley said more than 200 people had stopped by the library to pick up their free solar eclipse glasses. “We have a little over 3,000 pairs of solar eclipse glasses, what you need to do to get those is bring your White County Public Library ... Read More »

District Attorney General Bryant Dunaway will represent Middle Tennessee in the state district attorney’s conference. Dunaway is a member of the Tennessee District Attorneys General Conference. He was selected to be part of that group’s executive committee. Dunaway also serves as chairman of the group’s IT committee and a member of the group’s Legislative and Finance committee. Dunaway was first ... Read More »

Jackson County Sheriff’s deputies recovered stolen property last week. Two Les Paul guitars and a 9mm pistol were recovered during an investigation into burglaries in the Shepardsville Highway area. The investigation has stretched across four counties. The guitars and pistol were returned to their owners, deputies continue to work the case. Read More »

Work has begun to upgrade Sparta’s Bockman Way. Crews will be working from Churchill Drive to Mayberry Street. The project has several parts, the first part will complete in late December, City Administrator Chris Dorsey said. “It’s a $1 million, what’s called a multi-modal project from TDOT that deals with curbs, gutters, sidewalks and drainage,” Dorsey said. While that work ... Read More »

The Tennessee Valley Authority doesn’t want people to worry about their power service during the eclipse. TVA spokesman Scott Fiedler said the utility’s vast network and diversity means it can get power to where it needs to go. “We’re very flexible, we’ve got multiple generating sources, we’ve got an interconnected grid of roughly over 16,000 miles of transmission line, so ... Read More »

When Congressman Diane Black entered the governor’s race this week, she became the third Republican woman seeking the seat. Tennessee Tech political science professor Dr. Lauren Harding said that’s an unusual situation. “In fact there has never been a female governor in the state of Tennessee and we have never seen such strong female contenders before,” Harding said. Black, Sen. ... Read More »