Latest News

Cookeville’s annual tree lighting holiday celebration returns to Dogwood Park Sunday night with the lighting of the brand-new 40-foot tree. Cookeville Mayor Laurin Wheaton said the tradition embodies everything that Cookeville is about. Wheaton said the celebration will include performances from school choirs, the TTU Trombone Choir, and Cookeville-based recording artist Jake Hoot. “Just taking a moment to pause and ... Read More »

The Spencer Aldermen will look into concerns that Van Buren County residents are not being treated fairly by the Sparta Housing Authority. Van Buren Schools Homeless System Navigator Jill Bouldin said she remains concerned by the lack of Van Buren County representation on the Sparta Housing Authority board. Bouldin said Van Buren residents are overlooked by the authority for vacant ... Read More »

York Elementary School among the Upper Cumberland schools chosen as STEM Grant recipients by TVA. A total of $1.5 million being awarded across the Tennessee Valley this week. York Elementary Stem Ambassador Kayla Yantz said the school will use the $5,000 grant to purchase a classroom lab kit of 3-D hologram cubes. The cubes can project anything found on the ... Read More »

Tennessee Tech needs to reach a championship level in its athletics department to help recruit more students and galvanize the student body. “There’s so many great things about athletics here at Tennessee Tech to be proud of, but we need to create more championship level programs in athletics,” Tech President Phil Oldham said. Oldham made the comments to the Board ... Read More »

Upperman High School goes for the first football state title in school history Saturday morning in Chattanooga, with Highway 111 expected to be busy with traffic. Putnam County Director of Schools Corby King said said he expects fans countywide to make the drive in support of the Bees. King said the special thing about Putnam County is that the high ... Read More »

The Putnam County Sheriff’s Department has made over a dozen arrests this week as part of the closing stages of “Operation Omega.” The Sheriffs Department conducted the year-long drug investigation in the western part of the county near the Jackson County border. Sheriff Eddie Farris said numerous tips from residents in that area led to the focus. “We’ve had a ... Read More »

A hometown product returns to McMinnville for the ninth straight year Saturday to raise funds for the Warren County Emergency Food Bank. Chip Greene and Friends has raised as much as $10,000 for the Food Bank with the annual concert. Food Bank Director Helen Owens said the facility needs more support now than ever. She said over the last few, ... Read More »

Cookeville Regional held a groundbreaking ceremony Friday for an expansion project that will bring 40 additional beds. The 4 West/5 West project is further along than what a groundbreaking would suggest. Rooms are framed and drywall is up in some places, though some wiring and pipes are still exposed. Chief Executive Officer Buffy Key said the medical center has to ... Read More »

The Algood Planning Commission approved a plan for a new Main Street instant oil change facility Thursday night. Approval of the plan was delayed at last month’s meeting when new details emerged about the stormwater drainage plan. The new plan included an underground stormwater detention that had to be submitted for review prior to the project’s approval. The facility will ... Read More »

Christmas parade season goes into overdrive this weekend across the Upper Cumberland. Pickett County is celebrating the holidays with the “Christmas in Byrdstown” event and Christmas parade Saturday. It will be at the Pickett County Library featuring music, food, and even an appearance from Santa Claus. The event begins at 9am. The Jamestown Rotary Club hosts its annual parade Saturday ... Read More »