Latest News

Clay County will celebrate local songwriter Lola Jean Dillon Saturday night with a concert featuring many hit records that she wrote. Courthouse Curator Thomas Watson said Dillon grew up in Moss, and owned a barber shop before moving to Nashville to pursue her passion for songwriting. He said while answering phones for Loretta Lynn, Dillon wrote the song “When the ... Read More »

The Cookeville High School Football Club will move forward with the installation of a new video board at Eddie Watson Stadium. The School Board did require that all details need to be ironed out, and Attorney Dan Rader would need to look over the contracts involved with the project. The board also intends to contract a firm to oversee the ... Read More »

Cookeville will donate an additional $3 million in hotel/motel tax money to complete the renovations at Tennessee Tech’s Tucker Stadium. The agreement includes language that the project must be finished by November, 2026 or the city can rescind its donation. Council Member Chad Gilbert asked the city manager to finalize an agreement with the University. “My understanding is a resolution ... Read More »

Sparta Police will be adding a new pickup to the fleet, a replacement for a vehicle damaged in a high-speed chase. Insurance will pay some $18,480 toward the purchase with the rest coming from the drug fund. Police Chief Nick Dunn said the department decided to switch from Explorers because they are less expensive. “The ones we got before were ... Read More »

Jamestown and Fentress County celebrated the ground breaking Friday for the new TCAT/Roane State Higher Education facility set to be built just off old Highway 127. At least 700 students will be served annually at the 49,000 square foot facility. Governor Bill Lee earmarked $25 million toward the project in 2022 which will feature classes in nursing, construction, manufacturing and ... Read More »

Cookeville City Council approved a new five-year lease Thursday night for a parking lot on Church Avenue. The city will pay Tennessee Tech $1 annually for the use of the land, which includes a 15-year option. Finance Director Brenda Imel said it is located between Spring Street and Broad Street, and would be part of expanded parking. “We are pursuing ... Read More »

Construction of Putnam County’s new Park View School has now fallen at least a month behind. Upland Design Representative Aaron Grohol told the Putnam County School Board Thursday night that the contractor’s timeline has been pushed back to late June or even early July. He said rainy weather has contributed to the delays. At its March meeting, the School Board ... Read More »

Sparta Electric wants to replace at least seven wooden utility poles with steel poles in an attempt to improve reliability. Aldermen approved taking sealed bids for the project Thursday night, because of the costs involved. Utility Manager Belva Bess said the city wants to budget for gradual replacements of the older infrastructure. “Some of our main poles that do more ... Read More »

“Tonight I feel like that I’m no longer needed as your chief of police.” Baxter Police Chief Danny Holmes resigned Thursday night, citing interference from the City Council. The resignation will be effective next Wednesday. Holmes called it a sad night, saying he had not planned on resigning. “My hope and my prayer is that you find another chief,” Holmes ... Read More »

Incoming Tennessee Tech students can register for the school’s SOAR program to get familiar with the campus over the summer. Director of New Students and Family Programs Courtney Brehm said students can choose from ten different two-day sessions. She said students will hear from the finance team, dining services, student life, and the Dean of Students while on campus. Brehm ... Read More »