Latest News

This week is Teen Driver Safety Week and Tennessee Highway Patrol Captain R.C. Christian said there are a number of factors that affect teens while they are driving. Christian said it is not just phones that can distract teen drives but also the increased technology built into the car. For parents, Christian said communicating with your teen is key to ... Read More »

Putnam County’s part-time dispatchers will see a $2 pay increase beginning in December. The Emergency Communications District Board approved the pay raise Thursday. The change will take part-time dispatcher pay from $12 to $14. Putnam County 911 Director Penny Foister said this decision should improve performance and save money. “Hopefully, it will help us attract more people who are interested ... Read More »

The annual Santa’s Workshop at the Hyder-Burks Agricultural Building has been cancelled due to increasing COVID numbers. With about 7,000 people attending the weekend craft fair each year, Coordinator Amanda Guidry said the expected volume of people made the event unsafe. “We just did not feel like there was anyway we could possibly keep everyone safe, and that really had ... Read More »

Putnam County Commissioners Chair Mike Atwood said a working group decided to keep the jail and justice center downtown after much consideration. Atwood was on the committee appointed two years ago that studied the issues on where to expand the jail and justice center. He said he does not know why it would be suggested the issue has not been ... Read More »

White County is looking to create a position for a Human Resources Director, something the county has never had. County Executive Denny Wayne Robinson said he has learned during his time in office, that a department head can be an expert in their field but might not be an expert in being a supervisor. Robinson said having an human resources ... Read More »

After four years of work, Van Buren County is applying for an $80,000 Healthy Environment grant to put the final touches on its community centers. The Van Buren County Commission approved applying for the grant at Tuesday night’s commissioner meeting. Van Buren County Mayor Greg Wilson said the grant would be used for building picnic pavilions and setting up park ... Read More »

Clay County Mayor Dale Reagan said the county is not involved in the cancellation of the Cumberland River Hospital meeting. Tuesday’s meeting was reportedly postponed because several participants were not ready. Reagan said the county is mainly a bystander while Celina and EMS officials try to meet with Hospital Owner Johnny Presley. “Just being there and being supportive of it,” ... Read More »

The first half week of virtual only learning for Overton County Schools has gone smoothly except for some parents not being available at home. Director of Schools Mark Winningham said the school system is trying to accommodate working parents that utilize child care. “Lessons are all being recorded. For some students, it is being delivered on flash drives,” Winningham said. ... Read More »

Three months of shutdowns affecting its youth residential facilities will leave UCHRA in the red to the tune of about $450,000. The good news, according to Executive Director Mark Farley, youth are once again being served in the three facilities and the economics are turning around. “Since the court systems opened back up, you know, we’ve we’ve had two good ... Read More »

Governor Bill Lee joined White County Director of Schools Kurt Dronebarger Wednesday at Findlay Elementary to announce the launch of a new K-3 Book Delivery program. Through the Governor’s Early Literacy Foundation (GELF), over 500,000 books will be delivered to students and teachers across the state. Dronebarger said the program gives rural school systems an opportunity to make important early ... Read More »