Latest News

The Fentress County Commission will apply for a USDA grant to replace heart monitors for the ambulance service. The grant will pay up to $50,000, with the county having to match those funds for a total of $100,000. It would cost a total of $315,000 to replace all seven of the heart monitors currently in use. EMS Director Tony Maxfield ... Read More »

Cookeville City Manager James Mills said he is excited about the $322 million in road improvements set to be funded by T-DOT for Cookeville and Putnam County. But Mills said T-DOT has not shared the specifics of the plan released Monday. The project list released Monday an upgrade to the Interstate 40/Jefferson Avenue interchange. Mills said he is hopeful that ... Read More »

The Jackson County School Board approved the purchase of a new bus with one of the current fleet ailing. Director of Schools Jason Hardy said the $115,000 bus should be on the road after Christmas break. He said the turn around on a new bus is usually 180 days or more. “It was unexpected,” Hardy said. “We really weren’t looking ... Read More »

White County Commissioners began the reconstitution of the Senior Center Board Monday night with the appointment of four new board members. Commissioners approved Karen LaFever, Robert McCormick, Shirley Scott, and Amy Bailey to serve on the 13-member board as the county representatives, joining County Executive Denny Wayne Robinson. The former board voted to disband last month following recommendations from an ... Read More »

Putnam County Commissioners ratified Mayor Randy Porter’s appointment of Jeff Hicks as new Putnam County Fire Chief Monday night. Current Chief Tom Brown is retiring after serving Putnam County 31 years, seven of those as Fire chief. Hicks said Brown has been a great leader and a great friend, and he plans to work just as hard as he watched ... Read More »

The Pickett County Commission passed the Tourism Committee’s budget Monday night even with some members expressing concern over how the budget can be spent. The proposed $95,000 budget is funded from the county’s occupancy tax. Pickett County Executive Stephen Bilbrey said the occupancy tax brought in around $100,000 last year. Commissioner and Committee Member Deborah Garrett said she thinks the ... Read More »

Cookeville City Council will vote Thursday on prohibiting the public sale and consumption of alcohol at events not sponsored by the city or a non-profit. City Manager James Mills said isolated incidents at several events have caused concern with the availability of alcohol. Council Member Eric Walker said he has concerns about restricting growth in downtown Cookeville by stopping businesses ... Read More »

More homosexual and bi-sexual individuals can now donate blood after the FDA-adjusted donor guidelines, according to Blood Assurance officials. Blood Assurance Chief Medical Officer Liz Culler said that starting Monday, if a male has not had sex with another male in the past three months, he is free to donate. “Any changes we make, we want it to be based ... Read More »

Tennessee Tech’s Appalachian Center For Craft has a new life-sized bronze sculpture titled “Reverence.” Cookeville resident Bill Miller and his wife Sandy donated the sculpture. Miller said he hopes that its welcoming aura inspires Tech students and intrigues visitors. Miller said Cookeville’s dedication to crafts inspired him and his wife to contribute one of their most beloved pieces. “I think ... Read More »

A Jackson County assistant principal and teacher have pled not guilty to charges related to the paddling of a student in October. 15th District Attorney General Jason Lawson launched the investigation after complaints came in to the Jackson County Sheriff’s Department and the Department of Children Services. “After the grand jury issued the indictment their very next court date was ... Read More »