Latest News

The Fentress County Sheriffs Department is looking for a 17-year-old Knoxville male. Gabriel Watson was last seen two times July 7 in Allardt. A Sheriffs Deputy made contact with Watson along KenMor Drive. The teen provided a false identity before fleeing on foot. According to the Sheriffs Department, Watson stands 5-7, 134 pounds with brown hair, blue eyes. He is ... Read More »

If you are a new voter that has registered to vote by mail, you will still have to provide proof of identification at your local elections office before getting an absentee ballot. That after a federal judge announced Wednesday he will not reject three Tennessee absentee ballot regulations amid the COVID pandemic. Putnam County Administrator of Elections Michele Honeycutt said ... Read More »

A local director of the state’s teacher union said he believes the lack of direction from the state in COVID return plans is leaving some students and school staff vulnerable. Brent Estes is a Tennessee Education Association Board Director for district seven, which includes most Upper Cumberland counties. He said the state should invest more money in protecting those in ... Read More »

The city of McMinnville will move its utility and business services to the first floor of city hall. Regions Bank departed the Main Street space. City Administrator Nolan Ming said the city is trying to create a single municipal building to meet all residents’ needs. “Everyone will be able to come in the front doors here right off of Main ... Read More »

Cookeville Regional will upgrade 43 patient beds and nine stretchers under a plan approved by the CRMC Finance Committee. The $895,000 project is part of an on-going effort to refurbish the most basic of hospital tools, according to CEO Paul Korth. “We try to every couple of years put a large dollar amount in there for bed replacements,” Korth said. ... Read More »

The Cookeville Fire Department is accepting bids to replace shingles on Station Four’s roof. Fire Chief Daryl Blair said the roof is at least 15 years old. He said most roofs should last over 20 years. “We’ve had some trouble, some shingles have blown off of it and our maintenance department went out there to look at it and stuff ... Read More »

Caney Fork Electric Cooperative will close all office lobbies to the public starting this Wednesday. General Manager Bill Rogers said lobbies are closing to try to reduce Covid infection rates. “This is not an action that we take lightly,” Rogers said. “We understand our responsibility to our membership, and this is our way to help ensure that we will be ... Read More »

Daily student interaction and maintaining regular learning hours are guidelines the state set for a distance learning plan. Clay County School Director Matt Eldridge said although the spring semester was difficult, forcing the school district to compile distance learning options helped school officials feel more prepared for this school year. “Unfortunately this has come about, but it has spring boarded ... Read More »

Families in Tennessee eligible for the Pandemic Electronic Benefits Transfer (P-EBT) program still have time to apply. The program provides families $5.70 for every missed school day during the pandemic to make up for lost meals. Tennessee Department of Human Services Press Secretary Sky Arnold said many families were unprepared to make up two meals a day. “Families across our ... Read More »

The Jackson County Penny Rate is up for the 8th straight year. Mayor Randy Heady reported to the Jackson County Commission Monday night that the current Penny Rate is $17,351. He said it is something the county has worked really hard to improve. “We’re very proud of that,” Heady said. “I think I mentioned at the County Commission meeting that ... Read More »