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Wal-Mart, Kroger and Sam’s Club are among a growing list of retailers requiring shoppers to wear masks. Mike Dorey of Rickman headed to Walmart Thursday. He questions the usefulness of wearing a mask but will follow Wal-Mart’s request. “I do not really know the size of the macrons of the germs and what the mask does and how effective it ... Read More »

Tennessee Tech’s School of Art, Craft and Design’s 2020 Bacchanal has been cancelled. The annual art auction is a fund raiser for art student scholarships. School of Art, Craft and Design School Director Kimberly Winkle said Bacchanal is an event where social distancing is just not possible. “What makes it so wonderful is how our community convenes together in close ... Read More »

Baxter will apply for a Blue Cross Blue Shield grant in August to build a splash pad and farmer’s market in Seminary Park. Baxter Mayor John Martin said the park upgrades will add to the appeal of Baxter and help fill job openings for the Portobello plant opening in the future. “We have four great schools, but the thing about ... Read More »

With several major home fires occurring across the Upper Cumberland over the last two weeks, fire safety is not to be taken for granted. Sparta Fire Chief Kirk Young said families should practice an escape plan every other month to prepare for a home fire. “When you get a plan, everybody that lives there knows what is going on if ... Read More »

The Byrdstown City Council wants to encourage citizens to wear masks so they are exploring ideas to purchase customized cloth masks for residents. Mayor Sam Gibson said if the price is right, the town will consider the purchase. “If we can get a little bit of help on purchasing the mask, and I know the logo on the mask will ... Read More »

Van Buren County students will return to school on a traditional Monday through Friday schedule. School Director Cheryl Cole said a virtual instruction program is available for any family not comfortable sending their children to school. “We will have trainings for families that first week of school to help parents understand what all their student needs to be doing, and ... Read More »

District Attorney Bryant Dunaway asked the courts to dismiss some 25 cases involving former White County Sheriffs Deputy Brandon Young. The FBI continues its investigation of Young after he urged his police dog to attack a non-violent suspect during an April arrest. Young has since resigned. Dunaway said as he began to look at cases involving Young, he found inconsistencies ... Read More »

Overton County’s rising number of positive COVID tests is troubling, according to Health Department Director Andy Langford. “We’re now hovering around 9-percent on our positivity rate,” Langford said. “That means that almost 1-in-10 people we’re testing, ourselves, the hospital, local physicans, and testing sites. One way or the other, 1-in-10 are positive.” In addition to seeing a higher rate of ... Read More »

Algood Police will make the switch to Ford with the purchase of three new vehicles. Police Chief Dale Armour said the Dodge Chargers of the fleet were experiencing multiple mechanical issues and needed to be replaced. “The 2014’s specifically, we are having front in and motor issues,” Armour said. “We were trying to get away from the Hemi engine because ... Read More »

Overton County Health and Rehabilitation Center is changing its admission policy in order to combat COVID-19. Public Information Officer Scott Stephens said the stringent measures have been put in place to keep the center’s positive cases at zero. For a patient to be admitted, they will have to have a negative COVID test and go through a quarantine period. “We ... Read More »