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The Tennessee Tech Board of Trustees approved a new fiscal year budget with no pay raises as the school tries to close a $7 million budget shortfall. Vice President for Planning and Finance Claire Stinson said the University lost some $3 million in state funding. Tuition and other revenue sources are expected to decrease by about $4 million. “Of course, ... Read More »

Sparta could be a possible site for the Upper Cumberland State Veterans Cemetery. The Executive Subcommittee of the Tennessee State Building Commission considered a 127-acre plat during its Monday meeting. The commission agenda said the land purchase would help an under-served part of the state. It would also place a veterans cemetery within 70 miles of every veteran in the ... Read More »

A revenue audit of Jackson County’s book has already found over $38,000 dollars to boost the county’s budget. Mayor Randy Heady said the county has contracted with The Barrett Group of Murfreesboro to perform the audit. He said the audit of Jackson County’s sales tax numbers discovered the missing revenue stream. “That is revenue (Donna Barrett) has found for this ... Read More »

Byrdstown wants to reduce the speed limit for the portion of Highway 111 running through the town. Mayor Sam Gibson said T-DOT originally denied the town’s request to change the speed limit citing a lack of data. Now, the town will conduct a corridor study on the state route for T-DOT to review. “The town of Byrdstown is really concerned ... Read More »

For the second time, Power of Putnam has received a five-year Drug-Free Communities Support Grant. Coalition Director Bill Gibson said the $125,000 grant helps the organization fight youth substance abuse. “This Drug Free Communities Grant is the backbone,” Gibson said. “We have other funding streams, but this is the main one that fuels our prevention work here in Putnam County.” ... Read More »

The Cookeville Regional Board of Trustees Finance Committee approved a plan to replace the Medical Center’s Cath Lab. The $3.63 million project includes a total renovation of the space and the purchase of new equipment. CEO Paul Korth said the budgeted upgrade will take about 18 months to complete. “We need to get started on this, we need to get ... Read More »

Cookeville Regional CEO Paul Korth said patients recently treated for COVID-19 seem sicker than previous cases. Seven people are currently being treated at CRMC. Putnam County reported a total of 676 COVID-19 cases Tuesday based on data from the Tennessee Department of Health. The county’s average number of new cases over the last 14 days stands at 7.5. “We kind ... Read More »

20 school resource officers in 19 Putnam County schools will receive salary increases thanks to a new grant. Sheriff Eddie Farris said the $175,000 grant will help the county’s financial situation. “It’ll help because the county will not have to come up with as much money to pay for the salaries,” Farris said. “The $265,000, the county taxpayers will not ... Read More »

A Hendersonville man transported to Cookeville Regional after a one-car accident Tuesday morning along Interstate 40. 51-year-old Troy Stafford lost control of his car as he drove westbound near mile marker 296 in Putnam County. Stafford’s vehicle struck an embankment and began to roll. It came to rest in the median. The incident happened about 7:00am during a strong rain ... Read More »

The Putnam County Budget Committee voted last night to send the new fiscal year budget to the commissioners for approval. The school system budget will be sent separately after Thursday night’s school board meeting. Budget Committee Chair Ben Rogers said the committee felt comfortable with Randy Porter’s status quo budget and had no need to further breakdown the expenses. The ... Read More »