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The Upper Cumberland’s number of COVID-19 cases has topped 300 positive tests, according to the Tennessee Department Of Health. 9,918 cases have been reported across the state, with 302 across our region. Putnam County leads the region with 114 cases and 5 deaths. Cumberland County had tallied 68 cases but no deaths. Four other Upper Cumberland cases are reporting double-digit ... Read More »

Upper Cumberland restaurants began to welcome back customers on Monday morning. Elaine Heinz of Baxter said she hoped to find a sense of normalcy by going to lunch. “It feels really good,” Heinz said. “It’s a little bit more of a routine, and it’s nice to be out of the house. At some point, you have to start living your ... Read More »

A Smithville woman saw a need in the community to provide free donated food for those in need. So she decided to install a blessing box. A blessing box is a safe container where community members can leave non-perishable food and other necessities. Kristi Longmire said the box gives people a chance to pick up food items discreetly. “It’s been ... Read More »

Even with massive shutdowns due to COVID-19, people in the Upper Cumberland are still moving into new homes. Tamera Duncan of Freddie Duncan and Sons Moving and Storage said that March’s tornado especially makes moving people a necessity. “People have sold houses and are relocating from the tornadoes,” Duncan said. “They have found somewhere to move permanently or bought a ... Read More »

If you’ve been to a store parking lot lately you may have seen a disposable glove or face mask lying on the ground. Putnam County Health Department Director Lisa Bumbalough said this can impose a health risk to individuals. “PPE is vital to our environment, and it’s vital to us,” Bumbalough said. “Disposing it is vital to us and disposing ... Read More »

While public schools are watching for the governor’s mandates, private schools have taken the pandemic into their own hands. Crossville Christian School Head Andy Aikens said as a private school, they used this to shut down their school before the mandate. “I was in close conversation with our administrative staff here as well as a doctor that is a part ... Read More »

Upper Cumberland residents should expect to see an increase of carpenter bees this spring. Putnam County Ag Extension Agent Wayne Key said carpenter bees survived the winter and are emerging this spring to feed on nectar. “The reason for it is because we had such a mild winter,” Key said. “We didn’t have a lot of cold or bone chilling, ... Read More »

As local retailers prepare to re-open Wednesday, customer and employee safety is top priority. Paige Bryant, Sales Consultant for Office Mart, said they have followed suit with register practices in place at other businesses. “We have in place today a Plexiglas item to protect the customers and ourselves during the process of checking out, similar to a sneeze guard,” Bryant ... Read More »

Expect Tennessee nursing homes to remain closed for the foreseeable future. With the governor’s order lifting restrictions, Scott Stevens of Overton County Health and Rehab in Livingston said said staff at the facility began to notice social media posts about people looking forward to visiting loved ones at the nursing home. He said they wanted to quickly inform families that ... Read More »

Following a donation of land next to city hall, the City of Smithville is looking to build a 12,000 square foot structure to replace the existing police department headquarters. City Mayor Josh Miller said original estimated cost was around 2.8 million dollars. “I think the council is wanting to stay around 2.1,” Miller said. “So we are going to go ... Read More »