Latest News

Upper Cumberland Regional Airport manager Dean Selby received a 5-percent raise Tuesday. Airport board chairman and County Mayor Randy Porter said Selby has done an outstanding job over the past two years. “I look back to when we chose him and he’s for sure outperformed more than I ever expected,” Porter said. “I knew he was going to do a ... Read More »

Overton County has received a five year recurring grant of $125,000 for their Drug Coalition program. Drug Coalition Board of Directors Daryl Colson said this goal took time and teamwork to achieve. “Oh, we’re overwhelmed with excitement. We’ve been trying to get this grant for several years. It’s taken a lot of hard work, and when we heard we were ... Read More »

Highlands Residential Services (HRS) opened bids on Tuesday for the Oak Tree Towers project. King Construction of Cookeville submitted the $8,978,000 low bid for constructing the 50-unit mid-rise apartment complex. HRS Director of Operations Chris Cassetty said board members will look to approve that bid during Thursday’s meeting. “Once we do that, we’ll sit down and have a formal pre-construction ... Read More »

Six Putnam County Schools have elevated levels of lead inside certain drinking water sources. A Knoxville-based company recorded the levels after conducting testing at Avery Trace Middle School, Baxter Primary School, Cane Creek Elementary, Cookeville High School, Cornerstone Elementary, and White Plains Academy. Maintenance Facilities Supervisor John Magura said parents and students do not have reason to worry. “We’re trying ... Read More »

A Crossville fire was reported Tuesday morning at the Charleston Plantation Apartments. The fire department received the call 11:30 a.m. to douse the fire out. Smoke was receding from one of the eaves upon arrival. Fire Chief Mike Turner said the probable cause was from lightning strike, but no injuries were reported. “It all went as well as could be ... Read More »

Tech will host the 14th annual STEM Education Research Conference for the first time. Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) researchers and educators will meet on campus this Thursday and Friday. MTSU had hosted this conference over the past 13 years. Tech mathematics education professor Holly Anthony said this is part of universities working together. “We want people to recognize ... Read More »

The Cookeville-Putnam County Chamber of Commerce has officially restarted the search for its next CEO. Qualified candidates for the position must submit a cover letter and resume by February 14. Officials announced Tuesday that Chamber Executive Committee member Phillip Baker would lead a diverse search committee. “The Committee will follow an international process to attract a broad candidate pool and ... Read More »

Five people have expressed interest in filling the vacant 9th District Cumberland County Commission seat. Carl MacLeod resigned from that position last month after announcing his intention to move out of state. County Commission documents indicate that five people submitted their names as candidates, including Larry Brilliant, Colleen Mall, Mark Rosser, Nico CearGeo, and former Cumberland County Commissioner Carmin Lynch. ... Read More »

Coookeville City Council will consider a new rate structure for the Gas Department when they meet Thursday. Gas Department Director Jeff Mills unveiled the proposal during Monday’s work session. He said the change will help collect a larger percentage for fixed costs. “The purpose of it is to get a more stable recovery of our rates,” Mills said. “Right now, ... Read More »

Putnam County EMS will likely apply for another $150,000 Assistance to Firefighters Grant. EMS Director Tommy Copeland said he would use the funding to purchase powered stair chairs. “We’ve got stair chairs on our trucks now that you can manually carry them (patients) up or roll them down a set of stairs,” Copeland said. “These will have actually a battery ... Read More »