Latest News

A pair of long-time Putnam County firefighters have been promoted after 40 years of combined service. Captain Charles Doss has been promoted to Deputy Chief after some 20 years as a member of the Putnam County Fire Department. Captain Coty Nash was promoted to Assistant Chief. Both members were among the first full-time hires in the department. Nash also spend ... Read More »

Cookeville and Putnam County have created an updated visitors guide to encourage experience-driven tourism and showcase the city’s local businesses. Tourism Director Shan Stout said the guide had not been updated since 2019 and many of the businesses listed had either moved or gone out of business. She said the new guide more closely favors a magazine, featuring articles and ... Read More »

TennCare is developing a multi-sector plan for aging to address the needs of older people, disabled people, and family caregivers. TennCare Aging Commission Liaison Anna Lea Cothron said by 2030, the Upper Cumberland will be one of the oldest regions in the state. She said data has been collected regarding what aging initiatives already exist and where there is room ... Read More »

Pickett County High School is selling merchandise to celebrate the state-champion girls basketball program. Head Coach Brent Smith said t-shirts, crew necks, hooded sweatshirts, and more are available on the team’s Twitter account and will be added to the school website soon. He said the merchandise is already popular in Pickett County because, well, everybody loves a winner. “I was ... Read More »

Tennessee Tech Astronomy Professor Steve Robinson said the Upper Cumberland will not get a great view of Monday’s partial eclipse. Robinson said this eclipse will be a far cry from the one that left many awestruck in 2017. He said though 92 percent of the sun will be blocked out, Tennesseans may only notice the sky grow slightly dimmer for ... Read More »

Upper Cumberland Senior Centers looking to rebrand as they try to bounce back from COVID closures. The UCHRA is conducting surveys to develop a rebranding plan revolving around the removal of the word “senior.” Area Agency on Aging and Disability Director Holly Williams said she has heard from people who do not want to attend senior centers because they do ... Read More »

Cookeville Police and First Responders are being trained to improve the outcomes of encounters with people suffering from behavioral health issues. Sergeant Mike Herrick said during the 40-hour training, community resources like Volunteer Behavioral Health and UCHRA educate officers on the help available. Herrick said many of the people the police force deals with regularly struggle with mental health issues. ... Read More »

Wednesday marks the 50th anniversary of the nation’s second-largest tornado outbreak on record, storms that took the lives of 27 Upper Cumberland residents. At least 11 different tornadoes touched down across the Upper Cumberland from April 3, 1974 into April 4. Storms struck every county but Clay and Van Buren. 275 homes were damaged and three people died in Overton ... Read More »

The city of Livingston will be sending its Police and Fire Departments door to door to collect surveys for the city’s lead service line inventory. Mayor Curtis Hayes said the city has been collecting surveys through mail or on the city website since 2021, but has only received some 1,000 completed questionnaires. He said every water utility in the country ... Read More »

Property taxes, garbage rates, and water rates will all likely be on the rise in the coming fiscal year as Monterey Aldermen work to balance the city’s budget. The board also agreed to no cost of living pay adjustment for city employees at Tuesday’s special-called meeting. Board Member Alex Garcia said city employees received a handsome pay adjustment last year. ... Read More »