Latest News

The Upper Cumberland’s unemployment rate increased in all but two counties for the month of May. Clay and Fentress Counties saw improvement, dropping to 3.8 and 3.3 respectively. The region as a whole saw a slight increase from April to May, up to 3.1 percent. The region still remains under the Tennessee state average, which also increased to 3.5 percent. Read More »

The Peoples Stockyard in Cookeville sold for over $2.7 million at auction Saturday. Waymon Hale of Waymon Hale Construction in McMinnville was the winning bidder, purchasing both lots up for sale. Hale said he is unsure as to what they might do with the property, but added “I hope I double my money”. The property was split into two units ... Read More »

The City of Sparta will pick-up the walking bridge trail project in the coming weeks. City Administrator Chris Dorsey said the trail project started about a year ago. “We got to the point where we decided that rather than having to force ourselves up through the woods to the top of the hill where the cemetery is because we have to ... Read More »

A Cookeville man suffered injuries during a single vehicle crash in Putnam County Friday afternoon. The crash happened on Highway 135 at East Whitehall Road. The Tennessee Highway Patrol has identified the injured man as 63-year-old Clifford Chaffin. According to a THP crash report, Chaffin’s 2000 Chevrolet Silverado struck an earth embankment after he failed to stop at a stop ... Read More »

A Cookeville resident is worried new housing developments will force him out of his home. Thomas Binford of Scenic Drive addressed City Council members Thursday night to express his concerns. “I’m being told it’s either move my home or lose my home,” Binford said. “In all of this, I am innocent. I don’t think it’s right for me to lose ... Read More »

The Overton-Pickett Emergency Communications District Board needs a new attorney. The board voted Thursday to put the position out for bid after struggling to find a new attorney over the past few weeks. “As far as a new attorney, I don’t have one,” OPECD Director Chris Masiongale said. “I contacted the state and the state said they do not have ... Read More »

Tennessee could benefit from the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling Thursday regarding online sales tax. The Court voted in favor of allowing states to require merchants to  collect sales tax on online purchases. Representative Ryan Williams said the decision would likely help local businesses. “I think for most of those people buying things out of town, it would mean that their ... Read More »

Clay County will kick-off its sesquicentennial celebration tomorrow. Clay County’s sesquicentennial year starts in 2020. Kevin Donaldson is Executive Director of the Clay County Partnership Chamber of Commerce. “The kick-off event set for this year will be June 23 and we are planning that event in June as a kick off just to let everybody know that 2020 is not that ... Read More »

The Sparta Board of Mayor and Alderman have passed the first reading of a pay raise for the board, vice mayor, and mayor. Alderman Hoyte Jones proposed the raise to the board. “It has been sixteen years since we have had an increase for the alderman or the mayor, either one. And I think that is one reason we can’t get people ... Read More »

A date has not yet been set for a public hearing to help the state decide if Pickett County can form its own E-911 district. Overton-Pickett E-911 District Director Chris Masiongale said he’s got a pretty good idea of how Pickett County residents feel about the plan to split away from the district. “I have had a lot of people ... Read More »