Latest News

The Van Buren County Board of Education voted unanimously Wednesday to join numerous school boards across Tennessee in a lawsuit against various social media corporations. The list of companies contains many popular social media platforms including Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, and TikTok. Director of Schools Jared Copeland said the lawsuit targets the negative impacts of social media on young people. “It’s ... Read More »

Upper Cumberland goat and sheep farmers will gather at the Overton County Fairgrounds Friday, as the production in that field continues to increase across the region. The fifth annual Small Ruminant Conference will bring together goat and sheep enthusiasts from 11 counties. UT Extension Agriculture Agent Jason Garrett said he hopes the two-day event will be an educational experience for ... Read More »

Putnam County Schools beginning the process to purchase four new buses. Transportation Supervisor Ron Chaffin said the system tries to purchase new school buses once a year in an attempt to keep its fleet updated. The average lifespan of a bus is 15 years. “They’re all the time, every year, updating on different things,” Chaffin said. “More technology, more camera ... Read More »

Cookeville has acquired all the properties needed to begin the bidding process for construction on phase two of the Tenth Street expansion project. Cookeville City Manager James Mills said the city officially acquired all land needed for construction through purchase and imminent domain. The next phase will increase lanes between Old Kentucky Road and Fisk Road. “We’ve had, as far ... Read More »

In an effort to improve traffic flow, Cookeville officials want to conduct a pilot program with a new traffic light synchronization technology. The product uses sensors and beams on traffic lights instead of the old technology placed in roadways. Public Works Director Blake Mayo said the sensors can be mounted on stoplights in minutes. In addition, the settings can be ... Read More »

Upgrades to Livingston’s South Church Street area delayed because of supply chain issues. Downtown Redevelopment Commission Chair Gene Gantt said the project will not begin until January. The project will include burying the utility lines in the area. Gantt said transformers and vaults needed will not be available until December. “They were back-ordered to that point,” Gantt said. “So there ... Read More »

The Putnam County Sheriff’s Department applying for a grant to help improve security at the Justice Center. Sheriff Eddie Farris said that the projects would benefit officers, state workers, and the public. Farris said that one of the things the county has on its docket is installing kevlar panels for the existing court clerk benches. Farris said they are also ... Read More »

The State Medical Examiners Office has identified the two people killed in a Dekalb County house fire last week. 33-year-old Kristin Kerrigan of Nashville and 34-year old William Waynick of Franklin died in the house fire in the River Watch Community. Sheriff Patrick Ray said the Waynick family owned the home. The cause of the fire remains under investigation. When ... Read More »

Cookeville pursuing an engineering study to see if the footprint of the TVA electrical structure at the corner of Jefferson Avenue and Neal Street can be reduced. City Council will vote on a $30,000 deposit for the study Thursday night. TVA would study whether the transmission tower could be moved or reduced to a two-pole structure. Cookeville City Manager James ... Read More »

At least five master keys for the Van Buren County Jail are missing, according to an audit conducted by Sheriff Michael Brock’s department. Brock told County Commissioners Wednesday night the master keys open every interior jail door, including doors that would allow access to the exits. The missing keys were discovered during an audit by the chief deputy earlier this ... Read More »