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Several absences made for a speedy meeting of the Sparta Board of Mayor and Aldermen. Mayor Jeff Young didn’t elaborate on the absences of City Manager Chris Dorsey, City Recorder Tonya Tindle or Alderman Robert Officer. He did say that since they knew the three would be out, the agenda was shortened. The board approved solicitation for bids for several ... Read More »

A Jackson County man is facing marijuana charges after the sheriff’s department followed up on a tip. An anonymous tip sent the deputies to the Whitleyville address of Chris Flatt. Deputies got permission to search Flatt’s residence for narcotics and found marijuana packaged in multiple bags. They also found scales and several pieces of paraphernalia. He was charged with possession ... Read More »

Tennessee Tech will host 500 high school junior boys next week. The 53rd annual American Legion Boys State begins Sunday. During the week, boys learn about state government by running a mock state, Boys State. They organize political parties and create city, county and state governments by election, complete with primaries and political campaigns. They’ll also hear from politicians including ... Read More »

There’s a new way for visitors to find information on Cookeville. The Cookeville Putnam County Chamber of Commerce launched the new visitcookevilletn.com a new tourism website. Chamber VP of Visitor Development Zach Ledbetter said the website has been in the works for awhile. “We’ve been working on this for quite some time, we’ve had ideas and started building the frame ... Read More »

A mobile home park will soon be redeveloped off of Cookeville’s Freehill Road. Thursday night the City Council approved the final reading of the city’s 5th Redevelopment Area Overlay ordinance. “This is going to be very nice and it’s going to be quite an asset,” Vice Mayor Larry Epps said. “It’s going to be affordable housing so it hits everything ... Read More »

More parking will be added in downtown Cookeville. A lease agreement approved by the City Council last night allows the city to construct a parking lot at First Baptist Church’s gravel lot off Spring and Walnut. Mayor Ricky Shelton said it will add 185 parking spaces. “This is a good step in addressing the needs for downtown parking,” Shelton said. ... Read More »

Sparta’s skate park opened earlier this month. Mayor Jeff Young said the park has been a popular attraction. “More welcomed to the community or by the community than we anticipated, we have 20-30 kids there every afternoon skating and we’re exited about it, we’re glad the kids love it,” Young said. The city will host an official opening at 2 ... Read More »

Cumberland County School officials have placed a special needs education teacher on administrative leave amid a deadly crash investigation. 36-year-old Meghan E. Wilson is charged with DUI and vehicular homicide. According to the Tennessee Highway Patrol, Wilson crashed her Dodge pickup into a motorcycle on Cumberland County’s Highway 127 early Thursday morning. The impact killed the motorcyclist identified as 46-year-old ... Read More »

A former Sergeant with the Overton County Sheriff’s Department appeared in court today for a domestic assault charge. Steven Castle was arrested last week after he allegedly assaulted a woman by grabbing her arm leaving red marks and holding a door on her in a residence. Today a judge dismissed the order of protection against Castle and also removed his ... Read More »

Tennessee Secretary of State Tre Hargett will stop at the White County Public Library Friday. Hargett will deliver an $8,357.40 technology training grant. White County Library Director Cathy Farley said the library will use the money to set up a training program for tablets. Tablets will be available for use at the library, or residents can bring their own, she ... Read More »