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Farmers in several Upper Cumberland counties are eligible for federal loans in the aftermath of the fall drought conditions. The US Department of Agriculture’s Farm Service Agency offering loans to help producers recover. Farmers in Cumberland, Dekalb, Fentress, Putnam, Smith, Van Buren, Warren and White Counties are eligible. Greer Gill is outreach and public affairs coordinator for the agency. She ... Read More »

As Crossville City Manager Greg Wood sees his tenure come to a close, he credits the team around him for the progress the city has made. Wood said the Garrison Park splash pad project and the additions of businesses like Buccee’s and Harbor Freight are among the developments he is most proud of during his time leading Crossville. He said ... Read More »

The City Of McMinnville awarded money from the Tennessee Department of Agriculture’s Urban Farm and Forestry Program. The cost share funding program designed to increase access to nutritious food in Tennessee’s urban areas. McMinnville’s Community Garden, one of six recipients of funding, announced Thursday. “This cost share funding plays a crucial role in bolstering Tennessee’s agricultural economy,” Agriculture Commissioner Charlie ... Read More »

The city of Spencer has applied for a $20,000 Rural Video and Photography Asset Grant with the Tennessee Department of Tourism Development. Spencer Mayor Alisa Farmer said the city sponsored a meeting with the state last week where state representatives shared opportunities to increase tourism in both the city and Van Buren County. She said the city will pick from ... Read More »

Tech softball players will do their best to hit a home run for local animals Friday and Saturday. The players will be collecting supplies and donations for the Putnam County Animal Shelter during the weekend homestand with Lindenwood. Coach Danielle Penner said the ladies wanted to come together out of love for animals after getting a call from the shelter ... Read More »

The City of Spencer has uncovered that a former customer of the Spencer Water Department had been stealing water from the city for some five years. Mayor Alisa Farmer said the resident of the Haletown community had his water shut off in 2019. She said when the person’s name was referred to the UCHRA as a candidate for its water ... Read More »

The Van Buren County School Board is considering splitting the Spencer Elementary School gym floor replacement into two separate projects. Director of Schools Jared Copeland said estimates for a new floor came back at some $350,000. He said the last time the district solicited bids for the project, no bids were placed because of issues with doorway transitions. Copeland said ... Read More »

Upper Cumberland companies that learned the importance of flexibility during the COVID-19 pandemic are drawing on that knowledge after the collapse of the Baltimore Key Bridge. Tennessee Tech Supply Chain and Logistics Professor Mick Williams says the initial indication is that the port will be closed for four to six weeks. He said many UC supply chain managers will be ... Read More »

A commercial structure fire destroyed Byrdstown’s Country Farm and Home Lawn and Garden facility Thursday morning. The building center was not impacted. Firefighters responded around 6am. Fire Chief Garry Garrett said departments from surrounding counties including Overton and Monroe helped with the response. Garrett said the building had been burning for some time before firefighters arrived. “Smoke’s still going,” Garrett ... Read More »

Unemployment dropped in every Tennessee county in February, but three Upper Cumberland counties ended February among the state’s ten highest unemployment rates. Cumberland and Pickett Counties both tallied 4.1 percent unemployment rates in February while Clay County reported a 3.9 percent rate. Cumberland County saw its rate decrease some 1.1 percent from January to February. Both Clay and Pickett saw ... Read More »