Latest News

Cookeville Fire Department seeking an additional ladder truck in the coming fiscal year budget. Chief Benton Young said they have a 2008 75-foot ladder truck that they would like to replace. He said various vendors estimate it could take up to four years to get the truck in their possession. “They gave us an estimate on this aerial platform vehicle ... Read More »

The White County Heritage Museum is working to preserve a historic local sawmill. Museum Co-Director Peggy Hurteau said Rowland Saw Mill opened in the 1860s and was the first and only steam sawmill in Tennessee. She said the county has wanted to restore the mill since it closed in 2006 but has only recently started getting the money to do ... Read More »

A team of Jackson County veterans have joined forces to capture soldier memories. Jackson County Veterans Hall Secretary/Treasurer William Draper said they are creating and preserving biographical videos of Jackson County Veterans. Draper said the video records will be viewed for generations to come. “The idea of course is to preserve this record for all history so that their children, ... Read More »

Delta 8 Legislation restricting manufacturing and sales of cannabinoid products takes effect July 1 throughout Tennessee. Currently children can legally purchase gummies and other edibles containing intoxicants. Overton Sheriff John Garrett said the 2021 legalization of these products has been an issue in all counties. Garrett said law enforcement had confiscated the products from children in schools. “So for those ... Read More »

Tennessee has seen an influx in Electric Vehicle manufacturing. New Plants in the industry have been announced for Clarksville and Jackson. Cookeville Chamber of Commerce CEO Amy New said the Upper Cumberland would like to get involved, but only in the areas that will provide higher wages. “We are working on getting into this industry to the point that is ... Read More »

Putnam County Mayor Randy Porter said a $31 million bond capacity for the school system could be feasible in the future. Porter said the school system is potentially looking at coming up around 2025 or 2026 to ask for an additional bond. He said that is about when the county should have paid off some of its older bonds, freeing ... Read More »

Putnam County Library approved for an additional $30,000 in the next fiscal budget by the city of Cookeville to help expand the library’s collection. Director Kathryn Wisinger said they are wanting to add more books to the library both physically and digitally. She said they have seen an increased demand, especially after giving every child in Putnam County a digital ... Read More »

The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency is asking for your help to learn more about the pinesnake. The pinesnake is considered threatened due to habitat destruction, and road mortality. It is also often killed, mistaken for timber rattlesnakes. Biodiversity Coordinator Mallory Tate said TWRA has been looking for pinesnakes to track with transmitters, but the snakes are so elusive that responding ... Read More »

T-DOT set to conduct around five summer paving projects across the Upper Cumberland. Region 3 Community Relations Officer Rae Anne Bradley said those include Highway 111 from North of Jefferson Avenue to South of SR-24. Another Putnam County project includes SR 136 from Whitaker Springs Road to Bear Creek Road. “And then State Route 111 in White County from Fred ... Read More »

Cookeville’s Engrafted Word Church turns 40 years old this month. Pastor Chris McMichael said the independent church started in a house in 1983 and now has over 300 members. He said he is proud that the church has continued to grow through all the ups and downs of the past 40 years, and continued to honor its original goals. “Even ... Read More »