Latest News

Local competitive cheer team Empire Elite Athletics took home first place in its division at the annual global competition in Orlando. Gym Owner and Coach Alyssa Carver said this is the program’s first competition season and only had four months to train rather than the typical 10 months. She said the athletes spent hours in the gym training and working ... Read More »

Cookeville Regional Medical Center will extend its urgent care hours to 11 p.m. this summer. Interim CEO Buffy Key said they hope that this will help reduce trips to the emergency room by increasing the hours. She said they eventually hope to expand services as well at the urgent care. Key said the leadership team continues to look for creative ... Read More »

Putnam County Schools set to add a new behavioral health liaison to help counselors continue supporting student needs. A behavioral liaison is similar to a counselor with more of a focus on individual attention. Social Emotional Wellness Coordinator Sheila Barker said they currently have a liaison at Upperman Middle School. She said they are trying to increase the resources students ... Read More »

Dr. Melody Presley has been named the new principal at Cookeville’s Park View Elementary. Presley has spent the last 13 years as assistant principal at Avery Trace Middle School. She replaces Bobby Winningham who is retiring at the end of the school year. Presley has served as teacher, coach and administrator at Avery Trace for 18 years. “Dr. Presley has ... Read More »

A proposed daycare project in Van Buren County could be stopped before it starts. The county commission’s steering committee B heard from Mayor David Sullivan Tuesday night. Sullivan said he had made several phone calls and discovered that previously discussed daycare subsidies for were not available. “See according to some of the paperwork that I found,” Sullivan said. “It said ... Read More »

Crossville set to officially close on its purchase of the Village Inn next Tuesday. The consensus among city council members at a Tuesday night work session, the building should be razed and the property redeveloped. City Manager Greg Wood said he had requested several developers look at the building and each called it unsafe. “It’s not safe,  it’s not something ... Read More »

Middle Tennessee Natural Gas will improve safety measures through a new federal grant. The utility received more than $311,000 to modernize its safety equipment. Cliff Swoape is Director of Human Resources and Communications. He said they saw during the 2020 Cookeville tornado the value of emergency equipment such as leak detectors. “We were able to go in with those laser ... Read More »

State legislators will step back to consider how to move forward with potential firearm legislation and public safety. Governor Bill Lee announced two weeks ago that the General Assembly would meet in a special session to discuss those topics. He said there is broad agreement that dangerous, unstable individuals who intend to harm themselves or others should not have access ... Read More »

The CRMC Medical Team spent time with Cookeville City Council Monday, something Mayor Laurin Wheaton said she wants to continue. Wheaton said communication is an integral part of the relationship between the council and the medical facility. She said while it is a city-owned hospital, the council does not actually control the day-t0-day. “But we also know that when there ... Read More »

Tennessee Correction Institute’s Deputy Director says Putnam County Commissioners need to think more carefully about staffing at the new justice center. Bob Bass said if the jail is understaffed, it runs the risk of damages. “Protect your investment, it’s very important to protect your investment,” Bass said. “Inmates won’t manage themselves. I wish they would, but they won’t. So you ... Read More »