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Will Roberts hired as the new Executive Director at the Cookeville Rescue Mission after some 45 years working in addiction recovery. Roberts served on the Board of Directors and said his intimate knowledge of the organization and its staff gives him a head start in his new position. He said his first goal as director is to create unity in ... Read More »

Four possible water solutions for Cumberland County brought to the table during a recent meeting between TDEC officials and representatives from the Cumberland Plateau Water Authority. Cumberland Plateau Water Authority Board Chair Greg Hanson said bringing in water from Daddy’s Creek or the Emory River would be the most viable options at that point. “We talked about where we should ... Read More »

Cookeville Regional CEO Buffy Key headed to the state capital to testify against a law that prevents the hospital from hiring certain members of the ER team. Key said the “PARE Law” was put in place in the 1940s. It forces non-teaching medical facilities to contract pathologists, radiologists, anesthesiologists, and other ER workers from outside agencies. Key said the law ... Read More »

Election officials across the Upper Cumberland reported low voter turnout Tuesday, most attributed the limited turnout to rain and typical lack of interest in primary elections. Cumberland County led the way with some 11,500 votes cast in Tuesday’s election, a 24 percent turnout. Election Commissioner Jill Davis said that number is still lower than normal. She said low turnout in ... Read More »

Crossville City Council moved forward with two long-term agreements for the Crossville Airport during a special-called meeting Tuesday. One agreement provides a 30-year lease for Whisper Aero with a 10-year renewal to house maintenance facilities. The second agreement is a five-year contract with renewals for five years with Azure to provide jet business to Crossville. “Whisper is an economic development ... Read More »

Several Upper Cumberland counties let their voices be heard in School Board races Tuesday. Putnam County School Board incumbents Kim Cravens, Dawn Fry, and Lynn McHenry ran unopposed in their individual primaries Tuesday. Putnam County Republicans cast 5,640 votes for Steve Pierce in the Property Assessor voting. No one ran on the Democratic side. On the Cumberland County School Board, ... Read More »

The Upper Cumberland showed its support for former President Donald Trump in the Super Tuesday Primary. With all Cumberland County precincts reporting, Trump tallied 82.9 percent of the Republican primary vote to Haley’s 14.1 percent. Joe Biden finished with 93.5 percent of the Democratic vote. Total turnout Tuesday tallied some 24 percent. 4,189 voters cast ballots early or voted absentee ... Read More »

Former President Donald Trump controlled the Putnam County vote in the Super Tuesday Primary, winning 81 percent of the Republican vote. Just 16 percent of the county’s registered voters cast ballots. Trump finished with 5,674 votes. Nikki Haley garnered 16 percent of Tuesday’s vote. Six other candidates received votes in the Republican primary. In early voting and absentee ballots counts, ... Read More »

The Jackson County Industrial Development Board ratified a purchase-to-sale agreement Tuesday for an industrial building on North Grundy Quarles Highway. The county will pay $100,000 in earnest fees, and close the $1.1 million purchase within 45 days after due diligence. Jackson County Mayor Randy Heady said he hopes to lease the space to an employer that can bring 50-75 jobs ... Read More »

TWRA Boating Enforcement has extended the no-wake zone at Sunset Marina after dangerous incidents there last summer. Marina General Manager Tom Allen said the TWRA conducted a boat traffic and safety study last July. He said during the busy season this year, the entire length of the harbor will be a no-wake zone. Allen said he sees this as a ... Read More »