Latest News

Cookeville-Putnam NAACP will host a prayer vigil this Saturday at McClellan Avenue Church of Christ. The Executive Committee said it feels this is necessary due to the unrest and unwelcome presence of Neo-Nazis and other white supremacists in the community, specifically the West End Park area. The committee said it wants to come together to pray and gather strength from one ... Read More »

The enrollment period for Empower Upper Cumberland begins February 15th. Director Megan Spurgeon shared the start date to local leaders during a UCHRA Policy Council meeting last week. Spurgeon said the pilot initiative will accept up to 800 low-income families to help them move up the economic ladder. “We still have a few more kinks to workout on how that ... Read More »

Cookeville City Council heard more than an hour of comments Thursday night as the controversy over drag shows and subsequent protests continued. Multiple residents expressed concern that city and county leaders did not denounce the hate groups who marched on January 22 along Cedar Avenue. Resident Billy George: “Personally I do think that the silence is an invitation for a ... Read More »

City of McMinnville seeking public input from a community survey to help inform the city’s strategic plan. City Administrator Nolan Ming said the strategic plan helps guide the city as it forward in the next several years. He said they want to have to community’s input to help city leaders inform what areas need to be focused on. “We want ... Read More »

Power of Putnam Executive Director Bill Gibson said opioid abatement money could be used to deploy research based strategies to reduce vaping. Upper Cumberland counties will soon receive its first share of settlement money from pharmaceutical distributors. Gibson said he believes some money should be used for cessation programs to help youth addicted to nicotine. “Vaping has become a huge ... Read More »

The Overton County Budget and Purchasing Committee did not take action on four bids for a partial jail roof replacement project. Sheriff’s Department Chief Deputy Tim Poore said the committee instructed him to further investigate the companies since they are not local. “They were probably just a little bit more than what we would hope for, but they were all ... Read More »

Upper Cumberland school systems continue to work through issues with finding school bus drivers and substitute drivers. DeKalb County Transportation Manager Billy Rhody said he said they have routes covered, but do not have enough substitutes. He said when a driver is out, they have to make changes and double up routes in order to cover all pickups and drop-offs. ... Read More »

Rehab capacity and vaping amoung the most serios substance abuse issues facing the Upper Cumberland. Those the results of an Opioid Summit featuring mayors and local law enforcement. The discussion centered on how to best use opioid abatement money coming to the local level. UCHRA Executive Director Mark Farley reported the findings to the Policy Council Wednesday. He said vaping ... Read More »

Cookeville Public Works Department working through its right-of-way acquisition for Phase II of East 10th Street upgrades. Director Blake Mayo said the right-of-way acquisition phase is one of the busiest periods of a project for the city. “There were 29 parcels to purchase and we’ve bought already close to 20 parcels, we’re already closed and come to an agreement with ... Read More »

Livingston Municipal Airport working to relocate its fuel farm to better serve pilots using the facility. Airport Committee Chair Jason Duke said because the airport is beginning to service more regional-size jet aircraft, they need more space for planes to fuel up. He said relocating the fuel farm itself will help the airport in quite a few ways, including making ... Read More »