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Cookeville Planning Department will further study expanded zoning for campgrounds and RV parks after the planning commission postponed a vote on the item. The proposal considered would allow tourists in local commercial zoning. Chair Jim Woodford said the commission wants to form requirements that suit tourists before making a decision. “It is a request for RVs that we do not ... Read More »

Byrdstown awarded a $630,000 grant to install automatic meter readers across its water system. Mayor Sam Gibson said the town will match the project with $68,000 in local funds. “Hopefully when we do this and bid this, we are hoping to get at least a couple thousand,” Gibson said. “We have about 3,000 meters in the district. We would like ... Read More »

Sparta facing a slight delay in paving efforts with its fall projects now pushed back until the spring. Public Works Director Dillard Quick said the city’s approved paver rescheduled after a separate state road project took priority. “They had more work this fall than anticipated,” Quick said. “That doesn’t mean we are not going to do our paving this year. ... Read More »

The Putnam County School System named its Teachers of the Year Monday. Cane Creek Elementary School’s Alicia UpChurch, Prescott South Middle School’s Margie Cavender and VITAL School virtual teacher Lucinda Queen. Putnam Schools considered teachers with at least three years of experience with exceptional gains in student achievement. They are now in the running to potentially be named the state ... Read More »

Cookeville Water Department having to change its plans for the Joff Drive Waterline project. Water Quality Control Director Barry Turner said the goal is to get rid of an old waterline that runs under the Putnam County Bus Garage and the stock barn property. He said after initial work was started, crews determined a change would be necessary. “When we ... Read More »

Savannah Buckner has been the first young lady to earn her Eagle Scout in Putnam County. Buckner said she joined the Boy Scouts of America in 2019 after BSA changed its rules to allow girls. She said her father and her brothers had all participated, and she followed in their footsteps. “I saw what my brothers were doing, making fires, ... Read More »

Clay County Mayor Dale Reagan said the county is about “halfway” through the process of putting the jail project out to bid. Reagan said there had been setbacks due to the city needing to upgrade sewer lines. He said the most recent setback was the County having to resubmit the bid documents to USDA. “We had to go through that ... Read More »

Cookeville Planning Commission voted to deny a rezoning request for a Planned Residential Development (PRD) on East 10th Street. The PRD would create a 53-lot subdivision of detached and attached single-family homes. It was met with large opposition by community members from the surrounding properties like on Inglewood Drive and Wall Avenue. Commissioner Jim Stafne said he was impressed with ... Read More »

DeKalb County High School named a new recipient of the Supporting Postsecondary Access in Rural Communities (SPARC) grant. SPARC grants from the Tennessee Higher Education Commission (THEC) are awarded to distressed and at-risk counties in the state. CTE Director Brad Leach said the school is set to receive $102,000 to upgrade and enhance CTE programs. “This money is really going ... Read More »

The Overton County Commission applying for grant funding so local food pantries can purchase new equipment Monday. County Executive Steven Barlow said the some $500,000 would flow through the county. Barlow said then, operations such as churches or non-profits can apply for a share. “I found a food grant, and I reached out to them to find out more about ... Read More »