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Two children reading a book on a fallen log by a stream. That’s the new statue unveiled Friday afternoon at Livingston’s Millard Oakley Public Library. The statue celebrates children and reading at the library. Assistant Library Director Terri Jordan said the statue was in memory of Linda Winningham Lamson, who gave a bequest to the library before her death in ... Read More »

Contractors are expected to demolish the Old Sparta Hardware Store and clear the property in a matter of weeks. Sparta Codes Officer Mike O’Neal said he spoke with owner Trey Bane Wednesday. He said the contractors Bane has lined up will be responsible for the lane closures and permits needed to clear the property. O’Neal said a request for a ... Read More »

Cookeville City Council passed on final reading Thursday a change to the zoning code allowing private and parochial schools in the Commercial-Industrial Mixed Use District. The council asked city staff and the planning commission to consider changes to the rules in that district, potentially eliminating rules that might not apply to schools. Those changes will be considered at a later ... Read More »

Sparta Mayor Jerry Lowery has secured a state pledge to help fund the purchase of 120 acres of riverfront property for a new public park. Next, Lowery wants Aldermen to consider the $1.8 million purchase. Lowery said an opportunity to strike a deal like this inside Sparta city limits is unheard of. “This will be a destination spot for generations ... Read More »

Sparta Aldermen voted Thursday night to raise water and utility rates for the first time in five years. City Administrator Tonya Tindle said the state rejected the city’s water budget last year. She said for several years now, Sparta utilities have been barely breaking even or losing money every month. She said instead of the current $18.54 for the first ... Read More »

Cookeville Public Works working this week to replace 100 feet of storm drain at the intersection of Fourth Street and Washington Avenue to eliminate flooding issues. Public Works Director Mary Beth Elrod said for years, when heavy rain occurs, a 30-inch diameter pipe clogs. The new drainpipe will be 60 inches wide and 38 inches tall. She said the much ... Read More »

A local preservationist and member of the Daughters of the American Revolution has concerns about the future of the White County Rock House. White County is in the process of purchasing land surrounding the building to secure it for the state. The state plans to renovate the facility, returning it, according state officials, to the way it appeared in the ... Read More »

Cookeville Regional’s Kayla Sircy has earned her Autism Spectrum Disorder Clinical Specialist certification. Sircy is a Pediatric Occupational Therapist. Sircy said some 90 percent of the kids she works with daily have autism. She said she learned play-based learning mechanisms that help these children meet their goals and function in their daily lives. “It’s just a great need in society ... Read More »

Fentress County encouraging residents to bring roadside garbage to convenience centers for its Every Day Is Earth Day event this week. Fentress County Newcomers Secretary Susan Withstandley said roadside trash is typically the first complaint she hears from people who move into Fentress County. The Newcomers Group, Fentress County Solid Waste, and The Big South Fork Back Country Horsemen are ... Read More »

Downtown Gainesboro’s William M. Gailbreath house will be restored and turned into a bed and breakfast, thanks to a state grant. Owner Sean Zearfoss said he purchased the home, hoping to make it an attraction that will bring more visitors to town and boost the local economy. He said the Folk Victorian structure was built around 1900 and is one ... Read More »