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The Putnam Educational Partnership (PEP) Foundation paid off the lunch debt for all students on free and reduced lunches. Executive Director Katelyn Steakley said the foundation covered almost $15,000 in lunch debt. She said that was made possible through the foundation’s community donations. “Unfortunately debts such as lunch debt can follow students throughout their educational careers,” Steakley said. “It can ... Read More »

Putnam County having to postpone presenting its preliminary plat for the new county bus garage at the Cookeville Planning Commission. The new bus garage is set to be off of Tennessee Avenue. County Mayor Randy Porter said the engineer asked for the postponement after running into issues with TVA. “So we’re in the process of getting all those plans finished ... Read More »

Sparta’s 2023 paving project began roadwork on Monday. Public Works Director Dillard Quick said the project started some three years ago when the city graded the streets and began working on the worst. “There are a few that are bad and it’s because we had to go back and do sewer and water upgrades on the road,” Quick said. “And ... Read More »

Cookeville Planning Commission approved the rezoning of a 10-acre tract on South Jefferson and Old Sparta Road Monday night. The rezoning would change the property from high-density residential to local commercial. Community Development Director Jon Ward said the planning department wanted to rezone the area to a classification that would allow for both commercial and residential development opportunities, and not ... Read More »

A local towing company is for community donations to deliver to Mississippi to help the relief efforts of those affected by the weekend tornado. Rush Towing LLC Owner Steve Rush said that he has been making disaster response trips since 2018. He said this marks around 20 trips he has made to communities in need. “God puts it on my ... Read More »

DeKalb County officials will explore options to build a new County Criminal Justice Center. County Mayor Matt Adcock said the current county jail does not meet certain code standards. During recent meetings with state officials, Adcock said the Tennessee Corrections Institute’s Bob Bass recommended a brand-new criminal justice center rather than just upgrading the current jail. “Now a concern is ... Read More »

Tennessee Tech Professor Julie Baker recognized with the OVC’s inaugural Outstanding Faculty Commitment to Student Success Award. The Associate Dean of the School of Education has served at Tech for some 17 years. She said student success begins with the social connections students build in Putnam County. Baker said one student stuck with her. “So I walked with him that ... Read More »

The potential for a T-DOT project to create a roundabout in Putnam County may be concerning to some. White County Executive Denny Wayne Robinson said when a similar situation occurred in White County a few years ago, he shared those concerns. He said now, he and others feel differently. “I’ll tell you what kind of sold me on it is ... Read More »

Pickett County Commission will move forward with a feasibility study for the Bill Dance Signature Lakes project. County Executive Stephen Bilbrey said the county received just one bid after having to rebid the project. He said that is because the work is very specialized and requires certain qualifications to even be considered. “Once this study is completed it will actually ... Read More »

Several Upper Cumberland counties struggling with having road signs stolen. Clay County Sheriff Brandon Boone said this has been an issue for several years and is not something new. He said he thinks teens who are up to mischief do not understand the consequences stealing a road sign can have. “We have a lot of new deputies and new EMS ... Read More »