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Putnam County Sheriff Eddie Farris said he has no complaints as to the response to a perceived threat at Cookeville High School Wednesday. Farris said the his office is always the lead response when it comes to school threats. ‘We’re the ones that have the school resource officers in the school, so the sheriff is in charge of that,” Farris ... Read More »

Labor Day marks the end of summer boating season for most, but it’s important to remain vigilant while celebrating this weekend. TWRA reports that Tennessee has already seen 24 boating-related fatalities this year an increase from 17 at the same time last year. The 24 fatalities have surpassed the year total of 22 for 2021. TWRA Wildlife Officer Dustin Buttram: ... Read More »

The new group Friends of the Jackson County Animals making progress toward becoming a certified non-profit. Director Mark Pack said the group has been recognized by the state as a non-profit and has received its tax number. He said they are expecting official 501c3 status in the next week or so. “Every day it seems like we’re making three steps ... Read More »

Both employee budgets and the city budget could take a hit from Cookeville’s City Employee Health Insurance. City Manager James Mills said that the city’s health insurance is self-funded, meaning the city and the employees contribute to a fund to pay claims. He said that with COVID and major claims depleting the city’s health insurance fund balance over the last ... Read More »

Maternal mortality rates in the United States compare to that of third-world countries, but a new $1 million federal investment seeks to aid Tennessee mothers Part of that investment will focus on rural moms. Rebecca Kojak is the Administrative Director for Cookeville Regional’s Women’s Health Services. She said the most significant issues in maternal care across the Upper Cumberland include ... Read More »

Cumberland County EMA developing a new emergency services app. Director Travis Cole said the app will streamline all emergency communications, including weather bulletins, school closures, and road conditions. “I think it’s going to be beneficial and time will tell,” Cole said. “With it being a free download for iPhone and Android, I see it taking off and being pretty popular. ... Read More »

Sparta Police Chief Doug Goff said a new police department is a need in the next three to five years. Goff told the Board of Aldermen about the cramped facility during a work session after Alderman Jim Floyd asked about the department’s long-term plan. Goff said the department has outgrown the current facility. “I would like to see at some ... Read More »

The Upper Cumberland Habitat for Humanity will soon add DeKalb County to its service area. Executive Director Pam Ealey said the DeKalb chapter was volunteer-ran for several years. Ealey said the affiliate has faced challenges keeping the mission going under that model. “At DeKalb many of them have been involved for the whole 20 years, and they all want to ... Read More »

About an hour-long lockdown at Cookeville High School this afternoon after a student reported herself to the school system’s Crisis Hotline, saying she had a gun and planned to hurt herself and others. Director of Schools Corby King said the Crisis Counselor contacted Cookeville Police, who then contacted the school’s SRO. After the school went into hard lockdown, law enforcement ... Read More »

The Sparta Board of Aldermen will vote on a pay adjustment plan Thursday night that would impact 67 employees. The plan would increase pay by $2.32 for employees in pay grades two through seven. Mayor Jerry Lowery said the city needs to take action after losing nine workers over the past year. “I think it is something that we probably ... Read More »