Latest News

Putnam County Schools seeking employees for the School Age Care program. Capshaw Site Director Ashlee Vaughn said the program offers child care and activities both before and after school. She said it provides a fun, safe place for children to go while parents work. “It is a very rewarding job, you come in and you light up the kids’ faces ... Read More »

Cookeville City Council still expected to have its regularly scheduled meeting on election day, August 4th. City Clerk Darian Coons said that the next council will ideally be sworn in at the next regularly scheduled meeting. “It’s all dependent upon when the election gets certified,” Coons said. “So as long as the election gets certified and there are no problems ... Read More »

Saturday marks the 67th anniversary of Cordell Hull’s passing. UCDD Public Historian Mark Dudney said while Hull might be best known as the longest-serving Secretary of State or the Father of the United Nations, he has many ties to the Upper Cumberland, including Pickett, Clay, and Jackson Counties. “He is considered one of the favorite sons of the Upper Cumberland,” ... Read More »

The National Suicide Prevention Hotline has changed to an easier three-digit number. State Mental Health and Substance Abuse Commissioner Marie Williams said 9-8-8 is what Tennessee residents will now dial for mental health emergencies. “It’s absolutely good news to me, and I hope it is good news to everybody out there that is in a crisis,” Williams said. “When you ... Read More »

A new water treatment plant moving forward in Gainesboro. Mayor Lloyd Williams said the proposed site is within a mile of the current plant on the same tract of land. “To renovate the old one, it was going to be around $8.5 million to renovate it, and we just found out in the last meeting there was a little bit ... Read More »

Livingston has been named a grant recipient to help build a new dog park. The city applied for the Boyd Foundation Dog Park Dash Grant. Downtown Revitalization Chairman Ray Evans said the non-profit announced Livingston as one of the 15 to win $25,000. “The location is a one acre site that is part of the former shirt factory property,” Evans ... Read More »

Warren County Executive Jimmy Haley said it is time for a new County Animal Control Facility. Haley said an influx of 80 animals over just a few weeks has made it clear that the current building does not meet the current demands for services. He said the building was not built to be an animal control facility and also doesn’t ... Read More »

Jackson County School Board approved the school system’s new memorandum of understanding Thursday night. Director of Schools Kristy Brown said that the process occurs every three years and updates the agreements between administration and teachers. She said that this year’s process went smoothly and resulted in some great wins for teachers. “We were able to update some of the pay ... Read More »

Cookeville will spend some $15,000 to update the engineering plans for sidewalks along Interstate Drive. The project has been delayed by T-DOT approvals and discussion. The city will contract with Knoxville-based Cannon and Cannon to include multiple changes along Interstate Drive since the project first began in 2017. The first contract on the project approved May 3, 2017. Council also ... Read More »

The Tennessee Municipal League has recognized Sparta with an Achievement Award for Excellence in Public Works. City Administrator Brad Hennessee said the honor shows the hard work of the department, Mayor and Board of Aldermen. “The department has been faithful in the undertaken of all of this,” Hennessee said. “We knew this it was heading into the right direction, but ... Read More »