Latest News

Cookeville closed a deal Monday that acquired a Gould Drive property to house the city’s Fire Station Three. City Manager James Mills said the process took a lot longer than he would have liked. He said after years of searching, he and Fire Chief Benton Young identified this property as the best they had come across for a reasonable price. ... Read More »

The Girl Scouts of Middle Tennessee office in Cookeville has closed in an effort to increase efficiency within the organization. CEO Danielle Barnes said the office closed because it was deemed unnecessary. Barnes said the Nashville-based organization has a strong focus on efficiency and is able to function even better without the old office. “So for us the priority and ... Read More »

A Tennessee Tech student-edited magazine titled “The Iris Review” rated excellent at a national English teachers contest. Assistant English Professor Erin Hoover teaches a Literary Magazine Editing class where students learn to edit, design, and market the Review. She said the magazine includes student work as well as submissions from across the Upper Cumberland. “We aim to publish the best ... Read More »

Pickett County Schools will provide free meals for all students district-wide through the end of the school year. School Nutrition Supervisor Rebecca Wallin said this year, Tennessee made Medicaid-eligible students certified to receive free lunch, almost doubling the number of eligible students in Pickett County. She said the increase finally made this a fiscal possibility. “A well-fed student, a student ... Read More »

Smart devices are causing a consistent increase in accidental 911 calls across the Upper Cumberland. Van Buren 911 Director Julie Dodson said the number of accidental 911 calls has been rising steadily ever since people started getting their own smartphones. She said people keep their phones unlocked in their pockets, which can often lead to an accidental call. “But over ... Read More »

Cookeville City Council will vote Thursday night on the purchase of three new snow plows and three new salt spreaders after challenges with recent snow and ice. Public Works Director Blake Mayo said within the first 12 hours of this month’s winter storm, all three snow plows broke down at least once. Mayo said the department plans to purchase more ... Read More »

The investigation continues inside the Putnam County Jail after convicted sex offender and felon Jack Janes escaped for several hours Friday. Putnam County Sheriff Eddie Farris said the department will run an investigation for the next several weeks to uncover all of the details of the escape. He said taking a close look at what is happening inside the jail ... Read More »

The State gave Cane Creek Elementary School and Northeast Elementary School an retake on their letter grade, increasing the annual score to a B. The state recalculated elementary school letter grades after spotting a discrepancy between schools that take the second-grade TCAP and those that do not. Putnam County Schools Data and Testing Supervisor Jason Stickler said not all districts ... Read More »

The state will reimburse residents for a firearm safety course thanks to a change in state law that went into effect January 1. The enhance handgun permit, also known as open carry permit, entitles the permittee to carry any handgun which they legally own or possess. The state is offering to reimburse residents using money from the application and processing ... Read More »

The Overton County School Board wants to add a School Resource Officer at REACH Academy. Director of Schools Donnie Holman said REACH Academy is a three-component school housed in a building on the Livingston Academy Campus. He said it functions as a behavioral school, alternative school, and a credit recovery school. He said when Governor Bill Lee funded one SRO ... Read More »