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The Tennessee Department of Transportation broke ground on the highly-anticipated State Route 28 improvement project on Friday morning. TDOT Deputy Commissioner Paul Degges was joined by state and local officials to celebrate the project’s start. He said that the 3.3-mile project will include widening South York Highway and constructing of a new 1,425-foot bridge over Clear Creek. “This project is ... Read More »

Cookeville Regional reporting the lowest COVID numbers since last summer. As of Friday, 13 patients are currently hospitalized, 11 of which are unvaccinated. All patients have been in the hospital for fewer than 28 days. Read More »

White County Director of Schools Kurt Dronebarger said he foresees local budget issues if Governor Bill Lee’s new school funding formula passes. Dronebarger told the White County School Board Thursday night school districts will initially receive more money, but state payments will eventually decrease. “The amount they are projecting to give from the state is going to go down over ... Read More »

Jackson County handed out more than 20 applications for the Tennessee Housing Development Agency HOME Program Thursday afternoon. The program provides grant assistance to help those with low-income, owner-occupied households that need rehabilitation or reconstruction. Mayor Randy Heady said that he’s excited for his community to have the chance for a life-changing opportunity. “We’re somewhere around 24 or 25 percent ... Read More »

Underserved Overton County Students can take home free hotspots through a new district program connecting households. Technology Coordinator Brent Thrasher said some 200 hotspots are available through a free T-Mobile program. “That’s something that we’ve seen grow over the years as there is more of our content and curriculum is online,” Thrasher said. “That need has grown definitely.” Thrasher said ... Read More »

Tennessee Tech President Phil Oldham said applications for the 2023 freshman class are 12-13 percent above the record high. Oldham told the Board of Trustees Thursday during his report. “Ultimately, it’s all about how many show up during the fall, and so, we don’t take anything for granted and we run through the tape as we say,” Oldham said. “But, ... Read More »

A year-long investigation into the illegal sale and use of narcotics led to the arrest and charging of 14 individuals in Putnam County Thursday afternoon. During what the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office is called “Operation March Madness,” methamphetamine, schedule II prescription pain pills, and heroin that tested positive for fentanyl were discovered. Sheriff Eddie Farris said that this type of ... Read More »

The Clay County community rallied around its Lady Bulldogs before they made their way to their first round of the TSSAA tournament. “They were staged all throughout town as we were leaving the high school,” Sheriff Brandon Boone said. “They were on before you crossed the bridge, and they were all through town, and then as we exited the town ... Read More »

Twin Lakes is hoping to earn grant funding from Tennessee’s Emergency Broadband fund. CEO Jonathan West said that they’re applying for a portion of the $400 million pot to expand broadband to coverage to homes in Putnam County. “There are so many things that you can only do online,” West said. “And when you don’t have access to quality broadband ... Read More »

TDOT’s Highway 52 expansion in Celina is in its preliminary engineering phase. Region 2 Assistant Chief Joe Deering said that the project will extend from the south of the central business district towards West Lake Avenue where it will tie back into the existing Highway 52. He said that the hope is to create a safer, less congested route through ... Read More »