Latest News

DeKalb County’s Recovery Court will be one of 12 recovery courts featured in a new Tennessee Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services video series. Coordinator Kate Arnold said that the video highlighted how DeKalb was able to operate during COVID to ensure the needs of its clients were still being met in a pandemic. She said that she ... Read More »

The UCHRA Executive Committee approved a DeKalb County group home for public auction Wednesday. Executive Director Mark Farley said the land has been appraised at $675,000. The money from auction would pay off $200,000 on a remaining loan. The remainder of funds would roll into the agency’s reserves. The two tracts of land include some 110 acres as well as ... Read More »

A new small park has been approved at the Monterey Depot. The “pocket park” will be located in front of the roundhouse by the recently installed Ludwig Light. Cultural Administrator Rafferty Cleary said the Depot Society will fund the project after the Board of Aldermen approved the use of land. “That’s an area that probably needs to be spruced up,” ... Read More »

The first few days of warm weather have the potential to start some pre-spring blooming. Putnam County UT Extension Agent Wayne Key said that buds will start to swell as the weather begins to warm, typically around the first week of March. However, the warm days but frosty nights can pose a problem to crops like fruit trees. “They’ll begin ... Read More »

Cookeville City Council will consider a new cyber security insurance policy. Chief Technology Officer Steve Corder said that their usual contractor is trying to move out of serving municipalities, and would be tripling the city’s price. He said that the new policy would cover costs up to $1 million, and would have a premium of just under $39,000. “Hopefully we ... Read More »

Cookeville is taking steps to work on expanding the Rail Trail from the Cookeville Depot to Cane Creek. Leisure Services Director Rick Woods said that they hope to address potential challenges to expansion through an agreement with a strategic planning group. “How do we make a trail that connects with our depot trial head and goes westward towards West End ... Read More »

Senator Bill Hagerty has invited Putnam County Sheriff Eddie Farris to join an expedition to the US Mexico border. Farris said the purpose to see first hand what issues the country faces when it comes to drug trafficking. “It’s going to be sometime toward the end of March or first of April,” Farris said. “I look forward to that trip, ... Read More »

Clay County High School said that the success of the class of 2021’s ACT scores is a result of its hardworking students. Principal Teia Arms said that the class was number one in the state for ACT testing improvements. She said that 48 percent of the class achieved the benchmark score of 21 or higher. “As much as we would ... Read More »

Van Buren County accepting bids to renovate its Old Masonic Building to house a daycare facility. The County Commission moved forward with the project Tuesday night. Three private parties have expressed interest in leasing the building. Mayor Greg Wilson said he estimates the work to cost about $30,000. Wilson said using American Rescue Plan money for the project could be ... Read More »

The Cookeville UCHRA Office at Jefferson Avenue could be relocated in the next few years. The UCHRA Executive Committee approved Executive Director Mark Farley to explore properties suitable for a new building Wednesday. Farley said he wanted to start the process since the current building lease ends in five years. “You got to start planning now,” Farley said. “The real ... Read More »