Latest News

Long-time Jackson County Basketball Coach Jim Brown will be inducted into the TSSAA Hall of Fame class of 2022. Brown began coaching the Lady Blue Devils in 1992 accumulating over 600 wins and seven state championships. Brown said the accomplishment ranks on the top of his list over his 30 year career. “You work and grow up around it and ... Read More »

Tennessee Tech Faculty Senate President Jeannette Luna said Governor Bill Lee’s proposed budget is exciting for university faculty. Included in the proposal a four percent salary pool increase for higher education employees. Luna said if passed, retention and recruitment of employees could be more successful. “The Governor’s budget this year is very healthy for higher education here in the state ... Read More »

A Cookeville non-profit that supports individuals with disabilities sees a new state law as a step in the right direction. The Precious Cargo Act went into effect this year and helps certain citizens better interact with law enforcement or first responders. Community Options Executive Director Kristine Shirley said the act will help with communication barriers. “Not all of the public ... Read More »

Staffing in the Pickett County Schools is returning to normal after seeing its highest COVID number since the pandemic began. Director of Schools Diane Elder said the school system shut down for two days last month due to COVID cases among the staff. “Our numbers are a little bit closer to normal,” Elder said. “Not quite there, but we are ... Read More »

Sparta White County Chamber of Commerce President Marvin Bullock said he still has concerns when it comes TWRA’s cutting project in White County. TWRA said at this time the habitat project will not occur on the north side of the Bridgestone Firestone Wilderness Area. However, the agency indicates the southern project will move forward. Bullock said cutting at the southern ... Read More »

Jackson County needs more information before making any financial commitments with a potential new school. County Mayor Randy Heady said while it could be financially possible with help from the state, it’s not something the county had planned on pursuing in the near future. “As far as the county is being in a borrowing position, of course, we have a ... Read More »

Clay County Commission will consider the pay raise for Clay EMS workers at its meeting on Monday. Mayor Dale Reagan said that the raise would equate to about a dollar on the hour per employee, totaling $18,000 on the county’s side. “We’re not alone in this because everybody’s had a problem trying to retain good employees,” Reagan said. “So whatever ... Read More »

Portobello America is working to set up a live cam for people to view its construction progress. Vice President of Manufacturing and Outsourcing James Durbin said that the excavation process has already begun. He said that by June, progress should be visible from the interstate. “Typically it would take 12 to 14 months,” Durbin said. “It’s a little longer, a ... Read More »

A long-serving DeKalb Mental Health Counselor Kay Quintero said that the best part of her career was the people. Quintero recently retired after 13 years at Haven of Hope in Smithville. She said that it’s her desire to help people that had kept her going in her career so long. “We did not have a mental health center in Smithville, ... Read More »

Jackson County’s Poke Sallet Festival is planning on a return this May. The event hosted by the American Legion Post 129 is making a comeback for what would be its 44th year after COVID. American Legion Member Everette Vanhooser said that it’s important to them to keep the tradition alive. “We knew that if we did not step forward that ... Read More »