Latest News

Wait times at Cookeville Regional Medical Center’s Emergency Room have trended longer with the extra volume due to flu, COVID, and RSV. White County EMS discussed the growing wait times for arriving ambulances at a County Steering Committee meeting this week. Cookeville Regional Emergency Department Director Samantha McLerran said wait times are constantly fluctuating, making them difficult to anticipate. “There ... Read More »

Celina Aldermen will not allow any sewer taps outside of the city limits without annexation. Mayor Luke Collins said the issue arose when the city provided sewer lines to an industrial property outside of the city that was later turned into residential housing. Collins said that led to more residences trying to get added to the Celina sewer systems. Collins ... Read More »

Overton County School officials agreed Tuesday to participate in a program designed to correct a vision issue often confused with dyslexia. It’s called Intermittent Central Suppression. Symptoms are identical to dyslexia, often causing misdiagnosis. Director of Schools Donnie Holman said one hour of wearing special glasses each day while reading, writing, or puzzling can correct the condition. “What we were ... Read More »

Celina Aldermen raised the cost for all new water taps installed to account for inflation Tuesday night. The new fees will cost $1,500 for a water tap inside the city and $2,000 for one outside the city, increases of $500. Mayor Luke Collins said the city was losing money every time it installed a tap. “This puts us at a ... Read More »

The Putnam County Sheriff’s Department has concerns about the increased popularity of TCH-infused vape pens. The department’s Drug Task Force Division participated in a raid Friday where an assortment of the cartridges used in these pens were seized. Sheriff Eddie Farris said he suspects the cartridges would have been distributed to minors. Farris said high school SROs have been on ... Read More »

UCDD will host an event Thursday to teach people how to identify and combat human trafficking. Advocate Trent Carter said the training will help people develop an internal radar to detect human trafficking when they see it. He said people often believe the issue does not exist in the Upper Cumberland, but it does. “You know, we have tunnel vision ... Read More »

Upper Cumberland Wineries have petitioned the federal government to make the Upper Cumberland its own American Viticultural Area (AVA). Appalachian Region Wine Producers Association President Rick Riddle said he expects progress on the proposal in the early summer. Riddle said a study from the University of Tennessee found that wine consumers place a high value on these special wine regions. ... Read More »

The Pickett County Health Department will expand its facility, thanks to the joint effort of the county and state. Tennessee Department of Health Facilities Specialist Josh Gipson said there should be an architect chosen for the project by the end of January. Gipson said they could break ground on the project as soon as early summer. “It’s just a matter ... Read More »

White County EMS exploring a policy change to allow ambulances to take patients elsewhere when Cookeville Regional has long ER waits. EMS Director Mike Kerr said those picked up by ambulance have the right to choose which hospital to visit, so long as it borders White County. Kerr said CRMC wait times are often well over an hour. “We’ve got ... Read More »

Overton County Commissioners would not agree to discuss a November Liquor-By-The-Drink referendum Monday night, leaving the issue undecided. Commissioners Patrick McCurdy and Jesse Bowman voted to bring the issue back to the agenda for discussion and a vote. The rest of the commissioners voted against it. Chairman Darwin Clark said it would take take a motion and a vote from ... Read More »