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Tuesday is Star-Spangle Banner Day in Tennessee, and one Upper Cumberland Organization encourages residents to remember the meaning behind the nation’s anthem. The region’s Daughters of 1812 chapter is dedicated to increasing knowledge of the War of 1812. President Charlotte Reynolds said the song was written the morning of September 14th when Francis Scott Key saw the aftermath of Britain’s ... Read More »

Cumberland County is taking community input as it works towards creating a parks and recreation master plan. Mayor Allen Foster said a survey is up on the county website. Foster said if the county is going to spend money, it needs to be on what the people want. Foster said having a master plan in hand opens a lot of ... Read More »

Don’t be surprised to see more bluebirds around Cookeville next spring. The Cookeville Bluebird Club is making an impact on the bird’s population in just one year of existence. Co-Founder Lynne Maddux said manmade nesting boxes have gone up at Dogwood and Cane Creek Parks, The Golden Eagle Golf Course and Averitt Express. Maddux said a project that started with ... Read More »

Putnam County Commissioners will move their county commission meetings back to the Cookeville Community Center. Mayor Randy Porter said that after conversations with Chair Mike Atwood, they made the decision citing concern over rising COVID numbers. “I know our hospital is feeling the effects and having a lot of COVID cases and is kind of maxed out right now so ... Read More »

Tennessee Tech’s Center for Rural Innovation is partnering with Algood to enhance the city’s brand and tourism prospects. Tech’s Director of Innovation and Entrepreneurship Michael Aikens said that the TCRI program employs Tennessee Tech students to bridge gaps between information, resources, and knowledge for businesses and municipalities. “We’re able to fill those gaps and we literally have empirical evidence that ... Read More »

The Putnam County School System is taking another step towards an expansion at White Plains Academy. Deputy Director Tim Martin said a land survey has been contracted. Martin said the purpose is finding the best location on the campus for the VITAL Center and Student Services. “They’ll have to go out there and determine if there’s any water lines, electric ... Read More »

White County High School will be getting some air upgrades through a new chiller and boiler. Director of Schools Kurt Dronebarger said the equipment that heats and cools the air has been in use since the school was constructed in the 1960’s. “We’ve updated our school many times since then,” Dronebarger said. “We’ve put additions for the school, but we’re ... Read More »

Informational flyers in Cookeville utility bill statements have caused an influx in smoke alarm installations. Interim Chief Benton Young said that Cookeville Fire Department has been partnering with the Tennessee State Fire Marshal to provide the resource for some time. He said that they decided to put flyers in bill statements to increase awareness of the service. “We hope to ... Read More »

The Pickett County Board of Education has approved its third round of COVID relief funding with the main focus on learning loss. Director of Schools Diane Elder said a portion of the $1.3 million will give the high school three years of summer school and tutoring services. “Students will be chosen according to the amount of learning loss and referred ... Read More »

The national anthem: What makes the song special? Many may not know that despite being performed countless times at sporting events and various celebrations, it can actually be a technically challenging song to sing. Monday is Star-Spangled Banner Day. Tennessee Tech Professor of Music Dr. Wendy Mullen said that the most challenging part of the song is the voice range ... Read More »