Latest News

Tennessee requires students to be immunized in order to participate in a public school. White County Coordinated School Health Director Marcie Kinnard said with most classes starting around the Upper Cumberland, it is a good time to remind parents what is needed. “If your child is entering kindergarten you need to have them up-to-date for kindergarten shots,” Kinnard said. “That ... Read More »

The new Chamber Young Professional Program represents the future of Overton County. That is according to Highlands Economic Development’s Stephen Crook, one of the speakers at Thursday’s Annual Chamber Meeting. Young members were sworn in at the end of Thursday’s meeting as were new members of the Chamber Board of Directors. “For small communities across America, getting older is a ... Read More »

The idea of spending COVID relief funding on pay raises and new hires have been discussed as ways to fill positions. However, County Government Consultant Ben Rodgers said American Rescue Plan and ESSER funding should address long-term goals, without reoccurring costs. Rodgers said the funding will not be there in a few years, bringing repercussions for trying to solve short-term ... Read More »

Cookeville took the next step Thursday to sell some seven acres on Tennessee Avenue to a concrete mixing company. The Cookeville Industrial Development Board passed a resolution allowing the city to transfer the deed to the Board. Attorney Kent Moore said then, the parcel will be sold for $70,500 to a land trust associated with Garrott Brothers Continuous Mix. “So ... Read More »

Putnam County Fire Department working the scene of residential structure fire in the Hickory Flatts neighborhood on Bradshaw Boulevard. Public Information Officer Drew Swink said seven apparatuses responded to the call around noon Thursday. Swink said crews contained the fire to the attic of the home in about five minutes. Swink said no one was home during the incident resulting ... Read More »

The national ban on evictions will expire on July 31, but renters still have options to try to remain in their home. Legal Aid Society of Middle Tennessee and the Cumberlands Attorney Bill Bush said landlords cannot lock out, force out or shut utilities off to get someone off the property. Bush said if a tenant is not out by ... Read More »

A night of Texas Holdem in Gainesboro to honor the life of a father, husband and friend. The inaugural Stacks for Steve is coming this Saturday at 5:00 PM to raise money for the Steve Eugene Johnson Memorial Scholarship fund. Event Host Jordan Hunter said up to 60 participants are welcome to the eight table tournament. “We wanted to start ... Read More »

The final design on a Cookeville Sewer Extension to Tennessee Avenue is wrapping up. Water and Sewer Department Director Ronnie Kelly said the city has his request to use roughly $3 million in American Rescue Plan money for the project. Kelly said the American Rescue Plan money has not been received yet, but expects spending talks to ramp up quickly. ... Read More »

School shopping can get expensive, so how should you budget your money for new school clothes or supplies. Putnam County Ag. Extension Director Michelle Parrott said for some, back to school shopping can even compete with holiday spending. Parrott said avoiding budgetary issues starts with planning. “You need to make a list of those things of hose things that no ... Read More »

Gainesboro Elementary School is welcoming students back to school on Thursday with a luau theme. Principal Tina Cassetty said the school always looks for a fun theme when it comes to parent engagement events. Cassetty said the event starts at 5:00 PM with an informational meeting, but then comes the moment students wait for all summer. “The kids are very ... Read More »