Latest News

Elsie Blaylock has been named the Director of UCHRA’s Van Buren County Head Start Program. During Wednesday’s Board of Directors meeting, Executive Director Mark Farley said it was time to make Blaylock’s position official. “I named Elsie Blaylock as the interim at that time until we knew exactly would happen with the early head start,” Farley said. “Having found out we ... Read More »

The Adult and Teen Challenge of the Upper Cumberland is adding a new Cookeville support group to its Hope for Life program. Executive Director Tim McLauchlin said the addiction recovery and concerned persons group is meant to educate functioning addicts to overcome life controlling habits. “That can be drugs, that can be alcohol, that can be pornography, that can be ... Read More »

The Van Buren County Commission has approved the sale of the old BDS property to a local waste service. Priority Waste originally bid for the Pine Grove Road property in February but asked the commission to table the purchase at that time. Mayor Greg Wilson said the company is now ready to take over the some 15 acres. “My understanding ... Read More »

Cookeville Regional Medical Center will propose a 4% percent increase in operating expenses for the new fiscal year. The total expenses are projected at roughly $321 million, according to CFO Tommye Wells’ presentation to the finance committee Tuesday. Wells said salaries, benefits and supplies make up about 76 percent of the expense budget. “All three of these categories show substantial ... Read More »

School testing time is here in the Upper Cumberland and parents should stay calm to best prepare their children. That’s according to Putnam County District Testing Coordinator Judy Schinbeckler. Schinbeckler said standardized tests are based on what has been taught over the whole school year. “We do not want our students stressing over it but we also don’t want our ... Read More »

Putnam County will pay about nine percent more for employee health, dental and vision insurance. Mayor Randy Porter said that’s better than where the county started. Before bidding out the insurance, the current provider showed a 20-23 percent increase in premiums. The increase would not change an employee’s  plan. “Compared to all the private businesses I talked to we didn’t ... Read More »

TCAT Livingston and other locations across the state are seeing a waiting list for programs. As a result, Governor Bill Lee has proposed $79 million dollars to reduce the some 11,000 people statewide waiting for classes. TCAT Livingston President Myra West said the extra funding is a significant investment that would help feed the demand. “For example, if we have ... Read More »

The Pickett County Commission voted against purchasing a downtown property for extra office space. Members of the commission voted 10-2 against the $90,000 purchase Monday. Commissioner Tony Beaty said he voted no, because the age of the office building was a concern. “With the courthouse built in ’35 that building there was built in ’28,” Beaty said. “I don’t know ... Read More »

A bid approved for the replacement of the Fentress County Health Department roof. A $29,600 bid from Turner Roofing was awarded the project. Finance Director Tyler Arms said there were awnings with soffit found to be rotting, which is going to increase the cost of the project. “This is through the money with the health department, coming down from the ... Read More »

FEMA has been in Jackson County since Monday doing damage assessment from the March flood. According to the state of Tennessee, Jackson County has over $3.9 million in reported damages. Highway Superintendent Preacher Anderson said the county cannot do any work right now that could impact a running stream. “FEMA advised me yesterday and again today, ‘do not start any ... Read More »