Tag Archives: Covid-19

Spring produces a flood of high school students heading to college campuses, like Tennessee Tech, searching for a new home. COVID-19 has changed that this year. Tennessee Tech has turned to virtual tours for recruiting future students. Vice President for Enrollment Management and Career Development Dr. Brandon Johnson said they are trying new strategies to tell Tech’s story and share ... Read More »

The Putnam County Schools will finish the month with a Monday-Wednesday-Friday feeding plan beginning Wednesday. Schools will provide two days worth of meals on both Monday and Wednesday through the Grab-And-Go program at 12 county schools. One breakfast and lunch will be provided each Friday. Bus route deliveries will also be used. The State Department Of Education has been working ... Read More »

Cookeville Regional revenue will be down some $15 million by the end of April, according to Cookeville Mayor Ricky Shelton. The elimination of elective procedures led to an $11 million decline in net revenue this month alone. CRMC lost $4 million in revenue in March. The number of beds used at Cookeville Regional usually stands in the low 200s on ... Read More »

The Cookeville/Putnam County Animal Shelter says adoptions have been steady during COVID-19 even with limited access to the facility. “Intakes have not been as high as they normally would, and our overall shelter population is pretty comfortable,” Shelter Director Jennifer Hutchinson-Tracy. Many worried that pet surrenders would increase because of economic issues for many families. Tracy said that has not ... Read More »

Governor Bill Lee said the state will plan to reopen Tennessee’s economy in May with a “phased reboot” plan. “We need Tennesseans to go back to work,” Lee said. Lee said his stay at home order will be extended until April 30. Lee said an announcement about schools will be made Wednesday. Currently, April 24 stands as the possible return ... Read More »

Van Buren County’s first confirmed COVID-19 case case Monday brought the Upper Cumberland total to 213. Six counties across the region now report double-digit positive cases led by Putnam County’s 87 and Cumberland County’s 43. Macon, Cannon, Dekalb and Smith Counties each have at least ten cases. Van Buren’s first case leaves only Pickett County without a case among Upper ... Read More »

Despite the pandemic, a local honor guard has found safe ways to honor fallen veterans. Cookeville’s Veterans Honor Guard has postponed casket guards and escorting next of kin from their vehicle to the grave site. But Commander Jim McAfee said the guard has paid their respects at more than a dozen services since COVID-19 struck. “We all understand the patriotism, ... Read More »

“Wow, what a day. I never thought in all my life we’d share Easter apart.” An emotional Cookeville First Baptist Church Pastor Scott McKinney began his Easter Sermon Sunday morning in front of an empty sanctuary. “I really miss the church coming together,” McKinney said. A 2018 national survey found more than half of Americans planned to attend Easter services. ... Read More »

Cumberland County’s number of positive COVID-19 cases increased to 40 Saturday while Dekalb County’s number went to nine. The Tennessee Department of Health reported Saturday the number of deaths from the virus topped 100 statewide, with 101 people dying from COVID-19. Statewide, 5,114 cases have been reported among the 66,000 people tested. Upper Cumberland Statistics Putnam (85) Cumberland (40) Macon ... Read More »

Just 228 new COVID-19 cases were reported statewide in Friday’s report from the Tennessee Department Of Health. The trend continues what has been seen all week by state officials who said social distancing and staying at home continues to work. Governor Bill Lee said Thursday citizens cannot let up over the Easter weekend. Across the Upper Cumberland, the Friday total ... Read More »