Tag Archives: Fentress County

The Fentress County Commission approved $25,000 in funds to proceed with a partnership with the UT Medical Center for a stand-alone emergency room. County Executive Jimmy Johnson said the funds will help both partners complete the administrative tasks to get the project underway. “We’re going to go into a 12-month (partnership) with them to get some hurdles covered, uncovered, or ... Read More »

Fentress County is considering a partnership with the University of Tennessee Medical Center to bring emergency services back to the county. County Executive Jimmy Johnson said the partnership will be a difference maker to the community. “It would be a tremendous help to Fentress County and our surrounding rural areas,” Johnson said. “If we could just have something here in ... Read More »

The NHC Cookeville long-term care facility reported 11 positive COVID cases Sunday. The cluster includes six positive tests among patients and five positive tests among employees. One patient and one employee have already recovered. Another patient has been transferred to the hospital. The South Walnut Avenue facility, home to 83 residents, reports one additional case under investigation. Cookeville’s branch becomes ... Read More »

The Fentress County Fair Board will host a carnival after local residents complained about the cancellation of this year’s fair. “We have a group of people here begging us to do something for our community to have some entertainment and things to get out and do,” Fentress County Fair Board Treasurer Cindy Smith said. “We are a small county, and ... Read More »

Fentress County has officially moved off the Tennessee distressed county list to only at-risk. The Appalachian Regional Commission annually categorizes all counties in Tennessee as distressed, at-risk, transitional or competitive based on economic status. Fentress County Executive Jimmy Johnson said the economic improvement is due to the workers of Fentress. “The workforce that we have,” Johnson said. “If something happens ... Read More »

The Fentress County budget is on its way to the state after the county passed its 2020-21 version including a pay increase for county employees Monday night. County Executive Jimmy Johnson said the commission was able to pass the new budget with no tax increase. “It was a good night,” Johnson said. “It was a good night for the taxpayers. ... Read More »

The Fentress County Commission is considering issuing up to $9.2 million in bonds to refinance the county jail. County Executive Jimmy Johnson said the refinance would save the county over $2 million. “It will actually take two to three years off of the final sum of it,” Johnson said. “It will also reduce the payment yearly. And it will also ... Read More »

Fentress County Commissioner Wade Matthews was laid to rest Sunday. County Executive Jimmy Johnson said Matthews’ loss is a huge blow to the community. “Words really can’t describe him,” Johnson said. “Words can’t describe his chair being empty. It’s just a sad time. But Wade would say, ‘buckle up and go forward.’ Like I said before, he’ll be sadly missed. ... Read More »

Northern areas of the Upper Cumberland saw training rain and thunder Saturday night as storms trained out of Kentucky. By 3:40am Sunday morning, one National Weather Service observer reported 2.77 inches of rain in Celina. A flash flood warning was issued as the storms began to unwind over Clay, Pickett and Fentress Counties Sunday morning. In Jackson County, EMS reported ... Read More »

A positive budget outlook has officials in Fentress County eyeing a pay increase for some county workers. County Executive Jimmy Johnson said fiscal responsibility has left Fentress County on solid financial ground. He said commissioners try to treat county money like it was their own. “They have proven to do that,” Johnson said. “I know a lot of places are ... Read More »