Tag Archives: UCHRA

A state audit of the Upper Cumberland Human Resources Agency found four findings, two related to board oversight. In the audit of all the state’s human resources agencies released Tuesday, the state comptroller’s office found excessive absenteeism by UCHRA board members. In fiscal year 2019, 28 of the 51 policy council members attended less than half the meetings. 18 of ... Read More »

Van Buren County’s Convenience centers have reduced Saturday hours. The lack of communication about the change did not sit well with Van Buren County Commissioner Bill Mosley during Tuesday night’s Commissioners meeting. “Now I don’t like to be blindsided,” Mosley said. “It’s very embarrassing to have to be notified that the hours are going to be changed and people calling ... Read More »

As cold weather begins, UCHRA plans to use a $240,000 grant to set up shelter for people waiting on the UCHRA bus routes. UCHRA Executive Director Mark Farley said there are routes running in a circle to take those in need of transportation where they need to go. Farley said this started in Cookeville and will look to spread shelters ... Read More »

UCHRA’s Transportation Service Director Rebecca Harris is retiring after 35 years. Harris called the local system one of the best rural transit systems in the state. “We have gone from 70 employees in transit to over 200 transit employees,” Harris said. “Our funding levels when I first started in transit were around $800,000 a year, and we are around 10 ... Read More »

The Upper Cumberland’s city and county mayors made a two day retreat to Granville to work on planning for the future together. UCHRA Executive Director Mark Farley led the retreat. He said the mayors worked on strategic planning and what types of programs UCHRA could implement. Farley said he and the mayors discussed the next steps to improve the Upper ... Read More »

October 30 is National Weatherization Day as the cold weather months begin. UCHRA Weatherization Assistance Program Manager Tommy Simcox said this day is about boosting participation for this program. Simcox said low-income residents in the Upper Cumberland deserve the comfort this program brings. “It’s to highlight the importance of the program that saves homes energy and improves the health and ... Read More »

Three months of shutdowns affecting its youth residential facilities will leave UCHRA in the red to the tune of about $450,000. The good news, according to Executive Director Mark Farley, youth are once again being served in the three facilities and the economics are turning around. “Since the court systems opened back up, you know, we’ve we’ve had two good ... Read More »

Social work and police work have been teamed up for over five weeks now in Cookeville and some 45 cases have already been worked. UCHRA Substance Abuse Solutions Director Glen Sayes said he’s been overwhelmed by the programs possibilities. Sayes said a system has been created to help the city keep track of the work being done. “We give them ... Read More »

The UCHRA is working to make the elderly, disabled and low income residents of the Upper Cumberland safe and comfortable this winter. Weatherization Assistance Program Manager Tommy Simcox said the program works with contractors to fix windows, doors and heating and cooling units for those in need. Simcox said doing this work is about meeting any challenge to provide someone ... Read More »

The UCHRA’s Van Buren Head Start program has a new interim director. Elsie Blalock will take over for Karla Hillis, who announced her retirement after 23 years as director. Executive Director Mark Farley said the results of the grant for the three proposed head start centers will determine the future of the position. “Our thoughts are we would hire as ... Read More »