Tag Archives: Upper Cumberland

The Upper Cumberland will be freezin’ for a reason on March 6 with the second annual Polar Plunge in the region. Upper Cumberland Polar Plunge Director Kaydra Cash said donating and fundraising for the plunge helps support the Upper Cumberland’s Special Olympic teams with equipment and travel expenses. Although, Cash said that because of COVID, supporters will be able to ... Read More »

Tennessee Tech is working towards a long-term diversity goal, after creating a short-term plan to address diversity within departments. President Phil Oldham said with minority students making up 17 percent of the campus population, the goal is to reach 22 percent. Oldham said there is not a set time frame, but would like to see this change in the next ... Read More »

The U.S. Surgeon General’s Office has released six actions that can be taken to address the public health issue of suicide. Michael Anderson is Regional Director Upper Cumberland Tennessee Suicide Prevention Network. Anderson said the Surgeon General is focusing on best practices through evidence based approaches that have worked. “I think it’s important to note that we’ve already been doing ... Read More »

Jackson County High School Student Zachary Pennington said volunteering his film making skills is his way to thank his hometown. Pennington’s video production with the county’s chamber of commerce led to the recognition as one of the Governor’s Volunteer Star Award winners in 2021. The annual award seeks to honor an adult and youth volunteer from each of Tennessee’s 95 ... Read More »

Alice Barlow of Jackson County said volunteering to her is all about making a change. Barlow is one of eight Governor’s Volunteer Stars Award honorees in the Upper Cumberland. Barlow said she first came to Jackson County in 1968 and made it her mission to improve her hometown. “I got here and fell in love with the area,” Barlow said. ... Read More »

Cases of the flu have significantly dropped so far this winter, and COVID precautions seem to be the reason why. That is according to Cookeville Physician Dr. James Batson. Batson said the United States is following the same trend that the southern hemisphere experienced. “During their winter, our summer, their flu season was the same,” Batson said. “It was very ... Read More »

Upper Cumberland job seekers will have an opportunity to connect with employers virtually on February 17. The Upper Cumberland American Job Center will host its first virtual job fair. The event takes place from 10am to 2pm. Cookeville Veterans Employment Representative James Simpson said with unemployment rates high, jobs are available. “I get contacted every single day by employers that ... Read More »

Clay and Van Buren Counties are in the top 15 highest unemployment rates in the state for the month of December. The Upper Cumberland as a whole saw the same trend with each county showing increased in unemployment. The state as a whole saw an increase to an average rate of 6.4 percent. According to data from Tennessee Department of ... Read More »

Six Upper Cumberland pharmacies have been selected by the state to assist in vaccinating residents against COVID. One pharmacy in White County, Dekalb County and four in Warren County are part of the program to expand vaccination access. Payless Pharmacy in Sparta has received vaccines and has already filled its scheduled allotment. The local pharmacies involved will vaccinate the same ... Read More »

Putnam County Schools and WCTE Ready to Learn Project Manager Cindy Putman has been awarded for her work intertwining PBS content and local education. Putman received the 2021 Bobbi English Champion for Children Award from PBS, Sesame Workshop and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. Putman said she’s spent six years using public broadcasting to get kids ready for school. “Taking ... Read More »