Tag Archives: USDA

Breakfast and lunch will continue to be free for all Pickett County students after a successful first semester of the program. School Nutrition Supervisor Rebecca Wallin said the price of food at grocery stores and restaurants has created a strain on many Pickett County families. She said the program proved extremely beneficial to the students who were not eligible before ... Read More »

The Cumberland Business Incubator in Crossville can now provide residents a unique piece of equipment in its maker space. The center has received a new four-axis computer numerically controlled (CNC) machining center. Director Holly Hanson said such a system cannot be found anywhere else between Cookeville and Knoxville. “It can do all of the range of manufacturing,” Hanson said. “It ... Read More »

Signups are open for the Overton County Schools Summer Meals program, providing free lunches to children in the community. School Nutrition Program Supervisor Debie Taylor said she plans to start having meals distributed immediately following Memorial Day. She said Overton County is home to many “latch-key” children who are home alone most days in the summer months. “To have a ... Read More »

With wildlife causing issues at the Upper Cumberland Regional Airport, a new grant will help assess the extent of the issue and possible solutions. Airport Director Dean Selby said the facility received a $17,000 grant from USDA. He said USDA crews will spend a year devising a plan for how to keep wildlife, including deer and coyotes, off of airport ... Read More »

Upper Cumberland Wineries have petitioned the federal government to make the Upper Cumberland its own American Viticultural Area (AVA). Appalachian Region Wine Producers Association President Rick Riddle said he expects progress on the proposal in the early summer. Riddle said a study from the University of Tennessee found that wine consumers place a high value on these special wine regions. ... Read More »

UCHRA is giving out some four times the normal amount of food during its December distributions. Community Services Program Manager Judy Sanchez said they have received extra food through the USDA Commodities Program. Sanchez said vegetables, nuts, beef, and salmon will be available for pickup during events. “All this extra food is going out into the community to all of ... Read More »

For the first time in a decade the USDA updated its Plant Hardiness Map and it shows most of the Upper Cumberland has warmed up. Putnam County in particular went from a 7a zone to a 7b zone. This means the county’s average lowest temperatures over the last 30 years has raised from a 0-5 degree average to a 5-10 ... Read More »

Fentress County has received a $1.4 million USDA grant to study the county’s water supply and how it could impact development. Industrial Development Board Member Dwight Dixon said the study will come at no cost to the county. He said USDA wants to help rural communities understand another important aspect of recruiting industry. “We don’t know what the study will ... Read More »

Clay County Mayor Dale Reagan said the county is about “halfway” through the process of putting the jail project out to bid. Reagan said there had been setbacks due to the city needing to upgrade sewer lines. He said the most recent setback was the County having to resubmit the bid documents to USDA. “We had to go through that ... Read More »

A Cookeville exotic animal auction has been cited on 15 findings following a USDA inspection. The March inspection report released Tuesday found Wilson Horse & Mule Sale did not provide proper veterinary care to a hurt zebra. According to the report, a zebra broke its back after possibly falling in a stall. A veterinarian was not on the site, and ... Read More »