Longtime Jackson County Commissioner Hawkins Passes Away
Longtime Jackson County Commissioner and paramedic Bruce Hawkins passed away Wednesday at Cookeville Regional Medical Center. Hawkins served for 36 years on the Jackson County Ambulance Service before retiring in 2008. Director Keith Bean said he worked with Hawkins for several years. “Just his desire to help people, he always did for other people, missed […]
Judge Rescinds Sterilization And Birth Control Implants Order
White County General Sessions Judge Sam Benningfield has rescinded his standing order offering a 30-day reduction in jail time to for inmates who receive vasectomies or long-term birth control implants. Tennessee ACLU Executive Director Hedy Weinberg said she was pleased that Benningfield chose to rescind the controversial order. “The Constitution protects people’s right to choose […]
UCDD Did A Lot With A Little Art Grant
The Upper Cumberland Development District said more than 9,000 residents benefited from the most recent round of art grants. UCDD spokesman Sarah Cunningham said 2018 grants will be announced soon. The UCDD has done a lot with a little grant. Last year, the group received a grant for $18,650 from the Tennessee Arts Commission late […]
Annual Sales Tax Weekend Begins Friday
Tennessee’s annual sales tax holiday begins Friday. From 12:01 a.m. Friday until 11:59 p.m. Sunday, residents won’t have to pay sales tax on clothes, school supplies and some electronics. Under the guidelines, general clothing that’s less than $100 per item are tax free for those three days. Business apparel, jewelry, and sports equipment is not. […]
Smith County Schools To Be Closed For Eclipse
Smith County Schools will be closed during the August 21st total solar eclipse. The school system will be using one of it’s 13 built in weather days to account for the missed school day. Director of Schools Barry Smith said he made the call to close schools after consulting with the Tennessee Department of Safety, […]
Semi Catches Fire On I 40 In Putnam County
A semi caught fire on Interstate 40 in Putnam County today, shutting down the roadway. Officials said the incident happened around 10:45 a.m. in the eastbound lanes near mile marker 272. The Tennessee Highway Patrol has not released any details about the crash, which closed the eastbound lanes for several hours.
Remember Bus Safety In School Preparations
When preparing kids for school, parents need to remember transportation. Putnam County Schools Transportation Director Kim Bradford said bus rules and other information will be included in the first day of school paperwork. Parents should also keep travel times in mind. “They’re going to ride a bus they need to make sure, we have a […]
Crowd Size Not Known For Eclipse
August’s total solar eclipse has officials preparing for crowds, but they don’t have an idea of how many. Cookeville-Putnam County Chamber of Commerce Vice President of Visitor Development Zach Ledbetter said the event is so rare, officials don’t really know what to expect. “I mean, it has been 500 years since a total solar eclipse […]
Eclipse Glasses On Sale At Chamber
The Cookeville-Putnam County Chamber of Commerce has eclipse viewing glasses for sale to the public. Chamber Vice President of Visitor Development Zach Ledbetter said the glasses are $2 each, cash only. “Everybody is in high demand obviously, for the August 21st eclipse and if you want to look up at the sun you have to […]
Same Carnival Operator At Overton, Putnam Fair
The same carnival provides rides and amusements for the Overton and Putnam County fairs. Putnam County Fair President John Allen said James Gang Amusements employs an inspector to check each ride each day. Overton County Fair Secretary Bob Matthews said safety is a priority in his county. “We stay in contact with the guys that […]
