Beecher Wallace Homestead Added To State Park System
An area near Dog Cove and Fall Creek Falls State Park will now be under state protection. TDEC and the State Land Trust added the Beecher Wallace Homestead to the state park system Wednesday. Stuart Carroll is a park manager who oversees Lost Creek, Dog Cove, and Virgin Falls State Natural area. He said the […]
Man Charged After North Springs Gas Leak Investigation
A man was arrested in Macon County Wednesday following a Jackson County investigation regarding a gas leak in North Springs. The Jackson County Sheriff’s Department (JCSD) reports Michael Joseph Kreiss faces felony reckless endangerment and theft charges. JCSD released a statement saying an investigation was launched earlier this month after Jackson County 911 received reports […]
Lee Issues Order To Accelerate Rural Transformation
Governor Bill Lee issued an executive order Wednesday directing all state agencies to find ways to better serve rural counties. Jackson County Mayor Randy Heady said the governor’s quick action provides some excitement for the next four years. “Governor Haslam and Commissioner Rolf had put some initiatives out on the table to help rural counties […]
Flu Cases Down Slightly Before Peak Season Hits
Upper Cumberland hospitals are reporting slightly fewer cases of influenza and flu-like illnesses to begin 2019. Stephanie Etter serves as Cookeville Regional Medical Center’s (CRMC) Infection Prevention Manager. “Overall the numbers are pretty close to what we had last year,” Etter said. “The difference that we are seeing is that more patients are going to […]
Sparta Newspaper Inc. Appeals to Tennessee Supreme Court
The Tennessee Supreme Court will soon hear a case being appealed by a local newspaper. Jeffery Todd Burke initially sued the Sparta newspaper, The Expositor, for defamatory reports regarding an already closed indictment. The Jeffery Todd Burke vs. Sparta Newspaper Inc. case began in the White County Circuit court, where court officials ruled in favor […]
School Choice Week Highlights on Private Schools
A national movement known as School Choice Week looks to shed light on various schooling options in Tennessee. Upper Cumberland Christian Academy (UCCA) Principal Scott Smith said school choice gives parents the option to choose where their children receive their education. “We believe that the choice is definitely one of our religious freedoms, so that […]
Cookeville Rescue Mission Opens Additional Warming Shelter
The Cookeville Rescue Mission will open a temporary warming shelter as it deals with an influx of people looking to escape the cold weather. Executive Director Bruce Bailey said the mission has hit max capacity with it’s bed spaces. “We were maxed out on our normal bed space and then we had nine additional people […]
Chick-Fil-A Closing for Renovation in February
Cookeville’s Chick-Fil-A will close for several weeks as part of an upcoming renovation project. Company spokesperson Callie Bowers reports the restaurant will close next month with a grand-opening planned for later this spring. Bowers said the renovations include a brand image update, kitchen expansion, and order delivery canopies. The restaurant’s last day of operation will […]
Cumberland County SRO Recovering From Injuries
A Cumberland County deputy is recovering at home after he was struck by a vehicle Tuesday afternoon. Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office Public Information Officer Gary Howard said Wednesday Deputy Scott Iles sustained injuries to his head which required over 200 stitches, a cracked sternum, and damage to his knee. “Scott is in good spirits and […]
Commission Rejects Pay Increase Proposals
The Putnam County Commission won’t be seeing a pay increase after the government body rejected two proposals Tuesday night. The commission voted 14-8 to reject one proposal that would have put commissioner pay at 4.6 percent of County Mayor Randy Porter’s $104,444 salary. Commissioners currently make $400 a month. Cindy Adams said she doesn’t oppose […]
