Bacteria Closes Ragland Bottom Day Use Beach
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers closed a Center Hill Lake day use beach over high bacteria levels Friday. A Facebook post from the Army Corps announced the immediate closure of the Ragland Bottom Day Use Beach. The post noted that follow-up testing would continue until conditions return to acceptable levels. Posted signs and caution […]
UC Traffic Fatalities Down From 2018 Despite Deadly July
Upper Cumberland traffic fatalities are down slightly in 2019 despite a deadly July month. According to the State of Tennessee’s year-to-date fatality report, 37 people have died this year in vehicle accidents. That number is down slightly from 41 deaths through the first seven months of 2018. Eight people died on Upper Cumberland roadways last […]
Tennessee Tech’s Head Softball Coach Resigns
Tennessee Tech University’s head softball coach Bonnie Graham has stepped down from her position. TTU released a statement Thursday saying Graham accepted a position with Cookeville’s Leisure Services department. Graham said the move will allow her to spend more time with family. “Unfortunately, anyone who works in athletics knows you don’t get a lot of […]
Cookeville Council Approves New Life Insurance Options
Cookeville City Council approved new life insurance options for city employees Thursday. The proposal switches the city-paid life insurance provider for employees and retirees from Voya to Lincoln. Supplemental policies will also be switched to Lincoln following a 20-year agreement with Aflac. Finance Director Brenda Imel says the city’s policies had not been changed in […]
Cookeville Receives Bids For Police Headquarters Project
The City of Cookeville has received bids from four pre-qualified contractors to construct a new police headquarters. City Manager James Mills said the city should have a contractor selected within the next two weeks. “We’re in the process of evaluating those,” Mills said. “If all the bids are accurate, then we will recommend at our […]
Putnam School Board Approves Contract For New School
The Putnam County Board of Education has approved a design contract for a new school. Attorney Dan Rader said the contract with Upland Design Group will favor the school system as the project moves forward. “This is in piecemeal and we do have this delay period built in to get funding,” Rader said. “If you’ve […]
Sparta To Begin Interviews For Two Police Officers
The Sparta Police Department will begin interviews next week to fill two positions. Sparta Police Chief Jeff Guth said the force recently lost two officers to better-paying jobs and issues with certifications. “But I have got some good candidates to interview and I feel like we could probably, by the 15th of August have two […]
TTU Whistleblower Lawsuit Heading To Trial In 2020
A lawsuit filed by Tennessee Tech’s former director of financial aid will head to trial next year. Leslie McKenzie filed the lawsuit in May after reporting nearly $1.7 million in Title IV funds were distributed to unqualified students between 2017-2018. According to the initial complaint, McKenzie stated he was terminated after reporting the misuse of […]
Putnam School Board Approves Budget, Cuts $6.1 Million
The Putnam County Board of Education voted Thursday to cut $6.1 million from its 2019-2020 budget. Superintendent Jerry Boyd said the amount would have funded new positions, capital projects, and a 4-percent raise for teachers. “It could have been a lot worse. We are thankful for the support we have gotten and we will make […]
Baxter Approves Rezonings Ahead of Portobello Construction
Baxter City Council voted Thursday to rezone two pieces of property purchased by Portobello for light industrial use. Mayor John Martin said the rezoning means Portobello now needs the proper permitting in order to construct its facilities. “We did that for the old Martin property and where the race track was at, so all that […]
