Sparta Working To Improve Intersection
Sparta is working to improve the Walmart intersection on Highway 111. Mayor Jeff Young said as new development on Taft Church Road increased, the city began to notice traffic problems. “There’s a lot of area that can be developed adjacent to those properties there, the Walmart and Shell station,” Young said. “There’s already a little […]
Telehealth Coverage: New Trend In Insurance
The insurance world could see a new trend in coverage with telehealth becoming the new norm. Blue Cross Blue Shield of Tennessee started the trend by becoming the first insurance company in the state to permanently cover telehealth services last week. Monica Goolsby of Cookeville’s Swallows Insurance said since other providers across the state will […]
UC COVID-19 Case Total At 571
The number of Upper Cumberland COVID-19 cases stands at 571 as of Monday’s reporting from the Tennessee Department of Health. That’s about 0.16 percent of the region’s population. Slight increases noted across the region including two additional cases in Van Buren County. Putnam County’s total increased by 26 over the last four days. Macon County’s […]
Tech Grad Takes Over TWRA
A Tennessee Tech graduate will lead the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency beginning June 1 as Bobby Wilson becomes Executive Director. “It’s a wonderful school, I miss my time there,” Wilson said “I had a great, enjoyable experience while I was there. And I learned so much from the wildlife degree, which is really all I […]
Drivers Services Resume Monday
Tennessee Driver Services Centers across the Upper Cumberland reopened Monday with online options to help consumers. The state website at TN.Gov now shows wait times at offices across the region. At mid-afternoon Monday, there was no wait at the McMinnville office, while the wait time at Cookeville stood at 75 minutes, and 15 minutes at […]
Bears On The Move In The UC
Spring is a time for wildlife to be on the move and that includes bears. Black bears move around this time of year to find and establish territory. Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency Communications Coordinator Mimi Barnes said the bears also looking for food. “Our bears don’t always go into that deep hibernation that we see […]
School Board Needs To Explore Director Pay
The salary for Putnam County’s Director of Schools salary sits about $38,000 dollars below the state average for a similar-size school district. County School Board member Kim Cravens said she believes the disparity needs to be addressed. “The director’s salary is low and we want to remain competitive,” Cravens said. “Just like we want our […]
Timber Up For Bid Tuesday
The Tennessee Department of Agriculture Division of Forestry is offering standing timber on Standing Stone State Forrest for sale on bid starting Tuesday. Standing Stone Forester Russel Fulcher said there is currently 46 acres of tulip popular trees ready to yield 498,114 board feet of saw timber. “We are now starting to reach a stage […]
Cookeville Wants To Replace 1970s Fire Truck
The Cookeville Fire Department hopes to replace its 48-year-old ladder truck this year. The 1972 American Lafrance fire truck has a 100-foot ladder with no water pump and is unrepairable. Fire Chief Daryl Blair said the new truck will be custom made to the needs of Cookeville. “We are going to try to get the […]
Graham Said Insurance Costs A Concern
Crossville City Council members took their first look at the city’s $17.6 million budget last week. Call it a budget process full of uncertainty. Crossville City Council Member J.H. Graham III said financial questions surrounding COVID-19 make that process difficult. “No one I know of has a crystal ball,” Graham said. “We’ve never been through […]
