PCSS Seeking Community Input In Survey For Strategic Plan
Putnam County School System seeking input from community stakeholders through a survey being sent out Tuesday. Communications Supervisor Hannah Davis said the survey will help with a strategic plan. She said that will guide the system’s trajectory over the next five to 10 years. “We have an amazing community that truly supports a high-quality education […]
Wildfires Not Uncommon During Dry Falls Months
Wildfires in the Upper Cumberland like the one last week in Warren County are not uncommon during the dry months of October and November. Tennessee Department of Agriculture and Forestry PIO Tim Phelps said the department averages about 1,700 responses per year. That amounts to some 19,000 acres of wildfires across the state. He said […]
Tree Stump Causes Water Main Damage On Cookeville’s South Jefferson Avenue
A tree stump growing around a water main on South Jefferson responsible for a water outage Monday. Water Quality Department Director Barry Turner said the decision to assess contractors for damages relies on whether contractors used the Tennessee One Call, or the “call before you dig” number. “Underground Utility Damage Prevention Act, it’s 811 you […]
Cookeville Public Works Leaf Pick Up Begins Monday
Cookeville’s Public Works Department beginning its annual leaf pick-ups Monday. Director Blake Mayo said the department is asking folks to keep their leaf piles as close to the road as possible and away from any mailboxes or utility poles. “The leaf pickup will just be loose leaves that are in piles and we’ll come up […]
Putnam Commission Chair Says It’s Time To Explore School Sales Tax Allocations
A new way to allocate sales tax revenue to the Putnam County School System remains a possibility for the County Commission to discuss next year. The school system has been placed on a fix rate since the 2008 recession. Commission Chair Ben Rodgers said he thinks it is time to explore a percentage-based model in […]
Empower UC Begins With Workers Reporting For Duty
Tuesday is the first day of work for some of the manpower behind the Upper Cumberland’s initiative to bring 800 families out of poverty. UCHRA Executive Director Mark Farley said the some 30 employees behind the Empower Upper Cumberland pilot will be stationed at the UCHRA offices and other partner agencies. “Just getting all the […]
Sparta Mayor Working On Options To Live Stream Meetings
Sparta Mayor Jerry Lowery wants to live stream Board of Aldermen meetings. Lowery said he is reviewing information from two companies. Lowery said he wants to fulfill his campaign promise of making public meetings more accessible. “This is going to happen,” Lowery said. “I believe in transparency of government. I think government needs to have […]
Cookeville Man Charged With Second Degree Murder
A suspect in the murder of 15-year-old Olivia Daryl Taylor is now being charged with Second Degree Murder. 63-year-old Charles “Chuck” Carter Jr. was originally charged with Aggravated Statutory Rape. Putnam Sheriff’s Office Public Information Officer Austen Pevehouse: “Carter admitted to delivering and providing illegal narcotics to Taylor,” Pevehouse said. “We are still waiting for […]
Water Outage In Cookeville Monday For Water Main Repairs Along South Jefferson
Cookeville Water Quality Control will have the water off between Davis Road and the Transfer Station Monday. The outage will be for an unknown duration of time while repairs are completed on the water main along South Jefferson. The contractor was clearing land west of South Jefferson near Sliger Road, when the stump removal process […]
The Art Of A Good Scary Story: Imagination
The key to telling a good scary story requires the power of imagination. That’s according to Ghost Host Matthew Krist, who works for the Nashville Ghost Tours and the Baxter Branch Library. He said people have to be able to visualize the story and the characters, even if they don’t believe in the paranormal. “If […]
