46th Annual Reba Bacon Art Competition Looking For Best

Upper Cumberland high school students are invited to showcase their artwork through the 46th Reba Bacon Memorial High School Art Competition. Gallery Coordinator Susan Van Aalten said any Upper Cumberland high schooler is eligible to enter their work for the March 3 contest. She said this is a great opportunity for young artists to get […]
Cookeville Water Plant Adding Generator, Underground Lines

The Cookeville Water and Sewer Department will purchase a new generator for the Water Treatment Plant thanks to a $4 million grant. Cookeville Water and Sewer Department Director Barry Turner said the department has experienced outages and was not able to treat water for the city without a generator to supplement power. He said this […]
Bids Completed For Clay Courthouse Window Replacement

Bids came in as expected for the next stage in restorations of 150-year-old windows at the Historic Clay County Courthouse. Clay County Courthouse Curator Thomas Watson said the bids will cover $2,400 for each window restoration on the first floor and $3,000 for the double-sized second-floor windows. He said the windows have experienced significant weather […]
Leadership Fentress Gearing Up For Next Class Of Leaders

This year’s Leadership Fentress Class is set to mold new leaders for their communities and workplaces. Fentress County Chamber of Commerce Director of Tourism Seth Vaughn said the class has been revamped after dissolving several years ago due to a lack of interest. He said this will be an opportunity for people who want to […]
Expanded Putnam Health Department Nearing Completion

Putnam County’s expanded Health Department will provide residents with an expanded primary care option with its upcoming completion. Putnam County Mayor Randy Porter said the canopy on the front of the building and some interior finishes are the primary tasks remaining. He said since the COVID-19 pandemic, many people have used the Putnam County Health […]
State Reimburses Cookeville, Putnam For Sales Tax Revenue

A sales tax reporting issue has been corrected and some $636,000 in revenue on the way to Putnam County from last year’s summer’s sales tax holiday. Cookeville City Manager James Mills said the Tennessee Department of Revenue reimbursed the lost money. The issue began with August tax receipts, the first month of the sales tax […]
Gilbert Pushing For Sewer Plan For Annexed Areas

Cookeville City Council Member Chad Gilbert wants to see the city develop a detailed plan to provide sewer to annexed areas of the city. Gilbert said putting a tentative plan in place gives residents clearer expectations. It also allows the city to plan and budget. He said sewer is vital to increasing a city’s infrastructure. […]
Roadsides Showing Off First Signs Of Spring, Daffodils

Roadsides through the Upper Cumberland are showing off the first sings of spring as daffodils among the first flowers to bloom. Warren County Agriculture Extension Agent Heath Nokes said the annual warm-season wildflowers have unique life cycle. He said like tulips and buttercups, daffodils are grown from bulbs. He said once the soil temperature reaches […]
Tech Grad Named TVA’s Engineer Of Year

A Tennessee Tech graduate has been honored with TVA’s highest engineering honor for his work on electric grid responsiveness. Tim Fritch has served TVA for some 19 years, currently as a Transmission and Power Supply Engineer. Fritch is now eligible for the Federal Engineer of the Year Award as one of ten finalists. “Tim’s innovative […]
Planning Underway For July Van Buren Homecoming

Planning underway for the 31st Van Buren Mountain Homecoming set for July 13 on the Courthouse Square. Chairwoman Tiffany Crain said the return of the event last year showed just how much it meant to the community. “We’re a small town, and our small town looks forward to this every year,” Crain said. “We stopped […]









