Commissioners Approve $13M Bond For Schools
Putnam County Commissioners approved a $13 million bond Monday night to renovate Park View school for a pre-K facility and other system maintenance projects. That bond includes $6.5 to $8.5 million to renovate the Park View facility. Director OF Schools Corby King said the approval of the bond will allow the school system to get […]
Tech Dean: Traditional Teaching Students On Decline
The number of students going to college to become a teacher is on the decline in the Upper Cumberland. Tennessee Tech College of Education Dean Lisa Zagumny (Zuh-gum-nee) said that fewer people are pursuing teaching as a career nationwide, especially through the traditional pathway with an undergraduate degree. Zagumny said she thinks the number is […]
Walling Citizens Working To Restore Local Cemetery
Walling residents coming together to clean up a local cemetery after discovering their ancestors buried there. Resident Dale Sims and his wife recently began cleaning and maintaining the Walling-Randals Cemetery after they learned his wife’s fourth great-grandparents were buried there. Sims said other people with ancestors in the cemetery have since come alongside them to […]
Cumberland Man’s Sentencing Appeal Denied
The State Court of Appeals denied a Cumberland County man’s motion that his consecutive sentences for murder were inappropriate. Alexander Ruben Carino pled guilty to two counts of second degree murder in 2010. As part of the plea agreement, Carino agreed to serve a 21.5 year sentence for each count. They would be served consecutively […]
Cookeville Considering Project Without T-DOT
Cookeville considering taking on a project to add sidewalks along 12th Street without additional help from T-DOT. City Manager James Mills said the state approved Cookeville for a $1 million grant several years ago. He said as costs have risen and timelines have been extended in similar projects like the Spring Street sidewalk project, the […]
Jamestown Celebrating Mark Twain Park Renovations
Jamestown’s Mark Twain Park will celebrate renovations during a ground breaking Tuesday. Longtime Volunteer Crystal Thompkins said they added a new statue to the park of a metal flower with a bookworm reading “Adventures of Huckleberry Finn” in honor of Mark Twain. Thompkins said she hopes the beatification effort will help people to better appreciate […]
FBI: Sextortion On The Rise Across UC, Nation
An FBI expert said sextortion, in all forms, continues to increase among Upper Cumberland young people and nationally. Supervisory Special Agent Beth Kreppein said sextortion happens when a criminal coerces a minor to share sexually explicit images or videos. Then, the criminal threatens to release those items if they do not receive more explicit materials […]
4 UC Residents Arrested In State Sex Investigation
Four Upper Cumberland residents among 12 people arrested in a Tennessee investigation into online child exploitation and sextortion. Three McMinnville men face charges of sexual exploitation of a minor. 42-year old Garry Alford, 32-year old Johnathan Curtis, and 38-year old Clifton Johnston face one count each. 29-year old Courtney Staggs of Jamestown faces 14 counts […]
New CORE Consultant Advocating For CTE Programs In UC
The Upper Cumberland’s newest CTE CORE Consultant said her goal is to ensure CTE programs across the region are benefiting students as much as possible. CTE CORE Consultant Hailey Sullivan said her role is to help districts develop CTE policies, evaluate the effectiveness of different programs, and aid students with career pathway development. Sullivan said […]
Smithville Splash Pad Open For Summer
The splash pad at Smithville’s Green Brook Park is officially open for its third summer in a row. Mayor Josh Miller said the splash pad has become a big hit in the community over the past few years. Miller said it is important to have things for children to enjoy in a small town like […]
