Jon Ward Appointed First Cookeville Assistant City Manager
Jon Ward will be Cookeville’s first Assistant City Manager, announced during Thursday’s City Council meeting. City Manager James Mills said the decision to establish the position was not a sudden move but a plan he had considered for at least two years. Ward has served the city for 10 years and will continue his current […]
Hometown Engineer Chad Gilbert Named Cookeville Mayor
Hometown engineer Chad Gilbert will serve as the next Mayor of Cookeville after securing the most votes in the City Council race. Chad Gilbert said the opportunity to lead his own community follows a campaign focused on his previous four years of service to the city. Gilbert said the election results were the culmination of […]
Jackson Parents Targeted In Latest Fake Abduction Scam
The Jackson County Sheriff’s Department is warning residents of a phone scam where callers claim to have kidnapped children. Law enforcement said the calls demand parents purchase gift cards at the Cookeville-area Walmart locations. Officials said the callers use personal information gathered from the internet to make the fraudulent kidnapping claims appear credible. The men […]
Cookeville Police Urge Preparation For Busy School Zones
The Cookeville Police Department urging drivers to reduce speed as schools ramp up for the fall semester. Administrative Sergeant Charlotte Austin said motorists often fail to recognize the change in speed limits because driving habits become second nature on familiar roadways. “We have a lot of speeding in school zones,” Austin said. “Our traffic unit […]
Tennessee Tech Now Accepting Fall 2027 Applications
Tennessee Tech is now accepting applications for the Fall 2027 semester following the official opening of the university’s admissions window. Director of Undergraduate Admissions Jacob Cutshall said the early application period allows high school seniors to submit transcripts and begin the process of qualifying for presidential scholarships. “We want to make sure that we are […]
Tech Nursing Expansion Addresses Healthcare Shortages
Tennessee Tech expanding its nursing program by more than doubling its enrollment capacity. Director of Student Success Benjamin Clark said the program now admits up to 100 students per semester into the main Bachelor of Science in Nursing program. Clark said this growth is supported by an early admission initiative for high school seniors who […]
UC Seeing Impact From Record Tennessee Tourism Numbers
Upper Cumberland Tourism officials in the Smokies Tuesday as Governor Bill Lee announced Tennessee visitor spending reached a record-breaking $32 billion. Cookeville-Putnam County Convention and Visitors Bureau Executive Director of Tourism Shan Stout said the economic impact has resulted in a tax savings of approximately $569 per household for Putnam County residents. “We have watched […]
New Branding Highlights Tennessee 988 Fourth Anniversary
The Tennessee Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services launching new state-specific branding for the 988 Lifeline to mark the fourth anniversary of the service. Volunteer Behavioral Health Care Vice President Anne Stamps said the 988 number replaced the previous ten-digit crisis lifeline. The purpose: to make it easier for individuals to remember during […]
Tech Surpasses $50 Million Research Milestone First Time
Tennessee Tech officially surpassed $50 million in externally funded research for the first time during the fiscal year 2026 just completed. It marks the sixth consecutive year the university has set a new record for research funding. Vice President for Research and Economic Development John Liu said the $50.88 million total includes 177 different projects […]
Vanity Plate Pre-Orders Help Fund Local Animal Rescues
The Cookeville-Putnam County Shelter is encouraging residents to participate in a specialty license plate pre-order initiative to generate new funding for local animal rescues and shelters. Shelter Director Jennifer Tracy said the project was launched by Adopt-A-Golden in Knoxville to create a statewide specialty plate that supports animal adoption. Tracy said the organizers are currently […]
