Cookeville Sanitation Infrastructure Sustains Rising Demand
Cookeville’s newest residential garbage collection route already approaching capacity as the city manages growth. Public Works Director Mary Beth Elrod said the recently completed fourth full-time residential route is seventy-five percent full. Elrod said it could be up to four years before another new route is needed. “The current projection we have right now of […]
Cookeville Advances Dodson Branch Road Annexation
A public hearing and referendum timeline set for Cookeville’s proposed annexation of the Dodson Branch Road area. Community Development Director Jon Ward said the annexation process began with a property owner request. He said the city later expanded the proposal to include surrounding properties to allow for efficient delivery of city services. “Upon studying the […]
Dodson Branch Annexation Hearing To Be Set Thursday
Cookeville City Council will set a new date Thursday for a public hearing on the annexation of some 275 acres around Dodson Branch Road. Cookeville Community Development Director Jon Ward said the total cost to service the area would be an estimated $7.5 million. If the city moves forward with annexation, the decision would go […]
Cookeville Considers Dodson Branch Annexation Study
The Cookeville City Council received a proposal Monday to annex a part of the Dodson Branch area. Cookeville Community Development Director Jon Ward said the city did an annexation study on the Dodson Branch Area which revealed two possible scenarios. One includes 131 acres. The other, 252 acres. Ward said the estimated cost to provide […]
Dodson Branch Elementary Earns High Marks Among Tennessee K-8 Schools
US News and World Report ranked Dodson Branch Elementary School 85th of some 1,500 Tennessee elementary schools. Dodson Branch Principal Brian Lee announced the distinction at the Jackson County Board of Education Meeting Tuesday night. Lee said that number makes them the highest-ranked public K-8 school in all of Tennessee outside of magnet and charter […]
DA: Parent Asked For Paddling Investigation, Grand Jury Examined Evidence
District Attorney General Jason Lawson said he took information about a Jackson County paddling incident to the Jackson County Grand Jury for a decision on charges. Dodson Branch Elementary Assistant Principal Tena Lynn and Teacher Jackson Patterson face charges following the early October paddling incident. Both were jailed Tuesday. Both have been placed on administrative […]
Jackson Schools Approve Bids For Roof Projects
Jackson County School Board approved a $1.7 million bid for roof upgrades at Dodson Branch and Gainesboro Elementary Schools. Director of Schools Kristy Brown said they’ve worked diligently to find cost savings. After exploring saving avenues, she said they saved about $16,000 of work at Dodson Branch. However, she said they found an additional $165,000 […]
Jackson Commissioners Approve Ambulance Placement At DB Fire Hall During Weekdays
The Jackson County Commission approved placing an ambulance at the Dodson Branch fire hall on the weekdays between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. EMA/EMS Director Keith Bean said that the new placement would cut response time to the school down to four minutes. “We’ve had three incidents since school started,” “And it’s an average of […]
Jackson County School HVAC and Gymnasium Upgrades Going To Bid
School improvements through ESSER 2.0 funding were approved to bid out by the Jackson County School Board Thursday night. Director of Schools Kristy Brown said the projects include HVAC replacements at Gainesboro Elementary and new sound systems in all the school gymnasiums. “We’re going to try to get started on those as soon as we […]
Jackson County EMS Providing Free First Responder Training
Jackson County is taking applicants for its free emergency medical responder classes that begin on Thursday. EMS Field Training Officer Derek Woolbright said this 6-8 week course will teach skills to treat bleed control, traumatic injuries, splinting and administering oxygen. Woolbright said that a strong base of EMR workers allows for decreased response times in […]
