Van Buren Hazardous Waste Collection Saturday
Van Buren County’s Spencer Recycling Center will host a Hazardous Waste Collection Saturday from 8am-Noon. Pesticides, aerosols, lithium and button batteries, brake fluid, paint thinner, and cleaning fluid are among the hazardsous items that can be disposed of, free of charge. The event is open to anyone, not just Van Buren County residents. The items […]
Van Buren Schools Receive Grant For Summer Meals
The Van Buren County School system will continue its summer meal program with help from an $8,800 No Kid Hungry Grant. Director of Schools Jared Copeland said stations will be set up throughout the county to provide daily lunches for students. He said the grant would go toward meal coolers, meal storage, and other meal […]
Bidding Underway For New Piney Convenience Center
Van Buren County bidding out several projects involved in a new Piney Solid Waste Convenience Center, to better accommodate residents and prepare the area for future growth. Van Buren County Mayor David Sullivan said the county has bid out construction of three structures including a large pole barn, a 12-by-12 building, and a concrete pad. […]
Cicadas To Emerge Next Month After 13-Year Absence
Broods of cicadas are expected to emerge throughout the Upper Cumberland next month after spending 13 years underground. Jackson County Agriculture Extension Agent Dill Hughes said the two separate broods operate on 13 and 17-year cycles respectively. He said due to the Upper Cumberland’s location and climate, we often see the emergence of both. He […]
Spencer Housing For Homeless Vets Nearing Completion
Four transitional veteran housing units in Van Buren County are expected to be ready by the end of July. American Legion Post 207 Commander Hansel Moore said the four concrete structures are in place with plumbing installed. He said once electricity is hooked up, interior work will finish up and homeless veterans will be moved […]
Van Buren Schools Table Daycare Renovations
Discussions by the Van Buren County School Board about renovating a masonic lodge for use as a daycare, tabled indefinitely Wednesday night. Director of Schools Jared Copeland said the county received a grant from the Upper Cumberland Development District some three years ago to renovate the building. He said he believes that the money remaining […]
Van Buren Sheriff Introduces Recognition Program
The Van Buren County Sheriff’s Department has launched a program that will recognize staffers for their impactful work each quarter. Sheriff Michael Brock told the Van Buren County Commission that staffers can be nominated by supervisors, peers, or citizens. He said nominations will be brought to a three-person committee that will select officers for special […]
Crain Retiring As Van Buren Veterans Officer
Johnny Crain resigned as Van Buren County Veterans Service Officer, effective at the end of the month. In a letter to County Commissioners, Crain informed leadership he planned to retire. His final day of service will be March 28. County Executive David Sullivan said Committee B of the commissioners will begin the process of replacing […]
Concerns Again Surface About Sparta Housing Practices
Growing concerns in Van Buren County about unfair housing practices from the Sparta Housing Authority, after discussions at Thursday night’s County Commission meeting. White County residents being placed in the Spencer housing, overseen by Sparta Housing Authority, remains the biggest concern. Family Resource Center Director Jill Bouldin alleged the authority said it was not subject […]
17 Upper Cumberland Schools Honored As Reward Schools
17 Upper Cumberland schools recognized as Reward Schools for outstanding performance and/or improvement in performance during the last school year. The list includes six Putnam County Schools, three in Overton County, two each in Cumberland, Jackson and White Counties, and one each in Dekalb and Van Buren Counties. Some 400 schools statewide received the honor […]
