Hot Weather And High Humidity Create Difficult Situations For Firefighters
Two Van Buren firefighters required IV administration by EMS personnel after fighting fires Wednesday. Piney Volunteer Fire Department PIO Tiwanna Bricker said many people don’t know just how much hot and humid weather can hinder their work, especially when combined with the weight of their gear. She estimates the turnout gear weighs about 25 pounds […]
Wilson Reflects On Eight Year Tenure As Van Buren Mayor
Van Buren County Mayor Greg Wilson reflected on his eight-year tenure at his final full commission meeting in the role. Wilson said the county had overcome many hardships during that time, including losing the old admin building to a 2015 fire and the pandemic. He said the county was able to get through it by […]
Election Day Across The Upper Cumberland
It’s Election Day across the Upper Cumberland, with most polls opening at 9 a.m. and closing at 7 p.m. Cookeville voters will be paying close attention to the City Council race, with 11 candidates vying for 5 seats. The top vote-getter will be the Mayor-Elect. Van Buren County voters will see new leadership in its […]
Van Buren County Elects New Mayor, Sheriff
David Sullivan is the new mayor of Van Buren County. Sullivan won convincingly with 1,018 votes. Candidate Jessica Grissom received 653 votes. Candidate Kelly Dishman got 370 votes. “With my policy for the future, I hope to have communication with the general public and also an open door policy for people to come in and […]
Van Buren Commission Approves Extra ARP Spending To Purchase Ambulance
Van Buren County has locked in a price for a new ambulance. Mayor Greg Wilson said the price $260,000, an increase of $10,000 from the original quote that the county commission covered through American Rescue Plan money. “It’s a Dodge diesel,” Wilson said. “Basically, the same type of what we have right now. It’s to […]
Van Buren Officials Address Rumors On County’s Financial Shape
Van Buren County Commissioner Brian Simmons ended Tuesday’s commission meeting with a message to the community: the financial state of the county is the best it’s ever been. “Basically, what I was wanting to do is just shut down all these rumors that I hear everyday of how Van Buren County is broke and the […]
Van Buren Commissioners Approve Roof Repair
Van Buren County Commissioners passed a budget continuation resolution Tuesday night for the start of the new fiscal year. “It doesn’t appear that we’re going to have a budget by the end of the physical year for the start of the new one,” Committee A Chair Will Maxwell said. “So we need to pass a […]
Van Buren Mayor Proposing Employee Raises In New Budget
Van Buren County Mayor Greg Wilson said he will propose employee pay raises in the next fiscal year budget. Wilson said he wants an eight percent raise. “They haven’t had one in about four years, and it’s time” Wilson said. “They get one for cost of living. With inflation going up, it’s time they get […]
Grissom Top Vote Getter In Van Buren Executive Race
Van Buren County residents made Jessica Grissom the choice for county executive in Tuesday’s Republican Primary. Grissom received 474 votes to lead the three candidates Tuesday. Laura Wallace finished second with 342 votes while Kevin Bivins totaled 275 votes. Mayor Greg Wilson did not run for reelection. In the race for Van Buren County Sheriff, […]
Van Buren Commission To Consider Water Committee’s Spending Plan
Van Buren County’s Water Committee has approved a TDEC ARP spending plan for the county commission to consider. Mayor Greg Wilson said Spencer Utility District’s raw water source project headlines the proposal. “The City of Spencer was awarded about $2,110,000 for raw water to be pumped straight from Caney Fork to the water plant,” Wilson […]
