Many residents may misunderstand the change made in Putnam County last week to change the reappraisal schedule. Putnam County Property Assessor Steve Pierce said the change addresses state laws regarding equalization rates that discount public utilities and business properties when market values outpace appraisals. He ...

Baxter officials are banking on incoming industrial growth and housing developments to secure new retail options for the town. Mayor Danny Holmes said retailers have indicated that increased population density and job numbers are prerequisites for setting up shop. The town is currently working to land a grocery store a...

A Putnam County gardening expert said residents should take advantage of warmer winter days to tackle weeds before they take over spring landscapes. Certified Putnam County Master Gardener Serina Wells said preventative maintenance is the most effective form of weed control. She said tackling cool season weeds now prev...

A major 12-inch waterline broke Sunday morning, affecting Monterey water customers. The line serves the city limits as well as some customers north on Highway 164. Town officials said that includes some customers of the East Fork Utility District. It will take an estimated six to eight hours to repair the line. If you ...

Emergency officials urging residents to secure immediate notification systems and practice family safety drills during this Severe Weather Awareness Week. Overton County Assistant EMA Director Eric Stephens said that relying solely on smartphone apps or social media can result in critical time gaps during a storm. He n...

Cookeville Officials updated residents on plans to extend municipal services into annexed areas during the city's annual progress report. Community Development Director Jon Ward said the report covered 12 areas annexed into the city between 2000 and 2018. Ward said all required municipal services are being provided in ...

The Tennessee Housing Development Agency reports Cookeville will need roughly 3,000 additional affordable housing units over the next decade. Highlands Residential Services Executive Director Chris Cassetty said THDA shared that information during a meeting earlier this week. Cassetty said that THDA did not clarify how...

As DeKalb County considers a $35 million plan for a new 182-bed jail, the project's architect presented the schematic design to the county commission. Project Architect John Eisenlau said the firm met numerous times with the Sheriff's Department and the Tennessee Corrections Institute to ensure the design meets all TCI...

Sparta officials closed the city's walking bridge Thursday night after deteriorating and vandalized timbers created safety concerns. Sparta Public Works Director Dillard Quick said the bridge was closed after multiple support timbers were found damaged or missing. Quick said the city replaced the timbers about seven ye...

The Cookeville City Council voted Thursday night to abandon an eight-year-old multimodal sidewalk grant from T-DOT originally intended to fund new sidewalks along Willow Avenue and West 12th Street. The grant is worth an estimated $907,000 that would have required the city to provide a five percent match, or an estimat...