Local News
A new law takes effect July 1st that aims to do away with junk texts to, just as Tennessee’s “Do Not Call” registry has helped curb phone calls from people trying to sell consumer goods and services. The bill, dubbed the “Do Not Text” law, was sponsored by Tennessee House Majority Leader William Lamberth (R-Portland) who say some of his constituents were getting daily texts from people wanting to buy their homes.
The Robertson County School Board promoted Melanie Dickerson, making her the new interim Director of Schools. Dickerson had previously served as the district’s Assistant Director of Schools. She will be replacing Dr. Chris Causey, who had served as director since 2017. He has since accepted a new position in Sumner County.
The 35th annual Trash & Treasures yard sale is this weekend. Sponsored by the Cross Plains Heritage Commission, this year’s event, one of the longest running and most anticipated each year is Friday and Saturday, June 23-24. Between 50-75 vendors are expected at the citywide event, with a bulk of them located between Cross Plains City Hall and Wolves’ Den Barbecue. They will be selling everything from antiques, glassware, signs, and handmade items, to clothes, plants, produce, and an assortment of other yard sale items sure to please every visitor.
The Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC) last week announced 131 grants totaling $299,228,167 from the state’s American Rescue Plan (ARP) fund, part of which TDEC is administering in the form of drinking water, wastewater, and stormwater infrastructure grants. Ashland City will use $955,082 in ARP funds to replace all supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) systems and complete a GIS map their water system. Kingston Springs will use $701,132 for the installation of Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) systems and flow meters on 12 pump stations to identify areas of infiltration and inflow. Pegram will use $691,373 in ARP funds to address critical needs in its wastewater system. Pegram’s wastewater project will involve the modernization of the town’s recirculating sand filter wastewater treatment plant to ensure the plant continues to meet permit requirements and solve a variety of operational issues.