With a major winter storm in play and several inches of snow on the ground. Upper Cumberland Electric Membership Corporation (UCEMC) is working hard to maintain a resilient power distribution system, but it is difficult to prevent outages during an event like a major winter storm. Linemen and crews are on standby, prepared to respond to any power outages that may occur. Crews have stocked their trucks with essential equipment, fueled all vehicles, and ensured warehouse supplies are ready to meet the challenges of the storm. We are incredibly grateful for their hard work and dedication to keeping our communities energized and safe.

“Our top priority is safety—for our crews and our members,” said Jennifer Brogdon, General Manager. “We encourage everyone to stay indoors, use caution, and report outages through our designated channels, not on social media.”

Winter storms create the potential for power outages due to falling tree limbs. Even with year-round tree trimming efforts, heavy wet snow can accumulate on limbs, adding significant weight and causing them to snap. When limbs or entire trees fall onto power lines, they can break the lines or poles, leading to service interruptions.

Outage Reporting and Safety

· Call our phone system at 1-800-261-2940 and press 1

· Text “OUT” to 1-800-261-2940

· Mobile App: Login, select your account, choose “Menu”, “Services”, “Report an Outage.”

· Website: Click the “Report Online” button at the top of the page at UCEMC.com.

· Please do not report outages on Facebook as it is not monitored for outage reports.

The safety of our communities will always come first. As a reminder, always stay away from downed power lines or damaged electric equipment and report these situations immediately to UCEMC at 1-800-261-2940.

Safety first, always.

For more information, contact:

Sara Clark

Communications Specialist

UCEMC

615-607-9030

sclark@ucemc.com

Due to the forecasted accumulating snow and anticipated travel hazards, all UCDD and UCHRA offices will be CLOSED on Friday, Jan. 10, 2025. 

UCHRA Public Transportation will suspend all transportation operations starting at noon on Jan. 10. Your understanding is appreciated as the safety of clients and employees are a priority.

Due to predicted inclement weather and significant snow accumulation, all county and city offices, including the landfill and convenience sites, will be closed on Friday, January 10th. This includes Smith County Government and Carthage, South Carthage, and Gordonsville City Halls.

Smith County Schools are also closed on January 10, 2025.

This precautionary measure is being taken to ensure the safety of both employees and residents during hazardous conditions. Please plan accordingly, and stay tuned for updates regarding any additional closures or changes to schedules.

U.S. Representative John Rose’s (TN-6) district staff will hold a series of local office hours for constituents to connect directly with caseworkers and receive assistance with federal agencies throughout the month of January.

During the local office hours, district staff will be available to answer questions and assist constituents with federal casework, such as social security and veterans’ benefits, steps for obtaining a passport, and more. Local office hours occur monthly. If you have questions, please contact one of Representative Rose’s offices so a staff member may help you.

“We are ready to assist constituents with federal casework and welcome anyone with questions to sit down with staff,” said Representative Rose. “My goal is to make the expertise of my staff and the resources of this office easily accessible to every person I represent.”

Details for local office hours can be found below and on Representative Rose’s website.

Thursday, January 16, 2025

TIME: 10:00am-11:00am

WHAT: Macon County Local Office Hours
LOCATION: Lafayette City Hall, 200 E Locust St, Lafayette, TN 37083
WHO: Representative Rose will be represented by Field Representative Lou Nave during this visit.

TIME: 1:00pm-2:00pm

WHAT: Trousdale County Local Office Hours
LOCATION: Trousdale County Admin. Building, 328 Broadway, Hartsville, TN 37074
WHO: Representative Rose will be represented by Field Representative Lou Nave during this visit.

Tuesday, January 21, 2025

TIME: 10:00am-11:00am

WHAT: DeKalb County Local Office Hours
LOCATION: DeKalb County Board of Education, 110 S Public Square, Smithville, TN 37166

WHO: Representative Rose will be represented by Field Representative Lou Nave during this visit.

TIME: 1:00pm-2:00pm

WHAT: Smith County Local Office Hours
LOCATION: Smith Co. Chamber of Commerce, 939 Upper Ferry Rd., Carthage, TN 37030

WHO: Representative Rose will be represented by Field Representative Lou Nave during this visit.

Wednesday, January 22, 2025

TIME: 9:30am-10:30am *Eastern Standard Time

WHAT: Scott County Local Office Hours

LOCATION: 2845 Baker Hwy, Huntsville, TN 37756

WHO: Representative Rose will be represented by Deputy Chief of Staff Leah Grider during this visit.

TIME: 11:00am-12:00pm

WHAT: Fentress County Local Office Hours
LOCATION: Fentress County Courthouse, 101 S. Main Street, Jamestown, TN 38556
WHO: Representative Rose will be represented by Deputy Chief of Staff Leah Grider during this visit.

TIME: 11:00am-12:00pm

WHAT: Wilson County Local Office Hours

LOCATION: Adopted Farmhouse Coffee, 100 Public Square, Watertown, TN 37184

WHO: Representative Rose will be represented by Field Representative Lou Nave during this visit.

TIME: 1:30pm-2:30pm

WHAT: Pickett County Local Office Hours
LOCATION: Pickett County Library, 79 Pickett Square, Byrdstown, TN 38549
WHO: Representative Rose will be represented by Deputy Chief of Staff Leah Grider during this visit.

U.S. Representative John Rose is currently serving his fourth term representing Tennessee’s Sixth Congressional District and resides in Cookeville with his wife, Chelsea, and their two sons, Guy and Sam. The Sixth District includes Cannon, Clay, Cumberland, DeKalb, Fentress, Jackson, Macon, Overton, Pickett, Putnam, Smith, Sumner, Trousdale, Van Buren, and White counties as well as portions of Davidson, Scott, Warren, and Wilson counties. Representative Rose is an eighth-generation farmer, small business owner, and attorney

The Carthage Junction Depot in partnership with the Smith County Fair Board welcomes local artists of all ages to compete to create the program cover for the 2025 Smith County Fair. Any medium is welcome. Art or high resolution digital files (at least 300 dpi) must be 12′ x 12″.

Digital entries can be sent to Caneyforkcreative@gmail.com. Physical entries can be submitted to Keith at Citizens Bank, Carthage during business hours January 27-31. Deadline for digital entries is February 1. Winner will be announced online and displayed at the Depot February 15th.

Nashville, Tenn. – As the National Weather Service (NWS) forecasts snow potential for Friday, the Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) assures motorists it is ready to clear roadways of ice and snow. In preparation for the winter season, crews in all the region’s 26 counties have readied snowplows and brine trucks.

In anticipation of Friday’s snow event, crews hit the roadways on Wednesday, January 8, 2025, to begin brining heavily traveled interstates and state routes, as well as areas vulnerable to freezing, such as hills, curves, ramps, bridges, and interchanges. TDOT strongly encourages drivers to prepare to stay off the roads on Friday, January 10, 2025, for their own safety and the safety of our workers, giving crews the room they need to do their jobs.

Additional staff is added to the region’s Traffic Management Center this Friday, meaning extra eyes on the region’s 240+ SmartWay cameras and more assistance manning phones to dispatch HELP operators as needed. TDOT is anticipating running extended HELP routes on I-40 eastbound to the Putnam County line, I-40 westbound to the Tennessee River, as well as I-65 and I-24 to the Kentucky state line.

TDOT’s statewide 2024/2025 winter weather budget is $28.8 million and includes salt, salt brine, overtime for employees, and equipment maintenance. The department has three salt vendors to refill salt bins as needed at the Region’s 41 salt bins. In Region 3 alone, crews are equipped with 281 salt trucks and 67,370 tons of salt.

When snow hits Tennessee, TDOT ice and snow removal teams focus first on clearing interstates and heavily traveled state routes. During prolonged weather events, crews may have to clear roadways repeatedly. Equipment will be staged in various locations for quicker response time, and tools like chainsaws will be ready to be utilized in the event of downed trees on the roadway.

For winter weather tips, travel information, and a regional breakdown of TDOT winter weather supplies and equipment, visit the TDOT website https://www.tn.gov/tdot/inclement-weather/ice-snow.html. Motorists are encouraged to check the TDOT SmartWay map (https://smartway.tn.gov) before hitting the road to check on real-time conditions in their area and along their route.

Close Excavation & Land Clearing LLC is proud to announce to introduce their services to Smith County. They offer reliable and affordable excavation, land clearing, demolition, gravel services, and drainage solutions. Based in Smith County and open 24/7, this locally owned business is dedicated to providing exceptional service and ensuring every project is completed to the highest standard.

At Close Excavation, customer satisfaction is the top priority. Wyatt Close, the owner, brings four years of hands-on construction experience to the business, ensuring every project is handled with professionalism and care. Clients can expect personalized service, attention to detail, and a commitment to getting the job done right the first time.

Wyatt’s passion for the outdoors and love for family inspired him to start this business. His goal is to help clients achieve their visions quickly and affordably while building long-lasting relationships.

Services Offered:

• Excavation: Whether it’s preparing your site for construction or digging for utilities, Close Excavation has you covered.
• Land Clearing: From clearing trees and brush to creating a clean, functional space, this service helps clients maximize their land use.
• Demolition: Safe and efficient removal of unwanted structures, making way for new projects.
• Gravel Services: Gravel driveways, parking areas, or pathways – tailored to meet your specific needs.
• Drainage Solutions: Expertly designed systems to prevent water damage and manage runoff effectively.

Why Choose Close Excavation & Land Clearing LLC?

• Customer-Centered Approach: Wyatt ensures every project is completed exactly as it should be, with open communication and transparency throughout.
• 24/7 Availability: Ready to work on your schedule to meet deadlines and needs.
• Future-Focused: Close Excavation aims to grow, expand, and continue delivering excellent service for years to come.

Contact Close Excavation & Land Clearing LLC

Ready to start your next project? Contact Wyatt Close today!

• Phone/Text: 615-684-6656
• Email: wyatt399@icloud.com

Let Close Excavation & Land Clearing LLC bring your projects to life. With a passion for hard work and a dedication to excellence, Wyatt is here to make your land improvement dreams a reality.

Tennessee Tech University’s College of Education is now the College of Education & Human Sciences. Leaders in the college explain that the change, which took effect Jan. 1, reflects its broader array of course offerings and career paths.

“Our college encompasses a number of different units and has for a long time,” explained Lisa Zagumny, dean of the College of Education & Human Sciences. “We have this really big footprint, and our programs were not fully represented by the College of Education name.”

Among the college’s academic units are the Department of Curriculum & Instruction, which focuses on teacher education, the Department of Counseling and Psychology, which includes a large undergraduate psychology program and counseling-driven graduate programs, and the Department of Exercise Science, which offers 10 undergraduate concentrations ranging from pre-occupational and physical therapies and pre-physician assistant to exercise physiology and sports administration.

The College of Education & Human Sciences is also home to the university’s Millard Oakley STEM Center, which offers interactive science, technology, engineering and math programming to educators and students from pre-kindergarten to college.

The college additionally oversees Tech’s Child Development Lab, which offers childcare services to faculty, staff and community members while providing hands-on learning to Tech students in early childhood education and similar majors.

As the second-largest college by enrollment on Tech’s campus, the College of Education & Human Sciences is further augmented by its own student success center and testing center, as well as its dedicated Office of Teacher Education and its Jeffers Learning Resource Center – a newly-remodeled space where students can do everything from use laser engravers, sewing machines and 3D printers to create materials for their classes, to even immersing themselves in classroom settings through virtual reality technology.

Zagumny said that the need for a name change first became apparent earlier this year when she was planning remarks to the June 20, 2024 meeting of Tech’s Board of Trustees.

“Preparing for that presentation and rolling out all that we are – it made it even more obvious that ‘College of Ed’ just isn’t capturing who we are and who we’ve been for a while,” said Zagumny. “In looking at our programs and our areas of expertise, it makes sense for us to shift from College of Education to College of Education & Human Sciences.”

“It helps to provide a better understanding of the academic composition of the college,” Zagumny added.

Zagumny is quick to note that the name change does not diminish the college’s commitment to training classroom teachers – something that has become central to Tech’s identity and reputation over the years.

“We’re very proud that we graduate the most teachers in the state and that more districts hire our graduates than any others,” said Zagumny. “There’s also this very dynamic human sciences piece that can better reflect counseling and psychology and exercise science. It’s just a more inclusive name.”

Zagumny adds that counseling and psychology, along with exercise science, are now the college’s fastest-growing programs at the undergraduate level – something she calls a reflection of “current contexts.”

“People are really interested in those pre-professional programs so that they can go on and become an occupational therapist or physical therapist or physician assistant,” said Zagumny. “But we’re also seeing these huge demands in the mental health care space. We’ve had those programs, but they were sort of overshadowed by our name.”

Zagumny hopes that, with the new name, students can see themselves at home in the College of Education & Human Sciences, no matter where they may fall in the college’s vast suite of majors and concentrations.

“This better demonstrates who we already are,” concluded Zagumny. “We should have done it sooner!”

Learn more about Tech’s College of Education & Human Sciences at https://www.tntech.edu/education/.

The Upper Cumberland Development District (UCDD) is proud to serve as a collaborative leader in economic development in the Upper Cumberland. With the start of a new calendar year, UCDD is working alongside local communities across the region to prepare strong applications for the 2025 round of Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funding.

In the coming months, residents may be contacted by telephone or in person as information is gathered for the next round of funding. UCDD sta, on behalf of local governments, will be asking general demographic survey questions as required by HUD guidelines. Survey question examples include, but are not limited to, race and annual income. Residents will not be asked questions that would compromise the security of their personal information, such as social security numbers, bank accounts, etc.

Established in 1974 by Title I of the Community Development Act, the CDBG program addresses critical or unmet community needs. CDBG funds are used to expand economic opportunities and improve the quality of life for low- and moderate-income populations. UCDD staff conducts surveys or interviews of local residents and compiles data for the grant application to determine if a community meets the eligibility requirements. CDBG funding can be used for various projects including housing rehabilitation, emergency services, re protection, community livability, or water and sewer line improvements.

CDBG projects are currently underway in many Upper Cumberland communities including Clay County, Smith County, DeKalb County, Overton County, Gainesboro, McMinnville, Sparta, Smithville, and Lafayette. Local communities have received funding for projects related to updated re and rescue equipment, new ambulance purchases, fairground improvements, and many sewer rehabilitation projects. Applications for the 2025 funding round are due March 7, 2025, and awards are typically announced in the fall of each year.

For more information about the CDBG program or the application process, please call 931-432-4111 to speak with a member of UCDD’s Planning and Community DevelopmentDepartment.