Monday, April 27, 2026

Heads up for pet parents: An emergency vet visit could cost you $7,000+ (ask me how I know 🙃). From the initial fee just to be seen to x-rays, surgery, medicine, and aftercare, it adds up quicker than a chew toy turns into a crime scene. The good news? You could get up to 90% cash back on your vet bill with this pet insurance plan.*

Community partners fuel response: A Putnam County church and a local business were honored for helping TEMA run a recovery call center after January’s Winter Storm Fern, recognized at a county commission meeting -- see how it came together.

Construction activity surges: In March, Cookeville issued 45 building permits worth an estimated $17.38 million, led by a county transfer station and recycling center and a new McDonald's -- see the full breakdown.

Campus dining goes autonomous: Tennessee Tech has launched food delivery robots on campus in Cookeville, partnering with Starship Technologies. A rollout is underway, with more dining locations to be added in the coming weeks -- see how to order.

The bill everyone over 50 should double check: Car insurance. If you’ve been on the same plan for years, you might be paying way more than you need to. It’s an easy one to forget about, but switching could save you up to $600 this year. Case in point: I shopped around and ended up cutting my premium in half — this free comparison tool makes it easy.*

Retirees are making moves: After gold's best year in nearly five decades, more folks than ever are moving part of their savings into precious metals. Not all of it... just enough to hedge against inflation. AHG put together a free guide that explains how it works -- grab your copy here.*

Endorphins on campus: Tennessee Tech Recreation Center is an easy win when you need a reset, with a 25-yard pool, cardio and weights, multipurpose courts, and group fitness that keeps you honest. Got Tech ties student, alum, or staff bring your Eagle Card and make this week feel less... Monday.

Closet pick‑me‑up: When your closet needs a quick win, The Boutique by Brooklyn Paige brings that curated mix of everyday staples and fun statement pieces that make getting dressed feel easy... and a little extra. Think hometown-boutique energy, friendly help, and fresh drops so you walk out feeling like yourself, but better.

Chill, float, recover: Shake off desk-shoulder knots or that backyard 'athlete' moment with The Recovery Room offering private float therapy, infrared sauna with red light, and a vertical cold plunge, plus contrast therapy. Settle in, breathe, and let your system reset.

The slower you walk, the more it works: Tai Chi walking is trending online. Turns out it's centuries old — slow deliberate steps, paced breath, attention on the body. Thirty minutes a day burns fat, lifts your mood, and builds balance. No gym, no treadmill, no pounding on the joints. Take the quick quiz to see if it fits, then use code BASELOCAL for a discount on the coaching plan. *See how it works →

Your homeowners insurance has a blind spot: It covers your house if a tree falls on it. It doesn’t cover your furnace when it quits in January, your AC when it dies in July, or your water heater when it starts leaking on a Tuesday. Those are all classified as "normal wear and tear," and they're 100% on you. American Home Shield can help fill that gap for ~$1/day (even if your appliances and systems are really old).*See what it covers →

Selling your house doesn't have to take months: If you need to sell quickly — because you're downsizing, relocating, or just ready to close this chapter — Liz helps seniors sell their houses fast. As-is. No repairs, no showings, no drawn-out back-and-forth. You pick the closing date. *See how it works →

Unknown-number calls aren't random: Scammers don't just pick numbers out of a hat. They pay data brokers a few bucks and get everything they need to harass you, trick you, rob you, or steal your identity outright. Incogni removes all of your personal info from these data broker sites and keeps an eye out to make sure it stays gone for good. *Get protected →

For women who've been feeling off for years: The fatigue, the weight creeping up, the mood swings, the sleep that won't hold. Turns out most of those "it's just aging" problems are actually caused by hormones, and proper HRT can get you back to feeling like yourself. The catch? You can't get it without a full hormone panel and a doctor who understands what those numbers mean. Most women never get either, but Hone Health gives you both. *See how it works →

🎨 Art Quest @ Putnam County Library | Monday (4/27) at 10:15 AM – Give your scrolling thumb a break and get messy at this weekly, hands-on art and craft session with certified visual arts teacher Annette Romero. Ages 12 to adult are welcome, no registration required, just show up, steal some inspiration, and leave with something fridge-worthy.

🇮 Tour of Italy @ Charter Senior Living | Thursday (4/30) at 5:00 PM – Skip the weeknight spaghetti routine and grab a $15 Tour of Italy to-go, all benefiting the Alzheimer’s Association. You get Caesar salad, a pasta trio, fresh bread, and tiramisu, your couch becomes a trattoria, and your conscience gets dessert too. Call 931-525-1083 to order.

🃏 Sports Card & Collectibles Show @ Avery Trace Middle School | Saturday (5/2) at 8:00 AM – Think you know your rookies from reprints? Cookeville’s card show packs 160 tables of sports cards, Pokémon, comics, toys, and memorabilia, with Upper Cumberland collectors who haggle politely. Giveaways top $300 in signed jerseys, footballs, blaster boxes, gift cards, and graded cards.

🆓 Free Comic Book Day @ Wonderland Comics | Saturday (5/2) at 9:00 AM – Skip the errands and swing by for Free Comic Book Day, with 70-plus titles from almost every publisher, all actually free. They’re also running storewide deals with no exclusions, so stocking up doubles as supporting local business, quality time, and your inner 12-year-old.

📖 2026 Storyfest @ Cookeville History Museum | Saturday (5/2) at 10:00 AM – Storyfest is back at Dogwood Park’s performance pavilion, free as ever, with tall tales, local makers, and zero small talk required. Andy Offutt Irwin’s doing two sets, there’s an amateur showdown to cheer, chairs on stage if you fancy, or BYO seat.

🐾 AARF May Adoption Event @ Petco | Saturday (5/2) at 1:00 PM – Patio weather calls for walking buddies, and AARF is at Cookeville Petco with dogs, cats, puppies, and kittens ready to upgrade your couch time. Fill out the adoption app beforehand, then swing by and let a wet nose pick you, not the other way around.

🍝 Spaghetti Dinner and Cake Walk @ Dodson Branch Elementary | Saturday (5/2) at 5:00 PM – Nothing beats carbs for a cause. Grab spaghetti in the Dodson Branch School cafeteria, try your luck at the cake walk and auction, and help Ty’s Memorial Fund back local kids and a graduating senior. Come hungry, leave happy, maybe with dessert. To-go boxes, too.

On 32 acres, this 4-bed, 3-bath retreat pairs a cathedral-ceiling great room and quartz kitchen with an 8.5-by-5.25 island. Comfort includes heated-floor baths, a suite with tiled shower, and hot tub. A full basement hosts a 6-by-54 safe room. Outdoorsy perks include a stocked pond and a 60-by-40 pole barn with a 14-foot RV door. Septic rated 3 bedrooms.