Good morning, Cookeville.

Nearly 100 arborists spent the weekend in St. Louis ringing bells from 80-foot branches at the 50th International Tree Climbing Championship. Fall break runs through Friday, so the climbing at my house is a kid on a kitchen chair, going for the cereal.

In today's Cookeville Scoop:

Let's get into it.

Business Before Hours is Tuesday at 7 AM. Tennessee Tech hosts the Chamber at Hooper Eblen Center, 1100 McGee Blvd, from 7 to 8:30. You get food, coffee, and a look at the upcoming basketball season, plus the usual chance to meet people before the workday starts. Members are free. Everyone else is $10. Register here.

Treat Trail booths close Monday. If your business or group wants a spot at Dogwood on October 31, Hip Cookeville needs the form by Monday. There is no cash fee. You do have to bring at least 4,000 commercially wrapped treats. Handmade candy is not allowed. The trail itself is 4 to 6 PM, rain or shine, and they send acceptance emails by October 16. Register a booth.

Fall break camp is Wednesday and Friday, not all week. The city calendar has week 2 of the recreational day camp at Cane Creek Recreation Center, 180 C C Camp Road, on Wednesday and Friday only, 7:15 AM to 5:30 PM. It is for kindergarten through age 12. Snacks are covered. You pack a labeled lunch. It is $90 for the week, with $5 off for a sibling, and space is limited. Call 931-526-7393 before you count on a spot. Camp details.

Monday is the last day to turn in a Restaurant Week passport. CityScape's post says you needed a purchase at five of the participating places, then the stamped card goes to The Biz Foundry by Monday for the prize drawing. The dining window ended Sunday. If the card is still on the counter, this is the drop-off, not another night out. Passport details.

The Slice still has a deal for each of these three days. At 408 W. Jackson Street, Suite C, Monday Funday is $30 for a large one-topping pizza, cheesy breadsticks, up to five soft drinks, and a $20 arcade card (regularly $47). Tuesday, most arcade games are half price, crane games excluded. Wednesday, any large one-topping pizza is $10, and that price runs on Wednesdays through December 16. Prices are plus tax, and the deals do not combine. See the specials.

Irrationale posted the same board for Tuesday and Wednesday. From 11 AM to 9 PM both days: $9 fried green tomatoes with pretzels and cheese, $1 wings in orders of five, 2-for-1 domestic drafts, and a $15 Girl Dinner. This week's board.

Early voting starts Wednesday. The ballot is nine pages, and most of those pages are not the candidates.

Putnam County's sample ballot for November 3 runs nine pages. Administrator of Elections Jennifer Murphy told The UC Now that the three constitutional amendments take more than half of them. Commission Chairman Michael Detwiler's advice was simple. If you wait until you are at the machine, you will be standing there a while. The commission will not explain the amendments. That reading is yours to do at home.

The county schedule lists the governor, U.S. Senate, U.S. House District 6, state Senate District 15, and state House Districts 25 and 42. Then the amendments. These are the Secretary of State summaries, shortened.

Amendment 1 would let a court deny bail before trial for a capital offense, terrorism, second-degree murder, aggravated rape, aggravated rape of a child, grave torture, or a crime that requires someone to serve at least 85 percent of the sentence. The judge would have to write down why.

Amendment 2 would bar the Legislature from a state property tax on real, personal, or mixed property.

Amendment 3 adds victims' rights on top of the ones already listed: fair treatment, a part in parole, protection from harassment, notice of the minimum sentence and release date, and a requirement that safety be weighed before a release.

A yes vote adopts the new wording. A no vote keeps the current wording. An amendment passes only if yes beats no, and the yes total is also more than half of every vote cast for governor.

Wednesday is the first day, 8 AM to 5 PM, at the Election Commission, 705 County Services Drive, off South Willow. Early voting runs through October 29. The other hours are Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday 8 to 5, Thursday 8 to 7, and Saturday 9 to 1. Bring a Tennessee or federal photo ID. A college ID does not count. Call 931-526-2566 if you are not sure yours qualifies.

Read the sample ballot before you go!

Hours and ID rules · Sample ballot · Amendment text

Cookeville is scheduling a paint job for the Buck Mountain water tank. Barry Turner told the council it went up in 1978, was last painted in 1992, and chlorine has been rusting the inside. Council approved a $160,200 engineering contract to drain and sandblast the 2 million gallon tank. They may swap the dome for an aluminum one. And painting could take 120 to 150 days.

Pneumatikos Conference – Morning services and a 7 PM service at Engrafted Word Church, 5 W. Broad, through Wednesday. No price is posted, and the church says everyone is welcome.

Banned Books Lunch and Learn – Spencer Traut gives part two at the Cookeville library, noon

Cardboard Mask Making – A free crafternoon at the Cookeville library, supplies included, 3:30 PM

All Sports Camp – Underway at Cane Creek Gym, 8 AM to 5 PM. Registration closed October 9.

Moving for Better Balance – A free beginner class at Cane Creek, 9 AM

Story and a Craft – A Halloween story and a craft at the Cookeville library, 10 AM

Rosenwald Schools Exhibit – Free at the History Museum, 40 E. Broad, 10 AM to 4 PM (also Wednesday)

Muddy Pond Sorghum – The mill boils on Tuesdays through October. Call (931) 445-3509 first. Hours move with the weather.

Movie Night at Roasted – Free House on Haunted Hill and The Terror, 21 and up, 7 to 10 PM

Ruck Fit – A $3 drop-in sandbag workout at Cane Creek, 5:30 PM

Early Voting – First day, 8 AM to 5 PM, at 705 County Services Drive

Fall Break Camp – Week 2 at Cane Creek, 7:15 AM to 5:30 PM (also Friday)

Mr. Rich's Super Science Halloween Spectacular – Gas ghouls, flying ghosts, and bubbling potions at the Cookeville library, 10 AM

Cookbook Club Chili Cook-off – Bring a pot or just taste, Cookeville library, 4 PM

Board Game Club – More than 100 games for ages 13 and up, 3:30 to 7:30 PM

Tracks and Racks – Karaoke and a pool tournament at Roasted, hosted by Sound Boy, 21 and up, 7 PM

Trunk or Treat – Cumberland Auto Center's 12th year, free if you bring a non-perishable, 1540 Interstate Drive, Thursday 5:30 to 8:30 PM

Tech Soccer vs. The Citadel – Women's soccer at Tech Soccer Field, Thursday at 7 PM

Shepherd Hills Rezoning – City Council's final reading, Thursday at 5:30 PM, City Hall, 45 E. Broad

Roasted is showing two old horror movies Tuesday. House on Haunted Hill (1959) and The Terror (1963), 7 to 10 PM at 1068 E. 10th Street, Suite F. Admission is free, and it is 21 and up. They have not posted a start time for each film. If you dress for the theme, spend $25 in the shop, and take a photo with Roasted, you get 15% off. The costume notes are suggestions, not a dress code. Movie night.

Mr. Rich is Wednesday morning, while school is still out. Putnam County students are on fall break through Friday. The Cookeville library has his Super Science Halloween Spectacular from 10 to 11 AM: Gas Ghouls, Flying Ghosts, a Mummy Maker, a Shocking Lab, and bubbling potions. It is free! (One local roundup called this Friday. October 14 is a Wednesday, and the library calendar is the one to trust.) Science show.

All Sports Camp is running, and you cannot sign up anymore. Amy Underwood's week at Cane Creek Gym is 8 AM to 5 PM, basketball through disc golf, and the weekly fee was $100. Registration ended October 9. If your kid is already in, that is the schedule. If not, call 931-520-5767 only to check a question, not to grab a late spot. Camp page.

Buddy is a female red Schnauzer and Standard Poodle mix, about 6 months old. The Herald-Citizen posted her October 7. She was surrendered because of the cost of care. The post says she is good with other dogs and children, OK with livestock, and not good with cats or fowl. She is not house trained or crate trained. She digs, barks, and chews, and she likes a knotted rope or fetch. She is at the Cookeville-Putnam County Animal Shelter. Call before you go. The story does not list a phone, and she may already be spoken for. Read Buddy's post.

Monday 84 / 59 | 22% rain

Tuesday 87 / 61 | 5% rain

Wednesday 88 / 65 | 6% rain

Share this with someone who will actually read a sample ballot before they complain about the line. If your Treat Trail booth form is still open on the kitchen table, Monday is the day. Reply if you want a hand finding the PDF.

Thanks for reading. Vote if you are ready, take a kid to a science show if you are not, and enjoy the last quiet weekdays before school starts back. 🧡

-- Travis