Good morning, Cookeville.

It's the middle of the week, spring is absolutely on its way, and Saturday is shaping up to be one worth leaving the house for. The RAM Free Clinic opens at Cookeville High School this weekend — dental, vision, and medical care, no insurance or ID needed — and if someone in your life has been putting that kind of thing off, this Friday night is when to show up.

In today's Scoop: a job skills workshop at the library tomorrow, Little Mermaid Jr. at the PAC (with two shows this week), and CRMC opens its brand new inpatient wing next Tuesday. Plus Drake's Irish menu is wrapping up, and if you haven't been to Whiskey Wednesdays at The Putnam Room — well, tonight is literally the night.

Let's get to it.

— The Cookeville Scoop Team

Ready, Set, Hired — Free Job Skills Workshop — The Cookeville American Job Center and the Putnam County Library are partnering for a practical two-hour workshop tomorrow morning: professional resume writing, interview skills, and hands-on feedback to take with you. If you're job hunting, re-entering the workforce, or just want to sharpen up your resume, this is a good use of a Thursday morning. No registration needed — just show up at 50 East Broad St. from 10 AM to noon. Free. Details here.

PAJCH Presents Disney's The Little Mermaid Jr. — The talented cast of PAJCH Inc.'s youth theater company brings The Little Mermaid to the Cookeville Performing Arts Center this week. There are two public evening shows: Thursday, March 19 at 7 PM and Saturday, March 21 at 7 PM. Ariel, Flounder, Sebastian — the whole crew. These youth productions always sell out, so grab your tickets through Etix before they're gone. A great night out for families with kids who love Disney and live theater.

Ribbon Cutting: CRMC 4 West — New Inpatient Floor — The community is invited to Cookeville Regional Medical Center next Tuesday, March 24, for the official opening of the new 4 West inpatient floor. Nearly three years in the making, the renovation adds 20 beds to CRMC and brings the hospital's total to 309. Open house from 3:30–4:30 PM on the fourth floor, with the ribbon cutting at 4 PM. Free and open to the public. This one feels like a real milestone for our community's healthcare. Full story via UCBJ.

Drake's has one week left on their Irish menu — the Big Arse Reuben Sandwich and the Paddy Melt Burger are on the board through Saturday, March 22. After that, they're pivoting to Opening Day with baseball specials coming March 26–29 (think $3 Coors Light in a souvenir glass and a $12.99 hot dog combo). But right now, it's still Reuben season. Worth the stop this week before the menu turns over. Find them at 1010 S Walnut Ave — drakescomeplay.com.

Tonight is Whiskey Wednesday at The Putnam Room, and half off all whiskey, bourbon, and scotch from 5 to 9 PM is honestly a very reasonable excuse to end your workday downtown. The Putnam Room is in Historic Downtown Cookeville — call ahead at (931) 644-3722 or visit theputnamroom.com. This deal runs every single Wednesday, but it's especially convenient that it's tonight.

Irrationale Kitchen+Taps runs a double-shift happy hour every Friday — first window is 2 to 4 PM, second is 8 PM to close. $3 select drafts, $6 well spirits, $5 house wine, and half off select appetizers. They do the same deal on Tuesdays, too, and their Sunday brunch (10:30 AM–3 PM) is one we keep meaning to make a regular thing. Located at 1227 N Washington Ave — full specials at irrationalekitchen.com.

Every year, something remarkable happens at Cookeville High School. People start arriving on Friday night. Families pull into the parking lot after midnight, settle in, and wait. By the time the clinic doors open at 6 AM Saturday, the line is already long — and the people in it have been waiting because they need dental work, new glasses, a doctor they haven't been able to see. And RAM shows up.

Remote Area Medical brings a full free clinic to Cookeville High School this Saturday and Sunday, March 21 and 22 — medical checkups, dental care (cleanings, fillings, and extractions), and vision services including eye exams and prescription eyeglasses. All of it free. No insurance required. No ID required. No income verification. You walk in, you get care.

A few things to know if you're planning to go — or sharing with someone who is:

The parking lot at Cookeville High School, 2335 N Washington Ave, opens at 11:59 PM this Friday night. Dental and vision services fill up fast, and showing up early matters. Bring warm layers if you're arriving before sunrise, some food and water, and a list of any medications you're currently taking. Bathrooms are available on-site.

Everyone who attends receives medical services. For dental and vision, due to time constraints, most patients choose one — so it's worth deciding in advance.

What makes this event something more than just a clinic is the community that surrounds it — the volunteers who show up year after year, the Tennessee Tech students who help coordinate and staff it, and the families who drive hours because this is the care they've been waiting for. It is, genuinely, neighbors taking care of neighbors.

If you know someone who needs this, please share this newsletter with them. That's exactly what we're here for. And if you're in a position to volunteer, visit ramusa.org/events/cookeville-tn-2026/ for details.

Spring Market at 125–159 Fourth Avenue — Saturday, March 21, 10 AM. Over 100 vendors set up along Fourth Avenue with handmade goods, vintage finds, antiques, plants, home decor, jewelry, wreaths, and more — plus food trucks, kettle corn, fresh baked goods, and drinks. Free admission. A great way to spend a Saturday morning downtown, and easy to combine with the yard sale starting just down the road.

Cookeville's Largest Yard Sale at the Putnam County Fairgrounds — Saturday, March 21, 9 AM. Come early, come caffeinated, come ready to dig. The annual yard sale is one of the better excuses to get out of the house on a Saturday morning in Cookeville. Free to browse.

Greater Vision in Concert at Washington Avenue Baptist Church — tonight, March 18, 6:30 PM. Greater Vision is one of Southern Gospel's most award-winning groups — multi-Dove Award winners with decades of recordings and a devoted following. If you love this kind of music, hearing them in a small church setting is a pretty special thing. Free (free-will offering). The church is here in Cookeville — this one starts tonight.

Senior Chair Yoga with Tommye at the Putnam County Library — this morning, 10–11 AM. A certified yoga instructor leads a gentle, accessible chair yoga session open to all fitness levels. Great for seniors and anyone looking for low-impact movement. No experience needed — just show up. Free. 50 East Broad St. Call 931-526-2416 with questions.

Spanish Class: Ages 15+ at the Putnam County Library — Thursdays, 9–10 AM (recurring every week). Nicolle Vargas teaches basic Spanish phrases and pronunciations from her native language in a casual, welcoming setting. No experience required. Open to ages 15 and up, and since it's weekly you can drop in whenever — or build on it week to week. Free. 50 East Broad St.

If someone in your life could use free dental, vision, or medical care this weekend, please forward this newsletter to them. No ID, no insurance, no cost — just show up. That's what the RAM clinic is, and it's worth making sure people know.

Got an event or story tip for next week's edition? Reply to this email and tell us. We always love hearing what's happening in your corner of Cookeville.

Thank you for being here with us. We're so grateful for this community — and for each of you who keeps showing up for it. Have a wonderful rest of your week, and we'll see you back here soon. 🧡

— The Cookeville Scoop Team