TVA and Upper Cumberland Electric Membership Corporation asking residents to be mindful of energy use during the heat wave. UCEMC CEO and General Manager Jennifer Brogdon said that the ask is not common, but not unusual. She said that when it’s as hot as this, residential and commercial buildings all crank up their AC creating an unusually large power demand. ... Read More »

Baxter officials met with contractors and Portobello officials to discuss Ditty Road’s planned closure starting Tuesday, June 20th. Mayor John Martin said that the road will be closed as they extend water and sewer to Portobello’s new facility. “We’re going to close Ditty Road to all local traffic,” Martin said. “But we’re going to leave it open to the large ... Read More »

Putnam County Sheriff Eddie Farris joined state officials Thursday for the honorary signing of the Truth in Sentencing Bill. Farris said that the bill strengthens sentencing for violent crime offenders. He said that though the bill was signed into legislature this April, this honorary signing shows support from other state officials and law enforcement officials. “Really what this bill is ... Read More »

Cookeville City Council approved the purchase of the property that currently houses the Country Bumpkin at the corner of Willow Avenue and W. Stevens Street. City Manager James Mills said that the property purchase is part of a larger plan to install a center turn lane where Stevens intersects with Willow Avenue. “The survey indicates that the structure already extends ... Read More »

Putnam County firefighters were on the scene of a house fire Thursday night for almost four hours. Chief Tom Brown said that a neighbor called in a fire on Walking Horse Lane around 9:30 p.m. He said that when firefighters arrived on scene the fire was heavy on the front of the house and present in the attic and lower ... Read More »

Sparta will change the location of this Friday’s Bluegrass on the Square event. The city said that they will move to the Civic Center due to extreme heat. The bands set to perform are the Bilbrey’s and the Hot Biscuitz. Read More »

One person has died as a result of a Thursday morning Highway 70 accident near Hillwood Street in rural Putnam County. 27-year-old Johnny Buckner Howard Jr. of Stilwell, Oklahoma was driving a 2018 Peterbilt and pulling a cattle trailer while negotiating a left curve. Howard’s vehicle crossed the center line where a passenger-side tire blew. The vehicle then went off ... Read More »

Former Jackson County School Bus Driver Kenneth Borawski has been arrested for sexual battery by an authority figure. The investigation began with a complaint of suspicious activity to School Officials who immediately started an internal investigation and contacted the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office. Video recordings provided by the Jackson County School System as well as statements obtained by the investigators ... Read More »

The process to extend sewer to the Lovelady Road subdivision could begin if Cookeville City Council approves a construction contract Thursday. Water Quality Director Designee Barry Turner said that the sewer would extend to the proposed Timberwalk Subdivision. He said that the estimated cost of the extension is some $800,000 split evenly between the city and the developer. “It’s going ... Read More »

State TCAP numbers are in with elementary students improving ELA scores statewide. Math numbers also improved. Director of Schools Corby King said his system has only preliminary data from the state. He said that shows similar trends in Putnam. “It looks good so far that our students did move forward last year and that we’re recovering from the pandemic,” King ... Read More »