Sunset Marina Owner Tom Allen says prayer and community support is helping his family and team move forward after losing the storefront in a fire Thursday evening. Allen said he was in the upper parking lot taking drone footage of the marina when he heard a loud explosion. Turning around, he said the flames coming from the marina had him ... Read More »

The Sunset Marina storefront appears to be a total loss after an hours-long blaze Thursday. Pickett/Overton County EMA Director Chris Massiongale said preliminary information indicates a houseboat striking the dock could be the initial cause of the fire. “Which dislodged the gas pumps and apparently gas was going everywhere and an explosion happened or the gas caught fire shortly thereafter,” ... Read More »

White County School System’s BonDeCroft Elementary expansion project hoping to finish by Spring Break this year. Director of Schools Kurt Dronebarger provided the school board with an update Thursday night. He said at this point much of the concrete has been poured, including the parking lot binding, and walls should start going up soon. “The next challenge will be, amongst ... Read More »

Jeremy and Kim Whitson of Whitson Farms LLC have been named the 2023 Farm Family of the Year. The award came from the Putnam County Farm Bureau’s annual meeting. Jeremy Whitson said he was honored and humbled by the recognition. “It’s being active, it doesn’t have anything to do with the size of your family or the size of your ... Read More »

Algood’s Green Mountain Water Project has officially reached completion, expanding water access to customers in the Green Mountain Road and Spring Creek Road areas. City Administrator Keith Morrison said construction started in April of last year. He said it has been a process trying to get the booster pumps and other needed equipment to the site. “Getting the pump station ... Read More »

A Putnam County man has been arrested after he posted a video addressing the Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives department about being in possession of explosives. Sheriff Eddie Farris said that once it was confirmed that Levi Flatt was actually attempting to make a bomb, authorities took action. A search of Flatt’s vehicle resulted in three pipe bombs, two Molotov ... Read More »

The state is still taking public comment regarding the closure of Putnam County’s compost site off of Cookeville Boat Dock Road. Solid Waste Director Doug Ashburn said this is a part of the policy the state follows to close sites of this nature. Ashburn said the site had become more of a burden than a benefit to the county. “Between ... Read More »

Gainesboro set to begin a paving project in the next two months to upgrade roads near the park. Mayor Lloyd Williams said the town’s roads are getting in bad shape and decided to prioritize the roads that need help the most. He said the Board of Aldermen decided to go with roads close to the newly-renovated Town Park. “We invested ... Read More »

Pickett County has the opportunity to relocate and expand its senior center. County Executive Stephen Bilbrey said the opportunity came about when Byrdstown Methodist Church was decommissioned in June. He said the Tennessee-Western Kentucky Methodist Association decided to donate the four-acre tract to the county for free. “Pickett County, we’re out of room in a lot of places the Senior ... Read More »

Governor Lee has issued the official call for a special legislative session starting August 21st, setting the parameters for topics of discussion. The session includes more than 18 topics, including school safety plans and measures to encourage the safe storage of firearms. House Speaker Cameron Sexton said he believes lawmakers will make agreeable decisions to improve public safety. “The one ... Read More »