An overturned tractor trailer has a portion of Putnam County’s Interstate 40 closed Saturday night. The westbound lanes of the interstate are completely closed as of 10:30pm following the rollover. The incident happened near mile marker 270 between the Buffalo Valley and Smithville exits. Construction had been taking place in this area earlier Saturday. It is not known if that ... Read More »

A Cumberland County Sheriffs Deputy was airlifted to University of Tennessee Medical Center Saturday night after a shooting on Chestnut Hill Road. The deputy responded to a suspicious person call just after 7pm. The deputy exchanged gunfire with an unnamed suspect. The deputy was wounded on the upper right side. The condition of the deputy is not known. According to ... Read More »

Construction Saturday afternoon on Interstate 40 has slowed traffic. Westbound lanes near mile marker 270 in Putnam County are slowed between the Smithville and Buffalo Valley exits. Putnam County 911 reports traffic is moving at roughly 10 mph. Travelers going westbound may want to use alternate routes Saturday afternoon. Read More »

Unemployment dropped between 6 and 8 percent across Dekalb, Van Buren and Warren Counties in May, the counties hit hardest by COVID 19 job losses. All 3 had April unemployment numbers over 20 percent led by Warren County. In May, Warren County’s unemployment rate fell 7.4 percent to 17.6 percent. Dekalb County’s rate fell from 22.4 in April to 16.3 ... Read More »

The Putnam County School Board voted to allow five students affected by board rezoning to change schools. But School Board members warned parents this zoning exemption may not be possible going forward. “These families need to understand that that doesn’t mean we would make an exception the next year if they have siblings coming up,” School Board Member Kim Cravens ... Read More »

The Cookeville Community Band cancelled its summer season Friday because of COVID-19 concerns. The band’s summer concerts, including the July 4th patriotic presentation, has been a community tradition since 2003. The group’s Facebook page said the health and safety of the band members and the audience had to come first. “This decision was made after evaluating rehearsal hall availability, concert ... Read More »

A man was shot and killed outside a home in Dekalb County Thursday afternoon. The TBI is investigating the case, according to Dekalb County Sheriff Patrick Ray. A caller to 911 Thursday around 12:30pm, said someone had been shot along Carter Drive. When law enforcement arrived, they found the man lying on the front porch of a residence with gunshot ... Read More »

Upper Cumberland residents will have a new warning device to help protect their families from severe weather thanks to a partnership between Wilson Bank and the stations of Stonecom Radio. The Bank On Warnings Program includes a donation from both companies to keep the price of the radios affordable for all local residents. The AM/FM Weather Radios, made by La ... Read More »

The Putnam County School Board approved its new fiscal year budget Thursday night with a shortfall reduced to $102,300. That shortfall will be paid from fund reserves. School Board Member Celeste Gammon said that is something the board cannot do consistently. “We’re in a good position to be able to take this from our reserve funds,” Gammon said. “Obviously with ... Read More »

District Attorney General Bryant Dunaway will not prosecute a Livingston Academy teacher accused of inappropriate conduct with students. In a letter Thursday to the TBI Special Agent in Charge, Dunaway said there is not enough evidence that science teacher Mark Lee committed a crime. “Based upon the description of the complaints of alleged conduct, the only criminal offense that could ... Read More »