The Putnam County and Cumberland County Health Departments will not conduct drive-thru COVID-19 testing Tuesday. Both departments cancelled the testing program because of Tuesday’s severe-weather threat. Testing will resume Wednesday. If you are experiencing coronavirus symptoms, health officials encourage you to call your primary care provider first. Testing result times have increased to five to ten days in the past ... Read More »

Three Upper Cumberland UPS drivers among those honored this week for 25 years or more of accident-free driving. Cookeville’s Tony Delk Jr., Smithville’s James Dolan and Cookeville’s James Middleton were inducted into the Circle Of Honor. The award goes to UPS drivers with safe driving records. Tennessee’s UPS fleet includes 314 Circle Of Honor drivers. “I can’t say enough about ... Read More »

Cookeville First United Methodist Church plans to close their food pantry and offer emergency food pick ups starting Tuesday. Director of Servant Ministries Tamika Parker said the emergency food pick ups will be by appointment only. “There is still a need in the community for folks who do not have food,” Parker said. “So we are trying to meet emergency ... Read More »

Governor Bill Lee called on non-emergency medical providers to call off surgeries and donate their medical supplies to the state. The order includes N95 masks, surgical masks, medical gowns, gloves, eye protection, TYVEK suits and other items. Items can be donated at the National Guard Armories across the region from 9am-2pm. Local armories include 505 Gould Drive in Cookeville, 2029 ... Read More »

Putnam County’s ability to take on additional projects could be affected if the coronavirus situation lasts into the spring. County Commissioner Chair Ben Rogers said the county’s leadership team continues to watch sales tax receipts. “If the sales tax isn’t coming in like it normally does, then the future debt we may incur may be slowed down for a while,” ... Read More »

Dekalb County reported its first case of the coronavirus Monday taking the Upper Cumberland count to nine. 615 cases reported statewide Monday by the Tennessee Department of Health. Putnam County’s number remains at six. Cumberland County’s number remains at two. Knox County saw its number of cases increase to 12. Davidson County’s 164 confirmed cases leads the state. The majority ... Read More »

Middle Tennessee Natural Gas locations across the Upper Cumberland have closed its lobbies and showrooms to public traffic until further notice. Bills can be paid at our office drop-boxes or drive-up windows, by mail, phone or electronically. The drive-up window will be open 8am-5pm as normal. Employees will be on hand 24-hours a day to assist with critical calls. “Safety-related ... Read More »

The family of Jack Ray conducted private graveside services for the former Bank Of Putnam County Chairman Sunday. The 84-year-old Ray passed away Friday at his home. A celebration of life service will be held at a later date. Ray returned to Monterey after graduating law school at the University of Virginia. He planned to practice law, but a death ... Read More »

Putnam County School Administrators returning to schools Monday found facilities as germ-free as possible. Interim Director Of Schools Corby King said the system’s cleaning firm did a top-to-bottom clean last week. That includes using a misting system to reach all surfaces in every classroom. “Almost fogging the rooms,” King said. “As it dries, it kills the active germs and bacteria. ... Read More »

Former Tennessee Tech Soccer Standout Tina Marolt saw the early stages of Italy’s coronavirus crisis up close last month. The former All-OVC midfielder played in the Italian League for Bergamo before the league shutdown. At that point, Italy had 79 reported COVID-19 cases. Today, that number nears 60,000. “When you take a look at the situation now, I think we ... Read More »