Cookeville City Council approved a first reading of its proposed budget Thursday that includes sales tax revenues over $14 million. That’s the first time that has ever happened, according to Cookeville Finance Director Brenda Imel. Sales tax revenue makes up about 50 percent of the city’s projected $28.5 million revenue. “That’s why our new shopping options were so important,” Mayor ... Read More »

Tennessee Tech officials can move forward with plans to re-design Dixie Avenue to improve traffic flow. Cookeville City Council approved unanimously a general design strategy to reduce the street to two lanes with improved pedestrian flow. The final master plan must still be designed by Tennessee Tech and approved by the city. Planning Director James Mills said the city will ... Read More »

Cookeville City Council voted Thursday night to increase property taxes by 15 cents to help work on the city’s road issues. Coming into Thursday, the council had planned to increase taxes by 10 cents. However, Council Member Eric Walker asked council members to consider a 15-cent increase to funnel more money to smaller transportation issues. Walker said he feared that ... Read More »

A Putnam County man in custody charged with second degree murder after a Thursday night domestic assault. 38-year old Andrew Ray Price charged with second degree murder, aggravated assault, felony theft and violation of bond. Police captured Price Thursday morning after pursuing him overnight. Investigators said Price got into an argument with 22-year old Kelsey Alexis Lamb Wednesday. During the ... Read More »

Ten men face felony charges of attempting to purchase sex from minors following a joint-sting investigation in Cookeville. A Putnam County Grand Jury indicted the men, ranging in age from 19 to 51, May 8th. Eight of the ten men have been taken into custody, according to the DA’s office. District Attorney General Bryant Dunaway announced the sting Thursday. The ... Read More »

The Cookeville City Council approved an $879,000 contract Thursday night to begin architectural planning on the city’s new police station. “This council has been united in working to get a site and to start a site to build us a brand new police station,“ Dr. Charles Womack said. “It’s going to be expensive, but we need it.” Police officials will ... Read More »

Local citizens gathered Thursday afternoon to pray for America as part of the annual National Day of Prayer at the Putnam County Courthouse. Local leaders from government, business, and churches prayed for all areas of the community from families and marriages to schools, economy and business. “This is an opportunity for us to pray together, to unite,” Pastor Diantha McLeod ... Read More »

A police stop for a seat belt violation turned into a drug arrest along Cookeville’s Broad Street Wednesday. 30-year-old Stacy B. Igou, 37-year-old Herman Conley, and 39-year-old Stacy Lynn Brockington of Cookeville face simple possession charges after police found 1.25 grams of methamphetamine in the car. Two of the people in the car also had active arrest warrants. Read More »

A Monday morning traffic stop for tinted windows turned into a drug arrest along Cookeville’s Willow Avenue. 20-year-old Brince Couch of Red Boiling Springs and 21-year-old Justin Dixon of Lafayette face simple possession charges and drug paraphernalia charges. Cookeville Police stopped the pair as they drove just after 12:30am on Willow Avenue. The 1996 Nissan pickup had illegal window tinting. ... Read More »

A Crossville woman died and a passenger suffered injuries Friday morning in an accident along Interstate 40. 36-year-old Krista L. Brock died when the 2005 Jeep she was driving went off the right side of I-40, went down an embankment and struck multiple trees. Brock traveling westbound around 9:00am on I-40 near the 312 mile marker when the accident occurred. ... Read More »