The Fentress County Commissioners took the next step in a lawsuit against prescription opioid manufacturers Monday night by declaring opioids a public nuisance. County Executive J. Michael Cross said it’s the opioid crisis has gotten out of hand across the state. “We just wanted to be sure that we passed a resolution to that effect,” Cross said. Fentress, one of ... Read More »

A Cookeville man will serve a 12-year sentence after pleading guilty to rape and aggravated kidnapping. 38-year-old Daniel James Bishop will serve the maximum sentence allowable by law for the offense. His name will also be placed on the Violent Sex Offender Registry. During the 2017 incident, Bishop held a woman captive and beat her with a hammer and crow ... Read More »

More than 250 thousand dollars in grant money delivered to Putnam County Tuesday morning to help in recycling. Multiple grants from the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation unveiled at Prescott Elementary and Middle School. Some 150 thousand dollars will go toward compost efforts at schools, nursing homes and restaurants. Prescott Elementary Principal Catherine Jones said the recycling lessons being ... Read More »

A Morrison man allegedly set fire to a camper trailer in McMinnville Monday. The Warren County Sheriff’s Department in connection with the TBI arrested 18-year-old Roger Roach of Morrison. He faces one count of vandalism over $10,000. Roach jailed Monday under $50,000 bond. Authorities responded to the camper trailer fire int he 100 block of Bivens Lane. Investigators determined the ... Read More »

The state senate approved a bill to allow Crossville to collect hotel/motel taxes Monday. Tax proceeds must be used for tourism and economic development, including the newly-formed Crossville-Cumberland County Sports And Events Council. The City Of Crossville formed the council several months ago. Council Chairman Doug Parkey said the group has outlined a three-tiered approach to increasing tourism dollars in ... Read More »

Two men charged with drunk driving caused damage Saturday night in two separate incidents. 48-year-old Charles Hamby arrested following a hit and run incident along South Main Street around 10:00 Saturday night. A security officer officers security footage that showed a red four-door truck, driven by Hamby, backing into a maroon Dodge Caravan. Police contacted Hamby and had him return ... Read More »

A Clay County man found late Monday night after going missing around 10am Monday morning. 87-year-old George Kipp found Monday night. He had been reported missing around 10am after being seen in the western section of Clay County. Officials believed he might have been heading to Tompkinsville, KY driving a 1983 or 1984 Silver Thunderbird. The Clay County Sheriffs Department ... Read More »

The Putnam County Schools Administration updated parents and citizens on its efforts to protect children during a town hall forum Monday. Some 100 people attended the forum at Upperman Middle School. Director Of Schools Jerry Boyd said the system continues to look for ways to improve safety including single-entrance schools and re-enforced doors. “We have to set a goal and ... Read More »

Overnight road work resumed on Cookeville’s Willow Avenue Tuesday morning as crews worked to raise manholes. The project to resurface Willow from Jackson Street to the Tennessee Tech campus has been stalled by bad weather the last several weeks. In addition, the new asphalt surface did not perform as T-DOT wanted. It will be replaced once warmer weather allows asphalt ... Read More »

Crossville Police found a convicted murderer with an outstanding warrant hiding out in a Livingston Road location Sunday night. Officers investigating a theft of items from a vehicle found 64-year-old Kenneth Ray Phifer at 207 Livingston Road. Police reports described the location as “grown up (and) fenced in.” Phifer had been staying inside. Phifer arrested after a search found he ... Read More »