After an investigation found no issues with his hiring at Cookeville Regional, Cookeville Mayor Ricky Shelton said the City Council needs to move forward with the community’s business. Shelton issued a statement Wednesday afternoon after the Knoxville attorney hired by the City Council said Shelton violated no rules. “The report fully vindicates what I’ve said for months,” Shelton said. “Our ... Read More »

The attorney hired by the Cookeville City Council to investigate CRMC’s hiring of Ricky Shelton said he did nothing wrong in taking the position. “We conclude Mr. Shelton’s actions did not violate the City of Cookeville Charter or any state law regarding Conflicts of Interest,” Attorney William Carver wrote in a letter to City Manager James Mills. “Specifically, Mr. Shelton’s ... Read More »

Former Tennessee Tech Vice President Dr. Leo McGee will be laid to rest Tuesday. McGee served the university for more than 30 years including a tenure as Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs. He came to Tennessee Tech in 1977 as Assistant Dean of Extended Services and Associate Professor of Education. McGee was the first African American administrator at Tech. ... Read More »

A new phone system will be installed at Cookeville and Upperman High Schools, using federal COVID money. Putnam County School Board approved the $111,000 project Thursday night. Director of Schools Corby King said the systems have had issues. “We’ve had issues for a long time, especially Upperman,” King said. “The intercom’s not working properly for a while and we were ... Read More »

A centralized countywide CTE space for Putnam County high schools hit a road block after officials found issues with the warehouse under consideration. The school system is considering bringing together career and technical educational programs into one space to create more opportunities for all the county’s high school students. Director Of Schools Corby King said the facility would likely need ... Read More »

The City of Cookeville will be moving its bank accounts to First Bank. Cookeville City Council approved a four-year agreement Thursday night to change its banking partner from Regions Bank. Finance Director Brenda Imel said the bank met all the requirements of the city’s bidding process and will provide the best interest rate. “Based on the current Fed funds rate ... Read More »

While unemployment dropped in 90 of the state’s counties in February, three Upper Cumberland counties saw slight increases. The Department of Labor and Workforce Development reported increases in Dekalb, Overton and White Counties. Smith County’s unemployment remained unchanged. In Dekalb County, unemployment increased 0.1 percent to 5.5 percent in February, meaning some 421 people are unemployed. Overton County’s rate increased ... Read More »

A Dekalb County man arrested Thursday on charges he raped a child. 45-year old David Wayne Nichols faces two counts of rape of a child, one count of aggravated sexual battery. The alleged incident happened in Smithville last August, according to the TBI. Nichols arrested Thursday by Dekalb County Sheriffs Deputies and TBI agents. A Grand Jury issued the indictments ... Read More »

A Trousdale County man faces criminal homicide charges and attempted first degree murder charges after being arrested in Jackson County Monday night. 53-year-old Todd Lee Freeman allegedly attacked three people at a Trousdale County home on Riverview Estates Lane. One of the victims, 66-year-old Katherine Crawford Darnell, died from her injuries. Two other people remain hospitalized. TBI agents arrested Freeman ... Read More »

Cookeville City Council will consider a plan Thursday night to pay city employees $50 to get a COVID vaccine. The plan would cost the city no more than $25,000, including payments to those who have already been vaccinated. City Manager James Mills said he wants to encourage those on the fence. “I had several directors come to me and ask, ... Read More »