Cookeville City Council will vote Thursday on creating a Division of Information Technology. City Manager James Mills said IT duties currently fall under the codes department. “This is part of a long term strategy to try to improve our cybersecurity and to also the security of our networks and enhance our telecommunications,” Mills said. During Tuesday’s work session, Mills told ... Read More »

The State Supreme Court refused to hear the appeal of a Putnam County man found guilty of second degree murder. In a 2018 trial, a jury found Willie Nathan Jones guilty in the death of Rodney Richards and the attempted murder of Stacy Maynard. Jones was sentenced to 37 years imprisonment on the murder charge and the attempted murder charge. ... Read More »

After concerns about dividing the community further, Cumberland County Commissioners voted to remove a resolution condemning the storming of the Nation’s Capitol from Tuesday night’s agenda. “I feel like this entire resolution is completely unnecessary,” Commissioner Mark Baldwin said. “I think the taxpaying citizens of Cumberland County would rather us focus on county issues and not be passing resolutions.” Commissioner ... Read More »

November sales tax revenues across Putnam County increased some 7.3 percent over last year. Putnam County and its four communities collected over $3.97 million in November. $3.1 million of those sales tax receipts were collected in Cookeville. Baxter and Monterey saw sales tax increases of at least 23 percent each in November. Baxter’s November receipts increased 30 percent over 2019. ... Read More »

The Tennessee Supreme Court will hear the case of a Clay County man convicted of first degree murder in 2015. Edward Walsh faces life imprisonment for the first degree murder charge and a concurrent two-year sentence for the abuse of a corpse conviction. On appeal, Walsh argued that closing arguments were based on inferences from facts not in evidence. Walsh ... Read More »

A Dekalb County man has been arrested on child pornography charges. District Attorney Bryant Dunaway said David Royden Drennan is being held in the Dekalb County Jail on $150,000 bond. Drennan has been charged with Sexual Exploitation of a Minor. An investigation found Drennan had more than 50 images of child pornography on his mobile telephone. Investigators with the Dekalb ... Read More »

Cookeville City Council voted unanimously Thursday to offer emergency paid sick leave for city employees impacted by COVID 19. The benefit replaces a federal mandate in the Families First Coronavirus Act which has not been renewed by Congress. City Manager James Mills said the 80 hours of paid leave are available for a city employee who is being quarantined or ... Read More »

After a record year with more than 210 thousand gallons of fuel sold, the Upper Cumberland Regional Airport needs to replace its fuel truck. “The truck is ’92 model, the tank and the pumps and everything are in good shape,” Airport Manager Dean Selby. “The only problem we have is the chassis. It’s worn out. The engine and everything. It ... Read More »

The TBI investigating an officer-involved shooting Friday afternoon in Sparta. According to the TBI, White County Sheriffs Deputies were serving arrest warrants to 47-year-old Charles Edward Williams around 2pm Saturday. When deputies entered the home on Woodland Trail in Sparta, Williams left through the rear. Deputies followed him. Then, on the back deck, Williams came toward the deputies, according to ... Read More »

House Speaker Cameron Sexton said he is cooperating with FBI Officials participating in raids Friday morning at the State Legislature. At least 10 agents from the FBI entered the Cordell Hull legislative office building just before 8am to search offices of several legislators. The investigation centers around former House Speaker Glenn Casada. Agents reportedly searched the home and office of ... Read More »