A 32-year veteran of the Cookeville Fire Department will be laid to rest Thursday afternoon. Billy Joe Brogdon passed away this weekend at the age of 85. Brogdon served in the Vietnam War and the National Guard before joining the fire department. Brogdon retired in 1995. Brogdon will be laid to rest at Cookeville City Cemetery Thursday afternoon with honors ... Read More »

It appears Putnam County has weathered the feared sales tax downturn from COVID as June revenue numbers increased 10.3 percent over last year. That countywide increase essentially wipes away the 9.3 percent decrease from April during the COVID shutdown, according to numbers released by County Mayor Randy Porter. Sales tax numbers for June reported Wednesday. County sales tax numbers increased ... Read More »

Rumors and suggestions that COVID-19 will soon overrun local hospitals and ICUs are simply not true, according to Cookeville Regional CEO Paul Korth. “We are in a position to take care of those patients, we’re in a very good position to take care of a surge if it does happen,” Korth said. “We have policies and procedures in place to ... Read More »

The Putnam County Sheriffs Department is searching for Emanual Gage for questioning on a drive-by shooting Tuesday night. According to department officials, deputies responded to a home on Platinum Circle around 7pm. A black Nissan Altima, driven by Gage, had allegedly driven by and shot at the home. “The homeowner was not at home and no injuries were reported,” Sheriff ... Read More »

Cookeville Police have made an arrest in last week’s shooting at North Dixie Avenue. Police charged 22-year-old Calvin Reeves III with first degree murder. Reeves in the Putnam County Jail under $3 million bond. A 14-year-old juvenile was also arrested and charged. Detectives believe Reeves and several others conspired to visit the apartment of Joshua Austin Rowan on Dixie Avenue ... Read More »

Algood Police and the Putnam County Sheriffs Department ended a standoff with a man Tuesday after he entered a home on Patton Street. Johnny Joe Threet entered the home with a long rifle and scope. Threet fired one round from the rifle, according to Algood Police. Deputies saw the man point the rifle under his chin on several occasions. He ... Read More »

Cookeville Regional reported its 20th COVID-19 fatality Tuesday. The patient from White County passed away in the overnight hours, according to Cookeville Regional Public Relations Director Melahn Finley. A total of 23 patients are currently being treated at CRMC with six in intensive care. Putnam County reports 512 active cases, according to the Tennessee Department of Health. The county is ... Read More »

TBI agents arrested two Jackson County residents Tuesday on child abuse charges that resulted in the death of a 14-month-old girl. The mother of the toddler, 26-year-old Tessa Thomas, and a friend, 33-year-old Zach Dale, were taken into custody. Thomas faces one count of Aggravated Child Neglect. Dale faces one count one count of Aggravated Child Abuse, one count of ... Read More »

Cookeville City Council will vote Thursday on a new ordinance to better control panhandling in the community. The ordinance would prohibit business and individuals conducting commerce on sidewalks. That includes panhandling and selling. The ordinance focuses on the obstruction or blocking of sidewalks and right-of-ways. Police could cite an individual but could not arrest anyone. “This is an attempt to ... Read More »

Putnam County Commissioners voted to postpone a discussion until September on purchasing land around the existing Justice Center to be used for parking. Several commissioners expressed concern about having the discussion via electronic means instead of in-person. Commissioner Jonathan Williams said the lack of face-to-face communication made such a weighty decision difficult. “I think we do need to meet in-person ... Read More »