The Putnam County School Board has taken the next step for constructing a school in Southwest Cookeville. Chairman Dawn Fry said she and her colleagues voted last week to seek proposals from qualified architects. “I think this is a good direction for us to take,” Fry said. “We had an excellent meeting with the county commission, but I think we ... Read More »

Baxter aldermen have tabled a plan to purchase garbage cans for city residents. Mayor John Martin said Thursday that aldermen need more time to compare bids. “We’ve had three companies bid on this project, and we had cans from two companies, but the other company didn’t have time to get the can here,” Martin said. “We felt like we would ... Read More »

A 79-year-old Sparta man died after being struck by a vehicle Friday morning. The Tennessee Highway Patrol identified the deceased as Russell G. Giampietro. The incident happened at 9:22 a.m. on West Bockman Way, near Citizens Bank and Hunter Funeral Home. A Tennessee Highway Patrol crash report said Giampietro was struck by a westbound Buick, driven by 82-year-old Norma Kirby ... Read More »

A preliminary hearing takes place next week for a Dowelltown man charged with raping his granddaughter. 66-year-old William Kenneth Phillips faces charges of rape and incest. DeKalb County Sheriff Patrick Ray said Phillips performed unlawful sexual penetration on his 13-year-old granddaughter. The incidents allegedly occurred multiple times between March and May 2018. Phillips has not yet posted his $150,000 bond ... Read More »

A vehicle struck and killed a pedestrian in Sparta Friday morning. The Tennessee Highway Patrol confirmed the accident happened on West Bockman Way, near Hunter Funeral Home and Citizens Bank. Authorities have not released the name of the deceased. A full report will be provided by the THP at a later time. Read More »

The first budget draft for the Putnam County School System includes an $8.8 million gap between projected revenue and expenditures. Superintendent Jerry Boyd said the proposal aligns with the needs and vision of the school system. “So we’re going to continue to be realistic, and since realism to us is… what do we need to serve the children of Putnam ... Read More »

Baxter aldermen approved the first reading of the new fiscal year budget Thursday. Mayor John Martin said residents will not be facing a tax increase. “Our property tax is going to stay the same,” Martin said. “Of course, I’m a person that feels good about the people working for the city of Baxter. We’re giving another increase to all of ... Read More »

A Knoxville man landed behind bars after his vehicle struck a Jamestown police officer Tuesday. Arrest warrants charge Don A. Stephens II with five counts of felony reckless endangerment and two counts of aggravated assault on police. He remains behind bars on $125,000 bond. The report states an officer encountered Stephens when arriving at Walmart for a person passed out ... Read More »

Putnam County school resource officers have received tactical training in active shooter response. Chief Deputy Bob Crabtree said the training exercises combine with other security measures protecting the county’s children. “Sheriff Farris and his administration want to make sure that the SROs that are in the schools are some of the best. We’re not just putting anybody in the schools…the ... Read More »