Fentress County has appointed an interim deputy finance director after voting to fire former finance director Marsha Delk. Delk was fired this week for giving raises to finance and solid waste department employees without receiving approval from the county commission. Fentress County Executive J. Michael Cross said Kellye Cooper will temporarily lead the finance department. “She’s very knowledgeable and has ... Read More »

Livingston Regional Hospital has agreed to settle allegations of knowingly billing Medicare Part A for unnecessary psychiatric care. According to the U.S. Department of Justice, the hospital will pay $784,000 for violating the False Claims Act. Two whistleblowers will receive $156,800 as their share of the settlement. Hospital employees reported the allegations occurred between July 9 and Oct. 31, 2015. ... Read More »

A verbal argument led to gunshots being fired at the Echo Valley Market Tuesday night. The Putnam County Sheriff’s Office said no injuries occurred and two people involved fled the scene before deputies arrived. According to a press release, deputies located one of the parties who had returned to the scene. The incident remains under investigation and the sheriff’s office ... Read More »

A DeKalb County judge had sentenced a man for possessing child pornography on his cell phone. 51-year-old Roy Junior Wilkey has received a four year prison sentence and will be listed on the state’s sex offender registry. Nearly a year ago police arrested Wilkey after finding more than 50-images of child pornography that he had downloaded from the internet. Read More »

An Overton County man serving consecutive life sentences in prison has lost his second appeal to the Tennessee Criminal Court of Appeals. Kevin Clark petitioned for post-conviction relief in April after his original appeal was denied in 2014. Clark’s appeal stated he was “deprived of his right to an impartial jury because of an improper communication between a juror and ... Read More »

DeKalb County law enforcement officers have arrested a convicted felon after conducting a drug raid Wednesday morning. According to DeKalb County Sheriff Patrick Ray, officers raided the home of 29-year-old Travis Eric Patterson and found 15-grams of meth, an assortment of narcotics, six ounces of marijuana and several firearms. Patterson is currently in custody on a failure to appear warrant. ... Read More »

Local and state officials gathered Wednesday to celebrate the completion of Putnam County’s 5th Interchange. The $23.4 million project began in 2016 and included construction of a new interchange at mile marker 283 and the grading, drainage, and paving on a state industrial access road, now known as Academy Road. Cookeville Mayor Ricky Shelton said the interchange opens the surrounding ... Read More »

Delinquent property taxes under $5 will not be collected in Putnam County pending a resolution. Attorney Jeff Jones said the De Minimus Real Property Tax resolution will cut costs for the county. “There are a lot of things that have to go through the process when you’re collecting a small amount like that,” Jones said. “Given the fact that these ... Read More »

A rezoning request to allow bulk propane sales will be reconsidered by the Cookeville City Council Thursday. The request from Upper Cumberland Rental and Sales would rezone property on Boyd Farris Road from commercial industrial to light manufacturing. CI zoning district do not allow bulk propane sales, but two adjoining properties are already zoned LM, according to Planning Director James ... Read More »