The Cookeville Rescue Mission’s Sound of Hope holiday bell ringing event surpassed it’s fundraising goal of $100,000. Mission pastor and outreach coordinator Ryan Henry said the community donated $133,500, or about a third of the mission’s operating budget. “They say it takes a village to raise a child and that’s exactly what local ministries like the Cookeville Rescue Mission need,” ... Read More »

The Tennessee Department of Transportation has awarded the Upper Cumberland Human Resources Agency a $3 million grant. The funding will be used for the agency to construct a new transit and administrative complex on Highway 111 in Putnam County. The new 30,000 square foot facility will house approximately 100 employees and is designed to centralize the agency’s operations. UCHRA provides ... Read More »

A massive fire destroyed a home in Smith County Tuesday. Officials said the blaze started at a home located on Pea Ridge Road and Stonewall Highway. Hazardous road conditions delayed the fire departments response time and when they arrived on scene the home was fully engulfed in flames. It took several hours to put the fire out. Officials said the ... Read More »

The Tennessee Highway Patrol has reported a multiple vehicle crash in Warren County. Officials said the crash happened around 11:30 a.m. on Country Club Drive. The THP has not released a detailed report on the crash, but said the westbound lane is closed. Additional details will be provided when the THP releases a preliminary report on the crash. Read More »

Road conditions are expected to worsen this evening as temperatures continue to drop across the Upper Cumberland. Cumberland County Road Supervisor Scott Blaylock said his concern will be the wind chill, which is expected to dip below zero this evening. “The only melting that would happen is from the salt mixture itself and of course, that will refreeze,” Blaylock said. ... Read More »

A blast of winter weather left Upper Cumberland roadways covered with snow this morning, but the Tennessee Highway Patrol has not reported any major accidents. According to to a report from the Tennessee Highway Patrol’s Cookeville Office, all secondary roadways and most of the primary roadways in the region are snow covered at this time. The THP reported some slick ... Read More »

A thief broke into a Crossville convenient store and got away with more than 100 cartons of cigarettes. According to officials, the incident happened Friday at the Exxon on Dunbar Road. Authorities said the male subject smashed the front door window to gain entry and then proceeded to steal 160 cartons of cigarettes. He left the store and headed towards ... Read More »

DeKalb County authorities have arrested a Smithville man for allegedly trying to have sex with a minor. 39-year-old Jason Dewayne Johnson is charged with solicitation of a person under the age of 18-years-old. Sheriff Patrick Ray said Johnson used electronic communication to intentionally request a female under the age of 18 to have sex. Johnson’s being held behind bars on ... Read More »

A fire destroyed a home in Putnam County’s Austin Bottom community Sunday. Officials said the blaze broke out just before 9:00 a.m. According to a written release from the Putnam County Fire Department, firefighters had to establish tanker shuttle operation due to the lack of a close water source. Officials said crews worked for several hours to contain the blaze, ... Read More »

The Putnam County Fiscal Review Committee has approved a recommendation for the Solid Waste Department to apply for a $30,000 Education and Outreach Grant. “This is outreach and education for the school system. It’s gonna be for buying litter bags, replacing signs at the convenience centers, and all types of media, as far as recycling,” County Executive Randy Porter said. ... Read More »