The 15th Judicial Drug Task Force has charged a Smith County man with sale and delivery of heroin and fentanyl. 34-year-old James Thomas Franklin was arrested Wednesday in Putnam County. A judge has set Franklin’s bond at $75,000 and his initial appearance in Putnam County Criminal Court will be November 6th. Read More »

For the third time this year the Putnam County Commission will be tasked with filling a vacant commission seat. 6th District Commissioner Reggie Shanks passed away Tuesday. Putnam County Executive Randy Porter said that seat will be filled by appointment. “The County Commission has to appoint someone within 120-days if it’s between elections,” Porter said. “We got our next election ... Read More »

Loose leaf collection begins in Cookeville Monday October 30th. Officials with the Cookeville Public Works Department have asked residents to avoid calling in about leaf collections. Foreman Timmy Lee said the city has a specific route and patience will be key for city residents. “We normally start on the east side and work our way across to the west,” Lee ... Read More »

Warren County’s largest employer is reducing it’s workforce. Automotive parts manufacturer Yorozu America has opened a new plant in Alabama that will ease the workload demand on the Yorozu facility in Morrison. At it’s peak, Morrison’s Yorozu facility employed more than 1,900 people. With the workforce reduction, Yorozu’s workforce in Warren County is projected to stabilize at 1,200 people. Yorozu ... Read More »

For the second month in a row the Algood City Council has failed to conduct a meeting. Mayor Scott Bilbrey did not show up at last night’s meeting, leaving the council without a quorum. City Administrator Keith Morrison said it’s a frustrating situation. “We have a lot of business that we need to attend to,” Morrison said. “The town and ... Read More »

Longtime Putnam County Commissioner Reggie Shanks passed away Tuesday. First elected to the county commission in 1969, Shanks served for 48-years. 8th District Commissioner and Baxter Police Chief Danny Holmes said there’s a reason Shanks is the longest serving Putnam County commissioner in history. “The people believed in Reggie Shanks,” Holmes said. “They knew he was honest and respected what ... Read More »

A Putnam County Judge has sentenced a Cookeville man to prison for methamphetamine charges. 60-year-old Craig Farris will spend 12-years behind bars after pleading guilty Monday to possession of more than a half gram of meth. The crime he pleaded guilty to occurred in August of 2016. Farris will not report to prison until November 13th. Read More »

Cumberland County Commissioners have tabled a payment authorization for a Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation dam inspection fee. TDEC has charged the county a $500 assessment fee for the dam in the Breckenridge area. Commissioners argue that the dam is actually a culvert and that the fee should not be paid. The county recently tried to contest the fee ... Read More »

A judge has denied a bond reduction for a Cumberland County man charged with aggravated statutory rape. A grand jury indicted William Eblen Daugherty last month and a judge set his bond at $50,000. During a criminal court hearing Monday, Judge Gary McKenzied denied a motion to reduce Daugherty’s bond. He’s accused of having sexual relations with a minor under ... Read More »

The Cumberland County grand jury handed down indictments Monday charging a North Carolina man for a wrong way crash on Interstate 40 in March. The indictments charge 47-year-old Steven Shults with vehicular assault, DUI, reckless endangerment, and possession of a handgun while under the influence. Authorities said Shults was driving the wrong way near mile marker 319 when he crashed ... Read More »