Putnam County coaches may not get a supplement increase this year. The Putnam County Board of Education didn’t make a decision on the issue at its meeting Thursday. Budget issues may prevent the board from offering coaches a supplement. Board President Kim Cravens said she’d prefer to offer the supplement increase if they could. “When I think that we have ... Read More »

A portion of Interstate 40 in Putnam County closed down Sunday night after a tractor trailer caught fire. According to the Tennessee Highway Patrol, The incident happened at the eastbound lanes near miler marker 274 in Silver point. Authorities have not released any information regarding injuries or the cause of the fire. Authorities expected the road to be reopened by ... Read More »

The City of Crossville approved its upcoming fiscal year budget last night. The $20 million budget includes a 59-cent tax rate, which is 4-cents lower than last year’s rate. Prior to voting, council member J.H. Graham made a motion to cut the rate even further, back to 55-cents. “The unemployment rate right now is less than 4-percent and sales tax ... Read More »

The TBI is investigating the circumstances surrounding a man who died while being arrested by Cookeville Police officers early Friday morning. Preliminary information indicates that the incident occurred at 12:30 Friday morning when Cookeville Police responded to reports of a man walking in the median of Interstate 40 near mile marker 288. Police said 37-year-old Richard Thomas Sparks became combative ... Read More »

An Albany, Ky., man is facing his 4th DUI offense after a tractor trailer crash in Putnam County this week. Authorities have identified the man as 38-year-old Joseph King. The Tennessee Highway Patrol said King allegedly drove through a yard on Plunk Whitson Road Tuesday before he hit a mailbox and some road signs. King’s previous DUIs occurred between 2003 ... Read More »

Putnam County authorities have arrested an Algood man for stealing a car and fleeing from police. 60-year-old James B. Cavanah was arrested Tuesday night following the incident. Authorities say Cavanah allegedly stole a car from a West Wall Street apartment complex. When confronted by the vehicle owner, Cavanah allegedly tried running over the person and led police on a pursuit ... Read More »

Smith County Commissioners have approved the repeal of a $50 wheel tax. That wheel tax was implemented several years ago to help fund the cost of a countywide school building program. Commissioners voted to remove the fee this week because the county now has enough funds to pay off the school building debt. With the repeal, residents will now pay ... Read More »

Since 2013 fireworks have caused over $1 million in property damage in Tennessee. That’s why Cookeville Fire Chief Daryl Blair is urging residents take extra precautions when using fireworks this 4th of July holiday. “If you’re going to shoot fireworks try to shoot them off in an isolated area where there is nothing close by,” Blair said. “If you have ... Read More »

If you’re looking to shoot off fireworks in Gainesboro this 4th of July, you’re out of luck. The town’s board of Mayor and Aldermen adopted an ordinance in 1953 banning fireworks inside the city limits. Police Chief Rick Larnerd said his officers will be enforcing the ordinance over the 4th of July holiday. “It certainly is not our intent to ... Read More »

A Putnam County man has died after being struck by a train in Monterey today. Authorities have identified the victim as 37-year-old Jesse Harold Cooper. Putnam County Sheriff Eddie Farris said Cooper was struck by a train carrying cargo as he walked on Woodcliff Road near the intersection of Grant Lane. “Several attempts were made by law enforcement and medical ... Read More »