Latest News

Putnam County administration will begin the process of engineering and planning to replace the Patton Doll House Museum. The museum, located along Highway 70, suffered irreparable damage during the March tornado, especially to the building’s foundation. FEMA will replace the building with $300,000 allocated for the project. Putnam County Mayor Randy Porter wants to build a two-story building to house ... Read More »

Dekalb County Schools will not return to in-person learning until at least November 16 after COVID cases among staff and faculty continue to rise. Director of Schools Patrick Cripps said over the weekend calls started coming in about employees testing positive, making Wednesday’s original return date unfeasible. Cripps said he knew going into the year if employees started testing positive, ... Read More »

If you come across a service man or woman this Veterans Day, make sure to say thank you for your service. Putnam County Veteran Service Officer Mark Harris said that is the most meaningful thing you can say to a veteran. “You do not realize that you can still reach out and touch and talk to those World War II ... Read More »

Putnam County Fair Board Chair John Allen said he was not surprised commissioners might consider a one-three year hiatus in the fair. County Commissioners are considering the sale of the Veterans Drive fairgrounds. At a Monday work session, several commissioners said they wanted to sell the current facility before building the new Tennessee Avenue facility. Allen said the fair could ... Read More »

Ten percent of city of Sparta employees are currently quarantined from COVID exposures. City Administrator Brad Hennessee said having eight employees unavailable makes daily operations a challenge. “We have had to shift people around a little bit,” Hennessee said. “Have people that normally work day shifts work night shifts. That type of thing. So far, our city staff, the department ... Read More »

State senators from across the Upper Cumberland issued a letter to Tennessee voters supporting efforts by President Trump to contest the presidential election. State Senators Paul Bailey, Janice Bowling, Mark Pody, and Ken Yager signed the letter from the Tennessee Senate Republican Caucus. It says the election process is far from over. The senators wrote there is no reason to ... Read More »

Pickett County Director of Schools Diane Elder said technology is at the forefront of the school system’s COVID problems. “Right now, we do not have enough technology,” Elder said. “We have close to 300 Chromebooks ordered. Our estimated delivery is anywhere from the end of November until the end of February.” Elder said the classrooms are the ones lacking the ... Read More »

Algood got an explanation on the power it will have to regulate liquor by the drink at Monday night’s work session. City Attorney Danny Rader explained that liquor is regulated by the Tennessee Alcholic Beverage Commission. Algood would have control over zoning and consumption at special events. Rader said it is in the city’s best interest to make any changes ... Read More »

State Representative Kelly Keisling stopped by the Byrdstown City Council and Pickett County Board of Education meetings Monday night to invite the members to the General Assembly. Keisling said every two years, he visits and extends the invitation along with a gift bag with the most recent copy of the Tennessee Blue Book. “I wish I could get y’all down ... Read More »

The timing and the order of the things. That was the focus Monday night as Putnam County Commissioners held a work session on the sale of the fairgrounds and the possible sale of the Highway Department and School Bus Garage. Commissioners are considering a possible spring sale for the fairgrounds property. Appraisers valued the 35.5 acre fairground space last year ... Read More »