Latest News

Lightning caused two structure fires Wednesday in Cumberland County as storms rolled through the area. Travis Cole serves as the Crossville-Cumberland County EMA Administrative Assistant. “Shortly after 1 p.m., a 911 call came in of a possible structure fire on Lantana Road just outside the city limits of Crossville,” Cole said. “Fire crews responded and quickly extinguished the fire. The ... Read More »

Area emergency officials are advising residents to be cautious after heavy rain swept through the Upper Cumberland Wednesday. Putnam County EMA Director Tyler Smith said several roads are still flooded creating potentially hazardous conditions. “If you do come across a road that’s got water over it and you cannot see the road, please do not cross those areas,” Smith said. ... Read More »

The Putnam County Commission saw preliminary plans Tuesday night for a project to expand the justice center. The plan calls for 800 additional beds and at least three new courtrooms. Grant Tharp is Vice President of Cope Architect. He said expanding the facility will be one of the more challenging projects his company has had to take on. “Just being ... Read More »

UCHRA officials are weighing their options as its nutrition program continues to struggle financially. Executive Director Mark Farley said costs and previous financial decisions under past administration has plagued the program. “We’ve had an issue running the nutrition program for some time. This is not anything that has just happened,” Farley said. “This has been one of the programs that ... Read More »

The Putnam County Election Commission will consider closing the Buffalo Valley and Brotherton voting precincts. Election Commission Chairman Phil Adams said consolidating the two precincts would be a better use of county resources. “We’ve only got a couple hundred people that vote in those,” Adams said. “We just want to make the wisest use of our tax dollars because we ... Read More »

A Brooklyn, New York man pleaded guilty in Putnam County Criminal Court Tuesday to a charge of attempted rape of a child. Judge Gary McKenzie has sentenced Kerry Jerrod Washington to serve 19-years behind bars. He will also be under community supervision and placed on the sex offender registry for the rest of his life. Cookeville Police arrested the 27-year-old ... Read More »

Authorities have arrested a former Smith County deputy after being indicted on homicide charges. The TBI announced Tuesday 47-year-old Keith Holder of Carthage faces charges in connection with the drowning death of Donovan Crittendon in Trousdale County last June. The TBI reports Holder intentionally wrecked his personal vehicle into the Cumberland River with Crittendon as the passenger. Holder escaped the ... Read More »

The Upper Cumberland Family Justice Center (FJC) will officially take steps to expand services to victims of domestic violence, sexual assault and child abuse. Director Amy Stockwell said the organization will apply for grant funding to help open a satellite campus in Overton County. “Our idea is, when the opportunity for this funding for the satellite office came along, that ... Read More »

An Algood woman faces multiple charges after allegedly driving under the influence with two children in her vehicle. Cookeville Police arrested 27-year-old Sonya Renee Allen for DUI, reckless endangerment, simple possession, tampering with evidence, and contraband in a penal facility. Arrest warrants indicate the arresting officer spotted Allen passed out in her vehicle with the engine running in the Cookeville ... Read More »