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Putnam Schools Plan For Reopening

As Putnam County School officials begin planning for the next year, they have a tool to help to help cover every scenario. Director of Schools Corby King said the Return to School Roadmap is a comprehensive plan assisting public schools facing uncertainty facing the new school year. “Under each tab, there are things you do first,” King said. “We’ve already ... Read More »

Overton, Putnam, White See COVID Increase

White County saw an increase of eight COVID-19 cases since Thursday while Putnam County’s number grew to 552. The total number of Upper Cumberland cases Sunday reached 1,112, according to numbers released by the Tennessee Department Of Health. Overton County saw an increase of three cases while Macon County positive cases increased by 12. Cumberland County reported an increase of ... Read More »

TBI Investigating Officer-Involved Shooting In Clarkrange

The TBI investigating the killing of a Clarkrange man by Fentress County Sheriffs deputies Saturday night. Just before 7:00pm, sheriffs deputies arrived in the 100 block of Lewis Road following reports that a man had a knife, hatchet and pipe. Dispatch reports said the man was threatening to harm himself and others. Deputies found 37-year Gregory Lee Turnure in the ... Read More »

King Expects UHS Assistant Principal Decision This Week

A decision on the who will be the new Assistant Principal at Upperman High School should be coming this week. Putnam County Director of Schools Corby King said interviews are being conducted and he hopes to announce the name soon. “Mr. Stepp, the Principal at Upperman is doing the interviews for that position,” King said. “I think he’s doing those ... Read More »

Three-Vehicle Crash Friday Night On SR-56

A three-vehicle accident along Highway 56 in Putnam County Friday night resulted in injuries to a 20-year-old driver. The accident happened around 9:30pm Friday night when a Ford Ranger driven by 65-year-old Lonnie Burgess failed to slow for two stopped vehicles. According to Highway Patrol reports, the vehicles were waiting to turn on Hulon Ferrell Road. Burgess struck the car ... Read More »

Cookeville’s Black Lives Matter Protest

“I CAN’T BREATHE.” “NO JUSTICE NO PEACE.” These chants rang through Cookeville’s square Saturday as over 200 Black Lives Matter protesters gathered. Co organizer Daniel Willis said she and over 10 other organizers refrained from using social media to spread the rally’s awareness due to violent threats. “A lot of people feel safer when they don’t say anything,” Willis said. ... Read More »

Algood Signature COVID Unit Closes

The COVID-19 unit at Algood’s Signature Health Care closed this week. CEO Lee Rooney said the final patient in the unit returned healthy to a Nashville facility this week. Signature had treated the patient for COVID-19. All told, the unit handled some 41 cases, 27 of them were Signature patients and 14 came from Nashville. Read More »

Planned Power Outages For Jackson, Putnam and Overton

The Tennessee Valley Authority will disconnect power Saturday night for areas in Jackson and Putnam County to repair damage from storms. Upper Cumberland Electric Membership Company General Manager Jimmy Gregory said 13 poles from Gaineseboro Grade up Highway 56 to their Gainesboro substation will be replaced. All the poles are located on rough terrain. So, the outage is expected to ... Read More »

TDOT Approves New Welcome Signs For Sparta

T-DOT approved the building of two new gateway monuments for the city of Sparta. Sparta Mayor Jeff Young said gateway monuments are basically welcome signs for cities. Young and City Administrator Brad Hennessee met with T-DOT to appeal the originally rejected proposal last week. The city received approval two days later. “We want it to boost our economy,” Young said. ... Read More »

Martin: Optimistic About Portobello’s Progress

Baxter mayor John Martin said he’s not concerned about the progress of the Portobello plant based on conversations this week. Martin spoke with Portobello’s vice president and said the company remains high on the plant. “The big plant that they have in Brazil is in a town about the size of Cookeville,” Martin said. “He said that the plant is ... Read More »