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A local citizens’ group concerned about infringement on personal and economic freedom will rally Sunday on Cookeville’s Courthouse Square. “While Putnam County has (to date) only experienced 94 cases of Coronavirus, thousands of jobs have been lost and liberties taken away without traditional public debate and legislation by elected representatives,” Organizer Nancy Donadio said in a release. “Many local businesses, ... Read More »

Putnam County Director Of Schools Corby King said grades are less important right now than ending the school year with a lot of learning. “How student work is assessed will depend on the grade level and the course in which a student is enrolled,” King said. “Our focus during this closure will be to provide learning opportunities and activities that ... Read More »

The only thing that has not changed during the pandemic? Scammers at hard at work, according to Middle Tennessee Better Business Bureau President Robin Householder. Take, for example, a recent viral social media campaign urging the posting of senior pictures from years past in honor of 2020 high school graduates who will not experience traditional graduation. Householder said that could ... Read More »

As a Crossville church group prepared to go help tornado victims in Chattanooga, they discovered about $5,000 worth of equipment has been stolen from their work trailers. Power equipment from the Cumberland Plateau Baptist Association went missing Tuesday morning before members embarked to Chattanooga. Director of Missions Kirk Casey said members used their personal equipment instead for the relief effort. ... Read More »

Governor Bill Lee signed an executive order Friday making sure the COVID-19 patient information shared with first responders and law enforcement personnel would be protected by an emergency order. It’s something that had worried Putnam County Sheriff Eddie Farris. He said the data actually began flowing more regularly earlier this week. “Make no mistake about it when we receive medical ... Read More »

Two patients of Algood’s Signature Health Care Center have recovered from COVID-19. CEO Lee Rooney said one patient went home with family Friday. The second returned to the regular room. Eight additional patients have recovered but are awaiting negative tests. Rooney said patients must show no symptoms for seven days before a follow-up test will be conducted. Four staffers remain ... Read More »

A state representative is calling for clearer guidance to finish the school year. Representative John Mark Windle said legislators should contact parents to determine the next steps forward. “We’ve not been given clear guidance when the stay at home order is going to end,” Windle said. “We’ve certainly heard a lot of conversation about it, but parents, students, school systems, ... Read More »

The Putnam County Health Department will offer Sunday testing this weekend. Testing will be available Sunday from 1-4pm at the heatlh department, just off Willow Avenue. The state will also begin a targetted testing plan this weekend. Testing is available Saturday 1-4pm in Spencer and Sunday in Byrdstown. Read More »

The number of COVID-19 cases across the Upper Cumberland reached 243 according to the Tennessee Department Of Health’s Friday report. Putnam County reported an increase of one case to 94 Friday with two confirmed deaths. Cumberland County reports 56 positive cases with Macon County at 31. Dekalb County reports ten cases with Cannon at nine, and Overton County at seven. ... Read More »

One of the two groups interested in building a downtown Cookeville Hotel wants to move forward with a project on the old Wilson Building property. In a statement released Friday morning, the Auxin-Wilson Project said it must first untangle a failed partnership with DW Interests. “Auxin-Wilson Project, LLC continues to be interested in the combined properties being developed for a ... Read More »