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Despite the tornado and the COVID-19 outbreak, Putnam County housing starts in March returned to fall, 2019 levels. 16 single family permits were issued in March, up from ten in February. It is the highest number of housing starts since November. The March total tallied $3.785 million. The total number of permits countywide tallied nearly $5 million. Read More »

The number of COVID-19 cases Saturday across the region changed very little with Putnam County reporting two additional cases. 3,321 cases have been reported statewide with the largest numbers in Davidson and Shelby Counties. The total cases across the region as of Saturday: Putnam (52) Cumberland (23) Dekalb (5) Jackson (3) Smith (3) Overton (2) White (2) Clay (1) Fentress ... Read More »

Twin Lakes will be able to complete the final five percent of its fiber conversion thanks to a grant announced by Governor Bill Lee Friday. The $1.4 million grant will allow the cooperative to install fiber in parts of Overton and Fentress Counties. “We will finish connecting fiber to every one of our co-operative members,” General Manager Jonathan West said. ... Read More »

White County Schools will begin reaching out to parents each Friday to provide information on the next week’s school work. Director Of Schools Kurt Dronebarger asked parents Friday night to answer these calls. The system will also make teachers available via email and office hours at each school. “Our school system is dedicated to supporting your family in this difficult ... Read More »

The Putnam County School Board gave a group of Cookeville High School parents the go-ahead to finalize the financials of a new privately-funded turf field. “We were very excited, it is definitely the outcome that we were asking for,” Parent Julie Baker said. “And it was definitely a positive outcome for us that they gave us the green light to ... Read More »

An earth dam along Wrights Lake has breached in Monterey Friday night. Putnam County Emergency Management Director Tyler Smith said about 20 feet of water has already drained out of the lake as of 6pm. That water is running under Interstate 40 toward US 70 in Monterey. TDOT has been contacted. Most of the water is draining into the culvert ... Read More »

One additional patient tested positive for COVID-19 at Cookeville’s Signature Health Care Center Thursday afternoon. CEO Lee Rooney said the additional case came from an inconclusive first examination earlier in the week. After re-testing, the patient showed up positive. All 29 patients are all in isolation. Only one of the patients are showing symptoms, Rooney said. The Health Care Center’s ... Read More »

Turkey hunting season begins Saturday for registered hunters. A new Wildlife Service app will make checking in easier for turkey hunters in time for the season. TWA Ben Layton said to download the app ‘TWA On The Go’ on your mobile phone. “They can check their turkeys in on their cell phones, even if they don’t have cell phone coverage ... Read More »

Beginning Monday, Overton County School Nutrition will begin distributing food at the schools only on Mondays and Wednesdays. Overton County Director of Schools Mark Winningham said meals will still be prepared for students. “This will be a change,” Winningham said. “We’re not going to be delivering out into the community anymore. They will only be at the schools. Winningham said ... Read More »

Other than a few bumps, Tennessee Tech’s Provost said the first week of online classes has gone very well. “It has been very, very smooth, remarkably smooth,” Dr. Lori Mann Bruce said. Tech resumed classes Monday after a two-week spring break. Bruce said faculty responded to the changes by doing dry runs during the second week. But Bruce said the ... Read More »