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Teachers across Putnam County have contacted students across the system this week to check on well-being and rollout next week’s remote learning plan. “Do you have food? Do you have shelter,” Interim Director Of Schools Corby King said. “And then we’re going to assess your educational needs as we implement this plan. Do you have electronic devices in the home? ... Read More »

Cookeville again ranks as one the nation’s top ten fastest growing micropolitan areas. The US Census Bureau released figures Thursday showing the Cookeville micropolitan as the seventh-fastest growing area nationally. The micropolitan, defined as an area with at least 10,000 but fewer than 50,000 people, includes Jackson, Overton and Putnam Counties. The 2019 population of the area reached 114,272, according ... Read More »

877 people filed for unemployment last week across the Upper Cumberland, the first week of COVID-19 shutdowns. The region fared better than other parts of the state. For the week ending March 21, 2020, Tennesseans filed 39,096 unemployment claims. That compares with 27 hundred from the week before. Northern middle Tennessee including Nashville reported more than 16-thousand claims. East Tennessee ... Read More »

Some non-violent offenders and individuals nearing the end of their sentence are being released by the Putnam County Sheriffs Department. The moves an effort to protect the jail from the COVID-19 virus, according to Sheriff Eddie Farris. “The general Sessions judges, as well as the criminal court judges have been working with us very diligently and very good in a ... Read More »

The number of Cumberland County coronavirus cases doubled Thursday to six confirmed cases, according to the Tennessee Department Of Health. Across the Upper Cumberland, 21 people have been diagnosed with COVID-19. Officials report most appear to be mild cases with those affected self-quarantining. Statewide, the number of cases stands at 957 with three deaths. Putnam County reports 11 cases Thursday. ... Read More »

A fire at AAA Wholesale Trophies will likely lead to a complete loss for the business. Cookeville Fire Chief Daryl Blair said the fire was reported at 8:20 Wednesday night. “Each time we made entry we got held up due to the stock that was in the rear of the building and the layout of it,” Blair said. “It had ... Read More »

White County Director Of Schools Kurt Dronebarger said it’s important that the remainder of the school year not be considered a waste. “We all know we can’t just let kids take off months and months and months of time for their own growth,” Dronebarger said. “It’s going to be difficult starting next year if if we’ve just stopped school in ... Read More »

Smith County will be eligible for federal assistance to repair infrastructure damage after the March 3rd tornado. Tennessee Governor Bill Lee announced Wednesday that Smith County had been added to the list of six counties eligible for the aid through the state’s Major Disaster Declaration. Costs associated with damage to county roads, bridges, water control facilities, buildings, equipment, utilities and ... Read More »

A new kind of scam affecting tornado victims across the region: identify theft to claim your FEMA benefits. “There have been some fraud where others have applied on behalf of another applicant,” FEMA Public Affairs Specialist Cheria Brown said. “We take that very seriously.” Brown said it’s important when you file for assistance through FEMA that you let the specialist ... Read More »

The Putnam County Library System wants to add a full-time librarian at its Algood branch. System Director Phil Schaller said a full-time staffer would allow the system to expand hours for citizens. “The Algood branch is the one with the most limited hours,” Schaller said. “We have been trying to get this branch full-time for quite sometime, and we have ... Read More »