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Monterey aldermen will consider awarding bids Monday for a project to fix the town’s flooding problem. Mayor Bill Wiggins said the engineering plan for the project should make a difference. “We think so. With the dimensions of the pipe, there will be no excessive amount of water, other than what’s going through there now,” Wiggins said. “Of course, the board ... Read More »

Cookeville’s Blood Assurance will hold two blood drives next week to benefit Putnam County Deputy Chris Lynn. Lynn suffered injuries during a vehicle accident in late October. The blood drives take place Monday at Cookeville’s Blood Assurance location and Tuesday at the Baxter Depot. Blood Assurance will donate $10 per donor to the family of deputy Lynn. The Baxter blood ... Read More »

Upper Cumberland Habitat for Humanity will receive $15,500 in grant funding by Habitat for Humanity of Tennessee to build a new home in Cookeville. The funding comes as part of a $500,000 grant from the Tennessee Housing Development Agency (THDA). Upper Cumberland Habitat for Humanityand its sister organizations throughout the state will apply the grant toward the construction of 30 ... Read More »

The Tennessee Highway Patrol will have an increased presence along Interstate 40 Sunday. RC Christian is a Captain for the THP’s Cookeville District. He said the agency will have a state trooper stationed every 20 miles. “You know, the Thanksgiving holiday is one of the most heavily traveled periods of the year,” Christian said. “This is going to give us ... Read More »

18 high school football teams will arrive in Cookeville next Thursday for the 2019 BlueCross Bowl. Zach Ledbetter is the Vice President of Visitor Development at the Cookeville-Putnam County Visitors’ Bureau. He said residents and businesses should be ready to welcome players, coaches, fans, and families. “I say that I am more than happy for people to be sick of ... Read More »

Jamestown City Council has awarded home repair bids for three additional families. Mayor Lyndon Baines said the city used leftover funding from a Tennessee Housing Development Agency Grant. “We’ve already done 10 homes. This will be the last three that we do because we’re running out of money now,” Baines said. “Each house is getting up to $40,000 in renovations. ... Read More »

A Smithville man faces charges for a 2018 crash that claimed the life of a 28-year-old woman. A DeKalb County grand jury has indicted 31-year-old Raymond Howard Rollins for DUI, reckless endangerment, aggravated assault, and vehicular homicide in the death of 28-year-old Amanda L. Smith. The crash happened December 13 on Highway 70 in Liberty. A THP crash report said ... Read More »

Wanting to burn off some of those Thanksgiving Day calories? Tennessee’s state parks will offer free hikes the day after the food-filled holiday. In the Cookeville area, residents can join Park Ranger Hannah Morgan on the River Trail at Burgess Falls State Natural Area. In addition, Fall Creek Falls State Park will host a two-mile hike to see the waterfall ... Read More »

A DeKalb County grand jury has indicted a Smithville man for arson. A TBI investigation identified 24-year-old Zachary Walker as the person responsible for the July 2016 fire on Old Bildad Road in Smithville. Authorities arrested Walker Tuesday. He’s under $30,000 bond at the DeKalb County Jail. The TBI and Department of Commerce and Insurance investigated the case. Read More »

A two-vehicle crash killed a Sparta woman Wednesday night. The Tennessee Highway Patrol identified the deceased as 34-year-old Starla Colwell. The crash happened in Cumberland county on Highway 70 West near Pleasant Hill. A THP crash report said 24-year-old Lindsay Surach of Crossville was traveling East in a 2005 Ford Escape. Her vehicle crossed the center line and collided head-on ... Read More »