Latest News

The search for Cookeville’s next Chamber of Commerce CEO will take longer than expected. Officials said the chamber’s board of directors have decided to restart the the process of hiring a new leader. “After detailed review by the search committee of candidates from across the county as well as local, the chamber board’s passion for excellence and focus on the ... Read More »

Cookeville Planning Commissioners have received the latest draft for the city’s updated bicycle and pedestrian circulation plan. Planning Director John Ward said Nashville-based Gresham Smith has spent the past several months developing the plan. “We feel like we will have a very good guide that will be helpful to the city as we make decision moving forward for pedestrian and ... Read More »

A pioneer in the landscape industry will be laid to rest today. Betty Martin Stanton Neely died Friday at the age of 91. She was a pioneer in the landscape industry in the 1950’s and 1960’s, providing design-build services throught Middle Tennessee for residential and commercial projects. Her landscape expertise was influenced by her grandfather, William Louis Johnson of Baxter, ... Read More »

A Tuesday night fire caused damage to a home in Monterey. Multiple fire crews responded to 205 Tayes Avenue at 11:20 p.m. Monterey Fire Department Chief Kevin Peters said the lone occupant of the home managed to escape without injuries. He estimated the structure to be about a 75-percent loss. A cause of the blaze remains under investigation, but Peters ... Read More »

A Dallas County Texas parolee landed behind bars in Putnam County Tuesday. Putnam County sheriff’s deputies arrested Michael Whitaker at a home in Baxter. He’s wanted by the Texas Department of Criminal Justice Parole Division for three counts of theft of property $750,000-$20,000. The PCSO Warrants Division received information that Whitaker, who was considered armed and dangerous with a knife, ... Read More »

The Cookeville Fire Department wants you to keep safety in mind while cooking the Thanksgiving meal on Thursday. Chief Daryl Blair said turkey fryers can pose a danger if not used properly. He said the units should never be overfilled with oil. “When that oil spills over and you’ve got an open flame underneath, it can cause big problems,” Blair ... Read More »

Cookeville Planning Commissioners have voted to close, abandon, and declare surplus a portion of W. 14th Street. Planning Director John Ward said Mr. Donnie Elkins wants to use part of the dead end street as an entrance for a new development. “Mr. Elkins has previously submitted a site plan to the City of Cookeville for a proposed multi-family development at ... Read More »

Cumberland County Commissioners have voted to replace the county’s entire personnel policy. Mayor Allen Foster said the project began after he hired a new Human Resources Director late last year. “One of the things we’ve been doing is just going over all our personnel policies. Making sure we’re meeting all the local, state, and federal guidelines,” Foster said. “We’ve finally ... Read More »

A threatening note has prompted the Putnam County School System to increase security at Cookeville High School next week. A Tuesday afternoon press release said custodial services found the note in a restroom stall. The note indicated a threat involving a school shooting at Cookeville High School on the first Monday in December. “Our School Emergency Response Team (SERT), as ... Read More »

A Byrdstown man has pleaded guilty to charges of aggravated sexual exploitation of a minor. Judge Gary McKenzie sentenced 36-year-old Oscar Gonzalez Garcia to serve five-years in prison. Authorities arrested Garcia earlier this year after locating numerous videos and photos of children conducting sexual activity and simulated sexual activity. An arrest report said Garcia admitted to possessing and downloading the ... Read More »